Oscar (bxb)

20.

Daisy's house was what you'd expect from a normal, happy family. Manicured front garden with clean windows and a welcoming front door. Even still, Maxie felt intimidated by it.

Instead of knocking or pressing the doorbell, he sent a text to let her know that he was here and waited for a moment before an excited rumble could be heard, feet running down the stairs.

When the door was opened Daisy launched herself at her friend and squeezed tight, swallowing him whole on the hug. He stumbled back a bit but found his footing before settling forward again so he could return the hug.

"Come in," she said, leading him in by the hand.

Lingering at the bottom of the stairs was Chloe. She gave a friendly smile. It wasn't fake, either. "Hey."

"Hi," Maxie replied in return, offering a small wave.

They hadn't even really spoken much since she left to go home. That was fine. It didn't matter. As long as they were okay in person, he didn't have much to complain about, right? Still, he couldn't help but feel unsettled by the unspoken words between them.

"Have you been drinking?" Maxie asked, noticing Daisy's aloof nature.

"I'm just excited to see you guys!" Daisy told him, leading him up to her bedroom, smiling back at him when she reached the top of the stairs before heading into her room. It was almost indentical to her room at the student house. Cosmetics filled the entirety of the desk space, clothes were thrown about and hung up on chairs and the wardrobe knobs. Photos of what appeared to be school days judging by the uniforms were up on the wall above her med. It was chaotic but homely.

"I think she's more on a sugar rush than anything. She's been eating the snack supply since she got up."

"To be fair, I have," Daisy admitted with a nod, opening another packet of something intensely sugary. "I bought loads."

Maxie put his bag down and settled on the bed for now. He'd be sleeping on the floor in a sleeping bag while the two girls would take the bed.

"So what are we doing tonight?"

"Movie day? And night. I don't feel like going out," Daisy suggested.

Chloe and Maxie approved and they went through her stack of DVDs since all the best childhood favourites were best watched on the DVDs you spent your life with, even if they were a little scratched.

Maxie hadn't actually ever been invited to something so casual with a friend as a teenager. As a child he'd slept over at many of his friend's houses and camped out in their back gardens. As he grew up he never really felt close enough to be invited to these sorts of things. Plus perhaps the gender barrier may have made things harder, as the guys grew apart from him and it was weird with him imposing on a girl's only sleepover.

This was nice. He wasn't completely comfortable yet but he was getting there and he was having fun.

He hadn't even really looked at his phone much as he'd been too distracted by making fun of an old Disney Channel Original Movie with the others.

[Text: Oscar] You look good here

Attached to the text was a selfie he'd taken with Daisy and Chloe. They'd all decided to ditch even bothering with dressing up or looking good and they settled on comfy clothes, sweats and pajamas. Daisy had even stripped off her minimal makeup but Chloe had kept her's on, refusing to take a photo without it because she thought she was ugly. Untrue, but Maxie thought she looked equally great either way.

[Text: Maxie] Thanksss

Maxie hadn't responded to too many of Oscar's snaps, only keeping the conversations casual and friendly. He had no problem with Oscar but things were too fragile to ruin right now. Whether he liked Olivia or not, it would cause more problems for him and until he found another house for next year, he would stay out of trouble.