Chapter Twenty-One

First Date

Thursday 28th, May

Mel makes it obvious that her patience's worn thin because she adjusts the car wing mirror for the ninth time and tuts loudly like she's got a giant frog lodged in her throat.

But I don't blame her. None of us are too happy to be sat stuck waiting for Libby to sneak her way out her house and come meet us in Lawrence Avenue.

Half an hour has passed since she was supposed to arrive, but it feels like forever and Max thinks her parents have sussed out that this time around she really isn't staying over at mine.

This time around we're Brigham Town bound, ready to soak up the sounds of Fear Less Youth, the hottest band in the world right now (at least according to Mel and Max, both scarily enthusiastic) and watch them play a sold out show.

But obviously Libby's thrown a potential spanner in the works and if her parents have caught her out in a lie, then none of us will make it to the gig in time.

"I've been waiting sodding months for this," Mel sighs in frustration, wrapping her knuckle against the steering wheel. "If she doesn't show up in five then we're out of here. Sorry, but I'm not missing Fear Less Youth."

Max nods and leans against the window. There's a gap between us in the back seat but whenever Mel's not watching we close it, to twist or brush our fingers into each others.

We've been like this all the wait for Libby to show and all afternoon too, and the day before.

In fact, we've been at one another's side for the past two weeks with little separation. Which is fine by me because ever since we untangled any doubt it's been like existing in a cosy bubble made for only two.

And though the heatwave might have died down, swapped out for grey skies and Southbrook's finest drizzle, it's not put any such dampener on mine and Max's feelings for each other.

There's been way too much kissing for that to happen. It's been a blissful half term so far, away from college and distraction. The only trace of routine being band practice, and even then Libby's been so busy cramming study time for her upcoming exams that we've cut it short most days.

Let's just say that we've not let a moment go to waste and that Max is hands down the best kisser, which is handy because we've been doing a lot of it.

And being in a constant state of blush doesn't quite feel like such a curse when it's born from being kissed like there might not ever be a tomorrow.

I almost feel normal.

"Earth to Josie," Mel says, the reflection of her dark eyes in the wing mirror hooking mine. I shake my head free of reminiscing and sit up straight.

"Yes?"

"Any idea why she might be late?"

I shrug. "No, sorry."

"Do you think we should try calling again?" Max gently traces circles in the pit of my palm when Mel adverts her gaze. "Or should be just admit defeat?"

"I don't think you'll have to do either of those things," I say slowly, my lips curling into a smirk. Max's eyes spike as he follows the end of my finger, pointing out towards the top of the road and the small figure bounding down it.

Libby skips merrily into view and sighs of relief are shared.

"Sorry I kept you guys waiting," she says, sliding into the front passenger seat. She high fives Mel and turns her head to smile as us. "Operation evade suspicious parents took a little longer than anticipated, but I'm here now, so let's get this show on the road!"

"Finally!" Mel laughs, starting the engine. "I was about to put the pedal to the floor."

As Libby grumbles about her mum asking too many questions and apologising again for being so late, Max requests Mel not change the CD he's left in. "A little something to get us in the mood."

She presses play and turns the volume dial all the way up so that the first erratic hard hitting guitar riff rumbles through the back seat, shaking my whole body.

"Good choice broski."

"This is the band we're off to see," he helpfully adds, whispering close to my neck. "Do you think you'll be able to memorise all the words by the time we get there?"

I laugh away the warm tingle his breath leaves on my skin. "I'll give it my best shot. Don't want to make it obvious I've no idea who they are."

Libby twists her body and head round and grips onto the headrest. "Same. I'm only coming to get out the house and so I won't have to look at another sodding mock Geography exam."

"School sucks but it'll be over for you soon," Mel says with a knowing, wide grin. She taps at her shoulder and nods towards the glove compartment. Libby reaches forwards and pulls it open. Bags of sweets and brightly coloured chocolate bars spill out and her eyes light up.

Mel shifts gears and steers round a big roundabout. "Treat your self."

