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CHAPTER SIX THE SMILE YOU GAVE ME, EVEN WHEN YOU FELT LIKE DYING !
mike and max were never really close. they had their disagreements, spited each other's ways of life- but kept the peace for lucas. and the sake of everyone else around them.
so when mike had turned up on her doorstep an early thursday morning, a week before school started back again after the spring break, max couldn't believe her eyes.
but none the less, she invited the distressed boy to sit on the roof with her- a spot she loved, mostly for stargazing or smoking. or both.
shoes mucky with mud and weeds, mike and max sat beside each other, looking over upon her driveway, as the sun was blossoming high in the skye behind an abundance of maple trees.
"so what do you want?" max asked, as she fished a packet of cigarettes out of her jean pocket.
mike shrugged, looking away from her. "i-i just wanted to hang out."
"you're a terrible liar." she scoffs. "come on, spit it out."
mike knew she wouldn't give up if he didn't tell her, so he took the safe option to just blurt it all out. "look, i like this girl but...theres all these rumours about her and her family. and everyone close to me says i should keep my distance."
"so? who cares about rumours." max laughs, with the cigarette between her teeth. "want one?"
mike shakes his head, watching her cup her hand around it and set it alight. "no thanks."
there's a moment of silence between them as max takes a puff of her cigarette, relaxing and sliding down onto her back- looking up at the clouds.
"let me put it plainly." she begins, peaking mikes interest. "if you listen to rumours, you're a jerk. if you really like this girl, rumours shouldn't cloud your judgement. and anyway, i like el. she seems nice."
"how did you know it was el?" mike squeaks, his voice cracking and making max stifle a laugh behind her cigarette.
"small town, idiot." she says, taking a puff. "so, did you kiss with tongue when you snuck away from us at the quarry the other day?"
"we didn't kiss! god, max." mike grumbles as he crossed his arms right over his chest. if only max knew what had really happened to el earlier that day. but he would never tell a soul.
"I'm just teasing, mike. but seriously, if you like her then go for it. whats stopping you?" the redhead asked, the curiousness in her eyes urging mike to tell her the truth.
