Chapter 3 Max broke the silence, "That song you were playing…..I liked it."   "Thanks.  It needs a lot of work though.", Jeff admitted. "You must really love her.", Max said as she found herself staring at him.  Jeff was still looking up at the sky.  Max couldn’t explain it, but she felt this strong attraction to him. "Who?", he asked turning his gaze to hers. "The girl that you were singing about.", Max said almost blushing as he had caught her staring. He smiled slightly at her embarrassment, "I did once." "Oh.", she stuttered as she recalled the words she had heard him sing.  How she thought it would be nice to be loved the way he must love her.  She was amazed at his answer, "What happened?"   Jeff usually wasn’t a very open person, but for some reason he felt that he could be just that with her - this woman, this stranger.  After all, it was apparent that she didn’t know who he was and that was a nice change for him.  "You  know, the usual:  Boy falls in love with girl.  Boy is never home, girl finds someone else.", he stated. "Boy gets his heartbroken.", Max said turning her gaze to the stars with a heavy heart.  He was telling HER story only it was the girl in hers who’s heart was breaking. Jeff could tell by her actions and the expression on Max’s face that she too had suffered his pain.  Instantly, he felt a kinship with her, "So what brings you out in the dark all alone?"  She turned to look at him as she fought to hold back the tears threatening to spill from her eyes.  "Dishonesty, betrayal.  The usual.", she said forcing a smile, "you?" "The stupidity of others.", Jeff revealed.   Max looked at him puzzled. Realizing that he may have sounded arrogant by his last statement, he quickly explained, "The guy I’m traveling with did something really stupid and now he’s up there moaning and groaning about it.  I just didn’t feel like hearing his shit all night.  Especially when it’s his own fault." Neither of them made the connection of who the other was.  Once again, they sat silent before Max spoke up, "Where do you suppose a couple of loners could get a drink around here?"   "There’s a bar in the hotel.", Jeff said with a smile. Max looked towards the hotel, "I’d rather not go back in there." "Me either.", Jeff said remembering the many fans still inside.  "I’ll bet there’s somewhere over there.", Max said pointing to the strip of neon lights just across the river. "Let’s check it out.", Jeff said smiling at her. ‘What a great smile.’, she thought as she stood up.   Jeff turned to walk back tot he road and Max started to walk the other way. "Where you going?", he asked noticing she wasn’t following him. "Across the river.", she said pointing to a fallen tree that laid across the lazy river, stretching from one bank to the other, "No sense in going the long way around." Again, he smiled at her.  It was refreshing to him to meet someone like her - someone like him.  Jeff followed Max as she slipped her shoes off and stepped up onto the log. "Wait!  Let me go first.", Jeff insisted.   "Ahhhh.  The gallant gentlemen.", Max cracked. "No.  It’s just that I’m heavier than you.  I know if I can make it across without it breaking then you’ll be okay.", Jeff explained. "Like I said, the gallant gentleman.", Max chuckled. For some reason, this annoyed Jeff.  It was as if she was saying it like it was a bad thing. "Fine!  Have it your way!", he said with a huff. Max stuck her bottom lip out pretending to mock Jeff as if he was pouting.  This caused him to laugh.  He then watched nervously as Max made her way out onto the makeshift bridge.  Feeling cocky, Max swayed back and forth pretending like she was going to fall, bouncing up and down like she was trying to break the log.  Little did she know that she was dealing with the daredevil himself.  In a split second, he jumped on the log and ran up behind her.  He grabbed her by her sides and acted like he was going to throw her in.  She laughed hysterically as they made it to the other side of the river.  Jeff just shook his head as he too laughed.  Max grabbed his arm for support while she put her shoes back on her feet, "Let’s go."  She lead the way until they came to a club.  "How about this place?", she asked.  Jeff motioned for her to go in first.  She laughed.  Once inside, they had a seat at the bar and ordered a couple of beers.  "What?", Max asked as she noticed that Jeff was laughing slightly. "You just make me laugh.", he stated.  The song that came on next was one of her favorites, "Do you dance?"   He grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the dance floor.  The two of them had a great time dancing to song after song.  "I’m thirsty.  Want another beer?", she asked as the dreaded slow song started. Not waiting for him to answer, she immediately exited the dance floor and had a seat back at the bar.  Jeff let out a big sigh before following her.  Three games of darts, and two games of pool later, at least twenty people had asked Jeff for his autograph.  Never once had she asked why.  Max simply assumed that her first instinct was right - he was a rock star.  That night they stayed until the club closed.  Slowly, they walked back to the hotel, making small talk and laughing all the way.  Each of them found it odd that they had spent all night together and never once told each other anything about themselves - not even their names.  When they reached the lobby, Jeff was relieved to find it empty.  They awkwardly stood in the lobby not knowing what to do next. "Well, I guess this is goodnight.", Max managed to utter. Jeff nodded, "Guess so." A smile crept across her face, "Thank you for turning my shitty night into a good time…oh gallant gentleman." "My pleasure.", he said returning her smile. She kissed him on the cheek and turned to walk out the front door of the hotel.  "Wait. What if I wanted to see you  again?  How can I get in touch with you?", he called after Max.  She stopped and turned around with a smile, "Write me a song." "Write you a song?", he asked as he watched her turn and open the door, "How can I write you a song if I don’t even know your name?"  "Max.  My name is Max.", she called to him as she stepped out the door and disappeared.  "Max.", he repeated to himself as if he just wanted to hear it again.  Then it hit him, he realized who she was, "MAX?!"  He threw his hands in the air and then headed for the elevators.             Last Chapter ..*.. Next Chapter ..*.. Chapter Index ..*.. Home