𝐇𝐞𝐲, 𝐇𝐞𝐲, 𝐇𝐞𝐲, 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 - 𝐀 𝐋𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐱 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐜

Chapter 3-High School Sucks

Max

Before we knew it, school started again. I haven't even been here for two weeks and I hate it. I think I've been saying that about too many things lately. I hate school, I hate my stepdad, I hate home.

I still hang out with Lucas sometimes, and occasionally he'll practice basketball, but he's honestly not that good and he knows it. I know that he hates basketball but he tries.

After starcourt, all of us who were in the "fire" were told to get counseling at school to help us recover or whatever. Everyone else only had to go two or three times, but she keeps asking for me to come back on Thursdays. During lunch, I go to her room and sit down. I'm not usually extremely good with eye contact, but I'm especially bad here. I try to look around and distract myself, because another thing I hate is having to go to Ms. Kelly.

Believe me, I love her, we all do, but I don't like being asked every week, "Headaches? Nightmares? Panic attacks? Trouble sleeping? Anger?" Yes, all of the above, but I usually respond with no. This lady is going to tell my parents if it gets really bad, so I'm not telling her shit. She must really be good at reading people though because she always seems to know what's happening and asks me about it.

After school, Steve comes and picks us up. It's sweet I guess that he does this, but I never knew you could have a mid-life crisis at 18 until I met Steve, and we're kinda his only friends besides Robin.

I get dropped off with Lucas at his house, and we get started on our homework. After, we started talking about random things at school.

"I think I might try out for the basketball team tomorrow." He stated, but then he glanced at me for approval.

I hesitated for a moment before replying, "I think that would be cool."

Lucas

"I think that would be cool."

Shit.

I hoped she would say that she didn't care whether I was on the team or not. Lately she's been more distant, like more than before. Every day she gets farther and farther away. So, maybe if I play basketball sometimes she would have a reason to be interested in me. But now I have to join the actual team because I just told her I would and she didn't seem apposed.

Max

"But I'm not gonna turn into Chrissy Cunningham or something, okay?" I joke.

He smirks, "I know."

After a bit of silence, he continues, "What did you and Ms. Kelley talk about?"

"Same thing as last week. Pretty much how I was doing and all that."

"Well, how are you doing?"

I'm doing pretty shitty. I get horrible sleep because of nightmares. I've gone through 5 bottles of Tylenol since Billy died because of headaches. Everything is going to shit.

"I'm doing okay."

He doesn't look very convinced, so I change the topic. After dinner I walk home, and I can hear the yelling from my stepdad from a few feet away. I reluctantly opened the door.

"Come on Neil!" My mom cries. He's holding a suitcase. He's actually doing this.

"You and Max better move out by the end of the week!" He yells back at her.

He turned and saw me in the doorway, "Move, you whore!"

My mom sat on the table and completely broke down after he left.

"Mom-"

"Just go to bed Maxine."

So I did. I laid in my bed as I took in what was happening. He's gonna take away all of Billy's stuff. I hated that asshole, but he still felt like a brother to me. The memories are going to be gone. I sat up and started sobbing into my pillow. Then, I opened my window.

Lucas

I was almost asleep when I heard rocks at my window. Max hasn't snuck over in at least 3 weeks, so something must be really wrong.

"Hi."

"Um can we talk?"

She clambered into my room and looked at the air mattress.

"How long has this been here?"

"Weeks." I laughed.

She plopped onto her mattress and I turned on my lamp. Her face was red and stained with tears.

"He did it. He left. Neil left and now me and my mom have no clue what to do. We have to move somewhere by the end of the week."

After a bit of silence, I suggested, "Maybe you guys could stay in our basement?"

"No, my mom would never."

"Well we could help you get a new house? My grandma has a pretty big house-"

"Oh my god, stop trying to find solutions! Can I just talk to you?"

"I'm just trying to help.."

She sighed, "I know. I'm sorry. I don't want to bother you."

"Max, you're not bothering me. In fact, I'm relieved."

"Relieved?"

"I don't know, you've just been distant. I want you to talk to me, to everyone. Even El says that you aren't calling her as much."

There was more silence and Max looked like she wanted to cry.

"Well, can I sleep here?"

"Sure." I had hoped that she would open up a bit more, but I decided to turn off the light and go to sleep.

I got into bed and turned to the wall. My eyes began to flutter shut. A few minutes later, I heard a creak on the bed and I felt someone lay next to me. I smiled and turned around and saw Max looking at me.

"Don't let this get to your head stalker."

"I won't."

She smiled. The same kind of smile that was there when I asked her to dance. The same smile after she kissed me for the first time.

"You're beautiful." I managed to get out.

She laughed, "No I'm not."

"Really. You're breathtaking."

She almost instantly kissed me. We haven't kissed in weeks.

She pulled away, "I haven't done that in a while."

I smiled and leaned back in, but this time she pulled back.

"I'm really tired."

"Oh, okay."

She snuggled onto my chest and closed her eyes.

Max

I would have kissed him for hours. But it's scary. All of these walls I put up start to crumble when I kiss him, when I'm even around him, and it's fucking terrifying.

A/N: I FINALLY FINISHED THIS CHAPTER DW THEY USUALLY WONT TAKE THIS LONG. Bitches I'm so scared for vol 2 but I hope we get a Lumax kiss.