YOU 2 [Charli D'Amelio]

Chapter 141.

When Max returns from dropping Anne off at the airport I am still awake. I hear her drop her clothes onto the floor and climbs back into bed wearing only boxers. She wraps her arms around me once more.  I am still a little irritated with her from our earlier conversation but her arms are cold and I missed her during her absence from our bed.

"I go back to work tomorrow." I say after a few minutes,  unsure if she is awake or not.

"I know." She is awake.

"Is something wrong?" I ask, her tone sounds off.

"No, just tired." She says.

Okay.. I am excited to get back to Vance."

"Why?"

"Because I love it there and I have had the week off, I miss working."

"You're quiet the over-achiever." She mocks, I know she is rolling her eyes even though I can not see her face.

"Sorry that I love my internship and you don't like your job." I smile.

"I do like my job, and I had the same job you had but I left it for something better." Max brags.

"Do you only like it more because you get to do it from home?"

"Yea, that's the main reason."

"What's the other reason?"

"I felt like people thought I only got the job because of Vance."

This is not a huge revelation but it's a much more honest answer than I expected from her. I expected a word or two about how the job sucked or was annoying.

"Do you think people thought that?" I roll onto my back from my side and Max leans up on her elbow to look down at me.

"I don't know, no one said it but I felt like they were thinking it. Especially after he hired me on as an actual employee not just an intern."

"Do you think he was upset when you left to work for someone else?"

"No, I don't think so. His employees were constantly complaining about my supposed attitude anyway." She smiles. Her smile appears especially bright in the half lit bedroom.

"Supposed attitude?" I tease.

She cups my cheek beneath her hand and drips her head down to kiss my forehead.

"Yes supposed, I am very charming. No attitude at all." She smiles against my skin.

I giggle and she smiles, pressing her forehead against mine.

"What do you want to do today?" She asks.

"I don't know, I was thinking of calling Liam and going to the store."

"For what?"

"To talk to him and see when he can meet up with me. I would like to give him those tickets."

"The gifts are at their house, I am sure they already opened them."

"I don't see them opening them without us being there."

"I would."

"My point exactly." I tease her.

"Do you think.. what do you think about me apologizing.. well not apologizing.. but what if I called him, you know my dad?"

"I think you should call him. I don't expect you to apologize and I am sure he doesn't either but I do think you shouldn't let what happened yesterday ruin the beginning of a relationship you were forming with him." I know that I need to tread lightly when it comes to Max and Ken.

"You're obnoxious."

"You need to lighten up, learn to go with the flow." She laughs harder.

Her laugh is contagious and it feels great to be laying in bed laughing with Max, despite the subject of conversation.

"I am on my period, I just started right before you got home."

"Why are you embarrassed by it?"

"I'm not, I just don't think it's something that women should discuss."

"It's not a big deal, I don't mind a little blood." She presses herself against me.

"You're gross." I scrunch my nose.

"I've been called worse." She smiles.

"You're in a good mood today." I point out.

"Maybe you would be too if it wasn't that time of month."

I groan and grab the pillow from behind me to cover my face.

"Can we please talk about something else?" I say through the pillow.

"Sure.. sure.. someone's bloody panties are in a twist." She laughs.

I pull the pillow from my face and hit her in the head with it before climbing off the bed.

I hear her laughing as she opens the dresser, to put pants on I assume. It is early, only seven in the morning but I am wide awake now. I start a pot of coffee and open the cabinet to make myself a bowl of cereal. I can't believe Christmas is over, in a few days the year will be over.

"What do you usually do to celebrate the new year?" I ask Max when she sits down at the table wearing white cotton drawstring pants.

"Go out, usually."

"Go where?"

"Parties, or club. Or both. Last year was both."

"Oh."  I hand Max a bowl of cereal.

"What would you like to do?"

"I'm not sure. I want to go out I think." I answer.

"You do?"

"Yea.. don't you?"

"I don't really give a shit what we do but if you want to go out that is what we will do." She brings the spoon full of cheerios to her mouth.

"Okay." I have no idea where we will go or what we will do but I do want to go somewhere.

"Are you going to ask your father if we can stop by today?" I ask her and take seat next to her.

"I don't know.."

"Maybe they could come here?" I suggest. Max's eyes narrow.

"I don't think so."

"Why not? You would be more comfortable here right?"

She closes her eyes for a moment before opening them again.

"I guess. I will call now."

"It's too early you will wake them."

"And?"

"Just wait until nine. It's rude to wake them up this early." I say and stand up from the table.

"Where are you going?" She asks.

"To clean obviously."

"Clean what? The place is spotless."

"No it's not, and I want it to be perfect if we are having guests over." I rinse my bowl and place it into the dishwasher.

"Of course you do." She smiles.

"You could help clean you know? Since you are the one making the mess." I suggest.

"Oh, no. You are much better at cleaning than I am."

I roll my eyes but I don't mind honestly because I like things a certain way and Max's version of cleaning is not actually cleaning, she shoves things wherever they will fit.

"Don't forget you need to go to the store to get your plugs." She laughs.

"Stop calling them that!" I throw a dish towel at her face and she laughs harder at my embarrassment.