ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS: THE PRETTIEST STAR
It was mid afternoon when the taxi pulled up at Zoe's house. The air had changed, there was the bitter chill of winter. A blowing, blustering wind of change, or promises. The prancing juvenile wind of autumn had succumbed to the lions roar of winter, the golden lion roaring through the back door of the year, shaking its mane of leaves. A dangerous time; of violent rages and deceptive calm, of fireworks in the pockets and conkers in the fist.
Zoe pushed open the front door, keys in hand as Max followed with the bags.
The sunlight was already fading fast, she flicked on the light switch in the hall. Max let the bags fall to his feet, the door shutting fast behind them, sucked in by the wind that wailed outside.
She exhaled.
"We're back."
She announced, turning to face him, relieved to be home. The twelve hour journey from Michigan to Holby had left them both exhausted, their skin felt dirty hot despite the cold.
"Drink?"
She asked, shaking her coat from her shoulders and folding it over the banister in front of her.
Max shook his head.
"You go and have a bath, I'll get dinner on."
He smiled as he spoke, watching as her body visibly relaxed before him.
"You. Are amazing."
She took a step towards him, closing the gap between them and placed a soft kiss upon his lips. He smiled against her.
"I know."
He whispered, pushing her away from him.
"Now go and have a wash."
He said, moving into the kitchen.
"I don't smell that bad."
She tutted as she turned, he watched her as she climbed the stairs before he made his way to the fridge.
Zoe lay back in the water, it was slightly too hot and she could feel her skin wince against the heat. The bubbles at her neck puttered and popped incessantly. She closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth, the feeling of being clean after such a long, stuffy journey. She could hear the noise of Max downstairs, and for the first time she realised how much she missed living with someone. Hearing the noises and not being afraid that there was an intruder. Instead there was someone else living and breathing in the same little part of the world as she was.
She heard the gentle clatter of a saucepan, or a frying pan, the opening and closing of the oven...the fridge. The drop of a spoon on the tile flooring.
She smiled into the steam, wiping a wet hand across her face, wiping away the make up and grime.
She lifted a leg, running her fingers across her skin, wondering whether or not to bother shaving. She could heard the distant ringing of Max's mobile, it seemed so long since she'd heard it, since they'd been back, and yet it had only been a couple of weeks. She distanced herself from the memories of the last time they had been here together, when they'd argued. Instead she listened to the soft murmuring of Max's voice below, speaking to whoever it was on the other end of the phone.
Eventually she heard him begin again with the cooking, the resurface of kitchenware being moved about and used.
The bubbles had all but gone, dispersing quickly, she assumed, because of how much muck she had managed to accumulate on her person throughout their journey home.
The soft creak of the stairs and the turn of the door handle made her open her eyes, she turned her head slightly, feeling the cool of he bath tub against her cheek. Max looked around the door, a slow smile spreading across his lips.
"Everything's on..."
He moved into the room as he spoke, pushing the door back as he entered.
"Mmm..."
She exhaled and the few bubbles that were left skittered across the surface of the water.
"What're we having?"
She asked, letting her eyes close again, feeling the soft lap of the water against her neck.
"Nothing special..."
He said, sitting down on the closed lid of the toilet, his arms resting on his knees, his hands clasped, watching her. The soft spirals of steam rising from her knees that just broke the surface of the water.
"Who was on the phone?"
She asked quietly, still her eyes were closed, dipping her head so that the water just touched against her chin, her lips.
"My Mum..."
He answered after a considerable pause.
She heard him inhale.
"How did she know you were back?"
Zoe asked, slipping herself further back in the water, submerging her hair, ready to shampoo.
Max waited for her to resurface before replying.
"Robyn told her."
He said, watching as Zoe opened her eyes and squeezed a globe of shampoo into her palm, massaging it into her hair slowly, the foam glistening in the dim light.
"How did she know?!"
She asked, tilting her head back again to rinse out the bubbles.
"You can't fart without Robyn knowing."
He mused, leaning forward to rest his chin on his hands, watching, mesmerised, the water pooling from her hair, slithering in a clear glittering stream across her back as she sat up, running her hands across her head, squeezing out the excess water and wiping her face again before looking over to him.
"So...?"
She prompted, his eyes had glazed over somewhat as he stared at her.
"Hmm?"
He asked, blinking several times.
"Oh..."
He scratched the stubble on his chin.
"She wanted to know what the hell I've been doing in America...and she asked about you..."
He paused, rubbing his lip.
"What did you tell her?"
She asked, leaning back again and resting her head against the back of the bath, moving so that she could look at him from where she lay.
"I told her that I'd bagged a consultant."
He grinned as he spoke, laughing as she rolled her eyes.
"She and my step-dad want to meet you..."
He added, quickly so as to get it out of the way.
"God..."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Are they sure?"
She asked, sucking in a breath.
He smiled again.
"Why not?"
He laughed.
"Because! They'll be expecting a Connie Beauchamp...not a...Zoe Hanna."
She sighed, placing a hand across her eyes and releasing a long slow moan across the water.
He kicked the side of the bath gently from where he sat to gain her attention.
"I happen to prefer the Zoe Hanna type."
He whispered, still that smile of amusement across his perfect lips.
"Mmm. But will they?!"
She asked, letting her hand slip back into the water with a splash.
He shrugged.
"Anyway...it's their wedding anniversary at the weekend and they've invited us..."
He stopped mid sentence, the alarm in her eyes halting him.
"You look terrified."
He said quietly.
"I am!"
She sat up in the bath, the water sloshing around her as she moved, leaning forwards and pulling out the plug.
"I'm not very good at that sort of thing..."
She added, looking down into the water where it began to swirl and dance at the plug.
"I've already said we'll go..."
Again he spoke quietly, as if trying to calm a person suffering from shock.
She drew in another breath, the water level was dropping quickly and she began to shiver.
"Well, I suppose I'll just have to start practising my manners then...won't I."
She breathed, exhaling and taking hold of the side of the sink to steady herself as she stood up.
"Can you pass me a towel?"
She asked, gesturing to the towel rail on the wall to his right.
He stood up, by passing the towels and reaching a hand out to her.
"If you think I'm letting you cover up, you're very much mistaken..."
Hope everyone is looking forward to Zoe meeting the Walker clan! xxx