Chase's mom luckily agreed the night before to let Max come over, but was still a bit hesitant since she's never met him.
Maxwell texted Chase that night and told him he was allowed over, he just needed to be home before dinner, which was plenty of time.
On Saturday, a little after noon, Max came over. He was extremely shy when meeting Chase's parent, he only sent warm smiles and swiftly shook their hands.
Chase mentioned to his parents that Max was shy, so they weren't too surprised when Max didn't speak.
"How are we going to separate this?" Chase asked, sitting criss cross. Max stops scanning Chase's room, looking at the project. "We need 16 slides on the presentation. Well, technically 17 cause we need one for our names and all."
They started working, figuring out how to separate everything and what went where.
It wasn't a huge, difficult project, it was just a partner project that took at most a week. It wasn't a huge part of their grade, only 20%.
Their homework is worth more.
It was just a long project that needed two people.
"I don't know anything about you but your music taste." Chase thought out loud, clicking through his computer. Max's lips forms an 'o'. "Can you tell me about yourself?"
Maxwell sets his school computer aside, thinking for a moment. He squeezed on his thumb, his knuckle cracking.
The blondes voice was quiet, Chase barely heard. "Uh... I have a twin sister... I hang two, well, th-three best friends I hang out with... I'm not really interesting."
"Tell me about your sister."
Max let out a soft giggle, soon covering his mouth to stop himself. He hated his laugh/giggles. "S-sorry, it's just the first that came to my mind was that she's a lesbian."
Oh!
Chase chuckles softly, "that's cool."
"Yeah, she's dating my best friend, Devon, who I also have a huge crush on."
Chase's eyes widen, he nearly choke. "Wow... Does either know?"
Maxwell shook his head, glancing over at his computer screen. "No, it doesn't matter, Devon acts like my girlfriend anyways. And it... h-hurts a little... And seeing my best friend with my s-sister, who is also my best friend..."
"That's sucky, I'm sorry."
Max shrugs softly, "it's f-fine... S-sorry for r-rambling or anything..."
"Don't apologize." Chase let's out a breath, finally asking a question that's been gnawing at him. "Can I ask something, and I don't mean to be offensive at all?"
Max gulps but slowly nods.
"Do you have a stuttering disorder? Or do you accidently do it...or...?"
The blonde actually chuckles a little, his mouth getting covered by his soft hand again.
"Oh, I stutter a lot because my brain works faster than my mouth, or the other way around. Also, I forget what I'm saying because I'm thinking of the next word I'm going to say. It's not a speech problem or anything."
Chase never realized how soothing Max's voice was. Especially whenever he spoke slowly.
"Oh okay, makes sense." Chase was glad Max didn't get upset or offended. At least he didn't think he did.
Max nodded again, going back onto his laptop to continue a slide for project. He then looks up at Chase, swallowing.
"Do you mind if I ask a qu-question?"
