Bloody Nose {Max Mayfield x OC}

Hot..?

Just as death has almost wrapped itself around me, I'm hoisted from the water, pain shooting across my rib cage. I try to scream out in pain but no noise comes out. Everything is blurry and I can barely make out the few police officers that surround me. The sounds of yelling and simple chatter consume me as everything fades away.

"Holy shit, Ellis!" Reality pulls me back into perspective and the redhead head is jolting me around, practically screaming.

"Sorry I spaced out," I respond nervously, my hand clutches the back of my neck. The frown doesn't leave Max's face.

"Dude, you started hyperventilating! I thought you were having a stroke or something," She says, finally loosening the grip on my arms. "Are you okay.... Like.. emotionally," Max adds, almost unsure if she's over-stepping some type of boundary since we have not even known each other for 24 hours.

"Yeah, everything's cool, that just happens sometimes," I lie. This girl is the only thing I have going for me right now. I am not going to ruin this like how I've ruin everything else in my life.

Max doesn't respond. Instead her eyes drift out into the parking lot. We've been sitting out here for almost a half an hour waiting for her mom. It was way past dark, even mall employees were leaving.

Despite it being early July, the temperature drops a lot at night. I shiver, slightly regretting wearing Max's tank top.

"Shit, what the hell are y'all still doing here!"

I whip my head around to see cool hair dude, otherwise known as Steve.

"We're waiting for my mom to get us," Max says, her eyes drifting to the parking lot once more.

"It's almost 11:00pm," Steve says slightly agitated. "Y'know what, let me drive you,"

I look over at Max who's looking back at me, as if I know what the actual fuck to do. The redhead looks back at Steve.

"Sure, but I swear to God if you kill us I will haunt you every day for the rest of your very existence," Max's storm-blue eyes shoot daggers at Steve.

"Well hurry up you little shits," He says as he makes his way through the parking lot, his hair swaying sassily. Max and I quickly join him.

-

The car is silent. This is 10x more unsettling with the fact I barely know this dude.

I glance over at Max who was staring out the window. Is she mad at me? If so, why?

I don't like that it feels like she can pick up my lies. This annoying, beautiful redhead has managed to make me the most vulnerable I have ever felt in months, all in the span of a day.

Part of me wants to ignore this. My brain. The logical part of me is screaming not to get attached to some pretty girl I don't even know because nothing good stays for very long when it comes to me.

The other part of me loves this. My heart. I love the rush when she smiles at me. Slightly touches me. The way her fiery hair is gunpowder and sunsets wrapped into one. The girl is a mystery I only want to get more of.

Next thing I know we're pulling into Max's driveway and I'm following the girl into her house. We quickly enter her room.

The room displayed white walls and white bedding to match. There were a couple posters on her wall. A long dresser that resides under her window is covered in nick-nacks, and next to her bed was a night stand with a walkie-talkie rested upon it.

We're both sitting in her bed. I haven't been to a sleepover in a long fucking time. What do girls talk about during sleepovers.

"So you and Lucas are dating," I say, trying to add a hint a spice to my voice. Although the thought of them together deep down bothers me, "boys", I think, are a topic of sleepover conversation.

"Oh yeah, that," Max says this in a way that makes her almost uncomfortable. I frown in confusion.

She notices my frown.

"Anyway, did you have some boy back in Detroit?" The redhead asks, putting the attention on me. She positions herself so that now she is sitting on her legs. Her t-shirt sleeve falls off her shoulder, which sends sparks down my spine. I clench my jaw at the the feeling.

"No, boys don't really like me," Which was true, but it never bothered me. I didn't find myself liking anyone and no one found themselves liking me.

"You're kidding me, right?" Max says, genuinely shocked. "You mean to tell me that Ellis-What's your last name?"

"Shire,"

"You mean to tell me that Ellis Shire has never had a boyfriend," Max finally completes, still staring at me in pure awe.

"I don't really get why that's super surprising," I say, my ears growing hot. Why would someone as cool as Max Mayfield think that little Ellis Shire would have a boyfriend.

"Ellis, you're hot,"

I'm hot? Holy fuck, someone like Max thinks I'm hot.

Despite the fact I'm under weight, bruised into a pulp, and overall dead-looking, somebody actually think I'm attractive. My palms are extremely clammy at this point and my face has to be bright red.

"Thank you," I say, my voice high pitched from the giant smile on my face. "Really, thank you,"

"I'm literally just stating facts," Max continues on, "It's not like I made you attractive,"

My stomach is flipping around clumsily and I can barely function because I don't know whether to cry or just laugh out of pure awe. We're both just staring intently at each other.

I know I should say something but I don't exactly know what to say. My hands grasps my neck, which I'm convinced is on fire.

Max stands up and walks to her dresser. She pulls open a drawer and begins to drag out its contents and toss them on the bed. I lean over and peer at the covers of several Wonder Woman comic books.

"Wonder Woman has to be one of the best superheroes," Max starts ranting. I'm very grateful that she has changed the subject.

"I never got into comic books,"

"Holy fuck, then you need to start," The girl plops herself next to me and opens the first book and explains to me Wonder Woman's story.

I listen intently, genuinely wanting to learn more. I gaze at colorful images of Amazon Warriors fighting.

As I stare I'm trying to push away the thoughts I feel for Max Mayfield. They'll go away, I'm just happy to have a friend.

That's all.

AUTHORS NOTE: Hello to my readers. Y'all are pretty cool. Anyway I'm not completely sure how the pacing is on this chapter and it might move a little fast, so I apologize. Thank you for voting for this story, I really enjoy writing. Just remember to take care of yourselves, please.