Like Saturn and Mercury Under Eclipse

Chapter 10

Tommy's POV

"Thomas, how do you feel?"

I perked up, looking at my mum. My eyebrows furrowed, and she sighed. Her eyes were kind, but I could tell she really needed an answer.

"How do you feel about Max being in the smp with you? Having your friends? How is it?" She explained.

I smiled softly, tapping my fingers on the counter. Of course she was worried about that, but there wasn't a single thing to worry about.

"I'm proud of him, mum. He's getting out of his shell. I'd told him many times that he was welcome on the smp, and now that he's in it, things are getting back on track." I say, but my mum and dad looked concerned.

"What do you mean by 'back on track', son?" Dad asked.

"People had stopped streaming before. Even stopped writing new lore ideas. It kind of took a pause, you know? Once I got Dream to check Max's profiles out, and Max joined, people are back to streaming and getting ideas again."

"Okay, and what about him having your friends?" Mum added.

"Mum, I'm really happy for him. My friends or not, he's really letting himself out there now. Plus, just because my friends like him doesn't mean they won't still be my friend too."

"Have you thought that maybe, one of your friends has a higher intention?" Dad asked.

"What do you mean?" I say, tapping on the counter.

"Maybe one likes him as more than a friend." Mum explains for him.

"Then they do." I say, shutting the conversation down.

They don't need to know anything about Max's private life or the smp. We're all pretty much adults, besides me. I'll be one soon though, so it doesn't matter.

I hear a door open upstairs, and Max comes down. He smiles at us softly, his normal demeanor. Kind and quiet.

"Morning, Tom." He whispers as he walks behind me, sitting down in the seat to my left.

"You have a stream with Ranboo today. Are you ready?" I say, and his smile becomes brighter.

"Yeah! I'm excited, Ranboo seems really nice. Most of your friends do." Max said, nodding a thank you to my mum when she sat a bowl of cereal in front of him.

"Do you have a favorite in the smp?" He asks out of nowhere.

"You." I answer, without hesitation.

"Well- second favorite then?" He asks, laughing slightly.

I looked up to my parents. They gave me interested looks. This was difficult, choosing from all of them. I think I have an answer though.

"Tubbo. Who's your first and second?" I say.

"You're first, and Dream is second." Max says, taking a bite of cereal.

I smile, nodding. So him and Dream are buddies? That's good. Max needs friends, this is all very good for him. I'm happy.

"Have you seen Dream's face?" Mum asked randomly, and I gave her a sharp look.

"No, and he hasn't seen mine. We both decided the mystery was just part of the excitement." Max said, then his eyes widened.

"The excitement for what?" Dad asked, and I sighed.

"Being friends." Max said quickly, but I could tell that wasn't it.

Max and Dream had something going on.