Everything Is Not What It Seems~ Max Love Story

{41} Family Game Night

(Your Outfit)

(Y/N)'s POV

"You look beat, what happend?" Max asked as we walked to our next class.

"I had to stay up all night finishing this stupid paper for English," I replied, eyes drooping.

Max shook his head and patted my shoulder, "Bummer."

As we made it to the school entrance heard a "I'm in love!" and a girl running off. We looked at each other then at Justin.

"I should get to class, I'll see you later Max," I said.

"See ya later!" Max replied as I waved and headed to my next class.

After school I headed back with Max and Justin to their apartment since Max and I wanted to sleepover, he emphasized the sleep for me. We were eating an after school snack that Mrs. Russo had prepared when Mr. Russo came in holding a box, "Hey! Huh? Ooh! Look what I found when I was dropping some stuff off at the resale shop. It's the Almost Charades board game. Like we used to play at family game night!"

Mrs. Russo looked at him, "Honey, I got rid of that thing for a reason. Family game night nearly destroyed this family. Don't you remember? The fighting, the cheating, the crying when someone lost?"

"I vaguely remember why I was not invited to those nights anymore," I whispered to Max as he nodded.

"But that's because the kids were young. I think they're old enough to handle it now," Mr. Russo said, walking over to Mrs. Russo.

Mrs. Russo scoffed, "They weren't the ones who were crying."

"Oh burn," I whispered to Max.

"Come on. Let's play tonight. Please, please, please, please, please," Mr. Russo begged.

"All right fine, we'll play. But you know what? We're gonna play on the terrace," Mrs. Russo replied.

"Fine!" Mr. Russo exclaimed, accepting the compromise.

"Wait why do we have to play there?" Max asked as I nodded in question.

Mrs. Russo turned to him, "Because that way we'll be out in front where all the neighbors can see. Then we'll be shamed into behaving well and also when stuff starts to fly, my ceiling won't get stained with guacamole."

She pointed up at the ceiling. Mr. Russo smiled, "Oh good. I thought that was something seeping down from Max's room."

When they left Max smiled at me and said, "That is totally coming from my room."

I shook my head in disgust. Soon enough Justin came through the door throwing his stuff angrily on the floor. Max had filled me in that Justin was dating some girl named Daphne. Max and I looked at him as he asked, "So how was the date?"

"What do you think?" Justin asked, opening the fridge for a drink.

Max pointed at him, "I think I thought of a way for you to break up with her at the ball game. Check it out. After a batter strikes out, you look at her and you say, 'Strike three! You're out!...No seriously get outta here'."

I shook my head and turned to Justin shrugging, "I mean that's one way to do it but maybe not so harshly."

Justin paused and looked at us, "I kissed her."

"Oh you wanted her to break up with you," Max said, looking surprised.

Justin shook his head, "No, I was leaning in to tell her we weren't in a relationship but then of course they put us up on the big screen and the whole crowd kept chanting 'Kiss, kiss, kiss you guys! Kiss, kiss!' and I choked under the pressure."

"That's rough, buddy," I said, biting into my snack.

Max came around the counter, "Well, lucky for you, I still know a way for you to get rid of her. Look dad's forcing us to have family game night tonight. You know us, the cops'll be there an hour after we start."

A lightbulb clicked in Justin's head, "And I'll invite Daphne to come. She'll see how mean and hurtful and cheating us Russos can be, she'll bail and never want to see me again!"

"That's a great idea. I was thinking we could plant some of Mom's jewelry on her and get her arrested," Max said.

"That'll be Plan B in case she turns out like Harper or I," I said and Max nodded in agreement.

"I gotta call Daphne right now this is a great idea," Justin said, smirking.

Max nodded, "I know. Hey, you should've started coming to me for advice years ago, huh?"

"I didn't come to you. You were standing there when I walked in talking with (Y/N)," Justin said matter-of-factly.

Max shook his head, "And you talked, that's good enough for me."

I shook my head and headed to the bathroom as Max headed to the terrace unknowingly sabotaging the plan he helped Justin think of.

A couple of hours later Max and I were helping his parents set up snacks for game night when Justin came downstairs in the most relaxed clothes I've ever seen him in while his parents were a little more fancied up. Mrs. Russo asked, "Justin, aren't you getting dressed for your date?"

"These are my good flip-flops, they match the sweater, " Justin explained.

Mrs. Russo nodded, "Well we're all very excited that Daphne's coming over for family game night."

"We'll do anything to help this romance flourish. Theresa, why don't you make your deviled eggs? And put a dozen aside for me," Mr. Russo said.

'Oh boy, not the plan,' I thought as I stole a chip from the snack bowl.

"No, no you guys just be yourselves, ok?" Justin asked, "I want Daphne to get to know you guys for who you are. This night should be like any other family game night."

Max and I each took a bowl outside to the terrace for snacks. I looked at Max, "I really hope this plan works," I whispered to Max.

Soon enough Daphne arrived and I saw that Justin really was stuck, so we moved to the terrace where Mrs. Russo divided up the teams.

"Wait, what about (Y/N)?" Justin asked.

"She's the points taker," Max said, winking at me as I mouthed a 'thank you' and lied back on a lawn chair as he handed me a whiteboard and marker and sat next to me.

"I guess it'll be easier if someone took points," Mr. Russo agreed. But as soon as the game started, I was nodding on and off barely writing the points down but as soon as the game started it ended.

"Hey, wake up, Daphne's gone," Max whispered to me.

I smiled, "Glad the plan worked. If I heard right while sleeping did your parents fight and a lady threaten to call the cops?"

"Wow your hearing is really good!" Max exclaimed,

I nodded, "Sorry I basically missed game night."

"It's okay, let's just get to bed," Max replied helping me up.

I nodded as the both of us made our way upstairs to his room where after I was in my pajamas and in my sleeping bag I was out like a light.