It was a rainy afternoon in mid-August that Stella's life began changing for the better.


She had been at the grocery store picking up a few things she needed for her sister's and niece's impending visit within the next 48 hours, when it began raining. Being her, she hadn't bothered taking her car the few blocks from her apartment, so she was caught in the downpour. But also being her, she had an umbrella. Ducking under an awning, she put the large red umbrella up and readjusted her purse and grocery bags. As she began walking again, she could have sworn she heard someone calling her name.


Stopping, she looked around on the nearly empty sidewalk. Putting her head down, she began walking again, hoping it had just been her imagination.


"Stella!"


There it was again. Surely her ears wouldn't play tricks on her twice. This time, Stella stopped in her tracks. Gripping her umbrella handle, she turned around.


"Stella!" a jogging figure waved at her.


Shaking her slightly damp red hair out of her eyes, she squinted against the rain to see who was calling to her.


"Max!" she grinned as the tall (and wet) hockey player came to a stop in front of her. She raised the umbrella up so it covered both of them as he embraced her.



"How are you, mon cher?" he asked, pulling away.

"Good," Stella nodded. It had been nearly three months since the two had spoken and even then it was only to joke of his signing with Philly. "How long have you been in town?"


"Two weeks. But I've only just found an apartment," he said pulling her under another awning.

Stella nodded, understanding. She had been lucky to find her apartment when she did.

"It's been too long," she said looking up at him. "How have you been, Superstar?"


Max laughed. "Good. Missing Pittsburgh already, but I'll get used to Philly."


Stella shrugged. "You might."

"Have you heard from any of the guys lately?" he asked.

"I got a text from Vero on behalf of her and Marc a few weeks ago saying they finally picked a date, but you probably got that," Stella said trying to remember. "Sid and I have been talking now and again. I just wanted to check in on him, you know?"

Max nodded. "So not...-"

Stella cut him off. "He's engaged, Max."


"Stella," Max started.


"Don't, Max," she warned. Checking the time, she knew she should be getting home.


"Time to go?" Max teased. "Always thinking ahead, eh?"


"You know me so well," she laughed. "We have to catch up."


"You free tomorrow?" he asked hopefully. In all honesty, he missed Stella.


"If you don't mind coming over to my place. I'm getting ready for CiCi and Hilary to come visit," she explained.


"Ah, so the super model sister makes an appearance," Max smiled. "What's your address?"


He took her groceries as she tapped her address into his phone under her contact information.


"Is noon, okay?" he asked taking his phone back.


"Sure," she smiled. Standing up on tip toes, she kissed his cheek lightly. "It was good seeing you, Max."

"You too, Stell," he waved to her retreating figure.

*_*_*_*

Getting back to his apartment, he settled onto his newly assembled couch. Max had seen Stella. She had been one of the few things he had been looking forward to in Philly.


She looked better than he remembered. It was obvious she had lost some weight, making her less curvy. Her hair was as red as ever and he tried not think about the way her jeans hugged her butt or the way her plaid shirt fit her torso.


In the years he had known her in Pittsburgh, Max had been aware of her feelings for Jordan. But his teammate, stupid as ever, had been too oblivious to notice the beautiful girl in front of him. Instead, Jordan was too caught up with his on-again off-again relationship with that blonde. Heather, he thought.


Looking at the new address in his phone, Max couldn't help but smile. Stella was back.

Notes

Chapter title credit goes to Sara Bareilles' song Not Alone.
I'll have another update out today! Look for it! Let me know what's on your minds, lovelies!