Happily Ever After

Chapter 3: Hazy Vision

"Sometimes we stare so long at the wrong things, we miss out on the right thing standing right in front of us." -Mandy Hale

···Joshua's Point Of View···

The first week back after spring break went by fast, of course I had Maxine there to help the cause. I smiled at the thought of Maxine, and decided to see if we could hang out, she wasn't usually busy on Saturdays.

She answered on third ring.

"Yes, anything. I don't care what it is, I'm game."

I chuckled lightly. "I take it all isn't well in the kingdom, princess?"

"Nope, not at all... I'm coming over."

I ended the call, walked to the door of my family's apartment, opened it and stood outside waiting on Maxine.

"Hey," she said as she gave me her gorgeous smile I loved so much.

"Why were you so anxious to leave?" I asked closing the door behind her.

"Ugghhh... I don't like that man," she shook her head. "I just don't like him!" Stretching the 'don't' in her sentence.

"Oh..."

"Yeah." She sighed.

"So, umm... TV?"

She laughed, I didn't care if she was laughing at me or with me as long as I could make her happy.

"You're so awkward." She grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.

"Ok, I'm hungry... So, um... Yeah." I mentally kicked myself. Why did I always act so stupid around her.

"Do you have strawberries?"

Maxine loved strawberries (mainly due to the fact that she was a health freak) and my heart leaped at the fact that I could please her. "Yes we do." Finally, a decent sentence.

"May I please have some?" Maxine, being the proper girl that she was, asked politely.

I really wanted to say 'anything for you' but decided against it, instead I just nodded. She honestly could've gotten them herself, after all she's been here so many times, but like I didn't say... Anything for Maxine.

My mom came into the living room at that moment.

"Hey Maxine!" My mom's bubbly personality could top Maxine's any day.

"Hi Mrs. Hardie, how are you today?"

"I'm just fine darling, how are you?" My mom's voice was a mix between too-sweet-lemonade and a dash of dirt. Yes, dirt... Her voice would be irritating to a bitter, non-morning person. She's overly bubbly but it fits her.

My mom and Maxine were laughing about something when I came back with Maxine's strawberries and a can of Sprit for myself.

"That rots your teeth." Maxine informed me nodding towards the can of soda.

I just shrugged. Maxine doesn't drink soda, which of course is why she has such strong, beautiful teeth. She's also taken the liberty to warn me about my decaying teeth every time she saw me with the carbohydrated drink.

"So how's work going Mrs. Hardie?" My mom was a lawyer and owned her own firm. She rarely goes into the office, unless it's a court date.

"Oh, it's fine hun. I actually have to run down and check to see what's happening, my secretary just had a baby so she has a few months off and I have to make sure everything is perfect." I rolled my eyes, my mother is such a neat freak, which is why she loves Maxine, I mean who wouldn't...