✓ LET ME IN, elmax

FIVE: THE DINER

CHAPTER FIVE
( the diner! )

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   BETTY WAS NOT, IN FACT, DEAD AFTER ALL. a bit of a disappointment, but mainly a relief. hooray, maxine mayfield isn't a murderer! however, she was suspended for five days.

   her mother was disappointed in her daughter, to say the least. max was on the fence about whether or not to explain why she did it. mom, the only reason i nearly killed her was because she tried to drown me! she cut my cheek, too! yeah, right. her mother loves her, but she wouldn't believe that.

   max told her, however, and she believed it. max isn't sure why she told her, since she barely wanted to. must have been during a lecture at home about how hitting kids with sticks isn't very friendly.

   her mother threatened to call the school, but max convinced her that it wasn't a good idea. it'd make them seem as though they're blaming the victim. nobody but will would believe them. coach clarke, maybe, but that's it.

   max just didn't want to cause a scene. if betty, greta, and heather got in trouble, who knows what they'd do to max? they'd probably kill her, honestly.

   it's snowing heavily. in fact, there may be six inches on the ground now. that didn't stop max from the temptation of going out. nothing's stopping her; her mother's at work, her brother's at school, and her brain to telling her to go.

   so, despite having a cold, she begins to get dressed into warm clothes, including her hat and boots.

   she is at the door, ready to go.

   at first, nothing happens except snow. max didn't expect anything but some relaxation from the stress of nearly killing somebody who's probably going to kill her. however, somebody else exits the building and heads towards her.

   it's jane. she's must paler than before (if that's possible), her eyes seem to be a bit wider, and there's a bit of blood on her mouth. nevertheless, it's jane, and max has a story to tell (right after questioning the blood).

   "chapped lips," jane says as an excuse. she's a bad liar, but max doesn't want to press onward. it's none of her business, anyways. jane probably busted her lip when falling and is too embarrassed to admit it. "how come you're not at school?"

   "oh," max begins, a smiles forming. a small smile, because she's not sadistic, "i'm suspended. this girl was trying to drown me and an ice skating rink and i hit her with a stick and sent her to the hospital. i thought i had killed her."

   "the same that cut you?" max nods.

   "enough of this topic," max laughs, but it's fake. anybody could see that, "i'm hungry. come to the diner with me?"

   jane hesitates, her complexion somehow getting paler. by now, she looks like the snow on the ground. the blood on her lips remain, but her eyes seem to be normal. perhaps it was just a hallucination on max's behalf. "sure."

   so they begin to walk to the local diner. max had twenty bucks in her pocket, and she just planned to buy a large order of fries to share with the girl. maybe a water. she would've bought a milkshake, but she's still sick.

   they end up there in less than ten minutes, and the heating from the diner is welcoming. max's once flushed face gains color, but jane's doesn't. maybe she's sick.

   the two girls take a seat at a booth as some eighties pop song plays in the background. max taps her fingers to the beat, and this amuses jane. soon, a waiter approaches them and asks what they'd like to drink. max says water, then looks towards jane. she seems to be distracted, so she simply says, "same."

   within minutes, their cups of water have arrived. max then places an order of fries after consulting jane, who doesn't mind. so, it's up to them to talk until food arrives. "so," max starts, taking a sip of water before continuing, "have you ever been here before?" jane shakes her head, causing max to gape her mouth playfully. "really? my brother takes me here sometimes. it's a nice place. maybe you and i could come more often." both girls smile.

   the food comes, but they leave it alone for a bit, since you could see the smoke. jane decides to knock any suspicion coming from max by taking a sip of water. however, she ends up going into a coughing fit. this concerns max, who is clueless about what to do, but jane just waves it off after five minutes, finally finished. "you okay?" jane nods.

   they finish up, max eating most. however, jane did try a fry, but that ended in yet another coughing fit. they stand behind the building, preparing to leave. "this was fun," max claims. jane giggles a bit, sensing the playful mockery in the sentence. suddenly, max gets serious, "i'm glad i met you, jane."

   "i'm glad we met, too."

   max pauses, shifting her vision downwards.

  you don't like girls, max. you don't like girls, you don't like girls, you don't like gi-

   jane hugs her. perhaps it is the best thing max has ever experienced. she doesn't understand why she's now crying, but jane didn't care. she just wants her friend to be happy. "let's go."

   max nods, and they begin to walk. five minutes into their trail home, jane grabs max's hand. neither of them acknowledge this, but it's happening and max may just pass out right there.

   you're not a lesbian, max!

   now, they stand back where they started at the climbing area. jane hugs her once more, says goodbye, and heads into the building. max follows, going to her house. from there, she heads to her room.

   she turns on the television and begins to browse her dvd's until she finds one she's in the mood to watch, leprechaun 3, and places it into the dvd player. she then flops onto her bed and stares up at the ceiling, confused.

   do i like girls?

( author's note! )

i've written two chapters for this today and maybe more later idk