Post by max on Jul 14, 2010 1:36:50 GMT -5
[/color]It was a hot day. The sun bore down on the neighbourhood, bossily pushing away the few clouds left in the sky. A meagre breeze did little to provide relief from the humidity. Max brushed sweat away from his forehead and leaned against the tree trunk outside Xara’s apartment building, relishing the shade. He had been sparring with Xara for the better part of the afternoon and his body was beginning to suffer from heat exhaustion. Nonetheless, adrenaline still pumped through his veins. For three weeks now, Xara had been teaching him to fight. It hadn’t been easy at first. Max was reluctant to hit a girl, and his hesitation had made him react almost timidly. He didn’t want to tell her that either, in case she felt patronised, which wasn’t his intention at all. It was just that he had been bought up to respect women and as a male, it was emphasised that laying a hand on a woman made you a scummy son of a bitch. He also didn’t know Xara very well. But as time went on, they had grown more open with each other and Max was beginning to put on more muscle and confidence.
Max opened a cold bottle of water which he had pulled from the little cooler he and Xara often used. It saved them time. The area they used between the trees and little creek out the back and the back of the apartment building was flanked by the apartment car park and another row of trees. The car parks were never too busy on this side of the apartment building, making it a relatively secret place to spar and play about. Max often arrived in dog form, saving him fuel money and also stopping anyone from recognising his car. It was something he had thought of early on.
“Man, it’s hot,” he complained softly to himself. He splashed water onto his head, letting it run down his chest and soak into his shirt. The wolf pendant Xara had given him glinted in the sun. Max never took it off.
He settled down on top of the cooler, looking around. Xara had gone inside for a moment. He considered her for a moment, a foolish smile crossing his face. She was hot when she was getting into it. Max liked how seriously she took his lessons, and he especially liked it when she became a little playful. That hadn’t come for a week or so; at first, it had been awkward. Now they were much more easygoing and relaxed. Comfortable enough around each other to chill with a beer afterwards. She was so cute when she laughed or smiled; even a slight smile brightened his day. She had seemed to be the kind of person who seldom smiled, whereas Max smiled often. To catch that elusive smile was something Max endeavoured to do every time he saw her. When he was in a bright mood, Max was capable of lighting up an entire room.
After a few minutes’ rest, Max stood up and paced beneath the tree, still full of energy. He was definitely fitter; he had also taken to using the college gym whenever he had the time, because it was too dangerous to running by himself. He didn’t want to put Xara in danger by asking her to go with him, and he was still too nervous of Karla to ask her. The woman frankly intimidated him. He didn’t see her too often, and when he did, he felt as though she was judging him or watching him somehow.
I hope she doesn’t show up today...ugh...
Max ran his fingers through his hair and scratched at his face. He really needed a shave, and probably a haircut; it had grown unruly. He generally kept it longish, but now it was getting a bit ridiculous.
His eyes were suddenly drawn to movement from the apartment building. He smiled, spotting Xara. In a quick, confident movement, Max swept the lid off the cooler and grabbed a bottle, tossing it to his other hand and using his left hand to close it again. He set the bottle down on the now closed cooler, then almost tripped over his own foot trying to walk around it.
Cursing, Max steadied himself. Had she seen him? Well, she already knew he was a dork. Max had spent the last three weeks literally trying to impress her. He liked to please people; it was something which suited his canine form. But this was a little different; he also wanted her to think he was worthy of her. It was a male pride thing, and also the mentality of someone trying to prove to themselves and to everyone else that they weren’t completely useless or weak. Max didn’t have the greatest self esteem.
Great, she probably saw me. Not that I haven’t tripped over a hundred times already...
“Hey...um...bottle of water?” Max held the bottle out to her.
((OOC: Hmm Max/Milo with wet hair, yum, I like that image.
I figured they could spar for a bit and talk and develop things a little for a few posts, then Xara goes inside for a shower. Maybe Max stays outside to get the cooler, maybe he dropped his shirt somewhere and is looking about for it, happily says he’ll come in after and wait in the lounge room for her...I figure she’d give him access to her place by now without feeling weird. But Karla gets to him first? Then after that, is when she comes back saying that Ted called her? Is that right? Not sure why she was in the house this time round, was hoping you could fill that, sorry to god mode. Maybe she just went to get them something to eat or a new hair tie...haha))