Chapter 35: 35. We can be friends
Miriam's heart skipped a couple of beats. Oh my God! It was him! Maxwell! The Maxwell that kept reminding her of her childhood crush, her Max! She awkwardly cleared her throat and pulled herself away from his addictive embrace. Away from his intoxicating and heavenly scent.
"Sorry. I was... I didn't see you." Miriam stuttered. Not like she was the one who needed to apologise. He was the one that bumped into her. Obviously he was supposed to apologise. But he seemed to be lost in staring at her. She quickly stole her gaze from his face. He was at it again. That look he always gave her. His scotching grey eyes piercing into her soul. Her eyes were now looking everywhere else but his handsome face. She didn't want to become dazed by looking back at him.
Maxwell didn't know what to say or how to react. He had been looking for this lady to talk with her, and now that she was right in front of him, all words seemed to have deserted him. But he couldn't help it. This lady, with her round, innocent face, big attractive hazel eyes, cutely pointed nose, pillowy pink lips... I mean, come on, who wouldn't be captivated? She looked so damn gorgeous that he was lost for words. But he needed to come up with something. He needed to start a conversation right away to save the situation from becoming much awkward that it already was. So clearing his throat...
"I'm very sorry, I wasn't looking." He finally said calmly. Miriam spared him a glance, and as expected, met his grey eyes. His voice was so calm and soothing. And his face, oh dear, he looked so handsome. Miriam could swear she had never seen anyone as handsome. She didn't know if it was because she hadn't paid so much attention to other guys. But this one right here? Looking at him from so close, he looked so handsome it was sinful. His long lashes... Gosh! How could a guy be so handsome? She had to painfully steal her gaze again to prevent further embarrassment. She might end up drooling if she kept watching this Greek god right in front of her for another second.
"You have a euphonious voice." His voice pulled her from her thoughts and she looked up to his sinfully handsome face again, as he smiled and continued talking. "That was a very wonderful performance. Wow!" Maxwell praised her and she blushed.
"Thank you." She replied shyly with a cute smile that dazed him for a split second.
'Gosh! What is there not to like about this lady?' Maxwell thought.
"Um...I saw you with your friend. Where is she now?" He asked after some seconds of awkward silence.
"Oh yeah, um...," she darted her head to the direction of the washroom. "She went to the washroom. She should be here any minute." She turned back to look at him with a smile. Janet was still not back. She was beginning to feel that something might have happened to her. She opened her mouth to excuse herself but was interrupted by a loud laughter. They both turned their heads towards the sound, and all colour drained from Maxwell's face. He pinched the space between his brows as he closed his eyes. He sensed a huge headache coming.
"Lois?" He said in a low tone, but Miriam heard her.
"You know her?" She asked.
"Yeah, that's... my sister." Maxwell said as he moved forward to hold Lois who was slightly staggering towards him. She looked slightly drunk, because she could actually walk but not really in a straight line. She threw all her weight on Maxwell in an embrace and laughed, her purse dropping in the process.
Miriam quickly fetched it and chuckled. People are actually really funny when drunk. She had never tasted alcohol her whole life, so obviously she had never been drunk. But she had been taking care of drunk Janet sometimes, so she had some idea and quite some experience in dealing with drunk people.
"Let's get her out of here, first." Miriam said and helped Maxwell carry Lois outside towards his car by holding their phones and the car key.
Lois was making funny utterances and Miriam was chuckling all the way till they got to Maxwell's car. But Maxwell felt like a wounded lion. What in the world did Lois just do? He felt like slapping that drunkenness out of her! But he had kept a straight face and helped her into the back seat and carefully laid her down and tucked her in carefully before closing the door and sighing heavily.
"I'm sorry you had to witness something like this. I really feel bad right now." Maxwell turned to Miriam and apologized. He felt so embarrassed. Lois was not one to drink irresponsibly like this, so he was very surprised to have seen her in that stated. He should have insisted that they both left. He mentally slapped himself for leaving her behind. But he was sure going to deal with her for spoiling his plans.
"Oh, come on, it's okay.
"And thanks a lot for helping."
"You're welcome." Miriam replied with a smile.
"Um, so...may I know your name?"
"My name...oh.." Miriam was cut short by a phone call. Figuring it was her phone, she extended her hands towards Maxwell and he took the purse and phones and key from her before fetching her phone from her sling bag. "Sorry, I have to take this. It's my friend."
Maxwell just nodded and she moved a bit further to receive the call. After talking for a while she ended the call and walked back to Maxwell.
"How is your friend?" Maxwell asked showing concern.
"She's fine. Apparently she met an old... um... friend, and... yeah. So she's on her way now." She managed to say and smiled. Actually, Janet had shamelessly said that she met an old fling, one thing led to another and they ended up having a what she called a quickie at somewhere Miriam couldn't really get well because of Janet's husky voice. And at the latter part of the call, she got annoyed so she really wasn't listening.This silly girl! To think that she was here dead worried that something might have happened to her! She was sure going to get it from her, she sneered inwardly.
"Oh...Okay." Maxwell replied.
Miriam looked towards his car.
"Will she be okay?"
"Oh, Lois? She'll be fine." He simply replied. "She's not a heavy drinker, and she was taking juice when I left her. I'm sure she ordered alcohol when I left." He added and Miriam chuckled. She had been laughing mostly since she met this guy. What was coming over her?
After some few seconds of silence...
"Um...So.. can we hang out..sometimes?" Maxwell asked hesitantly and gauged her reaction. He didn't want to be so straightforward with this lady, but he couldn't help it. He didn't know when next he would be able to get enough time to talk to her, so he thought to grasp the opportunity he had.
Miriam lowered her head and blushed with a smile. Oh, so he had a soft spot for her? She was doing a happy dance inwardly. Hell yes, she wanted to hang out with him. She had never been sure of anything else in her life. At first, only thoughts of Maxwell had been in her mind. She didn't know how and when it happened, but she was thinking less of Maxwell and more of this guy, who strangely was also called Maxwell. She didn't know if it was the name that drew her to him, or the soothing aura he exuded. Or was it his scent? Either way, she was also attracted to him.
"Sure. I would love to." She replied, and Maxwell sighed in relief inwardly, but his happiness was brought to a standstill when she said, "But I'm mostly occupied. I don't think I'd have enough time to hang out."
"Why, if I may ask?"
"I'm in school and I also work in the restaurant, as you already know, so I'm mostly occupied. I have less time for stuffs like that"
"Oh... I understand. But that shouldn't be a problem. I'd appreciate the little time you would give me. I just want us to be friends." Maxwell said in his deep, calm voice.
Miriam felt nostalgic. She remember Maxwell asked her the same thing years ago. And the desperate look in his eyes then was the same look in the eyes of this guy. And from one glance at this guy, you would have no doubt he was from a rich family. He was in simple clothes, but they were from high brands. And she knew very well that he was aware she was from a lower class. Yet he was willing to make her a friend, just like Maxwell. For some minutes she kept staring at this guy right in front of her. Maybe all Maxwells are like this, she thought and smiled faintly.
Maxwell just stared back at her. He knew she was thinking about what he said, and he would give her all the time she needed. All he was praying for was that she would say yes. He wanted to keep this lady by her side, for some reasons he may find later but for now, he had none.
"Okay. We can be friends." Miriam finally said and smiled, snapping Maxwell from his thoughts as his eyes widened a little in surprise.
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