𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐.

[mvxsinc]

                       𝙼𝙰𝚇𝙸𝙽𝙴  𝙹𝙾𝙰𝙽𝙽𝙴  𝚂𝙸𝙽𝙲𝙻𝙰𝙸𝚁  ;  𝘐𝘕𝘛𝘙𝘖.                                   ✖︎  𝗽𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁    ╱    𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁  ✖︎

hey  waddup  y’all  i  genuinely  can’t  believe  kati  accepted  me,  but  a  legend  never  makes  mistakes  and  ur  not  getting  rid  of  me  now  xoxo  !  i’m  cecy,  she/her  please,  and  i’m  a  gmt-er  but  i  try  not  to  sleep,  only  for  u  guys  <3  i  have  no  wanted  connections  so  i  will  be  in  everyone’s  ims  for  plotting  and  i  will  be  annoying  but  i  promise  i’m  very  friendly  !!  @volumeupdates​.

( tamala shelton, cis female, muse l ) oh snap! is that MAXINE SINCLAIR? they work over at high volume where some of the other employees have labeled them as THE BROKEN BIRD. that’s probably because they can be a bit ( reliable. ) but also pretty ( reticent. ) they’re 22 and they’ve been living in woodstock for 22 YEARS. it must be their shift because i totally hear JONI MITCHELL blasting from the record store. ( aesthetics: a perfectly made bed, the smell of cinnamon and vanilla, stained sleeves from wiped mascara tears, crying so hard your chest hurts & falling asleep on a bus. )

🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅾🅾🅳

ain’t  that  much  to  say  about  max’s  childhood  really.  she  was  a  simple  kid,  grateful  and  kind,  and  this  is  something  she’s  held  onto.  she’s  the  most  loyal  friend  you’ll  ever  have.

she’s  never  been  good  in  school,  though  her  mom  has  always  tried  to  push  her  to  be  better  at  everything.  max  has  tried  cheerleading,  track,  chess  club,  but  just  never  excelled  at  anything  and  always  hated  (  still  hates  )  how  stupid  her  mom  makes  her  feel  sometimes.  she  loves  her  mom,  and  she’s  never  had  a  single  complaint  about  her  childhood,  but  it  sometimes  does  feel  like  she’s  still  earning  her  mother’s  love.  her  father,  on  the  other  hand,  loved  her  completely  unconditionally.

whilst  she  got  mostly  c’s  and  d’s,  her  father  always  liked  to  say  that  max  had  an  a  in  attitude,  an  a  in  heart,  and  an  a  in  soul.  part  of  that  died  with  him  though.

as  high  school  started  to  come  to  an  end,  max  started  getting  worried  about  falling  behind,  her  friends  moving  along  without  her.  things  had  always  been  good,  yet  never  perfect,  and  she’d  always  been  just  enough,  not  more  than.  maybe  she  started  holding  on  to  hard,  especially  to  christian  and  reyna,  obsessed  with  the  idea  of  life  being  good  forever,  even  if  it  meant  stagnation.  of  course,  max  never  meant  anything  by  it,  always  a  little  overbearing  and  desperate  to  be  loved.

🆃🅷🅴 🅱🅰🅳

TW:  death,  car  crash.  skip  this  section  if  this  might  be  triggering  for  you,  this  will  be Sad.  tl;dr  her  dad  died,  christian  cheated  on  her  with  reyna,  things  went  to  shit  <3

last  year  that  all  ended,  and  as  max  and  her  parents  were  coming  home  from  a  vacation,  the  girl  had  been  asleep  in  the  backseat.  it  all  happened  so  fast.  suddenly  she  was  upside  down,  desperately  trying  to  unbuckle  herself,  crawling  over  her  parents’  bodies  to  get  out,  her  mother  merely  unconscious.  she  hadn’t  known  then,  she  had  been  asleep  in  the  backseat,  things  had  been  good.  and  then  they  weren’t.  the  ambulance  came  and  her  mother  woke,  but  her  father  never  did.

for  a  while  even  max  couldn’t  pretend.  she  distanced  herself,  didn’t  pick  up  the  landline  when  it  rang,  didn’t  open  the  door  when  she  so  clearly  could  hear  her  name  being  called  outside.  took  a  leave  from  work.  she  wanted  someone  to  hug  her  so  tightly  she  could  not  breathe,  but  would  not  let  anyone  close  enough.

then  she  started  seeing  a  silver  lining  again,  returned  to  work,  tried  to  smile  even  —  and  then  she  found  out  christian  and  reyna  had  slept  together.  a  smile  hasn’t  felt  half  real  since  then.

