The ground is cold and hard under his knees and palms.

'Is he OK?'

Max recognises that voice. It's Billy-Mac’s girlfriend.

Herff, Max spews a load of brown acidic liquid onto the ground. He breathes steadily for a moment, his body empties, his mind lightens.

Billy-Mac says, 'Yo Max, you good?'

'Yeah mate, I'm great, nothing a good chuck can't sort out.' Max slowly stands and wipes his face with a tissue Billy's girlfriend passes him.

'Come on,' says the girlfriend. 'I wanna dance!'

Max feels better.

Billy’s girlfriend is wearing a white mini skirt and bra top with knee-high cream leather boots. She has a pacifier dummy on a plastic chain around her neck and delicately laced angel wings on her back.

'Go ahead,' says Billy, 'we'll meet you inside.' He hands Max a cigarette, and watches her dance back into the throng of people around the warehouse.

'Sorry Max, thought you'd like it here.' Billy takes a deep drag of his cigarette and blows smoke towards the sky.

Max feels his stomach settling. 'I still might.' He adjusts his collar and looks for signs of vomit on his clothes. A wave of euphoria lifts him higher. Billy lights Max's cigarette. Max opens his palm and offers Billy a tiny pill. ‘Do you wanna ‘nother tab?’

Billy throws his head back and laughs out loud, ‘You’re kidding me, aren’t you?’

‘It’s the end of the millennium mate.’

‘I’m good, let's go!'

Inside the warehouse small pop-up stalls are serviced by fresh faces in colourful clothes selling fairy costumes, fluorescent bands and face painting. Everyone is mostly drinking water and grooving—paying attention to him, and flowing in and out of his space. Everyone is young and beautiful. 'Baby, don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no-more.’

Max and Billy-Mac stand underneath a large stage prop of an outback windmill that marks the edge of the vendor area. Billy's girlfriend dances next to them.

'What is love,' she sings, slips in between Billy and Max, and slides her hands under their jackets to form a line. She gyrates her hips. Billy and Max smile at her and each other and join in. Another girl in orange overalls with a white t-shirt joins hands with Billy, his girlfriend now sucking her pacifier and thrashing her head from side to side between them. A boy with a fluoro necklace and no shirt connects to her, extending the line. Max grins so hard he grinds his teeth. The ecstasy is hitting him in waves. Everything is joyous.

'Hey Max!' Billy is pointing to a large makeshift stage at the back of the warehouse. 'Is that Ceebee?'

'Huh!' Max looks up.

Sure enough, there's Ceebee, on a podium next to the main DJ booth, flowing with the music, wearing skinny jeans, a halter neck top, and white sandshoes. She loves the boys and girls cheering her on.

'Yep!' Max is glad to see her—when did she get so beautiful? Max looks at Billy for signs that he might know what's happened. 'I want you to come and work for me next year.' Max wanted to employ Billy ever since he met him on a Y2K nerd committee a couple of years ago.

'You can't afford me,' Billy winks at Max and nods for him to head over to a section where a bunch of people are hanging out and smoking.

'Don't crap me,' Max accepts a cigarette. 'I'm serious.'

Billy lights both cigarettes, and they find a quieter spot outside the warehouse. 'I already have a job. I don't really understand what you do, Max.'

'Neither do I—mostly—but I do know smart people mate, and you're the fucken smartest.' Billy and Max survey their surroundings and suck hard on their smokes. Max is so high; he is sure he can see the future. 'The Internet is gonna change everything—you know.' Max stares into Billy's glassy eyes.

Billy says, 'Not as long as Microsoft keeps beating up on open source.'

‘I'm serious, Billy. I want you to come and join us. I'll pay you what you're worth and give you some stock options. If things keep going like they are, we can all retire in a few years.'

'I dunno Max, I kinda like my life. What you do looks like a lot of bullshit.'

'You wouldn't have to worry about any of that. I’ll set it up so you can work from home. All I need you to do is keep an eye on the tech and make sure nobody fucks anything up.'

'What about Microsoft?'

'Fuck Microsoft, we're moving over to Linux.'

Billy looks at Max, and they laugh. The music shifts to another mix of fast-paced dance beats with somehow familiar lyrics. 'I'll think about it.' Billy steps on his cigarette and says 'What if the share market crashes?'

