MARLEY // Max Mayfield

Dancing In The Rain (One-Shot)

"You know..."

Marley set down her magazine to listen, her arms resting over Max's shoulders and her hands stopping at her navel. It was the weekend, the weather outside abysmal but the soft pitter-patter of the rain against the windowpane of Marley's room made up for their ruined plans. The sound offered something cosy, something domestic and homey, sitting in on a rainy day with your significant other, laying snug together beneath blankets. It was the long-overdue calm Marley needed in her life -- the both of them needed in their lives.

The bundle of covers shifted as Max did, the redhead turning to face her girlfriend through the dim lamplight Marley had switched on so she could read. There was a soft smile on her face, something Marley welcomed openly each time it came. She loved Max's smile, it was always so true and unrestrained, a rare sight reserved for her and those closest. 

"Go on..." Marley urged, her voice heavy and low.

"Sleepy?" Max asked first, brows furrowed. Marley shook her head with an encouraging smile, nodding her head for Max to continue. "Well, I was going to say...we never did get to have that dance."

"Hmm?"

"The Snowball. We ended up kissing in your brother's car," Max grinned and Marley made a sound at the back of her throat, lightly thumping her head against the headboard of her bed, a nice pink tinting her cheeks that Max beamed brighter at. "So, I propose a dance. A really cheesy one."

She scrunched up her nose as she said this and Marley noted how adorable she looked only to lowly groan when she realised Max had pulled the covers back and hopped out of bed, jumping up and down on the spot, clearly, a lot more energized than she. The shadows of the raindrops stretched across the floor, little specks shading parts of Max's face only highlighting the lighter areas. Simply put, the contrasting lighting made her look bright and so very excited.

So, Marley really had no choice but to join her, shifting her legs over the side of her bed and pushing herself from the mattress, a loud click coming from her back as she stood. Max's smile stuttered as Marley winced but the Harrington was quick to brush it off, shaking the sleep from her legs and walking over to her, hand outstretched.

"No, not in here!" Max grinned and then pointed to the wretched scene that was the outside world. "Out there! Dancing in the rain!"

"Max..."

"Come on..." Max pleaded as Marley turned to climb back into bed, leaving Max's grin to drop into one of rejection. She jutted a lip, skipping over to the bed and falling front first onto Marley's legs, the girl letting out a quiet grunt when she did. She did smile fondly but picked up her magazine nonetheless, resuming her reading as Max silently mumbled out frustrations. "Where did your adventurous spirit go, Marley bear?"

"You'll get sick."

"Once upon a time you threw me in a pool," Max retorted.

"Once upon a time I was a reckless jerk."

"You weren't a jerk," Max refuted, her face scrunching up again, this time it was out of distaste. The redhead had noticed how opposed Marley would be to her past self whenever old memories were brought up, she'd always turn away from them, would always cringe and shift the topic. Max understood, there were things in their pasts they'd both rather forget but she didn't understand why Marley seemed to dislike the girl she was. "Mars, what's wrong?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're being more...self-deprecating than usual."

"No, I'm not, I'm talking about someone that isn't me anymore. So, therefore, it isn't self-deprecation."