The Fallout | ✓

08 - when gazes collide

M A D D O X

"Maxi, my boy!"

My eyes shoot away from Quincey's back and straight toward Lou's figure as she skipped right past her daughter and came toward me, throwing her arms around me and pulling me into a tight hug that almost exploded every cell in my body.

My eyes felt like they were about to pop out of my head as Lou hugged me.

Quinn looked over her shoulder and her eyes met my wildly open, unblinking ones.

Even though I was on the verge of choking to death, I felt like I carried a whole ass zoo in my stomach when I noticed her flawless rosy pink lips lift just the slightest bit.

I started coughing then just as Derik's voice emerged, "Lou, please let go of the boy, we don't have enough money to hire a lawyer hun."

The women finally let go of me and wore a sheepish smile on her face. She reached for my cheek and pinched it, "I can't help myself. Look at him Derik! He looks like a damn prince charming."

Inside, I felt the furthest thing away from a fucking prince, especially when Quinn's gaze collided with mine again, that tiny smile wiped from her face like it never was there, to begin with.

I looked up at the sky that is slowly starting to dim, colorful hues of orange and pink intertwined like oil colors, the clouds fading, and the sun just barely there.

"It's getting late, I should probably get going," I started and watched as Lou's face fell.

I could see Quinn disappearing behind the front door, three grocery bags in her hand probably double her weight and Bear trailing right behind her. I felt my fists clench inside my pocket and my eyes fell to the ground.

I hated disappointing people if Lou's and Derik's expression was anything to go by, but what I detested more was staying where I knew I wasn't wanted— even if it was by one person and it fucking hurts like a bitch knowing that person was Quincey but if my presence made her uncomfortable I was going to fucking erase myself from existence if it depended on it.

"But we're about to make dinner and I'm sure you're hungry, right Derik?" Lou's voice was no longer filled with the bliss it carried a minute ago and it felt like a punch in the gut knowing that I was the reason for it.

"Yeah, why the sudden hurry?" Derik's thick eyebrows met in question, "You know your family, Max, please don't feel like an outsider—"

I brushed my hair back—I got it fixed yesterday by an actual professional— and tried a half-assed smile, "It's not that, no," I shook my head even as the lie detector went off in my head, "It's just been a rough few days and I'm honestly just exhausted," I chuckled trying to lighten the mood that had plummeted.

Derik frowned, and concern itched its way on Lou's face. She took her slim fingers in mine and squeezed them as she craned her neck to look at me, "Why are you draining yourself when you just got out?"

The words had been whispered to the wind but the urge to make sure Quinn wasn't standing anywhere near was clear as the fucking day.

It's been no secret when I've got arrested year's ago. Most of town knew about it, it's been even on the fucking news but at the time that didn't matter to me— what mattered most was protecting Quinn from knowing it.

It wasn't my place to hide it from her but I was no selfish fucker either. She was stressed as it is from focusing on school and wanting to bring home a scholar ship, I wasn't about to stand in the way between her and her success no matter the circumstances.

Quinn had her head deep into the game and distancing myself before I got ruled for my sentencing was the best case scenario even when I knew how my image would be ruined and tarneshed in her eyes. I knew that I would be painted as the bad guy who ditched her to follow his greedy desires. I knew it would fucking break her heart that I left without a single word but if being the villain was all it took for Quinn to be left in the light then I didn't give a damn fuck about how much darkness I had to swallow within me to lighten the path for her.

I'll fucking steal the stars if I had to.

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat before I spoke, "I can't stay at my sister's house forever. I gotta look for a job and start acting like an adult," and that was the least I could do for now. Take the stairs one step at a time before I slip down into hell.

Derik nodded his head and his and Lou's eyes met before they turned back and stared at me like soul readers searching deep into the abyss of my vacant eyes, "I know a few people we could contact and check if they have a spot for you."

"That would be great, thanks," I sighed, for the first time feeling like I could breath in oxygen instead of inhaling all the words I wanted to say but couldn't.

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Mami Lou and papi derik are coming in clutch to save the day and maddox's ass

we love to see it

Thaaaank you for reading, hope to see u in the next one

lots of love and confetti,
—faith

August 19, 2023
SAT - 8:23 PM