 be curious, not judgmental
Max heard the door close and he lifted his head again. Finally. But she... was heading straight for the staircase to the dorms. No. He wasn't going to let her go so fast. Not when he'd been waiting for her. Though, he couldn't tell - was he going to upset her? Would she rather not talk to anyone, even her best friend?
Though Max feared the latter, he leaped from his chair and darted across the common room, slowing down as he approached Ellie. He stopped next to her, instinctively moved to hug her but resisted, unsure of the kind of state she was in, and stumbled on his words a bit before saying, "Ellie, I have something for you." He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, his face contorting. Though he had been waiting for her, he had forgotten to plan what he was going to say. "It's... over there," he said, pointing and leaning in the direction of the table where he was previously seated. "Do... you have time, or would you like to go to bed? It can wait till the morning if you just want to go..."
However, he would be disappointed if she denied his gift after he had been waiting. But, he would understand, ultimately.
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