Chapter seven - Leanna

Max asks my friends and I to help set up the party, so we drive over straight after school to join the small group helping to set up drinks areas, hiding valuables and breakables, moving furniture and building a bonfire in the garden, because apparently that's the new must thing for high school parties.

"Hey." He pulls us each into a big hug, leaving an arm around both Mille and me as he guides us into the kitchen. "So, this is the bar area, I need you two to make sure the cups and drinks are all spread out, that ok? Kev and Sam are bringing the crates in from the car."

"Sure." He winks at us and then takes Italia and Corrine into the next room as we get to work.

"Would you judge me if I slept with him tonight?" Millie asks, grouping drinks by type on the counter. "Well, try anyway."

"No, go for it. He's so sweet." I grab the cups and make the executive decision to group them in tens near the drinks.

"I will." She smiles to herself, obviously thinking about how to make it happen while she sets up the rest of the drinks. It's clear she's more interested in Max than being with him for just the one night and I hope I can help then get together.

*

"We're done, what's next?" I call to Max as he passes through to check our progress.

"Next is for you ladies to make yourselves even more beautiful." He winks at me and I find myself grinning back at him, stepping back and nudging Millie forwards so she's between the two of us. "Follow me and I'll show you to my room, it's got an ensuite if you want to shower first?"

"Marry me, Max." Millie laughs and he swings his arm around her neck.

"What about you Lea? You wanna put your proposal in before I accept Millie?" He grabs me with his other hand, pulling me under his arm. Millie looks momentarily disappointed before hiding it behind a bright smile.

"Oh Max, we've got it all planned out, Millie's going to marry you, I'll marry Jack, then we'll divorce you both and live in the house together with a bunch of cats." 

"Stinky cats." Millie adds and we both laugh.

"Hey, I'm better than a bunch of stinky cats, don't I get a say in this?" Max exclaims. Millie and I look at each other and both simultaneously shout 'no' before bursting out laughing. He grins down at us and then pulls us closer. " Fair enough, as long as I know where I stand."

"Hey, who's standing where?" Italia and Corrine come running up behind us, dipping their heads and pushing between us to take our places under his arms.

"So, you know how much we love you, Max?" Corrine bats her eyelashes at him and he rolls his eyes. "Kevin said you were taking these two to your room to shower and change and we thought we could join?"

"Yes, come on." He pushes a door open and half bows to allow us to go in. "I bet you two wouldn't trade me in for a stinky cat."

"What?" Italia laughs, giving us all an odd look.

"Nothing." The others rush into the room and he runs his hand over my arm as I pass him. "Come fine me when you're downstairs, I'll get you a drink, ok?"

"Uh, yes, sure we will." I reply, hoping he meant all of us and not just me.

"I'm definitely going to marry, Maxwell." Millie announces, stretching out on his enormous bed. "Can you believe the size of this place?"

"Not if I get there first." Italia says, jumping in the air and landing on the other side of the bed. "Oh lordy, this bed. It's the comfiest bed in the universe, I might just spend the party here."

"Well, while you get weird in Max's bed, I'm going to shower and beautify." I blow them both kisses and open the ensuite, my mouth dropping open. "Oh shit, you should see the size of the shower, we could all fit in here together."

After investigating the range of shampoos, including the ladies shampoo that looks so new I'm pretty sure he bought it just for us, I jump into the shower, walking back into his room in just a towel.

"That shower is so good, I'm pretty sure it's a massage one too." Corrine runs in after me and I lie on the bed beside the others, sinking into the mattress. "Ok, you're right, let's just stay here all night."

"Sorry ladies, are you all decent? I forgot my clothes." Max knocks on the door and Italia shouts that he can come in. 

As soon as he steps inside he stares at the three of us on his bed, his eyes lingering on my bare legs and I'm incredibly conscious of how naked I am, until Italia speaks again.

"So, we've decided your bed is too comfy, we're staying here for the party."

"Maybe forever." Millie adds and he breaks into a massive grin.

"Anything I say to that is going to make me sound like a perv. So, I'm going to leave before I say something like, I wouldn't mind sharing my bed with four beautiful women." He smiles at us all one more time and then I'm sure that just before he hurries out of the door he gives me a meaningful look. As soon as he's gone, I jump up and get dressed, whatever he's feeling, I'm not, and I hate these situations, not that it's happened much before, no one asks me out much, but on the odd occasion it has, I hate having to turn down someone I just see as a friend and that's all I see when I look at Max. Just a friend.

*

We wander downstairs together and grab drinks before heading outside where Jack is lighting the bonfire. Instantly I down my drink and my friends all pass me theirs, encouraging me to drink them for a bit of Dutch courage, telling me to go for it while they're getting refills and that they'll come back and see how I'm getting on. 

We decide on me talking about visiting Australia as a code for it's 'all going wrong please come and help me' and then they're walking away and I'm moving closer.

"Hey Leanna, long time no see, how's it going?" Jack looks up and sees me, slipping the lighter in his pocket and chucking a piece of wood on top. "You're all grown up."

"Hi Jack, yeah all good, how're you? How's uni?" I take a few steps towards him and he breaks into a friendly smile.

"It's good, nice to be back and see everyone though." He slings his arm around me and guides me to some chairs to sit outside and chat. "You must be thinking about where to go now?"

We talk about uni stuff for a while, my friends appear behind his head, hovering around and listening in, then wandering away when it's apparent it's all going ok.

I haven't gotten the courage up to ask him out yet, but I've promised myself that within the hour I will do.