I stared at the drink in front of me.

Sure, the waitress decided to wait more than thirty minutes to actually start making it because she was a friend of Max and she wanted to annoy him. Still, it looked delicious.

It wasn't the nice cold iced coffee with extra cream, sugar and a cherry on top. It was a nice cold iced coffee with extra cream, sugar and a cherry on top with a side dish of vanilla ice cream.

I kept glancing at Max, who had his cup of coffee, or whatever that was in it. He stared back, raising a brow. So, I decided to ask anyways.

"What... um," I licked my lips when I felt them go dry. "What are you drinking?"

He raised his other brow, putting down his cup. "Black coffee."

Black coffee? Black coffee?

Seriously?

How does a person drink that?!

"Want some?"

I scrunched my face, wide eyes and all. No way.

He rolled his eyes, sipping at the dark drink anyways. He looked behind me and smiled. I turned around to find a lady with an empty tray walking towards us. She was probably in her late twenties and wore a simple, ankle length skirt and blouse with a long necklace. I hadn't seen that kind of style on a girl for a long time.

"Ginny, what were you doing with that couple over there? You're supposed to keep the customers, not shoo them away."

I turned back to Max to find him smiling.

"What can I say, I finally have a little bit of control in this place and I want to make the best of it. I'm taking photos of all the couples that come here and plan on posting it so everyone could see. Don't you think that it'll lure more of them?"

I nodded along with him. It was a great idea. People enjoyed things like that these days.

"And I also bought a guitar, you know, so we can play it during the open hours or have it borrowed for special occasions."

I raised a brow at that. "Don't you play the guitar?"

Max turned his attention back to me. He seems surprised that I remembered, which was stupid because it'd only been a few days since I found out.

"Oh my god! Yes! Max, you play the guitar! How could I forget?!" The lady started to bounce a little on her spot. I wanted to laugh. It was so out of profession. "Wait here, I'll bring it out for you."

She was gone after that and I continued to watch him tap on the table, busy thinking. Did I do something I shouldn't've?

"Here, play it."

"Oh no, not the camera Ginny."

I turned back to find Ginny carrying a cannon camera while handing the instrument over. She was very serious about it. Then, she looked at me, dead in the eye. "Come on then, don't take forever."

I raised a brow. "What do you want me to do? Help with the lighting?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "No silly, go take a seat next to Max. Pretend your enjoying your drink while he plays music."

I gave her a weird look, "no, that just sounds fucking weird."

"But please! I really want to go all out in this idea. You're even drinking my new recipe! Please, do me this favor!"

I eyed the nice cold iced coffee with extra cream, sugar and a cherry on top with a side dish of vanilla ice cream. Damn it.

So, I decided to fucking move my metal chair next to Max fucking Winters. He seemed surprised yet again, which I ignored and got to drinking my amazing drink.

Only for the amazing drink.

"Alright, now look happy."

I glared at her and made no effort to look happy. I can never be happy with Max fucking Winters next to me.

"Come on..."

"Alan."

"Alan, give a little effort. It's not like you're actually dating."

I choked on my ice cream at that. "What?" I didn't let her continue. "Wait, you want me to pretend to be his boyfriend?"

She nodded, as if she didn't just utter the most stupidest nonsense ever heard in the world.

"Dude, just do it. She won't leave us until we do."

I turned to Max with wide eyes. "Are you kidding me right now?"

He shook his head, not looking my way because he was tuning the guitar with a serious face. "No. I've known Ginny since I was little. Trust me when I say that she's very serious once she puts her mind into it. Just pretend that we're together. We don't actually have to be. No one from school even knows about this place."

I sighed, not knowing how I got stuck in such a situation. "Fucking fine then. Get the photo quick. Fucking idiots."

It was all a mutter but I knew Max heard me well because he was chuckling. God, I hated it when he laughed. It was so fucking perfect.

I turned to Ginny and gave a big, fake smile. One hand carrying the awesome drink and the other over my crossed legs. She took a photo, a bright flash indicating so and smiled at the photo.

"Thank you!"

I nodded, standing up to get back to my spot.

"Wait! No! Sit there!" I glared at Ginny. What the heck was wrong with the woman? "We have more customers coming during the evening. If you continue to sit together, they'd think you're a couple and it would just bring so much more energy to this whole place and it would really help with my work here..."

I gave her an eye roll. "You do know that not all people support gay couples." I couldn't believe myself for actually giving a fuck to explain it to the crazy ass woman.

"Those people can go fuck themselves."

That earned a laugh from Max. I turned to him, glaring, "you don't find is weird at all? You're okay with this?"

He shrugged again. "This has nothing to do with me. I mind my own business."

I roll my eyes again. He didn't make any sense at all.

"Fucking hell, what am I doing here... we're supposed to be studying."

Ginny finally moved away from our table. "You can study, after Max plays a few songs. I have more customers coming and I want to ask for their opinion on the music."

She left after that and I thought we'd go back to finished the notes so we could go home. I was almost finished with my food and I could already start to feel my body shut down.

Max, though, decided to actually play a song.

Just like that, the mood was set. The fairy lights were on again and the sky was actually starting to darken. The bell on the door rang every time a new customer came and the place was actually looking like a normal regular-visit cafe. Ginny did good with whatever she changed.

Max focused on his song, flicking the strings in beat. I watched him from the corner of my eyes, studying his every move carefully. Playing guitar was hard.

"What are you going to play?"

He didn't look up at me and I was grateful. We were sitting close, our shoulders almost touching.

"Was thinking of A thousand years."

I scrunched my face. I knew that song all thanks to Katie and her obsession of controlling my radio. "Fucking sad, don't you think?"

Max, again, seemed surprised at my words. He seemed surprised for a lot of things. "I think it's a beautiful song. Exaggerated, sure, but still. It's a great song for a cafe."

I shrugged, motioning my hand to let him know that I didn't care. I hated music either way.

Soon, I started to pick the tune of it, the continuous strumming. Or was it, picking? Something along that line. Max wasn't flicking his wrist anymore. He was pulling at it, making the tune sharper and easier to understand.

Heart, beats, fast. Colors, and promises. 

How to be brave? How can I love, when I'm afraid, to, fall?

My attention was back on him fast.

Max fucking Winters was singing.

Still gaping, I watched as he barely paid attention to me and continued to sing. It caught the rest of the cafe's attention alright and they loved it. I could feel their surprise and like of the music coming out of the guy's mouth. It was perfect.

I have died, everyday, waiting for you.

Darling don't, be afraid. I have loved you, for a thousand years.

I'll love you for a thousand more.

He seemed to finally notice my stare and turned. I flinched back, realizing how close I was. My stomach flipped in surprise.

"Dude, what the hell man? You're amazing!"

Sure, it hurt my ego a little to tell him it. But, he was good. I liked his singing.

"Thanks."

Time, stands, still. Beauty, and all she is.

How to be brave?

I will not let anything chase, a, way, what's standing in front, of, me...

I leaned back into my chair, staring right ahead, noticing how Ginny was smiling all giddy from behind the counter. I ignored that and continued to listen to the melody.

Every breath, every hour has come to this...

It calmed me and before I knew it, my eyes closed in tire and I was out.

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