discontinued. The Way We Live Now ⇔ Mileven {3rd - "Wake Up, Mike" Trilogy}

Six

Just want to confirm that the issue Max and Nancy discuss in this chapter is not the issue of Billy calling her last year. It's a different issue, one that you won't know about for a while(;
(And NO they did not do anything sexual. Clearing that up beforehand, PLEASE don't assume they fucked or something😂)

Mike.

I finished wiping El's remaining tears off of her face, hugging her tight. She smiled, rubbing her eyes a bit. I was about to offer that we go watch TV, but I heard voices by the front door. My face lit up, and I pulled away from El, walking towards the front door. It swung open, revealing my family. Nancy included.

I smiled widely, walking up to her and leaning down to hug her tightly. She chuckled, hugging me back tighter. "Hey, Mike, long time no see." She mumbled into my chest, squeezing me tightly one last time before pulling away to smile widely at me.

"I haven't seen you since Christmas, Nance, it's been more than a long time." I laughed a bit, examining her for a long second. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too, Mike." She continued to smile, glancing behind me to see El. She looked at me and reached up to rub my arm for a second, then stepped past me to go see El. They hugged tight and exchanged some words that I couldn't hear, they were whispering to each other. I smiled brightly, though. Nancy is back, for an entire summer. I always get excited when she comes back, but I'm even more excited this year. We're all so stressed, and I think having Nancy back will help.

She stepped back from El, looking around and frowning. "Where's Max?" She asked, making me glance around, as well. I thought for a second, then looked back over at Nancy.

"Oh, I think she's in the bathroom. She went in there maybe fifteen minutes ago, she hasn't come back out yet." I explained slowly, making her squint at me a bit. I panicked slightly, knowing what she's gonna say. "I forgot to check on her, I'm sorry. I was helping El."

"Did she say anything before she went in?" My mom asked from behind me, and I shook my head slowly.

"She just left abruptly and went into the bathroom. She did slam the door, but I didn't think much of it. Again, El was sad, I was helping her. It slipped my mind, do you think she's ok?" I rushed out, now panicking. I didn't think much of it before, but now I am. I know today isn't a good day for her, I should've known something was wrong. I should've checked on her.

"I'll check on her." Nancy spoke up, holding up a hand in my direction when I started to walk forward. "No offense, Mike, but you know how she is. I'm sure you're the last person she wants to see right now." She explained, shrugging and giving me an apologetic half-smile. My face fell, but I nodded, because she's right. Max is probably pissed at me.

"I should've checked on her." I mumbled, going to sit on the couch. El followed me, sitting down next to me and laying her head on my shoulder. She said nothing, which I appreciated. We sat in silence for at least ten minutes before there was a loud noise, making El and I jump. That's when Max started yelling at Nancy as she walked towards the door.

"I love you all, I really do, but you're all being oblivious assholes today!" She yelled before leaving the house quickly, slamming the door shut behind her.

-

Max.

The knock came, finally. I didn't say anything, I just looked up at the door, too lazy to stand up and unlock it. I looked at the lock and unlocked it swiftly, resting my chin back on my knees and waiting for the person to walk in. The door slowly opened, and Nancy stepped in. I smiled lightly, standing up to hug her.

"I'm sorry I missed your arrival, I just didn't want to walk out looking like this." I spoke honestly, reaching up to wipe under my eyes. She shook her head, pulling away from our hug to examine me. She gave a side smile, reaching up to help wipe my face off.

"What happened? Why were you crying?" She asked softly, and I sighed deeply, stepping back to sit on the closed toilet. She closed the door, walking next to me and sitting on the side of the bathtub.

"I just felt so unloved. El and I were crying, and when Mike came downstairs, he didn't even look at me. I know he loves El, and I know she's more important than me, but he didn't even care when I left." I rushed out, making her frown and furrow her eyebrows.

"More important than you? Max, honey, you're so important. You make him happy, and you've been his closest companion these past five years. He loves you, you're his best friend. He's just so protective over El that he forgets to look around him, and notice other problems. He ignores himself, even. Trust me when I say he cares, he's just been so greatly traumatized that he'd do anything to keep her around." Nancy explained slowly, and I nodded along.

"I know, it just sucks. I feel like we're drifting apart, and I know why, it just hurts. He's leaving soon and I just-" I cut myself off, my eyes watering up once again. I tried to hold them in, failing slightly. She let out a deep breath, nodding slightly.

"Because of what happened last year? Was that today?" She asked quietly, and I nodded slowly.

"I wish he'd just talk to me about it, I really do. We could solve everything and go back to being best friends. But he won't even allow himself to think about it, and it honestly hurts me. I know he regrets it, but he doesn't have to pretend it didn't happen." I mumbled the last part, and she stayed silent for a second. I got nervous, afraid of how she'll respond.

"It was a big mistake. I think he's ignoring it because it scares him. I mean, it wasn't necessarily right. It was wrong, you shouldn't have done it." She kept talking after that, making me suddenly very mad. Is she serious? I know it was wrong. I know it was awful, I know I shouldn't have made that mistake. I think about it every day and wish I could go back and change it.

I just got progressively more mad as she spoke, working myself up so much that I stood up and looked at the door, it slamming open and smashing into the wall, breaking a big hole in it. The force I used was so intense that it traveled through the wall, reaching the shelf and knocking various things off. I didn't care, though, I just started to leave the bathroom.

"I should've never talked to you! I knew you wouldn't help, you just made it worse!" I screamed as I walked down the hallway, picture frames cracking and falling to the ground. Lamps shattered, along with windows, but I just kept walking. I got to the door and breathed deeply, turning around to look at everyone. "I love you all, I really do, but you're all being oblivious assholes today!"

I turned back around, the door swinging open without me really having to tell it to, hurrying out of the house. I wasn't even looking at the door when it slammed shut behind me, and I heard the remaining windows in the front of the house shattering.

I still didn't care. I just walked down the street angrily, not looking back as Mike yelled for me to come back. I don't plan on going back. Ever, if I can help it.

-

This is angsty af. You're welcome !
I love Max. I love how powerful she is.
What a queen !