The next day at work was uneventful, only a handful of new stories sweeping past the doors of the Daily Post. Nothing life-threatening or heart-attack worthy. Just the brand new bridge finally being open and whatever few obituaries had to be written for the day.
Max typed up the last of the chapter ready to publish after finishing his latest story- a new law that required motorists to stop if witness to a bicycle incident. The city believed it to be the best solution to recent bicycle accidents with severe injuries.
David had promptly picked up the story and taken it to the printer's and designer's desk, the next step in the newspaper-making process. Max honestly would have hated to have that job, doing nothing else but designing the front page of a newspaper. How exciting...
When 6 o'clock rolled around, everyone was ready to go home, but Max noticed Megan still typing away at her computer, a small frown set in place. He thought this was odd, as she was always a bubbly, happy person, but he figured even the happiest of people had problems in their life.
Taking up all of his personal belongings, he headed towards the entrance. On the way, he passed by Megan's desk. Curiosity thoroughly piqued, he glanced at the screen, noticing she was chatting on Facebook with someone named Seth.
Ah, yes. If he recalled, Seth was her long time boyfriend. She'd mentioned him in conversations occasionally. Deciding it wasn't his business, he quickly left the building.
Outside, a light rain had settled in over the city, but he didn't mind much. Rain was so relaxing. Getting to his car wasn't difficult and he was soon on the road home.
Once inside his house, he put his belongings where they went, setting the keys in the bowl on the table and his jacket on the coat rack. Checking the clock, he decided he'd better start dinner soon. Opening the fridge, he sighed, remembering that he'd forgotten to buy groceries the night before. There was nothing to make, so he resigned himself to go out to the store. Grabbing the keys once more, he went back outside.
The Ready Mart was only a five minute drive from his house, which he appreciated, but he was still tired from a long day at work. Feeling drowsy, he parked the car in the front of the parking lot and trudged inside.
Gathering ingredients for a quick chicken dish, he spent only ten minutes or so inside before paying for his things and leaving. Holding his bag of groceries, he stepped outside once more, looking for his car. The rain had picked up a little and he increased his pace.
Finding it, he got inside and place the bag in the passenger seat, he put on his seatbelt and was about to start the engine, but a car in the row in front of him caught his attention.
Inside, he saw Megan sitting in the passenger seat talking with a man, presumably Seth, if Max were to guess. The car wasn't Megan's, she drove a blue Acura. This car was a silver Ford. They appeared to be angry, mouths moving as if they were yelling and gesturing all over the place. It didn't appear as if they had noticed him walk by.
Max wasn't sure what to do. He could simply leave, which a large part of him suggested he do. After all, it wasn't his problem, nor did he know what the problem even was. But another part of him was grotesquely curious as the the events unfolding in front of him.
Megan was clearly frustrated, shaking her head and frowning deeply. Seth gritted his teeth, gesturing like he was trying to get something across to her. Suddenly, Megan shook her head vigorously and get out of the car. Seth kept pointing his finger at her, almost as if he was telling her to leave. She didn't appear to respond and slammed the door shut.
Seth started the engine and, flipping Megan off in the process, he sped out of the parking lot. Megan was left standing in the rain, hands wiping quickly at her face.
Max was at a loss for what to do. If he got out of his car now, she would know he'd been watching. Knowing Megan, she wouldn't want her problems getting out to her friends, least of all her coworkers. At the same time, if he left, he'd consider himself to be a pretty big jerk to leave an upset woman in the rain.
Deciding hesitantly, but with more conviction than before, he got out of the car and headed towards Megan, who had now wandered to the front of the Ready Mart.
At his approach, she looked up and an expression of surprised crossed her face. "Max, I-I didn't know you were here." She tried to appear as normal as possible, trying several times to smile a little. Each one was less successful than the last. Max's hands were in his pockets, comfort slowly leaving him as the seconds lengthened.
"Umm..." He started, internally scolding himself for being so awkward. "I...saw what happened..."
She closed her eyes, probably fighting off another wave of tears. "Oh...yeah...sorry you had to see that."
"It's fine...I guess. Are you alright?" He asked. She sighed deeply.
"Y-yeah, just trying to calm down." Her hair was frazzled from the rain and from being upset, and she tried smoothing it down. "I mean, no relationship is perfect, right? Things are bound to get bad sometimes..." She trailed off, and he wasn't sure how to respond.
"Do you have a way of getting home?" He asked, glancing around the parking lot for her car. He didn't see it.
"I can take the bus, don't worry about it." She made to stand, and he reached a hand out to help her. With a gentle smile, she took it. Immediately after she let go, he stuffed them back in his pocket. They were both now pretty wet from the rain, but neither of them seemed to care.
"I can give you a ride. Public transportation can be unreliable." She shook her head sincerely.
"Oh, you don't have to do that. I only live twenty minutes away or so, it won't take long." She began getting her purse together, rearranging items inside of it.
"I insist. It's no bother, really." She was quiet a moment, before nodding once or twice.
"Ok."
He took her to his car, moving the groceries to the back so she could climb into the passenger seat. She sniffed a few times, still not completely put together after the angry episode between her and Seth.
"Sorry, you're seats are gonna be all wet after this." He waved it off.
"Don't worry about it. Where is your apartment?"
She gave him directions and he headed off in that direction. The car ride there was mostly silent, interrupted by her small sniffles here and there, or her shifting in the passenger seat. She couldn't seem to sit still. The majority of the time, she gazed out the window, her hand supporting her chin. Max didn't want to disturb her, so he drove in silence, relying on her for the directions.
"Second building on the left." She said once he'd turned down her street. Her apartment complex was more cottage-style housing, something that Max though reflected her personality quite nicely. Smoothly gliding into the parking spot, he put the car in park and looked at Megan. She reached for her purse and gave a sigh.
"Sorry for making you go out of your way but...thanks a lot." She opened the door and was about to get out, but stopped and looked back inside. "You're a nice guy, Max. You should talk to people more often. They don't know this side of you." He didn't know what to say, and before he could think of anything, she had shut the door and was walking towards her door. After she'd gone inside, he only sat there a moment, wondering what exactly she'd meant. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was almost 7. Feeling his stomach rumble, he decided he needed to eat.
Turning back around for home, he idly wondered what it was Megan and Seth had been arguing about.
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