'right, so, I've just remembered what we were supposed to talk about, back at the bar' she says

in the middle of their meal.

Carter takes a sip of his wine and throws her a confused look, waiting for her to explain.

'After your little um… pep talk? Or whatever that that was’ she chuckles ‘I asked you about your
type' she clears it up and he nods, finally understanding.

'right, and you were supposed to guess. So guess' he says with a small smile.

'okay, so...' she props an elbow on the table, suporting her head by the chin with her closed fist.
She squints her eyes a little as if she could read him better. 'you are probably into girls who...'
she starts, dragging out every word. 'like to have fun, actually who ARE fun, adventurous and
spontaneous, so it’s never boring, someone who can keep up with your lifestyle...'

He keeps nodding lightly throughout her talk, encouraging her to continue.

'next, you want someone...with brains, independent, knows what she wants... Lastly, she gets
you'

'basically you just paraphrazed my words to you' he says with a coy smirk.

She scoffs, pretending to be offended. 'Not really, but am I right or am I right'

'the latter' he says and she chuckles.

'so we're looking for the same qualities in people who we want to date' she concludes,
dropping her hand down.

'cheers to that' he raises his glass of wine and she follows the action, bringing them together
with a click.

'cheers' she says before she brings it to her lips.

She takes a sip, smiling to herself. She's had more fun in the past half an hour than in weeks.
She even dares to entertain a silly thought that pushes through. Since she's guilty of indirectly
describing herself just now, what if he did the same back at the bar? That could easily be true.
He does seem like THE TYPE, it occurs to her. Suddenly Max comes into picture, right on point
to ruin the moment.

We broke up, she reminds herself.

As she brings her eyes to Carter, another thing occures to her... what if he actually has
someone. Could he be taken? But immediate response that follows that question is: "Why
would that matter anyway?"

'are you single?' her mouth blurts out, and she's glad for it.

He looks up from his food, not at all surprised by her question, just mildly entertained.

'define the word single'

She opens her mouth to speak but he beats her to it.

'I'm not seeing anyone exclusively, if that's what you mean'

He's one of those, a lonely thought crosses her mind.

'oh I get it. You're the unexclusive kind of guy. Doesn't like to be 'tied down'?'

'No. It means I haven't found the right girl to go exclusive for'

'only flings for now?'

'only flings' he confirms.

After a minute of silence, but a pleasant one, he speaks up.

'you know, you could still show up sometimes'

The statement breaks her train of thoughs and she throws him a confused look.

'in LA, I mean. I can show you what you've been missing out in the city of angels' he flashes her
a full on but short smile before he takes another bite of his food.

She can't help but return the smile. She doesn't have to force it, because he somehow, always,
just manages to draw it out of her, no matter the context. You could say his smile is highly
contageous.

'Maybe. I don’t know’ she says, looking away.

Coming back to LA for someone or something else other than Max, at this point doesn't sit
right with her. He was the one who introduced her to the city, and the one who made her fall in
love with it. The city is beautiful on its own but he made her see it through different eyes. The
moment she walked out of that apartment today, she couldn't see the same colors anymore.
Even the air now feels thicker, almost suffocating, unwelcoming.
He throws her an attentive, thoughtful look once her eyes dart away and she doesn't catch it.

'what did he do?' he asks in a cool tone.

He doesn't want to come off as intrusive or insensitive, but because he can tell that she's
holding back, and it's obvious that it has a lot to do with Max, he's feeling compelled to find out
why she's really denying him.

At that question her attention shifts back onto him.

'he lied' she blurts out.

Not really knowing why, an instinct to shield Max from potential mockery and judgement from
a stranger, kicks in. Maybe she's just not ready for the world to know, or maybe she's simply
not ready to admit to someone else that she's been played. It's too fresh and humiliating.
Protecting both, that's what she's doing.

Not taking his eyes off of her, studying her body language, he asks another question.

'once?'

'no. Not once' she shakes her head.

'so you only came here to break up with him?' he asks, knowing in advance the right answer.

'No. I actually came to...maybe, give us another chance. That didn't happen, obviously'

He nods and turns back to his food, but wearing a ghost of a smile on his lips. It doesn't pass
unnoticed by Ivy as she feels obligated to ask him about it.

'what are you smirking about?' she asks in a light tone, but secretly acusing him.

This time his smile deepens, knowing she's on to him.

'it's a little amusing how you're still covering for him' he answers, without looking at her, but at
his plate.

'I'm not covering for him' she retaliates, adding sterness to her voice.

Her attempt to convince him only adds to his entertaintmen.

'okay' he half whispers with a mocking undertone as he takes a sip of his wine.
She mirrors his action by taking a sip of hers while eyeing him criticaly. It's irking her, the way
he's just agreed with her, while, clearly, knowing that she's been white lying to him about her
break up.

'you don't believe me?' she says, making it sound more like a statement than a question.

'I would, if you weren't such a bad liar' he jokes, keeping his poker face on. 'the wrong has
already been done, whatever it is. What do you think about evening the score?'

This time she can't tell if he's joking or being serious. His criptic sugestion for a short moment
makes her feel a little giddy on the inside. Getting back at Max somehow seems all too
tempting now that he's brought it up. Actually, she can't seem to think of any valid reason not
to. Well, except one.

'I don't wanna screw up my karma... any further' she explains thoughtfuly while vengeful ideas
of how to make Max pay start swarming her mind.

'so you're the forgive and forget kind of person?'

She stops picking at her food, when she realizes that she's been doing it for the past minute and
leans against her chair fully, having no itention of continuing eating. She takes a moment to
think about the answer. Lamely, she doesn't come up with a good one. With a huff she replies.

'I definitely don't forget, but...'

Roman suddenly comes to mind. She has forgiven him, right? She hasn't exactly said it, but they
are friends now. She hasn't told Tina that she has forgiven her either, but she has shown it,
same goes for Roman. She was heart broken then, but thinking about it now, she's pretty
confident to admit that a payback didn't seem so tempting back then.

'I don't know. I don't even know what I'm feeling right now...' she says and grabs her glass of
wine. 'you? That's not your thing I'm guessing?' she says, intentionaly shifting the attention
onto him.

'Forgiveness is very important' he starts off confidently, as if he's about to make a speech about
it.

It surprises her what he says next.

'my philosophy is - always forgive but as long as you get to get even first'

Once again a smile starts tugging at the corners of his lips and now, despite his smile she knows
he's being serious. She covers her own amused smile behind her glass as she takes another sip.
She catches herself thinking how this man, this handsome, charming man with his infectuously
charming smile, could make any story worth listening to. You could get lost in the way words
fall from his lips, the way his eyes in certain moments would seem gentle and soft, then right in
the next that lightness behind them would vanish, replaced with a mysterious darker shade,
and the way he would smile at the most unexpected times, thowing you off a bit with a smaller
dose of childlike innocence emiting from those smiles. He could be even going on about how
toilet paper is made, he would still, somehow, manage to look charming as hell.

'the thing is, I want to get back at him somehow, but at the same time I don't think I could
follow through with it' she says after a short pause.

'you've never experianced it, have you? Payback?' he asks.

'I never had to. I don't know what kind of circles you're a part of, but I've always thought of
better ways, than vengance, to deal with...shitty people' she says. 'then again...how come bad
luck keeps following me and I keep getting screwed over? Shouldn't karma send more
awesomeness my way?'

'You've now gotten rid of the dead weight from your life. I'd say that's pretty awesome'

Dead weight, Max? It hurts more than it should.

'He's not... You don't know the full story. You don't get to say stuff like that' she warns.

He drops his fork and raises his hands theatricaly in surrender.

'you're right. Sorry. It’s not my place to make comments like that’

'yeah' she mumbles through teeth.

'I respect that. You should speak up your mind. I very much appreciate it when people tell me
when I've crossed the line'

She shifts in her seat, a bit uncomfortably, staring back at him blankly and, not knowing what
to say while he’s staring back.

She clears her throat, after a couple of seconds of uncomfortable silence, preparing a response
that he seems to be expecting.

'you're welcome?' she attempts to break the serious moment and she succeeds because he
laughs. An actual laugh, and from an unknown reason it excites her.

'I like you' he says, now wearing a senciere smile that causes small crinkles at the corners of his
eyes to show.
'because of 'you're welcome?'?' she asks, trying her hardest to wish away the blush that's
creeping up on her face.

'you're easy to talk to. You're great company, concidering'

'thank you' she says through a smile that keeps growing ridiculously. 'you're not too bad
yourself' she says.

She doesn't even know why she keeps coming up with these lame remarks, it’s starting to seem
like desperate subconscious attempts to get him to laugh again.

'I thought you were going to stay over with him'

Ivy hears her sister say once she walks into the house. Tina is standing at the bottom of the
stairs as Ivy starts changing out of her shoes, avoiding eye contact. When Tina heard Ivy's keys
in the lock she rushed down the stairs, aware that something must have gone wrong today if
she's here and not in LA with Max.

'No, it's...it's done' Ivy responds, emotionlessly as she starts walking toward Tina, meaning to
walk past her and go straight to bed. It's been one hell of a long day for her.

Tina doesn't make an attempt to move as worry laces her voice when she speaks up again.

'what happened?'

Finally letting the exhaustion show, Ivy sighs heavily and motions for Tina to follow her in the
living room. To suit her mood Ivy chooses not to turn on the main light in the living room, only
the small lamp on the small desk by the sofa she takes a seat on. Tina decides to sit next to her,
still silent, waiting for Ivy to start talking.

Ivy stays quiet for a couple of more seconds, enough to take a deep breath before she speaks
up.

'so, we broke up' she starts, looking at her sister. 'definitely this time'.

Now Tina definitely doesn't know what to say. She's confused, surprised but mainly worried
about her sister. She recalls how heartbroken Ivy was the first time they broke up. She was
choking on tears, and it made Tina cry, seeing her like that, but not being able to do anything.
Ivy booked that plane ticket with intention to fix that, what she believed it was, mistake. What
changed and how?
'why?' Tina manages to choke out.

Ivy opens her mouth to respond, but words refuse to leave her mouth. Even now, to her, those
intended, unspoken words, seem unbelievable. Her situation, surreal. An incredulous crooked
smile spreads tugs at her lips before she voices her thoughts out.

'I caught him with Vanessa' With the words Tina's eyes grow wide in shock, her jaw drops
open, lacking words at the moment. 'she was getting dressed when I walked in his room' she
continued, slowly getting furious at the recollection.

'that whore' Tina shrieks, in lack of a better response 'and he...he's a whore too. He's even
worse... How, what, when, why?...why? How?'

'I don't know' Ivy says, now paying attention to her hands. 'I don't know who came onto who.
Nor do I care. He tried to lie about it, to get me to leave the apartment so she could sneak out.
He was so rattled. I knew something was going on… Just now I realize how much I actually
trusted him. I know I had been accusing him of cheating and what not...but never have I
thought that...he would actually do it. To me. With her. Max.' her eyes start burning again, for
the first time in hours, and she senses that waterfalls are about to begin.

'what's his excuse?' Tina asks, wanting a better grasp of the whole situation.

'does it matter?' Ivy looks up again, raising her voice a little in frustration. 'he was stupid. He IS
stupid. So, so unbelievably so. You know what he said? What his excuse was? He thought we
were done for good, that's why he jumped into bed with her the first chance he got. He wanted
it all along, that much is obvious. Her. Oh my God, I wanna rip her to shreds... And him... I so
can't stand him. I hate him in fact. I wanna...' she starts waving her hands frantically in front of
her, her fingers twitching as if she's choking air around her. 'ugh. I hate him so much. I swear.
I'm not even exaggerating'

This whole time Tina's been watching her in silent empathy. That's the best she can do at the
moment. She knows her sister well enough to know that this is hurt talking, not anger. She's
devastated and the only way she can see how to cope is to focus on something other than pain.
She's choosing anger, hatred, the easier path. They say that the line is thin between love and
hate. Those two walk hand in hand together. When you love someone, it doesn't really go
away, it can only morph into something else. Hatred is, again, just another form of caring.

Ivy leans forward, propping her elbows on her knees as she's staring down at her hands.

'I don't even know how we got here'

Her bracelet is still hanging on her wrist and her eyes take it in once again.
'this is my favorite part...mine'

'mine'

His voice echoes off the walls in her mind. She can clearly hear him say it. How right their world
was back then.

The heaviness in her chest returns, followed with a sharp jab in her stomach at the recollection
of happier times. What could be worse than doing that in times of misery?

She swiftly unhooks the bracelet and propels it across the room. Tina gasps a little in surprise
but she has also anticipated it happening. She can already assume what's going to be next. Ivy is
being lead with the assumption, that if she gets rid off every last remnant of him, it won't hurt
as much, she won't have evidence of any of it happening, and it could hopefully all seem like a
distant memory. Funny how the memories you used to cherish and loved to look back at,
before a breakup, are the same ones you want to run away from the most, afterwards.

'I was fine before he showed up, and I'll be fine again' she says, surprising her sister with her
calmness.

She leans back against the sofa, showing the least amount of distress when she faces Tina
again. She's had enough of time on her hands today to process this apparently, it occurs to Tina.

'what were you doing today by the way? Before your flight?'

'I was just about to fill you on that' Ivy says, shifting more comfortably in her seat. 'I wasn't
alone. I ran into someone...'

'who?' Tina asks before Ivy could even get there.

'Carter. You know, the guy I told you about that hel...'

'again?' Tina jumps in. 'what is up with that? He's starting to give me the creeps'

'he's really cool though'

'yeah I bet' Tina mumbles under her breath, already forming a mental picture of him.

'what?!' Ivy snaps at her sister's response 'I would be really surprised if one of these days you
stopped being such an ironic little shit'

'guys you find cool are the guys I would stay away from. Carter is no different I'm sure' she
responds.

'You like to have sex with them first, then get to know them, am I right?'
Tina gasps in shock at the cruelty of her sister's remark.

'who's being a little shit now?' she responds as she recovers quickly.

She knows her sister didn't mean to say it in a hurtful way, but more as a playful, but slightly
cruel jab. She wouldn't be doing it if they weren’t already past it.

'sorry, I had to' she lamely apologizes with a wicked smile. 'for the record I think you would like
Carter. Not to sleep with him, but you know, as a person...who has feelings and stuff'

'screw you' Tina replies dragging out the words lazily. 'what does he look like? No, let me
guess...he smokes like a chimney, drinks like a fish, looks like a serial killer, and dresses real
cool? With nice hair?'

Ivy has to laugh at the almost accurate description.

'first of all, he has great hair. Doesn't smoke, asked him. Knows how to handle his liquor.
Dresses impeccably. And how do you mean 'serial killer'? None of my guys look that way'

'well... They have their moments'

'well Carter...He looks...I don't know. He's very handsome...sweet in a way. He's really nice'

'does Max know him?'

'yeah...he doesn't like him very much…Which is good'

'why is that good?' Tina asks suspiciously.

'so it could piss him off even more if he sees us together' Ivy responds coolly, feeling the
satisfaction simply by entertaining the thought.

'you'll be hanging out again?' Tina asks, not hiding the dissatisfaction from her voice.

'yes, of course'

'to spite Max?'

'no' Ivy replies, slightly offended but inspired with the thought. 'he's a really great guy, and we
actually get along. I wanna get to know him better'

'sure. Also accidentally show up at Max's club with him only for a couple of drinks'

'I couldn't use Carter like that'

'sure you couldn't'

'do you want me to strangle you right now? It's not a problem, at all'

'just sayin'. You did the same to Roman'

'No I didn't' Ivy shrieks offended. But Tina's comment actually gets her wondering...

'I saw it myself. At Roman's birthday party, you purposefully showed up with Max, an hour
after everybody else. Just to make an entrance. Then whenever I looked, you two were sucking
faces, and Roman of course had to see it'

Guilt. Why is it kicking in just now?

'I wasn't doing it on purpose' she says, but more to herself. She needs a bit of convincing right
now.

'well, it made him miserable, so...'

'I love how I can always count on you to make me feel better' Ivy says, no longer feeling upbeat
and ready for jokes.

'but you can do it to Max, though. You totally have my permission'

'now I feel way better' Ivy sarcastically retorts.

One week later

Not much has happened in the past seven days. On Tina's surprise her sister hasn’t turn into a
weeping puddle on the floor or a heartbroken zombie even…yet.

Three days after the breakup, Ivy decided it was time to go back for her stuff from Max's
apartment. Her body was viciously fighting against that decision. She physically got ill right
before she walked out on the street that day. She felt feverish and nauseous, but she didn't
want to back out. She wanted to prove to herself that she could be strong, so she pushed
through the cowardly pleas of her body to stay away. But then, when she reached his door, put
the key in the lock, turned the key...she couldn't will herself to open the door. She knew what
was coming. A tidal wave of crushing sadness that would knock the wind out of her chest when
the memories of that place come to life, and come rushing towards her upon taking the first
step in.
 She bit her lip and with eyes screwed shut as she finally opened the door. Once she opened her
eyes she kept them cast down onto the floor, until she reached the bedroom where most of her
stuff were. She started hastily stuffing all her belongings in her large bag that she had brought
for that purpose, and paid close to none attention to her surroundings.

Just like that she managed to avoid that fatal tidal wave.

Only one memory managed to force itself on her, just as she was walking out the door.
Allowing her brain for that split second to do its funny but cruel trick, she welcomed the
memory as she could see it replaying in front of her eyes.

She was standing in front of the counter next to the sink, preparing coffee for herself, before
another busy day could begin. She would've made one also for Max if she had known when he
would be up. It was still early for him to wake up even though the clock almost ticked 11:30am.
The day was tedious and rainy so she needed some extra boost to get through it.

Just as she lifted her mug to taste the freshly made coffee she felt a firm, but gentle pair of arms
wrap themselves around her waist, from behind. She smiled to herself before the mug even
reached her lips and she put it down.

'good morning, babe' she cooed to him when he laid his head on her shoulder.

'mhmm' he groaned and she could picture him with closed eyes.

'you never let me make you breakfast' he said in groggy voice, still thick from sleep.

'that’s because I would starve waiting for you to get up'

'you always have to get up before me' he whined.

'if I don't get up, YOU would never get up. You only do so when you figure out I'm no longer in
bed'

'lies' he retorted. 'next time you're ready to get up, push me out the bed. I'll make you a nice ass
breakfast and bring it to you'

'without the ass, though' she turned around, still in his hold and wrapped her arms around his
neck.

'right, no ass. Ass is fattening' he joked and puckered his lips a little so she could kiss him.

With a hearty smile she attached her lips to his, and she could feel him smile into it.
 That was the day after his first visit in HG in the new year, about a month before everything
started falling apart. She never got that breakfast in bed from him. They both seemed to have
forgotten about that over time. Pleasing each other in such ways no longer appeased them, or
him to be exact.

But at least the sex was still good and innovative, that's when they would get past the
annoyance towards each other, in between all the fights.

Almost instantly the thoughts of them together are now being replaced with the images of
Vanessa and Max's limbs tangled together, his body on top of hers, his lips kissing her skin and
in his thoughts then, Ivy didn't exist.

She didn't cry that day, nor days after that. Words from a friend got stuck in her head, and she
wanted to give them life. The words, before the farewell with that friend.

'keep your chin up, beautiful. Make your tears expensive, no one should get them for free' .

She got rid of Max's pictures from her phone. It wasn't an impulsive decision, since she had
transferred them into her lap top beforehand, to a new folder that she won't be opening any
time soon. She was collected enough to decide she wanted to keep them after all. Tina found
the bracelet that night, when her sister had thrown it away. She took it and kept it until Ivy
asked for it. The bracelet and other items, that she had collected over time, she put away in a
box. The box got put away in Tina's room, under her bed, so Ivy would have a bit of peace
knowing she's not that close to him anymore, or at least anything that has to do with him.

Four days later, today, the past has knocked on her door.

Tina, being the one closest to the door at that moment, is the one who opens it.

She had never been particularly close with Max, like she probably should have been, being that
he was her sister's boyfriend for almost a year. But from the little that she had witnessed in
their relationship, she could tell that he adored her and she was so unbelievably happy for her
sister, that their breakup caused not only two but three hearts to break. Ivy filled her in on all
the details of everything that had happened that notorious day, that Tina went from feeling
resentment towards Max to actually feeling empathy for him. She hasn't admitted that to Ivy,
seeing no point in doing so. It might do more damage than good. She doesn't justify nor dares
to ignore everything that he had been doing prior to that moment but hearing from Ivy the full
story, including the details of his teary, red rimmed eyes and all his desperate attempts to get
her to stay with him, literally and metaphorically, made her recall how she was, indeed, in his
shoes only months ago, and the story ended the same. One had to leave.
It would be an understatement saying that she's surprised, seeing him at her door step now.
She's suddenly overwhelmed. She has anticipated it happening, only maybe sooner, and yet not
even in her mind could she make a decision whether she would lie for her sister, and send him
away or would she let the empathy she feels for him get the best of her.

Ivy doesn't want to see him, Tina knows it, but there's that BUT. Maybe they should talk it out.
Maybe she should listen to what he has to say. Maybe there's still a chance...or maybe she's
just indentifying with Max, wondering if she could have a chance if she showed up at certain
someone's door step.

Max's eyes wander up from the ground and widen up upon the door opening. His gaze doesn't
waver even in the slightest when he sees Tina and not the person he actually wanted to see. He
only shuffles his feet a little, removes his hands out of the front pockets of his jeans before he
says a small 'hi'.

His hair is buzz short again, his stubble is gone. He looks fresher somehow, she notices.

'hi' Tina replies, noticing also how his eyes dart to the inside of the house for a second, before
looking back at her. 'I know I'm the last person you wanted to see' he starts, attempting a small
smile but it gets covered by a thoughtful frown. 'Ivy has probably told you everything' his eyes
start moving, rattled, like he can't keep up with his thoughts suddenly, like there's so much to
be said but not enough time. He feels the need to justify himself somehow to the girl in front of
him, but that's not on his list of priorities at the moment.

She senses what he's going to say next. Knowing why he's here in the first place, makes it easy
to guess.

'she's not here' she says, regretting it immediately when she catches a flash of disappointment
in his eyes.

She hates the role she has picked for herself, the role of a bad guy, a liar.

'then where?' he asks, already fearing the answer.

If she doesn't tell him the truth there is no way he will be able to find her with free guessing,
she could be anywhere. Or if he decides to stick around, she could be out for hours more. Tina's
honest answer is all he's hoping for.

'she went out with some friends, I don't know where nor when she will be back' she says,
swallowing harder, her throat suddenly dry. A side effect of lies leaving her mouth.

He's still the same guy who partied every other night for months and drinking till the point of
passing out. The same guy who used to drive her sister nuts with his reckless behavior, also in
his drunken state. One week couldn't have changed anything. He didn't deserve her sister then,
he certainly doesn't deserve her now.

'I know she doesn't want to see me, but if she's really here I'd rather have her to kick me out'
he says, hopeful that she actually might be inside.

'she's...' Tina starts, attempting to come up with another lie and it might be easier if she
doesn't have to look at him while doing so, but his hopeful expression is something she can't
bare to step on.

He notices her hesitation so he quickly jumps in: 'I just need a couple of minutes. I just need
this'

She looks away for a second but when she looks at him again she's welcomed with the same
pained expression.

'damn it' she mutters under her breath and unwillingly steps away from the door. 'she's
upstairs' she squeezes out through pursed lips without looking at him.

Damn him and his puppy face, she curses mentally as he walks past her.

'thanks' he says, quickly turning to her but she doesn't respond.

She proceeds to close the door as he climbs up the stairs, heading for Ivy's room.

The door is closed, and he very well knows that it means she's studying and doesn't want
anyone interrupting. He starts feeling bad for choosing to do just that.

Two knocks at the door. Ivy looks up from her book in her lap at the sound and without getting
up she just yells out 'come in' assuming it must be her dad who just got home. Expecting her
dad to walk in, she plasters a small welcoming smile on her face, only to have it completely
wiped away when someone else walks through the door.

'what do you want?' is the first question that leaves her mouth.

He, just like a spell’s been cast on him, can't force himself to say anything for a couple of
seconds. It's been a week since he last heard her voice, since he last saw her. Somehow it
seems longer. He doesn't speak yet, wanting to fully take her in first. The way she's sitting cross
legged on the bed with books surrounding her. The way her hair is pulled up in a messy bun,
that he used to love to make fun of, and she would pretend to be offended. The way she's
wearing a shirt two sizes too big and zero make up, and it still makes her look appealing and
inviting and as beautiful as ever. He has truly missed her.
When he meets her stern gaze it brings him out of his dazed state and he finally decides to
reply.

'to talk'

'about?'

'us'

'but there's no us'

'I need you to hear me out'

She lets out a bitter laugh before she leans against the head board of her bed and nods to him
to start talking.

He steps further in the room, closing the door after him. She doesn't offer him to sit down nor
does she want to fake politeness for his sake.

He moves to the centre of the room, fiddling with his hands, while not taking his eyes off of
hers.

'I was stupid for attempting to excuse what I did. I tried to apologize but ended up ruining it
with my excuses. It was pathetic and insulting to you' he stops for a second as if to give her a
chance to speak up if she has something to say, but she stays quiet. 'I made that stupid choice. I
was weak and...these are the consequences. I ruined everything and I understand… that we
can't be together'

That last part catches her by surprise. Makes her wonder, what is it that he really wants.

'you want forgiveness?'

'no. I guess what I want is to just apologize, properly. To let everything out that's been eating
me this whole time. You were right, I failed you. Not a minute passes by that I'm not reminded
of that. It's just the way it is now, it's like a freaking alarm clock in my head. I close my eyes,
there you are, I keep them open but my subconscious won't let me rest. It's killing me…' he
tiredly runs a hand over his face, closing his eyes for a short moment. 'The nights are the worst.
You're even in my dreams, ba...' he stops himself before he finishes that thought.

But she catches on and looks away.

'but that doesn't matter. I'm being selfish again. I just... I'm so sorry, Ivy. I wish you knew… even
one half of one percent of how sorry I am. I'm repeating myself but I hate so much what I did to
you. I hate myself for it. Sorry for not being what you needed me to be'
'is that all?' Ivy asks a couple of seconds later, purposefully refusing to comment on his little
speech.

He stays quiet. He doesn't want to leave yet, but knows that that's exactly what she will tell
him to do next. He wants to fix what's broken but he can't offer anything else other than words.

'so what happened?' she asks when he doesn't respond.

Her question confuses him. She notices, so she makes up an explanation. 'I remember you
asking me for another chance that day. Something has clearly changed your mind about that.
Now you don't want us together?' she says with a neutral tone. 'just curious'

A small, sad smile tugs at one corner of his lip. It looks more like a spasm than a smile.

'that's the thing. I do want it. I want it so, so bad, Ivs. I miss you' he wants to reach out and
touch her but she won't let him, he knows it. 'But it doesn't matter what I want now, does it? I
don't get to decide anything'

She silently agrees with him about the last part, but there's still a small detail left unexplained.
What made him change his mind? She dares to make a free guess.

'so how's Vanssy?' she asks, somewhat poignantly.

He doesn't catch on immediately why she's bringing Vanessa up. Being a guy, he doesn't realize
that what she's really asking is 'did she have anything to do with you changing your mind?'

'I don't know' he says. 'haven't talked to her since then'

That's the answer she's been secretly hoping to hear. The sad part is, she doesn't believe him.
Neither could she believe him when he said that he missed her, that he wanted her back. From
where she's standing, it all seems like a bunch of lies. She fails to see anything genuine about
this stranger that's standing in front of her.

'why not?' she asks.

'you're seriously asking me that?'

'I am'

'we haven't seen each other since. I don't know where she is'

'aww. She left you?' she mocks.

'she did' he responds, not meaning seriously.

 'what are you going to do now? Such a shame...but I'm sure you'll find a new skirt to chase
soon. They love you, as in want to get in your pants. You have a lot to chose from. But just use
protection...or don't, whatever you please. You got rid of the ball and chain. Nothing is now
holding you back. So the best of luck I wish to you!' she flashes him with the best fake smile,
then shifts her attention back to her book.

'you weren't my ball and chain!' he retaliates, angered that she could say something like that.

This time he crosses the distance between them, without thinking twice about it, and takes a
seat on the edge of the bed on her side so that they're almost touching.

'you were...' he looks down, at their knees that are almost touching and timidly places a hand
on her mid thigh.

That small gesture makes her want to jump out of her own skin. She shouldn't be allowing him
to come this close, let alone touch her. But she doesn't move away, but her eyes that are
burning into him are screaming that he better do so.

'so perfectly mine' he finishes, but doesn't get any sort of reaction from her.

On the outside she seems to be keeping it together, on the inside she's trembling like a leaf.

'what do you really want, Max?' she asks in a cold tone, causing him to move away his hand as
if some invisible barrier has been placed between them.

'what I can't have. To be us again'

'I don't' she shortly replies, truly meaning it. 'I should be thanking you actually, you have
inspired to do better'

'no, you love me' he says in hurt, making it sound as if that's the most valid response, or even
like it could magically change anything.

'I also respect myself. You know what you did. You know what you were like before that. That's
not what I want for myself. That's not what I deserve'

'It can be different this time around. We can be better. I can be better. I want to make it up to
you. I want to take care of you, the way I used to...'

'we can't, Max! We can't. I don't trust you and no amount of sucking up could change that'

'sucking up? I wanna prove to you that you can. I can't do that if you're not willing to give me a
chance. US, a chance... I can't just walk away. It's not in me. I love you, and I'm not going to just
give up. I know for a fact, you don't want me to. No relationship is fucking perfect, Ivy... Sorry
for swearing in your house. Every relationship has its ups and downs, but it only grows stronger
after those trials… I'm learning. I'm willing to get better. We can get it right this time. We can
still have what we said we could. Remember, move to NYC, live together. Get filthy rich on our
own' he chuckles at the recollection.

It warms his heart when the faintest smile appears on her lips.

'we might need to work on that last part... You need more time. I get that. I will give you as
much as you need. We can get past this. I know we can'

The last part comes out more like a hopeful plea than a fact.

'Max...' she tries to speak, but not really sure what she wants to say.

She's not certain in anything anymore. His eyes gain a different glow, expectant, as she speaks
up. He's not even trying to hide that he has his hopes up.

'I think you should leave now' she says, keeping an icy tone.

'okay' he says. 'I'm...I'm going to go' but he still doesn't move.

She pretends to be looking at her book again, but with her peripheral sight she's observing him.

What her eyes don't manage to catch right away is the movement of his hand that reaches for
hers. It takes her by surprise when he takes it in his and brings it to his lips. She's had plenty of
time to react, pull away even, but for some reason she has decided to give in. Still, she tries to
come off as cold and disinterested, giving him a cold stare. But her body, betrays her at the
worst moment. Goosebumps raise on her skin as he leaves a soft kiss on the inside of her wrist
and as a small whoosh of air through his nose hits the sensitive area.

He doesn't seem to notice, or he's only pretending for her sake, and she pulls away, moving her
hand back into her lap. He gets up without a word and starts leaving.

Her eyes discretely follow him as he walks across the room and right when he's about to turn
to look at her, she casts her eyes down at her book.

'bye' he says and she nods as a response.

With that, he leaves.

A couple of days later

Final exams are finally over. Ivy can finally relax and finally do what she's couldn't wait to do,
but couldn't do, during these last couple of tormentors days. She promised herself that, right
after the last exam is over with, she would turn to a friend, who surely knows the best ways to
kick off the summer.

Finally home, after a long day, she firstly plops herself on the sofa in the living room, holding
her phone in hand, needing a rest. Her fingers, though, don't rest as they create a new text
message, intended for that special friend.

As she starts typing, a seed of guilt, that was planted in the pit of her stomach days ago, starts
breaking through due to one sneaky thought, a reminder of all the recent, Max's text messages
that she hasn't replied to, and yet she's now texting someone else.

He's been wishing her good mornings and goodnights, every day since that day when he paid
her a visit. He's been texting her, also, in between, sharing random details of his days. She
couldn't will herself to reply, not to a single one of those texts. It's become clear to her, over
time, that he doesn't expect her to reply at all, since he keeps sending new texts every day.
Thinking it over, now, it's making her sad, even though she knows it shouldn't.

She brushes those invasive thoughts aside and finishes typing. She reads it once before she
presses send.

'Does that offer still stand? To show me what I've been missing in the city of angels?'

She then puts the phone away, not expecting a reply any time soon. She grabs the remote and
starts surfing through the channels, lazily. Not a minute passes by, and she receives a text
message. Hopefully from the right person.

'It certainly does, beautiful. Come whenever.'

She catches herself biting her bottom lip after re-reading the message. Even when texting, he
turns on his charm, and manages to raise heat to her cheeks. She stares at the message a
couple of more seconds with a dopey grin on her face, before she puts her phone away.

'Max?' Tina appears out of nowhere and it startles Ivy.

Ivy looks up at her sister, the smile now gone.

'Max what?' she asks.

'you were smiling like an idiot. Did he say something?' Tina explains and proceeds to take a seat
next to her sister.

Ivy shakes her head at the incorrect assumption, also finding it a bit ridiculous.

As if Max could manage to draw a smile out of her these days. Those days seem to be gone.

'it's not Max. It's someone else'

'who?'

'that's a secret I'll never tell' Ivy jokes, but well aware that her sister won't stop asking the same
question until Ivy caves in.

'who?'

She was right.

'I'm not telling you'

'who?'

'Carter' she spits out, curious what her sister's reaction will be.

'ah' Tina looks away disinterested.

'ah?'

'you like him now?' Tina jumps straight to the point.

'Of course I like him. He's a great guy'

'no, I mean, like him like him?'

'I'm still hung up on Max, if you haven't noticed'

'you were still hung up on Roman when you met Max' Tina presses, now purposefully pushing
her sisters buttons. There's also a bit of curiosity behind her annoying behavior.

