She's got a boyfriend now-Jordan *KEEP*

[Keaira Callaghan]

As she stood there she took a deep breath as she felt Max's arms wrap around her. Just the feeling of him embracing her calmed the young woman down slightly. But when he asked her what was wrong she felt the sobs start to wrack her body and was unsure of how to answer. Keaira had not told Max where she was going to be spending her evening. She knew that he would not have approved. But her parents could have made her life a lot more difficult if she had not just gone with there wishes on this matter. She was still trying to find a way to get out of the arranged marriage, and didn't want them to get suspicious of anything. She wrapped her arms around his waist and just breathed in his scent trying to calm down before speaking.

"I had to see Jordan tonight." She whispered before pulling back from him slightly and looking up into his eyes. "I didn't want to go, but I had to. My parents arranged the meeting and I thought I could handle seeing him, but I couldn't." She bit down on her lower lip as she started crying again. Keaira hated feeling this weak, she didn't like to break down in front of anyone. And now tonight she broke down in front of two people.

"He was so cruel," She paused and shook her head, "We both were so cruel." Keaira shivered slightly and stepped closer to him, hoping that his body heat would help make up for the absence of her coat. "Some of the things I said, I never pictured myself being able to treat someone like that. Not even Jordan, and he deserves my hate. But I should not have spoken to him the way I did." When Keaira had been yelling at Jordan she had just said whatever came to mind. She hated herself for speaking the way she did. Keaira pressed herself as close to Max as she could and tried to fight back the tears that kept coming.

[Maxwell Ember]

As Keaira began to speak, things began to make sense in Max's head. She had mentioned her ex quite a few times when they first met. It had been obvious then that the girl was still reeling from the break up. After a year, it seemed like things were finally turning around for both of them. What had started out as a friendship had turned into something that Max treasured more than anything else in the world. Anger burned inside him as he watched Keaira and the tortured expression on her face. He wanted nothing more than to find Jordan Winters and give a good, hard belt across the jaw for the way that he'd made Keaira feel.

She moved closer once more and Max instinctively slid out of his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders before wrapping his arms around her tightly. Max could only assume that after her argument with Jordan, she stormed out of the room and left her jacket behind. "You know, you could have at least taken a moment to grab your coat," Max said with a small smile as he took a small step back. Max put on his best face as he looked at Keaira. "Don't let him bother you. If you let him bother you, he wins." Max leaned forward and gave her a light kiss on the forehead.

"I'm not telling you to not be upset. You should be upset. Hell, I'm upset," Max said, raising his arms to his side slightly and then dropping them. "There's no point in getting all worked up about this. Jordan is the past. You can't let the past bother you." Max's smile grew a bit as he looked around Diagon Alley. "I think we need to take you mind off of this. Why don't we go get something to eat and have a couple of drinks?" Max offered his arm to Keaira and smiled wider in an attempt to get at least a small smile out of the girl.

[Keaira Callaghan]

When his coat was placed around her shoulders and he pulled her closer a small smile crossed her lips at the warmth from his body heat. For some reason Max always seemed to be warm, no matter what. A bitter laugh bubbled up inside her before escaping her lips, "Yes because I wanted to stay near him long enough for that," She paused and shook her head, "I was already near the door so I just left before I did something stupid, like hit him." She said softly. At his next statement she looked up at him with a raised eyebrow, "Easier said than done hun. I didn't realize he still had this kind of power over me. I don't understand how he could have this power over me." She sighed and leaned back into him not wanting to see the look on his face as she spoke.

"Max we both know that Jordan will never be just the past." Even as she said this, the young woman wondered if she was saying all the wrong things. That seemed to be the trend of the evening after all. Her mouth getting her in trouble. "As long as my parents live, as long as his parents live, he will never be my past. They will always be there pushing for this stupid arranged marriage that I want no part of." She wa shaking again, but this time from anger rather than the cold. She didn't want her parents to be able to control who she married. But she had known her entire life that she was destined to be wed to one of Marsdens followers. "And how long can I actually resist them Max? I am not strong enough to keep fighting it. Maybe it would just be better for everyone if I just gave in." Her voice had turned dull and almost listless as she continued to speak. She wasn't quite sure she actually believed what was coming out of her mouth, but she couldn't stop the words from coming.

"Food sounds good." She said softly not raising her face to look at his again. When he stuck his arm out she clung to it as if it was her lifeline. And at this moment it was probably the closest thing to one that she had. "But no drinks, don't want me to end up a bitter old hag now do we?" She quoted what Jordan had said earlier and laughed bitterly again. "Because then he will be the only one who would have me. Not that he would want a bitter old hag. But Jordan will listen to his parents. He's a good son to them, I am reminded of that on a regular basis by my parents. Who in the next breath don't hesitate to tell me how horrible of a daughter I am." She bit down on her lower lip again and resisted the urge to cry again.

