𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞~𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

Chapter 50: Just Stay Here

Max's POV

"I think you should tell Mike," Lucas voiced as he finally let go of my quivering body.

Shaking my head, I looked at him with pleading eyes, "No. I don't want him to be angry with her. He doesn't need to see her as the bad guy."

I had a change of heart. I didn't want El to think that she could just get away with hurting me but I also didn't want to cause problems between the two of them or Mike and me. Plus, I was absolutely terrified of Eleven.

Lucas was sighing, "Max. It's not okay. El purposely tried to hurt you!"

I gave him a serious look, "I know...I just," I sighed, "If I tell Mike, there will be another reason for her to hate me..."

He just looked sad, like he understood exactly what I was saying to him, "Okay. Just please..." Lucas grabbed my hands in his and held them lovingly, "Please...tell him eventually. He needs to know that she's not completely innocent."

I nodded reluctantly, "Okay, fine. I will. But just not yet. Don't say anything...please."

He agreed and led me out with his hand on my lower back, very tenderly, like his touch would somehow heal me.

I mean, not gonna lie, it just made me ache in other places (why is this so dirty omg 😏😳😂), though I did appreciate the thought.

We appeared outside of the large bathroom, the bright sunlight piercing my eyeballs like knives and I had to look down.

Will and Lauren sat on the edge of the pool, deep in conversation. They looked good together I had to admit.

His smile turned towards me and shrunk a tiny bit, jumping to his feet with a little shout.

"Max! You okay?" He raced towards me, his hair bobbed as he stopped in front of me.

"Yea I'm good. I just got a little water up my nose," I faked a smile, trying to look goofy so he'd lighten up.

As I said it, Lucas's hands tensed around my side for a moment and glanced at him to cool it.

He immediately relaxed and gave me a laidback grin.

As Lucas, Will, and Lauren continued to talk to each other, I couldn't help but peer at the two that I had really been focusing on.

Mike and Eleven.

She sat in her little swimsuit, lounging on a chair with Mike at her side, staring at her in obvious adoration.

It burned my chest for what felt like the hundredth time, jealousy for Mike's attention, though it wasn't romantic, being the thing she desired most.

I watched as he turned his head towards me, a relieved look crossing his face. Mike muttered something to the pretty girl next to him and she changed her gaze to stare disapprovingly at me.

And just as always, a sour look was painted onto her perfect face, only switching back to a smile when she looked at Mike.

Standing, he made his way towards me, a sweet smile on his lips.

"Hey Ginger! How ya doing?"

His carefree nature couldn't keep a frown on my face, "I'm fine. I just uh got water up my nose. It just messed me up there for a few minutes but otherwise I'm good."

I caught El's look of confusion from the corner of my eye.

Making a very quick decision, knowing it may be for the best, I turned to El with a hand out, "Hey, good game by the way."

El's POV

Staring down at the outstretched hand of the girl I absolutely despised, my mind couldn't think about anything but the first time this exact thing happened.

"Eleven?" The redhaired girl said, the girl. The one who had moved in on Mike when I was gone was standing in front of me, waiting as I let go of the two boys that clutched onto me tightly.

"Hi um, I'm Max," She jutted her hand forward in front of me, "I've heard a lot about you."

She had a sweet smile plastered on that freckled face of hers, but I wasn't convinced.

This girl wasn't to be trusted. She wouldn't get Mike. She couldn't.

So I ignored her gesture and pushed right past her to the arms of Joyce, the woman who had become my mother figure.

Zooming back into the present, I could barely move my own fingers out to shake hands.

I couldn't bring myself to make peace with this pretty girl in front of me.

I couldn't.

I wouldn't.

Not after what she'd done.

So I shifted in discomfort crossing my arms to let her know I was uninterested.

The look on Max's face was nothing I had ever seen before.

I felt like I was standing in front of a mirror, staring at an image of me on those nights where I was so exhausted from crying I could barely stand anymore.

She seemed to hide it better than I did, but I definitely caught a slight quiver of her bottom lip.

Max's face morphed into a pained expression, being positive that the others were too busy talking to notice.

She gave me a slight nod, almost like she was acknowledging my rejection of her, before turning on her heel and breaking from the group that she was stuck in.

Will looked worried as he moved to watch her go, "Max? Max what's wrong?" He shouted out, Lauren hovering next to him.

Lucas reacted quickly, his legs moving toward her, still trying to keep a comfortable distance for her sake.

And just as I had dreaded, Mike left me standing there, following after the girl he had befriended, if only that.

Mike's POV

My forehead creased, watching as Max was booking it outside of the pool area.

I finally caught up to Lucas, "Man what's going on? I thought she was fine!"

He just turned his head and gave me a look that told me she hadn't been completely honest with us. Like he knew what was wrong but had proceeded to keep it to himself.

"Just stay here."

That statement gave me a sour feeling in my stomach.

Why didn't she tell me?

And deep down, I knew exactly why she hadn't. But I couldn't think about that right now.

I heeded Lucas's words until his yell could be heard, shouting out her name.

I sprinted outside, black hair flowing out of my face.

Stopping in my tracks, I took in a sharp breath, my heart seeming to pause during a beat.

There on the sidewalk was Lucas, cradling Max's unconscious body.
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I'm so sorry I haven't gotten another chapter written in so long!

Also,

WHAT HAPPENED TO MAX ?!?!🥺🤭