'oh Jesus Christ. You just really love bringing that up? That was different, by the way. I wanted
to get over Roman. Now...I'm not even sure where I stand with Max. Till I figure that out, I'm
allowed to have some fun'

'fun as in...?'

'Go to LA, meet Carter. Then it's show time'

Two days later and a bit of internet surfing later Ivy has found a decent, not too pricey hotel
where she will stay for a couple of days, while further exploring the city of angels. The
destination of the hotel is ideal, also not too far away from the street where Carter lives.

She's been toying with the idea lately of actually renting an apartment in LA, and staying there
for a longer period of time, because why not? It's summer. The girl needs a break. That might
still be an option, but first she needs to get a taste of the life there. Max showed her a lot, they
did a lot but always as a couple. She never got much freedom, to go explore and try out other,
newer things, as she would have preferred. Either because Max was being too careful, paranoid
was the word she used to describe his worry, or she simply never got enough time to go explore
other parts of the city.

Everything is different now. She's not tied to anyone, she can do whatever she wants,
whenever she wants, however she wants it, and not have to explain herself to anyone.

What if I run into Max? Crosses her mind as she steps out of the cab that has lead her to her
hotel. Max, of course, doesn't know she's now in LA, nor does she want him to know. She's not
sure what she could expect from him if he found out. Would he stick with his plan, would he
give her her space or would he step on his word and come find her. Even though they are no
longer dating, there is no doubt in her mind that he will go mad if he finds out who she's
planning to spend her days with. On the other hand, him finding out, might not be such a bad
idea, it occurs to her. There wouldn't be a better way to torture him. Getting even... Maybe.

Maybe if she accidentally shows up where he is, and Carter just happens to be with her, and
they happen to be having the most amazing time together and Max happens to see them, and
Ivy happens to love every second of it.

Carter would be on board with it, she's...pretty sure of that.

She gets checked in the hotel, and right when she gets handed the key card of her room, her
phone goes off in her bag. Before she even picks up, she makes an assumption that the caller
must be one of her family members. She was going to call them once she's settled in her room.
She pulls her phone out of her bag. Reading the name on the screen proves her wrong. It's not
family.

She slides her finger across the screen, finally taking the call.

'Hello, beautiful' she hears Carter say, and just like other times, a silly grin appears on her face.
'Hey' she replies, now remembering that she texted him earlier, letting him know she had just
flew in.

'I wasn't expecting you here anytime soon, to be honest' he says.

She can hear traffic in the background, meaning he's on the move somewhere. She's hoping he
at least won't be busy tonight.

'and why is that?' she asks.

'thought you were going to need more time to...well, move'

'I would've come earlier if it weren't for my exams...'

'well, welcome then' he announces. 'you free tonight?'

'Oh gee, I'm gonna have to check my schedule' she jokes.

He kind of is the only friend she has in LA, not counting the ones she met through Max.

'I know a great place. I'm picking you up tonight'

'Great. I mean, I'll have to check my schedule, then I'll let you know' she says and hears him
chuckle on the other line.

'I would come to pick you up at nine. Let me know if it works for you'

'I will. I'll text you the address later' she says.

'alright. See you tonight then, maybe' he says.

'right. Bye' she says and hangs up, smiling to herself.

Few minutes later she finally enters her room, and the first thing she does is open up her large
suitcase in search for the right outfit for tonight. Shoes are the next, than the accessories, than
deciding on the right makeup look and hairstyle.

She still has six hours left to get ready, she checks. Why now start right away? She doesn't have
anything better to do, being alone in her room. Leaving her picked out outfit laying on one side
of her bed, she quickly jumps into the shower. She takes a long lukewarm shower, ably avoiding
her hair from getting wet.
 The next part is fun. When she gets out of the shower she starts applying her favorite body
lotion, puts some curlers to the front of her hair to frame her face, then she sits down with
music blasting on her phone and starts painting her nails.

Four more hours left.

She's taking her time with everything. She doesn't want to be left with much free time, then
she wouldn't know what to do with it. She would start getting nervous even though there's no
reason to be.

She tries on her full outfit once her nails are completely dry, but ends up choosing a different
one, then changes into another one after that. Her hair, after removing the curlers, starts giving
her a hard time, and she simply can't get it right.

In the middle of the hustle to make it all work she checks the time, there's still an hour left. She
texted him the address earlier and they agreed to meet in the lobby of the hotel. It's almost the
time and she's now getting nervous, since there's nothing left for her to do to kill the time. The
hair and makeup are done, she's dressed to impress, but this wait is making her depressed.

Music once again on the blast and with a bit of jamming and touching up in the bathroom and
dancing and fooling around in front of the mirror, the time flies away.

It's 9:08pm when she reaches the lobby. She starts looking left and right, but no Carter in sight.
He did text her a few minutes ago as a cue for her to come down. There aren't many people
around but she's stressing her eyes to catch a glimpse of him.

Just as she's about to turn around, she hears a familiar voice.

'wow, you look stunning'

A little startled, she turns around. Just as she faces him she catches the way his eyes travel up
to meet hers, a sign he's been clearly checking her out from behind. She responds to his
compliment with a smile and a small, but confident 'thanks' and he leans in to greet her with a
kiss on the cheek. As he does so the smell of his perfume reaches her senses and she discretely
inhales, feeling a gasp raising in throat.

She barely contains herself from making a sound and the fact that he puts his hand on her hip
as he gives her the kiss doesn't help with the process of trying to pull herself together. She
wants to return the compliment and tell him he looks and smells bloody amazing, with the
British accent and everything. But she decides to keep it to herself as she's sure he already
knows it and she's definitely not going to be one of those girls who fawn over him and become
food for his ego. Even though she can't deny the fact that this is the best he's looked since the
first time she saw him. The hair is neater, lightly swept to the side. His navy suit fits him
perfectly from what she could notice before he leaned in. His dress shirt, once again has three
casually unbuttoned buttons from the neck down. And his scent intoxicating.

It makes her chuckle lightly, when she comes up with a way to describe it, his scent is a perfect
mixture of danger and charm. He's the guy she's been warned about. He's a hustler. She's been
there to witness, first hand, how getting on people's bad sides not only amuses him but doesn't
seem to scare him at all. Makes her wonder about him…

'shall we?' he asks when he pulls away.

'yes, we shall' she says, accepting his invitation to hook her arm around his.

They start walking and right outside the hotel there's a vehicle waiting for them, a limo.
Because Carter Baizen doesn't do cabs, Ivy thinks as soon as she lays her eyes on it. He opens
the door for her like a real gentleman and, even though Max used to do the same thing always,
this time around this gesture makes her feel a little giddy on the inside. This is the first time
she's sat in the limo, and as she makes herself comfortable she thinks how she can easily get
used to this lifestyle. She doesn't ask where he's taking her but by the feel of it it's definitely not
some mediocre club or a bar.

Her point is proven when they reach their destination.

Still, arm in arm, they walk. She's never been with Max to a place like this. If one word could
describe it, it would be the word glamour. Glamour and good looking crowd, as far as she can
tell.

Looking around she sees several bars and lounge areas. The music is live and loud, but not too
loud. The lights are dimmed but it's not too dark. The place is full but not too packed. A perfect
balance of everything.

'some of my friends are at the back. I told them I was coming before you texted me today.
We'll stick with them for a while if that's ok with you?'

'yeah, sure. I don't mind' she says with a smile as they make their way to the back.

There, at one of the booths, she sees five people. Three guys and two girls. They all yell
different words simultaneously when they see Carter. His arm loosens up and it just brushes
Ivy's, down the forearm, as he approaches his friends. He high fives the guys but greets the girls
with kisses on their cheeks. Before Ivy could say or do anything he turns to her and introduces
her to his friends and them to her.
With his hand gently placed at the small of her back he lightly nudges her to move to sit down
next to him.

Soon enough drinks start coming their way and the conversations start flowing. His group of
friends actually seem like the type of people she usually hangs out with, and she loves how
easily she clicked in. Carter also seems pleased with the fact, since he keeps throwing glances
her way with slightly amused and approving smiles.

The two girls as she finds out are the girlfriends of two of the guys from the booth. She still
doesn't know Carter's status, whether he's seeing someone or not. If not, that would make the
number of single people in this booth rise from two to three.

The guy, sitting right next to Carter, Anthony is his name, as far from what Ivy can tell, seems to
want to break that number down to one (Carter). He's the one with the loudest laughter
whenever Ivy makes a joke about something, or says something that not even she herself finds
that funny. The one, seemingly, the most eager to get to know her. The one who's eyes linger
on hers the longest. Ivy is, at this point, with one cocktail and three vodkas down her throat,
not even bothered if he gets the wrong idea and approaches her later on. She's laughing and
dancing with her new friends, with her problems pushed to the back of her mind, and having
the time of her life.

On that note, seizing the opportunity, when she seems the most disoriented after shaking her
head in the speedy rhythm of the music, he approaches her from behind and places his hand on
the small of her back, mouthing how she could've fallen down.

She's very well aware, that he's been looking for an excuse to touch her all along. Eventually
they start swaying together, his hands only lightly connecting with her hips, and surprisingly she
doesn't mind...that much.

His, presumable excitement, is cut short when the song ends and the spell breaks. She pulls
away and one of the girls pulls her by the hand to accompany her somewhere. To the
bathroom, Ivy assumes.

Without a word she follows, only to turn back, two seconds later, to the booth as she has
forgotten her clutch bag. Anthony hands it to her as she tries to reach it. She mouths thanks
and turns around.

Just as she starts walking away she thinks she hears Carter's voice saying something. Before he
finishes his sentence she throws him a quick glance to check if he's referring to her.

'drop the ball, man' he says, turned to Anthony.

She doesn't stay to hear the comeback as she joins the girl to go to the bathroom.

'are you now aware that Tony is into you?' Tamara, the girls speaks up as soon as they walk in
the quiet, but slightly crowded bathroom.

She's wearing a wide smile as she's looking at Ivy, waiting for a response.

'no, he's not' Ivy shrugs it off, pretending to be clueless. She secretly didn't want to be proved
right.

'yeah, he is' the girl says and walks up to one the mirrors, touching up her makeup. Ivy joins
her.

'he...seems like a nice guy' Ivy says.

'oh...' the girl turns to Ivy again, wearing a sympathetic look on her face 'you don't like him?'

'I...didn't say that?' Ivy confusedly responds.

'girl code, girl. We all say that when we don't want a guy near us. Why, though? He's hot. Don't
tell any of them I said that' she giggles 'you have a boyfriend? I thought you said you were
single?'

'I am' she confirms, and with that confirmation she feels some kind of pressure starting to build
in her stomach.

This is the first time she's openly said it since she and Max broke up. Like she's been splashed
with a bucket of icy cold water, she comes to her senses. There might still be a chance with her
and Max. He's waiting on her. He's expecting of her to say yes. It's really all up to her. But she's
here, only mere minutes away from him, and he doesn't even know it. He's probably even
waiting for one short reply that she's not even willing to give. All of his messages... She's slightly
fearful to look at her phone again, she might see something from him again.

'It's complicated' she says, feeling her mood dwindling down.

'I get it. It's still fresh, huh? It'll get better' the girl says, and with one last look at the mirror she
finds that she's ready to leave. 'shall we?' she asks, motioning towards the door. Ivy nods and
they are on their way.
'where's Carter?' Ivy asks as they're approaching the booth.

'laid his eyes on someone, probably. If that's the case he won't be showing his face again
tonight'

Ivy chuckles lightly, attempting to hide the disappointment she's starting to feel caused by that
response. He brought her here and now he's gone, left her be with his friends.

The two of them join the rest of the gang in the booth, and Ivy cringes at the fact that she, now
has, to now sit right next to Anthony, for the rest of the night. She smiles at him a little, slightly
uncomfortable, as she drinks up the last drops of her old drink. Tony waves a waiter to bring
them new drinks and as they're waiting Ivy notices a difference in him. He's keeping his
distance, he's not staring at her with ogle eyes anymore, he simply seems different.

Drinks arrive and so does someone else. Ivy takes barely one gulp of her new cocktail when
Carter shows up. Without sitting back down he motions for her to get up.

'what?' she mouths, before she starts getting up.

'fresh air' is all he says and tilts his head towards the far exit.

The others seem to be now having a discussion about something, so they don't ask anything
when she gets up and leaves with Carter. He doesn't take her outside as she presumed he
would, not really. He takes her on the outdoor patio.

It's as beautiful outside as it is on the inside. There's a big smoky fountain in the very centre,
and the smoke is distributed all the way around, simmering close to the ground. He leads her to
sit down on a bench near the fountain, so that the fog is dancing around their feet.

Ivy seems to be entertained since she starts kicking her legs like a little kid. He smiles a little as
he notices and waves a waiter over. The next time Ivy looks up she sees a big silver plate of
chocolate covered strawberries in Carter's hands.

'what? Where did this come from?' she asks.

'it's a part of the charm of this place. Sometimes it's strawberries, sometimes it's something
else. Small surprises like that. And they're always free' he smiles before he pops one into his
mouth.

She chuckles, slightly amused and follows his example.

'why didn't you invite the others?' she asks, eyeing another strawberry to take on.

'you would want to share this?' he asks jokingly.

'good point' she says, knowingly hiding the childlike excitement that he's decided to share this
with her and not someone else even though he could have.

'you're having a good time?' he asks, discretely running his tongue across his teeth, removing
the chocolate.

'yes. Your friends are great, I have to say. And this place is just amazing. I love it'

'do the strawberries have something to do with why you like it here so much?'

'maybe' she laughs and takes another one.

'I'm glad' he says. 'they also seem to like you'

One of them in particular, she mentally adds. Thinking of Tony...

'did umm... Tony say something to you?'

'What do you mean?'

What does she mean? Alcohol, she's blaming her confusion on alcohol.

'nothing'

'was he bothering you?' Carter asks, something similar to worry showing in his eyes.

'no' she defends impulsively. 'he's umm...nice' she blurts out, then quickly realizes she's given
Carter the same answer that she gave Tamara. She can't seem to think properly.

'I still told him to back off' he nonchalantly remarks.

So she did hear him correctly.

'and why did you do that?' she asks, confused.

'because I know the guy. He hardly takes no for an answer'

'I think I would've been fine without your little intervention'

'you're welcome' he cockily replies.

'take that back, because I'm not thanking you'

Her somewhat harsh comment draws out a small chuckle from him and he lightly shakes his
head.
 'You did seem a bit uncomfortable there' he says in his defense. 'I'm just looking out for you.
Sue me' he takes another strawberry.

She looks away, with an embarrassed smile on her face.

'you're welcome' he adds after a couple of silent seconds.

His unexpected comment causes her to burst into a fit of giggles and she turns to him, shoving
him on the shoulder a little. He smiles a cheeky smile with pursed lips as he sways to the side
slightly.

'have you ever been on a yacht?' he asks out of the blue.

'no. Why?'

'we could go tomorrow'

'you have a yacht?' she asks taken aback.

'I wish' he replies 'one of my friends is throwing a party at his'

'oh...' she draws out, nervously, thanking heavens that she's come prepared with bikinis and
the rest of the summery equipment.

'Umm...' he looks away in the distance, thoughtfully. His face suddenly lights up, as a brand new
thought occurs to him. 'Actually, you better swimsuit up tomorrow. I have a better idea'

'what? So, no party?'

'no party. At least not tomorrow'

'so, what's the idea?'

'It's a surprise' he says with a mysterious glint in his eyes.

'Oh my God' she mumbles, nervously, now that she has found out about Carter's 'idea'. 'you
want me to ride this, alone?'

'you gonna back out?' he challenges her with a playful smirk.

'No' she confidently states, despite the slight trembling of her body and the loss of circulation
in her legs.
She doesn't even know why she's being nervous like this. What's the worst thing that can
happen? She can fall off. Even so, she'll be surrounded by water and she'll be wearing a life
jacket, just in case. But this machine in front of her is a bit intimidating by it's size and the
power it can achieve in the water. She's never driven a jet ski before, and even though she's
excited about the idea, she's also very nervous.

'He's already explained to you how it works' he says, referring to the man who works with jet
skis. 'It's simple, but slightly difficult, takes practice. You can ride with me the first time if you
want. To get used to the speed' Carter suggests, eyeing the jet ski that's given to him.

She's conflicted. She doesn't want to come off as a delicate girly girl who is too afraid to do
something a little daring, but on the other hand she knows he has a point. This machine can
develop the speed of over 70mph, it might be a better idea to, first, try it with someone who
knows what they're doing.

'He's right, miss. Since it's your first time, sitting behind someone who's done it before, is a
good idea, till you get used to the feeling. Then if you're feeling brave, you can try it alone'

Now she feels cornered. Riding with Carter means having to hold onto him, have her arms
around his waist, her chest against his back, and doing that would sure raise their friendship to
another level. She's not sure how she's supposed to feel about all the touching and the invasion
of personal space. What if it gets awkward? What if she squeezes him too tight? What if he
starts teasing her about it later on, she might have to commit a murder.

While she's debating with herself whether to do what she was asked to, Carter already
positions himself on his jet ski, feeling the machine.

'Come on, I don't bite hard' he teases, with his infamous smirk.

She has to admit, he looks pretty darn good sitting there, with his perfectly messy hair, so
youthful and casual, a refreshing change from his usually perfectly styled hair. He has
sunglasses on, and is standing out in the sun with his white, collared tee and his light, turquoise
colored shorts. He looks he's jumped straight out of the cover of some male fashion magazine.

Why does he have to be so handsome? She squirms on the inside. She's not even sure that he
can't read her thoughts at this point. He seems to purposefully voice out everything that she's
holding back from saying.

'I was just thinking that you might lose those sunglasses if you don't put them away' she lies.

'they're not going anywhere' he tugs at them a little with his one hand to prove a point.
'they're glued to your head?' Ivy jokes, just to buy some more time before she makes a final
decision.

'are you coming?' Carter asks, apparently seeing through her attempt to stall.

'yeah. Sure. I'm going to kill it when my turn comes' she says, finally approaching Carter, faking
indifference.

At this point, she's aware he can even see through that. She steps into the water finally,
moving towards him.

He doesn't budge as she takes a seat behind him, unconsciously leaving as much space between
them as she can. The less touching the better. The only problem are the hands. Awkwardly
enough she feels her palms starting to sweat.

'you're gonna have to hold on no matter what. It will get bumpy' she hears humor in his voice.

She makes a bet with herself that he will get wild out there on purpose.

'and move your feet, for better balance. When I lean, you lean, and hold tight. Got it?' he asks,
this time more seriously.

She nods even though he can't hear her, quickly adding 'yes'.

'actually, I'm gonna take these off' he says, removing his glasses. He opens a small cabinet in
front of him where he puts his glasses. That's where they have put away their phones and Ivy's
glasses. Water can't reach it.

'ready?' he asks, ready to press the start button.

That urges her to wrap her arms around his waist. She leans into him instinctively, lessening the
space she's intended to leave between them. Even now, she curses at him mentally, he smells
heavenly, and it doesn't help with her resolve to keep distance.

She inhales deeply, his scent mixed with the salty water hitting her senses, and she feels the
urge to lean her head on his back, actually to snuggle herself against him and continue inhaling
him till she's knocked to sleep.

'go' she says, wanting to escape those thoughts.

He obliges. He starts the jet ski and starts riding towards the deeper water. He's going slow at
first, but despite the speed, the ride gets bumpy.

'I could drive faster than this' she teases, after a short while.
'I was just escaping the waves. Now get ready' he says, and she tightens her grip on him.

Just as she does so he squeezes the gas bar. When he does, for a second, she gets the feeling
like they're flying. Then it gets bumpy again, then smooth, then bumpy. Every time the jet hits
the surface, and the water splashes over them, she screams a little, a scream laced with
laughter. Minutes later they're completely soaked.

High from adrenaline she doesn't even care that her hair is probably a tangled, wet mess, and
that her eyes burn from the salt and that she's gotten really comfortable with Carter like this.
Her arms have gotten to know his waist really well. She keeps laughing and screaming and not
giving a damn.

'wanna go back?' he asks, slowing down a bit, after a long drive.

They've lost the track of time. Who knows how long they've been riding around.

'it's too good' she replies.

'wanna try it yourself?' he asks, tilting his head to the side to catch a glimpse of her.

'hell yeah. I completely forgot. Drive back' she commands and he listens.

Just when they reach the shore and she jumps off the jet, it hits her that she probably looks like
a mess. Her hair was tied in a high pony tail, now it's fallen down, and her clothes are sticking to
her body uncomfortably. She dismantles her pony tail and ties her hair again, this time tighter,
and approaches the guy in charge for the jet skis. He sets everything up for her when she jumps
on her jet.

She gives Carter a look, meaning she's in the mood for a challenge. He rakes his hand through
his hair, ruffling it a bit before he wiggles his eyebrows at her, flashing her a challenging smile,
then he hits the gas. She quickly follows.

Once they get past the waves, she tries to catch up to him but fails. Maneuvering the jet is
much harder than she thought.

Seeing her struggle he approaches her and starts circling her, playfully mocking her. Wanting to
get back at him somehow she starts speeding and splashing him with water. She can hear his
laughter as the curtain of water hits him and she finds it satisfactory.

Soon enough her muscles start hurting and she's forced to go back. He follows.
When they finally check the time they find they have been in the water for a little more than
two hours.

Still slightly high from the adrenalin she starts running across the beach, whipping her hair
around, in an attempt to dry it faster. Luckily they've brought a change of clothes with them
before coming to the beach so they won't have to stay much longer in the wet clothes. In
Carter's car is where their clothes are, and the car is just a few minutes away from where they
are now.

'I'm impressed. You did great. You did better than me. I fell off three times the first time' he
says, as they're walking across the fine sand.

'I told you I would kill it' she jokes.

'you sure did' he replies. 'you're going to be sore, all over, tomorrow'

'Oh I know... I bet I already have abs' she jokes and he chuckles.

'how long are you staying? I never asked'

'till the end of the week' she answers, suddenly feeling exposed.

He might think it's expected of him to keep her entertained till she leaves. She doesn't want
him to think that.

'That's so soon' he says, pensively. 'but I bet you're gonna come back again in a week or two. In
fact I know it'

'and how would you know that?'

'you're gonna be bored out of your mind in that armpit of a town where you live'

'watch it' she warns, half serious. 'How would you feel if I started insulting this vain - full of
dead beat artists and pretentious dbags with ‘I’m so Hollywood vibe’ – good for nothing but
partying - attempt of a city?'

He laughs this time and once again the sight and the sound manages to excite her. Every time
she makes him laugh she feels like she's accomplished something huge. That sound is slowly
starting to become a favorite food for her soul.

'I would be offended if I was actually born and raised here. Talk shit about NYC, I dare you' he
says with a daring smirk.

She sighs in defeat.

'One cannot simply do that. I dare anyone to do it'

'Do you plan on moving around again or are you definitely settled here, in LA?' she asks.

'I'm fine here for now. It's not something I put too much thought into... I might wake up one
morning, maybe even a week from now, and decide I want to get out. I would then pack my
things and take off wherever'

'how can you do that?' she asks with an amused, genuine smile.

'I could never just take off like that' she bites her tongue when she almost adds that she
couldn't just leave her family and take off so abruptly.

But then she remembers he's in a different position, he doesn't have to worry about leaving his
family, he's used on doing whatever he wants without being held back by them or even needing
their consent. He doesn't really have a place to call home, except the one he's been expelled
from.

'The world is my playground. That's how I see it. Why sit in one place when there's so much to
do and so much to see?'

'But doesn't it get... lonely?'

'I'm never lonely' he smiles, but this time she's the one who can see through him.

He's not being genuine. He's hiding, so she decides to drop it.

They reach his car and when he unlocks it, she grabs her bag with dry clothes. The only
problem is, she has no idea where to change. As she starts looking around to see if she can find
any sort of cabin nearby she could use, she catches a glimpse of Carter who takes off his shirt
nonchalantly, and reaches for a dry one from his seat. She doesn't realize she's now full on
staring until their eyes meet.

He pulls his shirt over his head, surprisingly not smirking or making a snide remark about her
staring. She looks away and he speaks up.

'you can change in the car. I won't look' he says and closes the front door to lean against it.

'how nice of you' she says sarcastically before she slides onto the back seat.

She keeps her eyes on him the whole time, even though she could only see his back from the
inside, just in case he decides to cheat and does look. He doesn't move until she gets out of the
car. She moves onto the passenger seat and he sits behind the wheel, oddly serious.
'hey' she softly breaks the silence after a minute of driving. 'what's wrong?'

He seems to realize then that he's been acting weird, so he puts on his careless expression once
again.

'I was just thinking about something'

'care to share?'

He throws her a sideways glance, as if checking with himself if he should speak, if it would be
okay to share what's on his mind with her. She does seem genuinely interested, her eyes tell
him that she's willing to listen, so he decides to share.

'It's my sister's birthday next week' he says, eyes again on the road.

'does she live with your parents?' she asks carefully, wanting to grasp the situation better.

'No' he says with a sigh. 'but she insists that I talk to them'

'that you make a first step?'

'they're not willing yet, but she thinks I'm more reasonable than them. I'm not' he lets out a
small, bitter chuckle at the last part. 'I bet they're just waiting that I mess up and turn to them
for help... Like I would give them the satisfaction'

It makes sense to her what he's saying, but she's also aware that this is only his point of view.
She doesn't know what really happened between him and his family and she doesn't want to
pry. There's certainly more to it than what he's letting on. For all she knows it all might have
went down the other way around, he might have been the one who ‘disowned’ them. Or even
if he's right, she can't help but ask herself what could've he possibly done to make his family
turn their back on him? It could've been one slip up, one disagreement. Something must have
gone terribly wrong there.

'you're very prideful' she comments, not wanting them to slip in the silence.

'sometimes that's an issue' he manages a small smile.

'makes the two of us' she says, now smiling also.

He chuckles and steps on gas since this part of the road is now deserted.

'are you hungry?' he asks, glancing towards her.

'starving'
'we're gonna fix that right now’ he says.

Hours later they find themselves whisked far away from the bas thumps of other clubs, and
walking down a candlelit alley that is slowly bringing them to a darkened gothic underworld
where everything seems a little more sensual. Sky high ceilings, chandeliers, Victorian decor
add to the mystery. Around them, they see, ribbon dancers, aerialists, ballerinas, all kinds of
performing arts. Further down the alley there’s a secluded lounge area with a view on the
outdoor patio that has a stage where fire dancers and twirling ballerinas are performing.

Carter leads them there and they make themselves comfortable, ordering some drinks and
snacks as they slip into a casual conversation and enjoying the view. A perfect evening
relaxation after an adventurous, slightly tiresome but fulfilling day.

'can I ask you something?' she speaks, after a moment of silence and contemplating of whether
to actually ask the question that's on her mind, and that's been bugging her for a while now.

'shoot' he immediately responds.

'what do you do? You finished your college degree, but here you are...spending money like
there's no tomorrow when you don't even have a job. Where is that tree where you pluck your
money from? Cause I want some' she adds a bit of humor at the end, not wanting the situation
to suddenly become too serious or awkward.

'I can take you to it one day' he answers, half joking.

Of course he doesn't mean a tree, but he seems to be serious about wanting to show her,
however that he does make his money. She raises an eyebrow at him expectantly, wanting a
real answer.

'I do work' he says, now acting offended 'But I don't have just one job. I have connections.
People pay for my services. I also like to gamble from time to time, that’s no secret. High
stakes, big game. Killing it' he smirks at the last part, using her words from earlier today.

'not ready to settle then? You could be doing something serious with your life. You did study
business'

'my father got me into studying business. I had no idea what I wanted for myself then so I
decided to just follow his footsteps. Though, halfway through college I lost interest, I wanted
other things for myself, but ended up still getting a degree to get him off my back and because
well, since I had started it, I might have as well finished it. I still want to go places and do things,
I don't want to get stuck in one place, not yet'

'what were those other things that you wanted? Sorry for all the questions, just genuinely
interested. You're still mystery to me' she says with a smile.

'No, it's okay. I don't mind… To answer your question, I didn't know what I wanted except that I
wanted to get out and live, learn things that couldn't be learned from books. For eighteen years
I believed that I wanted to be just like him, my dad. I never stopped to think what I wanted for
myself. You could say I was a good boy' he chuckles 'obedient, selfless, pretty naive...'

'what happened to him?' she smiles, coyly, hiding her smile behind the glass of her drink.

She doesn't mean it in a bad way, not at all. She happens to like him just the way he is now, a
bad boy with potential. She's understandingly curious about this incredulous transition from
being a daddy's boy to a careless rebel.

'bad people' he says curtly and her smile gets wiped away.

'oh' is all she manages to say after she takes a sip and puts away her glass.

'on my first year of college I got involved with some shady people, who I had known for a short
while, but still thought were my friends. One of them had stashed some coke in my car, without
me knowing, thinking it would be safe there for a while till he decided to get it back, probably.
It ended up getting lost somehow, apparently it was my fault. So you can imagine what
happened afterwards' he says with a small but stiff smile as he takes a sip of his drink.

'Oh my...they didn't...they came after you, didn't they?' she asks, voice laced with trepidation
and eyes filled with sympathy.

'I was just about to leave the city for a while when the guy, my alleged friend, showed up,
accompanied with another guy. They had found my car and started breaking in, in search for
something. I used to borrow him my car keys on occasions, I didn't care, I would give them to
him whenever he'd ask. That time he clearly didn't have time to ask so he decided to break in
and take what was his. I saw what they were doing, so I confronted them. The drugs were gone
so they came at me. The lot was empty, it was raining heavily and had I known what was going
to happen next, I would've ran like hell’

She unconsciously bites on her bottom lip, looking at him attentively. He notices how invested
she got into his story and can't help but smile a little at her genuine worry and interest to get to
know him better.
He clears his throat with a small cough before he continues, the smile disappearing. He looks
away then, a frown at the recollection taking over his features.

'at first they tried asking me calmly about it, but of course I had no idea what they were talking
about. I tried to lie my way out of it, but they saw right through it and then the punches started
coming' he says, meeting her eyes again. 'the punches I could take, but they didn't stop there,
no. When I tried to defend myself, when I got a hold on my friend, the other one used this
metal bar, that they used to open the doors, he bashed me on the head then stabbed me with
it. They freaked out and ran away then'

'Dear God' she mumbles, her gentle, sympathetic gaze holding his.

Her hand moves on accord, without her even realizing, and reaches for his. When her fingers
graze his, the contact makes her look down, and awkwardly pulls away, smiling uneasily.

'how did you...get help?' she asks, really disturbed by his story, also trying to ignore this
sudden wave of embarrassment that hits her.

He on the other hand doesn't find her small gesture misplaced or awkward, just endearing. He
responded by brushing his thumb over her knuckles lightly before she pulled away. She
managed to draw a fond smile from him which makes her feel just slightly better.

'I don't remember. My phone fell out, got lost somewhere, I couldn't call anybody, um... I could
still walk, so I walked until I passed out. I don't even know how long I stayed there until
someone found me. The next thing I knew I woke up in a hospital'

'Geez' is all she manages to say at first in loss for better words 'did those psychos got arrested?'

'yeah, eventually...'

'and you didn't seek revenge after that, did you?' she teases, thinking of what he had told her
once.

'there was no need. The law took care of that'

She stops to think how terrifying that whole experience must have been, especially for a young
kid that he was then. How can you bounce back from that without any consequences?

'That would've messed me up'

'It definitely messed me up. But I had an amazing support system' he says, a sarcastic smirk
tugging at his lips. That throws her off a bit. 'You know how my old man, after that, used to
motivate me to do better at college? For every good grade, he had a decided amount of money
to give me. For As he used to be extremely generous' he chuckles. ‘Basically, the better the
grades, more money I'd get' But a sour expression is quick to creep up back on his face. 'and it
worked' he adds with a light shrug. 'I was spiraling out of control and I guess he only wanted to
keep me in check, so I don't ditch college and become a bum. I finished college but it didn't get
me back. I got worse if anything. I was spending money left and right. Got involved with all
kinds of people, started gambling, started losing... Sometimes I'd win and it would make me
greedy. I was in a lot of debt when they cut off my trust fond. But I managed it on my own. I
didn't live with my parents at the time, I had moved away long before my craziness started. But
I got that apartment only thanks to daddy's money, so basically both my parents kicked me out
of there after...one of our fights. Wanted to teach their ungrateful son a lesson that I couldn’t
get very far without their help. Imagine that. They were convinced I would come crawling back’
he chuckles ‘That of course never happened. They were generous enough, though, to give me a
couple of days to find a place to live, that I could afford. I earned some more money during that
time and left NY, and so here I am. Any more questions?' he asks, keeping a light tone.

She chuckles at that, shaking her head at how incredulous his life story is.

'no, I'm good. For now' she says. 'I don't even know what to say at all that... My life is pretty dull
compared to yours' she comments.

'I would hardly call mine interesting. More like disappointing really. At least, those years
behind me'

'hey, one more question' she smiles innocently and he nods.

'how long have you been living here, in LA?'

'about six months' he says. 'I think it's now fair that you tell me more about yourself?' he says in
a form of a question, not wanting to be too pushy.

It's on her whether she wants to open up. She willingly does so. She tells him about her life
before college, about her plans for the future from back then, her parents' divorce and the
move to NY with her mother, then HG with her father.

Soon they effortlessly slip into a discussion about relationships. She finds out that he’s had a
fair share of failed relationships and heartbreaks in the past, a lot having to do with the fact
that he used to be a 'too big of a pleaser'.