'We're all fucked then mate.’

Billy grasps Max's hand like they’re about to arm wrestle. 'Do you really think it can all keep going, mate?'

'I never thought we’d survive a year, so who knows.'

Billy grins and they hug.

'Hello, boys!' Max knows that voice.

'Ceebs!' Billy turns, opens his arms, and Ceebee folds into them.

Max stands by. Ceebee and Billy embrace while Max takes everything in. His mind is clear. The music is clear. For a moment, everything is crystal clear.

Ceebee unravels herself from Billy's hug and looks up at Max. They stare at each other; it's hard to predict what will happen next. Billy raises his hand, points to his bottle of water and heads back to the stalls.

Max extends his arms and breaks the tension with a slight smile.

Ceebee wraps her arms around Max's chest. 'You're not high, are you?’

'No, of course not.' After throwing up earlier he wasn't really sure what was going on. But now he's clear. 'I've never felt better.'

'I'm really sorry.'

'I know'

'No really. I'm—'

'I know.' Max puts his arm around Ceebee. He’s thinking how much he’s missed her. He smells her hair. It's clean and a hit of ecstasy reminds him of how close they are.

Max says, 'Do you wanna get out of here?'

'It's only eleven.'

'Let's just get out of here.'

'OK, but we'll never catch a cab.'

'Let's walk, it's only a couple of K's to the casino—or we could go back to mine?' Max had never invited Ceebee back to his place, just the two of them. She looks at him.

'OK.' Ceebee pulls Max closer. He’s in the right place with the right person for the first time in his whole life. She grabs Max’s hand and pulls him to follow. 'C'mon then, let's go.'

'Are you hungry?' Max's stomach spasms a little.

'Sure, what ya thinking?' Ceebee tucks herself under Max's arm.

'Let's go to the Blue Train. I love their pasta.'

'Sure.'

Max’s phone buzzes in his pocket.

'Quick,' says Ceebee, 'there's a taxi—let's grab it.'

She grabs his hand and they run for the cab— laughing and Max is grinning uncontrollably. Ceebee opens the back door of the silver-top and jumps in, dragging Max behind her. They're both laughing, like naughty kids, in the middle of the back seat. She holds his hand with both of hers and rests her cheek on his chest. Max puts his other hand into his pocket, pulls out his phone, and checks his text messages—Victoria!

'Is everything OK?' says Ceebee.

'Everything is perfect.' Max puts his phone back in his pocket and melts into the padded seat with Ceebee. The cab smells of pine; Ceebee smells sweaty and sweet. Max's heart races as they travel through the back streets of inner-city Melbourne.

'This’ll do.' Ceebee says. The cab pulls over just before the esplanade. She pays and Max steps onto the sidewalk. 'Keep the change, and happy New Year.' Ceebee slides out, and Max melts as she smiles up at him.

'Thank you, and happy New Year to you.' The taxi driver blows Ceebee a kiss and takes off.

Max lights two cigarettes. Ceebee takes one from him and sucks it hard. 'Fuck! I needed that.' Ceebee laughs and takes another drag.

Max watches people teeming in and out of the casino and others weaving through slow traffic and pedestrians all around the esplanade. His penthouse is just up the road. He's tempted to ask Ceebee to come back to his place now and see what happens.

'It's nearly midnight!' Ceebee looks expectant.

Max is unsure—what will happen next? ‘I wanna be outside.'

'Scared of the Y2K?' Ceebee loves poking fun at Max and the Y2K bug. She reckons it's a made-up thing.

'Cee-beeeeeee! Max-eeee!' That voice is unmistakable. Max and Ceebee both look to see Kylie swaggering towards them. Her pixie hair is flat. She’s wearing a dark mini-skirt, white shirt, and a couple of inches of heel.

'Kyle's!' Ceebee seems surprised to see her. 'What's going on?'

The receptionist from HAP closes in on Ceebee. The crowd slows as people start to chant for midnight.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

‘Ten, nine, eight....'

Kylie and Ceebee embrace and spin in circles.

'Five, four, three....'

'Come on, Max-ee,' says Kylie, and she and Ceebee reach around Max and drag him into their dance.

'Happy new year!' The crowd sings. The girls stop spinning, and they all hold each other. Max takes a breath, and he can feel Ceebee and Kylie on his chest. He looks down, and they’re pashing. They stop for a moment and smile at each other and Kylie pulls Max towards her, and kisses him.

