"There's something about red, isn't there?" She asked as she turned in the mirror, examining her perfect body from every angle.

"What do you mean?" Max asked, too caught up in her body to pay much focus to the question.

"Every woman looks good in red. It's intense yet subtle at the same time. You ought to know this Max, you want to be a designer, don't you?"

"No Nicole," Max said irately, "I don't want to be a designer anymore. I told you last May, rememeber? I'm literally in school to be an engineer."

"Mhm," replied Nicole absentmindedly, lips pursed as she applied crimson lipstick while staring at her reflection in the mirror.

Max sighed, his sneakered foot toeing a tear in the carpet. "Why are you all dressed up anyway?"

"Didn't I tell you?" She exclaimed innocently, blue eyes widening. "Sam and I are going to his parent's yearly charity auction! It's supposed to be a huge deal, I think senators will be there!"

Max bit his lip. "Nicole..." he began, his soft blond eyebrowns dipping into a frown, "I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with how much you and your ex-boyfriend hang out. I know that you guys are friends, but these days it feels like you see him more than you see me! It really makes me uncomfortable."

Nicole rolled her eyes. "Ughhh," she groaned, "You're such a baby. I'd never go for Sam. Stop obsessing over me. By the way," she paused, arching an eyebrow, "I should be back by 1 or 2am if you maybe wanted me to come over?"

Normally, the prospect of having Nicole anywhere near him at night would have excited Max, but the nights of waking up at 2am were wearing on him.

"I don't know Nicole, I never get to go on dates with you anymore. I have Physics at 7am, that's not a lot of sleep for me."

"What do you mean?!" She exclaimed, sliding her feet into seven inch red stilletos. "I go out of my way to see you. It's not my fault that I'm busy."

Max bit his lip. "But that's the thing, I'm really not out of the way for you. I'm just a stop on your way to see Sam." He paused, staring up at the ceiling. Finally, he laughed. "I don't know how to phrase this, Nicole, but I think I should just come out and say it. I think we should break up."

"Excuse me?!" Exclaimed Nicole, arching two perfect eyebrows. "Please, you'd never find better than me. I'm out of your leauge and you know it."

"I'd have to be pretty pathetic if you were the best I could do," frowned Max, "I think you're the most vain and self absorbed person I've ever met. And I've never heard you say something that sounded remotely intelligent. We're done. This is the last and final time I'll be with you."