'every girl likes to be pleased and a guy to treat them well, but of course they don't want a
gutless pleaser and a guy who treats them so well that they have nothing to complain about to
their friends. I was clueless then' he said.
 On her question to how did he get better at understanding women, he said that his last
girlfriend that he used to be very into, from years ago, taught him the ways of how females
operate, also he picked up a few tips and tricks later on in life. It caught her by surprise when he
told her that he didn't have a real relationship after that girl. She must have done a number on
him if he couldn't commit to anyone after her, Ivy guessed. Ivy couldn’t help but wonder what
was so special about that girl. It was a mutual break up, he said. It made Ivy feel a little bit at
ease, because it meant that he hadn’t been telling her all of that because he's still hung up on
that girl. That conclusion made her cringe, because why would it matter to her if he still is or
not?

Feeling comfortable enough with him she tells him about Roman (but avoids the part with Tina
and him) and how they had stayed good friends. She finally reveals to him what Max had done.
He's composed and attentive, making her feel good that he's paying such close attention on the
wreckage of her love life without harsh comments or prejudice.

The next time they pay attention to the time, it's already past midnight. They've spent hours
just talking and snacking, nothing wild but the time has practically melted away.

He takes her to her hotel, promising her a wild day tomorrow.

She unlocks the door of her room and proceeds to throw herself, face first, on her bed, her
clutch bag still in hand. She hates the fact that her phone is in her bag, that there are unread
messages from Max there, waiting to be acknowledged. She feels knots of nervousness in her
stomach appear at the thought of having to read those and possibly reply. She hasn't replied to
him in so long, that she's starting to think that maybe she shouldn't start now, instead she
keeps postponing it till maybe something comes over her and she will then want to reply. She
doubts, though, that that moment will come. She doesn't actually know why she's being so
hardheaded about this. One message couldn't hurt, it would probably even make his entire day
since he probably wouldn't be expecting it. But does she want him to feel good, to feel like he's
one step closer to what he wants, to possibly entertain the thought that she'll, after all, be able
to move past what he had done in such a short notice? She most certainly doesn't. It's way too
early for that.

She leaves it at that and removes herself from the cool sheets, ready to get ready for bed.
The next day

'Double Decker? I'm impressed' she comments once they reach their destination.

'I am too, still' he smiles down at her as he leads them towards the bridge of the yacht,
connected to the dock.

There are small stairs at the end of the bridge, when they walk over, and he helps her down,
holding her by her hand so she doesn't lose her balance. She smiles at the gentleman like
gesture and thanks him. He just nods as a response.

They meet that same group of five people, she had met the other day, only now Anthony
seems to have a date. When he sees Ivy he draws a slightly content, smug smile that is
supposed to make Ivy uncomfortable or even jealous, that he now has someone, A DATE,
imagine that. She just smiles politely at him, subtly letting him know that she couldn't care less.

It's mid day, the girls are in flowy dresses, lose tops, tank tops, skinny dresses, a lot going on,
while the guys are rocking a slightly more casual style, some are even shirtless. The music is
pumping and they should be kicking off the small cruise any minute now. The main goal is to
get out there, far from shore till they can barely see it, and party as loud and crazy as they'd
like. When the night starts to fall they will park by the dock again and stay there, in case
someone will want to leave, but the party will go on.

Three hours later the party is as wild as it can get. People are hooking up, people are screaming
and jumping into water, splashing each other with champagne, some are tripping and falling,
mainly girls from drinking too much or maybe because the floor is too slippery and wet from all
the spilt drinks. Ivy at this point is standing on the sidelines, just watching the craziness, caught
up in her own inner craziness after getting a call from Tina, letting Ivy know that Max is in HG,
and that he had asked about Ivy. Ivy's heart had stopped with those words. It didn't calm her
down much when Tina said that she had covered for Ivy, using an excuse that Ivy's not in town
but on a vacation, out of town, with a couple of friends.

Since her mood got already screwed up, she finally decides to read those Max's messages. On
her forecast he had probably given her the heads up that he would be coming. She feels just a
bit better upon realizing that she won't have to worry about running into him while she's here.
Three new messages she reads. With a heavy sigh she opens the one - sided conversation to
read.

'just heard this song, reminded me of you…

She's as pretty as a picture

Every bit as funny as she is smart
Got a smile that'll hold you together
And a touch that'll tear you apart
When she's yours she brings the sunshine
When she's gone the world goes dark
Yeah she's heaven on the eyes
But boy she's hell on the heart

Yeah she's good when she's bad

She's cute when she's mad
And she does all the wrong things right
Yeah boy it's a fact when they're made like that
You ain't ever gonna sleep at night…

I might have googled some of the words first, so it came up. Lame. But I’m glad I found it’

Her chest tightens upon reading that, blocking the noise around her, all she can hear is his voice
saying those lines.

'I'm thinking about flying to HG in a day or two. Maybe if we meet? I miss talking to you. If
you would say 'yes' or 'no' , so I know? I miss you. I love you'

Her eyes start watering at this point so she turns away, avoiding any types of looks that could
be sent her way if she were to be spotted crying.

'I'm coming anyway. I really wish you would talk to me, Ivs. I'm trying here' the last one says,
and she puts away her phone.

How guilty and pathetic she feels now... He is trying. She had let him fly across America only to
have him not find her there. She doesn't know his reasons of coming there but she's assuming
she's the main one. She wipes away one tear that rolls down her cheek and turns back around,
planning to order a stronger drink, to pull her out of this misery that she's in.

On her way to the bar she catches a glimpse of Carter having the time of his life, apparently,
with two girls at his sides, talking about something, not made for Ivy's ears presumably, judging
from the smug smiles he's sending them and bedroom eyes they're giving him. He's further
away from her, just standing with the girls but having his hands on their backs. One of the girls
leans in as if to whisper something to him and his smile only grows. Disturbed, and mildly
disgusted, Ivy looks away and proceeds with her quest to find a bar.

She leans against the bar counter once she finds it and orders herself something
recommended by the bartender, apparently a strong drink, 'heals a heartache', more like gains
you a headache. It's so strong and bitter that she squints her eyes after a sip. The bartender
laughs saying that she will enjoy the aftertaste. That's what's amazing about the drink. She
swallows it down and immediately thinks how the guy has had a point.

'hey there' she hears a male voice on her side and she turns to the source, just to make sure
that he's referring to her.

The guy is definitely looking at her so it makes her right.

'hey?' she responds, already not interested in what he has to say.

'you seem kind of lost'

'Yeah, I feel that way' she says, looking away.

'are you here alone?' he asks, inching closer.

'No' she curtly says.

'boyfriend?'

'Nope' she says, taking another gulp of her drink.

'can you tell me your name?' he asks, now literally inches away from her. 'I'm Mark' he says,
offering his hand.

She, after gulping her whole drink down, looks down at his hand, wondering whether to shake
it or not. He looks decent, she decides, and she doesn't want to be one of those girls who
rudely reject guys who are being nice to them. It takes a lot of courage to approach girls,
knowing they could be vicious.

After all, you never know who you could be dealing with, so might as well be nice.

'Ivy...' she says, offering her hand.

He smiles.

'It's a beautiful name, rare also' he says after he lets go.

She prepares herself to say something but just when she's about to do so her view gets blocked
by an arm that glues itself to the counter, a very familiar arm, she notices. It forces her eyes to
travel up, and what she sees... Of course, she should've known.

'what are you doing here alone? Come be with us' Carter says, his assailant approach causing
the guy, Mark, to back away a few steps.

It makes her feel bad for the guy. Carter has certainly made him feel uncomfortable, that's why
he decides to leave.

'why did you do that for?' she asks him, purposefully ignoring his question.

'what?' he asks, faking cluelessness.

'I was talking to the guy' she says.

'who?' he turns around, finds no one behind him, so looks at her again. 'I don't see anybody'

'well no, when you drove him away' she says, looking away, still not moving away from the bar.

'if he scares easily he's not for you then'

She squints her eyes at that, finding it hard to believe that he would just say something like
that.

'Right, cause that's what people do after parties, they marry the people they had talked, for full
two minutes, with' she responds.

She gives him an incredulous look and it surprises her when he doesn't smile at her sarcastic
response like he usually would have. A small frown takes over his features as he stares into her
intently.

'what's wrong?' She immediately looks away, cursing herself mentally that her eyes probably
look a little puffy and red from reading those messages from Max, and suppressing the tears.

Of course Carter would notice, he doesn't miss anything, it seems.

'everything is fine. Lets go' she says, turning away.

''ey' he wraps his fingers around her wrist to make her stop. 'we can leave if you want' he says.

'I'm fine, Carter, seriously. Move' she says, sending him a friendly glare.
Soon enough she transforms back into the cheerful Ivy. Max is still in the back of her mind,
repeating all of those words, relentlessly, cooling down her almost forced excitement towards
this party. To others she might seem upbeat and excited, and that's a success on its own since
she actually feels bummed to the point of wanting to leave the party. Only if she could.

She starts taking shots with the girls, but still careful not to take it too far, and her mood slowly
starts going up to the point where she can almost not hear Max anymore. Carter doesn't seem
to be drinking, she notices. At first she doesn't understand why. It takes her a while to
remember that he’s the driver, so he's going to have to drive them back. At least she's allowed
to drink, she seems to need it.

Looking at him now, it makes her want to laugh at how even though he's apparently sober, he's
starting to goof around with his mates. Carter, the cool, usually collected Carter... Her brain is
having a hard time processing this as she watches him doing some weird moves, as if from the
70s. Lots of repetitive arm work and even funnier feet work. He seems to be having a great time
since he's smiling widely, occasionally laughing at how bad they are. He only catches Ivy staring
when she bursts out laughing at his moves. His eyes find her and the smile doesn't waver.

Using the same bad moves he approaches her, pulling her to dance with him. Still laughing, she
lets him take her by her hands and she tries to keep up with him, but fails. They continue with
the dance till the song ends.

'I'm too good for you, I'm afraid' she says, voice wobbly with laughter.

'I think you're right' he says, calming down now, his enthusiasm withering down slowly.

She starts missing it already. Rare are those times when he lets go like that.

'but it was fun' she says, feeling her cheeks starting to hurt from incessant smiling. 'you're
adorable' it falls from her mouth, unintentionally, and she starts feeling her smile growing stiff.

She definitely didn't mean to say that. Adorable? What a compliment, if it was even meant as a
compliment.

'when you dance' she adds as quickly as possible to avoid the awkwardness that could develop
from just having the first part said.

'I would go for awesome, but...' he smiles a small smile, seemingly not aware of her sudden
awkwardness. She's very thankful for that.
In what seems to be a matter of minutes, the yacht moves by the dock again. A lot of people
decide to leave as soon as the bridge pulls down. It's dark outside already, and Ivy and Carter
decide to be one of those people. They've had enough of partying for one day.

The night is pretty quiet, if the music from the yacht in the background is excluded. Carter
unlocks his car from the distance as he and Ivy are making their way toward it.

'he was checking you out the whole time, I swear' Ivy says through a laughter that can't seem to
die down. It's already been too many minutes.

'I don't blame him' Carter says, pretending to be smug about it but Ivy can see a shade of pink
creeping on his cheeks due to her teasing.

'he was very cute, though. He has great hair, similar to yours. You could be a cute couple' she
continues, still wearing a huge smile.

He throws her a look, similar to a glare and it only makes her burst into another fit of laughter.

'but you don't swing that way' she adds. 'too bad...for him'

'you're full of it tonight, aren't you?' he asks, when they finally reach the car.

She lets out a short chuckle before she lets out a long sigh, 'the drinks must have gotten to me'
she says. 'I feel like I'm on seventh heaven...hey, did you watch that show?'

'I was a big fan' he says sarcastically but for a moment she takes him seriously.

'really?' she asks when she slips on the passenger seat.

'I kid you not' he replies with a straight face when he joins her in the car.

She lets out a laugh before she takes one deep breath.

'anyway, I had a great time today' she says, turning to look at him.

He doesn't start the car yet, he simply turns to her.

'I like it when you laugh' he says, catching her off guard with that comment.

Silence fills the small space of the car when she doesn't know how to respond.

'I like it...when you laugh' she lamely responds.

Second later she feels a giggle breaking through and she lets it out, making the situation less
serious. This time he smiles one of his charming, adorable smiles but without looking away. She
catches the way he bites the inside of his bottom lip when he pulls his lips together, and
suddenly her breath catches in her throat and she finds nothing funny anymore. Her heart beat
speeds up, a cold sweat washes over her when her brain convinces her that he's leaning in.

Her throat suddenly dry, she coughs a little to stop the uncomfortable itching, and in that
moment she sees the opportunity to turn away. She shifts in her seat, turning to the window
and cursing herself mentally for having no tact.

She's thankful that she's sitting right now because she's pretty sure her knees would be
wobbling if she were to stand up.

'it's such a beautiful night, tonight, isn't it?' she squeezes out, trying her best not to let her
sudden anxiety attack, show in her voice and on her face.

Still looking out the window, she hears the engine start running, and it makes her only slightly
better. Something has cut this god awful, awkward silence.

'yes it is' he says, tone neutral.

Ivy moves her head towards him just an inch, wanting to see him with her peripheral sight, but
decides against it. She sinks a bit lower in her seat, feeling as awkward as never before and she
wants to say something to make sure they don't end up driving in awkward silence for the rest
of the ride, but pathetically she has no clue what to say.

'I could take you to that tree tomorrow' she hears him say and she's almost sure now that the
whole scenario, him wanting to kiss her, is a product of her imagination.

She turns to him this time 'what tree?' she recalls them mentioning a tree before.

'that I pluck my money from' he says, smirking.

'oh. That'd be great' she says, now confident that she won't have to worry anymore about the
ride getting awkward.
Sunday afternoon

Four days later

Ivy finds herself at a place she didn't think she would find herself at again. The idea to show up
at his doorstep came to her spontaneously and to follow his example, showing up
unannounced, seemed appropriate at the time.

She straightens her posture, letting out a small breath before she rings the bell of Max's
apartment, hopeful she'll find him home. Her ears perk up as the noise of the door bell
dissipates, straining to hear any kind of sound coming from inside as a sign that he’s really in
there. She hears some shuffling on the other side of the door after a couple of seconds and
then he starts unlocking the door. With the sound comes a feeling of anxiety, as she's not sure
what to be expecting to find on the other side of the door. Is he alone? What if she finds
Vanessa in there, again? What if he's wasted...it's not like it hasn't happened before.

Those thoughts dissipate as soon as she sees him. He's not half naked this time and that's a
small relief. Words get stuck in his throat when his eyes take her in.

'hey' she says, trying to act causal.

She's not as nervous as she thought she would be. She's got this, she reminds herself.

His eyes are opened wider and he is clearly taken aback by her visit. His hand goes to the back
of his neck, scratching the area nervously.

'hi. Come in' he says, coming back to his senses.

She does as he says in silence.

'why didn't you tell me you were coming?' he asks when he closes the door.

'honestly? I don't know' she says turning to him shortly.

He offers her to sit down and before he joins her he offers her something to drink.

'No. I'm good' she replies.

He just nods and decides to join her on the sofa.

'you never replied back' he says, as a way to start a conversation.

'Yeah, I didn't want to' she honestly responds.

A small smile, tugging one corner of his lips downwards, makes an appearance, followed with a
small nod.

'yet you’re here, why?' he asks, tired of beating around the bush.

'to talk to you. I'm done avoiding you' she says.

'I'm listening' he says, tucking one of his legs underneath the thigh of the opposite leg, turning
slightly more towards her.

'I've been thinking a lot...yet, I'm more conflicted than ever' she says. 'I can tell that you're sorry
and I can see that you're trying... But if I'm being honest, none of it is making it any easier for
me to make a decision. Everything is still so fresh in my mind. It's not even been three weeks
since...' she doesn't finish the sentence, he already knows what she has meant to say. Again
that look of guilt appears on his features. 'I still feel like it's only been two days. I walked out of
here, the last time, convinced that I would not come back any time soon, if ever. I was in that
state of mind when everything seemed so crystal clear. I walked away then, finally ready to
escape that vicious cycle of hurt and disappointment that our relationship had become… I
realized then that I wanted something more for myself. That you and I... were done for' his gaze
wavers, hurt and a bit of panic hiding behind his eyes. 'Some time has passed, and now my
mind is so fogged up. Now I don't know what I want anymore... Is it worth a shot? Us, I mean.
Do I wanna go down that road again?... You, being so persuasive and persistent now... I don't
know whether you're only acting that way because you want me to give in, and prove to us
both what kind of power you have over me, and as soon as I do give in, if I were to give in, you
would go back to your old ways? Or maybe because you're truly genuine about all of it...?'

This time he interrupts her.

'how could you even think that I'm not?' he asks.

'your track record isn't exactly squeaky clean, Max' she says, adding coldness to her voice.

She doesn't let him chime in again, as she continues.

'my head is jumbled with so many ifs and maybes, and none of it is good enough. Some things I
want to know for sure. But it's way too soon for any of it'

'but can't you tell how lost I am?' he speaks up as soon as she finishes as if he couldn't wait to
get a chance to speak. 'What I don't understand, Ivy, is...how can I make it any clearer to you
that I am serious about this? I get it that you need more time and space and...I'm not trying to
pressure you into anything. I get you, ok? Just don't say that I'm not being serious or genuine.
Don't you even think it... You know damn well how I feel about you. And how can you even...'
he scoffs at the unfinished thought, as if it’s too ironic and ridiculous 'you're the one with the
power over me. You didn't see me the first week. If I would’ve had any hair on my head I
would've pulled it all out' she rolls her eyes at that, a small smile breaking through. 'maybe for
you it's been only two days, but for me, more like four years... I knew I had to give you some
time, and it was absolutely killing me to stay away. I had already decided to give you a week.
That's as much as I could give before I came to see you... It was a torture, that freaking week. I
had to wait seven days. That's soo many hours, before I could get on that plane. It dragged on
and on... I had dreams about it, very vivid dreams how I would come to see you and you would
curse me out. Other times you would take me in and I would get to kiss you. I became obsessed
with that trip, sick with the need to see you. I had so many things to say to you, but somehow
forgot all about it as soon as I looked at you. I ended up telling you at first, everything that I had
been afraid to admit to myself. Only later did I come to my senses. I told you that I didn't want
to lose you and that I would fight for you... I had no idea what your silence meant. After some
time of me trying to get ahold of you, texting you without getting a reply, I slowly started
realizing that you wanted nothing to do with me anymore. Every new text that I would receive I
would get stupidly excited, only to be let down time and time over… The last thing I thought I'd
see, is you standing at my door'

One long moment of silence is shared between the two, the words sinking in. She breaks it
first.

'I'm scared, Max' she says, her voice quieter than usual. 'I'm scared to be let down again. I
don’t want that instinct, that had told me to stay away then, to be proven right... I need to learn
to trust you again. I need to lose the fear of our history repeating itself. I don't want to have to
worry about you slipping up again and me having to deal with the aftermath of it. I don't want
to have to fear you walking out and choosing someone else over me if we ever have a bad
fight... I just want to be able to look at you the way I used to… before all of this'

His gaze has never stopped holding hers as she talked. His hands find hers, cupping them lightly
and bringing them to his lips as he closes his eyes.

'I'm going to make it up to you. I promise' he mumbles against the skin of her hands, before he
plants kisses on both. 'I'm so sorry for everything' he whispers.

'I know you are' she says, smiling at him with one weak smile.

She can't ignore the butterflies he's given her after feeling his soft lips on her skin. She can
barely ignore this emerging sensation that makes her want to wrap her hands around his neck
and pull him in for a fiery kiss, they haven't shared in a while. Him looking at her like a puppy
needing tenderness and affection is not helping at all. It's taking everything in her not to give to
him right now.
'I should go. Now' she says, attempting to get up.

He tightens his grip just slightly on her hands, stopping her before she gets to even move.

'but you don't have a flight yet'

She freezes. Of course she doesn't. How could have she forgotten that small detail. She needs a
clever excuse out of this one and fast. She can't just use the truth! She can’t just say 'Oh I've
been staying here for a week now. You know, hanging around with that guy you can't stand,
Carter? I gotta get back at him by the way, we might go out tonight'

'it doesn't matter, I could stroll around for a while...like that last time'

'or you can just stay here?' he offers, foreseeing that she will say no.

'I don't think that's a good idea' she squirms in her seat uncomfortably.

'I think it's a brilliant idea. I haven't seen you in so long. I don't want to take my eyes off you
just yet' he says, causing her to push herself down the imaginary stairs in her mind in a sudden
wave of misery as she realizes how serious he is.

His eyes ever so bright, just looking at her so expectantly... and his lips ever so plump...and
kissable, tempting, inviting. She can see them so clearly as if she's only inches away. As she's so
dazedly focusing on every inch of his handsome face she doesn't even notice that she is,
indeed, only inches away from him. She's been inching closer ever since he stopped her from
leaving. Ever since he gripped her a little tighter. She's already under the spell, there's no
escaping it. She just knows it. How can that even be possible, at this point, when he's so...Max.

She catches the way his lids start closing up, and the way he's starting to close the small
distance between them, the way her heart starts beating faster with that action, the way her
lips start aching from missing his so much, the fact that she can't remember why she's been
denying him this whole time.

His hand finds its spot on the small of her back as his lips take hers. It's been way too long. The
way he lets out a small, barely audible gasp of relief with the contact is enough to make her feel
lightheaded and feverish with the desire for him. Her hands move on their own, hooking behind
his neck just like she envisioned doing just a few minutes ago. Their tongues finally find each
other, hungry for the contact. His other hind gets lost in her hair, as the other presses her a bit
tighter, wanting her closer. They completely lose the track of time with the kiss, the notion of
time completely nonexistent in this state that they're in.

He seems to be only getting hungrier for her, even though they both haven't stopped to take a
breath from the start. He shortly pulls away from her lips, but only to create a trail of kisses
from her lips, across her cheek and down the side of her neck, getting creative there when he
starts gently sucking the delicate skin.

'I've missed you so much' he mutters, breathlessly, returning to her lips, but brushing his thumb
over them lightly first.

'me too' she manages to respond before he takes her in once again.

'stay?' he mumbles, after a couple of seconds, once he takes a breath.

She could stay, the thought crosses her mind. She could catch a plane tomorrow and she could
stay the night with him. Then, all of a sudden, a pang of reality knocks her spirit down.

Her stuff are at the hotel. She would have to go back to get them. But knowing Max he would
want, no, he WOULD drive her straight to the airport, but somewhere in between she would
have to tell him that she had paid to stay in a hotel. It would make sense to tell him, now, that
she's paid for a room to stay in, for one night only. As if she flew in just yesterday.

A great way to start off a relationship, with a lie.

Only problem with this scenario would be, it occurs to her, the most obvious one, all of her bags
that he would see that would take him by surprise. One night in LA? Yeah, right.

He notices her sudden stiffness so he pulls away.

'what's wrong?'

She swallows harder as she takes a look at him.

'I've...' she makes one long pause before she speaks again.

This whole time Max has been looking at her intently.

'Tina told you that I was on a vacation with a couple of my friends, when you visited?' he nods,
confused.

'she lied?'

'I've...been here that whole time' she says, covering up her nervousness as best as she can.

'here? LA?' he asks, his voice calm but his gaze rattled.

'I wish you would've told me' he says.

That went well, she thinks.

'I didn't want you to know' she says.

'great, now I don't feel like an idiot at all' he says, leaning against the sofa now.

'you shouldn't feel like an idiot' she says, trying to make him feel a bit better.

'but why LA though? We could've run into each other'

'LA is huge. I doubt it'

'how many of you are there?'

What is this? A pop quiz? She thinks. She huffs.

'three...four' she says.

Damnit, she’s meant to say five. She knows what he's going to say next.

'I could drop you off at the airport. You could all fit in my car'

'you don't have to. We'll just take a cab. I don't want to be bothering you' she says.

'you won't be bothering me, I want to' he says, reaching for her hand and caressing it with his
thumb.

'I kind of don't want them to know about...this, whatever this is, yet. They don't even know I'm
here'

He struts his jaw out a little, as if offended.

'they all hate me, don't they?' he asks, smiling a little but she knows it's forced.

'well, they're not your biggest fans at the moment' she says, keeping her tone light.

'can't blame them' he mumbles.

She just smiles uneasily, finding it hard to look at him after all these lies.

'but will you stay? I will take you to your hotel, or wherever that you're staying at, tomorrow'

She pulls her hand away from Max's and props her elbows on her knees, using one of her hands
to rub one of her temples.

'I still don't think that would be a good idea' she says.
'but why?'

'you know why' she says, sending him a side glance. 'We can't just rush into this. I can't just stay
the night with you...'

'and why not?'

'cause you know we'll only end up having...sex' she says, flushed.

He chuckles at that, finding it incredulous that that's where her mind has gone to first.

'we don't have to have sex' he says.

'you're suggesting that we sit like this and hold hands all night till it's time to go to bed?' she
asks, humor in her voice.

'we can do that' he said, half joking.

She raises an eyebrow at him, challengingly.

'that would be a great test' he says, now being serious.

He leans forward, elbows on his knees now.

'I miss waking up next to you' he purrs, kissing her shoulder.

'you're unbelievable' she says, a smile appearing on her lips.

'is that a yes?' he smiles and kisses her cheek, lingering there a little.

'no. You misunderstood' she teases.

'no I didn't' he says, capturing her lips again for a small peck.

'are you hungry, we can order something?' he asks after a while of catching up.

'a pizza would do' she says.

'pizza it is' he says, going for his phone.

'congratulations on the new phone' she says jokingly, but reminds herself to get hers from her
bag and see if there are any new text messages or missed calls.
 There are none when she takes a look and she puts it on the table in front of her where she can
see it.

'I got my old one fixed, but it's still not properly working. I just needed to be able to transfer
some date onto my new one. I would've been pissed if it all got lost' he says, from the end of
the room where he left his phone for some reason.

'so pissed you would break your new one?'

'exactly' he retorts with one of his beautiful smiles, before he puts his phone on his ear, and she
just chuckles.

He orders two pizzas 'just in case' he gets hungry in the middle of the night, and just in case he
would want it for breakfast.

'eww, hardened, cold pizza for breakfast? You're living such a healthy life here' she says when
he takes a seat next to her again.

'there's NOTHING healthier than that. Have you noticed how big I am now? From pure protein.
From all the pizzas' he says, making her laugh.

'amazing pizzas you have here in LA'

'yeah, everything is healthy here' he says, leaning against the backrest.

She chuckles.

'sure. Maybe that's why obesity is an issue in America. People all over probably think that their
pizza is just as healthy as it is here. Ignorance' she says.

He laughs shortly, but doesn't make a comment. She doesn't look at him, but she can tell that
he's looking at her. She's proven right when she feels his hand reach out and touch the ends of
her long hair. She throws him a shy, side glance when his fingers start playing with her hair.

'I've missed you so much' he says quietly, as if more to himself.

She feels tightness around her stomach appear with those words, and she can't simply make
herself respond the same way again. She has missed him also like crazy, even though she's been
trying to deny it. There's no denying it now, she has missed him, but she isn't going to be
shouting it from the roof tops now. Not when he still needs to prove himself to her.

'you've said it already' she says, teasing a little.

'I know. I just, I can't believe that you're actually here. I had no clue that you would just show
up out of the blue. Today. But I'm glad you did... Unless I'm dreaming. This is the part when I
wake up' he says, serious.

Her face scrunches a little in surprise and confusion with his words. He's had dreams like this?
Of her coming back to him? Forgiving him? She's only had the bad kind, reliving his betrayal
over and over again. But waking up from nice dreams to a bad reality is way worse than waking
up from bad dreams to an equally bad reality. The regret is less severe with the latter.

'I have got to be dreaming… Like Ivy would just show up like that' he says, disbelief evident in
his voice.

'Ivy did show up like that' she says, turning to him fully.

She pinches him on the arm to prove him a point. He grimaces a little at the pinch, rubbing the
sore area.

'This better be real'

'and what if it really isn't?' she asks with a challenging smirk.

'then I'll wake up feeling like shit' he says, making an abrupt stop.

She expects him to continue but when he doesn't she just snorts, chuckling right after.

'that's it? I thought you'd come up with something...slightly less romantic. You really went full
on there'

'I'd go nuts, is what I wanted to say. Having to go through another day without speaking to you.
Maybe even another week... No. Just no' he says, running a hand over his face hastily.

'When am I going to see you again?' he asks, eyebrows furrowed in a thoughtful manner. 'and
don't you say 'in the morning when you wake up''

'I wouldn't be that predictable' she defends.

'I just needed to make sure'

'I don't know. Maybe soon, maybe not' she answers.

'We need to take it slow. Everything is still fresh in my mind. I can't just...'

'I get it... The fact that we're at least talking now is enough for me. There's no need to rush' he
says in a soothing voice that draws the faintest smile from her, secretly feeling glad to hear
that.
 'I can sleep on the couch tonight if you'd like. We don't even have to be in the same bed. Just
knowing that you'll be right next door, will give me enough peace'

She actually considers it for a second, thinking how that would actually be the most ideal
choice. Since she doesn't really want to go back to her empty, depressing hotel room. Staying
here with Max is actually comforting in a way. Bonding with him again is taming her relentless
spirit, her scattered thoughts and worries. She, also, is at peace, having him next to her. She
wouldn't want to have it any other way.

'that's a good idea' she says, secretly regretting saying it.

He just nods. He's been expecting it.

They slip into a comfortable silence for a short moment before she speaks up.

'you know what's coming up soon?' she asks, A small smile playing at her lips.

'what?' he asks, clueless.

'your birthday'

He chuckles.

'I completely forgot that such a day exists. I don't think I will be celebrating this year'

'oh come on now. Why not?'

'I've aged at least 5 years this year. I don't need to celebrate adding another number to that'

'Max, you'll be turning 25, not 60. You want anything special to get?' she asks, sensing what
he's going to say next.

'A Ferrari. A dog... but I can't handle a dog in an apartment, I don't think. It's sad' he says,
completely throwing her off.

That's not at all what she's been expecting.

'just kidding' he says when he notices a look on her face. 'I don't care really. You know I don't
care about presents and stuff like that. I can buy shit for myself if I want to. If I do decide to
celebrate it, I want you to be there. That'll be enough' he says, reaching for her hand again, the
only aspect of intimacy they can share for now.

'I just knew you were going to say that' she says, a smile breaking through.

'so you were just checking?' he asks, returning a smile.

She nods and he brings her hand to his lips. Just then the doorbell makes a sound and Max gets
up to open the door.

The smell off hot pizza quickly fills the room when he brings one to the table and opens the box.
They start eating and chit chatting casually while also watching TV. After the first slice she
offers to bring them glasses of water, she's been sitting long enough. Just as she gets up and
makes a few steps, her phone makes a sound. It's just a text, she brushes it off at first, intending
of proceeding to the kitchen. She just merely glances towards her phone and sees Max leaning
over for another slice. Her phone is right next to the box and still lit up.

It could be Carter, it occurs to her and her heart drops to her heels. She hastily turns back
around, reaching for her phone quickly, but still carefully enough to not seem suspicious. Max
just throws her a slightly confused look as he takes a bite of his pizza. She just smiles uneasily
and proceeds to go to the kitchen, bringing her phone with her this time. She takes a look at the
screen as she's walking and sees Carter's name. That was close, she thinks as she opens the
message.

'Going out tonight?' it says.

She quickly types away her responds and presses send.

'No. Not tonight. Don't feel so well.'

When did she start lying so much? It's hard to stop once you start.

She fills two glasses with water and with the phone stashed in her back pocket she walks over
to Max who still has mouth full of pizza. There are smudged traces of ketchup around his mouth
and she can't help but laugh.

'are you sure you're not a royal?'

'who knows' he mumbles with full mouth.

With her phone still in her pocket she returns to eating and soon enough she receives a new
text message.

'So, I'm forced to say goodbye to you over a text message? That is not how I operate.'

He manages to draw a smile out of her, but she quickly covers it up so Max doesn't notice.

'I'm afraid you'll have to. There's a first for everything.' she sends.

'is that one of them?' she hears Max ask, but she doesn't quite understand what he means by
that.
'who?'

'one of those Max haters?'

'oh, yeah. They figured me out. I just told them I'll be staying here for the night'

Another lie. Soon enough she'll end up having to write them down.

'I could drop you off at the airport, that way we can properly say goodbye. Thoughts?'

Not this one too, she squirms internally. She can't really say no to that now, can she? What
excuse would there be? 'Sorry I would much more prefer riding a cab' or simply a 'No' would
do? She can't apply either of those. But if she has denied Max than, surely, she can't say yes to
Carter. He's the reason she's in this mess in the first place. Her lies take second place.

'I'm leaving early. You can sleep tight.'

'I'll be seeing you soon, surely. You won't stay gone for long. Have a nice trip tomorrow!'

She almost lets out a laugh at his text but she ably contains herself.

'Maybe, not surely... And thanks.' she texts and this time she knows this will be the end of the
conversation.

'this one?' Max holds up a shirt from his dresser, for Ivy to see.

Even though he's been trying to hide it, or at least come off as not as eager about it, he, indeed,
he is excited about the part when he will see Ivy, in his, too big for her frame, clothes, once
again.

She nods approvingly at the picked shirt and he hands it to her. He could've just tossed it to her
since there's been at least ten feet distance between his dresser and his bed, that she's been
sitting on, but he still chose to walk up to her.

'hey, do you still have those pink shorts? ...With white flowers on them?' she asks, now
standing in the middle of the room, ready to go change out of her clothes.

His brows furrow at her question, mixed emotions playing on his features.

'there are no white flowers on them’ he retorts and she chuckles.

So he's offended.

'those are just...white patterns' he says, turning around and walking up to his dresser again.
'and they’re not pink' he mutters absently as he eyes all of his clothes again in search for the
pink shorts.

'manly pink then' she teases. 'oh look. Look how it stands out. I can see it from here' she says,
still standing a few feet away from him and pointing at his dresser.

He has his back turned to her and even though he doesn't let out a sound, his shoulders start
moving in a way that makes it clear to her that he's laughing. She notices also a small shake of
his head after she's made her comment. He pulls the shorts from the stack of clothes and this
time tosses it to her, wearing a small frown on his face.