🆃🅷🅴 🆄🅶🅻🆈

max  is  ..  sad,  there’s  no  other  way  to  put  it.  never  having  been  subjected  to  any  of  these  feelings  before,  not  like  this  at  least,  and  she’s  constantly  feeling  overwhelmed  and  emotional  because  of  it.  she’s  determined  to  not  let  it  show  though  so  catch  her  drying  her  tears  the  second  someone  enters  a  room  she’s  in.  her  smile  is  so  horribly  fake  it’s  kinda  embarrassing.

she  will  still  die  for  her  friends  in  a  heartbeat,  and  if  anyone  needs  her  assistance  with  anything  at  all  she’ll  be  the  first  to  volunteer  —  especially  now,  to  get  her  mind  on  other  things.

max  has  never  asked  for  anything,  never  been  ungrateful  for  anything,  never  even  voiced  a  complaint,  but  now  it’s  all  been  brewing  and  it’s  threatening  to  explode.  she’s  angry,  livid  even,  and  i  can  see  her  development  (  with  plenty  of  possible  connections  here  )  going  in  the  direction  of  ‘  idgaf  anymore  i  guess  i’ll  do  what  the  fuck  and  who  the  fuck  i  want  since  that’s  what  everyone  else  is  doing  ’

this  bitch  is  just  craving  love.  so  what  if  she’s  a  bit  of  a  people  pleaser  for  it  ?

[mvxsinc]

07.12.2022

[mvxsinc]

↻ ❛ ✖︎  𝙱𝙻𝙰𝙸𝚁. °

– THIS IS THE GIDDIEST BLAIR’S EVER SEEN MAX. sure, she’s seen max smile before, even made it her personal mission to make max laugh at times, but this is different. like something has been lifted off her shoulders, makes her look like she’s fucking floating when she walks. is that what love does to people ? blair had always thought love would be grounding, heavy, full of responsibility, but max makes it look weightless. “ have you met that man ? he’s whipped. he wants whatever you want, ” blair waves max’s worry away with her hand. “ i don’t think you have to worry. but i’m not babysitting. ” 

     SHE  SHOULD  BE  USED  TO  IT  BY  NOW  —  like,  for  god’s  sake,  they’re  married  now  —  but  whenever  people  point  out  just  how  obvious  kem’s  love  for  her  is,  max’s  heart  swells  to  the  size  of  an  air  balloon.  she  just  might  pop  with  it.  «  i’m  so  fucking  lucky,  »  she  mumbles,  mostly  to  herself,  as  her  eyes  find  kem  on  the  dance  floor.  she  looks  back  at  blair,  grins  and  gives  the  other’s  nose  a  soft  tap  with  her  finger.  «  like  i’d  let  you.  i’m  not  looking  to  raise  the  next  houdini  or  something.  »  because  let’s  be  real:  if  anyone  in  woodstock  is  even  a  little  magical,  it’s  blair  shapiro.

[mvxsinc]

↻ ❛ ✖︎  𝙺𝙴𝙼. °

kem would describe so many of his days with max as perfect. he might even say all of them just for having the luxury of her presence, even if he knows that’s not true. they’ve experienced some of the worst days together, ones he knows he wouldn’t have got through had it not been for her, but this day with max — their wedding day  — is everything to him. 

max has gently torn down any and every barrier he’s ever had regarding love, how he wasn’t even convinced it was real before she taught him otherwise, how even if it was real, he doesn’t deserve it, and even if he did, it’s not worth the lies, hurt and regret that’s bound to come with it. it’s not something he ever thought was on the cards for him, to be someone’s husband, to be in love and to be loved, but loving her is so effortless, and so is trusting her love for him. 

he almost feels embarrassed for being nervous earlier when now they’re stood as close as can be, swaying gently to the music he’s not paying any mind to. instead he’s thinking about their vows, believing every word and not wanting the night to end. he smiles so easily because of her, no hesitation in how his heart will jump as she looks at him and his lips will curve as she speaks, pressing a kiss upon his wife’s head.

