short crush / love stories

My Golf Kingdom

Fixated on: Elle and Maximus.
POV: Elle
I jumped up ecstatically due to an a notification from my phone. I tugged at Maximus' shirt.
"Max! The players on Conway High's golf team were posted on Twitter!"
Max was pretty shocked. He wanted me to come over so we could geek or anticipate about the news together. We have been friends since we were 7, when I stole his chocolate milk carton in 1st grade. But now, as a freshmen, I was catching feelings for him. Puberty done him well. Gave him a few inches, a jawline, and a hefty stature.
He also became an avid golf player. Ever since fifth grade, he's played golf. I would always ridicule him for it, especially to me it was a lame sport.
I scrolled down on the post and saw the name:
Maximus Keller
"Look, Max," I start to jump up in delight, "you are in!"
"I can't believe it, El."
"And it's all because of you."
He was somewhat correct, I had to force him to go to tryouts. The downside with Max was that under pressure he would get really nervous. As an outgoing girl, I'd always try to get him out of his comfort zone so he could reach his full potential.
I actually literally pushed him and motivated him. I got his golf equipment, shirt, and pants from his parents, and my brother Asher, who was a senior drove him to tryouts. But I didn't have the prodigy in me, especially in golf to make Max get on the team.
Max seemed a little bit anxious when we dropped him off, but I soothed his shoulder with my expert level massage after he walked out with his golf uniform and everything. He looked cute and handsome. But I didn't want to tell him that. I was probably gonna scare him off.
"El" he said softly, as if he was embarrassed.
"Yeah?"
"I was thinking of bringing this girl.." he stuttered, "Brooke Wilson,"
I didn't know who that was girl. And let's be honest here did I really want to know her? I really like Max. Everybody knew ever since 7th grade I started to have a crush on him.
"To one...of..my...uh tournaments." He looks down to the floor, suggesting he was in somewhat danger.
"Do you need some advice?" accidentally my voice croaks.
"Yeah.." he starts to stutter, "is that Okay?"
Max was really open to me but most of the time he didn't want to even talk about that stuff. Max was in about 2 relationships, all turned really bad. He stopped talking to me for about forever while dating those girls because they would always get jealous of me. Whatever. It's not like he sees I like him, or if he likes me like that so what's the point of being jealous? Girls are so stupid.
I sighed. I keep getting heartbroken because of Max. And this was the worst time, when I had to give him relationship advice.
"Okay so I would say just call her right now if you have her phone number and all" I start to feel the urge to cry- "and um-"
"Good idea!" Maximus smiled.
"Hey why don't you tell me about your crushes?" He asked.
I didn't say anything. Don't get me wrong I've liked people besides Max, but that wouldn't last, because Max would instantly reel me in like a fish out of water. I didn't understand how he had that effect on me.
"My crush doesn't seem to like me back..." I twitch. "That's why."
"I don't see why he wouldn't El. You are so beautiful and such a good friend, motivator to me."
I blush but then cringe at the word friend. That's all he would ever see me as. My body droops down for a second, but I pick it back up to maintain my composure and act.
"Thanks, you too," I give Max an uneasy smile.
...
Asher gave me a lift to Max's first tournament. My hands were shaking nervously on the front seat, scared of seeing Max's supposed crush Brooke. Well it was probably hard to see her, because there were so many holes in golf. Which I was happy about.
The thought of her being at Max's tournament irked me. It disappointed me that I was able to be this jealous. Did Max really deserve my time and energy in this way? Maybe I would be less stressed if I just dropped it. But I couldn't.
Asher turned a left and smiled.
"Since when did you go to Max's golf tournaments? I thought you said golf was boring."
That comment was true. I think Asher was on to me. I froze.
"I've been watching the sport you know, recently, and I was wrong."
Asher smirked. "Cut the bullshit El. You don't even watch sports."
His comment shut me up. I rolled my eyes. Asher was definitely the way confident boy version of me. He called it how it was, and had high self esteem.
"You like him, don't you? It's fucking obvious El."
I shrug and cross my arms.
"You fucking love to touch him all the time, and tell him what to do."
"And he listens to you all the time. I'm 100 percent sure he likes you back."
I move my head back and forth.
"No? You don't think so? Well I do. He's liked you ever since you guys were 9-he called you princess El, and he would be your prince. I caught him making an excuse to kiss you on cheek. You didn't notice, but when he saw me peeking and told you he had to go to the bathroom, he told me you were the "coootest gal" he ever laid eyes on,"
I let him continue.
"He was going to ask you to homecoming this year and take you out later, I even gave him advice, but you decided to go with Nick Stevensky."
"I get it okay, but then why does he not tell me," I say puzzled.
"Um you know how quiet he is right? He gave you so many signs but you found a reason to deny it. He did the same for your signs. Little freshmen don't know what to do."
I'm shocked. At first a wave of disappointment overcomes me, but then I realized I had a chance.
The car stopped and we were at the golf course.
"Here's your stop El. You know what to do." Asher gives me encouragement.
I walked out of his car and into the entrance to the course.
It was obvious Max was playing, he was a stardom of the JV team, but I had to see what hole they were stationed at first. I looked on the tournament board and it said Conway High Hole 6. I decided to go near hole 5, the last hole Max would be on. He was shotgunned at hole 6.
I waited for a couple hours and ate my snacks. I didn't see Brooke at all, maybe she went to another hole and wanted to walk with them, I didn't know.