'oh poor baby' she mocks. 'if it's of any consolation, this color fits you better than it does me'
she says, keeping her tone less playful this time around.

He doesn't say anything, a frown still present on his face. He just knows she won't stop there.

'pink is definitely your color' she says, a smile breaking through and she hurries to the
bathroom, locking the door after her, just in case.

Once she's alone and with Max's clothes in her hands, fondly, she brings those two pieces of
clothing closer to her face, letting her eyelids shut reflexively as she allows Max's scent to fill
her senses. She starts inhaling and exhaling, not moving from one spot as she's walked in. She
hugs the clothes tighter, burying her face in them, not ready to let go just yet. At this point
she's not sure if she will ever be ready, or that she could ever get enough of this, him, his traces
on everything he touches, his unique scent. Still inhaling, she feels like she could drown in it. In
the familiarity of it, the uniqueness of it. The way it hypnotizes her in a sense of gracing her
with a sense of serenity and safety. She can't imagine that to be taken away from her again. She
doesn't understand how she has managed to go on this whole time and be without it. In this
state of mind that she's currently in, there's one word that comes to mind as a way to describe
Max's scent - home.

Once she breaks out of her trance, that might have lasted even minutes, she finally decides to
do what she's come here to do. His shirt falls past her hips reaching the middle of her thighs
once she pulls it over her head and pulls her arms through the two holes. She doesn't even
have to use his shorts because his shirt on her already looks like a dress, but because she feels it
could be slightly awkward and inappropriate, especially in this phase that they are now in, if she
were to come out like that, she decides to wear his shorts.
She comes out of the bathroom once she's ready and joins him in the living room where he's
just now watching TV. He doesn't hear her come in since she's walking barefoot. Once she
reaches the zone of awareness of his peripheral sight, his head snaps towards her, a fond smile
growing on his lips as he takes her fully in. Feeling exposed and slightly awkward under his gaze
she makes a few macho like moves with her arms convinced she looks ridiculous in his big
clothes.

'what are you doing?' he chuckles. 'come here' he pats the empty space next to him on the sofa
as an invitation for her to sit down.

She shuffles towards him and takes a seat where he has pointed out for her to sit.

'you should wear that everywhere' he says, once she positions herself next to him, lifting her
legs off the floor and tucking her feet beneath her thighs, the position making her seem so
small in his eyes.

'yeah, it would definitely make me feel more comfortable during exams' she responds to his
joke.

He chuckles shortly, glancing at her secretly, memorizing every detail that he can see from his
angle.

'I don't understand how you can still manage to look attractive to me, wearing that' he says, his
voice quieter and lower this time.

The mix of his words and his growly voice causing her to feel that familiar tingling sensation in
her stomach. She tilts her head slightly, enough to catch a glimpse of him. She can't help a smile
that's now plastered across her face.

'that shirt and my pink shorts' he says in all seriousness and this time a laugh breaks through
from her.

'should I wear one of your hats and socks and shoes, to see how you will like me then?'

'probably just the same' he says.

This time she can feel his warm breath on her cheek, and it makes her aware of how close in
proximity they really are. The realization causes her to swallow harder, wondering whether to
pull away or stay right where she is and welcome the possibility of feeling his lips on hers again.
The slightly wavering look in his eyes makes it clear that he's thinking the same. Her eyes fall
onto his lips, to see them pressed into a tight line as if he doesn't want something to get out or
is restraining himself from doing something, in this case, kissing her. He proves her right when
he turns his head away from her, staring at the TV once again.
He's being serious about not wanting to pressure her and willing to settle with just having her
near him, no physical contact necessary. She can also see how much it's bothering him to be in
this position, how much he's really against it. He wants more. Of course he does. But he's given
her his word. He wants to prove to her that he can keep it, this time around, despite the
temptations. She's clearly aware of all of that, but, what she doesn't seem to be aware of are
her following actions.

Reacting impulsively and irrationally one of her hands moves to cup his cheek that's hidden
from her as she inches closer and plants a soft kiss on his other cheek, almost reaching the
corner of his lips. At the unexpected contact his hand reaches up reflexively and palms her
hand, where she's been cupping his cheek. His head tilts towards her again, his full lips half
parted this time as his eyes bear deep into hers, as if searching for answers. She's not sure what
he manages to find in that short moment before her lips press against his again.

At first she doesn't feel him respond, but she knows him enough to know that he's marveling in
the sweet realization that she's the one kissing him. He lets her lead for a long moment before
she feels him return the kiss with slightly more force. The way his jaw muscles flex beneath her
touch, manages to arouse her more than she should allow herself to be.

The kiss deepens and she's starting to feel herself leaning back until her back hit the seats of
the sofa, his body carefully positioning on top of hers, allowing her mobility. His hands move to
different parts of her body. One tucked behind her neck, elbow holding him up, and the other
just under the curve of her back, tracing her soft skin there, slowly reaching up. Her hands
locked behind his neck, pulling him closer and one leg now wrapped around one of his. His
hand starts leaving fiery trails behind it as it starts traveling up from her back, to her waist,
across her stomach, to the line of her bra. She can feel his fingers as they barely trace one of
the cups when the contact suddenly stops. His hand moves away, out of her shirt, and he pulls
away, lifting himself up using his elbow.

'what are we doing?' he asks in the form of a whisper, his gaze merely worrisome.

His question catches her by surprise. Him pulling away has definitely not been expected. All she
can do at this point is stare at him blankly, feeling like a fool for starting something and not
knowing where she even wanted to take it or whether that would have even been a good idea.
Terrible idea apparently. Sadly she's now, in a way, grateful that he has stopped it before they
took it too far.

'you said...' he starts but she interrupts him.

'I know what I said' she says, a little irritated, attempting to sit up and he moves back. 'Sorry'
she mutters.
'no' he says. 'you definitely shouldn't apologize for that' she hears him but it doesn't make her
feel any better.

She starts adjusting her shirt and purposefully moves a little further away from him. He
acknowledges her wish to stay away with a heavy heart, resuming his previous position on the
sofa. He assumes that she needs some silence since her gaze is now fixated on one spot
somewhere in the distance, so he stays quite. A couple of seconds later she speaks up.

'I got my stuff back from your apartment' she says, voice quiet.

He glances at her shortly, noticing her gaze is still distant as she's still staring nowhere in
particular, before he looks away again.

‘I know' he says.

'I wanted to give you back your keys, but I forgot'

'I'm glad you did' he comments, offhandedly.

'that I forgot?'

'yes. I wouldn't have...taken it very well' he says, still not looking at her. 'I'm assuming you got
rid of the rest of my stuff?'

This time their eyes meet. She nods.

'the bracelet?' he asks, as if that's all that he really cares about.

'it's in a box now' His lips turn downwards in an amused manner, as he nods slightly.

'out of sight, out of mind...' he mumbles to himself. 'while I legit got pissed when I realized that
all of our pictures had been on that broken phone. I got them back...eventually'

'I deleted mine' she says, curious about his reaction.

He's suddenly very still, his eyes fixated on hers, curious whether she's telling the truth.

'everything?' he asks and she nods, purposefully avoiding the part of having those pictures
saved on her lap top.

It's an unusual way of letting him know that she can be fine on her own, that she can stand her
ground, that she can’t be tied to anyone or anything, that she's capable of cutting him off
completely if he were to let her down again, no matter the history.

'I understand' he says.

Monday morning

Ivy wakes up to a fresh smell of peeled oranges and something straight from a frying pan.
Pancakes maybe? She assumes by the smell of it. With her eyes still closed, she inhales deeply
while stretching, like a cat, under the covers in Max's bed.

Max's bed. As the realization dawns on her, her eyes snap open, taking in the surroundings.
Flashbacks from the day behind her start replying in her mind, switching quickly with every
passing second, until her memory is completely refreshed. Footsteps can be heard coming from
the hall, she supposes it can only be Max.

His head pokes through the creek of the half opened door and a small, blissful smile is quick to
appear on his face as he confirms that she's awake. He pushes the door open with his foot and
that's when Ivy sees that he has a tray in his hands, with, presumably, her breakfast on it.

She makes a lotus pose on the bed, sitting up, having her back leaned against the pilows behind
her. A shy smile of content creeps up on her face at the sight of Max and the food in his hands.
A breakfast that's meant for her, made with his own two hands.

'Good morning' he says, crossing the distance, a hint of a smile still present on his face.

'Good morning' she responds, smiling a bit wider. 'You've been diligent, I see'

He takes a seat at the side of the bed, placing the tray on her lap, carefully.

'It's nothing' he humbly says. 'I mean, I hope I did ok. I hope you like it...with you being so picky
and everything' he mumbles the last part, barely audible but she picks up on it.

'I'm not picky...' she defends 'I just like my food a certain way' she replies, shooting him a
playful glare before she turns to her food.

Small, round pancakes dappled with streakes of chocolate syrup on them and with cut up
banana round slices around the rim of the plate, making a circle around the pancakes.

'I have some chocolate milk in the fridge. If you're not feeling the orange juice' he offers in a
light tone.

Her eyes light up with childlike excitement at the mention of it.

 'chocolate milk, yeah, yeah, yeah' she blurts, nodding her head rythmicaly. 'I mean the juice is
tempting, I want to drink it but...milk' she pouts at the end like a child and he smiles wider at
her innocence, hesitant for a short moment whether to reach out and kiss her.

He decides against it as he stands up in order to bring her the milk. She watches him walk away
and can't help but feel slightly bad for having him go all the way to the kitchen to bring her
something else when she's got fresh orange juice, without the pulp (!), right in front of her, that
he's made for her. She takes a sip of it before she starts eating, but doesn't drink much, she
doesn't want to get ill by mixing chocolate milk and orange juice along with bananas and
chocolate covered pancakes, all in one meal.

Max comes back a minut later with a mug in one hand and littered chocolate milk in the other.
He resumes his seat at the edge of the bed and with the corner of his eye he watches her eat as
he pours the milk into the mug.

'I like watching you eat, you know that?' he comments when he places the mug on the tray in
front of her once the mug is filled.

She throws him an incredulous look, with her eyebrow raised a little, but a small smile manages
to break through still.

'way to make me self conscious while I eat' she responds and he chuckles.

'I can't even explain why...it's just one of the things that you do that...' he straightens his
posture and clears his throat, for a more manly approach to what he plans to say next 'make
me feel all...mushy inside'

He pinches his eyes shut at his words in a wave of embarrassment. She catches it and can
immediately tell that he regrets ever letting those words come out of his mouth. But she's glad
she’s got to hear it, she's glad he’s got to open up like that, even though it's quite comedic and
innocent.

A laugh escapes her throat unexpectedly as the words sink in. Max and mushy, somehow
doesn't fit together. A hilarious combination, acording to Ivy. His eyes open only to shoot her
with a warning glare, that's actually more of an attempt of a glare. The way angered puppies
attempt to intimidate you with their high pitched barking, convinced they look tough, but it just
makes you want to pet them and tease them even more.

'aww. That's so sweet, Maxy. That's very sweet' she teases him with a smile as she swallows
down a bite of her pancake, choosing to hide from him the fact that his comment has made her
feel all mushy on the inside.
'oh God' he mumbles, looking away. 'my musculinity has become a thing of the past
apparently...'

'go punch something, I'll wait here' she jokes, taking another bite.

'is it good?' he asks, her previous comment passing unnoticed.

'very' she replies, nodding lightly.

They stay in silence for a while. She feeds him smaller pieces of pancakes on the fork a few
times, making herself feel less awkward eating alone. When he swallows down the last bite he
speaks up, bringing up something that even to him seems like wishful thinking.

'Ivs?'

'yes?'

'why don't you spend your summer here?’

'here?'

'In LA. With me...you don't want that I'm sure, but you can...find an apartment here for a rent. I
would pay for it all, you just pick a location. What do you say?' he asks, that expectant look
once again present on his face but she doesn't have to think twice about it.

'No, Max. I could never let you cover expenses for me'

'but you're not saying no either? You wouldn't mind spending summer here?'

'I mean... I may have toyed with that idea a little bit... I don't know'

The weirdest part is that she, indeed, doesn't know what to think about this situation. Now with
Max in the picture. Now with this friendship with Carter that's suddenly become a burden. She
can only presume what kind of impact it would have on Max if he were to find out that she's
been seeing Carter, and gotten to know him better as in they are more than just plain
aquantances now. She's grown to really enjoy his company and cutting him out of her life, even
though her and Max's relationship might suffer because of it, doesn't seem to her, at this point,
like an option. In her mind she's convinced that there must be a better solution, a way out, that
doesn't require anyone getting hurt one way or another. Staying in LA might or might not be a
good idea. She can't tell which, at the moment.

'lets not talk about that now, please?' she asks, glancing at him shortly then turning to her food.
Suddenly she loses her apetite.
'ok. Sorry' he mutters.

A pang of guilt. She doesn't want him to feel guily or uncomfortable for bringing that subject
up, but she has a feeling he's being exactly like that.

'don't apologize. It's fine. I'll have to think about it, ok?' she asks, smiling at him lightly to get
him to ease up a little.

Walking on egg shells seem to be a skill that Max has mastered in these weeks of solitude and
due to his previous failed attempts to get on Ivy's better side. It's obvious that he's growing
desperate to do everything just right, as if even the smallest misplaced comment could cause
her to run the other way again. That he would be alone and desperate again, taking it all back
from the start.

'after I'm done with the breakfast and getting ready, you'll take me to the hotel?' she asks,
finally agreeing to his yesterday's proposal.

He agrees instantly just like she's hoped he would.

Five days later

Hemlock Grove

'Ivy! Your phone is beeping here!' Tina yells from the kitchen in the middle of her mid day
snack.

Ivy has left her phone in the kitchen as she left, getting lost somewhere in the house. Tina gets
no response from Ivy so she casualy crosses the distance between the counter, she's been up
until now leaning on, and the dining table that Ivy's phone is sitting on. With a half eaten
sendwich in one hand, Tina sides a finger, of her free hand, across the phone screen to see
who's the person texting, just because. She's not even curious, just bored.

'new text message. I'm going to read it! Like, now!' she announces before she even manages to
read the name on the screen.

'hmm, Carter' she humms as she takes another bite of her sandwitch.

'what do you want?' Ivy's voice suddenly breaks the silence in the house and startles Tina a
little when she realizes that Ivy has walked in.
Ivy lets out an annoyed groan before she snatches the phone from Tina who has just picked it
up.

'give me that' she says. 'you can be such a pest' she adds before she looks at her phone.

'it's Cart' Tina says in a slightly mocking tone before she resumes her position of leaning on the
counter.

Ivy's eyes widden ever so slightly at the mention of Carter's name. They haven't spoken in five
days, and she certaily hasn't been expecting him to make a call or even text her first. She opens
up the text, wasting no more time.

'This armpit of a town where you live in is not too bad, I must admit. It's almost nice.' - the
text says.

She has to read it a couple of times more, before it really hits her that he is here. Carter is in
HG.

Carter is in HG?

'what's wrong?' Tina asks when she notices the confused frown over Ivy's features. Ivy looks up
at her then.

'Carter's here' she says and Tina stops chewing.

'why?' Tina mumbles with full mouth.

'to meet you I'm sure' Ivy sarcastically retorts before she looks down at her phone again. 'I had
no idea he would show up...' she says, preparing to write a reply.

'you're in HG? Since when?' she types and sends.

'what am I missing here?' Tina asks, confused by the whole situation. 'you can't be without each
other now? It's been like, what, five days since you came back?'

'he's probably been to NY beforehand. It was his sister's birthday. He said that he would like to
see what Hemlock Grove was like. I just didn't expect him to show up today, of all days' Ivy
responds, expecting of Tina to be satisfied with the answer but the whole time her sister has
been watching her with attentive but cynical eyes. It makes her want to throw something at her
sister to make her stop.

'has it hit you yet, that you hung out with HIM more, in those seven days, than you have with
Max, in months? Now it's Carter's turn again...' Tina says, this time serious, having no intention
to be teasing her sister again.
'are you accusing me of something?' Ivy asks, feeling suddenly uncomfortable by this turn.

'I'm just being paranoid...as always'

'about?'

'that you might...get used to him. If you know what I mean' Tina replies.

Ivy's phone makes a sound right when she prepares to say something.

'Since an hour ago. Are you free tonight?’ the text says.

'I'm as safe as I can be. Max and I are working things out. Carter is a good fun. I don't have to
worry about anything when it comes to him. I don't know if you mean, what I think you mean,
by that 'get used to him', that I might start wanting more? Not with Max alive and well. And
Cart, well, he's emotionaly detached from those type things anyway. He simply doesn't do
'more'' she explains, as she starts writing a reply to Carter, saying that she is free and that she
will gladly show him around later today.

'I'm kinda glad to hear that' Tina says as her sister is typing away.

'we're hanging out tonight... and I don't know what to wear' Ivy says, turning on her heel and
heading out of the kitchen.

'you're such a showoff' Ivy mutters under her breath as Carter once again makes a strike, ten
minutes into the game of bowling.

'and in these pants' he points out at his dress pants, that he has had no time to change before
they spontaneously decided for a round of bowling.

Ivy takes in his full outfit, now that he has pointed out on his pants. These worn out, bowling
shoes that he's wearing definitely look ridiculous in combination with his perfectly ironed and
fitted dress pants and his equally perfect, baby - blue, dress shirt, neatly tucked in his pants, but
with the sleeves rolled up all the way above his elbows, for better mobility of his arms.

He throws her a cocky grin as he starts making his way to take a seat while it's her turn to play.
She gets up just as his tall figure gets sprawled on the plastic bench, victoriously smirking still.

'Step up your game, Ivy. I know you don't want me to go easy on you. You're not the type...' he
comments when she picks up the ball.
She smirks secretly, flattered by his truthful comment. She makes a stance, ready to throw the
ball when he speaks up again.

‘lock that elbow, keep your arm straight and raise it a little more when you get ready to throw’
he says.

His voice tells her that he's not trying to mess with her, he's genuine about wanting her to do
better. She eagerly addapts his advice and throws the ball. It leaves only two pawns standing,
one on each end.

'the worst scenario' she says exesperatedly.

She throws the ball down the lane again only to have it hit one of the pawns.

'of course' she mumbles, returning to her seat.

'better than the last time' he comments when she takes a seat next to him.

She tilts her head to look at him a content smirk present on his lips. He pleasantly surprises her
by raising his hand in a high five position.

'high five?' she asks, one of her eyebrows cocking up slightly, quizically.

He nods once, having their palms meet the next second in the air. She chuckles lightly at the
friendly act that's come out of nowhere and he gets up, ready for his move. As much as she
enjoys these moments of silence and bonding through a game, she also has something on her
mind that's been irking her for days now, desperate for a release of some kind since she's been
keeping it in, trying to make some sense of it on her own. That of course hasn't happened yet
and Carter is a big part of the reason of 'why it hasn't'.

She watches him make a move, striking again, causing her to roll her eyes at the effortlessly
impacable way his body moves as he throws the ball, like he could even do it with his eyes
closed and would still manage to knock all the pawns over.

When he turns around, rubbing his hands together, enjoying his sweet victory, she chuckles
while praying secretly that she makes the perfect throw next. What she's been meaning to talk
to him about, is now pushed to the back of her mind, yet again.

'you still haven't won, you shouldn't be so smug yet' she says, meaning to sound stern but
failing near the end, a slightly embarrassed smile being plastered across her face when she
catches a wink that he sends her as he passes her to take a seat.
Before her fingers even touch the three holes of her ball, something catches her attention,
causing her to turn around. By the sound of it, she has a new text message.

'just a sec' she says to Carter, approaching her bag where her phone is, with jumpy steps.

'how unprofessional of you' Carter mutteres as he follows her every move with attentive eyes.

She says nothing to Carter, but replies with a small smile, as she fishes her phone out of her
bag.

'A surprise is waiting for you when you get back. (no, it's not Max...). Ha ha ha. Ahh, too bad
you'll have to hear it second hand' the text from Tina says, leaving her confused and slightly
disturbed.

What could she be talking about? Certanly nothing harmless since her sister seems to be
enjoying it so much.

'what are you on about?' she texts, before turning to the game again.

'sorry for the delay' she says, glancing at Carter over her shoulder, before she picks her ball
again.

'remember what I told you' he says, rooting her on, now leaning in with elbows on his knees as
she prepares for throwing.

She decides to follow the pattern of his last advice again, hoping for a great hit. She repeats the
steps and the ball starts gliding across the lane.

'Strike!' she cheers with arms in the air in a victorious stance.

'that's it' Cart says, a proud smile on his lips.

She approaches him and this time she offers a high five and he responds gladly. By the time it's
his time to throw, a new text message arrives on her phone. Looking away from Carter, she
shifts her attention to her phone, super curious to know what her sister has meant by the last
text. She opens the new text.

'Whatever, I'll tell you, since you're with him anyway. I told dad where you were and with
whom... Dad may know Baizens. He said that his last name sounded familiar and that he
wanted to meet him, since he's already here and all.'

She reads the message three times before she averts her eyes to Carter, who is now walking up
to her. She's finding it hard to believe that their families might actually know each other. She's
more than eager to hear the details hiding behind this revelation, curious whether Carter's last
name is only familiar or whether there's something more to it. Whatever it is, it's worth finding
out.

'you've missed out' Carter says to her once he takes a seat.

'let me guess. Strike again?' she asks, knowing the answer already.

'you know it' Carter confidently replies.

She stays in her seat with her phone in her hands, conteplating what to tell Carter. Would he
want to come to her house? Would he find the proposal awkward like she has? But then, it's
Carter. She can't picture him losing his cool over something so trivial like meeting someone for
five minutes. (she refuses to think it would last longer than that. Max had to suffer for a full
hour of her dad's scrutony, causing them to be half an hour late for the cinema that night.
Needless to say, her dad got an earfull once she came home, all for messing with her night.)
She's at least hoping, her dad will know better this time, that is if Carter agrees to come.

Carter is now looking at her with confusion behind his eyes as to why she's still sitting and
looking at him and not heading for the lane.

His, now, clear confusion brings her out of her trance, now urging herself to form a proper
sentance to let him know what's going on her mind.

'hey, have I ever told you what my last name is?' she asks, surprising herself with her
randomness.

'no, you haven't' he replies, not finding her question weird at all.

'it's Waldorf' she says, subtly draging it out. To have it settle in better. That's her excuse.

His eyes light up in amusement that she decides to take in as a sign that he does know about
Waldorfs. He nods appraisingly.

'Ivy Waldorf. Nice to meet you' he says a hint of humor in his voice.

So, her last name means nothing to him? Except that he seems to like it. At least she knows that
much, for now. She's fine with having that, before she comes home and talks it out with her
father. But then another thought occurs to her. Wouldn't it be more appropriate to let Carter
know, first, that her father has expressed a desire to meet him, and to find out, that way, what
Carter really thinks about it? Now that they're face to face rather than texting him about it
tomorrow. She knows her father enough to know he will insist on meeting Carter. He's keen on
meeting every guy in his daughters' lives, and supposedly having history with Baizens will only
serve as an excuse to meet the guy who's traveled across America just to be with his daughter.
In his mind those are now the facts, Ivy is sure. The part where Ivy tells him that Carter actually
flew in from NY, her dad will block out, she's sure of that also.

'here's a... weird idea' she starts off, feeling uncomfortable but trying hard to come off as cool
about it. 'my dad said something about finding your last name familiar when I mentioned it
once' she changes the story up a little purposefully to avoid questions. 'now he wants to meet
you' she says, melting slowly into an embarrassed puddle on the floor.

Why is she doing this, again?

She catches the way his eyes flicker down at her phone then travel back up to meet her gaze.
She can guess what he's probably thinking. His response is quick, though, putting an end to her
silent misery.

'now?' he asks first.

'no, not now. That was my sister texting me... I just remembered that...what he told me before I
left' she explains, mentally slapping herself for being so childish and nervous when there's really
no reason to be.

'Sure' he replies, finally putting her at ease.

She descretely lets out a relieved breath before she says anything.

'tomorrow then?' she asks, now calmer.

'tomorrow. At your place?'

'yes. We can go do something afterwards...or we can go to my place on our way back. I don't
know. However and whenever it works for you' she realizes she's rumbling, she only hopes he
doesn't pick up on it. How come she's become such a nervous wreck all of a sudden?

He opens his mouth to say something, his eyes never leaving hers. He seems to be thinking
about the answer, so he's taking his time. She doesn't mind it, though, even though she can't
wait for this conversation to be over with. She has his agreement, that's all that matters.

As she's slowly calming down again, her breathing becoming even again, he completely throws
her off when instead of answering, he casts his eyes down, a smile breaking through as he tries
to surpress it by biting on his tongue that's now pushed to the side of his cheek.

He finds this amusing? She wants to be offended by his little mockery but she can't help but
find him adorable and annoying at the same time.

He averts his gaze to meet hers again, his eyes also smiling.
'you just got so worked up about it' he says, his smile now slowly disappearing.

She's starting to miss it already. The way it lights up his whole face, it's truly a wonderful sight.

'It's just me. I shouldn't make you nervous'

'I wasn't nervous' she turns defensive, slowly getting aware that she's only making it worse for
herself.

'okay. Still, I don't mind meeting your dad. You can give me your adress later, I'll drop by your
place, have a talk with your pop then we can go 'do something'. Sounds ok?' he asks, now
serious again.

This time it's her turn to smile. She shakes her head at herself, at how silly she's been acting.

'sounds great' she responds. 'now, it's game on' she announces, getting up from her seat,
putting her phone back in her bag, and walking up to her ball again.

The day has come

'dad, you better not smother the poor guy' Ivy says while checking herself in the mirror as she's
standing in the hall, near the front door.

Carter should be arriving any minute now. Weirdly enough her nerves aren't getting in her way
of proper functioning. She can't guarantee, though, that when she sees him walk through that
door, that her anxiety level won't shoot up drastically. She's hoping and praying her family at
least doesn't embarrass her somehow. They only have this one chance to leave a good
impression, and if they mess it up, chances are high, they will feel Ivy's wrath.

'you' she points at her sister who happens to walk by 'act normal. By normal I mean NORMAL,
not your creeping from behind normal' she warns, feeling the pressure of tonight's meeting
catching up to her slowly.

'too much pressure now, can't promise anything' Tina replies in a monotone as she disappears
in the living room.

'ah, I shouldn't have agreed to this' Ivy mumbles, regret deeply settling in.

'Carter's here!' Tina can be heard from the living room. Even though Ivy can't see her at the
moment, she can picture her standing by the window looking at the street. 'I think...' Tina adds.
Ivy's anxiety level indeed shoots up, and that just at the mention of Carter's name. She lets out
one heavy breath before she turns away from the mirror and makes an apperance in the living
room just to bark a few more orders before that door bell makes a sound.

'dad, be cool' she says and Tina notices slight panic behind Ivy's eyes.

Her sister's erratic behavior, so unlike her usual self, makes her chuckle lightly.

'you' Ivy, once again turns to Tina 'be cool' she says.

'everybody be cool' she says as she inhales one deep breath, prepared to hear that door bell.

'why do I even have to be here? Dad wanted to meet him, not me. I'm cool with not knowing
him and judging him from the distance' Tina says, plopping herself on the sofa.

'you can leave. You would do me a favor even...' Ivy says.

Before she can add anything else, the door bell makes a sound, startling Ivy even though she's
been expecting it.

'too late to back out now' Tina comments, disappointed and Ivy shushes right her before she
heads for the door.

Carter's sweet face greets her as soon as she opens the door. Even he is preparing to be
likeable. He doesn't usualy look sweet, he looks smug and cool. God, she can't wait for this to
be over with.

'hi' Ivy says, a huge grin plastered on her face when she fully takes him in.

Dressed to impress as always, and, of course, his scent... Once it hits her senses she almost
leans in to take a sniff, like you would do to a flower.

'hey' he says, cooly, drapping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in for a hug.

That's her chance. She inhales as much as she can, almost getting high on it, before they pull
away.

'come in' she says, faking eagerness towards this meet and greet type reunion.

He does so, moving down the hall as she closes the door behind him.

'you look beautiful, by the way' he glances her way once she joins him, sending her one of his
charming smiles.
She restrains herself from squirming like a little girl at his comment, but she can feel the blush
creeping on her cheeks. She has dressed up for their outing for later this evening, but in a
moment forgot all about it, once she saw him standing on her doorway, ready to meet her
family.

'thanks' she whispers just as they reach the living room.

'family...' Ivy starts off once they’re there.

'Good evening' Carter greets.

Ivy remains by his side even as her dad approaches them, shaking hands with Carter.

'Jonathan' her dad says in that rough voice that men use when introducing themselves to other
men. 'but just call me John' he adds with a welcoming smile.

'Carter' the younger male says with his signature smirk. ‘pleased to meet you, sir'

'ah, don't sir me. Just John'

Carter chuckles lightly at that, nodding at the friendly request.

'pleased to meet you, John' Carter corrects himself.

'that's better' John smiles. 'firm handshake' he adds in slight amusement for the younger guy.

'my dad always used to quote someone to me, saying 'a firm handshake gives a good impresion,
and you'll never be forgiven if you don't live up to it'' Carter responds, earning a nod of
admiration from John.

Carter's eyes avert from John, still wearing a small smile on his lips, as he notices Tina
approaching them.

'that's my sister, Tina!' Ivy says, a bit louder than she has intended to.

Since she's been transfixed watching the interaction between her father and Carter, she
completely forgot there was another person in the room with them.

'thanks for the introduction' Tina says, faking enthusiasm, sardonically using Ivy's previous tone
of voice.

Carter chuckles at the electricity between the siblings and shakes Tina's hand when it comes to
it.

'Tina' she purposefuly points it out, wanting a proper introduction.

'nice to meet you' Cart says, smiling one of his charmers now directed at Tina.

Ivy carefully watches the interaction between the two, paying close attention to Tina when he
notices Carter smiling at her. To someone from the sidelines it could even appear as a glare of
anticipation but... Even Ivy's not so sure about that, maybe those people would be right.

A couple of minutes in, they're all seated and talking casualities until THE subject is brought up.

'so Carter, you're from NY, right?' John asks.

'yes. Born and raised' Carter responds.

‘so are they’ John smiles at Ivy, who's sitting right in front of him, with a fond smile. 'Only last
year did we move here. Well, my family is originally from here... Once you've aged a little, you
want to go back to your roots. But I bet these two will be out of here as soon as they finish their
studies' John says, rumbling a little before bringing up the long awaited subject.

'we can't wait, dad' Ivy chimes in, adding a bit of humor in the room.

Her dad sends her a stern glance, that's also full of fondness, before he tries to speak up again.

'agreed' Tina jumps in, teasingly, just as John prepares to speak.

Laughter spreads through the room, but just as quickly dies down as John finally gets a chance
to speak again.

'As a new friend of my daughter, naturally I got curious about you. Then I heard you were a
Baizen and I said to Ivy I had to meet you' he turns to Carter who glances shortly at Ivy who's
seated right next to him on the sofa.

'I've done some digging through my memory as I heard of your last name. It sounded so
familiar, but I just could not put a finger on where from'

'please tell us you do know now' Ivy speaks up, stealing words from her sister's mouth.

'I do, in fact' John says. 'but he might not even be a part of that story' he explains before he asks
the main question. 'Carter, is your mother, by any chance, a piano teacher? Or used to be, at
least?'

Ivy cringes at the question, sure of the answer to be false. A piano teacher, Carter's mom?
Surely that's something she would know about him by now. Only he's never mentioned his
parens' professions in specific detail, she realizes now that she decides to give it a thought. She
just assumed that his mother would be on some high position, like his father, maybe handling
her own busines as well.
Her eyes travel up to Carter, curious about his reaction to that insinuation. His eyes
unexpectedly light up as a sign of confirmation for that insinuation.

'yes' Carter replies with a short chuckle at the incredulous coincidence.

'she still teaches, but in the privacy of her home' he further explains. 'and how do you know my
mother?'

Johns eyes instantly tear away from Carter's, meeting Tina's gaze. Instantly, she knows why.

'No...' she gasps. 'Mrs Kathy is your mother?' she asks Carter, seemingly thrilled with the idea.

He seems confused for a short moment before he realizes something.

'she used to be your teacher?' he asks.

'yes' she replies with an excited nod. 'like fifteen years ago. I was seven'

Ivy, excluded from the conversation, is silently observing those three excited people who keep
exchanging facts about something she, somehow, is not a part of. She would be lying if she said
she's not at all bothered by it.

'after some time your mother decided to start giving Tina lessons at her house. She had a white
piano...' John says in a thoughtful tone and Tina chuckles in the background, recieving, what
Tina concludes it is, a glare from Ivy, having no idea why.

Carter says how that piano is still there and John goes into explaining how Carter's mother, Mrs
Kathy how Tina used to call her, mentioned to Tina once that she had a piano at her house, a
white one at that, and that, to a seven year old kid sounded amazing and exciting since Tina
only used to play the classic black one. Mrs Kathy, finding that excitement endearing, decided
to bring her in for classes at her house. The mothers of these three kids developed a friendship
over time, and John continues by saying:

'There were a couple of occasions, that I know off, of all of you kids getting together'

Ivy and Carter then spontaneously share the same look of surprise and confusion, neither of
them able to recall a certain moment of those times.

'so we basically knew of each other this whole time' Ivy comments, an incredulous smirk
tugging at her lips.

She averts her eyes from Carter, but she can feel his eyes lingering on her still. Out of the
corner of her eyes she sees that he opens his mout as if to say something. She turns her
attention back to him when a small 'I...' escapes his throat, but nothing else after that. He holds
her gaze for a couple of seconds more before he looks away, shaking his head a little, a
mysterious smile drawing on his lips. She realizes then that he actually knows something, that
he's remembered something but apparently now is not the time for sharing, whatever it is that
he's got on his mind. And now she can't wait to hear about it.

