Glorify Bad (ON HOLD)

Chapter Three - Built In 1834

        Corrine had kissed Michael goodbye before his leave to ready the Prescott’s home for dinner that night. Max hid the flask in between his mattress, but firstly taking a slurp before it was hidden.

He managed to take a shower beforehand; washing his hair of unwanted oils that had collected that morning. Corrine touched up her makeup at her vanity, re-tracing her plump lips of red and powdering her cheeks.

It had been quite some time since Michael had come around to visit. Angela, his wife and mother of his children, had remained quite oblivious to the relationship that Corrine and Michael had been having since Vincent’s death.

As Corrine freshened her face at her vanity, there was a light knock at the bedroom door. Corrine could see Max in the reflection of the mirror behind her with dampened hair.

“Yes, darling?” she spoke with a welcoming grin as she posed in the mirror under the lights angling to enhance her facial features.

        Max entered the master, stepping through the contemporary styled room to his mother seated at a lit desk.

“Did she find out?” Max questioned with a face with no evidence of expression.

“Did who find what out, darling?” Corrine emerged from her seat with a calming tone, towering a few inches over a six-foot-something tall Max in her heels.

“Angela.” He said. “Did she find out about you and Michael?”

Corrine stood with a switched expression, deciding to ditch the false smile.

“No.” she pressed her lips, tucking loose hair behind her ear.

“You don’t have to lie about it anymore.” He spoke with rolled eyes. “I figured he hadn’t visited because Angela was suspicious.” He shrugged, pulling a Marlboro box from his black jeans and lighting a stick.

Corrine stiffened. “How did you know about that?”

Max puffed smoke into the air. “It’s just something I never asked about. I’m not bothered. Father has been gone a long time.”

Corrine shifted her jaw. “Will you say nothing?”

        “Of course.” Max chuckled, tapping his mother’s shoulder as if she were a friend. 

Corrine smirked at his friendly action.

“But what’s the end game?” he questioned, puffing another cloud into the room. 

“What are you talking about?” she spoke as she watched him wander toward the exit of the room.

“Will he be my step father?” he asked with a gesture of question.

Corrine blushed with a dimpled grin, shaking her head. “It’s been going on for so long I forgot what I was waiting for.”

Max nodded. “You know, all these years I thought you were just going to let yourself shrivel up and die alone.” He said jokingly. “Who knew anyone else in this town was getting laid as much as I do.”

Corrine threw her head back in laughter. “Oh darling, where do you think you got your charm from?”

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Caleb had watched wheel of fortune just as he promised he would for what seemed like hours since Elsie had left for work. The sun began to fall behind the trees, and the sunset had found its way. He clicked the episode off, realizing the silence of the home. Caleb sat for a moment, taking in the white noise that filled his ears. He rose from the uncomfortable-yet-useful floral couch and traveled towards the front door, slipping on his rugged converse and zip-up spring jacket hanging on the coat rack.