He just sat there for a moment. Talking to himself in his head. What the fuck was he doing? He didn't want to push Max off of him, so he started slightly moving his body in hopes that she would wake up: and she did.
"Max? Wakey Wakey, Maxine, I can't feel my left arm." She gave him a grunt in response, and then rolled off of him onto the floor. Gus got up and stood over her, and gave a thumbs up and then a thumbs down with a questioning look on his face, she gave back a thumbs up. Gus picked up his phone and walked into the kitchen. He saw that Elize had sent a text to him saying,
"Call me when you can. We have to talk." He could've called her right then, but he didn't want to. He was scared. Tossing his phone onto the kitchen counter, he turned around and saw Max walk into the bathroom, he heard the toilet seat lift and since Max very obviously wasn't a guy, he figured she was probably going to throw up. He walked in and sure enough, there she was. Leaning over the porcelain bowl, puking her guts out. Gus sat down on the bathtub wall and pulled Max's black hair together and held it for her. In-between her vomiting, she managed to spit out a "Thanks." Gus smiled, he kind of missed Max in a way. She was always there for him, even if they weren't a couple. Best friends no matter what. Gus' eyes had crossed since he was reminiscing so hard. He shook his head, and Max got up and flushed the toilet. She brushed her teeth and told Gus to get out of the bathroom so she could shower. He got up and went for the door, but Max asked him to get her some clothes. Gus went into her room, picked up whatever he knew was necessary and *probably* clean. When he walked back into the bathroom, Max was in her underwear in-front of him. This didn't shock Gus much, so he just tossed her clothes on the bathroom hamper and turned to walk out, but she grabbed his arm and spun him back around. She looked at the ground and asked,
"Do you miss me?"
"Max..."
"No, please, just tell me."
"It's been a while since me and you have even had anything."
"When we put out that fire, it was still glowing, Gus."
"Well, do you miss me at all Max?"
"I do. Very much so."
"Shit..."
She lifted her head to face him.
"Is Elize even worth it?"
Gus didn't speak a word.
"Answer me, August."
She used his full name. Not even Elize used it.
"I don't know."
"Why don't we find out? Go call her, tell her you're here. See how she reacts."
So Gus did. He picked up his phone, and rang for Elize. She picked up.
USUAL : chapter six, cont.
"Finally, I've been needing to talk to you all day. Gus, I don't know if I can stay like this with you. So separated, but I don't want to give up this good job." Gus replied with,
"So what's that mean? No more us?"
It was silent for a while. Max's expression changed into a worried one.
"I guess so. I'm so sorry, Gus. I love you."
"Yeah, I'm sure you do. That's why you're all the way across the U.S."
He hung up after that, and he gave Max a deep sigh.
Max turned on the shower, laid down a towel and said,
"Get in with me. De-stress."
Gus didn't decline, so he just did it. He got in with her.
A good 30-35 minutes later, they get out and dried. Gus put on the same clothes he was wearing and Max changed. She walked out first and headed for the kitchen. Gus tailed, and picked up his car keys which he left on the counter in a dish.
"I'm gonna go home, make sure my mom is alright. Wanna come with?" Gus asked, Max responded with "Nah, you should just go. I'll see you later." She leaned over the counter and kissed his cheek. Surprised, he walked out, and jumped into his car again. He pulled the top down again, it was a nice day. Sunny, windy, sad, probably going to rain later. The total usual.