“ shall we just stay like this forever ? ” it’s a joke but only just. if it was possible, he’d stand and sway with max until the end of time, keep her in his arms forever and never let go. his nose will meet with hers, a slow brush of their skin before he kisses her there, staying close.  “ if we ignore everyone, i’m sure they’ll leave eventually. “ 

     THIS  DAY  IS  EXACTLY  WHAT  MAX  NEEDED,  and  it’s  everything  she’s  ever  wanted.  she  never  thought  she’d  find  this  tranquility,  this  ability  to  be  her  unfiltered  self  with  anyone  anymore,  but  kem  unlocks  every  little  part  of  her  that  she  keeps  hidden  and  elects,  every  day,  to  love  her  for  it.  the  mere  thought  of  it  makes  her  want  to  cry.  if  there’s  one  thing  she  wishes  she  could’ve  changed,  it  would’ve  been  giving  him  her  heart  sooner  —  but  then  again,  would  she  have  loved  as  fiercely  without  the  heartbreak  first  ?  cheek  against  his  chest,  maxine  decides  it  doesn’t  matter.  they’re  here  now,  and  it’s  going  to  be  them  forever.

     «  we  could  try,  »  she  agrees,  looking  up  at  him  with  a  soft  smile,  eyes  sparkling.  she  is  pretty  sure  she’d  be  happy  like  this  forever,  as  if  the  world  around  them  simply  doesn’t  exist,  melting  away  with  every  other  insignificant  thing.  if  max  could  feel  any  lighter  she’d  be  weightless  enough  to  float.  «  but  i  don’t  know.  i  was  really  looking  forward  to  spending  our  wedding  night  on  a  bed,  »  she  adds  suggestively,  raising  an  eyebrow  as  a  hand  trails  up  from  his  arm  to  the  back  of  his  neck  —  even  when  she  needs  to  be  on  the  tip  of  her  toes  for  it.  «  but  if  you’re  not  interested  ...  »  she  teases,  loosening  her  grip  ever  so  slightly,  eyes  twinkling,  her  voice  no  more  than  a  mumble. 

[mvxsinc]

↻ ❛ ✖︎  𝙲𝙷𝙰𝚂𝙴. °

“That’s right… You’re married now,” he says the word married like it’s some weird thing, though his tone is laced with playfulness. It is weird, he didn’t think any of the people in the store would be up for something as huge as marriage any time soon, yet here they were, all attending a wedding of two coworkers. “You think Kem will mind?” He follows the direction she’s looking, eyes landing on Kem, a ghost of a smile forming on his lips as he looks back at Max. He follows her to the dance floor. He’s self conscious of his moves, not wanting to accidentally step on her toes. To be fair, he did warn her. “Congrats. You look good… Happy,” he notes. Well, obviously. “Are you ready for all that? Being married.”

     HER  EYES  FIND  KEM  NEARBY  and  she  shakes  her  head  at  chase’s  question.  max  knows  that  kem  would  never  get  in  the  way  of  her  happiness  —  and  right  now  that  happiness  is  on  the  dance  floor  with  chase.  she’s  still  holding  on  to  his  arm  as  they  dance,  and  she  has  to  lean  in  to  hear  his  next  question.  honestly,  had  he  asked  just  before  the  ceremony,  her  answer  might’ve  been  different:  but  every  crumb  of  hesitance  has  long  since  disappeared.  «  with  him  ?  yeah,  »  max  gazes  over  at  kem,  meeting  his  eyes  for  a  second  as  they  mirror  each  other’s  smiles  immediately.  she  turns  back  to  chase.  «  i  think  we’ll  be  alright.  »  it’s  true  what  they  say:  when  you  know,  you  know.  «  why  ?  you  guys  placing  bets  on  when  we’ll  divorce  already  ?  »  she  feigns  hurt,  but  the  truth  is  it  sounds  exactly  like  something  the  high  volume  -  employees  would  do  —  and  max  doesn’t  even  mind.  in  fact,  she  wouldn’t  have  it  any  other  way.

