A Criminal Kiss [Max Verstappen]

chapter sixteen

The sun had begun its descent by the time I slipped out of the house. The soft glow of late afternoon filtered through the trees and dappled the cobbled streets. My mind was already elsewhere, focused on something—or rather, someone—who had lingered in my thoughts all day.

Max.

I found myself walking without purpose, drawn toward the part of town that was far from the prying eyes of the villagers. The quiet here was different. It was a refuge from the noise, a place I could think clearly, even if for just a moment.

I wasn't sure what had led me to make the decision to seek him out. Perhaps it was the conversation we'd had that night, or perhaps it was the growing sense of restlessness that seemed to be consuming me. All I knew was that I wanted to see him again. I wanted to feel the way he made me feel, like I was more than just the title that had been given to me at birth.

It wasn't long before I saw him.

What was he doing here?

He was standing near the stone wall by the edge of town, looking out over the field beyond. Max didn't notice me at first, his back turned, but as I approached, I saw him pause. He was aware of my presence even before I said anything, as if he could feel my footsteps on the ground.

"Annalise," he said, turning slowly to face me, his voice warm but guarded.

I felt a flutter in my chest, the familiar stir of nerves that always seemed to rise when I was near him. It was strange, how easily he had become someone I didn't just want to see, but needed to.

"Max," I replied softly, stopping a few paces away from him. I could feel the distance between us, the unspoken tension in the air, but I wasn't sure how to bridge it. "I didn't expect to find you out here."

He gave a small shrug, his lips curling into a faint smile. "I could say the same about you."

There was something about the way he said it—something that suggested he knew exactly why I was there. But he didn't press it, letting the silence stretch comfortably between us.

"Do you mind if I walk with you?" I asked, already knowing the answer. But I needed to hear him say it, to make sure I wasn't overstepping.

Max regarded me for a moment, his eyes searching mine. "Of course not."

He turned and started walking toward the dirt path that wound through the trees, and I fell into step beside him. The silence between us wasn't uncomfortable, but it wasn't entirely relaxed either. The air seemed thick with unsaid things, with words that were never quite spoken.

We walked for a few minutes, the sound of our footsteps the only noise that broke the stillness. The trees above us swayed gently in the breeze, casting long shadows across the path. The world around us felt distant, almost unreal, like it belonged to someone else entirely.

"I've been thinking," I said suddenly, my voice quiet as I broke the silence. "About what you said. About feeling stuck."

Max didn't immediately respond, but I could feel his attention shift toward me, his body tensing ever so slightly. "And what about it?" he asked, his voice low but steady.

I hesitated, unsure of how to put it into words. "I don't know how to explain it. It's like... I'm trapped in a life that isn't mine. It's all been decided for me—who I am, what I should do, who I should be with. It's like being a part of a play, and someone else is writing the script."

Max didn't interrupt. He just listened, his face unreadable but patient.

"I know that sounds dramatic," I continued, feeling the words spill out before I could stop them. "But it's true. I don't know how to live any other way. I don't know if I even can."

He was quiet for a long moment, the only sound between us the crunch of leaves beneath our feet. I thought he might say something—some comforting words, maybe—but he didn't. Instead, he reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face, his fingers lingering just a moment longer than necessary.

The touch was fleeting, but it sent a shock of warmth through me, and for the briefest second, the tension between us seemed to dissipate.

"I don't think it's dramatic," he said finally, his voice low. "I think it's real."

I glanced up at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. "But what do I do about it?" I asked, the question feeling like a heavy weight I wasn't sure how to lift. "How do I break free from everything that's already been set for me?"

Max stopped walking and turned to face me fully, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made my heart race. For a moment, neither of us spoke.

"You don't have to do anything right now," he said quietly. "You just have to choose for yourself. What is it that you really want?"

I stared at him, searching his expression, but there was nothing there to give me an answer. It was as though he was waiting for me to find the courage to speak the truth that had been buried in my chest for so long.

I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to say.

Max's gaze softened, and he gave me a small, almost imperceptible smile. "You don't have to have the answers all at once," he said, his voice gentle. "Just take it one step at a time."

I swallowed, looking down at the path beneath my feet. His words settled into me, but the truth was, I wasn't sure how to take that step.

"I'm not sure I know how," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Max didn't respond immediately. Instead, he reached out and touched my arm, his fingers light but firm. "You will. You just have to trust yourself."

His words lingered between us, the space around us growing heavier with the unspoken tension. I could feel it—this pull, this energy between us that was neither one thing nor the other, but something in between.

We stood there, inches apart, the air charged with an unspoken understanding that neither of us had the courage to voice. The world seemed to stop, holding its breath, waiting for something that neither of us knew how to begin.

And then, without another word, Max started walking again, his pace steady but slow. I followed behind, still trying to make sense of everything that had just happened, of the feelings I couldn't quite grasp.

-
-
-

thanks for reading :)
1156 words