A couple of minutes of casual chatter, Ivy finds that it's time to interrupt and steal Carter for the
next couple of hours.

'well, this has been enlightning, but it's time we leave' she says, getting up in her mid sentance
to speed up the process.

'it's been nice meeting you, Carter' John says once they're all on their feet.

'the pleasure's been all mine' Carter says, recieving a manly pat on his shoulder from John.

He gives Tina a hug before he and Ivy go their own way.

'how long are you staying, I forgot to ask?' she asks once they leave the house.

'I'm leaving tomorrow' he says.

'so soon?’

'well, you've seen that my money, indeed, doesn't grow on trees' he says, refering to that one
time when they hit a casino, back in LA, since he had told her he would take her to his 'tree'
once. They walked out of there a bit richer than they had walked in, but true to their style they
spent it all by the end of the day. 'I'm falling short on money. I have to go back sooner rather
than later' he says truthfuly, surprising her with his openess about the matter.

Still she can't help but feel flattered because of the fact that he decided to visit her, still, despite
the fact that he's ‘falling short on money'. He could've turned back around and left for LA, yet
he hasn't.

'I couldn't have not come here when I was so close anyway' he explains.

'how did it go, the birthday and everything?' she asks, doubtful that she will find a better
moment than now, to ask that question.
'emotional for my mother' he says, his voice stripped of any emotion. 'I didn't see him,
though...' she knows he's refering to his father 'My sister was enjoying herself, that's all that
mattered'

'your mom wanted you to...come back?' she asks, aware it's a touchy subject, but hopeful that
he won't pull away.

'I didn't hear her say it' he says, and Ivy realizes that that's all she's going to get from him and
she doesn't want to come off as intrusive by asking too many questions.

'where are we even going?' he asks, once he notices that they've been walking for a while now,
without having decided where to first. Ivy seems to notice that after she hears the question.

'I like this' he speaks again, not letting her give an answer.

'walking?' she asks.

'yes, it's nice'

'we can walk then, that's cool too. We can grab a drink or something later on'

'no, if you have already planned something, we're doing that' he says, deciding to put her first.

'I don't really feel like doing anything crazy either. I'm liking this too. Back in LA you don't get
much of it I assume? This is a completely new experiance for you then' she jokes, recieving a
chuckle from him as a response.

'I don't get much peace and quiet there, really. This is certainly a refreshing change'

'thanks for coming tonight, by the way' she says, meaning to say it ever since they left the
house.

He just sends one smile her way in response and it instantly reminds her of something that
happened back at the house. She, now, finally has a chance to ask him about it.

'so...' she starts off, smiling to herself at her following question 'are you now going to tell me
what you were smirking about back in there?'

'when?' he asks, not having a clue what she's refering to.

'you remembered something, didn't you?' she says, clearing it up this time.

Again that mysterious smile apears on his features in recollection and it makes her wish she
could read his mind.
'are you trying to ask me if I know of it?' he asks, confusing her more.

They both have diferent things in mind it seems. Is he refering to one certain event that she
should know of? Or is his mind elsewhere? It's all too confusing for her at the moment.

'know what?' she asks.

He tilts his head to look at her, scrutinising her closely, slowly becoming clear to him that
they're not on the same page here.

'what do you remember?' he asks, deciding to start from there.

She scrunches her face at his question, attempting to dig a little deeper in her mind, to try and
see what's really hiding in there. She takes a moment to reply, failing to recall anything
relevant.

'Now that my father's mentioned it, I remember coming with my mother and Tina, to this
house...there was this girl there who was really nice. There was a pool... you had a pool?'

'yeah' he replies, nodding, a curious glint in his eyes, wondering what else is Ivy going to find
during her trip down the memory lane.

'I remember there was a boy, that is you... I'm pretty sure I never knew your name. Or I did but
I forgot. What's your sister's name?'

'Lily' he says, and a glint of familiarity flashes behind Her eyes.

'right, Lily...' she mumbles for herself, feeling glad to have unlocked at least one chest of hidden
memories. 'but how come I don't remember your name? Carter...That's one of those names
that sticks with you, I think' she says, missing a small proud smirk that appears on his lips at the
last part.

'and...' she starts, dragging it out 'I remember the boy had really fluffy hair. That his head
reminded me of a strawberry' she says, bursting into a fit of giggles at the end, eyes focused
somewhere in the distance but gaze revery as the images of the past keep switching in her
mind, being able to see them now clearly before her.

'strawberry' he chuckles at the comparison. 'I remember... Now that I know it's you, cause of
the hair...' he starts off but she interrupts.

'what?'

'I remember someone being over at our house, and I remember seeing my sister and you and
Tina... It feels weird knowing you were there…And you were playing games on my playstation.
You caught my attention cause you were playing basketball' he says and she laughs, muttering a
small 'what?'

'yeah, out of all the games that I had, you picked basketball. My sister was playing against one
of you, I know now it was you cause the girl that played had thicker hair, the other did not. She
had short hair'

Ivy once again starts laughing.

'if nothing, we remember each other by the hair' she comments.

He chuckles before he continues.

'I sat down to watch you guys. The short haired one had already lost the game by the time I
walked in, so the thick haired one and my sister started playing'

'I’m really digging that nickname...thick haired one' Ivy comments sarcastically hating to be
interrupting him but she simply had to.

'In my mind, that's how I used to call you' he explains before he proceeds with the story. 'Lily
sorta knew what she was doing, but you definitely knew what you were doing, so I said that
whoever wins gets to play against me next. I wanted to brag a little'

'I can see that. I kicked her butt didn't I?'

'exactly. But I won against you of course'

'you must have wanted me to step up my game then also' she says, laughing lightly at the
silliness of it all.

'I don't have it in me to lose' he explains, jokingly. 'I remember that because, after that, I would
always tease my friends how I knew a girl who could play better than them'

This time she can't help but laugh a little louder.

'well, I certanly am flattered' she says.

After that they slip into comfortable silence while walking down a quiet street, under the tall
street lamps with no one in sight at the moment, givin an impression that they are the only
people in this small town. She somehow wouldn't like it any other way.

'but wait, what did you mean by saying 'are you asking do I know of it' ? Know of what?'

'you don't know of it so it doesn't matter' he answers cryptically leaving her annoyed and
confused at the same time.
'no, no, no. You say it now' she says, razdrazljivo, urging him.

He smiles down at her, friendly adoration mixed with an omniscient glint in his gaze.

'I'm pretty sure that we encountered each other on more than one occasion, since you
managed to develop a crush on me' he says, not looking at her but right ahead, luckily missing
the flash of red on Ivy's face that apears, caused by his statement.

'I didn't have a crush on you' she attempts to keep her voice in line and not shriek like her mind
is suggesting.

'how can you quarantee that if you don't remember 90% of it?' he replies, once again with that
cool smirk of his playing on his lips.

'because I remember my crushes, and you, mister, weren't one of them' she says, fifty percent
sure of what she's saying.

'my sister lied then?' he asks, glancing at her.

'your sister? I wouldn't tell your sister that...even if it were true...which it isn't' she says,
ravaging through her memory for an explanation. 'how do you even know it was me and n...'
she makes an abdurp stop. Her eyes widen and something very much like electricity shoots
through her body at an unexpected conclusion.

Tina? Could it be that her sister was the one?

'she described you to me. It was you' he says, weirdly enough calming her crazed nerves.

'what's weird is how you remember those things'

'well, that comes with the teritory when you're the oldest in the group'

'I wish I could see you now, the kiddy version of you. To see that hair again' she chuckles,
looking up at him.

'you probably have a photo of me stashed somewhere, with all of your other crushes. That's
what girls do right?' he flashes her a teasing smile and she nudges him with her shoulder
playfuly.
A couple of hours later

A soft beam of light coming from the living room is the first thing Ivy notices once she walks
into her house. Light of the TV, she supposes, already prepared to find Tina sprawled on the
sofa, watching Animal planet or something. She's proven wrong when the first thing that
appears on the TV screen when she walks in is some zombie/really old woman-
witch/supernatural creature crawling on the ground with blood pouring from its yellow, rotten
teethed mouth.

'what the hell is that?' Ivy asks flabbergasted, standing the doorway.

Tina just then notices her presence and throws her a short glance over the shoulder as she
speaks.

'It's so bad, it's funny...'

'yeah, looks like a lot of fun' Ivy comments as she walks away from the door, towards the sofa
where Tina is sitting cross legged and with a bag of chips, that just now catches Ivy's eyes.

'can you...find something less disturbing to watch?' Ivy asks, once she sits down.

Tina then picks a random channel with a movie that doesn't have horror elements in it, as it
seems for now.

'how did it go?' Tina asks, shifting her attention onto Ivy now.

Ivy scoffs at her sister's question, finding it a bit ridiculous because of the following reason.

'you're making it sound like it was a date' she says. 'First, we went for a walk, a long one, talked
a lot, then we went for a couple of drinks, then he grabbed us a cab and went our separate
ways. I had a good time. Walking and talking isn't really his thing but, he said he enjoyed it. He's
leaving tomorrow, though' she finishes, a bit disappointed even though she's accepted the fact
already.

'what did you talk about?' Tina asks, offering Ivy the chips as she starts chewing on some.

Ivy picks a few and speaks before she starts eating.

'a lot of things' she says and stops there.

'wow, how specific of you' Tina comments sarcastically, urging her sister to speak with an
annoyed glare.
Ivy chuckles as she chews down her chips, before she speaks again.

'I've been thinking...' she starts off, making a dramatic pause that stops being dramatic when
the sound of Tina's chewing is heard. Ivy doesn't react to it as she speaks.

'of going back to LA...' Tina's eyes widden in confusion and surprise at that as Ivy continues 'to
spend the summer'

'for Carter or for Max?' Tina doesn't hesitate one bit before she asks that question, seemingly
adamant in her mission to provoke Ivy, picking the worst moment for that. Ivy's had a good
time out with Carter tonight and she won't let anyone ruin the rest of her night.

'for myself' she answers, biting her tongue.

Tina's gaze doesn't waver, giving an impression that she's not buying Ivy's short explanation.
'I'm not trying to be annoying, Ivy, I'm really not. I'm just curious how come you didn't bring this
up earlier? Talking with Carter cleared it up?' Tina asks, dropping the attitude this time and it
puts Ivy just slightly at ease.

'It's Max, ok? I want to be closer to him, now that I have a chance. I want us to work on
this...mess that our relationship has become. I don't see how me, staying here can help with
anything. I still want us to take our time and go slow about it, but we won't be moving at all if I
stay here. We can't see eye to eye if we're this far from each other. I've been, I guess, too proud
to admit that I do want us...closer. I miss him... I miss him like crazy and I need him closer' Ivy
says, feeling the weight of her words drop on her chest, making it harder to breathe, just now
alowing herself to really feel what she's been supressing this whole time. 'I also want to come
clean to him. I want him to know about Carter. I don't want to have to hide that friendship from
Max. He's not going to take it very well, I know it, but he deserves to know'

More than anything right now she wants to muster up the courage to approach Max about this
topic. As much as she knows that he needs to know everything, she fears the consequences just
as much. What that confession might bring back into their relationship. Another round of the
same... Only diference would be that they will have switched roles. She's made a mistake, a
very imature one, of going behind Max's back, chosing to spend so much of her time with
Carter. At that time she didn't want to admit it, but the truth was, the sole reason she turned to
him was to spite Max. Even though he never found out about it, the satisfaction she felt in
those frequent moments of realization that Max could show up any time, anywhere and see
them and it would drive him mad, was almost as good as the real thing. She wanted to drive
him mad just like it had drove her mad to catch Vanessa half dressed in his bedroom... Their
bedroom, a place where they had shared their most intimate moments, her favorite place to
be, a place unauthorized for anyone else and yet he brought someone there and ruined the
uniqueness, the magic of it, and ruined them along with it. No, she could never do to him what
he did to her, betray him in such a way. Even though they were far, far from perfect, she still,
even in their weak moments, believed in their dream, beat the odds and get away, have a life
together one day. But the moment she began to see through his lies that day, her dream about
their relationship ended. He lied then, she lied later. Hasn't she learned anything, she would ask
herself from time to time. Another question that would pop up is why did she even feel
compelled to lie? So much about the protocol of owning up to your mistakes she used to bribe
Max about relentlessly, even when he wouldn't remember much of his previous day due to the
overdrawn consumption of alcohol that day.

Maybe it's simply much harder to come clean when you've calculatedly and accountably
decided for something. Like purposefuly befriending a guy who her boyfriend had warned her
about twice already, and also who Max can't stand. He can't seem to stand any guy who comes
within the radius of 10ft of Ivy, let alone a guy who has not only come closer than that but who
has also met her family. Who, as recently found, shares some distant memories with his
precious Ivy, and that alone is enough to trigger that something in Max that hasn't been active
in a longer period of time. Seven days in LA, everything that happened then... She can only
imagine what Max's reaction will be. Her decision to come to LA then was made for the sole
reason of getting to this point one day. When she would have enough material to throw in
Max's face as payback for breaking her heart in thousand pieces.

Though, she has somehow taken it too far. Over time Carter has become someone she doesn't
want to not have in her life. A friend, a confidant. It's only been weeks since she met him, but it
feels so, so much longer. They aren't just tied together by one cause, they've found that there’s
truly a connection between them. Their relationship has been developing oddly effortlessly so
far, and the only explanation from Ivy's part is that they have some kind of spiritual connection
going on. She enjoys his company so much, that the very thought of Max having to find out and
freak out and maybe demand who knows what afterwards, scares her to the point of feeling
physicaly ill. Bottom line is, she doesn't want to lose Max, but she doesn't want to lose Carter
either, but she can't see how she can keep the balance without using her lies. She can use them
only for so long until they snap back into her face. It's innevitable.

'everything?' Tina asks skeptically.

Ivy swallows dryly in uneasiness.

'everything' she says.

One week later

LA airport

'just flew in. Got my stuff. Where are you?' she sends the text that is of course intended for
Max, who, speaking of wich, said he would be at the airport waiting for her.

She can't see him anywhere so she takes it upon herself to drag her bags with her towards the
exit while expecting of Max to get back at her. She walks a long way before she hears a familiar
voice somewhere near, calling her name.

'sorry, sorry. Stupid trafic' he mutters in between intakes of breaths.

He's been running around in order to find her, that much is clear to Ivy. She makes a stop as
she turns to face him and he flashes her a welcoming smile befor he envelopes her with his
muscly arms and gives her a kiss on the head. He takes some of the bags from her, leaving her
with her smaller things that are easy to carry, and they start leaving the airport.

After a few minutes of casual chatter about her flight and his day before coming to the airport,
they finally reach his car, and Max can finally take a proper breath once he puts away all of her
stuff the car.

'It feels weird that you're finally here' he speaks once he joins her in and takes a seat behind the
steering wheel.

She can tell by the tone of his voice that he's genuinely relieved and also a bit surprised still,
even though he's had days to have the fact of having Ivy to come here, and stay for two months
in the same city that he's in, sink in. She smiles fondly at his words before she replies.

'you didn't think I'd actually come?' she asks in a soft voice.

'I did, I just...it's not only for a couple of days. It's many days. I'm just...more at ease now' he
says, glancing her way shortly before he starts the car.

She smiles a bit wider at those warm, last words he's uttered, making her feel a little fuzzy
inside, a bit sad also if she's being honest. She's intended to look away, look elsewhere but him,
orders from the prideful ice queen inside of her. But the heart, the warmth, the love speaks up
louder, engulfing the previous comand, which to it doesn't make a lick of sense. Her hand
reaches out and touches his just as it falls to his side, now resting on his thigh. She puts hers
over his gently, waiting for his eyes to meet hers again. When they do, there's a mixture of
confusion and expectation behind them, but he doesn't speak. He doesn't need to. The corners
of her lips turn upwards ever so slightly at her following words.

'I love you... I haven't told you that in a long time, nor have I been showing it really. Something
in me just wouldn't let me. I'm taking control now just to let you now that I appreciate you…
everything that you've been doing lately, how you've been acting. I just love you... I felt like you
needed to hear it' she says, intensity in her eyes.

If she could only feel how happy those words make him feel. He can't show her, he has no
words to describe it either, but his first instinct is to take her hand in his and lace their fingers
tightly before he leans in and kisses her passionatly. She responds to him immediatelly, without
holding back. The kiss would probably last longer if it wasn't for the uncomfortable car seats
that don't allow him to shift his body properly. He pulls away just slightly after a couple of
seconds.

'I love you' he says, lingering close to her lips, looking down at them. 'I've missed you' he adds,
giving her a soft peck on the lips before he pulls away completely.

He already starts driving when he asks her a question. 'so, what do yo wanna do today?'

'we can hang out at my place for a while' she says emphasizing the words my place, playfully.
'later we can go for a diner or something? I mean if you don't have other things to do...'

'your place, eh? I'll be your first guest, how thrilling' he says with a light smile and she chuckles.

'it is a great honor, though' she jokes. 'there will be some ground rules, though' she says,
adding seriousness to her voice but only a tad.

'I'm listening' Max says, already taking guesses mentally. He knows her well enough to know
what she's going to say.

'take off your shoes as soon as you walk in. If I see you with feet on a table, I will cut them off'
she goes on with the list and he can't help but laugh. 'when you eat, I know how you eat, I've
seen you eat. Control the crumbless of your food… That is if you happen to eat at my place. She
tries to say something else but he jumps in.

'don't you think I know that by now?' he looks at her shortly, raisin an eyebrow slightly. 'you
nag me about the same stuff even at my place' he says.
 'exactly, because I've seen what happened to that poor carpet in the living room. I won't be
having none of that under my roof, nah ah' she says, shaking her index finger left and right in a
sassy maner.

He stays quiet after that, seemingly thoughtful, but only for a short while before he speaks up.

'thank God you don't have ground rules for sex' he says quieter and she snaps her head towards
him to make a witty comeback but fails as she laugs.

'don't do that or I will cut it off' he says in a tiny voice, mimicking women.

She laugs again, shaking her head at him.

'no, were always pretty good in that area' she says.

'pretty good?' he asks not missing a beat.

Ivy makes a grimace, pretending to be giving it a serious thought, just to tease him.

'I mean...you weren't bad, that's for sure, but...' at this point he’s looking at her longer than he
should, since there’s a road in front of him.

Being a guy he's only fifty percent sure that she's joking.

'but?' he urges her.

'you were ok' she finishes, avoiding his gaze and doing her best to control the laughter from
breaking through.

His eyes linger on her a little longer before he looks back at the road.

'that's not cool' he comments.

'I like it how you don't know when I'm joking and when I'm telling the truth anymore' she says.

'I'm like eighty percent sure you're lying' he lies.

She laughs.

'I thought you were confident in your...skills' she says.

'I can never know with you'

'too bad'
'you're bullshitting me' he says after a while, this time a confident smile appears on his lips. 'I
can make you shake like a leaf, and all those times that you screamed for me...'

He glances her way and catches her squirming in her seat, blush creeping up on her cheeks and
a smirk of satisfaction appears on his lips.

'you get wild with m...'

'ok, ok, I'll give it to you, I was lying, you were...' she interrupts him but then he interrupts her.

'awesome?' She raises an eyebrow at him incredolously. He's such a guy.

'a great lover' she says, picking a better description and he smiles wider, proudly.

The conversation about sex ends there and they eventually change the subject, talking their
time away untill they reach her apartment.

'Jesus Christ...' Max mumbles breathlessly once he puts away all the bags in the hall of her
apartment.

He’s had to carry all of them to the third floor since the elevators seems to be in the middle of
some repairments.

'you tired?' Ivy asks as she walks in behind him.

'nope. It's all good' he lies as he straightens his posture instantly.

She starts taking off her shoes and he mirrors the action, rolling his eyes secretly. She finishes
first and starts dragging the suitcasses after her, to her bedroom.

'it's nice here' Max comments once he walks into the living room/kitchen area.

He takes a seat behind the counter, leaning on it with his forehead pressed to the cold marble.

'it really is!' Ivy yells from the other room.

She's gone for a couple of minutes, just enough for him to rest for a bit. She comes back in
different clothes in a short cotton shorts and a tank top, with flip flops on her feet. He takes her
in, from head to toe, loving the way her shirt hugs her body and the way her shorts is a little
loose on her slightly tanned thighs, the material so thin, he could rip it off in one go...
He tears his eyes from her legs ignoring the warmth that slowly starts growing between his.

'you want water?' she asks, walking in front of the counter, holding a box with her own utelsils,
including glasses.

'yes, please' he groans, needing something cold in his system.

She turns around, having her back turned to him as she takes out the utensils from the box.
Where is he supposed to look now, he wonders. She's right there in front of him, shifting
weight from one leg to another, her thin shorts revealing the outline of her underwear. He's not
sure about the bra, though. He can't see the outline of it, maybe she's wearing one of those
thin tops, he makes a guess. Maybe she doesn't have anything under the shirt, he supposes, his
throat turning dry and his eyes growing wider with all of those presumptious thoughts. He
needs her to turn around so he can know for sure.

He straightens up a little, shifting on the stool he's setting on. It's getting really hot now.

'here you go' she tunefully turns around and places the glass of cold water in front of him.

He smiles a little as he takes it and gulps it down with ease. She chuckles at the way the water
quickly disappears from the glass.

'want more?' she asks.

'yes' he says, putting the glass down, but not meaning water.

He slids off the stool unconsciously and starts inching away from the counter, feeling drawn to
her. She fills him his glass again and fills hers also, drinking it away slowly, when he appears
next to her. She looks at his glass than at him, slowly becoming aware he's not interested in the
water but something else rather.

'hey' he whispers when she looks up at him, when he's only a breath away from her.

'hey' she says, swallowing dryly again, due to the sudden nervousness of anticipation.

She puts away her glass without taking her eyes off him. Even though there's already one
hundred degrees in the apartment, when she feels his gentle fingers trailing down her arm,
starting from her shoulder, reaching the fabric of her shorts, making small circles there, the
heat increases drastically .

'I want you' he says, again in a whisper and she can't make herself move nor speak, she's just
standing there, transfixed.
'you should've worn something else, not these shorts' he mutters and she's surprised when a
chuckle escapes her unlubricated throat.

His head ducks down, planting a small kiss on one cheek first, then the other, lingering then
above her lips, all the while she's standing stiffly in front of him, but feeling that she's melting,
that she's becoming putty under his fiery touch. She closes her eyes and he takes that as an
invitation and captures her lips, meeting her tongue with his.

As her tongue is hugging his, her hands move on an impuls and lock behind his neck, pulling him
closer. His hands move lower, hooking behind her thighs and lifting her up with ease so her hips
are on the same level as his. She looks her legs around him and he starts moving. She doesn't
open her eyes to see where they’re going, as she's enjoying the taste of his lips too much. A
gasp escapes her lips when her skin touches something cold. She pulls away ever so slightly just
to notice that he's put her down on the marble counter.

His fingers travel up her thighs, getting lost beneath the fabric of her shorts. Her eyes screw
shut when she feels his hands exploring what's underneath. He grabs her bum once he touches
it and pulls Ivy closer to him, if that's even possible. He doesn't kiss her yet as his eyes fall down
to her clevage, that's now small since their chest are pressed tightly together. He pulls one of
his arms from under her shorts to her arm to reach for the fabric that goes around her
shoulder. He slids his fingers underneath it and finds something, proving that she's not bare
chested underneath her shirt.

'what do we have here?' he mumbles as he pulls away enough to be able to lift up her tank top
and remove it from her body. 'you shouldn't be wearing this' he says, pulling on one of the thin
straps of the bra top and snapping it down.

She raises am eyebrow at him chalengingly and pulls down at his short but they don't budge as
they're tightly fitted on his body. But the attempt is what counts.

‘You shouldn't be wearing this' she says.

'we'll get there' he smiles before he kisses her again, feeling her body with his hands.

'these damn shorts...' he comments when his hands once again fall down to her bum. 'they're
going off' he says and starts tugging with her help as she lifts up off the counter enough for him
to remove them.

He watches as the shorts slides down her legs, all the way down. And the way her skin just feels
so soft under his touch...
He bends down and bites on the skin on her thigh. She screams a little in pain but he quickly
soothes it down with his warm tongue that runs over it. He moves up, leaving kisses and bites
up her stomach also as his hands touch as much as they can of her, never having enough. He
bites on her shoulder gently, pressing a kiss to it right away, before he reaches her lips and
mutters 'mine' into their kiss. Her hands move up and down his strong back, feeling the muscles
moving underneath the skin with his every movement.

'yours' she whispers when they stop to take a breath.

'I want you right here' he says and she urgently nods, hating to be left waiting any longer.

He pulls a small foiled packeging from his back pocket before he unzips his shorts and kicks
them to the side.

'came prepared?' Ivy amusedly asks, as he proceeds to rip it open with his teeth.

'I happened to sneak in one, from my car just in case' he smiles that dopey smile she loves so
much and she kisses him as his hands do the job downstairs.

'I shouldn't be glad about that but I am' she says once they break the kiss.

He looks down in between them shortly, before he brings her closer, sliding her panties down
her legs. She tugs at his shirt, wanting it gone before they start doing what they're about to do.
He quickly removes it and smiles one small smile full of adoration for the girl in front of him
before he looks down again and they finally connect.

She lets out a gasp of relief and satisfaction when she feels him and her hands wrap around his
back, wanting him closer. He cups her cheek with one hand, holding an eye contact as his hips
start working its magic.

'you feel so good' he mutters in a breathy voice before he plants a small kiss on her lips.

Gasps and moans fill the room as he speeds up his pace and she tries to follow up.

After some time, with one hand he pushes her backwards so she lies down on the counter. He
pulls her a little more closer and he leans down leaving trails of kisses on her stomach, below
her chest as she keeps arching her back off the cold surface due to the cold and the building up
pleasure in her abdomen.

'I want you like this all day, every day' he says, looking down at her as he starts straightning up.
One of his hands hold one side of her hips and the other is placed on her stomach, traveling up
and down, feeling her chest then moving lower. He bites at his bottom lip at the way she starts
twiching in front of him, his name falling softly from her lips.

He hooks his hands beneath her back and help her sit up, after a while, as he kisses her
passionatly again and speeds up even more, closer to the edge. She hugs him tight, leaving
bitemarks on the skin of his shoulder, to stiffle the screams that are threatning to errupt. His
strong arms hold her in place as he rocks his hips against hers.

'I want to hear you' he urgently mutters when he notices what she's doing.

She shakes her head, unsure if he will notice that she's saying no. He suddely stops and she
pulls away from his shoulder just to say something.

'don't stop' she urges, so close to her climax and now he's ruining it.

'that's better' he says, a smile in his voice as he starts moving his hips again.

'asshole' she curses at him affectionately, feeling the preassure building.

Involuntarily she starts gasping and moaning fueling him even more and soon enough they both
reach extasy.

He doesn't pull away yet, as he continues holding her. He moves slightly just so they could be
face to face again. He kisses her on the cheek again, then on her nose, then on her lips.

'I want you to scream, you see' he says, smiling as he lingers close to her lips.

'I have neighboors, you see' she responds, leaning in and biting on his button nose playfully.

'let them hear, let them know. They should be aware when two worlds are coliding' he says,
caressing her other cheek with his other hand.

'I'm not that kind of girl' she says, a smile playing on her lips.

'you will be' he smirks before he lifts her up only to put her down so her feet hit the floor.

'shower?' he asks, still smirking.

'you would' she rolls her eyes at him as she slides on her panties.
Half an hour later, they are laying down on her bed, showered and fully charged. Her head is
resting on his chest, her body leaning over his as he has his arms tucked under his head and
he's staring at the ceiling.

'I have a confession to make' he says, after a couple of minutes of silence.

It startless her, because it's not like him to announce somethig, he just spits it out, whatever it
is. That's why it's making her nervous.

'yes?' she asks, carefully.

'I've met with Vanessa' he says.

Instantly, as is she's been dragged by an invisible rope she pulls away from him. She looks at
him with somber eyes as she waits for him to explain.

'it was a couple of days ago. We agreed to talk about what happened...’ he says and makes a
pause before he says the next bit. ‘She told me that she had feelings for me' he says, and not
able to take it anymore Ivy speaks up.

'you've really picked a time when to bring this up. We have sex and you pick to bring her up.
Makes me wonder what you were thinking about while we were doing it' she says, getting up
from the bed.

He scrunches his face in disbelief and frustration before he speaks up.

'ah, Ivy, give me a break. I'm trying to open up here, share something with you that you should
know about, and because I'm done with secrets and lies and all that shit. I want a clean start'
he says, keeping his voice under control, but she can tell he's annoyed.

'This has been bugging me this whole time. I couldn't wait to tell you about it'

'and, what were you talking about? Her feelings?' she asks, as she takes a seat on one of her
suitcases.

'She’s had feelings for me long before...that night happend'

'I think I can freely say that I knew it' she chiems in.

He choses not to comment on that as he continues.

 'I had been clueless to that... She thought that we could maybe have a shot' he says, paying
close attention to Ivy who's expression still hasn't changed, she's still glaring daggers at him.

'I told her not to hold her breath...gently. We had been avoiding each other long enough and
we both needed that closure, I guess. She's not working for us anymore. I don't know what her
plan is for the future. She just said that she would figure it out and she quit. And here I am now,
telling you this'

She stares at him long and intently before she decides to speak up. He's at this point pearched
on his elbows, looking at her also, expecting some kind of reaction. What he doesn't know is
that behind those green eyes a battle is playing out. Indeciseviness, whether to make a
confession of her own now when an appropriate moment has come, or keep her mouth shut
and let this sink in first. The thing is, he's not even suspecting that Ivy could have something
worth confessing, worth worrying about that's slightly bigger than this story he's just told.

'thank you' she murmurs quietly 'for being honest' she says and can see how his body relaxes a
bit. 'I'm not mad, I'm just...taken aback, I guess. Glad that that chapter is finally over'

He smiles at that, really relieved. He exhales one heavy breath before he pats the spot next to
him.

'come here' he beckons.

She doesn't wait to be told twice, she gets up and joins him on the bed again. She places her
head on his chest again, still unsure whether to speak up. Her eyes scan the room as they stay
quiet. One small picture of two bird lovers on one of the walls catches her attention and she
catches herself speaking up.

'I have a confession to make also'

'speak' he says, his heartbeat steady, unlike hers a minute ago.

'I still have your pictures, but in my lap top. I didn't erase them. I couldn't do that' she says, and
this time she hears his heart skips a beat and then starts beating faster.

'really? Why did you lie then?'

'I wanted to... prove a point. I'm not so sure what that point was anymore' she says, half
expecting of him to pressure her to tell her the reason why.

'cool' she hears him say.

'cool?' she chuckles, knowing he's playing.

'you still have me' he says in a weird accent.

'like your heart didn't go nuts a second ago when I told you that' she says, ending his little
game.

'I'm seriously happy that you have all of it still. It kind off hurt when you said you deleted it' he
says and she hugs him a bit tighter.

'I know how much effort you put in in trying to make a collage of mu butt' he says and she
swats at him, hitting his shoulder lightly.

'you just have to ruin everything'

'it was glorious in one of the pics, I gotta admit. Surely you have talent'

'ah shut up. That was only one picture. Your jeans were tight'

'I bet they were' he mumbles an the bichering goes on for another half an hour.

'are you kidding me, you want to sleep?' Ivy sighs in slight frustration at this young man next to
her, who has just snored a little, catching her attention.

'I'm resting my eyes, chillax' he replies lazily.

A witty remark immediately comes to her mind as those words leave his mouth. She chuckles a
little before she speaks.

'in that case, keep looking at me then. That should rest them' she says, propping her chin on his
shoulder, looking at his sleepy, half shut eyes.

A lazy, boyisly adorable smile draws on his lips at her words, and his eyes open up a little wider,
looking back at her. His arm, the one that's not glued to the bed by her weight, moves so he
could gently caress her cheek with the knuckles of his fingers.

'that's even a better idea' he says, feeling the soft lines of her face. 'I'm so glad you're here, you
know that?' he says, barely audible, in a soft whisper.

'scratch that, happy...I'm happy you're here' he adds.

Her arm wraps around his upper body on its own accord, squeezing him tighter like you would
a stuffed toy.
'I'm happy too' she says, planting a small kiss on his shoulder then laying her face on it once
again.

'this is the happiest I've been in a while...' she adds, thoughtfuly and truthfully. She feels a
hand gripping her forearm all of a sudden.

'wait...come...' Max starts mumbling as he pulls on her arm gently, but it's not yet clear to her
what is it that he wants.

'come on top' he says, catching her a little by surprise.

She howles one leg over both of his, her arm supporting her weight, on the spot between his
head and his shoulder, as she positions herself, sitting down just a little below his crotch area.
His hands pull her down by her shoulders, laying her down on his chest. His arms hug her from
each side and she feels his hands resting on her back. They never seem to feel like they're close
enough. If he could he would inject her into his system somehow, maybe that way he would
feel close enough, he toys with the thought. Same with her.

Her arms hug him as much as his arms would allow that and exhales one content breath. If she
could stay like this all day, she would gladly give her conscent. She hears him sigh, and
pleasantly so, as he tightens his grip around her just ever so slightly.

'your hair smells nice' he says as he inhales deeply once, then continues sniffing it softly.

'thanks' she chuckles, discretly sniffing him also as she closes her eyes.

'oh my God, it smells great' he comments on the hair once again, with an amused tonom, this
time sniffing it harder, making Ivy laugh.

'getting high there, eh?' she asks jokingly.

'I'm trying...

His chest keep raising and falling in deep breaths, moving her along, making her now feel sleepy
due to the repetitiveness.

'have you had any problems, lately, huh?' he asks as he starts petting her hair slowly along the
lenght of her back.

