Chasing Daylight

Chapter Seventeen

I like the way I can't keep my focus
I watch you talk, you didn't notice
I hear the words but all I can think is
We should be together

-Taylor Swift

Maria

The next day Max, Mason, and I were in the car on our way back to school pretty early because Max had meetings and Mason had homework. I fell asleep on the car ride back as the boys grumbled about being exhausted.

"Maria," Max yelled causing me to startle awake. Max was laughing loudly and Mason gave a little chuckle.

"That's a horrible way to wake someone up," I pouted rubbing my eyes.

"Come on we're home," Max said.

"Okay," I yawned getting out of the car.

"Maria do you want help with your bag?" Mason asked through the window.

"No, I can get it myself," I said rolling my eyes. Sometimes Mason was so sweet to the point that it was verging on babying. Max got his bag out of the trunk and handed me mine.

"I had fun this weekend. Thank you for inviting me," I said hoping he would pass the message along to his mom.

"Bye Maria, see you soon," Mason replied giving me a wave his bright smiling causing my heart to jump.

"You two are so ridiculously whipped for each other," Max chuckled as we made our way up the stairs.

"Shut up," I said a blush forming on my cheeks. As we made our way down the hall someone was standing at our door. I stood slightly behind Max as we got closer to the door, nervous that someone had finally found me. Max moved his bag in front of me.

"It's just Sophie," he said his shoulders relaxing.

"Oh," I said letting my shoulders deflate a bit. 

"Are you okay alone with her?" Max asked.

"Yes," I nodded though my stomach was twisting uncomfortably. I wasn't in the mood to fight.

"Hey," Sophie said as Max let himself inside.

"What are you doing here?" I asked crossing my arms.

"I came to apologize. I tried on Friday night, but you weren't here," she said.

"We went out of town," I replied leaning against the wall.

"I just wanted to apologize because I really messed up. I shouldn't have put my nose where it didn't belong and I'm sorry for that, but we really miss you at Kesem and I promise I'm not going to push anymore."

"Fine," I shrugged. "I'll come back to the meetings, but I still need space from you."

"Okay," she sighed. I went into the house before she could say anything else.

"Are you okay?" Max asked standing in the living room like he had been waiting. He looked nervous. Did he suddenly have a soft spot for me as well?

"I'm fine," I shrugged. "I need to go unpack."

"Have fun," Max scoffed.

--

Mason

As Max and I made our way down the hall to the apartment we could hear Taylor Swift blaring. "I have a reputation to uphold," Max grumbled. "Fucking Taylor Swift blasting from my apartment. I will never fuck another girl again."

"She's growing on me," I chuckled as he unlocked the door.

"Of course she is, you're in love with her biggest fan," Max laughed and I rolled my eyes.

"Shut up," I said. When we walked in, we found Maria mopping the floor and singing loudly.

"I hate having a female roommate," Max groaned closing the door.

"Stop," Maria yelled causing us to almost collide with each other as we came to an abrupt halt. She paused the music, so she didn't have to yell. "I just mopped there, go to the balcony. You're going to mess it all up with your dirty shoes."

"I hate this place," Max grumbled stomping over to the balcony. I followed suit and I laughed as the music came back on immediately after we closed the door. I watched through the glass for a minute as she danced and sang pushing the mop around.

"Just tell her you like her already," Max scoffed forcing me to pull my eyes away from the beautiful girl inside.

"I don't think she's ready for that," I answered. "We've only known each other for a few months."

"That's never stopped you before," Max replied.

"Come on you know she's different from the girls you get with and the girls I used to get with," I said rolling my eyes.

"Let's ask her to come to the Halloween party this weekend," Max suggested. "You can see her in a hot little costume and maybe you'll grow some balls."

"The one at the frat house?" I asked skeptically. "Is that even safe for her?"

"We'll tell her she should pretend to be your girlfriend again," Max shrugged. "I know you're not going to leave her side anyway."

"Alright, fine," I said rolling my eyes. I had to admit another night of pretending to be her boyfriend sounded too good to be true. A few minutes later Maria knocked on the glass door before opening it.

"You can come in now, but please take off your shoes," she smiled leaning against the door.

"Can't believe I'm being told what to do in my own house," Max grumbled standing up and tugging off his boots. I followed his lead and took off my sneakers following behind him. Max immediately went to the fridge. I sat down at the counter as Maria shoved her mop into the closet.

"Hey Maria, we're going to a Halloween party Friday night, do you want to come?" Max asked his head still tucked into the fridge.

"Where?" She asked closing the closet door quickly.

"It's at a frat house," I said. I watched her scrunch her nose.

"Mason would keep an eye on you," Max replied. "We know what happens in a frat house and we know better than to leave you alone."

"It's free alcohol," I told her hoping maybe that would sway her decision. I knew that I was going to have to go either way and I would much rather go with Maria.

"Okay fine," she said. "I'll go." I felt my heart pound with excitement. 

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