eyes [maxpres highschool au]

eight. goodnight

Finally, the chapter you've all been waiting for :)
(this time it's preston's POV!)

   Preston put on his playlist of calming songs from musicals as he drove in silence. Every chance he could, he would glance over at Max's sleeping face. It was adorable.

   Preston had come to terms with his crush on the boy many years ago. He used to think that churning in his stomach that he felt whenever he was around Max was hate. He had ruined his play, after all. But after Max had flirted with him for a dare in 7th grade, he couldn't get the boy out of his mind.

   Preston sighed. "Alright, Max. We're here." He looked over to see the boy still asleep. He smiled, leaning over and ruffling his hair.

   "Well. Guess I'll just have to carry you," he decided. Turned the engine off, getting up and walking around to the other side of the car. He opened the passenger side door, carefully unbuckling Max and picking him up. He gently closed the car door, pulling out his eyes and unlocking his apartment, which he lived in alone.

   Preston carried Max in, bringing him to the only bedroom he had. He gently laid Max down on the bed, tucking him into the sheets. He pulled Max's phone out of the boy's pocket, using the Indian teen's thumb to unlock the phone. He opened up the boy's messaging app, and pressed on the contact named Dad, whom he assumed to be David.

hey! this is preston! max is crashing at my place 2nite, i'll drive him back 2morrow.
seen 9:12 pm

Thank you for telling me! You two have fun! :)
seen 9:13 pm

Preston smiled, placing Max's phone on the beside table. He looked down at Max's sleeping face, and in a spilt second decision, leaned down and pressed a kiss against his forehead.

Content, Preston exited the bedroom, turning the lights off and shutting the door behind him. He walked over to the couch, deciding it would be best to sleep there. He had grabbed a spare pillow and blanket from his bedroom, so he laid them out on the couch. He fell asleep within seconds.

pov switch!

   "Wh... where the hell..?" I mumbled, sitting up. I looked around, finding myself in an unfamiliar bedroom. "Wha... Oh. Wait. Right. Preston."

   "Wait..." I sniffed the air, my eyes widening. "Oh my god, is that bacon?! Jesus Christ, he knows me well..."

   I immediately threw the covers off, standing up. I grabbed my phone off the bedside table before opening the door. I walked over to the kitchen, seeing Preston standing in front of the stove. The theater kid looked up, smiling.

   "Good morning, Max!"

    And I realized.

   Preston's hair was down.

   I found myself staring. Ever since Preston had started growing his hair out, he kept it up in either a bun or a ponytail. But now, seeing it just sitting there, looking all natural... holy shit, it was beautiful.

   HE was beautiful.

   "Like what you see?" Preston said with a giggle. I blinked a couple times, stuttering.

   "I- well- you- I'm just- not used to seeing your hair down," I rushed. The theater kid shook his head, smiling as he went back to making breakfast. I sat down at the dining room table and started scrolling through my phone. I saw an unread message from David, but before I could read it, I heard Preston call out to me from the kitchen.

   "Hey, Maxwell! Do you mind if I put on some music?"

   I shrugged. "Go ahead."

   After a few seconds, I heard a song come from the kitchen. I narrowed my eyes, trying to recognize it.

   "The fuck is this?"

   Preston emerged from the kitchen, the speaker on his shoulder and a plate for both of them. "Seriously? You've never listened to Hamilton? Psh."

   He set the plates down on the table, sitting down across from me. "The song is Helpless."

   We are in silence as I listened to the song. If I was gonna be honest, it was kind of awkward... but also a tad bit romantic. Y'know. Eating together. Alone. With a romantic song playing.

   The song ended. And... next was another romance song. I found it a bit strange, but I decided not to mention it.

   And then.

   "Max?"

   I looked up from my plate. "Hm?"

   Preston averted his eyes. "Thank you... for everything."

   I gave him a tiny smile. "Heh. It's really no big dea-"

   "Yes, it is!" Preston exclaimed as he leaned across the table, grabbing hold of my hands. I recoiled in shock, my hands breaking free from his grip. He sighed, standing up.

"You've done way much more for me than you think, Max," he said, pacing back and forth. "You helped me get out of that relationship with Nurf, you helped me when I had that panic attack..."

I blinked, looking up. He was standing right next to me.

"Max."

He grabbed my chin, smiling.

"Thank you."

And he leaned down, pressing a chaste kiss to my lips.

It only lasted for a second, and before I could comprehend what was happening, he had sat back down, staring at his plate and aimlessly picking at the rest of his food.

   I blinked, my mouth hung open.

   "Pres..."

   "You can leave if you want," he mumbled, looking back up at me.

   Oh god his eyes.

   So many emotions.

   Sadness, longing, regret...

   Love.

   "I-I'm sorry, I-"

   And before I knew it, I was walking out the door, dialing David's number and asking him to come pick me up.