'no...' she replies, confusion in her voice.

'why?'

'just checking...'
She chuckles as she figures out a reason behind his question.

'so you could take care of it?'

'of course. If anyone has a problem with you he has a problem with me' he says with conviction
in his voice that makes her feel all fuzzy on the inside.

The protective side of him will never fail to amuse her and cause her insides to melt and her
brain to trick her into believing that she's just a little girl who needs protecting. Even now, she
feels so tiny and fragile in his arms as he whispers all the right words.

'so you wanted to know if anyone's been causing me problems, not just any type of problems...'
she comments.

'in ninety percent of the time people start shit. Other problems are easier to handle' he says.

She just smiles to herself, thinking how right he is.

'you would seriously come to HG if I had a beef going on with someone?' she asks jokingly but
partially serious about the matter.

'I told you once before that I would. I wasn't kidding. Someone messes with my baby, I'm
coming for him' he says, tilting his head towards hers so they're briefly touching.

She relaxes in his arms even more, her arms ever so slightly tightening their grip around him.
She's his baby, she thinks as she snuggles her head more comfortably on his chest. Only he, only
he can make her feel so small, but in the best possible way. In Max's arms is home, in Max's
arms is safe, to be in Max's arms is all her soul truly aches for. There's no better place for her to
be, it's her favorite place in the world.

'I love you' she mumbles, her voice tiny.

She hears a small sigh that falls from his lips.

'I love you...more' the last part comes out shushed but she picks up on it.

'stop that, or I'll get mad. No you don't’she answers, fully intending to lifts herself up to look at
him, but she doesn't have it in her yet. She's too comfortable.

'what do you know anyway...' he replies, but she can sense a smile in his voice.

'Max...' she warns subtly.

In the next second their bodies switch positions. With a groan he rolls them over so that he's
now howering over her, with her legs wrapped around his.
'teasing, baby. I know you probably love me as much as I l...'

She quickly interrupts him.

'scratch that probably' she says, a smile appearing on her lips as soon as it does on his.

'let me ask you a question. How is that even possible?' he asks as his eyes trail across her face,
studying her, memorizing her.

'you're...' he starts, but doesn't seem to be able to find the right word or words to put his
feelings into. 'this amazing girl with so much to offer. An amazing girlfriend to me. You're my
kind of perfection... How is it that I get to have you? All of you? How come I'm the lucky guy?'
he asks, stopping his eye wandering, to settle on her big pools of green. 'I'm trying to be worthy
of you... But I so don't deserve you, baby' he says, moving some of the strands of her hair away
from her face.

'that's on me to decide, isn't it?' she asks, keeping her tone light. 'why would you think that
you're not?' she asks, holding his gentle gaze.

'because you're so pure and...perfect, and I'm this screw up... I treated you poorly... I'll never
stop trying to make it up to you. I don't ever want to see tears on that face again' his face
twitches at the painful thought 'those tears...' he whispers and knuckles of his hand softly brush
against her cheek once again as if wipping away imaginary tears.

'come here' she mouths before she cups both of his cheeks and brings his lips to hers.

She doesn't want more words, she doesn't need a reminder of how bad she hurt that day, how
many tears she cried. She doesn't want the anger back. She wants to close that chapter once
and for all. She's ready not to hear or talk about it ever again. She's more than ready to put a
lock on the door of the past.

'you so have no idea what you are to me... You're someone who makes me sad ocasionally...'
she says once they pull away, and before she can finish the sentance his eyes show regret again
so she continues, wanting that look gone. 'no, not like that. Different kind of sad... It hits me
sometimes, and I realize how hard it is to remember what my life was like before I knew you...
There was a point in my life when I didn't know you existed' she smiles then 'now, it actually
bothers me to realize that I had to spend so much time without you, not knowing you. Not
knowing of you. How different would everything be now if we'd only met sooner?'

He smiles now to, but with embarrassment.

'I don't think you would've liked me then. At all' he says and she shakes her head no.
'with me in your life maybe you would've been close to how you are now' she says, adding
cockiness to her voice. He chuckles.

'maybe...' he says, pecking her lips. 'maybe you would've been with me instead of that asshole.
If we could scratch him from the picture somehow only...'

She rolls her eyes this time. Here we go again, she thinks.

'I seriously, still cannot believe that you used to date that guy...'

'Max...' she groans in annoyance.

'what? It's something I'll never fully understand or accept' he says, shifting his weight from one
elbow to the other. 'I mean...' he starts off, calm and collected, but a change is quick as his eyes
widden and his eyebrows knit together. 'you gave it up to him!' he snaps unexpectedly and a
loud, exagarated gasp breaks through from her.

'you're disgusting' she comments, chosing to look elsewhere but his exasparated expression.

'your body and hi... No. I can't... No. I refuse to believe that you two had...anything... Say you
didn't' he says, forcing her to look at him by pressing his index finger on her chin.

'are you being serious right now?' she asks, as annoyed as she can be. 'it has JUST hit you that
we...you know?'

He raises both of his eyebrows at her expectantly, urging her to speak. She scoffs, amazed by
his ridiculous outburst.

'no, we didn't have sex' she says, clearly lying, not even attempting to be more convincing.

'you're just lying now' he accuses, as if that much is not already obvious.

'You told me to say it' she says.

'you're mocking me even'

'stop being ridiculous then' she says, just now actually realizing that they're fighting while being
glued to each other, as if the bed is too small.

Having him only breath away and discussing her sex life with her ex, just makes this whole
situation even more ridiculous.

'he had you first...' he comments, his temper dwindling.

'you have me better and you'll have me last. What's the big deal? I didn’t even love him…'
‘the deal is that it hurts... I wasn't there. God only knows what kind of assholes you had dated
before that asshole... You're so frustrating'

She lets out a laugh that echoes off the walls.

'I am? And just how come we somehow always end up talking about sex?'

'are we? No, we're just about to… How many assholes were there that got to touch you in the
ways that they shouldn't have?'

'Maaax' she groans as she tries to wiggle out from under him, but he presses her down with his
body weight, not letting her budge.

'I swear, you're driving me insane. I'm NOT TALKING ABOUT MY EXS and my sex life with them
with you. You're the best in that area. Settle with that' she says, not confident at all that that
would make him stop.

'how many?' he asks in the same tone as with the previous question.

She lets out an annoyed cry, not seeing a way out but to reply.

'three' she says, unsure whether he would see that as a high number or would he back off.

'shit, three?' surprise in his voice evident. 'you just couldn't wait, could you?'

'you gotta be kidding me. For you?'

'that would've been a wise move'

'you know... This makes me want to ask for your number, but I think I'd be better off not
knowing'

'yeah, you would' he doesn't miss a beat to say that, but regrets as soon as he hears himself.

'so it is a high number?' she asks, hating the answer already.

She's disturbed and mildly hurt, and it shows on her face. He sees it.

'it's not, it's...well, it's a little higher than yours' he starts, not aware if he's doing good or bad.
He's only reading her face for signs.

'a little? Or a little a lot higher?' she asks, keeping her voice neutral, so she can hopefully get an
honest answer out of him.

'I don't know?'

'oh, that's good enough, alright'

She doesn't even know why she's taking it to heart, it's not like that number matters anyway.
She has him now, those girls don't. It's her victory… Only one thing that sends the strongest
poke to her heart is realization that only a month ago another girl added to that number.

'I've had four somewhat serious relationships before you' he says.

'you've answered a wrong question' she says just for the sake of saying it.

She certainly doesn't want him giving her the right answer. His hesitation is an answer on its
own. If he's hesitating like this, it could only mean she wouldn’t like what he would have to say.
Either way, she is far better not even know about it.

'never mind' she adds before he gets the chance to speak. 'I don't want to know about it. I don't
want to be thinking about it'

'I shouldn't have even brought it up in the first place. It's stupid... I have YOU now. You have me
now' he says sweetly, playing mellow purposefuly before he bitters it up. 'It amazes me what a
douche I was. My first relationship... I had no idea what the hell I was doing. I think we were
pretty much using each other. Second relationship... I have no idea what the hell I was thinking.
She was my professor's daughter. He couldn't stand my ass, but he still went easy on me in
school'

'you had style' she ironically comments.

Part of her wants him to stop talking and have him turn to the present, to her, but another part
is curious to know more about his past, the past that she thought she knew a lot about.

He makes a goofy proud face at her fake compliment before he continues.

'third one, I knew she was into me. I wasn't into her, mind you. But I just could not turn her
down. She had these crazy, big eyes. She reminded me of a puppy... We hit it off, she turned
out to be not too bad. The fourth one cheated. I heard she got married to that guy a few weeks
ago' he says but she can't read the emotion in his voice at the last words. It's hard because she's
not getting pretty sure that there's been no emotion in his voice or whatsoever.

'were you sad?' she tries this approach.

'are you kidding? They deserve each other. He is such a douche, it's actually funny. She wears
pants in that relationship. I've heard some funny stuff actually...' he trails off absently as his
hand searches for hers somewhere in between their bodies. 'and now here we are' he says as
he cups her hand in his, her whole fist almost fitting in his. 'I had a vougue idea about what a
true relationship should look like. It had almost nothing to do with this, though. With you it's so
easy...kind of' She chuckles at that but decides not to comment yet. 'I love that' he says as final
words.

She smiles at him, agreeing with him silently. From the very first day they couldn't deny the
magnetic pull that brought them together, that cheesy, electricity like feeling when his hand
grazed hers for the first time and the glints in their eyes, letting each other that it was felt. He
didn't let her get away easily that night, not that she really wanted to, anyway. They left the
club they had been at previously, soon enough. They talked and talked for hours, they laughed.
The chemistry was definitely there, almost palpable. They exchanged numbers. They got in
touch the next day. The day after that they went on a small date. Days after that on a bigger
one. The first kiss… and that was it. She got hooked. He got hooked. The rest is well known
already. That pull is undeniably still there, and as if it’s even stronger now, that they need this
closeness more than they need air.

'God...' she blushes as a thought crosses her tumultous mind. 'you were so awkward when you
told me… you loved me the first time. It just occured to me' she chuckles.

He chews on his bottom lip, feeling exposed and also a bit awkward now, but a smile starts
growing on his lips despite it.

'it just slipped, but I guess that's how I knew it was genuine. I had never said it to any girl
before, but with you it somehow sounded right. Not forced or rushed, just right' he says, his
smile completely gone by the end of the last sentence.

'the feeling was deffinitely there for me. I didn't just say it back because you had said it first... I
wanted to. I never said it to anyone besides you either' she says, her free arm now trailing up
and down his bicep that's supporting his weight.

A small proud smile plays on his lips as his eyes dart to their joined hands. He opens her fist
with his thumb just so he could play with her fingers a little. They spend some time in the
silence, already sweating bullets by the heat their bodies are emmiting, but neither of them
wants to move.

'is it weird that that turns me on...a little?' he asks all of a sudden catching her by surprise.

'what does?' she asks, secretly hoping he's not aiming for a round two of what happened in the
kitchen. It's already way too hot in the room.

'that I'm your first love' he replies, his eyes meeting hers again, with his lids slightly droppy, like
always happens when his desire for her is too strong.
There will be round two, she just knows it.

'I'll be surprised if we find something that doesn't turn you on' she replies, chuckling lightly.

'only when it comes to you' he smiles into their kiss and slowly but surely her prediction comes
true.

Three days later

Days have flown by, and not surprisingly Ivy and Max have been on the cloud nine this entire
time. Not so much about taking it slow as Ivy told Tina that one time, nor did she really want to
stick with that plan. It seems as if they simply can't get enough of each other as if it's been years
of separation between them and not only a couple of weeks in reality. All the fights and bigotry
,on both parts at one point, probably added to the sensation that it's been much longer than
that. Two nights ago Ivy spent the night with him. Yesterday he spent the night with her. They
might as well move in together Max teased her the third day. Her apartment is already paid for
and she's willing to stick around a while longer, but she wouldn't totally mind moving in with
Max. Of course not, that would be a dream indeed.

Right now he's pacing around her living room, expecting her to walk in from getting dolled up in
the bathroom. It should be any second now. Or any minute...It's already been fifteen minutes
since she last said she'd be done in a minute. After fourty minutes of pure boredom caused by
the wait, and minutes of walking in circles, his feet eventually take him to where she is.

Standing now at the doorway and seeing his own reflection in the mirror as well as hers, he asks
her.

'anytime soon?'

'yeah, just a sec' she says, having small trouble in picking the right shade of lipstick that would
match her outfit as well as her eye makeup. 'is my neck a little lighter than my face or am I
trippin'?' she asks, fully checking herself out in the mirror before even using the chosen lipstick
that's now in her hand.

Max decides to step away from the door and walk in, joining her in front of the bathroom
counter.
'you look great, babe' he replies with a tone that every guy replies with when they want their
girlfriends to stop nitpicking and asking silly questions. He pats her on the bum two times as he
says those words, causing her to throw him a small glare through the mirror.

'that's not what I asked... I need to fix it' she announces before she grabs the brush she used for
her foundation.

Max lets out a silent exasparated sigh as he starts checking himself out in the mirror, making
weird grimaces as he starts moving his jaw to see if he's shaven properly, if he's missed a spot
maybe. Gotten used to the silence in the room,they both get startled when a phone starts
buzzing with a sound on the counter. They both look down, it's Ivy's. The hand that's been
working the brush around the skin of her neck freezes as if on command as she does a double
take on her phone and who's texted her. She puts away the brush clumsily as she reaches for
her phone. It's done, is the first thought that crosses her mind as she catches Max's eyes that
confusedly travel up from her phone to her face, then again at her phone.

He's stiff, his eyes don't show any emotion as they travel up and down and up again, and it
makes her even more rattled. Did he catch the name? She asks herself, of course inable to
speak out loud. With her phone in her hand she doesn't even try to read the text, she's only
trying to focus on her breathing not even aware what her eyes are staring at. She sees Max, but
it seems to her now as if she's seeing everything, herself, both of them, as if she's taken a role
of an observer, waiting for drama to play out.

'who was that?' he asks, too casually as if he hasn't got a clue.

Maybe he hasn't, she hopes. That question takes her by surprise. It can't be worth it to start
lying again. She opens her mouth but starts stuttering nervously before even one word is
uttered. She shouldn't feel this way, so preassured. She shouldn't feel this guilty, yet she does.

'a friend' she replies, not sure yet if she should be regretting that.

Nothing in his eyes changes as he speaks again.

'Carter? Not THE Carter?' he asks.

His voice is under control, he's composed, it makes her just slightly better but at the same time
aware that this could be the calm before the storm. His calm approach gives her a bit of
courage to try an come clean to him about this Carter Baizen issue.

'Actually...it is' she says, trying her hardest to play it cool, to not show any sign of distress
because he would probably eat her alive in that case.

She bravely holds his gaze as it barely transitions from emotionless to slightly intrigued.
'you don't say? And since when is he your friend?' he asks, shifting his body weight onto one leg
as he props his arm on the counter to support him, the other hand in his front pocket.

She swallows harder inintentionaly, feeling sudden itchyness in her dry throat.

'since a few weeks ago' she replies, refusing to look away even though everything in her is
screaming for it.

He doesn't say anything for a couple of seconds and she still can't read him. He's too calm. It's
even scary.

'you still went to see him that day, didn't you?' he asks, still casual.

She shakes her head at his question, he's got it wrong.

'it wasn't my intention. I saw him at this bar... He saw me and we started talking' she replies,
planning to keep every single of her following answers short. If she starts rambling nervously
she might give away too much that would even make it harder for him to understand. She only
wants him to understand somehow, and for this to not break out into a big fight.

'then?' he asks.

'then what?' she needs to be sure what he's refering to so she can carefully pick an answer to
give.

'you saw him again after that, am I right?'

'yes' she says naively, but just then it hits her that a cruitial piece of the story is now waiting to
be slammed into this puzzle.

She's obligated to admit something, something that will surely upset him.

'we...exchanged numbers that day, then we agreed to meet again sometime' she shruggs her
shoulders to give off an impression that what she's sharing with him right now is really nothing
to be upset or worried about, as if she's finding it silly.

'ok. So, it's been more than once' he concludes, nodding a little as the words start settling in,
his gaze only merely sharper than a few seconds ago.

'you're not mad? You're not going to throw a fit over it or something?' she asks, not hiding her
surprise.

'I'm not even remotely ok with it' he says matter of factly 'but it's not like you would listen even
if I told you to stay away. That method never seemed to work anyway. You do what you want in
the end. Who gives a fuck what Max is saying, right?' he asks, his voice getting colder, making it
clear to her that he's about to combust any second now.

It's making her insides twist painfuly in anxiety and guilt. The guilt has been here from the
start, but it's just now getting almost too painful to bare.

'don't say that' she says, trying to find an appropriate response. ‘It’s understandable to worry,
but sometimes you take it to a whole another level… Nothing ever happened with Roman all
those times you used get worked up about. Nothing ever happend with ANY of the guys, that is
guy friends, that I was seen with by your friends. If it were up to you I would have to settle for
only a couple of girl friends... I love you Max, but you have to respect my decisions and how I
choose to live my life and what people I choose to let into my life. I wouldn't jepardise what we
have now for a world. If I say Carter is a friend, will you be willing to leave it that and trust me?'
she asks and his eyebrows furrow as if he's contemplating something, his gaze falling.

'I do trust you. I don't trust them. The thing is... I just think that you can be naive sometimes. I
just want you to be careful. I want you to be smart enough to tell when someone is bad news
and stay away, and I just happen to know some things and happen to know that Carter is bad
news' he says, his voice laced with genuine worry for her wellbeing.

His last words definitelly manage to peek her interest. What are those 'some things'? How
would he know? Could he be right in any case? How could he possibly know more than she
already does?

'what things?' she asks.

'now you want to know?' he asks, cocking his eyebrow slightly, challenging her.

'you brought it up'

'Carter Baizen...' he starts as he pushes himself away from the counter 'he is a person who
absolutely has no regard about anyone but himself and his kicks. He uses people and tosses
them aside. It's disgusting actually... Back in New York, I remember a few girls, from my circle of
friends, fussing about Carter Baizen's wedding'

Her heart dropps in her heels the instant those words settle in. They can't possibly mean the
same person. Carter’s never been married. Carter doesn't date. Carter would've said something
by now… An electric sensation runs through her body, at those words, raising goosebumps all
over her skin, her mind going wild and she forgets how to move and breathe for a long
moment.
'he dumped the girl right before the ceremony, they said… Of course the girl was loaded with
money. He had managed to squeeze out as much as he needed before then and then he was
gone. Who knows why he waited so long. Maybe it was fun for him...'

'that's not true' she chiemes in, getting a little too defensive, an instinct to stand up for her
friend kicking in.

To claim that the story is a bull faced lie would be childish on her part and she's very much
aware that she can't back up her previous claim but that doesn't stop her from doing so
anyway.

'that's what I know that happened' he says, harshly confirming it, noticing the way she’s
dissmised the facts he brought out. 'People talk, you know, and I didn't hear it from one source
only' he says, expecting her to add something more but she stays quiet, her thoughts anything
but.

She avoids looking at him as turns to the mirror again and starts putting on her lipstick. Anyone
could read it, her eyes are giving off confusion and judgement, hurt and disappointment. It's
crazy how your opinion on someone can change by 180degrees, or at least be heavily shaken, in
just a few seconds.

'I'm not sorry for bursting your bubble' he says, his voice cold as he turns on his heel and starts
walking away. 'I'll be waiting in the car' he says once he's out the door.

She mutters a small 'ok' as he's walking away, indiferent whether he's heard her or not. She
puts away the lipstick and leans her body against the counter, her arms supporting her. She
stares at her reflection for a couple of seconds, conteplating, before she remembers the unread
text message. Carter's text message. His name sounds foreign even in her thoughs. How could
Carter The sweet, charming Carter that she's become very well familiar with, be the same
Carter from that story, the greedy, inconsiderate, cruel Carter. Her thoughts go to the girl,
Carter's almost to be wife, how scarred she must have come out of that game, having Carter,
her almost to be husband, take the lead, leaving her wallowing in pain as he abandoned her in
the most cowardly way.

She slides her finger across the screen of her phone to unlock it, the text message awaiting. She
hasn't heard from him in days, but she told him that day, his last day in HG, when to be
expecting her in LA. She's been meaning to get back to him some time soon, but highly
apprehensive on chosing the right moment for that. With Max by her side majority of the day,
squeezing out some time for Carter didn't seem like an easy task, especially since then, her
friendship with Carter was still a top secret.
'Saw a girl today, thought it was you, beautiful. Are you in LA, yet?' she reads the text.

This time the nickname triggers nothing but makes her aware of her indifference towards it.
She starts replying then, wasting no more time.

'Yes, I'm in LA.' she replies curtly, unsure how to act now with this new found information.

She leaves the bathroom with her phone in her hand, ready to finally join Max. He's angry, she
knows it, even though he's not letting it show. At least not the way he used to, that she's used
to. He will ask questions again, and she won't deny him the truth. Now she's not too sure
whether to be grateful or upset on how Max ended up finding out. She would've told him
somehow...sometime...maybe... Hipocracy is something she's getting very familiar with, it
seems.

She locks the front door once she leaves her apartment. Max could've waited for her, but she
knows what he's doing. Walking off the turmoil he must be feeling. Something he would have
rarely done in the past. Maybe he won't bite her head off when he sees her now, she hopes.

Max has one hand on the steering wheel, the other holding his phone, typing something,
seemingly thoughtful, but Ivy doesn't see what when she gets in the car.

'hey' she mutters as she closes the door behind her.

''ey' he says, without looking up from his phone.

She dares to take a better look at him, only to see that upseting frown on his normally sunny
face. It makes her annoyed and upset that she's the reason behind it. She's a little afraid to say
anything now, very well aware that one wrong word said to him could triger something and
result into a big fight. She's tired of fighting him, it always ends with regrets. Mainly because in
the heat of the moment words that leave her mouth have always been the ones that hold more
poison and therefore do more damage. It is also upsetting to her now that they could be
fighting, once again, over a person that Max has a problem with but that she cares about and
has to fight to keep into her life.

It's heart against the heart.

He puts away the phone and starts the car without even sparing a glance at Ivy or saying a
word. They start driving in silence and she unwillingly tears her eyes from him. He's giving her
the silent treatment, so it seems.

'this is how our night is going to be? You being pissy at me? It should be fun' she says, looking
out the window.
'it's always the same shit. It's never you being upfront with me' as soon as she opens her mouth
to speak he continues foreseeing what she would've wanted to say. 'if you're hiding things that
you know would make me upset, more reason to be honest with me. I get pissed, yeah, you
have a go at me, we move on like we always do… what's there to be afraid of, really? I just have
a feeling that you would've kept that piece of information from me for who knows how long,
just because you're afraid of my reaction? Is that it? Honestly, I'm even less upset that you're
friends with the guy, but rather upset realizing that you would actually hide it from me' he says,
surprising her with the number and the choice of words.

He's taken it far better than she expected. This is progress, she concludes proudly.

'Hiding is a strong word' she starts, adding a bit of humor to lighten up the mood, the timing is
appropriate. 'there was never an appropriate time, really. We were having too much fun that I
couldn't just spoil it with the mention of that… I'm just glad you now know. I'm relieved, I must
say' she says honestly.

It truly feels as if some heavy weight has been lifted off her chest, like she can breathe again.
One more thing, it occurs to her before she speaks again.

'Max, I'm going to see him soon. I want to ask him about it… I just want to hear his side of the
story, that's all' she says, confident that he won't object that.

'I'm trusting you to realize what a scumbag that guy is and that you will then decide to ditch his
sorry ass'

She keeps silent at that, secretly hoping that that won't have to be the case.

Carter just sort of disappeared after that text three days ago. He didn't reply. Later that day Ivy
asked him if they could meet soon, he didn't reply. On the second day he sent one short text,
saying that he was busy. Today he sent her his apologies, and that they could meet but the the
destination he suggested was his apartment. She's never been there before, even though she's
familiar with his adress. She's been outside his building before but never inside.

She told Max who she would be seeing today, without the mention of the destination of that
meeting. He, even though clearly displeased, didn't try to stop her, he was aproving of it
surprisingly.
She has nothing against meeting Carter in the privacy of his home, it would be her first time. In
many ways this meeting is going to be one of a kind, she can feel it.

'you're here' he greets her with a warm smile, yet there is a hint of something else behind it.
Something she doesn't see face very often on his face.

He’s wearing also something she doesn’t see very often on him, actually at all. Simple, grey t
shirt with black sweat pants and a pair of those white, fluffy, hotel slippers on his feet. His hair
is still flawless she notices. The contrast…

They hug and he offers her to come in.

His apartment is not as luxorious as she imagined it would be, but it has its charm. Max's could
be just slightly bigger, she concludes after she briefly observes the space. The place is deprived
of excessive flourishes and objects that could make it a little more homey. It's very impersonal
and simple, even seems as if it's about to be deserted and given to new owners.

'I like it simple' he says when he notices the way her eyes are taking in the surroundings.

'I can see that' she says, turning to him.

He places a drink for her on the glass table in front of her and takes a seat next to her on the
white leather sofa.

Holding his glass in his hand he leans forward, having his elbows on his knees, staring ahead.

'any reason we're here and not out and about?' she asks.

'Yes there is' he says, very calm and very official.

He's different, she notices. It seems that there's something unsettling on his mind. His text
messages also gave off a different vibe, but she didn't give it much thought then. Looking at him
now, something is clearly bothering him. What kind of problems is he dealing with now, she
wonders.

'you seem distressed' she states the obvious.

He glances her way slowly and tiredly just then she notices the slightly puffed under eye bags
that hold a slightly darker shade than usual as if he hasn't had sleep in a while. His lips tug
downwards as he swallows, taking a small gulp of his drink afterwards before he puts it away on
the table.

'I'm in trouble' he states openly, taking her off guard.

'what kind of trouble?' she carefully asks, her eyes giving off worry.

He scoffs, throwing his arms in the air experatedly as he lunges backwards.

'money' is all he says.

Somehow she doesn't even need details. She understands what it's about.

'how much?' she asks, and he knows she understands.

'as much as I don't have' with his hands lying flat on his thighs he's staring in the distance. 'I lost
two times in a row after I got confident that I could take it all' he says defeatedly.

She stares at him in pure disbilief. The idea of him that she created in her mind is now cracked
in way too many places to be recognized anymore. He is truly a mess. One lost, panicked,
hopeless boy is sitting in front of her now and it triggers something in her.

'I want to help' she offers, already thinking of ways to do so. Only she's having trouble coming
up with at least one.

'you can't' he replies with a sad little smirk, looking at her. 'thank you anyway' he adds, truly
grateful for the offer.

'don't you dismiss me like that...' she insist, getting worked up now.

The realization hits her like a tone of bricks. She’s so stupid, she accuses mentaly. Could it be
that this is all a part of some twisted plan of his? Pretending to be in some deep debt so a naive
girl like Ivy, who's skin he's managed to get under, can offer help and deliver. His next step,
leaving without a word, along with the money just like he did not long ago. She closes her
mouth abruptly, fear, disbilief and hurt evident in her eyes. She’s been so stupid, she repeats.
Has everything they've gone through been a part of this scheme, to get under her skin?

Of course it has, she heavy heartedly admits, reminding herself of the fiasco that must have
beeen his wedding ceremony. If he could convince that poor girl to marry him then rob her
blind, he surely could have convinced this girl into handing him the money he needed. Max's
words don't stop repeating themselves in her mind. 'Stay away' he said.

She could just walk out that door. She mentally dares him to try and stop her.

'come to think of it...' she starts off, keeping her voice in line 'I have a feeling you'll be just fine
without me' she finishes, flashing him a small venomous smile as she gets up.

'what?' he mutters, confused by her sudden change of attitude.

'what's going on?' he asks, leaning forward again, looking up at her with that dazed look.

She crosses her arms over her chest.

'you're quite something' she comments. 'what was her name, by the way?' she asks,
purposefuly leaving him puzzled. It's only appropriate she starts playing games with him now.
'what are you talking about?' he asks, getting tired of trying to understand this change in her.

'your ex fiancee?' she replies, keeping her tone icy while staring daggers at him.

Unexpectedly and suddenly she sees a drastic change in his demeanour. His gaze breaks from
the clueless rattleness to a true shame. There's no doubt that's what she's reading on his face.
His eyes snap shut as his head ducks a little lower, his hands hanging off his knees.

'you think...' he starts, lifting his head a little to meet her cold, ruthless gaze. The weakness she
sees in his, the complete opossite on what she knows hers is.

'that's the worst thing I've ever done' he says and she almost believes him.

'sure. You still got the money didn't you?' she asks.

'can you... please, sit down?'

'no' she replies instantly.

He makes a dissatisfied grimace as he tears his eyes from hers. It's clear to him how things are
going to go.

'her name is Beth' he starts, his voice slow and careful. 'I met her through an aquentance... She
was sweet and a little shy...' he stops there, regret clearly settling in.

'and rich' Ivy adds.

He attempts to throw her a glare but he fails, as he realizes that he's in no position to be bitter
towards anyone.

'I liked her, but... She feel in love and I didn't... Then it just occured to me' his eyes screw shut
for a moment, shame washing over him, before he opens them again. 'I was in a lot of debt, I
saw an opportunity and I proposed... I knew it would be taken care of it once it looked like I
would become family...'

'that's so...' she starts but bites her tongue, stopping herself from saying something insulting.
For some reason she actually feels sorry for him.

'so wrong' she finishes, turning away from him and starts pacing around relentlessly.
 'I know' he says, running a hand acros his face and then his hair, keeping it still at the back of
his neck. 'but I couldn't go through with it. I didn't love her. The money... I hate myself for it,
you have no idea... My family paid them off eventually, so my debt was covered nonetheles' he
says, exhaling one painful breath.

She turns to him then, realizing something.

'that's why your parents kicked you out really, isn’t it?' she asks, scoffing, now aware of the real
reason.

'That's the reason we don't talk but they kicked me out long before' he says, now leaning
against he back rest of the sofa again. 'you can leave now if you want' he says, pride slowly
coming back to his voice.

She stands still unaware what to do next. Leave, and not come back ever or...just leave?

'I don't...know what kind of person you are anymore. What to believe? My instincts are
screaming you're full of crap...'

'maybe you should listen to your instincts then' he says, giving off an impresion that he doesn't
care.

'then there's this...' she says, lifting her arm in the air, pointing at him exasperatedly. 'I don't
know if you're hurt or you truly want me gone. If you're genuine or a liar... How do I know with
you?'

They share one long look of studying each other, before he decides to give her an answer.

'what are my eyes telling you?' he asks, a little unsure himself.

His eyes... As if it's that simple to read them. Sometime it is, at least. Now is not one of those
times. She sees fatigue, it's the most obvious clue. The tiny, red tandrils that have managed to
color the whites of his eyes almost completely and in company with his droppy, wry eyebrows,
showing so much more than just plain fatgigue, more like emotional pain. He can't be that good
of an actor, she thinks. He can't be showing so little yet so much at the same time and not be
genuine. The longer she's looking at him the more she sees. He's silently willing her to believe
him. She sees hope. She trully sees the real him, so vulnerable and raw, for the first time.

'why am I here?' she asks quietly, in a way giving him the answer on his question.

He recieves it, but doesn't comment on it, just silently acknowledges it.

'didn't know who else to call' he says, his eyes slowly darting to his hands in his lap.
'you have friends...' she trails off, pushing him a little, but secretly glad he's chosen her.

'I do, but I wanted you here' he answers openly, glancing at her again as his thumbs start
twidling with each other. 'and not because I'm trying to squeeze money out from you. I know
what you're thinking. But I can't blame you if that's the case' he says.

She stays quiet for a couple of seconds, thoughtful, then she lets out a small sigh of build up
tension and finally takes a seat next to him again.

'don't you have people that owe YOU money? That could help a little' she offers a small advice,
that being the first one on her mind right now.

'I've gotten it already, it's not even remotely close to how much I need' he says.

'how much do you need?' she asks, in a way fearing the answer.

He makes an incoherent sound as if he's about to to speak and give her an answer, but it seems
that he changes his mind.

'a lot. Lets just go with that' he says. 'I got screwed over. I thought I had it under control...
Guess not' he sounds calm about it, but there's now anger behind those eyes.

'what then? You have any ideas?' she asks, straining her brain to think of something herself.

'yeah' he says, his eyes widening as he's staring at one dot somewhere on the floor.

He sounds sure and confident uttering that small word. It puts her at ease a little. That
moment of peace lasts til he speaks again.

'work for it' he says.

'where? Like a regular job? They would wait till the end of every month to ask for money? Some
considerate people, I'd say' she says, confused.

This certanly isn't what she expected his solution to be. She'd peg him as someone who'd
undertake more drastical measures if it came down to saving his own skin.

'No. I would have to leave the city... They have a plan for me' he says and scoffs, shaking his
head as if he's having a hard time believing it himself.

'they? What kind of plan would they have for you?'

'the man that I encountered, that I owe money to is PJ Buckley. Beth's brother' he explains,
looking at her again and noticing her surprise. 'They want revenge and they're finally going to
get it' he says, those words falling from his mouth with dificulty.
'you're giving up?' she asks, worry and frustration in her voice and behind her eyes.

He offers her a small smile at that that's supposed to have a reassuring effect.

'it's not giving up. I'm finally owning up to what I did. I'm willing to suck it up and work for it'

'You... I don't even think you're cornered yet, they only want to make you feel that you are.
There's gotta be some other way, something that we're missing here...' she rambles, her brows
furrow in concetration as she tries to focus on a solution.

Something comes up fast. Not an ideal solution, but it's a start, she thinks.

'What about that guy...the one with the yacht, if you...'

'I don't beg for money' he seethes, snapping sharp eyes at her.

It doesn't manage to intimidate her like it normaly probably would have. She's too upset with
the entire situation to really care about the types of looks he's giving her.

