all i want // max and harvey mills

TWENTY : TWO

[ kathryns pov ]
the same day..

"ali?" i called while rounding the corner to max's room. she didn't answer so i went into max's bedroom and saw max sitting on his bed with his guitar, strumming some melodys i'd never heard.

"a new song?" i asked, placing my hand on the door frame. he glanced up and stopped playing the instrument.

he sighed and nodded. "what?" i questioned. "i—harvey found out about the kiss," he replied, placing the guitar down.

"what? how?" i asked, worried.

"i accidentally brought it up. i'm sorry." max replied, looking up at me with his hazel eyes that matched harveys.

"it was just a kiss. he can't be that mad," i replied, trying to make the situation at least a little better.

he sighed again. "yeah it was. he wasn't mad at you," max said, running a hand through his hair.

"then why is he mad at you?" i asked, wanting answers.

"because.." max said, cutting off his words before the full explanation could come out of his mouth.

"because?" i asked, puzzled at max's mysterious self.

"because it meant something to me kathryn! i know it means absolutely nothing to you and so does harvey, but he knew that it meant so much to me. that small moment we shared was relief for me. i know i said i liked ali, and i know i asked her out, but i cant shake you off of my mind, no matter how freaking hard it try okay? there it is. the full truth." max replied, leaving me speechless.

"max—" i started to reply to his confession before another person cut me off.

"what?" ali whispered from behind me. i turned around to see her so very upset. "ali.." i said, reaching for her hand.

she jerked her full arm back and looked at me up and down.

"you know kathryn, for once i thought that i'd found a guy who actually preferred me over you. you've always had this thing where every guy is in love with you. and i'm always left in the shadows. and this time, i was happy, and i find out that max is using me as some prop to get closer to you." she laughed—once—in disbelief before she continued.

"i'm done," she said, coldly, as he turned around and walked away.

i looked back at max.

"kathryn i—" he started to try and explain before i cut his words off.

"you've said enough max." i said before i walked after ali, praying that she would forgive as easily as she always has.

"ali wait." i called after her, stepping into the cool evening. it was funny because it's practically summer, not fall.

ali didn't stop as i continued to chase her.

"ali please," i pleaded, making her finally stop in her own tracks. she turned around.

"you know, all i've ever done is respect your decisions. i've never, ever, kissed your past boyfriends. i never kissed alex. never. i never told you about how long i liked him, did i? no. i didn't. because i thought our friendship was more important than a guy. and i didn't want to hurt you, even though you hurt me." she vented into the afternoon.

my face became crestfallen as my heart dropped.

"what?" i asked.

"i was literally in love with alex for years and then you came along and he just fell hard for you, and didn't even notice my feelings. you can just prance into anywhere and have guys falling for you." she said harshly.

"ali i—" i was about to question her and explain at the same time.

"no. just—no." she said, walking away, through the dusk and lamp-lit streets. i was puzzled and so hurt.

i had messed up so much. and now i couldn't fix anything.

i stood outside, in the same spot she'd left me in for a while, thinking, trying to piece everything together.

•••

i walked back into the house to see everyone downstairs talking together.

"ah, kathryn—where's ali?" mrs.mills asked with confusion in her expression.

"she-she um went to stay with one of our friends in the neighborhood for the night. she misses them." i lied back to her face.

she nodded and smiled.

"oh okay," she replied.

"anyway, dinner's ready," she said, going into the dining room with leo, tilly, and mr.mills. max followed them as harvey and i awkwardly stood there in silence.

as he went to go to the dining room, i tried to explain.

"harvey i—"

"don't." he coldly replied, pushing past me.

my heart seemed to fall even lower, if that was possible at this point.