I did that once and got so tired to walk the course. At this point, my lazy ass decided not to because if I had to spend so much time seeing Brooke, I would have the urge to punch her.
Finally, Max was on the last hole. I see familiar faces like Max's mom but don't see a girl I don't know.
"Awwh! I didn't know you were here," Max's mom, Stacey greets me. "Max wanted to see you, today was a rough day for him it seemed."
Max's mom didn't know much, because Max internalized. I knew I was the only one who could make him break and comfort him.
Even then if Brooke was there, what if I would ruin it? Asher's voice then popped in my head. He likes you back.
It was a par 3 and Max was up to hit. He took two practice shots and then looked over to me.
"You got this Max!!!" I screamed obnoxiously.
My heart exploded, because I could see him blush a tiny bit.
He finally swings at the ball and it has such nice distance and curve, that it seems like it's going in the hole. And it does.
I scream on the top of my lungs, "HOLE IN ONE" dancing and showboating like a crazy person.
Max smiles and chuckles. And I'm so happy.
...
The tournament was over and I waited for Max. I saw him finally, he was carrying his clubs and wearing his uniform, a polo, which always got me weak.
He made eye contact with me and it was time for me to make it more awkward.
"He's a freshmen!! He's a freshmen!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
He laughs. "My number one supporter huh?"
I blushed. Without notice, when he's closer to me, he comes in for a hug. Many other golf players have to maneuver around our hug to get past.
We stop the hug and suddenly my jealousy takes over.
"Where's Brooke?" I ask suspiciously.
"She stood me up and didn't want to see me. She wanted to use me to see Ethan play instead."
I feel bad for a second, but I was always in that position when he got his heart broken. The little friend who would try to help. The problem was he was missing me. I thought karma would change and the universe would try to point Max in the right direction. To me. But I was so wrong. Asher was so wrong too. I was tired of this same bullshit. Yeah sure, I should be stronger to tell him, but I give him obvious signs and he couldn't see it. I started to sob.
"E—l?" he starts to stutter and starts patting my back. I knew he wasn't the best as this anyway, he was quiet with the feelings part but still his touch was gentle.
"Are yo—u ok—ay?"
"I'm fine," I lie.
"Can I ride with you and Asher? I kinda wanna hangout with you and tell you something."
"Oh, sure," I would be lying if I said I didn't want him over.
We head to Asher's car who was probably waiting a long time. I open the car door and wave, and Asher smiles, but once Max comes in Asher has his jaw open.
"Hey Asher," Max says.
"Hey man," he says.
"Where do you guys wanna go?" Asher asks.
"My house," I say a little too enthusiastically.
Max chuckles.
"Alright," Asher says.
He puts the gear into drive and me and Max were in the backseat. We barely talked, I congratulated him on his hole and one, and he talked about how his holes went. (I learned a lot from Max about golf so it was easy to understand at times).
Finally, Asher stops at our house. My nervous antics made it seem like the ride was so fast. Max gets out of the car, and I close the passenger door. Asher gets a key to our house door and unlocks the door. He opens it for Max, but then Max does the unthinkable and opens the door for me. I giggle.
"Since when have you been a gentleman?" I smirked.
He makes a somewhat frowny face to my playful insult, and I laugh really hard.
"Let's go upstairs, to your room," Max says.
Asher eyes perk up and he smiles at me.
"Birth control. Get the pill." Asher whispers to me silently.
I elbow him in the gut. Then, I follow Max into my room, and he slightly opens the door, that's what the rule of the house was anyway.
"So remember that game we use to play when we were little? Something with a kingdom and stuff?"
"Uh yeah," I start to sweat profusely.
Max takes a deep breath. "Can we do it right now?" He squirms.
"Max, is everything okay?" I ask with concern.
"Yes, just can we play the game right now?"
"Uh, sure," I say puzzled.
"You are going to be the princess," he walks over and brings my old rusted tiara and ripped pink cape.
I blush instantly. "Why can't I be a witch?"
"Because—" he starts to stutter again, "yo—u are too wh—olesome and pre—tty to be a witc—h"
I smile immediately and look down. The tiara is falling, but Max readjusts it, and I look up at him.
"I'm going to be the princ—e, who want—s to be with y—ou." He looks down at the floor. "Is th—are okay?"
"Yes," I give him a soft smile. He seems so nervous and I'm so god damn concerned.
"So whats this scene about?" I ask.
"Follow my lead." He says.
I blush and smile a bit, but it was a role play I said to myself, it doesn't matter. Next, Max went on his knees.
"Princess El, I'm fucking sorry for not saying this sooner," he takes out a deep breath and pauses for a long moment, "you know I'm bad with my emotions."
"What do you mean Prince Maximus? You are here right now that's all that matters." I giggle. This seemed so fun.
But he had a serious face, not the ones we would always have when we were role playing. If he was playing this as an act, it would be good. But he was never good at acting, he would barely get any lines in many plays and would laugh at times when we would roleplay. He was a terrible actor.
"You are so beautiful, smart, and sweet to me El. I don't deserve you. You always found a way to get me out of my comfort zone and I love that about you. Your spunky personality has gotten me crazy. I know this seems weird, but I thought I could get other people and other girls. I did this because I thought you were out of my league. But my past girlfriends and dates knew. I was fucking in love with you."
I was speechless. I usually got Max quiet sometimes and he was always quiet. I was talkative. And now he made me shut up.
I wanted to say something but my words didn't have the courage to come out.
"So I'm going to ask you this, El. Can I be your prince?"

[outside of the roleplay or inside]