Keaira knew that she was nothing but a dissappointment to her parents. They had attempted to raise her as a proper pure blooded witch. One who didn't wish to associate with what they considered to be filth. They thought there lessons had taken til she had befriended the muggle boy who had died in a mysterious accident. Looking back now Keaira was convinced it was no accident. Then again there hopes were raised when she was sorted into Slytherin. But she had never felt that she belonged in Slytherin. Her views were not like that of most of her classmates and Keaira never really got along with them. Keaira shook her head, trying to clear the thoughts as she looked up at Max again. She turned towards him and raised onto her tip-toes before pressing a light kiss to his lips.

"I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't run into you tonight." Keaira shook her head. "I couldn't have gone home yet. Not like this. I would have ended up doing something foolish." This night was probably when she had been the most angry at her parents. They were destroying her life and what little spirit the young woman had left in her. "I needed you tonight, and somehow I just knew where to run."

[Jordan Winters]

The words that Keaira spoke cut like a knife and Jordan could only stare for a moment as the girl stormed out of the room. Jordan's face twisted into a scowl and anger burned inside of him. jordan quickly moved across the room and slipped into his coat. In a moment spite, he grabbed Keaira's coat off the rack and threw it into the crackling fireplace. A slight smirk cracked the scowl on Jordan's face as he quickly moved out of the room, following Keaira. The cold, wet rain did nothing to divert Jordan's attention from the girl that was walking away form him. He planned on hanging back for a few minutes and giving them both a chance to cool down.

Jordan watched in terror as a man stepped out of a shop and Keaira walked right into his arms. His hand subconsciously moved to his wand as he watched the man carress her hair and attempt to comfort her. This had to have been "her Max." Jordan glanced from Keaira, to Max, to his wand. He didn't notice the fact that his hand was shaking as he began to stalk towards the couple.

With a low growl, Jordan raised his wand and aimed right between Keaira and Max. "Brackium Immendo!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. Jordan had been aiming more towards Max but at this point, he didn't care which one he hit at all. A sick smile spread across Jordan's face. He wanted to cause Keaira as much pain as she had just caused him. He was past trying to win her back. It was about sending a message now. He wasn't going to sit there and be her punching bag. She would pay.

[Maxwell Ember]

Something wasn't right. Max smiled down at Keaira as she spoke but his mind was running wild. Something was coming. He could feel. He began to scan the surrounding area. The Auror trainee looked at every face of every person that was near them. Max wondered if it was his job that was just making him paranoid or if there really was some threat in Diagon Alley that evening. He cursed his luck. the last thing Keaira needed after her altercation with Jordan was to be in the middle of an attack. As Max continued to scan, a face in the crow finally stuck out. The person was staring daggers right through him and Max recognized him. Jordan Winters.

Max's eyes widened with horror when he noticed that the wizard was raising his wand in their direction. It was obvious that Jordan had finally lost. Whatever had transpired between him and Keaira was enough to raise the bloodlust within him. This reaction genuinely shocked Max. he knew that Winters' had been a manipulative snake in the grass during their days at Hogwarts but he'd never known him to be out right violent towards anyone.

"Brackium Immendo!" he yelled at the top of his lungs.

As gently as he could, Max grabbed Keaira wrists and pulled her behind himself. "Get down!" He yelled but it appeared that he had not acted quickly enough. The spell flew towards them and made contact with Keaira's left hand. A rush of fear and anger washed over Max as he watched the bones in her hand dissolve. "Keaira!" Max yelled, his voice cracking. Quickly, Max wrapped his arms around the girl and helped her sit down on the ground. "Are you all right?" he asked as he glanced down at her left hand. Max knew that he had to gain control of this situation and not let anger cloud his judgement but if was so hard. All he wanted to do was to break Jordan Winters in half.

"Bastard," Max muttered under his breath as he slowly stood up to his full height. He had never been what many people consider as "imposing" but even those people would be frightened of him if they were there to witness the murderous glint in his eyes as he rose and turned to face their antagonist. "What the hell is your problem, Winters?" Max called down the street as he began to stalk forward. "You couldn't get what you want so you throw a little tantrum and try to destroy? What are you, a child?" Max was filled with so much rage that he hadn't even noticed that he'd retreived his wand from his back pocket and had it pointed square at his former housemate's chest.

A glance back at Keaira weakened Max's resolve a bit. He knew that she wouldn't want him to get into some sort of conflict with Jordan in public. A cool smile appeared on Max's face as he lowered his wand and turned his back on Jordan. "I guess you taken to attacking Ministry officials and the people they're with when you think they're not paying attention," Max said as he slowly walked back towards Keaira. "Oh," he began, stopping and looking his shoulder. "If you ever come near Keaira or me again, I'll kill you. No Ministry. No arrests. Just me and you."

Max's smile grew as he approached Keaira. He had scared off Jordan and now his concern was getting Keaira to St. Mungo's. He knew what it was like to have bones regrown and didn't envy the girls. "Come on," he said as he extended his hand out to Keaira. "We need to get you to the hospital."

