Max stood there utterly dumbfounded but his words trailed off abruptly, a sudden realization dawning on him. He knew he had to tread carefully to avoid turning the hospital into a battlefield.
Internally, Max cursed his slip-up. *Smooth, Max. Real smooth, learn to hold your tongue otherwise the doctors would've had to work overtime in the ER with two patients * he chided himself, mentally facepalming at his near-blunder.
Before Tristan or Max could respond, Summer's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Hey Maxie, do you know him? What did you call him? Trish?"
Max's heart raced as he searched for the right words, desperate to diffuse the situation. "Uh, yeah, Trish. He's, uh, my friend," he stammered, offering a sheepish smile in Tristan's direction.
Tristan, ever the master of composure, seized the opportunity to maintain his anonymity. "That's right," he confirmed smoothly. "Max and I go way back. How about you?"
Max shot Tristan a grateful look, relieved that his friend had played along. "Yeah, she's my friend too," he added, nodding towards Summer. "Since forever."
Tristan arched an eyebrow at Max's response, a silent question lingering in the air between them. Max could only shrug in response, a wry smile playing at the corners of his lips.
Meanwhile, Summer, uninterested in their banter, cut straight to the chase. "Trish, could you give Max and me some privacy?" she requested, her tone firm but polite.
Tristan hesitated for a moment, his confusion evident, before nodding reluctantly and exiting the ward. As he left, a whirlwind of thoughts raced through his mind, leaving him even more perplexed than before. But for now, he decided to focus on the task at hand: unraveling the mystery of the woman lying in the hospital bed before him.
Max hovered anxiously by Summer's bedside, his usual cheerful demeanor overshadowed by concern. "Sam, I can't believe this happened to you," he murmured, his voice laced with worry as he gently brushed a strand of hair from her face.
Summer offered him a weak smile, grateful for his presence despite the circumstances. "Yeah, well, life's full of surprises, I guess," she replied, trying to sound nonchalant despite the pain throbbing in her side.
But Max wasn't fooled. "Don't try to act tough with me, Sam," he scolded gently, his expression softening as he met her gaze. "You're allowed to be scared, you know. I'm scared too."
A brief flicker of vulnerability crossed Summer's features before she quickly masked it with a defiant glare. "Fine, maybe I'm a little scared," she admitted grudgingly, her tone defiant. "But don't you dare tell my family about this, Max. I mean it. I'll give you a nice beating if you do."
Max chuckled, relieved to see a hint of her usual feistiness shining through. "Alright, alright, your secret's safe with me," he promised, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "But in return, you have to promise me something too."
Summer arched an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "What do you want?" she asked warily, wondering what he could possibly ask of her in her current state.
Max grinned mischievously, reaching into his pocket to retrieve his favorite brand of mobile phone. "I want you to take this," he said, pressing the device into her hand. "It's got my number saved already, so you can call me anytime, day or night. No excuses."
Summer's expression softened as she regarded the phone, touched by his gesture of friendship. "Thanks, Max," she murmured, a genuine smile gracing her lips. "I really appreciate it."
As they fell into a comfortable silence, Max sensed that there was something else on her mind. "What's bothering you, Sam?" he asked gently, sensing her hesitation.
Summer took a deep breath, steeling herself before finally speaking. "It's about the ball night," she began, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I think someone drugged me, Max. And I need your help to figure out who."
Max's eyes widened in realization as Summer recounted the events of the ball night. A mischievous grin tugged at the corners of his lips, and he couldn't resist probing her about it.
"So, let me get this straight," he began, his tone playful. "You're telling me that you were drugged at the ball and ended up with some mysterious guy?"
Summer rolled her eyes, swatting at him weakly. "Yeah, Max, that's exactly what I just said," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Max leaned in, his grin widening. "And you have no idea who this guy was?" he asked, feigning curiosity.
Summer shook her head, frustration evident in her eyes. "No clue. It's like he vanished into thin air," she admitted. "Why are you so interested anyway?"
Max shrugged nonchalantly, but his mischievous smile gave him away. "Oh, just curious," he said, trying to keep his tone light. "I mean, it's not every day you hear a story like that."
Summer narrowed her eyes at him. "You're enjoying this way too much," she accused, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
Max chuckled. "Maybe a little," he confessed. "But seriously, Sam, are you sure you don't remember anything about him? Any details at all?"
Summer thought for a moment, then shook her head again. "It's all a blur. I just remember feeling... safe, weirdly enough," she said softly.
Max's grin widened, a playful glint in his eyes. "Safe, huh? That's interesting," he mused. "Maybe your mystery man is not as mysterious as you think."
Summer raised an eyebrow at him. "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, curious despite herself.
Max shrugged again, trying to play it cool. "Oh, nothing. Just that sometimes, people are closer than we realize," he said cryptically.
Summer rolled her eyes again, but a small smile played on her lips. "You're being weird, Max," she said. "But thanks for the new phone. I'll need it to start digging into this mess."
Max nodded, still smiling. "Anytime, Sam," he replied. "And hey, if you need a sidekick in this investigation, you know where to find me."
Summer laughed softly. "I'll keep that in mind," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "Thanks, Max. For everything."
Max gave her a warm smile, but inside, he couldn't stop thinking about the irony of it all. His two best friends, arch-nemeses without knowing each other's true identities, had ended up together in the most unexpected way. It was a twist he hadn't seen coming, and he couldn't wait to see how it would all unfold.
"And who cares about his identity," Summer added suddenly, smirking. "I already paid him for his sweat."
Both of them burst into laughter, the tension easing a little as they shared the humor of the situation.
In the hushed confines of the hospital ward, Summer's tone shifted, her expression growing serious as she leaned closer to Max.
"Listen, Max," she began, her voice low but firm, "I need you to promise me something. Don't tell Trish anything about who I really am."
Max looked at her with confusion, suspicion thinking to himself "why would she ask this? Does she already know who's he?"