Opening Day

Chapter 13: Synchronicity

Max let out a heavy sigh, bouncing his foot as he sat on the ground, his back against the brick. Both of his hands were buried in his hair, his fingers intertwined.

"I fucked up so bad, dude." He said out loud, mostly to himself, but if Louie wanted to respond, he wouldn't be opposed.

"How come?" Louie chewed on one of his drumsticks.

Max scrunched his nose and opened his mouth in disbelief. Maybe he was opposed to Louie responding after all. The kid wasn't exactly known for his worldly and wise takes on interpersonal relationships.

"Are you joking? I messed around with Gina, Jonesy's sister!"

"Oh!" Louie laughed, "Yeah, that's crazy, man! Why'd you do that, she's such a bitch."

"Hey!" Max jumped to his feet and flicked Louie's earlobe.

"Ow! Hey!"

"Don't call her a bitch! She's not a bitch!"

"Yes, she is! That's, like, her defining feature."

"Okay. Maybe she is a bitch. But, like, she's dope, too. You don't even know her."

"HA-HA you like herrrrrrrrrr," Louie taunted Max, pointing and laughing, "What a poser!"

Max flipped him off and knocked his hat off his head, "Grow up, buttmunch!"

"Hey!" Louie tried to catch it, but failed, "Don't take it out on me. I was the one that got us this sweet ass spot in the line."

Max whined and crossed his arms, returning to his spot against the wall.

Louie brushed the dirt off his hat and returned it to its rightful place on his curly head. He looked at Max with a furrowed brow, but quickly softened as he could see his hero was actually upset.

"Did you guys...like, actually..." Louie jammed his pointer into his fist, he couldn't restrain the cheeky smirk on his face.

"Stop that!" Max smacked his hands apart, "No! Not really."

"Not really? What does that mean?"

Max rolled his eyes and pulled Louie in closer, "We made out, like, hard, and kinda dry fucked," Max made two fists and ground them against each other, "Until it wasn't so dry anymore."

"Awesome!!"

"It was awesome!" Max and Louie high fived, "But now Jonesy fuckin' hates me, dude."

"Hey! No, dude, no way!" Louie wasn't going to let that kind of talk stand, "Jonesy does not hate you!"

Max wiped his nose with his sleeve, not making eye contact with his young friend, "Why wouldn't she?" He was desperate for any liferaft that he could hold onto, but he wouldn't allow himself the satisfaction of his guilt being relieved, at least not by his own hand.

"Because! You're Jonesy and Max! You guys are special...You're everything!" Louie threw his hands in the air, "There's no way she would throw away all that you guys have over this."

Max allowed himself to look at Louie, the smallest of hopeful smiles touched his lips.

"Plus, there's no way she'd give Gina the satisfaction of breaking you guys up."

He was right, Jonesy would rather die than let Gina win. The smile grew slightly. Max patted Louie on his shoulder, grabbing it and giving him a loving, appreciative little shake.

"Thanks, dude. You're right about that for sure." Max chuckled. He had been given a small glimmer of hope and that was enough for now.

Louie knew he had done good. A big goofy smile spread across his face.