How Things Changed Forever.. PART - II

CH 47: Spontaneous, All-Consuming, Unstoppable..

Mariam wasn't a concert person. Crowds? Meh. Loud music? Not unless she was the one in charge of the volume. Glitter and neon and people screaming just to scream? Absolutely not.

But tonight, standing in the packed auditorium, she didn't feel like storming off. Not with Max beside her.

Max was grinning so hard it was a wonder his face didn't split in two. Like a little kid seeing fireworks for the first time—or puppies. Or puppies setting off fireworks.

"Oh my gosh, look at the LED lights!" Max said, practically bouncing on his feet. "They're programmable—I think they're using real-time tracking for the spotlight sequences!"

Mariam raised an eyebrow at him, smirking."You got all that from two seconds of blinking lights?"

Max turned to her, sky-blue eyes wide and earnest. "Yeah! Isn't it awesome?" Absolutely not the reaction she'd expect from any other boys she knew.

She tucked her hands into her pockets, teasing. "Only you would nerd out over spotlights at a concert."

Max laughed, not even slightly embarrassed. "Lighting makes the mood! It's, like, everything!"

Mariam didn't care about the lights. But she did care about how animated Max looked explaining them to her.

There was something about Max that pulled you in, without even trying.

He wasn't trying to be impressive. He wasn't trying to be cool or smart or charming. He just was. Naturally enthusiastic. Thoughtful. Cute in the most devastatingly sincere way possible.

He talked a lot, but never over people. He noticed the little things others ignored. He held the door open for strangers, complimented random passersby without a second thought. And every single bit of it was genuine.

Mariam had grown up around boys who treated kindness like currency—used it to get something. She learned early on that it was better to avoid them: cold voice, sharp looks, rolled eyes. It kept them exactly where she wanted them. Far.

But Max, on the other hand, handed kindness out like free samples.

"You okay?" Max asked suddenly, noticing she'd gone quiet for some time now. "We're not too close to the speakers, right? You said you get headaches if it's too loud—should we move back?"

Mariam blinked, stunned.

He remembered that? She'd mentioned it passingly once, weeks ago, during the Halloween party.

"I'm good," she said, hiding the sudden rush of warmth under a shrug. "But thanks anyway, golden boy!"

Max beamed, looking absurdly proud of himself.

A moment later, the pre-show lights dimmed slightly. Max leaned in, excited. "I think they're starting!" Mariam nodded, barely hearing him over the swell of cheers.

As the opening beat hit the air and the crowd roared, Mariam turned to Max once more. He didn't notice. His gaze was locked on the stage, mouth parted in wonder.

Mariam smiled slyly to herself. Honestly speaking? Watching Max was way more entertaining than anything else.

*****

Mariam shifted slightly sometime later, pretending to scan the stage, but she was mostly soaking up the way Max lit up from the inside. How he made everything feel lighter. Easier.

On stage, Tyson was doing his usual thing: winking at the cameras, joking around, working the crowd like the pro he was. The audience ate it up, roaring with laughter and cheers.