'People are not generous. Besides, it would take a lot more than just a few people to owe
money to. I'd be on the ground zero again, broke but in debt'

'how much money is it, Carter?' she asks, this time desperate to know.

He flexes his jaw in frustration as he looks away, aware there's no point in awoiding the answer.

'close to half a million' he squeezes out.

She has to make a huge effort not to gasp in shock and try to come off as collected still.

'Carter, it's better to be owing money to a friend than to people who are out to get you. You
can loan some money... Your car, you can survive without it. Sell it or something, you'd get nice
money for it... Any amount of money that you get could buy you some time. It's still better than
nothing... You could gamble lower stakes, easier game. You would win. Until you get you
confidence back. It's still money... I want to help somehow. You taught me something that day
at the casino. I don't know. We'd figure something out'

His eyes have lazily found her when she started talking. He's looking at her with a blank
expression this time. She can't read him. Only thing that she finds that it could mean is that he
has his mind set on what he thinks is the best and he's not willing to change his mind.

'I know. I've thought about it already. I didn't want to go without a fight... But the thing is, I
want to do this. I've tried selfishly to detach myself from that mistake, from my life back there. I
ran across the damned continent to escape it... The guilt. My family got deeply involved in my
problems... They freed me from my debt even when I had practicaly spat in their faces... I'm
tired of running from my past. I have no one anymore...' he stops briefly to take a breath after
his rant. He inhales, some of the poison from his system gone. 'I just want to put an end to it
all... I screwed up, now it's time I clean up the mess'

'you said you didn't want to settle for a normal job yet you're willing to waste your life away
working for those people who, I'm sure, will try to do everything in their power to make your
life miserable as possible... You can't do that, Carter, it doesn't make sense' she says, feeling
anger and pain for him boiling inside of her. 'snap out of it. You already have people who are
willing to help'

'I don't need a pity party, Ivy' he says as he gets up abruptly and starts pacing around, his
troubled mind driving him. 'I don't deserve your help, anyone's help at that. I need to do this on
my own... I just wanted to let you know that I'll be leaving in a couple of days. It felt stupid
saying it over the phone. I appreciate you for wanting to help, I really do, but I can only help
myself now. That’s the only reason that I called'

She doesn't turn to him yet as he's pacing somewhere behind her back. She's too disappointed
with his choice and upset with the circumstances, to even look at him. He's too caught up in his
own ways to accept anything she says to him. Going away with those people would be a
mistake, the biggest one he's ever made, yet he doesn't realize it. He wants to fix one mistake
by walking into another, but he's too proud to admit that that's the case.

'will you just put your pride aside, just this once... It's not a pity party, it's what...' she tries to
reason with him but he quickly interrupts.

'No' he says and she turns to him, fuieled with anger.

'everybody needs help at least once in their life. Do you realize that if you go, you're probably
done for? It will take years, and many years to pay off that debt, but they will first make sure to
find you the shittiest job possible… Wasted youth... Will you be able to say then that it was all
worth it? Going away shouldn't be an option, staying here and fighting is' her voice raises an
octave involuntarily, matching her turbulent emotions.

'people care, Carter. You're not alone in this' she adds quieter this time, his eyes observing his
still figure.

Something must have been trigered in him. Hopefully her words will have an intended impact
on him.

'I guess they do...' he says, matching her tone, some unusual softness in his eyes.
 'just do one thing for me' she starts, demanding his attention again. 'promise me you'll think
long and hard about it. See things from another angle'

He lets out a small sigh and then nods, shyly glancing at her. He's deffinitely stepping out of his
comfort zone, she figures and surpresses a smile.He smiles a little before he turns around,
disappearing somewhere, in the kitchen she suposes.

'where did you go off to?' she asks anyway.

'to find something for a headache... Like a gun or something' he speaks from another room and
she chuckles.

'you keep a gun in the kitchen?' she asks, keeping the conversation light.

'yeah, sure, why not' he replies.

She then hears the faucet running, meaning he's found the medicine. He comes back a couple
of seconds later and takes a seat next to her again, sprawling his feet on the floor as he leans
backwards against the backrest. He tilts his head back and closes his eyes as he starts rubbing
one of his temples with one hand in slow circular movements.

'are you coming down with something? You seem drowsy' she says after a short observance.

'I don't know...' he mumbles. 'I can't even remember the last time I've eaten, but I'm not even
hungry'

She shakes her head at him even though he can't see her, ready to scold him in a motherly way.
As she opens her mouth to speak she changes her mind on scolding. She decides for a more
constructive aproach.

'I'll make you something now' she says and gets up before those words sink in for him.

He lifts his head and lazily opens his eyes to follow her as she walks towards the kitchen.

'You're seriously going to cook for me?' he asks, pleasently surprised.

'You have to eat, don't try to argue me on this' she says as she walks in the kitchen.

She sees a big fridge and finds it empty almost. She can't imagine Carter in the kitchen with an
apron anyway. He's the type of person who prefers his meals at fancy restourants and who
knows the names and streets of those like the back of his hand.
'oh, great, you have eggs. Fried eggs coming your way' she announces, ready to search for other
necesary tools for cooking. 'not so luxorious, but you need some food in your system' she says,
just then she notices him at the door way, watching her making her way around his kitchen.

A small, shy smile decorating his lips.

'Thank you' he says softly and she just smiles at him.

She prepares the pan on the stove, her back to Carter. She hears soft shuflling of feet from
behind, coming near her. She stiffens a little, alarmed, when his presense gets too near.
Startled internaly, she doesn't let it show as he wraps one arm around her shoulders from her
back giving her a small hug, followed with a few words.

'you're amazing, really' he says and pulls away, starting to walk towards the dining table.

He pulls out a chair and slumps down, leaning his forearms on the edge of the table, his
attention on her again.

'it's just eggs...and some bacon' she humbly responds, feeling the need to say something after
his kind words.

She can't lie, they've made her feel pretty good. Actual words of acknowledgement from Carter
Baizen, you don't hear that very often, except for the light compliments when he turns on his
charm. It seems as if she's finally gotten a chance to catch a glimpse of the other side of him.
The side that makes him even more appealing, less perfect and more human.

'it's everything... I appreciate it deeply'

Warmth spreads through her chest, manifesting in the form of a smile.

'I appreciate you telling me that' she chuckles and he follows.

The sound revoking the warmth in her chest again. She's managed to make his grey day a little
less grey.

'you should go to bed after you eat. I can only assume you haven't slept properly in days' she
says, cracking the eggs in the pan and preparing a plate for him.

'nothing escapes your eye, does it?' he asks, now in his playful mood, despite the headache.
'you're suddenly acting like a mom'

She chuckles.
'when there's a baby in the house girls tend to do that' she says, glancing his way with a glint of
mischief in them.

He shakes his head, looking away, a smile peeking through.

'I'll pretend you didn't just call me that' he says.

'what are you then?' she presses, enjoying the way he reacts to her cheeky remarks too much
to stop.

'a wounded wild animal, maybe' he answers, and she can somehow draw the parallel.

She sets the table for him, though it's only a few items there now, a plate and a fork, salt and
peper if he likes and water.

'it's good' he appraises once he eats half of the first egg and some bacon.

As he's eating she starts cleaning the counter from invisible pebbles so she doesn't have to
stare at him while he's eating.

'yeah? One of the most challenging meals to make' she comments ironically and he jokingly
agrees.

'turns out, I was hungry' he says.

'of course you were. You would probably even starve if it weren't for me' she jokes, this time
she turns around, leaning against the counter.

'I'm sure I would' he says as if being serious.

'do you need to be somewhere soon?' he asks after some time, not looking up from his plate.

'um, no. Why?'

'you could stick around for a while?' he sends her a side glance. 'maybe watch a movie or
something. Your presence has a soothing effect on me to be honest' he says, surprising her
pleasently with those words.

'so you're using me?' she jokes before she decides to agree. 'sure. I'd like to keep an eye on you
anyway, just because you look...not so well'

'thanks' he says slunky and resumes eating.

He finishes his meal in a minute and puts away the plate in the sink before he and Ivy return to
the living room. They resume their seats on the sofa and she takes it upon herself to manage
the remote. She reaches the end of the channel list and so she takes it from the beginning
again, maybe something new has begun in the meantime. A couple of channels down the list
and she stopps, thrilled with the choice.

'Friends!' she cheers just as the theme song comes to an end.

Carter doesn't say a word as the episode starts. He's watching from almost a laying position,
with his hands locked on his stomach his feet sprawled onto the floor. She's sitting with her feet
on the sofa, tucked to the side.

'ah this one...' Ivy comments once she remembers what episode is playing. 'I hate Joey and
Rachel together' she comments annoyedly.

'why?' he asks so calmly it makes her face him with judging eyes.

'because they don't work as a couple. They are too... They're great as friends. She belongs with
Ross'

'I don't mind them together' he says and she finds that offensive.

'you should' she reprimands.

'It's always something with them. He should just marry Emily...' he says and she chuckles,
thinking he's joking. However, he's not. When she realizes that she shoots him a glare as she
charges.

'Emily? She is so annoying... I prefer Janice over her any time. I'm glad she's out' she says.

'who? Emily?' he asks, confused and slightly alarmed.

'yeah'

'when?'

She raises one eyebrow at him, confused.

'haven't you watched the show?'

He shakes his head lightly.

'I never believed in the hype. I've just recently started watching...accidentally' he replies, each
word like a dagger to her fangirling heart.

'so you don't know how they're all going to end up? This is gold' she comments.
'is Richard out for good also?' he asks, and it makes her laugh how clueless he is.

'you'll see'

After every scene that she finds hilariously funny she glances at him to see if he's responding
the 'right way'. Every time she hears him laugh she, childishly enough, feels a bit proud and also
happy. The sight of him laughing is deffinitely something she'll never completely get used to. It's
so hearwarming and rewarding to see him so relaxed after getting her used to the front he puts
up in public. He's just a kid, she has to remind herself. He's gone through a lot, more than
people his age and older have, and his spirit has, understandingly, aged, but really, he is just a
kid still. It shows in rare moments like these when he lets down his guard, when he opens up to
her about things she's sure only very few of people know about when he shows how he truly
feels. There is no way he's not scared about his future, she thinks. She refuses to let him believe
that if he doesn't have family here with him that he's completely on his own and that no one
cares what turn he decides to take with his life. He has someone here that cares, someone that
is willing to stick around. He's lost the sense of that it seems, that sense of security in
something or someone. He's gotten used to being proven constantly that everything has an
expiring date, even people.

Friends episode has come to an end and Ivy choses something else to watch. It's a movie
neither of them have seen before and they start watching in silence. She gets sucked in really
fast and she makes observant remarks throughout the first thirty minutes and Carter just hums
in response every time. After some time she finally glances at him and catches him with closed
eyes. He's asleep and now she doesn't know what to do with him. She doesn't want to wake
him up, she hates waking people up, but she can't leave him like this, she thinks. He will wake
up sore eventually.

She bites her lip and decides to go against herself. She nudges his shoulder gently and his
eyelashes flutter lightly before his tired eyes open up. He looks at her, confusion in his eyes as if
he can't remember why she's there.

'you should go to bed. It's not comfortable here on the sofa'

He nods in agreement and sits up slowly than gets up. She does the same, deciding to walk him
up to his bedroom. She can't help but wonder what it's like in there. Whether it's as simple as
the rest of the apartment or does it have more character.

'thank you for staying, Iv' he says with a voice thick with sleep.
 Something about the way he said her name, actually the nickname, makes her feel fuzzy on the
inside. It sounds so charming and endearing falling from his lips.

'you've been thanking me enough. Lets get you to bed now' she replies as they are getting
closer to the room.

'you don't have to walk me to bed' he says as they already walk in.

It is just as simple, she notices, only there are dark sheets on the bed, navy blue with lighter
blue pillow cases. No crazy patterns on it, just plain blueness, but somehow it exudes with
Carter.

'I might as well since we're here' she says and watches him as he ditches his slippers next to the
bed and slides into the covers, barely holding his eyes open. He lets out a content sigh when his
skin touches the cold sheets and his body the soft mattress.

'you're leaving now? I forgot to give you a hug' he says, forcing his eyes open to look at her.

'Just imagine you've done it' she replies with a smile. The guy loves giving hugs it seems.

'text me when you wake up to let me know if you feel any better... I'll be heading out now' she
announces as she starts taking small steps backwards, waiting for his response.

'I will... You're lovely' he says smiling sleepily at her and she returns the smile and then heads
out.

They exchange small byes once she's out the door and she can't help but feel bad for leaving
him now. He could be feverish, she didn't check, and he's all alone. She somehow just knows he
wouldn't tell her if he were to feel any worse. He surely wouldn't want her baby sitting him
again. It would be a harsh blow to his ego.

She reaches the living room, her feet continue taking her to the front door, but every step
slower than the latter. She does reach the door but she hesitates to open it, as following
thoughts are haunting her. Maybe if she sticks around a little longer... Maybe she could check
his fever once he's asleep, that's not creepy at all... Maybe she should stay till he wakes up if
she proves that he is, in fact, feverish...

She steps away from the door once she makes a decision. It has taken her less than a minute to
make up her mind. She's staying.
She contemplates whether to walk into his room again and check his temperature now, but
eventually decides not to, the sleep must just be coming to him and she doesn't want to annoy
him. She decides to wait.

She takes a seat in the living room, the movie they've started watching still playing on the TV.
Once she focuses on it, for good twenty minutes she forgets all about the reason she's here and
not on her way to her apartment. At one point she snaps out of her trance, deciding to make
her way to his room again.

Thirty seconds later when her eyes find him, he's sleeping soundly on one side with one hand
under the pillow. She stealthily approaches him, finding endearing the way his lips are just
slightly parted open and his face is completely relaxed, that troubled crease between his brows
gone. Once he wakes up, she knows it, once the reality sets in it will reappear again. At least for
a short while he will be at ease, he will escape the chaos his reality has become.

He looks so peaceful that she fears she will drive him away from that safe place once she does
such as gaze his forehead with her fingers. She dares to make a move. Ever so lightly she
touches the skin on his forehead and it takes her a few seconds to conclude that, surprisingly,
he doesn't have a fever. He must be just very exhausted, she thinks, as she fondly takes in his
sleeping form.

One gentle smile decorates her lips as she hears a soft, relaxed sigh that falls from his lips.
What is he dreaming about, she can't help but wonder. Something sweet, she hopes, he needs
some proper rest.

Now, it's time to go, she decides. She turns on her heel and starts heading out the door,
satisfied that her small mission has been easily accomplished. She reaches the door, about to
walk out when a tuneful sound, his door bell, reaches her ear. She reflexively tilts her head to
the inside of Carter's room, confirming that he's still asleep. His ears haven't picked up on the
sound. Glad that that's the case she takes it upon herself to close the door of his room, only
until she checks who's the person with a finger on the bell. Ivy is pretty confident that Carter
would've mentioned some time if he was really expecting a guest, or guests. Maybe it's
someone he shouldn’t have to break his sleep over, Ivy supposes once she's close to the front
door. Maybe it's one of the annoying people who do advertising from door to door.

Who is she kidding, she senses deep in her gut that trouble could be awaiting behind that
closed door. How? She calls on intuition.

Starting to tip toe once she's only a few feet away from the door, she once again stealthily
approaches it and gently places her hands on the hard wood and positions herself just as
carefully, not to make a sound, so she can take a close look through the peep hole at the person
on the other side. The door bell rings once again and she jumps up, startled, and takes a step
back, almost knocking her knee against the door in the process. Her hands fly to her mouth to
muffle her startled shriek as she steps away. She didn't even get a chance to take a look who
was out there as the loud sound threw her off.

Quickly she pulls herself together and resumes her previous position with one eye on the peep
hole. This time she sees someone. She sees three men, three young men actually. One of them,
the one standing the middle, looks inpatient as he opens his mouth to speak.

'You're not hiding now, are you Baizen? Saw your car outside... You might as well open up' he
speaks with disdain and malevolence that's dripping.

Still glued to the door, her body stiffens and she even though she wants to she can't force
herself to back away and to stop looking at this man that's now looking directly at her. He can't
see her she knows it, but his firm, intense gaze has her nailed in one spot, unable to move an
inch. Only one thought keeps running circles in her mind ever since her fears were confirmed,
the thought whether they would dare to break the door down, deciding to get to him using
force. She wouldn't dismiss that as a possibility since hostility is practically radiating off of them.

One of them starts banging his fist against the door. That does it, she backs away from the door
and continues walking backwards until her heel hits something and she realizes it's a wall.

'Baizen...' the guy speaks again, she recognizes his voice. It's probably even going to be etched
into her brain for a while.

Carter is just down the hall peacefully sleeping without a slightest clue what an emotional
turmoil she's going through at the moment because of him. She almost lets her feet take her to
him in a rush, but she freezes when that voice speaks to her again, thinking it's Carter there
instead.

'okay...' he says patiently and partially entertained 'You'll open up next time. Till then, find
some guts' with that the men start leaving and she exhales in relief once the clacking sound of
their shoes on the tile floor of the narrow hall dissipates.

She lets her back slide down the wall she's been leaning against and she hugs her knees once
she takes a seat on the floor as she tries to figure out what to do with herself. Leave or stay,
that's her dilemma? Even more than before, she fears now to leave him alone. They could come
back any time, they could do anything, and if one thing is certain in this, that is that those
people are slowly losing their patience. Which could only mean he hasn't given them his
consent on letting them take him even though he made it seem that way in his conversation
with Ivy. There's still hope for him, a small voice makes itself heard inside her head.
She lets out one long, heavy breath before she pushes herself off the floor and stands up.
Leaving now is not an option. Someone could be left as Carter's monitor and he could be
waiting to forward any information to PJ if someone were to walk out of this apartment,
preferably Carter, but seeing Ivy would definitely throw them off and, who knows, they could
even decide they could use her somehow. She realizes she could be paranoid, but at the
moment she can't fight the fear.

The plan now is to wait for Carter to wake up. She also needs to make sure those guys won't
show up again as she needs to talk to Carter once again. She walks up to the sofa again and
takes a seat, grabbing the remote as a tool to try and kill the time.

A seventh hour has now ticked off since the moment she walked into Carter's apartment. At
one point, after getting dizzy from changing channels for the tenth time from the top, in a row,
her brain started demanding a quick shut eye to recharge its batteries. It wouldn't take long,
were one of the last conscious words floating through her mind as she changed her position,
laying her head on the soft armrest of the sofa with her knees bent, making herself smaller, and
closed her eyes. She's been tormented with dreams about snow in the middle of summer, when
she felt something very warm blanketing her body. She looked up in her dream, suddenly there
was the sun, warming her shaky, cold limbs.

She shifts in her sleep, moving her hand, that's started growing numb, from under her head.
The movement breaks her dream and in that short moment she realizes she has probably
overslept. Before she even opens her eyes she feels something light covering her, something
that has definitely not been there before, before she slipped into the dreamland. Her eyes open
with difficulty and she has to blink a couple of times before the soreness in them disappears. A
thin blanket within a royal blue colored sheet is covering her body up to her shoulders, and she
doesn't have to think hard to connect the dots. Carter is awake.

Feeling a bit embarrassed and alarmed she straightens herself in a sitting position, rubbing one
eye sleepily as she takes in her surroundings with the other. Carter is nowhere in sight. Yet, she
gets startled when she hears his voice from behind her.

'I left the air conditioner on. You were cold'

Her head turns as much as possible to look at him without actually moving the rest of the body.

'when did you wake up? What time is it?' her head turns forward again, looking for her bag
where her phone is.
 'I woke up half an hour ago' he says, moving forward so he can sit on the soft looking, square
piece of furniture on Ivy's close left, diagonally placed from the sofa she's sitting on. 'it's nine
thirty now'

She curses mentally, Max must have tried to reach her, they always have something planned
around this time every day. She didn't even get to tell him she wouldn't make it tonight.

'here' he hands her her bag, that's been behind his back, that he noticed she's been eying for a
while.

She murmurs a small thanks before she dives in, in search for her phone.

'I thought you left' she hears him say, a question mark behind that remark.

It reminds her quickly. She remembers what she wanted to talk to him about, but first her
phone… She quickly activates it once she gets a hold of it. Two new text messages. Her finger
lingers over the screen as she remembers Carter's words.

'yeah, that was my intention, but then...' she stops when her finger reflexively taps open the
messages.

'have any ideas for tonight? I'm up for anything' the first text says. The second one, says to has
been received fifteen minutes ago, the first one - three hours ago.

'you're still with him?'

'then what?' Carter urges her, that brings her out of her stupor. She looks up at him. She's
going to have to figure out what to tell Max and fast.

'some people were banging on your door' she explains and his eyes instantly clear up from any
traces of sleep that have been vaguely noticeable. 'I think it was that guy PJ, with two other
guys'

'they scared you?' he asks worriedly.

'A little...I didn't open the door'

That puts him at ease a little but he still seems to be a little on edge.

'you should've woken me up, Ivy. You shouldn't... Is that why you stayed? You were scared to
leave?' his eyebrows furrow in a way that expresses fury but for not towards her.

That throws her off a little for some reason. She's not willing to admit that she was that easily
scared that she decided to stick around for hours more.
'I did it for you. I didn't want to go out then, they could've been around... They wanted to reach
you. You deserved some sleep, I didn't want to wake you' she says.

His eyes linger on hers for a long moment, studying her as if he's having a hard time
understanding her words.

'I'm taking you home' he gets up, a determined expression on his face.

'you don't have to'

'I want to'

'no...'

'yes'

'no, you stay here. What if they...'

'I don't give a shit...' he seethes and it shocks her. She's pretty sure she has never heard him
say even one inappropriate word before. He's always been so proper. 'about them' he
continues, every word firmly accentuated, his eyes hard and cold. 'it's getting late and you're
coming with me. No one will be coming near you' he reassures her as if he could read her
hidden thoughts.

She doesn't really see a choice here but to finally agree and go with him. Before she can give
her consent he marches over to the shelf above the TV where his keys are placed in a small,
round bowl. He grabs them as she untangles herself from the cover and stands up, grabbing her
bag. She can only see his back as he disappears somewhere. She pulls on her shoes as she waits
for him to come back.

Just as she finishes, he shows up with shoes on his feet, still wearing that troublesome frown
on his face. She chooses not to say anything for the time being. He's clearly not in a good mood.
He wouldn't snap at her, she doesn't think, but she certainly doesn't want to come off as
annoying or pushy by forcing a talk just to break the tense silence.

He opens the door, she walks out first and she jumps u a little when the door behind her closes
a little harder and louder than he would have intended, or that's what she decides to go with.

'sorry' he mutters as they start walking down the hall.

She glances up at him and sees an uncomfortable frown on his face this time. He holds his head
up high when he says it, trying to regain his cool once again.
'I didn't mean to be rude' he starts but she wishes he would stop talking, she wouldn't hold that
against him. There's actually nothing to be sorry for, she thinks. 'I hate that I didn't know what
was going on while y...'

'No, Carter, stop. It's fine' she turns to him more, still walking.

'No. You shouldn't be a part of this, no matter how small' he says, this time he slows down and
pulls her gently to stop by her wrist. 'There were people banging on my door and you were
alone and they scared you into staying...' his gaze is now gentle and full of regret as she holds it,
wanting to erase it from his face somehow.

Her hand raises as if it has a mind of its own and squeezes his bicep lightly in a comforting
manner.

'don't beat yourself over it' she says. 'They didn't scare me into anything. It was my choice to
stay. I thought...that you had a fever or something, I didn't want to just take off' she chuckles
lightly, now feeling slightly embarrassed after actually saying it out loud for him to hear.

She shakes her head at herself, suppressing her silly smile. She gestures him to start walking
again but she misses the way his face lights up into a warm glow at her unexpected comment. A
small smile tugs at one corner of his mouth and he lets it take a form of a full smile as she starts
walking in front of him. He catches up, some strange warmth moving him. He glances her way
but she doesn't notice.

'hey' the word softly falls from his mouth before he takes her wrist in his hand again and pulls
on it gently but she almost loses her balance as her foot doesn't move when it was supposed to.

They turn so her back is close to a wall and his free hand cups her cheek. Somehow she doesn't
read his intentions, she's surprisingly relaxed when he ducks his head and leans in, capturing
her lips with his. That's when she freezes, her eyes stay open. His mouth start moving against
hers, his tongue timidly asking for entrance.

She can move now, she can pull away. She will pull away. She has to. At least that's what she's
screaming to herself. Still, she's just standing there, still as a rock as she starts getting desperate
for air, her pulse pummeling. As his hand starts moving towards the back of her neck with
intention to pull her closer she falls victim to his soft, smart lips that have managed to spark fire
in some secret places of her body that up until now she's been convinced only Max had access
to, and that just by grazing hers. It's wrong, she knows it. She knows she shouldn't let her eyes
to close as her back touches the wall and his body erases the distance between them. His hand
is still holding her wrist, but barely aware of it. Her free hand reaches to his hip where her
fingers wrap around the soft fabric of his shirt.
The kiss lasts until the hand he has loosely wrapped around her wrist changes its grip. Alerted,
the screams in her head suddenly get louder, too loud to ignore.

'No, no, no' she mutters rapidly but firmly once her hand lets go of his shirt and reaches up to
press her palm against his firm chest, pushing him away carefully in order to create some
distance as she tilts her head away with a slap of shame.

Her pulse shoots up to an even faster rate, if that's even possible. This time the mix of rage and
disappointment towards herself being the trigger. One name fills her mind in adamant
repetition with screams of those obnoxious voices. Max, Max, Max...

'No?' he chuckles humorlessly.

His gaze is firm and decisive with a hint of offence swimming in there as it meets her timid,
confused one. His hand is still steadily connected to the soft curve of the back of her neck, his
minty warm breath now fanning her cheek.

'no' she firmly states, trying to raise her voice to a more decisive level, sadly it comes out in a
broken whisper. It seems to her that every part of her body is giving her out now.

'I've read the signs wrong?' he asks accusingly rather than confusedly.

It upsets her, the way he's, seemingly, trying to soothe the painful sting in his ego by indirectly
and cowardly accusing her of giving him some false signs that have apparently lead him on,
rather than admitting to have seen something that wasn't really there and that he's made a
mistake, and in their case a pretty rough one.

'there were no signs' she responds, her voice finally matching her emotions. He senses the cold.

His hand loses its gentle grip and smoothly slides over the curve of her shoulder, down the
length of her arm, leaving her skin burning down the trail his fingers have left. She's not sure if
it's the anger inside of her that's doing that, rejecting his touch in the form of that strange
burning sensation on her skin, or if whether something else could be the cause of it. His gaze
doesn't waver at her words, and it seems to her that he refuses to take a step back.

His eyes shortly drop down to his hand that's still holding her wrist. His thumb moves slightly to
caress her soft skin before he looks up at her again.

'Ivy, I like you. Still I should've contained myself' his words fall with caution off his lips, making
her feel slightly dizzy as they start settling in. 'but I could've sworn you felt something too. I was
wrong?'
She likes this approach much more than the previous one, but it doesn't scare her any less.
One long intake of breath through her gritted teeth fills her lungs, but she doesn't reply until it
escapes her, buying her some time. It's a struggle to keep her eyes on his.

'you were' she squeezes out, expecting of him to move away, now that things are settled, or so
it seems.

She hears him swallow harder as he indeed takes a step back, his hand finally letting go of her
wrist. He keeps his emotions in check as he does so, his expression bland as if nothing's
happened just now.

'I'm still taking you home' he says as he notices her stiffness and confusion.

He waits for her as she carefully peels herself off the wall and learns how to walk all over again.
She has to catch up with him this time.

They walk in silence for some time until they reach an elevator and are forced to make a stop
once again. He presses the button to call it, then pushes his hands into the pockets of his
sweats, looking at the numbers above the door. He would settle for anything but to look at her,
it seems to her. A soft bing sound breaks the silence for a brief moment and the metal door of
the elevator slide open before them. He lets her walk in first, but doesn't look at her then
either, she notices.

He walks in, the button is pressed and the metal box starts moving down. The tension rapidly
and effortlessly builds up as they're now standing side by side in the small space, the silence
becoming suffocating. Her lips move multiple times to speak but come together in the end as
she feels the need to say something. The only problem is, she hasn't got a clue what to say. She
takes in one deep breath, mentally preparing herself to say something, anything, the stuffy
silence is slowly killing her.

Her mouth opens just as the elevator makes a sound and the door open. He waits for her to
walk out first but she hesitates.

'Carter...' she finally finds her voice.

His eyes find her then.

'after you' he gestures for her to go ahead and start walking, but she stays put, but only for a
couple of seconds more.

'it's silly to be acting this way' she says, taking two steps forward, leaving the elevator but not
breaking the eye contact with him. 'I don't know if you're trying to pretend that it didn't happen
or... Either way, it's only making it worse' she says, her eyebrows furrowing critically.
His gaze is cold for a moment before he looks away and steps out of the elevator himself.

'I'm having a hard time understanding what happened' he says, both now walking side by side
again. 'you don't kiss someone back and then give that person a cold shoulder right after' he's
looking right ahead, his tone of voice flat, emotionless.

It's making it extremely difficult for her to figure out what he's truly feeling, if he got hurt by
the rejection or maybe only his ego is doing the suffering. She hates to be guessing, but the
chances of getting the truth out of him are very slim.

'that's what you did' he says, not accusingly just matter of factly.

They reach small stairs, climb down, walk out the door and are out the building. She still hasn't
responded.

All of a sudden she gets tired of their hard strut. She makes an abrupt stop as he continues
taking steps ahead.

'what are you saying, Carter?' she raises her voice so he picks up on it over the sounds of life
happening around them. He stops, his back to her as he waits for her to finish. 'what is
happening in there? Don't just shut off' she takes a step towards him. He turns to her when he
senses her steps. 'I'm confused. A kiss could mean many things... I'm not sure what it means to
you'

By the look on his face she figures he's been expecting those words.

'It means that I wanted to kiss you' he doesn't waste a second to respond, his voice once again
emotionless. 'I think you're an amazing girl, I like you and so I kissed you. Clearly, nothing is
going to come out of it, so, why are we still talking about it?' his eyebrow cocks up quizzically
and in slight annoyance.

All right, she thinks, if he's going to be a bitch about it she's going to stop wasting her time on
this conversation. As far as she's concerned, nothing ever happened.

'where's your car?' she asks with a small sigh.

He scoffs at the her.

'look who's dodging bullets now' he comments and starts walking again.

'I have nothing more to say if you're going to be like this' she says, using his tone.

'you said enough. I understood'

His response makes her grit her teeth in frustration. She did say no, but... She doesn't manage
to find a but so she just keeps quiet. They get to his car in silence, this time it’s been slightly
more pleasant than the previous one. He asks for her address once they make themselves
comfortable and then starts the car, not wasting his time. They don't wait long for the silence to
be broken as some loud noise is heard, coming from her bag.

Her eyes widen comically in shock as she already knows who is calling. She finds her phone
quickly, reads the name but with a heavy heart ignores the call. She just needs to get out of this
car and she will call him back, she promises herself. Just a few more minutes. Don't hate me,
Max, she prays as she turns off her phone. The questions she knows Max would be asking she
cannot be answering being in Carter's company. She sinks in her seat, cursing at herself, musing
what a bad girlfriend she's become, what a lousy person... If only Maw knew.

What is this? She thinks. She doesn’t have to be that way. She’s not a bad person or a bad
girlfriend, she used to be that way up until now. She has a chance to change it, she’s not bound
to her old ways. The hell with it, she decides and pulls out her phone, activates it again, then
dials Max.

Her breath catches in her throat as she tries to swallow down and to compose herself. She
barely prepares for what to say when Max picks up after the second ring. He starts venting
before she even utters a word.

'where have you been all day? I've been starting to worry about you. It’s been hours since I last
heard of you. Why didn't you reply to me? Were you asleep, like usual? By the way, I'm
grabbing my keys, I'm on my way to your place'

She literally hears the ringing of his keys as she imagines him rushing through the door, already
fully dressed like he's just been waiting for this call.

'I didn't hear my phone, it was in my bag. I'm on my way home right now'

Silence.

'from being with him?' his voice suddenly calm. She swallows harder.

'yes. We'll talk later?'

'yeah' he mutters, then hangs up. She's in for a trouble, she thinks.

For those couple of minutes, that take to reach her apartment, she shuts off, forgetting who's
passenger seat she's riding on, her thoughts elsewhere. With Max, to be exact. Hell, she's really
in for a big trouble.
'is this it?' Carter asks, bringing her out of her thoughts, once they reach her address.

She focuses on the surroundings on the outside as she gives him a few more directions as
where to turn.

'thank you' she says as she prepares to leave.

'Ivy...' he stops her. She glances his way, her hand on the door. 'What happened before, it
changes everything, doesn't it?' he seems worried almost, she notices.

She stays quiet for a moment, not sure what answer to give even to herself. She shakes her
head lightly as she finds the only real answer.

'I don't know... I honestly don't'

'alright' he nods as he tenses, gripping the steering wheel a bit tighter.

'bye' she says and leaves, hearing his short response before she closes the door.

She takes a look around as she walks, no Max in sight, yet. She hears Carter drive away as soon
as she reaches the entrance of her building. It's been a long day, she concludes with a tiresome
sigh as she steps in.

She walks into her apartment with the need for a strong drink for what's soon to begin. Only
she has nothing of help here. She pushes her shoes aside lazily once she takes them off and
throws her bag on the sofa as she makes her way to her bedroom to change into something
more comfortable, since these clothes on her suddenly feel very constricting.

Hair up in a pony tail, loose t shirt and a knee long, loose shorts, barefoot, her skin finally
breathing, she's finally ready to take on the world.