[mvxsinc]

↻ ❛ ✖︎  𝚃𝚁𝙸𝙿. °

     IT’S RARE MOMENTS LIKE THIS that make him thankful for how small and sleepy his hometown is. the roads on the outskirts of town rarely see much traffic, which means trip’s is essentially the only car on the road right now. he can safely put it in park at a stop sign without having to worry about anyone getting upset about it, and that’s exactly what he does. afterwards, he props his arm against the back of his seat and turns his full attention towards max. ❝ he won’t. the guy’s obsessed with you, ❞ trip states matter - of - factly, and boy is it ever. ❝ i’m pretty sure he would go nuts if he had to spend more than five minutes not being able to talk about you. ❞ this is said with a bit more humor, and as he reaches over to tuck a flyaway strand back into the rest of max’s hair, he quirks a brow at her as if to say ‘tell me i’m wrong’. he knows he’s not, and he knows she knows he’s not. no, whatever this is, trip knows it’s not about kem. not really. 

     ❝ look, if you’re having second thoughts, i’ll turn this car around right now. we’ll go get ice cream and watch vivre sa vie and i’ll try really hard not to laugh at the way you pronounce the characters’ names. but let’s be real, you’re just as obsessed with kem as he is with you, so i don’t think you have any plans on running either. so, if neither of you are having doubts, what’s the issue ? ❞ it’s a genuine question, features creased with soft concern as he waits for max’s answer.

     BY  NOW  MAX  SHOULD  KNOW  TRIP  WELL  ENOUGH  to  realize  he  won’t  let  this  slide.  still,  she  takes  a  deep  breath  when  trip  stops  the  car  and  turns  towards  her.  it’s  not  the  first  time,  and  secretly  max  hopes  it  won’t  be  the  last.  he’s  always  been  her  compass,  her  light  when  life  is  at  its  darkest  —  except  it’s  not,  right  now.  it  shouldn’t  be.  max  hears  his  words  and  nods  because  she  knows  this:  knows  there  is  no  path  she  could  take  without  kem  following  blindly,  knows  there  is  no  corner  of  the  earth  she  could  go  where  he  wouldn’t  look  for  her.  she  knows  him.  she’s  not  scared.

     so  why  does  she  feel  so  alone  ?

     max  had  never  extended  an  invitation  to  her  mom.  she  wouldn’t  have  come  anyway.  but  her  father  ...  there’s  a  million  things  she  could  say,  maybe  should  say,  but  the  mere  thought  of  allowing  for  that  string  of  thoughts  to  emerge  elicits  such  fear  that  max  only  shakes  her  head.  «  i  can’t  talk  about  it  or  i’ll  cry,  »  she  states,  waving  a  hand  absentmindedly  around  her  face,  «  and  i  look  so  pretty  right  now.  »  she  cracks  a  smile  that  doesn’t  even  feel  remotely  real.  «  it’s  just,  uhm  —  »  max’s  voice  breaks,  and  suddenly  she’s  8  years  old  again,  shrieking  from  equal  parts  fear  and  joy  as  she  sits  on  her  father’s  shoulder,  his  strong  arms  keeping  her  in  place  as  he  runs.  «  no  one’s  giving  me  away.  »  she  laughs  this  time  because  it’s  silly  —  she’s  an  adult  and  there’s  not  even  gonna  be  a  real  altar.  and  still.  «  i  just  miss  my  dad.  he  would’ve  wanted  to  be  here.  »  blank  eyes  shift  so  that  max  finally  meets  trip’s  gaze.  «  there  are  so  many  things  i  don’t  know  about  ...  being  married.  maybe  having  a  family  of  my  own  one  day.  and  there’s  just  no  one  to  ask.  »

[mvxsinc]

↻ ❛ ✖︎  𝙻𝙴𝚇. °

“Disaster, that’s what you are,” Lex remarked with a wine stained grin, walking over to the other, quickly standing in the way of any mishaps, fitting herself in between the crowd and her friend. “What happened to it?” A straight fabric slit was different than a zipper, one much easier to fix than the other. “Let’s walk off that way.” Pointing to a corner, “On my lead… One step, two step.” A dance of sorts, right? 

