Chapter Three - Fighting Passion

Max tapped her foot, her leg bobbing up and down as she sat eating breakfast. Adrenaline coursed through her veins as her heart pumped fire furiously through her.

She startled as the grandfather clock rang.

Jumping up, she tossed her plate to the side, trotted off towards Rose's room.

"Max!" Squealed a gentle, lilting voice as Rose sprinted around the corner and crashed face-first into Max's chest. With a giggly shriek that made her heart skip a beat, Rose tripped over the hem of her dress, falling flat on her back.

Max stifled a chuckle as she extended her hand.

Rose took it, apparently unfazed, and grinned up at her.

"Hey!" She gasped breathlessly. She wavered slightly, tilting backwards. Max quickly wrapped her arm around her waist, pulling her into her chest to keep her from falling.

"Hey." She responded coolly, trying desperately to hide her own excitement due to the situation.

Rose's jaw dropped, gazing up at Max with the most adorable face on Terra.

"W-wow" Rose stammered.

Max raised an eyebrow.

"I- I mean- I- just- what do you think you're doing?" She tried - unsuccessfully - to sound authoritative.

"Keeping you from falling on your ass. Again."

Rose's eyes widened. Clearly no one had ever spoken to her in such a manner before.

Max was about to apologize, when Rose burst out into a fit of giggles.

"You really are a strange one, aren't you?"

Max shrugged, letting go of her.

Rose, however, had a different idea. Grasping her hand in her own, she laced their fingers together, pulling Max along.

Max chuckled. "Where exactly are we going?"

"You'll see." The young woman giggled mischievously.

Opening a door, she pulled Max into a dark, empty room.

Max's face flushed. Where was she planning on going with this?

She felt an arm reach past her shoulder. She stiffened. What was happening? She tensed in anticipation, nearly jumping when the lights flicked on all around her. They were in the kitchen pantry.

"Look!" She giggled excitedly. "They never let me eat sweets because I'm kinda chubby, but I sneak in here from time to time!" She laughed happily.

Max smiled, cupping her round cheeks.

"I don't see chubby, I just see beautiful."

Rose gasped slightly, her cheeks turning redder with each moment that passed by.

"Y-you think I'm beautiful?" She whispered hoarsely.

"Doesn't everyone?" Max retorted.

"I- I mean- they all say nice things to spare my feelings.."

"Or maybe," Max leaned down, their noses brushing, "they're just telling you the truth."

Max reached past her, flicking off the lights. Rose's breath caught in her throat, her eyes trained on Max's full, red lips. The taller woman had a muted sort of beauty. The kind that you didn't notice at first, but when you looked for it, she would leave you breathless.

Her eyes slowly fluttered closed, giving in to temptation. She placed her hands on either side of Max's neck, standing on the tips of her toes. She could feel the woman's sweet, hot breath caressing her cheek. She bit her lower lip, hearing a faint whisper in her ear.

"You're perfect." was all Max said.

Just as Max leaned in to kiss her, the pair heard loud footsteps clicking through the hall.

Max, to Rose's dismay, pulled away, picking up a rolling pin and standing by the door in a defensive position. A shadow stopped in front of the door. Rose began to panic. If they were caught, Max would be reassigned. She couldn't have that. As the shadow moved past the door and the footsteps receded, they simultaneously let out a breath they didn't know they were holding. Rose opened her mouth to speak, but Max was already opening the door.

She snapped her jaws shut, stepping out and leading the way to the ballroom. Rose stood in the center of the floor, twirling aimlessly as her dress swirled around her. Max stepped forward slowly, sitting at the piano bench. She placed her slender fingers on the keys, taking a deep breath like her mother used to. She began playing a soft, gentle melody, her fingers dancing across the keys, caressing the black and white instrument as she began to play faster. The fast paced, enticing music transfixed Rose as she slowly drew closer to the grand piano.

She seemed somewhat entranced by the beauty of it all. The woman placed her hand on Max's shoulder as the crescendo intensified. Slowly, the music quieted, the finale taking the duchess' breath away.

"Damn.." She breathed out.

"What are we condemning?" Max quipped.

"You're- you're really good at that." Rose said softly, ignoring the joke.

"I'm alright."

"No, you- you're more than alright.. you're amazing." Rose said firmly, turning to clasp Max's hands in her own. "Teach me. Please."

"I'll teach you if you teach me something you know how to do." Max smirked

"Dancing." Rose replied immediately. There was absolutely no hesitation in her response.

Max smiled gently. "Show me."