Libby rips a sweet bag apart with her teeth and tosses back a few gummy bears and foam hearts. "Cheers! Glad I decided to come."

Max leans in and I know he's about to say that, actually, she invited herself and he didn't have much choice, but I stop him with one of the rouge love hearts. "Here, eat this."

He rolls his eyes but accepts.

"So, does this go up any louder?" Libby asks, her hand lingering by the volume dial.

I don't think I've ever seen Mel look so happy. She nods and nods like her heads on loose, and says, "Of course, this thing goes all the way up to 11..."

Libby giggles and reclines her chair back close to Max's knees and his long legs squished in. He looks annoyed so I toss him over another foam love heart and he settles in for the ride.

Soon, the whole car is rocking and rolling along to an album that aggressively loops on repeat. All the cars to pull up along side us get treated to the sound too, whether they like it or not, as Max sings out at the top of his lungs and Libby air drums a Wembley worthy performance.

Music fills the car without effort, like waves and the sound hijacks my brain and pumps through my veins as fast as the catchy lyrics, I'm becoming familiar with.

I tap the door rest and bop my head in time to the heavy drums, enjoying the sight of the sun simmering in the distance and the view of the sweeping South coast all the way, but most of all the sight of Max.

His hair's all a mess, sweaty and sticky and wild from back seat guitar solos. Being so close to him fills me with a different kind of joy than sunsets and sing alongs.

It's more than I'd ever bargained for.

A feeling as uncontrollable as the music overflowing all around us.

***

Someone knocks into my right side and I get an elbow in the rib. Max side eyes the guy, even through he towers above us both and raises his eyebrows.

"Here," he whisper-shouts as the lights dim and the interval music comes to a slow fade. The crowd stop their chatter to chant the bands name over and over. "Get up on my shoulders."

I shake my head and laugh. "No way. I don't have a death wish."

"Not even for the reward of a perfect view?" Max grins as we both stare at the back of a head blocking out the entire view of the stage. We're squished in tighter than sardines and I've come to accept my lack of personal space and line of sight.

Max has other ideas still. "Come on, before the crowd surfing starts up again."

Mel leans back and shoots us both a thumbs up as the band come on to wild applause and whistles and flashing lights. The drumming starts first, teasing the crowd for enough seconds for me to feel Max's arms slip round my waist.

Clutching on tightly, he crouches low and I say, "What the hell," and swing my legs over his shoulders, wobbling the whole time.

"Hold on," he says, or at least I think he does. The opening song is so crushingly loud I can't hear much of anything apart from drums and guitar and melodic bass.

When I sway a little too much, Max's muscles go all rigid and his palms hold my thighs down firmly. I peer down and he quickly glances up, but all I see is a wide smile and half an eye, the other hidden under hair.

As the band sing and swing their guitars round their bodies like hula hoops, Libby bops beside us, throwing her hair about and stomping her boots hard in time to the drumbeat.

And it sounds cheesy but the more I listen and let go, not caring that the crowd surfers are throwing themselves off the side of the small stage, coming right for us, I lose myself in the thrash of music

They play aggressively and heavier than on the CD repeated non-stop leaving Southbrook, with infinite energy, which whips everyone into a frenzy.

Max joins in and sings along with the crowd and soon everyone's soaked in sweat and sound.

My cheeks hurt from smiling so much and they burn too, but with good reason.

It helps that I'm in good company too. Everyone's red in the face with excitement and passion for their favourite band, and bathed in the stage lights.

"Encore!" Max shouts, with his hands clasped together over his mouth once I'm off his shoulders and back on solid ground to avoid a rogue surfers boot to the face.

I mimic his request, as do Mel and Libby. Everyone does. I doubt there's not one person who isn't straining to make sure the band hears how much we don't want the moment to be over.

But once the lights come back on and the band have thrown picks and drumsticks into the crowd, Max turns to me and my legs wobble all over again in anticipation.

He scrunches up his face and pretends to empty out his ears. "Who needs hearing, right?"