     «  HEY,  »  MAX  HUFFS,  FEIGNING  OFFENSE,  «  you  can’t  say  that  to  the  bride.  »  still,  she  mirrors  lex’s  smile.  one  hand  is  holding  the  dress  up,  the  other  clinging  to  the  shoulder  strap  that’s  likely  beyond  saving.  they  move  in  unison  across  the  dance  floor  and  to  an  empty  corner  —  it’s  kind  of  hard  to  hide  in  the  middle  of  a  barn.  «  hey,  you’re  a  pretty  good  dancer.  »

[mvxsinc]

↻ ❛ ✖︎  𝙱𝙻𝙰𝙸𝚁. °

– BLAIR GRINS, “SOUNDING AWFULLY DEFENSIVE THERE.” though she’s really teasing this time, and you can hear it in her tone. “ then i guess what they say is really true : nothing like seeing your boyfriend get stabbed to put you in the mood for wedding bells. ” obviously no one’s said that, but if it’s not a shotgun wedding, that’s what blair is gleaning from this entire scenario. “ ooh, i would LOVE to be an aunt. ” she’s already an aunt. but she hates her nieces and nephews, devil spawn. they don’t count. max and kem’s baby would be different.

     NORMALLY  ANY  MENTION  OF  THE  STABBING  would’ve  made  max  wince,  but  instead  she’s  laughing  now.  «  yeah,  you  know.  something  like  that,  »  she  giggles,  giddy  as  ever.  it  doesn’t  really  seem  like  anything  can  bring  her  mood  down,  when  doubt  comes  creeping  in.  «  we  haven’t  really  talked  about  kids,  so  ..  »  max  tries  to  shrug,  but  her  shoulders  suddenly  tense  and  the  movement  looks  more  like  a  shiver.  «  oh  my  god,  blair.  what  if  he  doesn’t  want  kids  ?  »  a  little  late  for  such  a  big  question.  frantically,  max  looks  around.  «  again,  not  pregnant.  »

[mvxsinc]

↻ ❛ ✖︎  𝙲𝙷𝙰𝚂𝙴. °

starter for: @mvxsinc​

“So how possible is it to to dance with the bride?” He walks over to Max, giving her a small smile. He almost doesn’t believe that he’s actually attending a wedding of his colleagues. It seems a little too surreal. Like everything is normal again—which it totally is. When he first found out Kem and Max were getting married, he had thought Max was pregnant. As far as he’s concerned, why would anyone want to get married so young? Regardless, he is happy for the pair! “Don’t tell her though, I’m not the best dancer out there.”

     A  SMILE  SPREADS  ON  HER  VISAGE  the  moment  chase  walks  over  to  her.  well,  to  be  fair  she  has  a  lot  of  reasons  to  smile  today.  «  i  don’t  know,  maybe  we  should  ask  the  husband  first,  »  max  jokes,  eyes  glancing  at  kem  who’s  in  conversation  with  another  wedding  guest.  she  turns  her  attention  back  to  chase  and  without  missing  a  beat  she  reaches  for  his  hand  and  tugs  him  with  her  out  on  the  dance  floor.  «  neither  is  the  bride,  »  she  laughs,  but  even  if  he  were  to  step  on  her  toes  she’s  not  sure  she’d  even  notice,  so  blissfully  blind  to  any  flaws  this  night  inhabits.  «  i’m  really  glad  you  came.  »

[mvxsinc]

                                         𝐖𝐄𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆  𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐒.

ever  the  romantic,  max  has  gone  for  a  soft  classic  vibe  for  her  bridal  attire.  the  dress  is  thrifted,  some  vintage  thing  on  sale  that  had  sported  an  odd  smell  until  its  3rd  wash.  the  shoes  are  borrowed  from  max’s  mom.  the  necklaces  were  gifts  from  her  grandparents  on  her  father’s  side.

𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚝.

[mvxsinc]

𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃  𝐅𝐎𝐑:  @lexgordons. 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍:  woodacre  barn,  dance  floor.

     IT’S  WHAT  SHE  GETS  FOR  finding  her  dress  at  a  thrift  shop  literally  3  days  before  the  wedding.  luckily  for  maxine  she  feels  the  strap  snap  before  she’s  had  the  chance  to  flash  the  entire  party  on  the  dance  floor,  but  she’s  also  managed  to  lose  kem  somewhere  in  the  crowd.  frantic  eyes  are  searching  the  crowd  for  a  familiar  face  when  max  spots  lex  and  waves  a  zealous  hand.  «  lex  !  »  she  calls  with  a  smile,  one  hand  holding  her  dress  up.  «  can  you  please  help  me  ?  i  wasn’t  planning  on  stripping  until  much  later,  »  she  jokes.