'Kylie!'

Who’s that? Max enjoys how Kylie tastes.

'Ceebee!' Who’s that?

Kylie rips her tongue out of Max's mouth grinning. Max looks at Ceebee, who looks like she's seen a ghost.

'Lee!’ Ceebee looks at Max. ‘You know Lee, don't you Max?'

'Sure, we've met.' Max reaches his hand out, and Lee shakes it.

Ceebee tilts her head to let Lee kiss her on the cheek. Then Kylie hugs him. Max puts his hands in the front pockets of his pants. He feels his phone in one hand and his keys in the other.

'What's everyone up to?’ Lee looks at Ceebee.

She looks at Max. 'Pasta?'

'Blue Train?' Max doesn't like Lee's familiarity. 'I love their pasta.' Lee's smile and long blonde hair seem too perfect to Max. He looks at Ceebee and then at Kylie.

'Actually, I think I'm gonna pass,' Max says. 'I have a couple of things I have to do.'

'What the fuck could you have to do on New Year's?' Ceebee says.

Max isn't sure, but he wants to break away from these three. 'Just some stuff I need to sort out.' Ceebee slides under Max's arm.

'Are you sure?' Ceebee knows better than to push Max.

Max says, 'I'm sure.'

'I'll text you later.' Ceebee squeezes Max’s torso.

'Sure.' Max untangles himself from Ceebee and hugs Lee and Kylie awkwardly. He watches the three of them walk away arm in arm. Lee grabs Ceebee’s buttcheek, she squeals and looks back. Max turns his head before she sees him looking and walks towards his apartment.

'Happy New Year, Max!'

'Happy New Year, George!' Max is in no mood for a chat. 'I've gotta keep moving, mate.' Max waves at George and slides into the elevator.

The lift smells of disinfectant. Max sees a darkened image of himself in the stainless steel door. He looks good. The lift opens and Max walks to his apartment and lets himself in.

Inside looks how he left it, including a half-smoked spliff in the ashtray on the coffee table between the TV and lounge. He grabs the joint and opens the ceiling to floor glass door to the main balcony.

"hI how R U" Victoria's text is from 11:30 pm. Max lights the joint and inhales. The hit of weed relaxes his mind. Fresh air flows into the room. Cars honk, trams ‘ding-ding’ and people cheer from the city below. He hits the play button on his Compact Disc. ‘Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be....’

Flopped back on his soft couch, he fumbles through his text messages.

“Happy New Year Mister Zanetti <3 Kylie”. He smiles.

Another message from Victoria "I'm home now, really tired. I'm working tomorrow too, but free after that if you still wanna catch up?"

Max presses the reply button.

"I'm good

Happy New Year

What are you up to?"

Max presses send and stares at his Nokia. It feels warm and starts vibrating. He hits the green phone icon and says: 'Hello?'

'Mister Zanetti! Hello!' says the tiny speaker. It’s not Victoria.

'Hello,' Max says. He can hear traffic and crowds coming from inside the phone and from his outdoor balcony. The kick of weed adds to his confusion.

'I think you texted the wrong person.'

'I think you could be right.' It's Kylie. He can still taste her. How did she get his number?

'I'm heading out—Lee and Ceebee ditched me. What are you up to?' Max feels an ache at the mention of Lee and Ceebee.

'Not much....' Max says.

'Want some company?' Max’s heart pounds. He should go to bed.

'Sure,' Max says, 'do you know where I live?'

'Everyone knows where you live, Max.'

'Ok, I'll let George at the front desk know you’re coming.'

'See ya soon,' Kylie says and then hangs up.

Fucking hell, how does anyone get anything done texting?

Max looks through the peek-hole. The fisheye lens exposes a short haired girl, carrying shoes in one hand and reading her phone in the other. It's not too late to send her home. Max’s phone vibrates and he ignores it. Kylie finishes whatever she’s doing on her phone and looks up as the door opens. Before Max can say a word, she’s inside his apartment and tossing her shoes under the desk near the entry. She walks straight past the kitchen hatchway, past the lounge, and onto the outside balcony, checking something on her phone. Max follows and checks his own phone. Two missed calls from Ceebee.

