THE SECRET ; byler ✗

᯾Chapter 9: Max Mayfield᯾

Max Mayfield is a peculiar girl. She doesn't like dresses, frills or pink or anything girly. She's a "rebel", as her mother calls her.

She moved from California to Hawkins a couple of years ago and she has settled in well. Well, at least that's what her friends think anyway. Her brother, Billy, is being a jerk to her more than ever. She hates her step father, Neill. How she thought that they could a proper family she does not know.

Her friends are supportive enough, but she only trusts two of them. Will and El.

Will is her best friend. She can tell him anything and Will can tell her anything. But she feels as if Will isn't telling her something and she feels sad. Max really cares for Will and wants to help with anything he has trouble with. She loves him in a platonic way.

El is also her best friend. When Will wasn't here, she hung out with El most of the time. El was really good fun to hang out with. Max really likes her in a platonic way. But sometimes she feels like it really isn't in a platonic way. But that's ridiculous isn't it? Max has a boyfriend, and so does El! You can't like girls, can you?

Well, you obviously can. Max doesn't know, but El nearly feels the same way she does but ignores it because she's trying to convince herself that she's with Mike and that she only likes Mike.

So, Max isn't really that close with any of her other friends. She's kind of close with Dustin and Lucas but not that close with Mike. So maybe that's why she was surprised that Mike called her on a sunny Sunday in the afternoon.

Max picked up the phone. "Mike? Why are you calling me?" Max asked him. "I need your help." Mike replied. Max didn't know whether this was a prank or not. "With what?" Max snapped at him. "So, uh. I'm asking for a friend." He starts off but Max interrupts him. "Mike, the only friends you have are here in Hawkins." Max said.

"That's not true! I have friends in Vegas!" Mike objected. "Oh alright then. So what is your friend asking you?" Max asked him, knowing full well that he is lying. "Oh. Yeah. So, my friend is wondering is it weird to like your best friend?" Mike asked Max hurriedly. "No? It's not weird," Max was interrupted by Mike.

"But what if your best friend is a boy?" Mike blurted out. "And that you have a loyal girlfriend, and you love her but not the same way as you used to? Is it wrong? Max?" Mike added when Max didn't answer.

Is he really asking for his friend? He probably is because which best friend would Mike like? Max thought. It's definitely not Dustin. One hundred percent not Lucas. So that just leaves...

The realization hit Max like a bomb. Mike liked Will! Oh it was so obvious but it wasn't at the same time! Mike talked about Will nearly all the time! Mike has his drawings pinned up on his wall! Oh how stupid Max was to not notice!

"Max? Hello? Are you there?" Came Mike's voice, interrupting Max's thoughts. "Yeah, sorry. I'm here." Max replied. "So? What should I say to my friend?" Mike asked. "Well, maybe tell me the truth and that its actually you that you're talking about and then I'll give you the answer." Max replied, smiling to her self. "Wait, what?" Mike said. "You heard me." Max said, rolling her eyes. There was silence. Max heard some strange noises over Mike's side. He was crying.

"Mike? Are you alright?" Max asked him, worriedly. "Yes. Perfectly fine. I'll call you back. Will is coming upstairs. See you Max," Mike said, quickly and hung up before Max could say "bye" to him.

Poor Mike, Max thought. I'll call him later. Max heard the front door open and shut. Loudly. That meant Billy was home. She was going to to to avoid him.

Well, avoiding him wasn't that hard. Because after about twenty minutes later, she heard the door slam again. Max rushed out of her room to check if it was Billy leaving. And sure enough, it was. You could hear the low rumbling of Camaro about a mile or two away. And once he started the engine, you could hear the Camaro from a different part of town.

Max waited for him to leave so she could get her board from the garage and finally leave the house without getting asked awkward questions.

Max went onto the road and looked up at the sky. It was really pretty. Max sighed and put on some music on her headphones and skated off into the sunset.

(  822 words )

X X X

A /  N

sorry if this chapter is weird. I kinda rushed it😭