[Keaira Callaghan]

Keaira noticed that Max seemed nervous about something, but as always she felt safe in his arms. So when he went to shove her behind him and she heard Jordan's voice call out the curse the young woman was in shock. She felt it hit and the bones in her hand dissolve and cursed under her breath. Her gaze went from Jordan to her hand then over to Max who looked as furious as she felt. She took a deep breath and sat down on the ground cradling her boneless left hand in her right one. It was odd that there had been no pain when the spell had hit her, but it wasn't as if she had been hit with it before and knew what to expect.

She watched as Max stalked forward approaching Jordan and bit back a gasp when he pulled his wand out. Normally she wasn't one for violence but when she realized that Jordan had intentionally harmed her she wanted to see him suffer. The thoughts caused her to shake her head and sigh again. She listened to what Max told Jordan and had to bite back a laugh. Because that was exactly what Jordan had done, thrown a temper tantrum like a child.

Keaira had not thought that he would ever bring physical harm to her. Sure they had said some rotten things to each other in the past, but never had either brought physical harm to the other. She may have said she hated the man, but that was far from the truth. Sure she hated what he did but a part of her would always love him. That was what happened when you lost your first love she supposed.

When Max approached again and she heard the last words he spoke to Jordan she frowned slightly. She didn't doubt that he would follow through with his word and she just hoped that Jordan was smart enough to stay away. Because the way she was feeling towards him at that moment she wouldn't hesitate to bring harm to him herself. She shivered in the rain as she reached out and grasped the hand that Max extended her and used it to pull herself to her feet.

"Do I really have to?" Keaira asked with a frown. She knew that if she went to St Mungos she would have to explain the cause of the injury and that would only cause more problems at home. "I don't want people to find out what happened. My parents will just go on and on about how I tarnished the Callaghan family name. And how I should not have allowed the situation to escalate to this point. Somehow all the blame will be placed on me and none will fall on Jordan, he is perfect in there eyes."

Standing there she leaned into Max and tried not to let more tears fall from her eyes. She wasn't in pain, but she was freezing and feeling emotionally drained. The whole evening had been far from what she had pictured or wanted from the night. It was supposed to be a clean break from her history with Jordan and instead ended up leading to an even more tangled mess. "What am I supposed to do now?" She asked softly.

[Maxwell Ember]

"What am I supposed to do now?" She asked softly.

"Now," Max began with a soft, reassuring smile. "You come with me to St. Mungo's. That hand needs to be taken care of and you should know by now that I can be plenty stubborn when I need to so I think you should just save yourself the trouble and relent now," Max said, his smile widening. "You don't have to explain a damn thing to your parents. We'll go to St. Mungo's and when they're done with you, you can stay at my place for a couple of days until the storm blows over. Your parents being upset is not a good enough excuse not to get that hand taken care of."

Max wrapped an arm around Keaira and squeezed her tight. It was obvious that she needed medical attention and she could cry on the way if she needed to. There was still a voice in the back of Max's head that was demanding vengeance and he made a note to get back to Winter's later. He cast his former housemate a dark glance. "All will be settled," he muttered under his breath. He pulled Keaira a little closer, trying his best comfort the girl.

"Are you ready?" He asked, looking down at Keaira. "Make sure that you hold on tight. I'm going to apparate us there. That hand needs to be taken care of now," There was no amusement in Max's voice now. It was obvious that he was totally focused on getting Keaira the help she needed. "Listen, you don't have anything else to worry about now. I'll make sure you're taken care of." Max's expression softened a bit and he gave the girl a bright a smile.

[Keaira Callaghan]

"Max, you just dont get it." Keaira said sadly shaking her head. She shivered in the cold rain and stared at him for a moment. She didn't feel angered that he didn't understand, just wished that he could. It would make things so much easier. A chill ran down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold as she thought of what her parents would say, or worse yet do when they found out what happened. There would be no way to avoid the situation coming to light. Though she was no longer a minor the staff of St. Mungo's wasn't always well known for keeping their lips shut about the going ons of the hospital.

"I know the hand needs to be taken care of. But is there not anywhere else, and I mean literally anywhere else that we could go?" Keaira knew that Max was stubborn, but the young woman was just as bad if not worse than him. She leaned into his side and was slightly comforted by his embrace. But at the same time she was still anxious. Staying at Max's place was only a temporary reprieve. Sooner or later she was going to have to face the music, and Keaira was quite certain the situation was not going to be pleasant in the slightest.

"I know you will Max," She said with a soft smile, "You always seem to." From the first time Keaira had met him, when he caught her sketching him it had seemed he tried everything he could to just be there. And looking back she realized he had always taken care of her in his own way. And a way she had needed. "But please, anywhere but St. Mungo's. I agree that I need medical treatment, but what I believe is needed is discreet treatment." She shook her head and looked up at him, her eyes pleading with him to understand. "I don't intend to press charges against Jordan, and if I go to St. Mungo's especially with you, I will be forced to."

A part of Keaira really did hate Jordan at this moment. But at the same time she couldn't fully hate the young man. And she certainly didn't want to see him sit in Azkaban for what she was sure was a hex that hit the wrong person. Her gaze went back up to Max's slowly, not really wanting to see his reaction to her statement. But hoping that he would think of an alternate destination for them to go.