back [madwheeler]

chapter seven

(a/n THIS TOOK SO LONG TO POST IM SO SORRY!!)

the dreams never seemed to stop. even though max had already had about three episodes today, images of red and black still filled her mind. she could still see it come closer but wouldn't get the chance to touch her before she quickly shot up from her slumber.

breathing heavily, max tried to catch her breath, that one had to just be a bad dream, i hope, she thought. max tried to calm herself when a voice startled her, "are you ok?"max jumped at the sudden sound and turned around to see mike sitting next to her, "god wheeler don't do that," she said holding on to her chest. mike laughed lightly, "sorry,"

the pair sat in silence for moment before the raven haired boy spoke up, "bad dream?" he questioned, "uh-yeah," max said tucking a piece of hair behind her head. "do you want to talk about it?" he asked looking at her, "uh-" tomorrow, max thought, tomorrow everything will make sense. "you don't have to," mike quickly said interrupting her thoughts.

max slightly nodded and looked at her lap. breathing in she questioned the taller boy, "wh-what are you doing up?" mike sighed, running a hand through his dark hair, "too much on my mind," he replied. max laughed lightly, "you can say that again," she earned a small chuckle from mike when the room fell silent again.

"how long have you been up?" she asked tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. she examined mike who was sat up cross legged on his sleeping bag with a flashlight and comic books on his lap. "haven't been able to fall asleep yet," he said looking at his watch which was on the ground next to him, "so an hour maybe?" she couldn't believe that she had been asleep for only an hour and was already having dreams.

max nodded looking at mike but he wasn't looking at the red haired girl, but to his lap. his eyebrows were furrowed, he seemed like he was thinking of something, like he was deciding what to say. max knew what was coming next, and she was dreading it. "max what was wrong tonight?" he asked suddenly. and there it is.

max sighed looking down, tomorrow for fucks sake, she was too mentally exhausted at the moment to try and explain everything. "i-uh"
she scrunched her face thinking of an excuse, "um, will told me about your brother," he cut in. max guessed that he believed that was the reason for her crying tonight.

max nodded lightly , not necessarily answering anything, she wanted to make it believable, just cover it up for the night. "you know, i thought after what happened in november you would've scared him off," he said amused. max laughed lightly, "i wish,"she said sadly, "you know it worked for like two months. he would avoid me, and it was almost like he gained a slight respect for me," she explained.

"like he saw you as equal," mike said, "exactly!" max exclaimed, "it wasn't like he was in control anymore, but i didn't take that place you know?" mike nodded. "but then i think he started getting fed up with not having that control anymore. he got embarrassed with what happened and just channeled it all into anger, and guess who's his punching bag," explained max gesturing to herself.