A few more minutes pass before her door bell makes a sound. With a heavy sigh she walks out
of the kitchen to open the door, skipping dinner for now. She's tempted to look through the
peep hole first to see what mood of Max's she'll be having to deal with, but decides against it
once she reaches the door. Sometimes is better to be surprised.

A worrisome expression on his face greets her.

'hey' his hand finds its spot at the small of her back as he pecks her lips before he enters.

'hey' she replies, locking the door now.

'so? What the hell were you doing all day?' he asks, his tone in line.

She scratches her forehead nervously before she gives him anything.
'why don't we sit down?' she smiles stiffly, her tone light.

He's on the sofa in a second, arms spread on the backrest, legs sprawled in front of him, his feet
hiding under the table.

'you didn't take off your shoes' she reprimands as she joins him on the sofa.

He just roles his eyes. 'sue me' he says with a sigh. 'so what were you doing all day?'

Her fist clenches and unclenches in the waves of nervousness.

'I was at his place' she says, her tone light. It doesn't matter how she spills it, his head still
snaps in her direction, his brows furrowed.

'why?'

'he...has...some problems, he didn't feel so good either. We just talked and...'

'must have been one hell of a talk, you spent hours with the guy. You even forgot to check your
phone… but wait, that's not everything, you've stayed friends with him... You've managed to
stomach him after all' he's looking at her in that way that makes her want to shrink away, his
gaze intense and accusing, making him seem very unapproachable. Yet, here she is, trying to
get on his better side.

She takes in one deep breath, as if it could help calm her nerves, before she speaks.

'are we going to be talking about him all night?' she raises one brow slightly in that endearing
way he just loves, a smile peeking through.

Her act of seduction doesn't phase him this time, nor does his gaze softens.

'Ivy, something has come to my attention' he starts, startling her internally.

This can't be good, she thinks. He's been thinking, can't be good. It's obvious it has something
to do with Carter. Somehow she manages to stay composed even though she starts sweating,
her heart beating faster.

'you must've been hanging quite a lot if you agreed to go visit his crib just like that, of someone
I thought you barely knew... You knew where you'd be meeting him, yet you decided to let that
piece slip and not tell me. The fact that you got so defensive and hurt, upset, whatever, by what
I told you about him... And yes, I noticed that. It was written all over your face... It makes me
wonder what am I missing, how DID he get close to you? How many times were there of you
two hanging out before I even found out about it?' he makes a pause, looking away for a
second, his fingers rubbing the tense spot between his brows 'if there's anything, Ivy, that
you've been keeping from me about this issue, now it's time to come clean. Just, whatever it
is...' the circling of his fingers has managed to soften his features a bit, his eyes now seem
expectant and inviting once again as he waits for her to take over.

Where to start, she thinks. She doesn't try to deny anything as half of his speech goes over her
head. What she knows to be the right thing to do versus what she wants to do versus what
needs to be done, the trouble that's just around the corner, it all makes her head spin, a true
mess in her mind at the moment. Why not just start, she thinks, wherever. Why not finally
come clean, when he's finally asked for it specifically. She's run out of excuses for her hiding.

'you will hate me for this' that's one excuse.

It only hits her seconds later that those words have actually left her mouth. She shifts in her
seat, bringing her feet up on the sofa and bringing her knees in front of her chest so she can
hug them, subconsciously creating a barrier between herself and Max.

'what? No. Don't be silly' he scoffs but she can read it on his face if not hear it in his voice that
he's now anxious about what she has to say.

His hand reaches to caress her calf reassuringly, but the gentle gesture only causes her insides
to twitch in fear, realizing that her words WILL drive him away, WILL wipe this incenting, warm
look off his face, WILL start doubting her even more, WILL disappoint him, WILL hurt him, will
make her hate herself for doing that to him…

'When I was in LA that time... That week, I hung out with him for the most part...'

'alone?' his brows raise quizzically, his voice flat as if he's been expecting this.

'yeah...'

'and what were you doing that whole time? While we were in the same city?' he's tensing, she
notices by the way he starts moving his jaw, lips pursed, his tongue sliding over his teeth
repetitively.

'does it matter?' she asks naively.

'well, I'm asking, aren't I?' his gaze grows a shade cooler.

'we were...going places, he knew people...'

'glad you were having fun' her gaze drops and his jaw clenches in agitation at her silence. He
looks away too. 'one more thing...' something occurs to him. 'your friends... There were no
friends, were there?'
She looks up then and shakes her head wryly.

'I came alone...' he doesn't let her finish as he lets out a dry, humorless laugh.

'Now I know why I got so aggressively ignored...You were out having fun with Carter Baizen
while I was just trying my hardest not to lose my shit... And you know, trying to get to you' he
retaliates bitterly, his sharp eyes boring into hers.

'Honestly, Max' something snaps in her, tired of his unrelenting scrutiny 'I was kind of hoping I
would run into you. To piss you off a little, you know. Cause you see, while I WAS losing my shit
that night, you know what night I'm talking about? You were waving that thing between your
legs in front of some other girl. I'd say, the fun you had that damned night earned you the spot
on the back seat of my life' she gets up impetuously, too rattled to be even aware of what she's
doing.

'don't turn this back on me, Ivy!' he yells after her as she walks by him. 'is this what you will be
doing from now on? Every time we fight you rub my face in the fact that I fucked up?' he gets
up too and follows her when she doesn't stop. 'knowing you, you will. Hey' he pulls her by her
bicep and spins her around. She jerks her arm out of his grip, realizing how childish that is.
'what's wrong with you? It bothers you, right? That your record is not so squeaky clean
anymore? You lied and you lied... It's been filthy for quite some time now, actually... What else
is there?' he presses, trying to keep his voice down.

'he came to Hemlock Grove once, dad liked him' she says bluntly, not regretting it for a second.

It takes him completely by surprise, shocks him actually, enough to cause him to take a step
back.

'you're shitting me, right?'

'why would I be?' she cocks her eyebrow and makes a passive stance, with arms locked on her
chest.

'to piss me off?'

She says nothing to that.

'You wanted to know. Now you know. Now I'm clean' she says, keeping her tone cold.

The icy stare down lasts for one long moment, no words. He slices through the silence first
when he's had enough of it.
'you're unbelievable' he half whispers, his eyes and tone showing off something similar to
disappointment. She's not willing to register that, yet. 'acting like I'm the bad guy here' he turns
his back on her, walking back to the sofa but he changes his mind on sitting back down. He
stays up, it's easier to leave if it comes to it.

'when you...' he starts, but lets out a fake chuckle before he continues. He turns to her.

'you invited him to your home, Ivy... Why? Why was he in HG in the first place? How could you
keep this from me? What the hell?' his voice slowly but surely starts going up in distress.

Her drive starts wearing off and fast, and she starts having a hard time believing that all those
words have fallen from her lips in such a distasteful way, leaving her with a bad aftertaste. She
shakes her head lightly, slowly making her way back from her bluntness.

'My dad, he asked to meet him... There's some history with us and the Baizens. It's silly
actually...' he looks away, jolting his jaw forward and nodding lightly, but stays quiet. 'Look, I'm
sorry for...well, being a bitch. I...'

'forget about it' he says quietly, meaning it. 'it's your life...' he adds.

'Max...' she whispers and carefully approaches him and places both her hands on the sides of
his hips, looking up at him. 'it's not just my life. If it affects yours, it's your business also. I didn't
mean to snap at you like that. I'm really sorry'

Her words seem to have no affect on him as his demeanor doesn't change in the slightest. His
eyes are on hers, but are expressionless, his hands touch hers but are strangely cold, his mind
elsewhere. He releases one heavy breath before he kisses her on her head.

'Good night, Ivs' he squeezes her hands affectionately and moves away as he starts leaving.

'wait, don't go' she says, desperately enough to make him turn around.

His face suddenly shows off tiredness as he grimaces before he speaks.

'I just need some space' he says and resumes walking.

She follows him with tiny steps till they reach the door. He wishes her sweet dreams and
whispers a goodbye before he walks out. She responds the same. Either he hasn't heard it or
has purposefully left it out, he doesn't say anything back when she whispers to him that she
loves him. He chooses to take the stairs instead of the elevator that's already waiting on her
floor. When he disappears out of her sight in a couple of seconds she closes the door, wishing
she could only turn back time as she aggressively ruffles her hair, hot tears prickling her eyes.
Pick up, pick up Ivy starts mumbling impatiently after the third, then the fourth ring, after still
not getting a response from Max. It's been two days since the fight. Space was what he said he
wanted, and she gave to him on the expense of her own sanity. She's been tempted many, way
too many times to just show up unannounced at his door step, barge in and force a talk. What
turned her away from that, every single time, was the guilt that came with the though that for
once she should just hear him out and do what he says. She ended up settling for two phone
calls on the first day and only one text message. Both left unanswered.

She made a decision to keep her phone tucked away, far from her reach, for majority of the day
so she wouldn't get too tempted to smother him desperately with more texts or more calls for
dodging. She kept it in a drawer in the kitchen, but not before she set the tone so she could still
hear it ring from any room in the apartment.

She went to bed earlier that night since she'd got no sleep the previous night, but spent hours
past midnight skyping with Tina and worrying about her future with Max.

When she woke up this morning there hasn’t been a good morning text from him like there
usually would've been. Just like there hadn't been one the morning before either.

Her heart jumps up when the beeping stops, meaning she’s going to hear his voice any second
now, the sound which has caused her a severe addiction. She never thought she could get
satisfied with the small doses of him, but right now, she catches herself thinking that no matter
how small of a dose this could be, the mere sound of his voice could nourish her sanity back to
a healthy level, and hopefully keep it there long enough till her brain cells start coming back to
life.

'hello?' he responds in a steady voice.

She has gotten her wish, she thinks, he has picked up, but embarrassedly enough her mind goes
blank.

'hey' she manages to squeeze out, her tone precarious, but with a dose of content to finally
hear from him.

Foolishly, but driven by their usual routine, she waits for him to break into conversing first. She
flushes when her expectation doesn't get meet up and starts rummaging through her mind for
appropriate words.

'did I catch you at a wrong time?'

'no. Just got out of the shower'

A sign that she’s been missing him insanely shows when her brain instantly creates a mental
picture of him in nothing but a towel around his toned waist, or maybe there's no towel at all...
A mental slap and a couple of curse words later, she he shakes her head , trying to chase those
thoughts out of her head. He's so far, she muses, too far.

'you never replied'

'Didn't feel like it' he says, his voice clipped.

Her eyes close impulsively, feeling the sting of humiliation.

'what am I supposed to do?' she surprises both by asking. 'how do I fix this, Max?'

A small sigh is heard on the other side and she wishes she could see him and read him better.

'I've already slapped a band aid on it' his voice seems to have softened a bit. 'Ivy, you acted like
a brat. I never would've expected that of you'

As she prepares to say something, her mouth opens and closes, but the words don't come out.
She knows he has a point. But a brat is too weak of a word, she thinks, to be described as. One
word of five letters comes to her mind, and it just happens to start with a B also.

'I know' she admits, the words falling heavy.

'how about we go out for dinner later?' he says after a moment of awkward silence. 'Right now
there’s this thing I have to get to. I gotta start getting ready'

'oh, ok then' she tries to ignore the slight disappointment that's starting to settle from being
dismissed so quickly. 'I'll see you later then'

'yeah, bye' he hangs up after he gets a short response.

With a huff she throws her phone over her head so it still lands on her bed. What now, she asks
herself as she starts fiddling her feet while sitting on the edge of the bed, starting to feel like a
lonely kid on a playground. It's almost one o clock, she remembers reading some uneven
numbers on her phone before.

With another huff she lifts herself off the bed and approaches her wardrobe. With so many
hours to kill she decides to at least try and have some fun with picking out an outfit for
tonight’s date, or whatever that Max sees it as.
Hours later

She makes a stop in front of the big mirror that's attached on the inside of the door of her
closet. She smiles contently as she starts taking her cute but attractive self in. Her hand reaches
to touch up her hair, that is pulled back in a high, loosely curled ponytail, satisfied with this
result finally, since she did have some trouble with her attempts to make it pin straight as she
initially wanted. She likes it now, the way this simple and casual hairstyle ties up her whole look
nicely.

She strikes a pose, checking herself out in her mid thigh long, body hugging dress with a slightly
pointy shoulder pad covering up her left shoulder as a long sheer sleeve is covering up her arm
like second skin in the same royal blue color as is the rest of the dress. Her right side is modestly
bare as the dress cuts diagonally, starting from the padded shoulder of her left side, revealing
small portion of the skin on her chest as it cuts just below her armpit area. She flashes a flirty
but playful smile and a quick wink at the person in the mirror, practicing her art of seduction as
if shamelessly, with Max in mind, but chuckles right after with a light shake of her head at her
silliness.

Max is very well familiar with her moves. However, most of the time she doesn't even have to
try hard, he can be awed by the simplest of things she does. For example by watching her brush
her hair, or the art of shimmying when she’s getting into her jeans, seeing her in his clothes,
even by watching her eat as he revealed not so long ago. She's not even aware of many other
rituals that are a part of her every day life that he simply marvels in once he has his eyes on her.
He's not the only one who notices small things, though, she's found just as many that she finds
deeply satisfying and heartwarming. The easiest one, the first one that comes to her mind is the
way he says her name, the way it feels safe on his lips; the way he so adorably wrinkles his nose
when he gets indecisive, or when he fights a smile in those times when he's trying to be serious
just so he could tease her but she always figures him out, the way his inner performer shows
when he thinks she's not listening and surprises her with how good he actually is, only to get
boyishly shy afterwards when she compliments him about it; his hands, his gentle, smooth
hands that can be ruthless at the right times, his eyes, those effortlessly powerful eyes...

She has to stop herself as she finds herself missing him more and more with every passing
second, that criminally handsome but sweetheart of a man that's she’d be more than proud to
show off to the whole world and scream that he’s the keeper of her heart, just the way she is of
his.
Her heart skips a beat once she hears the door bell as she's already on her way to grab her
clutch bag from the table in the living room. She takes in a deep breath as she approaches the
door in a hard strut, her heels clacking against the hard wood and creating music for her ears,
boosting her confidence a little before she has to face Max, unaware of what mood she should
be prepared for.

A soft 'oh' escapes his lips as his eyes slowly but thoroughly dart down her body then up back to
her eyes again. 'you look beautiful' he offers a small smile that she takes as a sign that he's
slowly warming up to her.

It gets just slightly easier to breathe, she sighs with the thought. He kisses her on the cheek, not
to ruin her lipstick she supposes, before she even responds.

'thanks. You're very handsome too' she flashes him a smile, thinking how that was an
understatement. 'as always' she adds, loving the way the whiteness of his dress shirt enhances
the golden glow of his tanned skin.

A few buttons are unfastened from the top, just enough to reveal some skin, those collarbones
that seem to be begging for attention, for her teeth to sink into like many times before. The
thought makes her breathing hitch up and she bites on her lower lip as a monition. Shifting her
attention from him for a short moment, enough so she regains her cool, she checks her bag for
her bare necessities and once she confirms she's not missing anything she walks out the door,
now joining Max in the hall.

'it feels like it's been weeks since we last saw each other' she says once they start walking, but
he stays quiet. 'I hate the way I behaved that night' she starts, deciding to stop wasting time
and address the issue. 'I only managed to make things worse for myself, for both of us actually.
The way I went about it was wrong, so wrong... I absolutely hate to be the one in the wrong as
you know, but I was, and I...'

'can we not, please, for now, at least?' he gives her a side glance before the door of the
elevator closes before them once they're in.

'it's eating me alive' she responds with a sigh.

'you will survive' he cooly remarks, reminding her of someone for a brief moment. 'I need
something in my system first before I get to hear the rest. I have things to say too'

Patience is definitely something she's going to have to work on improving about herself, she
creates a mental note. She nods in agreement, now expecting the silence to drag on till they're
done stuffing their faces with food.
What catches her completely by surprise and causes her pulse to start racing maniacally, is the
movement of his hand that lightly touches her bare shoulder, then slowly slides down her back.
She sends him a puzzled glance that he responds on by wrapping his arm around her waist, his
hand palming her hip gently.

'fuck it if I haven't missed you' he says barely above a whisper before he presses his lips against
her hair.

'me too' her lids fall closed as she leans into him.

The metal door slides open seconds later, breaking their moment and revealing three people
standing by the elevator, waiting for their turn to go up. Max doesn't miss the ogle eyes that
the teenage boy, one of the three, starts giving Ivy, also shamelessly fixating his gaze on her
legs. He’s about to stare some more as Ivy and Max step out of the elevator and his head turns
to follow. He doesn’t get that satisfaction as in one swift movement, Max's fingers at the top of
the boy's head steer it in the other direction, nudging him also a little to start walking. Just
when the door of the elevator closes, Ivy lets out a laugh that she's been suppressing.

'my hero' she says.

'haven't his parents taught him how to stare so he doesn't get caught?' he scoffs at the travesty.

'I know right, it should be taught in school' she says, loving the way his arm never left her
waist.

'I thought you were hungry, but we've certainly come a long way to have this dinner. ' she says
as they make their way to their reserved table, recalling the almost thirty minute long drive.

'I like the food here the best actually' he responds as he pulls out the chair for her.

'such a gentleman, oh my' she teases and starts fanning herself with her hand as she sits down.

'knocks you off your feet every time, doesn't it?' he responds once he's seated also and grabs
the menu, that's been placed on his side of the table.

'I'll have whatever you'll be having. I'm too lazy to read what's on this thing. I'm trusting you
with this' she shifts comfortably on the cushioned chair and locks her eyes on Max who's deeply
concentrated on his task on choosing the meal.
 It gets her wondering if he would even notice if she were to snap a picture of him, maybe even
a few. She gets a hold of her phone before she's even done with that thought. Bluntly she finds
a high angle with her elbows lifted off the table and takes a picture. A few quick ones she takes
from other angles. She chuckles as Max still hasn't looked up.

'ooh, why so serious?' she mumbles in a theatrical, deep voice as she examines the first picture.
Camera simply loves him, she somewhat poignantly notices.

She sweeps her finger across the screen a couple of times until she reaches the last one,
lingering on the back key as something in the background catches her attention.

Damn it, crap, crap, crap. Red, alarming light starts pulsating before her eyes in the rhythm of
her speedy heartbeat just upon catching a brief glimpse of something on the picture. She
swallows hard, cursing mentally on her bad luck.

'Good evening, are you ready to order?' a waiter's tuneful yet deep voice startles her out of her
trance but she doesn't look up, not daring yet.

She blocks out Max's voice who starts asking the waiter some questions, food related, before
actually ordering food as her eyes are fixated on the zoomed in picture on her phone, staring at
the face of a person she would've been better off not crossing paths with especially on a night
like this. Damn it, Carter, we just had to run into you, out of all people, she curses, deleting the
picture, then every single one upon realizing that he's photo bombed every single one. How
could've she missed him? Embarrassedly enough, she recalls waving her phone around. Has he
seen her? She muses.

'is it?' Max raises his tone merely to catch her attention after repeating himself two times
already.

'huh, what?' she meets his eyes, intensely focusing on him only.

'the food, is it ok with you?'

'yeah, of course' she smiles and nods to the waiter that's still waiting by their table.

She remembers to have heard Max mentioning some meat while ordering, a chicken probably.
She's fine with chicken, she decides. She'd be fine with anything at the moment really, even
leaving would be the optimal solution.

With her approval the waiter walks away from their table, leaving her with thoughts that there
goes her cover. Only few tables behind, on eleven o' clock, her peripheral sight registers Carter.
He's only a small smudge to her still as she refuses to let her eyes wander away from Max.
'something wrong?' Max asks.

She could've sworn her poker face switch was on this whole time. Since when has she become
so easy to read, she wonders. Either she's actually really terrible at keeping her anxieties from
breaking out, or he has simply memorized her, every expression, all the tells that somehow she
is not even aware of.

This time she gives in, letting her eyes locate the subject of her distress and feeling mere relief
upon finding that the subject is not looking back but is rather fully committed to his date. Ivy
could see her on the pictures earlier, the brunette with mildly wavy hair that's falling down to
the middle of her back, could even be tall and attractive, she supposes. He moves fast, she
thinks. Only two days ago he was kissing someone else with her back pressed against a wall and
more or less confessing his feelings to her. But before she could even fully recover from it,
behold, he seems to have moved on.

'no, everything is fine' she replies to Max and takes a deep breath, tearing her eyes from the
two love birds.

She hasn't forgotten Carter's promise of that day, the promise she made him give. He's still
here, he hasn't bailed, that is a grand relief by itself. Only, she was picturing him to be working
on settling his debt, being restless, being a hustler once again. Dining peacefully with a lady,
while PJ's henchmen are still on a mission to get to him, is not what she would've imagined for
him to be doing, nor what she thinks he should be doing, at all.

Unconsciously, while talking causalities with Max, her eyes find him once again, only because
she picks up on his voice despite the murmur of people from all around. He and his lady have
been approached by someone, a man in his mid twenties as is Ivy's free guess. Carter looks
entertained as the guy turns to Carter's date and says something to her that makes her jump on
her feet and walk away, flustered. As she's walking away the guy's troubled gaze is following
her every step.

What has he gotten himself into now, she wonders when Carter stands up and puts his game
face on. The guy doesn't get the last word as Carter says something condescending, judging by
the look on his face, shrugs and grazes the guy on the shoulder intentionally as he walks away,
still wearing that signature smirk on his lips.

Panic now kicks in as he chooses to pass by the line of tables that Max and Ivy are seated in by
chance. Her luck just won't smile at her.

With his hands stuffed in his pockets, eyes staring right ahead in that prideful way of his, in a
casual strut he's slowly approaching them.
Just keep walking, just keep walking, she prays but of course picks the most unfortunate
moment to look away just when her previous starring registers with him and his eyes find her.
She sees Max's lips moving but his every word goes over her head as all she can focus on is the
counting of seconds till Carter happens. She just knows, he's not going to let this slide. He's too
prideful to allow anyone to simply annul his presence. Carter Baizen wordlessly knows how to
demand attention and acknowledgement of his presence. He sees mistakes of this kind as a
way of going against him, personal and very insulting.

'Ivy' of course he would want to use words this time, she thinks.

She pretends to be genuinely surprised to see him, giving her best acting performance so far.
She even offers him a smile, praying to God Max doesn't loose his cool until these greetings are
over with. Max’s eyes just lazily move up to the source of the voice, confirming his doubt. More
interested in Ivy's reaction than anything else he settles his gaze on her once again, taking in
her fake joy to have seen the intruder. That's how he knows just who was it that she was
looking at all those times when he would think he didn't have her full attention.

'out of all places, I find you here' she remarks with a fake smile.

'you know you can't lose me for long' he responds cooly, giving her a small smile.

'care to introduce yourself?' Max speaks up, raising a brow merely as he looks up at Carter.

Carter just then seems to notice Max's presence, either that or he's only good at pretending.

'sure, man. Carter Baizen' recognizing hostility in Max's eyes he doesn't offer a handshake. He
knows all too well he would be left hanging, he wouldn't risk it. 'I've seen you around. Mark,
right?'

Ivy cringes. He knows damn well who Max is, she fumes. Max seems to have found his mistake
amusing, he just smirks before he gives his respond.

'his name is Max, actually, Carter' not being able to take any more of this ridiculousness she
cuts in. Max shoots her a look that lets her know she should've kept her mouth shut. She
shouldn't be the one talking for him.

'Max Bass' Max gives his response anyway, confident for it will ring a bell for Carter.

'like Bass industries? Nice' Carter shrugs dismissively before he turns to Ivy once again. 'Ok, so,
this was a nice chat, but I have to go. I'll see you soon, beautiful' he sends her wink that Max
doesn't catch, giving her a light squeeze on her bicep, only fueling her anger towards him by
doing so.
Max watches Carter’s descend with cold eyes before he points them at Ivy.

'I'm really getting sick of that guy' he says, just as the waiter shows up with their food.

They stay quiet until the food gets served but Ivy doesn't take her eyes off Max the entire time
as he looks anywhere but at her. How come they always end up here, she wanders tiredly.

'will you see him soon?' he asks as he takes a first bite of his food after waiting on her.

'I doubt it. He just said it for the sake of saying it' meaning 'he just said it for a sake of
provoking us’ . A bratty move, she thinks. Maybe that's where she gets it from.

'beautiful? That's how he calls you?' he's been itching to get that out and hear all about it, she
can tell.

She takes a sip of her wine to wet her mouth before she speaks.

'That's a term of endearment he uses for every girl, I'd say'

She notices a small cryptic shake of his head at her words as he turns to his food.

'what?' she asks precariously.

'is that how he got under your skin?'

'with compliments? you're insulting me, Max' she replies in a cold tone and he shoots her a
quick look under his eyebrows.

'compliments without the charm are weak. It's not a secret that the guy has it. Charm is a
powerful scheme' he takes another bite of his food, pushing it down with a glass of water.

She's finding his approach vastly insulting as she believes that Max should know better than to
assume she could be easily swayed with a bit of charm demonstrated.

'conversing with him has always been effortless. How he "got under my skin"' she uses air
quotes 'happened upon finding out we actually had things in common. He has some qualities I
very much appreciate in people. However, he puts on a front for the public and sometimes
even acts like a cocky bastard, which is also how you have perceived him as, but I'll have you
assured that there is much more to him than meets the eye. And if you think I'm stupid enough
to fall for people's bullshit just because they turn on their charm while trying to sell me it, in
that case I'll have you informed that you actually don't know me as well as you think you do'

Lifting his gaze from the plate, he leans fully against the chair, watching her with an omniscient
glint in his eyes as he's slowly and carefully chewing his bite. She doesn't break the gaze,
expectant of his response. It takes her a moment to recognize that look. She scoffs, thinking
how easy it should've been to figure him out.

'you just know what buttons to push. Satisfied now?'

'kind of'

He was hoping he would get more out of her. Press the right nerve and watch her open up, a
new tactic he's been willing to try out. He didn't quite get there. He found the wrong spot to be
poking at, it seems. They pick up their glasses at the same time.

'are you attracted to him?' he sputters right before his glass touches his lips, his eyes laser
sharp, adamantly pointed at her. Luckily she has barely tasted her wine as he asked the
question, otherwise she would've splattered it out in a stream.

His question leaves her completely staggered and in loss of words. He puts away the glass after
a sip, without changing his position, doing what he does best - scrutinizing her till she starts
wishing she could just evaporate like foam. Why is he being so difficult, she wonders once her
brain recovers after a quick shut down.

'I have noticed his good looks, yes. Do I fantasize about him? No. Where the hell are you even
going with this? I thought you said you trusted me'

'I'm not accusing you of anything. I just had to check your reaction' a sly smile creeps up as he
turns back to his food.

'a stupid test?' she barks, minding her tone.

Be prepared for more of that to be thrown your way, he thinks. He shrugs, his eyes no longer on
her.

'you failed'

She stops breathing for a moment.

'how the hell did I fail?'

'what you should've said was' his eyes find hers again. ‘'cause I know you I can't possibly be
attracted to anyone else' he sugars it up with a dreamy smile, leaving her puzzled whether to
take him seriously or take this as a joke. Something tells her he is, indeed, being serious so she
quickly calls back the smile that starts forming.

'you're kidding? Are you kidding?'

'I'm actually serious' his smile is now gone. 'your dinner is getting cold. You have barely touched
your food' he points out glancing at her plate than back at her.

Her appetite was gone before the food even got served. She doesn't get distracted by his
comment as she prepares to strike back.

'Sorry, I just have to say this, you've made it so easy for me. So, you knew me but you still got
attracted to...her, you slept with her' her curiosity overpowers the judgment this time.

He is now walking into his own trap. He sighs, becoming still, eyes on her.

'I see… I always thought she was cute but I never thought of her in any way... She was even a
little funny to me, with her small self. A real life leprechaun is what I would call her sometimes. I
was never attracted to her, honestly' his eyes dart away thoughtfully ‘...sober' he adds, earning
an eye roll from her.

'good to know' she sarcastically remarks before she shifts her attention onto her food. 'you've
really worked up my appetite. I think I'll just have my wine, thank you very much'

'we're not leaving here until I see that plate clean' she raises an eyebrow at him.

'parenting me now?'

'when it comes to food, yeah. Nom, nom, now' he urges her by offering her a bite on his fork.
The thoughtful gesture draws a smile from her before she takes the bite.

'now that you finally have food in your system, what are those things you wanted to say to
me?' she asks, thinking that the right moment has come for that question to be asked.

'I'm learning to be patient, Ivy, to take a deep breath before I speak, not to jump to any
conclusions and so on. I'm trying to be better, for you, for myself. The thing is, I know where I
went wrong the first time and I'm letting those mistakes steer me in the right direction since
thanks to those I now know where I shouldn't go. Two nights ago you got me wondering hadn't
you learned anything? Lies don't solve shit. A lie only creates a mask until it eventually blows up
in our faces… These repetitive, little things are the worst, the lies, the secrets. What's even the
point? If you want to lie to me, at least lie so that I never find out, don’t toy with me’ his
features have become somber, rendering Ivy silent. 'you don't even have to say anything. I'm
done talking about this issue' he clears his throat before he adds 'I just want to eat in peace
now'
She just can't seem to stop smiling. Three glasses of wine she ingested over diner last night had
her begging for Max to stay over the night at her place. He was reluctant at first, simply
because he had a tight schedule the next day and he had to be up early so he said he wouldn't
want to deteriorate her sleep. However, the truth was, he wouldn't want to wake up next to
her only to have to leave as soon as he does. He has always taken pleasure in those blissful
moments in the morning, in the tangled sheets with her by his side when he is patiently waiting
for the moment for her eyes to slowly open up and look at him, still glossy and reverie from the
sleep. That's his favorite part of every morning when he would have her by his side. The
morning kisses, those countless minutes spent basking in the serene laziness with their limbs
intervened, sometimes even laughing dopily and uncontrollably, kiddishly, over everything and
anything until one of them decides it's really time to leave the bed. The fun of course doesn't
end there. They always manage to find ways to keep the game going. That's why he would've
hated to miss out on all of it. Certainly he would've even be tempted to stay in with her. He can
be irresponsible once in a while, he would think as he mentally starts canceling out his plans.

She can't imagine a better way she could've started her day as her slumber gets broken by the
warm, soft kisses that leave slow trails down the length of her bare back. She doesn't open her
eyes yet as her lips curve into a wider smile as a hand starts sliding torturously slow along the
inside of her thigh, inching dangerously close to her already burning centre. His fingers barely
graze her heat as they move lower again, kneading her thigh, fueling her desire by not giving
her what she wants. She stays still, keeping her breathing even, even though her heart is
palpitating heavily, feeling it in her throat and as her hips are growing desperate to get
mercilessly rocked by his.

'you just keep sleeping' he whispers before he nibbles gently on her ear lobe.

Her teeth sink into her bottom lip when his lips and fingers simultaneously start driving her
mad. The bend of her neck, her cheek and her shoulder get showered with passionate kisses as
his fingers slowly slide up over the soft skin and reach her aching spot, starting to have a bit of
fun. Two of his fingers start circling her teasingly before entering, circling and entering, at times
rubbing against her apex unrhythmically, purposefully torturing her just to feed on the quick
pants and soft moans that shyly fall from her lips.

'what do you want?' he whispers against her cheek.

She stays quiet, deciding to go against his rules and torture him a little, though she knows she's
not the one in the dominant position here. His fingers move against her clit, feeling the jolt of
her body as she gets a short glimpse of release, making his avaricious desire for her only
stronger when his body sops the way she reacts to him.

He stops shortly just so he could ask her the same question once again. When she doesn't
respond he repeats the steps, this time he stops right before she gets to get off. She was so
close, so close. Her body is still in shock as she fights the urge to cry out for him to finish what
he has started.

'what do y...'

'you, damn it. I want you' she whispers back after she swallows, lubricating her dry throat.

'how?' he smiles into her neck.

She now can't fight her own as she turns on her back after laying on her stomach for too long.
Her cheeks are tainted pink as she grabs him by the jaw, sinking her nails into his skin, and pulls
him in for a hot, hungry kiss that leave him absolutely no choice but to respond with the same
force.

'in me, right now' she mutters hurriedly once she breaks the kiss against his consent, feeling
like she's about to combust if she doesn't get her release and fast.

'we'll have to work on getting a little more descriptive' he starts rambling as he starts
positioning himself on top of her, 'but still, your wish is my command' he smiles as he parts her
legs a little further and lowers himself, filling her.

Her chuckling morphs into a gasp of pleasure and shock once her walls come around him. Her
legs wrap around his waist possessively as he starts sliding in and out, taking his sweet time. He
brings his face closer to hers just so he could give her kisses, on one cheek, then on the other,
before he moves onto her lips, sucking gently at her lower lip before his tongue grazes against
it, deepening the kiss the next time.

She keeps her eyes closed as his lips start ravishing her neck with gentle bites and kisses. She
smiles as a sob gets stuck in her throat in an unexpectedly strong wave of pleasure. Her hands
start gripping the wrinkled sheets as her body started shaking and trashing in ecstasy, but that
doesn't help to keep herself steady. Her back arches off the mattress, feeling him even deeper
as his hand sneaks between them and soon drives her over the edge.

He lets out one long, growly groan of pleasure once he senses that he's near and his pace picks
up. Her lids close shut as she surrenders to him, to the brutal, relentless pounding of his hips
against hers, to the sweet pain of his teeth against her breast, the tight hold of his arm around
her waist and the warm feeling it gives. She lets out a short high pitched scream after a long
moment the crazy rhythm, once her body decides it can't take it anymore. She starts seeing
bright colors quickly switching before her closed lids, like quiet fireworks, as she starts tensing
and her legs around him tighten their grip, welcoming the sensation that an explosive bliss
brings. Her body is still vibrating even when he turns still, burying his face into her hair.

'mhm, good morning' he mumbles and places a quick kiss below her ear.

'it's hella good'