Reconnecting Threads - Maxley Fluff, Angst and Murder Mystery

END - Funeral.

The funeral of Tank Braxton was an elegant one. Of course, his parents wanted the best for him. Loosing the life of your collage-aged son must be rough. White lilies lined the rows of church, pictures were scattered around the area to honour him and the most obvious addition of the grieving friends and family clumped inside.

His body lied in the coffin at the top of the room, shut obviously because they had to cut him open for the autopsy. It's funny really. Despite the thing he did to eventually lead to his own demise people will see him as a good person because he's dead. You're not allowed to shit talk the bad person, that's in bad taste of course.

•

"I don't think it's a good idea for you turn up to the funeral." Max suggests, which is right, as he straightens his tie.

Pressed on the invitations of the funeral it said to wear an item of red. Red was his favourite colour says his family. Bradley picks up the letter and studies the writing. Done by hand.

"I don't even know why you were invited. And his favourite colour was purple, not red." He throws the letter back onto the nightstand. In a way Bradley still sort of cared for the man. Yea. He did try and kill him. Vice verca. But in all reality Tank was his first boyfriend. His first boyfriend is dead before him. He just stares down at the note thinking for a second.

"Don't be upset. I'll pass on a message for you. You want to say anything to him before he's out into the ground?"

"Yeah, actually.." Bradley's tone turns more.. sentimental, as if he's thinking of their time together, yes he's much happier now but it doesn't hurt to look back. Even if people still think the trial was a fluke and he actually did it.

Later that day, Max arrives at the church. It's weird, despite not knowing either of them well, both Max and Goofy were invited to his funeral. Maybe because they saved his life during the fire. His not so long life. Max didn't really have many memories of Tank Braxton but the few he seemed.. hurt? The ways he acted to Bradley after it. He still seemed betrayed, as if letting go of Bradley was hard but it wasn't healthy so he had to.

Anyways. As Max walked towards the church, the doors propped open was Tanks mother, a woman with the same frame as Tank himself but with more feminine features. She wore a black dress as per dress code with a red headband to hold back the straw-like hair on her head. She looked devastated but still greeted the people as best she could. He walks up the door, straightening his back and adjusting the red tie.

"Thank you for coming." She mutters, eyes kept low, her voice sounding hurt. It made sense, it had been a month since he had died yet they're only doing the funeral now. The investigation put a pause on their morning.

Walking inside was weird. Tanks photo was plastered everywhere; it was kind of haunting to be honest, like those 'big brother is watching you' posters everywhere. Scary. But kind of sweet in a way? Hard to explain. Whatever. Just here to show your respect, Max.

As he scans the area for his farther, he notices the weird looks he seems to get. Family, friends, people who just wanted to pay respect to the victim of the towns most recent scandal. It's obvious why but Max seems to shrug it off and continue to look.

Eventually, he finds his dad. At the current moment he stood with an unusual frown on his face. Obviously Max this is a funeral. Goofy is talking to what seems the likes of Tanks farther or.. brother.. it's hard to tell considering he remembers Tank mentioning an olde brother. Not his problem really.

As he walks up to Goofy, him also wearing a red tie like Max he seems to perk up a bit. He looks like he's about to yell out 'Maxy!' but stops himself due to the current place they're in.

"Maxy..." He says in a hushed tone. He puts a hand on his shoulder. "Gosh darn sad isn't it? Poor kid."

Max just nods, feeling more sympathetic for the family than Tank himself. Eventually after the pain-staking small talk with everyone the ceremony starts. Taking their seats at the middle rows to the left, Goofy and Max wait as the priest climbs onto the podium, the coffin and the pile of different types of red and white flowers. As Max looks at the flowers he thinks back to what Bradley said. 'His favourite colour was purple and not red'. Did his family really not remember him that well? Bradley did say that that he was distant to his parents. Closer with his brother but still not on the level of him and his dad at least. He frowns.

The priest taps the small microphone at the podium, testing it works before starting to speak into it. "Good afternoon everyone. " his tone sounding sincere and caring, almost like he knew Tank personally. "We are all here today to celebrate the life of Tank Braxton. Tank was a loving man, he didn't have anything handed to him so he had to work hard for it. He had a passion for sports and bugs since childhood. He loved music. He loved his family. A soul taken away from us too early."

As Max listens his head fills with thoughts. How life would've been like if they never went to the party. It probably would've been for the better. Despite Tanks 'size' he was quite the sports man, you have to admit he did pretty well in the X game. A future he will never have. He has to admit, the guilt weighs heavy on Max. Even though he didn't technically do anything, it still making him sick to the stomach thinking of that night. Sometimes wondering if it affects Bradley more than he lets on.

Each of his family members went up to the podium, taking all teary eyes about his past, the only memories they have left of him. It's tragic really. How his actions affected everyone around him. As the room flooded empty and everyone starts to leave Max stays in his seat.

"Are you okay Maxy..?" Goofy asks, worrying like he always does as he slowly stands up.

"I'll be out in a minute dad." Max replies with, voice sounding a bit hoarse.

Goofy nods before leaving. As Max stands up he walks over to the front of the church, only the priest really there he walks up and stands over the coffin.

"Did you know him well?" The priest questions, turning to face him.

"Kind of.. I helped him out the fire at the annual X games almost a year ago now." Max responds with, placing his hand over the top of the coffin.

"Yes. I saw that on the news. Max Goof is that correct..?" He sounds a bit judging, most likely heard about the court trial no doubt.

"Hah. Yeah. He was a good man Tank. Just consumed by.. vengeance and a need for acceptance I guess."

The priest nods. "He used to stop by the church often. He helped with the church garden actually."

"He liked gardening? That's sweet." Max's though linger back to what Bradley would say about him. His speech would always sound so.. bitter but now he fully takes in the things he said about him they were always positive things. Kind of. Positive in Bradley's way. He sighs. "Can I have a minute please?"

The priest nods before moving to the back room behind the church. Max keeps his eyes on the shiny brown cover of the coffin. Talking to a dead man is stupid but he's doing it for Bradley. Talking to his boyfriend's ex boyfriend for him. Wow. Ironic as it is he starts to speak. "I never knew you were capable of this.. you were always so nice. Bradley actually misses you. Can you believe that? Not on a romantic sense but he still does. You kick, you punch. But he still.. appreciated you. Just didn't love you. He said you deserved so much more and I agree. I hope you rest peacefully Tank."

And like that, Max walks out the door of the church. Being the last one to do so despite his significance in Tanks life. Yet there is only one thing on his mind. What if?

THE END

Thank you guys so much for the support! I know this a bit of bad-ish ending but I am doing another book! Im gonna release a new chapter when the new book is out so (hopefully) you guys will read it.

Again, thank you guys SO much I've loved writing this book. Have a nice day :)