a d d i c t ➳ mgc

➳ t w o

Maxine was not usually fond of meeting new people, nor interacting with them. She often acted in a rude, standoffish manner to repel people. Her attempts, however, did not faze Michael.

"So Michael, what are you doing out here?" Max avoided eye contact as she took a cigarette out of her hoodie pocket. She lit it, and took a drag. Michael furrowed his eyebrows at her actions.

"I was going to my friend's," he said. "But I already texted him and told him that I can't come over."

Max cleared her throat and looked up at Michael through the corner of her eyes. "Are you sure? You're free to go to his house. I'm fine over here, I actually came out to be alone."

Michael glanced at his house, then down the street to where his friend Calum lived. He really didn't want to make the long walk down to Calum's house. Calum's mon, Joy, often limited the amount of video games that he and Michael were allowed to play anyway. "I'd rather stay here with you," Michael smiled.

"Okay, why are you trying so hard to stay here?" Max took another drag of her cigarette and fingered the half pack in her pocket. "It's clear you have a problem with me smoking, yet you would rather sit on the curb with a troubled smoking teen than go to your friends house?"

"Um," Michael hesitated, "Smoking's really bad for your lungs and since you seem young, like my age maybe, I could possibly help you out?" His reasoning came out as a question rather than a statement.

Maxine snorted. "They're my lungs. I can honestly treat them however I please." She blew some smoke toward Michael, who fanned it away.

"But we're neighbours. We're bound to talk eventually." Michael said.

"Okay," Max replied. She rested her lit cigarette between her pointer and middle fingers.

"So," Michael started, "would you consider taking a break from smoking?"

"Wow, is that a Green Day bracelet? I love them. Holiday's my favourite. What do you like by them?" Max attempted to change the topic from her smoking habits.

"Yeah they're great." Michael fell into her trap. "My friend Calum, the one who's house I was going to, he loves them. I just occasionally listen to them, but I guess I like Boulevard or Insomniac."

Max subtly smirked. "Definitely that. Holiday/Boulevard on the American Idiot deluxe is awesome. Hey, do you wanna run to your friend's and grab, like, a CD or something?" She took a long drag of her cigarette and looked at Michael.

Michael laughed. He stretched his long legs in front of them and crossed them at the ankles. "I'd rather just talk to you for a bit."

"Okay." Max continued to smoke as the two teens sat in silence. Michael often took out his phone, but quickly put it back in his pocket after checking it. Maxine, however, knew not to expect any messages from Jace. He never re-invited her back into the house until hours later, and so far, it had only been thirty minutes. Michael had subconsciously moved further from Max every time she brought the cigarette to her lips.

"Have you got a problem with my smoking?" Max coughed, but quickly cleared her throat. "Because if you do, I think it's best you leave."

"No, no," Michael widened his eyes and quickly shook his head. "It's just that smoking is extremely bad for you, you know?" He chewed on his lip. "And I don't want you to get addicted."

Max rolled her eyes and threw the stubby cigarette onto the ground, mashing it under her shoe. "I'm not going to let some stranger from my neighbourhood tell me what to do with my life." She stood up from the ground and dusted off her bum. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way."

"Wait, at least let me get to know you. I live so close by, we'll probably end up talking eventually, so why not now? Please?" Michael stood up in front of Maxine, widening his green eyes at her and pouting.

"I don't think that's the best idea," Max began to walk further away from Michael and out of the neighbourhood.

"Can I at least have your phone number? And maybe like two weeks to try and get you to quit smoking. What do you say?" Michael hacked up some saliva, and fake spit on his hand, shoving it out for Max to shake.

"Sure, why not." Max fake spit on her hand before shaking Michael's. She took her phone out of her sweatshirt pocket, as did Michael, and they handed their phones to each other. Maxine quickly typed her phone number into Michael's huge phone, and saved her contact as Max that smoking neighbour. Michael saved himself in Max's phone as Mikey <3<3 , and they traded back phones.

"I'll text you," Michael grinned as he walked down the sidewalk toward Calum's house.

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do u liek this guys? ill post da next chap when this book gets 200 views ooh lala