"He was different.
There was something about him
that made him the one star
to shine in a sky with a million
that went unnoticed.
It was the way he carried
his heart in his eyes
and I swear,
I saw my name there
more than once."

-Stephanie Bennett-Henry

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The smile on Elena's face widened as Ivan entered the Russo household.

A half-smile rested on Ivan's lips before turning into a wide grin as his feet quickened their way towards Elena.

Kate noticed Elena biting her lip, her fingers adjusting her already straightened hair.

Ivan held Elena's hands in his, their faces adorned with soft smiles, their eyes shining.

Max entered a minute later, smirking as he did. "Dude, still here? No date?"

Ivan, disturbed in the gazing contest, narrowed his eyes at Max.

Elena grinned as she held Ivan's wrist. "Are you asking me out?"

Ivan shook his head, then nodded, letting out a small chuckle. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Ice cream?"

Kate rolled her eyes. She never imagined the ice king would be this nervous on his first date.

Her sister stared into Ivan's blue eyes as if they were jewels. She had been obsessed with that color since childhood.

Last day, Elena had danced around in the house. A goofy grin was stuck to her face, her eyes staring dreamily into space. Kate had had a hard time doing her and Elena's homework as well.

Kate sighed softly. At least there weren't any one-sided feelings.

She glanced at Max, who stared at Ivan and Elena with a soft smile. He met her glance, but averted it, his smile gone.

Great! That sunflower was still mad.

Elena grinned when Ivan intertwined their fingers, pulling her to his side. After placing a soft kiss on the top of her palm, he wrapped an arm around her waist.

Before leaving, Kate noticed Elena giving her a look, briefly darting her eyes to Max's side.

The door was shut and Kate inched towards Max unsurely. He stood facing the other side and she fiddled with her fingers, not knowing what to say.

She cleared her throat, he didn't budge.

She sighed and stood just behind him. "Max, the past is never easy to talk about, especially not for me."

She let out a shaky breath as she reached out for his shoulder, but dropped her hand.

"There was this guy... he told he loved me..."

Kate placed a hand on his shoulder and turned him, their forms face-to-face now.

"The guy said he loved me... but..."

The faraway look on his face tell-taled that he wasn't paying attention.

"Max, are you even listening to me?"

She shook his shoulders, noticing his eyes travel down to her lips before they flicked. "Kiss me."

It wasn't an order, it wasn't forcible, nor was it a request.

The way he uttered those two words so simply, with immense courage and... patience, baffled her.

"What?" she asked, eyeing his green orbs which were fixated on her.

"Kiss me," he said it softly this time and inched forward.

"But... I was saying..."

"Just kiss me, Kate."

Something in his calm demeanor contrasted deeply with her fast breaths.

She held his face with both hands, the spacing between her fingers filled with a slight tremble.

A drop fell out of her left eye and dribbled down before she could wipe it. Why was she crying? She had no clue.

He wiped her cheek, drawing closer as he did. The only space between them was reserved by their breaths--his deep, hers sharp.

He closed his eyes, his nose touching hers, a blanket of calm and nerves enveloping her.

She closed her eyes, touching his full lips with hers, the way she had earlier.

Her cheeks enclosed in his warm palms were stroked by his thumbs and her lips were held gently by his.

A breeze blew in her hair, rising the goosebumps, which had napped only for seconds on her skin.

His lips touched the side of her neck, a sigh filled her ears once his nose pressed against her collarbone.

Her jacket was long gone, sharing company with the cold floor beneath their feet.

His kisses along the length of her shoulder, were gentle and firm, making her knees wobbly.

"Max... stop."

He did and gazed at her, the intensity of the sparkles in his green eyes reflected only one emotion: love.

Her desert-like eyes had found an oasis in his moss green ones.

But she knew that a sandstorm could destroy anything green. Nothing would survive in it unless it was thorns.

But he... Max Steele, wasn't a thorn. He was different; a lone, lush plant in the empty, dune-filled life of hers.

She couldn't destroy him, she wasn't deserving of his love, of his passion, or his smiles.

As much as she wanted to capture those sweet lips in hers again, she backed away.

She would never get freed out of the clutches of her nightmares, her past would always chase her like a wild dog.

She doubted if her scarred heart could return what he felt. She doubted if it was capable of love.

Someone had claimed to love her, but what had happened? That 'love' had destroyed everything.

She never wanted to be a destroyer, but a dent in his heart would be far less than a million shards.

"I can't do this, Max." She placed both her hands on his chest and gave him a slight push.

He held her palms, his eyes wide. "I know you feel the same way, Kate. Don't push me away."

"I can't do this, I'm not right for you."

He gently placed her palm on his chest, the fast beats of his heart, squeezing tears out of her eyes.

Her palm was covered by his, the beats increasing. "Do you feel this? Feel it. This is my heart... beating, alive, kicking, happy, in love... with you."

Silence filled, which reflected dread in his eyes and soon changed into fear.

Her lips were clasped in his, her waist enclosed in his large arms.

"Don't do this to me, don't push me away," he whispered, touching their foreheads together.

"Leave me, Max! Don't you understand? This can never be right. You deserve far better." Her feet guided her away, her back pressing against the wall.

"This is love, love is never wrong."

She gritted her teeth, her nails dug into her palms.

The harshness of the words made her mind bitter, she hoped they would be enough to shatter his heart.

"This is not love, Max. It's just lust."

His gaze, unwavering, stunned, watery, assessed her.

Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry, she chanted in her mind.

"Just go," she whispered, blinking as she stared at the ground.

Her chin was tilted upwards, his hands in her curls as he pulled her face towards him.

Another kiss; wet with both tears and the cries of her heart. His eyelashes were against hers, tears on her cheeks, questioning whose they were.

Another push, another heartbreak, which shone in the water his eyes held.

"Just go, please," she whispered. Before I change my mind.

"Don't."

Desperation filled her, his eyes frantic as he stared at her. Pushing aside a little of her top, she pointed at the mark on her chest.

It was the letter "A", whose place was forced... her heart was invaded and captured as a throne unwillingly.

"I love him!" she screamed, showing him the tattoo which had been embedded in her skin like poison.

Aghast, his hands loosened and dropped to his sides, limp. Denial crossed his eyes as he took in the small, black mark against the white of her skin.

"Just go, please."

Shaking his head, he turned and trudged towards the door. His thumb jerked as a drop fell from it on the floor.

"Max," Kate called. He turned to face her, his eyes hopeful.

Steadying the pressure of the cursings her heart sent to her mind, she gulped.

Please stay, her heart screamed. "Please leave."

👽👽👽

So, I'm just going to *chuckles nervously* run away before someone attacks me.

*musters courage and stands straight* How was this update? What did you feel while reading it?

Do you think Kate is making a mistake by pushing Max away?

Do you think they'll get back together? Why/Why not?

Did you like this update? Choose one: yes/no/it could have been better.

Thank you so much for reading. How are you all doing? 💗 I hope you have a great day/night.

Sneak-Peek of Episode 39:

Will the queen bee finally stand up for herself? Stay tuned to read Ashley's last POV in this book. The Alien Memory👽 will be ending soon. 😭

Keep smiling! 💕
Lots of love❤💙
Sakina

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