Oscar (bxb)

3.

Maxie was scrolling through his phone on Chloe's bed while she was sat on the floor doing her makeup by her mirror.

Music filled what would have been silence as they found they didn't have much to talk about. They used to be best friends when they were kids but coming from two schools and having tense family situations, they'd been driven apart.

The Wright family were lenient with him. They knew that his mother's actions were by no means associated with him, but distance from her meant distance from him.

Still, his aunt and uncle would send him money every now and again and Chloe and him would catch up over text. She'd even used to help him out over the phone when things got rough.

Then Dean had taken that job and suddenly Chloe were the kinds of people who only saw each other at family functions.

Dean. He hadn't seen that face in a while. It was the very reason he'd deleted all his socials in the first place.

A sense of dread still swelled in his stomach at the sight of him. Even his very name was a reminder of all the feelings that had plagued him for that whole month. The very reason he needed to get out of there.

Once again, he was running away from it all. Third times a charm, ay?

"Are you okay?"

Maxie looked up. Chloe was looking at him through the mirror. Was he really that bad at hiding his emotions? He forced a smile and nodded. "Yep. Super."

She continued flicking her mascara. "You know, I'm happy you're getting along with everyone. I think this was the right move for you."

He sat up straight and crossed his legs. "I guess it kind of has to be or else I just caused a whole lot of shit for myself."

She stood up. She was wearing this short blue dress that showed off a lot of skin and she pulled it all off so well.

Daisy came into the room and announced. "Get downstairs and get ready to take a lot of fucking pictures. My makeup went okay two nights in a now. Its a miracle."

"Coming," Chloe said, sitting down at the edge of the bed to put her shoes on.

"You look good by the way," Daisy told her, eyes flicking to Maxie before adding, "you too."

She left before he could respond.

Ever since a comment at a bar had left him insecure, he'd been wearing his 'be invisible' outfits which consisted of very mute and forgettable colours. Since coming here, he'd redownloaded his social media (at the request of the others so that he could add and follow them) and he vowed to reject the way he'd conditioned himself into trying to blend in and adapt to the liking of others.

He'd wear all the patterned pants and fun colours he'd fucking want.

Also vodka helped with the whole confidence thing. It made the highs really high but it also made the lows really low. Although, with a lack of reminders of his ex in a whole new location, he supposed there couldn't be much of a chance to get low.

Downstairs they went to take photos. Selfies and group pics, on each of their phones. He passed down the offer to take some on his so he wouldn't have to bare posing any longer. He'd even smiled. It wasn't much of anything but it had been long since he'd smiled out of genuine happiness or excitement.

"Come on guys, lets go! Uber's here!"

☼  ☼  ☼

The club was called Climax and Maxie found it very hard to believe that it wasn't a gay bar. Nevertheless it was a popular attraction at Wickham University and it exceeded his expectations. Clearly only he was the one who stayed in on Sundays because the group knew everyone here. There was barely much room to walk.