[mvxsinc]

↻ ❛ ✖︎  𝚃𝚁𝙸𝙿. °

status : closed for @mvxsinc​ setting : trip’s car on the way to the wedding

     MAX HAS BEEN IN TRIP’S car a lot over the years, joined him on errand runs and ice cream trips, the occasional mental breakdown. he still remembers swapping stories with her here 8 months ago, and how she had told him that no one was jumping to take her on any dates after the whole christian debacle. now, she’s sitting in his car in a wedding dress with a guy waiting to pledge himself to her at the guppy pond. suddenly, 8 months feels like a lifetime ago.

     ❝ so, good news, ❞ trip starts, gaze flicking over to her briefly. ❝ we did so good on your makeup that i don’t think anyone is even going to notice that you’re two seconds away from upchucking. bad news, you look two seconds away from upchucking. what’s up, maxie ? talk to me. ❞

     THIS  IS  THE  BEST  DAY  OF  HER  LIFE  and  max  is  so  lucky  to  be  next  to  trip  right  now,  the  only  person  who  seems  able  to  get  through  her  cloudy  mind  —  well,  she  can  think  of  one  more,  but  he’s  not  here.  most  other  girls  her  age  have  a  dad  to  walk  them  down  the  aisle.  it  kills  her  to  think  her  own  dad  is  not  here  to  do  just  that.  she  knows  he  would’ve  loved  kem,  would’ve  loved  trip,  would’ve  loved  the  entire  wedding  and  everything  to  come.  life  is  so  unfair.

     max  wills  herself  to  not  cry,  this  is  the  best  day  of  her  life,  and  turns  to  trip.  her  mind  is  racing:  she’s  never  been  so  sure  about  someone  in  her  life,  but  between  everything  that  happened  with  christian  and  reyna  way  back  when  she  still  has  scars.  still,  she  can’t  bring  herself  to  say  any  of  those  things.  «  what  if  he,  like,  runs  ?  »  max  blurts  out  suddenly  instead.  «  like,  i  know  he  won’t,  but  he  could,  right  ?  like,  i  know  he  won’t.  but  there’s  always  the  possibility  ?  »  maybe  she’s  a  little  nervous.

[mvxsinc]

↻ ❛ ✖︎  𝙱𝙻𝙰𝙸𝚁. °

STARTER FOR MAX. ( @mvxsinc​ )

– “ARE YOU SURE YOU SHOULD BE DRINKING THAT?” blair asks, reaching out to take max’s glass of champagne. she takes a sip, looking at her expectantly. it takes her a second to continue her train of thought, considering max looks so jaw-droppingly gorgeous. glowing, some might say. “ you know, with the baby and all. ” she’s half-joking, but blair’s still not entirely convinced that there isn’t one. 

      WHEN  BLAIR  TAKES  MAX’S  GLASS  she  barely  even  register  it  happening  at  all  —  so  used  to  sharing  with  the  other.  at  the  mention  of  baby  maxine  fights  the  urge  to  roll  her  eyes.  she  feigns  a  confused  expression  instead.  «  josie  seems  fine  to  me,  »  she  states,  then  cracks  up  in  a  smile.  «  still  not  pregnant,  blair  bear.  »  she  announces  this  statement  a  bit  louder  so  that  everyone  in  their  immediate  vicinity  will  hear  her.  «  though  auntie  blair  has  a  nice  ring  to  it,  no  ?  »

[mvxsinc]

𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃  𝐅𝐎𝐑:  @martytsui. 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍:  outside  of  woodacre  barn.

THEY  STUMBLE  OUT  OF  THE  BARN  TOGETHER,  hand  in  hand,  max  spilling  the  cheap  champagne  all  over  the  grass.  she  pays  no  mind,  can’t  find  it  in  her  to  care  when  everything  else  is  so  perfect,  she’s  with  one  of  her  best  friends  and  they’re  laughing.  maxine  takes  a  deep  breath  to  calm  herself,  the  warm  summer  evening  welcoming  as  she  pulls  marty  with  her  to  a  dry  patch  of  grass.  she  sits  down  and  sighs  theatrically.  «  are  you  having a  good  time,  babe  ?  »  max  asks  the  other,  giving  marty’s  arm  a  squeeze.