I laugh into my hands, wiping away sweat. "Not me!"

As I make a start to follow Mel and Libby ahead, he loops his hand round my waist and pulls me in. Leftover band-branded confetti lingers above as the crowd fights its way past, out into the cool night air, but we don't care.

My ears ring and my throats hoarse from singing and my arms ache but I don't care.

Not when Max kisses me and everything else fades to black.

***

"Get any inspiration, performance wise?"

I knock my shoulder into Max's as we walk back to the car, with Mel and Libby ahead of us nattering away about the fittest band member (Mel, bassist. Libby, drums, no surprise).

With a joking frown I say, "Hmmm... I'm not sure how well it would go down at the talent show if I threw myself off stage mid-way through, or if I played topless like they do."

"Nothing would be down if you did that," Max laughs.

I pretend to hit him and he flinches away. "You're so gross."

"But I am right."

"I think I'll just stick to what I know," I sigh. "Besides, I'm waiting on you to dazzle us with your guitar spinning skills."

Max coughs and shakes his head firmly. "Tried once. Almost got a belly full of sharp, steel strings and a broken guitar, so, I'll leave the showy tricks to the professionals."

"Suit yourself," I tease.

Up ahead, Libby whips her long blonde hair and head round to yell at us to get a move on. "My legs are going to drop off at this rate. And we want to get drive-thru on the way home, so, chop chop lovebirds!"

Max waves his hand, bowing with expert eye roll. "Whatever you want, your royal highness.

Libby tuts. "I want you both to stop pretending like you aren't sucking face whenever you think we're not looking."

We pretend not to hear her and instead we brush it off for another time with a chuckle and attempt to pick up the pace, making too much noise for midnight. When we do catch up to Mel and Libby, both are leant against the car, moaning about everything hurting.

"My throat feels like it's on fire."

Libby agrees and adds, "My neck aches."

"No more moaning or no drive-thru," Max says, which earns him death stares and a light sibling smack across the head from Mel.

"You're driving,"

"Yeah yeah." Max takes the keys from her and mouths the word shotgun at me.

It takes a while for me to properly
twig what I'm supposed to do. "Shotgun!" I shout, much to Libby's annoyance.

"Fine, but you can do the ordering once we get to Maccy D's," she pouts, chucking her bag into the back seat of the car.

I raise my hands in defeat and get in too. Max starts the engine and soon we're heading back like deja vu to Southbrook, with one slight detour.

And once all the burgers and fries are devoured, Max and I are the only ones with our eyes open.

As Mel and Libby snore in the back seat, with faces pressed against steamed up windows, we listen to the radio on low and watch the lights reflecting from the sea beckon us slowly home.

"I'm so glad you could come tonight, Josie," Max says, a few miles into our return journey. He casts his gaze at me, then back to the road but his hand gently squeezes my thigh. It stays there until he changes gear.

And when the radio plays out a song so perfect and precious it must surely be fated, his hand comes back to rest and he lightly taps out the melody against my skin.

My heart soars.
I never want any of this to end.

"I really enjoyed it," I say quietly. "Once again, I've got another band to add to my growing list of new favourites, all thanks to you."

Max chuckles and bites his lip. "That band saved my life, I swear."

A tightness tugs at my throat. I look at him and swallow hard.

"Well, them and a hundred others. What I mean is that music saved me," he smiles, "And it stopped me from feeling so alone when I really, genuinely was, what with leaving school and being stuck at home every day."

I don't know what to say, only that his words wrap themselves around my throat and heart and I want to reach out to him.

When I run my hand along his shoulder and down his arm, he turns briefly and blows a light kiss. "That's why it's so important to me. And my
college course and the silly talent show. And of course, night's like tonight. I really am so happy I got to share with you."

"Me too," I say, meaning every word.

Max takes a deep breath, like his throats got a giant lump in it too, just the same as mine.

"Music makes me feel alive and less alone," he says breathing out, like firing a bullet. As if aiming straight for my heart, "and now, so do you."