“Damn right you will!” Maxine was nothing but an embodiment of screaming laughter, not even fearing one bit when they went crashing to the ground. Joey always had a funny way of catching her, making sure she’d never get hurt. It was no different this time, and he cradled her body with his own as they made impact. The laughter and air was still rushed from her lungs though, resulting with Max wheezing with laughter instead. Her hands found the spaces between Joel’s head, holding herself up as her hair cascaded down around his, all but tickling his cheeks. This close, Max could all but count the freckles that made home across Joey’s exasperated face.
The sight made Maxine feel like she was losing air all over again. They were so close that she could feel Joel’s shaky breath against her own face. Her heart was beating so hard in her chest, Max was worried for a moment that Joey might have been able to hear it. Swallowing thickly, she let out a shaky breath of her own, this one not from the small tussle they were in moments before. Her mind was racing, but the urge to lean down and connect their lips was overwhelming. She had to do something. She had too–In one fast moment, Max brought her fingers up to tickle Joel’s side, breaking the spell they had been in moments before. He writhed and curled underneath her, always being the more ticklish of the two, so it wasn’t long before Max’s and Joel’s positions were soon switched.
This time it was Max who was on her back, Joel bracing himself above her. Once again she found herself in awe at the freckles creating galaxy’s on his cheeks, his warm brown eyes staring into her own. Max’s chest heaved with nerves, longing, struggle. Mixed emotions swirling around in the pit of her stomach, mind racing. Subconsciously her tongue came out to wet her lips, watching Joel above her with wide eyes. A part of her knew she should break whatever spell this was again. It was just a simple play fight, they were just friends…and yet, here she was yearning for something she never thought she’d yearn for. Joey could never know how she felt, for fear that the close friendship they had would end. Max couldn’t even bare the thought of it. So instead she waited for Joel to make the next move, not even trusting herself to speak.
It was like Joel’s job that she didn’t get hurt while they were roughhousing, and somehow he was always able to do it. When they went crashing down, it felt like Joey’s breath had been punched from his chest, but in a way he couldn’t understand. It wasn’t because of the way he landed, it was because Max was right there in front of him, her face almost inches away from his and he got the strongest, and the weirdest urge to kiss her.
Joey’s heart was absolutely pounding in his chest, though on the outside it looked like he had everything under control. He was freaking though. He gives her a shaky and crooked smile as he reached up to brush her hair from her face softly, letting out a loud bark of laughter as she brought her hands up to tickle his sides, immediately ruining the tension between the two. Max always used his ticklishness against him, and it pissed him off so much.
Eventually Joel was able to switch their positions, sitting on Maxine’s hips and pinning her wrists down to the floor. “You will tickle no more, Price.” Joel grinned at her, his curls falling in his face as he looked at her with a wide and fond smile. He’s quiet for a moment, simply watching her for any reactions. Negative ones or positive ones. The older boy decides to finally take control, leaning down to press his lips to hers softly.