Fluctuat nec Mergitur

Chapter 9

*One month later*

"You sure?" Max looked at me doubtfully.

"If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't have come here at all." I looked back at her the same way, trying to sound like I really knew what I was doing.

Mom would be furious, if she were ever home long enough to notice. Christina would throw a fit, if she could pay attention to anything at home anymore. Michael would look at me like I was crazy, if he ever decides to come back from wherever he is with his big, important photography job. With Kath, there's probably a good 50/50 chance to be disowned, the 50% I'd be okay only there because she works a night shift. I don't even know what Dad would think, cause I haven't seen him in a week. And all because I'm not Max.

I'd saved my money for this. I'm using my time. And this is none of their business. Max got another two tattoos, a Keith Haring figure and the character Max from Where The Wild Things Are, but it's not even like anyone would notice.

"Looks nice." Max shrugged, looking at the designs. I made her come with me because she knows how these things work. It was the first Sunday in January.

"Thanks." I breathed, which made it sound like I was nervous. I was, but I wasn't about to act like it.

I was getting two tattoos, my first couple. It felt like the best day of my life. I didn't wanna listen to anybody else anymore. I'm sick of being ignored at home, so I'll get a life somewhere else.

The process itself took maybe two hours, since the first was intricate. It was almost a mandala design, but less flowery. The second one was the elephant inside a boa constrictor from the outside, from The Little Prince. In the end, they looked really good, even when wrapped in plastic. Max grinned.

If I can make Max happy, I can do anything.
"Thank you!" I yelled to the artist on our way out, pulling on my jacket.

"Have a good one!" He waved.

I hopped on my bike. It was chilly for an February day in southern California, maybe 40 degrees. "Let's get home before it rains, Max."

"Before it rains." She echoed, looking up at the gray sky. Her accent is nice.

I rode beside Max, who was a bit off in space, looking around at the scenery. I wanted to be like her, but I had to be me, and I was doing just that. She was just different, stuck out and looked good doing so. I was just kinda loud and tall, and that was fine by me.

Once we got home, I locked the bikes up behind the house and ventured inside.

"Dani?" I heard Nick call.

"Yeah, bub?" I headed towards the voice.
"Nothing, just making sure it was you." He said, sitting on the floor in front of a Monopoly board with Joey, Christian, and the cat in the living room. He looked sad.

"What's going on?" I sat on the sofa behind him. Max sat in the wicker chair next to the skimpy Christmas tree.

"Nobody's home." He said sadly, resting his head in his hands. "Nobody's ever home."

"They've got to work." I said, in a way that couldn't have done much cheering up.

"Why don't you have to work, then?" He said offensively.

"Where I work is closed today." Retail has meager benefits. Gotta take advantage of them. "Everyone else can and has to keep working. We really need the money, Nick."

"I guess." He sighed, moving his piece on the board.

"Get Max to play with you guys." I looked pointedly at her. She shot the same look back at me, standing up silently. "I have to make dinner. You know Max can't cook."