Fishing Trip//Max Joseph//Catfish: The TV Show//Catfish

*Chapter Thirteen*

        The sun was out, it had stopped raining, birds were chirping, it was a perfect day— To go back to Los Angeles. Ellie couldn't help but dread the next 48 hours. "The flight, the jet lag, the doctor... the doctor's bill."

"Hey guys, I just thought of something."

Nev and Max looked up from their phones expectantly. "Huh," they said in unison.

     The three had been loitering in Nev's hotel room for the past three hours, struggling to pass the time. Ellie continued. "What if I just postpone it. It's not that big of a deal. We'll film this episode, and then I'll go back to LA."

Nev had begun shaking his head before she could finish. "Nope. You're going."

     Max chimed in. "If you just go now and get it over with, we'll have more time to hang out when you get back," he said, trying to stay positive. "Think about it that way." Nev nodded his agreement from beside him.

     Ellie turned her head to the side to hide her frown. She understood the importance of the appointment, but Max, Nev, and the show were number one on her mind right now.

"Guess I'm going."

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    Max flipped over in bed and looked at the clock on the nightstand. He squinted and covered his eyes against the glowing, red letters. An awful ringing of the alarm made him jump.

     Max slapped at the clock until the beeping stopped. "Elle," he whispered softly. "It's 4:00. You ready?" He heard her mutter something inaudible beside him. "C'mon, wake up. Let's not be late for another flight."

     He smiled, remembering their mad dash to the airport. "Come on," he said softly, brushing hair from her face. She buried her face deeper into the pillow. "Just let me stay," she wined. "I don't wanna go."

     Max smiled at her muffled protests. "Nope. You gotta go, Ellie." He rested his hand on the small of her back and pulled the comforter back in attempt to wake her up. She groaned and swatted at him.

     Music was blaring, the TV's volume was at 75, and all the lights were on. Nothing would get Ellie out of bed. "You're gonna be late, dumbass."

     "Good. Maybe I'll miss the flight and won't have to go." Max shook his head. "Oh, you're going." He smirked as a dumb idea made itself present to him. Max jogged over to the lump under the covers.

Tug-of-war... yank... cold.

     "Max, stop! You're such a jackass!" Ellie stopped when she noticed his messy hair and his "I just woke up" voice.

     She smirked at his appearance and bit her lip. "See something you like?" he asked, raising his eyebrows and shooting her a flirty half-smile.

     She pursed her lips and looked up in mock thought, teasing him. "Nah," she decided, grinning. He scoffed in amusement and shoved her playfully. "C'mon. We gotta be there in an hour."

     "You really don't have to drive me. I can just get an Uber, you know." He shrugged. "What if I wanted to say goodbye?" Ellie chuckled as she dabbed her face with foundation in the bathroom. "Well... I didn't know that was so important to you," she said at last.