'Oh my God! What a view.' Kylie looks even tinier, barefoot on his balcony with the cityscape behind her. Max forgets how blown away everyone is when they first see his view.

'Yeah, not bad,' Max says.

'Can I smoke?' Kylie is taking out a cigarette before Max answers.

'Sure, light me one too.' He sidles up to Kylie.

‘Did you finish your work?’ Kylie looks up at Max and then at her phone and then stares back up at Max.

‘It can wait.’

Kylie presses buttons on her phone rapidly.

‘Is everything OK?’

Kylie stops typing and looks up at Max. ‘Just getting the details for the party.’ Max feels out of the loop. ‘Do you wanna come? It doesn’t start till 5am—we’re going clubbing first—probably Lasers.’

‘I’ll think about it.’ Max says.

'Do you have any decent music?'

'What do you fancy?'

Kylie is scouring Max's giant bookcase filled with CD’s and and DVD’s. 'How about some Buckcherry?' She grabs a CD and heads over to the black boxes under his giant television screen. 'Is that a Dreamcast?' She’s pressing buttons like a pilot about to take off. 'Oh my god!' Kylie flicks a few more buttons, and the TV comes alive.

Max grabs the unfinished cigarette she balanced on the edge of his console and rests it into the ashtray. He takes a drag of his own and butts it out.

Kylie tosses Max one of the guns from the SEGA. 'This is the best set-up I’ve ever seen, I'm a Playstation girl, but I’ve been reading about these—Oh my god, look at the resolution!'

There’s a gold “18” studded into her ear and Max remembers how simple life was then. An electric guitar riffs as hi-resolution zombies march towards the gun-wielding kids staring at the big screen. Max's phone continuously vibrates in his pocket. A giant zombie makes it to the front of the big screen, and Kylie blasts it with her shooter. Another makes it all the way and takes Max out.

'I'm done,' Max says. He tosses his plastic gun on the seat next to Kylie who gets killed by a zombie.

'Can I have another game?' Kylie resets the console.

'Sure!' Max grins. 'You can play two players at once and use both guns at the same time.'

'No!'

'Yeah!'

Max watches Kylie transfixed to the video game. The breeze from his main balcony cools his sweaty body. 'I'm gonna take a shower and crash.'

Kylie doesn't take her eyes away from the big screen. She’s shooting zombies faster than Trinity.

'There's a spare bed in the other room; otherwise, help yourself to anything.'

'Thanks,' Kylie says, 'but I'll probably go stay at Lee and Ceebee's.'

'They're living together?'

'For a while, Ceebee says she's been trying to tell you, but you won't listen. I think Lee just needed a place to crash.' Max feels his stomach contract. Kylie remains focused on the next wave of monsters on the screen.

'What do you mean?'

Kylie drags her eyes from digital carnage and stares up at Max. 'She reckons you only need her because you don't know how to keep a girlfriend and that you’re always going to be by yourself.' The screen flashes as the zombies win the battle. 'Shit!' Kylie puts down the two guns and stands up. 'Don't worry about it, Mister Zanetti. I'm sure you’ll find someone your own age—Can I have another game before I head off?'

'Sure.' Max checks his phone, more missed calls from Ceebee—not now.

The warm water washes away the sweat and smell of 1999. Max hears the music and his game console go quiet followed by the door closing. The lift dings. He looks at himself in the foggy mirror. He sucks in his slightly overweight chest and belly and pushes his hair back. It's quieter now. He puts a towel around his waist and applies deodorant with a splash of cologne. He takes one more look and heads to the lounge room. Kylie is gone, and the balcony door is still open.

He closes the floor to the ceiling glass door, grabs his phone, and starts dialling a number from the back of a business card.

'Hey, honey.' A friendly voice answers.

'Hi,' Max says, 'I wasn't sure you'd still be going?'

'It's New Year, sweetie, our busiest night.' Max is silent. 'Are you looking for something young or experienced?' Max's finger is about to hit the red hangup button.

'Young,' he hears himself saying, 'but not too young, you know what I mean.'

'I can send you Baby; she’s mid-twenties, very bubbly.' Max hesitates.

'OK,' he says, 'same address as last time.'

'She's on her way.' Max likes good organisation. 'Oh, and Max,' the voice on the other end is softer.

'Yeah?'

'Happy New Year!'

