Chapter 45: It's Unavoidable

Max turned and scratched the back of his neck, as he always did when he was nervous.

"Sorry guys, I guess it will just have to be us three for now," Max said awkwardly. Feeling very much the third wheel.

The guys nodded. But then Sam piped up eagerly.

"You should go after him... See if he needs help."

Evan jabbed Sam in the stomach.

"Owe"

Max turned back and the two of them just smiled, Sam was trying to hold or pull Evan's hand off Sam's stomach. Max quirked his head, intrigued.

Sam pulled Evan's hand upwards as hard as he could to make it rest on his tummy as the moment Max had turned to watch Leo walk away Evan had tried to slip his hand down to grab Sam's junk.

Evan was feisty today, and he wasn't sure what had made Evan so playful all of a sudden, in front of their friends too. But he tried to control the animal who was trying to do dirty things in public again.

The two of them grinned. Evan naughtily, and Sam as if he were trying to hide something from Max.

Max smiled, realization dawning on his face.

"Ahhh, I get it!"

"You guys were just being nice..."

"You don't actually want your besties on the date, huh."

Max chuckled. "Jeez, find a pretty piece of tail to hit Sam and I'm suddenly not good enough." Max joked.

"It's me who found the pretty piece of tail. And yes, you're right, go after him, we don't need you here." Evan said grinning devilishly.

"I really don't need your help with this one," Evan said and pinched Sam on the butt with his left hand. The only one Sam had left free since it had been behind Sam's back.

Sam's eyes turned into huge saucers and he turned to stare at Evan angry daggers almost shooting out of his eyes.

Max's face grew a large grin and then his eyes lit up as he got the gist Evan had made.

"Ooh, Sam someone has finally tamed the wild beast in you." Max nodded understandingly while trying hard not to chuckle.

"I didn't think it was possible," Max said, giving up, and chuckling good-heartedly.

"Shut Up, Max," Sam said and jutted his chin out as If he were going to attack Max despite being held firmly by his man. Since his top half wasn't free Sam made a kicking motion into the air towards where Max was standing.

Max snickered turned around and then waved goodbye. He trotted off in the same direction Leo had.

He felt in a much better mood now. Seeing his friend was happy. 'He had no clue how that situation had got started, but it seemed like Sam had his hands full for the time being which was good for him.'

Because it meant that Sam couldn't try any more of the harebrained ideas he had been suggesting lately to Max. Things he thought Max should try to do to get Leo back.

With Sam busy, it meant he could do this on his own. He could solve this problem and hopefully, Leo could be with him. 'He just had to catch Leo first. 'Which at Leo's ambling speed, didn't take him long to catch up to him.'

Max rounded the corner that led to the staircase that took you down all eight floors of the building.

He saw Leo near the edge of the campus staircase texting someone while standing next to the railing.

Max heard a person running down the hall before he saw him. But he knew two things instantly. One. Leo was a slow little turtle. And Two. Running near stairs never boded well, for anyone.

Max ran the last few steps to Leo, grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around then took two large steps back away from the stairs. He pulled them into the corner railing nearby, while pulling Leo forcibly into his chest with him.

Sure enough, a moment later the guy who had been running barreled past them and right through the spot Leo had been standing.

Max took a few deep breaths to try and calm his heart, which was racing from not only the adrenaline but from having Leo's body forced up against his own tightly again.

'It felt amazing'

Leo moved under his arms and he looked down at him at the same moment Leo looked up at him. They both flushed.

'Apologize... Just say sorry for hurting him, get it over with and be together with him..' He thought.

"Thanks," Leo said softly, turning his head to the side. Staring at the guy through the railings, who was already three levels below.

"You have to be more, care..." Max started to chide Leo, but then Leo turned back to face him and suddenly they were nose to nose, about an inch apart.

"ful." Max finished gently, staring into Leo's eyes. He felt a moment of that insane fire between them. It felt like he was being burned everywhere. This slow, intense heat that picked up as it spread through his body.

"I think I am going to end up worrying about you a lot," he whispered softly. That spark that you just couldn't pretend didn't exist flashed between the two of them and Leo flushed.

But then Leo's eyes seemed to pull away from him, he looked down and then gently pushed Max away, breaking all contact. Max let him. Not wanting to be rude or forceful.

His words were gentle, soft, barely even loud enough to carry in the small hallway. And yet they hurt as if they had been vehemently cursed and thrown with full daggers at him.

He knew it was only the truth, but it hurt.

It hurt so badly.

"I want to be your friend Leo..." Max said, his voice breaking.

Leo looked up at the sound of it.

"I want to... Because I like you, I want to be more than friends, but if friends, is all I can have... Then... I will take it," Max said unhappily.

Max watched as Leo's eyes glossed over with tears.