memories ~ elmax ~

pt. 13

max's pov:

"i swear to god this has to been considered kidnapping." i groaned as i sat down in a chair. "well to bad because it's not. you stole from me so i can technically keep you here as long as i want to." el smirked. "i thought we got past the whole 'stealing' situation?" i asked her. "we did but i'm gonna keep holding it against you." she told me. as she said that i couldn't help but smile and laugh a little. el closed the shop early so nobody else could come in, and she locked both of us in the shop. she keeps insisting for me to come stay with her, and i want to say no, but there's just something about her.. something about her that just makes me want to spend more time with her.

that's the main reason i haven't tried to actually leave yet. if i really wanted to get out of this store i would have called the police or smashed a window by now. she technically is a stranger holding me hostage in a store- but i honestly didn't mind.. there is something really amazing about el. i've only known her about 20 minutes, but i can tell. she's not like anybody i've met before.

she's really kind and beautiful an-
"soo.. are you gonna say yes to staying with me yet?" she asked again. i groaned again and shook my head. "el i'm fine. i don't even know if i'm gonna stay in california. i might run off to mexico tomorrow for all i know. i don't know where i'm going yet." i explained to her for the millionth time. "max. why can't you just tell me why your running? your obviously scared of someone and i can help yo-"
"no el!" i said sternly, standing up. "you can't help me! nobody can help me! and it's none of your fucking buisness why im running away! and if it weren't for you locking me up in this FUCKING shitty store i would be fine but now im stuck here with you!" i screamed at her.

as soon as all of those words escaped my lips i immediately regretted everything and wanted to take everything back more then ever. i could see her dark brown eyes start to sparkle and form tears in her eyes. fuck she's an easy crier.

i sighed and took a deep breath. "look el- i'm sorry. i just have problems and issues.. i don't want to drag you down, okay?" i explained to her. she stayed silent and stared at the ground. i sat back down in the chair i was sitting in and stared helplessly at her. i'm not good with cheering people up. i might have in the past- but not anymore. i never know the right words to say. every single time i try to help someone, i just make it worse. there's no point in trying to help el if i will just hurt her more.

i looked down at the ground and sighed once more before speaking.

"my stepdad neil is a complete asshole, he's an ass to my mom, stepbrother and me." i explained to her. she looked up at me confused. "my mom, she's working all the time anyways so she could care less what happens at home." i continued. "and my stepbrother billy is a complete dick. he's rude and arrogant. he's also like a mini version of neil. drinks, smokes, anger issues. you get the type." i told her.

i looked up at her and she was looking at me with sorry eyes, we made eye contact. i immediately looked away from her because something weird happened. my stomach started to ache again- but this time not from hunger. it felt like i was on a boat rocking back and forth. and i suddenly became really nervous and i couldn't speak. the silence was deafening untill another sound could be heard.

"el!?" a woman called out as the shop doors could be heard swinging open. el looked over her shoulder and left the staff only room to go greet whoever that woman was. i could hear them speaking to one another, but not what they were saying. suddenly the woman ran into the staff room and stopped once she saw me. el followed her in, and was about to speak before the woman interrupted el.

"jane!! what did you do!?" the woman asked her. i was a little confused at hearing the name 'jane' instead of el like she told me her name was. "are you okay?" the woman asked me. i looked at her awkwardly and nodded. "uhm- yeah... can i go now?" i asked her. "yes of course- sorry my name is joyce- you have clearly already met my daughter, who does stupid things sometimes." she said looking over at el. "mom!!" el said in an annoyed tone as her face got red from embarrassment. "come with me- i'll let you out." joyce said snatching el's keys from her and leaving the staff only room leaving me alone with el.

instead of following her i looked over to el and began to speak. "so, is your name el or jane?" i asked her. "my birth name is jane- but i go by el because my lucky number is eleven." she slightly chuckled. "okay.. well.. good to meet you el, but i am getting my ass out of here." i said picking up my skateboard and heading towards the exit.

before i knew it el had grabbed me by the waist to spin me around and pin me up against the wall. my eyes widened as that familiar feeling returned. plus the feeling of confusion. her eyes were slightly wide aswell, almost like she didn't know what she just did, or she did it without thinking first. "uhm- sorry- it's just.." she mumbled taking her hands off my waist. "max, please come stay with me. i don't want you out on the streets. it's dangerous here- who knows what will happen to yo-"

"el. i'm fine okay? i promise you the streets are a thousand times safer then my house. if i survived in my house for this long, i'm fine on the streets." i explained to her. she looked down at the ground looking defeated, untill she looked back up. "fine, but can i at least give you my adress incase you change your mind?" she asked me. i sighed but agreed. "fine. but make it quick. i gotta get out of here." i told her impatiently. she grabbed a peice of paper and pen and scribbled down something, and handed it to me. as she handed it to me her hands brushed over mine, sending a chill down my spine. "just be safe, okay?" she told me. i nodded in agreement. "yeah okay. i gotta go." i told her walking towards the exit.

"i'm so sorry for her again. she can be a little much at times.." joyce awkwardly apologized. "it's fine." i reassured her. she nodded and opened up the door, letting me out. i have an awkward wave goodbye, and left the store. i started walking down the street holding the paper in my hand that el gave me. i just left her not even a minute or two ago, but i already couldn't get her out of my mind. despite the whole 'holding me hostage' situation, she was really cool. i just couldn't get my mind off her no matter how hard i try.