'You too.' The phone clicks at the other end, leaving a dial tone. Max snaps into the moment. He checks the time: nearly 3 am. Max takes the ashtray off the coffee table and empties it into the bin in the kitchen. He smells clean and fresh, but his skin is still discharging the excess from the previous day, century, millennium. He figures he's got 20 minutes and takes another shower.

Ding!

Max is still in a towel when the lift lands on his floor. George must be wondering what's going on—or probably not. There’s a quick succession of knocks at the door. Max opens it to a freckle-faced girl with wavy red hair. She’s nearly as tall as Max and has light blue eyes.

'Hi,' she says, 'I'm Baby.'

'Yes, you are.'

'Got anything to drink?'

'There are some beers in the fridge, maybe a bottle of wine.'

'Can I smoke?'

'Sure.' Max goes to the fridge, grabs a beer, opens it, and gives it to the friendly redhead. She’s already tossed her handbag on the couch and kicked off her shoes, and headed straight for the balcony. She rests her hands on the railing and stands on her toes. There’s a tattoo of a fairy on her left shoulder blade. Like a ballerina, she spins around several times.

Facing Max with blown-wide eyes and a huge smile she says 'Wanna line?'

Max sniffs the air. 'Probably not; I got some pot.'

'Snow cones!'

Max grabs the green bong and fills it with a fresh bud. Baby sprinkles white powder on top of the cone, and Max puts the mouthpiece to his lips. She lights the pipe, and Max inhales. Max passes the bong to Baby, and she draws in the green and white concoction. Her eyes dilate and she smiles, puts the bong on the coffee table, and undoes her top.

'Come on,' Max says. 'Let's go to the bedroom.' He offers the electric red head his hand and lets her lead him past the kitchen and the spare room to Max's bedroom.

From the window they can see the flames lighting up the Yarra foreshore in front of the casino below. Max feels Baby tugging on his shirt behind him. Her hands are soft, holding him steady while the room seems to waver in his vision. She smells like vanilla.

'It's never gonna be the same, you know.' Max says.

'What?' He can see Baby undressing him in the reflection of the window, her fingers a beat behind his vision. He feels a rush through his body.

'Everything... the world, the way the world works, everything....' Baby pulls Max close and holds him and he feels loved. He thinks he hears the lift bell. Baby’s odour hits Max’s senses and triggers a gag reflex. His stomach spasms, and he can't breathe.

'Are you okay?' She moves out the way as Max falls to his knees and tries to throw up. Sweat is pouring from his skin. 'Maybe I should go?' Max can’t stop coughing, and his breathing comes spasmodically.

'What the fuck is going on?' Max hears Ceebee's voice.

'Don't look at me!' Baby says.

'Sorry,' Max groans. He retches again.

'Who's she?' Ceebee points at the half-naked woman trying to comfort Max.

'I better go.' Baby starts grabbing her things, and Ceebee kneels next to Max. The front door slams shut, and the lift bell rings. Max is lying on his side and breathing slowly and steadily.

'It must be something you ate,' Ceebee says, 'you haven't been well all night.'

Max isn’t sure why Ceebee’s even here, but he’s glad of it. Max groans.

'Can you get up on the bed?' Max feels Ceebee trying to help him up; he feels dizzy and shaky. 'C'mon Max; you're too fucking heavy to carry.'

Max uses every bit of energy he has to heave himself on the bed. He feels hot and naked.

'I'm sorry I barged in on your little event.' Ceebee is tucking Max under his sheet.

He can feel her small hands around his body. His heart is racing.

'I ran into Kylie, and she told me that she told you about Lee and me.' Max convulses. 'I just wanted you to know that we're just friends.'

'It's OK.' Max's voice is croaky. 'Can you check in my bathroom and get me a couple of headache pills? They’re in the blue bottle, next to my toothbrush.’ Ceebee's weight leaves the bed. How did he get here? Max’s breathing slows and deepens.

'Here ya go.' Ceebee pushes the glass into Max's hand and two pills in the other. Max forces himself to drink the water and swallow the pills. His eyes remain closed. 'I'll stay with you for a bit.' Ceebee strokes Max's back. Max's breathing slows, but his heart still races a little. There’s no pain. It’s okay now, Ceebee is here. Max drifts into unconsciousness, leaving the 20th century behind him.