YOU 2 [Charli D'Amelio]

Chapter 128.

"Should we go out there with your mother?" I ask her after a few beats of silence.

"No.. let's just stay like this for a minute." She says.

"Okay." I happily oblige.

I know that Max and I still have things to sort out but I feel so resolved now, so calm, so right. I am worried about everyone's reaction, especially my mother's but I will deal with that when the time comes. I hope the fact that I am not spending Christmas with her for the first time in eighteen years will overshadow her anger over Max and I being together again and honestly if it doesn't I don't care. Well, I care but I am tired of the constant battle between her and I. I can't keep going to war with her over my choices, and I it's impossible to make her happy. I am done trying.

I lean my head against Max's chest and she takes the end of my ponytail into her hands and twirls the hair between her fingers. I am glad that I got all of the gifts wrapped, it was stressful enough to get them at the very last minute. Shit. I didn't get Max a gift! Did she get me one? Probably not, but now that we are together again.. or sort of for the first time.. I am afraid that she did and I didn't get her anything at all. I should have gotten her something before. What would I even get her.

"What's wrong?" she asks and moves her hand to my chin, tilting my face to her.

"Nothing.. "

"You aren't .. you're not .. you know.. changing your mind?" Her voice is slow and unsure.

"No.. no. I just.. I didn't get you a gift." I admit.

Her face breaks into a smile and her eyes meet mine.

"You're worried about getting me a gift for Christmas?" She laughs.

"Yea.. I should have gotten you something but I didn't know.."

"Charli, honestly you have given me enough. You worrying about a Christmas gift is ridiculous."

"You're sure?"

"Positive." She laughs again.

I still feel guilty, maybe I will get her something when the malls open back up after Christmas. I will be at Liam's for Christmas anyway. I wish Max would reconsider.

"I will get you something really good for your birthday?" I shrug and she moves her hand back to my face. Her thumb runs along my bottom lip causing them to part and I expect her to kiss me again.

Instead, her lips touch down on my nose and then my forehead in a surprisingly sweet gesture.

"I don't really do birthdays." She tells me.

"I know.. I don't either." This is one of the few things we have in common.

"Maxxime?" Anne's voice calls as a light tap is heard on the door.

She groans and rolls her eyes as I climb off of her lap.

"It wouldn't kill you to be nicer to her, she hasn't seen you in a year."

"I'm not mean to her." She says and I know she honestly believes it.

"Just try to be a little nicer, for me?" I bat my eyelashes dramatically and she smiles.

"You're the devil." She teases but agrees.

"Maxxime?" She repeats and knocks again.

"Coming!" She says and climbs off of the bed.

She opens the door and I cross my legs on the bed.

"Do you two want to watch a movie?" She asks max.