Stick Together (A Max Goof Love Story)

Chapter 30

"I think I'm in love with her." Those were the first few words Max had spoken since Bobby and PJ came back to the dorm.

PJ was writing a poem for Coco when he said that, and he ended up snapping his pencil in half, and Bobby had spat out his soda, and was pounding a fist to his chest to stop the storm of coughs coming from his mouth.

And Max was completely unfazed; he kind of knew this was what they would do.

"Jesus, you don't speak for practically the whole day, and that's what you start off with?!" PJ questions, turning to face his friend in shock. "Are completely sure?"

Max shrugs. "All I know is that I like her way more than an actual friend, and I'm pretty sure this isn't just a crush either. Hell, you guys saw me after her and her family moved to New York, I was the definition of a fucking train wreck."

"Yeah, you wouldn't stop moping for days." Bobby inputs. "But, if you're so in love with her, why have you been treating her like absolute crap?"

Max grits his teeth. "I don't know, I've just been really frustrated with my feelings!" He sighs. "Look, you remember that night, when we went to that club? I was going to kiss her, but-"

"You were? Holy crap!" Bobby interrupts, and he pats Max's shoulder. "Did you?"

"I was about to say she stopped me before I could." Max says, removing Bobby's hand from his shoulder. "She asked me if I still had feelings for Roxanne, and she told me she didn't want to be a rebound, and I tried telling her that she wasn't, but she didn't believe me."

"Well, you did tell her that you don't have feelings for Roxanne anymore, right?"

Max rubs the back of his neck. "I didn't answer right away. I hesitated."

"Oh no," PJ mumbles, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "That was literally the worst thing you could've done!"

"I know, and I feel so stupid!"

"Well, if you regret what you did, why don't you just talk to her? You know, like we've been telling you to do this entire time!"

"Because every fucking time I open my mouth, I screw up! I can't say anything right!" He covers his face with his hands. "I'm just tired of messing up."

"You can still talk to her." PJ says, sitting beside Max. He lays a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You just need to think about what you want to say."

Max hums, running a hand through his hair. "Maybe." He gets up and he grabs his brown jacket from a pile of clothes. "I'm gonna go get some fresh air."

PJ looks at him in concern, but he nods. "Okay, but, uh, we're going to the Bean Scene with Coco in a little bit, so if you need to talk some more, you know where to find us.

Max, with his hand on the door handle, looks back at his friends and he gives them a small smile. "Thanks guys."

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"Is it weird that I don't hate him as much as I think I should?"

Bradley stares at Nicole incredulously. "Yes, that's very weird." He shakes his head. "W-what do you mean you don't hate him as much as you should? That guy was such a jerk to you!"

"I know that, but I can't help it. I mean, I'm still pissed at him, but my feelings for him haven't gone away."

"Oh wow, don't tell me you love the guy." Bradley says. His eyes widen as she stays silent. He groans. "I was fucking kidding, Nicole! You can't be serious!"