*Chapter 6: Midnight Mischief*
Ava's heart was racing as Max led her towards the Parliament Building. The grand structure loomed above them, its neo-Gothic spires reaching for the stars.
Max grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Come on, it'll be fun!"
Ava hesitated, but Max's infectious energy won her over. She followed him as he darted across the street, dodging pedestrians and taxis.
They slipped into a side alley, the sound of the city fading into the distance. Max pulled out his phone and snapped a quick photo of Ava, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Your turn," he whispered, handing her the phone.
Ava took a deep breath and snapped a photo of Max, his face alight with laughter.
As they stood there, the silence between them grew thicker. Ava felt her heart pounding in her chest.
Suddenly, Max's phone beeped, shattering the moment. He glanced at the screen and groaned. "My friend's texting me. I told him we'd meet up for a drink."
Ava's heart sank, but she pushed the feeling aside. "No worries, I should probably get some sleep anyway."
Max nodded, but his eyes lingered on hers. "Want to meet up tomorrow? We can explore the Széchenyi Thermal Baths."
Ava's heart skipped a beat. "Sounds like a plan."
As they parted ways, Ava couldn't shake the feeling that this trip was turning into something special.
Back at her hostel, Ava flopped onto her bunk, her phone buzzing with an incoming message from Max.
"Can't wait for tomorrow 😊"
Ava smiled, her heart fluttering in her chest. This was going to be a night to remember.