✓ | DALLIANCE → madwheeler

six

PROPINQUITY ( noun. )
the state of being close to someone or something.

MAX SHIFTED IN her seat as Ace Casper wrapped his arms around her. They were sitting on her couch, watching "Friday the Thirteenth: Part Two", and were avoiding the obvious Mike Wheeler encounter that had happened earlier that day.

Her phone buzzed, and sighing, she turned it off for the sixth time. It was probably Alice, asking her to "dish all the details on her and Casper the Friendly Ghost". And yes, Ace was amazing. Overprotective and nosy, yes, but amazing. She supposed, anyway.

"So," Ace said, reaching for the remote and muting the tv. "How's that Romeo and Juliet project coming?"

Max sighed. "Do we have to talk about that right now?"

His eyes narrowed, but she didn't notice, fiddling with a lose string on the couch cushion.

"Why? Is there something I should know about?"

She shook her head.

"Then why don't you wanna talk about it?"

"God, Ace!" She exclaimed exasperatedly. "I don't want every conversation we have to be about Mike fucking Wheeler!"

"Don't raise your voice at me." He said lowly, and Max realized what she had said. She put a hand to her mouth. "I'm sorry."

He leaned back. "Control your behavior before I do it for you."

She stared at him, something cold running down her spine. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He grinned. "Geez, Max, don't take everything so seriously! It was a joke, baby."

Max laughed half-heartedly, but on the inside, her heart was still thumping. Mike made jokes all the time, but they were never like that. Never somewhat sinister.

She pushed the thought away. She was overthinking things again, just like she alwyas did. Ace had made a joke, and she had gone in over her head. Jesus, she needed to grow up.

Just then, the doorbell rang, letting out a soft chime that echoed throughout the house.

"Ugh," Max groaned, rising to stand. "It's Alice! I swear I told her we were having a date night."

Ace chuckled, and she left the living room to get the door, the slasher music from the tv fading into the background.

Max opened the door, pushing strands of red hair out of her eyes, and her heart dropped. Standing there, a lazy smirk twisting the corner of his mouth, was Mike Wheeler.

"Hey, angel."

"I told you to stop calling me that!" Was the first thing out of Max's mouth.

"Fat chance of that ever happening." His smirk grew wider. "Angel."

"What are you doing here?" Max hissed, glancing nervously over her shoulder.

Mike held up the Romeo and Juliet paper. "Mr. Harris wants us to redo it. Apparently, it's supposed to correlate somewhat to Romeo and Juliet."

He raised an eyebrow as she stared at him. "You're welcome."

"I-" Max closed her eyes, lowering her voice. "You can't be here."

"Casper's here."

Her eyes flew open. His face was a carefully shaped into an emotionless mask, and he said the statement with a flat, hard edge to his voice.