[mvxsinc]

𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃  𝐅𝐎𝐑:  @oofkemal. 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍:  woodacre  barn,  dance  floor.

     EVEN  IN  MAXINE’S  WILDEST  DREAMS  —  of  which  there  had  been  quite  a  few  —  she’d  never  imagined  her  wedding  like  this.  as  she  sways  close  to  kem,  head  resting  against  his  chest,  she  can’t  think  much  else  than  this  is  perfect.  she  had  deliberately  asked  the  dj  to  play  the  slowest  song  he  knew  for  their  first  dance,  still  overly  careful  about  kem’s  wound.  she’s  probably  already  asked  fifteen  times  tonight  if  he’s  alright  —  and  he  seems  to  be.  he  seems  happy.  when  max  looks  up  at  him  and  is  met  with  those  sparkling  eyes  it  makes  her  wanna  cry.  god  knows  he  deserves  a  life  of  security,  love,  care.  that’s  exactly  what  she’s  promised  to  give  him,  forever.  

     max  closes  her  eyes  for  a  second,  taking  in  the  music,  the  scent  of  her  husband,  the  sound  of  laughter  among  colleagues.  she  opens  her  eyes  to  look  at  kem,  that  giddy  feeling  taking  hold  of  her  like  always.  he  really  does  make  her  feel  like  the  only  girl  in  the  world.  «  have  i  told  you  how  handsome  you  are  today  ?  »  only  about  a  thousand  times.

[mvxsinc]

𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃  𝐅𝐎𝐑:  @pinkribbcn​. 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍:  max  and  trip’s  apartment.

     IF  MAX  WASN’T  SO  ANGRY  about  the  whole  boat  -  situation,  and  the  fact  that  christian’s  just  gone,  she’d  surely  find  another  reason  to  be  angry.  like  the  fact  that  josie’s  been  kicked  out,  which  just  seems  insane  to  her.  who’d  throw  out  josie  from  anywhere  ?  still,  it  gives  her  a  good  reason  to  invite  the  other  over  for  a  sleep  -  over.  she  carries  the  homemade  pizza  into  the  living  room  where  josie’s  waiting.  max  already  has  half  a  slice  in  her  hand,  cheese  threatening  to  spill.  she  sits  down  on  the  floor,  barry  the  cat  making  his  way  over  with  a  loud  meow  like  the  menace  he  is,  eyes  the  size  of  marbles.  «  okay,  so  i  have  an  old  mattress  somewhere  on  the  loft  i  can  drag  down,  but  you  sure  you  don’t  wanna  share  the  bed  ?  it  can  easily  fit  both  of  us  and  kem’s  been  demoted  to  the  couch  tonight  anyway,  »  max  points  out,  offering  josie  a  slice.

[mvxsinc]

𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃  𝐅𝐎𝐑:  @chaseraynor​​. 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍:  high  volume.

     EVEN  THOUGH  SHE  HASN’T  BEEN  THE  BEST  at  recognizing  how  people  around  her  are  feeling  lately,  max  has  noticed  chase.  she’ll  be  the  first  to  admit  she’s  more  attentive  around  him,  more  careful,  oddly  protective.  how  can  she  not  be  when  she  not  so  long  ago  shared  his  pain  ?  it’s  like  looking  into  a  mirror  sometimes.

     they’re  both  stood  behind  the  counter,  the  afternoon  quiet  and  the  store  almost  empty.  max  fidgets  with  a  lock  of  hair  before  glancing  at  the  time.  considering  chase  got  here  before  her  he  should  probably  have  his  break  soon.  «  have  you  eaten  ?  »  she  asks  casually.  «  i,  uh  ..  i  packed  extra  lunch  today  because  i  thought  trip  was  doing  the  closing  shift,  »  she  states  as  she  procures  a  tupperware  container  from  her  bag.  that’s  a  blatant  lie  and  anyone  who  knows  max  would  be  able  to  tell.  she’s  had  trip’s  schedule  memorized  for  weeks  to  come.