Holiday Alcohols {Lumax One-shot} {AU} {Short Story}

Holiday Alcohols

"You're not walking out in the snow, Lukas. It's colder than the north pole out there." Sue was cleaning up wrapping paper that had been discarded while Charles was helping Erica assemble an action figure. "I'll drive you in a minute."

"No, it's not that far." Lukas insisted. His mom had met Max, but she didn't know how miserable Max's home life was. And Max didn't like people to know. "I'll be quick."

"What do you plan on doing there, Lukas?" Charles asked from the table. "Are her parents home?"

"Yeah..." Lukas looked out the window. "It's not even snowing that bad."

Sue looked at Charles. "Talk to him, Charles."

"There's nothing to talk about, I just have to bring her her Christmas gift." Lukas had innocent intentions. He'd be making the dropoff extra quick, at least that was the plan.

"Sue, let him go. He's at that age where he's going to be girl crazy. We trust him." Charles snapped a leg into place.

Erica scrunched up her nose. "I still think he's lying. Max isn't his girlfriend."

Charles chuckled and shook his head. "Are you two ever going to stop fighting?"

Sue rolled her eyes and slipped a hand onto Lukas' shoulder. "Alright, dress warm. If you're not back in 25 minutes we're going to assume you're doing something you shouldn't. You'll be grounded and dad's going to give you the talk."

"Blegh!" Erica covered her mouth.

Lukas cringed. "No worries, mom. Her parents are home."

-

Lukas walked down the street with a wrapped box. There were some awkward corners and the ribbon wasn't even. He had done his best though. The closer he got to Max's house, the more anxious he felt. There was no way to tell if this was going to be a good day or not. Max's family is unpredictable.

Lukas made it to the small house without any Christmas lights outside or inside. He was smart so he went around to the back, and tapped on Max's bedroom window with a stick. That alone was a risky move.

He kept trying, getting no response. He heard yelling, but it sounded like it was coming from an action movie. Then he heard Max shouting, and he realized it wasn't a movie at all. Lukas cursed and waited. There was nothing he could do. It was more dangerous for Max if he was caught here.

Footsteps entered Max's room eventually, and he had to hope it was Max. He tapped the window again. Max immediately pulled the window open. She didn't need to say anything. Lukas could tell by her face that she was cursing at him in her mind. She gestured for him to go, it wasn't a good time.

Lukas held up the Christmas gift with a pout.

Max rolled her eyes and shut the window. She disappeared. Just as Lukas was ready to give up, she came around to the side of the house. "What the hell are you doing?"

"It's Christmas?"

Max shook her head and crossed her arms. She was dressed snug, but not warm. She shivered as tiny white crystals of snow landed in her red hair. "They think I'm shoveling the driveway. You have maybe 5 minutes before they look out the window to make sure I'm shoveling.

Lukas put the box in her hands. "Here, for you. Merry Christmas."

Max groaned as he pulled her into a hug to keep her warm. "I told you not to get me anything, Lukas...Why cant you listen? Now I feel bad."

"I told you, your existence is enough of a gift for me." Lukas pulled back but kept his hands on her cold shoulders. "Go ahead and o–" he paused and focused on a drip of red falling from her nose. "You have a nosebleed, are you okay?"