Aug 1, 2024
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If he said he wasn’t sad about Bailey rejecting him, he’d be lying. Though, of course, he didn’t blame them at all. It was his fault for becoming instantly enamoured, because he is a little sap. At least they can still be friends! He’s excited about that! They said they wanted to be friends, so they must still like him at least a little bit.
The thing he was mainly upset about now was the rain. His favourite blazer was now drenched, meaning he probably couldn’t wear it tomorrow, and he was planning on going round Marcie’s for the weekly Princess Manor viewing party. He’d have to wear a different one.
He wonders if he should invite Bailey.
“Well, I’d best be going,” Bailey says. “It’s pretty late, and we’re getting soaked just standing here.”
“Yeah, we could catch a cold,” Max says. He still feels like a soggy biscuit, the rain leeches through his blazer and makes his shirt stick to his skin uncomfortably.
“See you around, then,” Bailey smiles as they start to walk away. They wave over their shoulder at Max, then say “Get home safe! Or else!”
“You too! Farewell!” Max says. He starts walking away in the opposite direction.
Farewell, wow! Incredible, Maximillian. You truly have outdone yourself.
Max tries his hardest not to smile dazedly at Bailey while they talk, but he can’t help it. After five bowls of all you can eat ice cream (Bailey’s only had one and a half) Max is starting to get a bit drowsy, but he doesn’t want to leave, so he’s trying his hardest to stay awake. It’s getting late, and the parlour is probably closing soon, but hes determined. They’re having a conversation about Bailey’s new pet mice.
“I got them about two weeks ago,” Bailey says, gesturing as they talk. “They have a huge cage with loads of cool stuff to do in it, I was going to make them tiny baby mice furniture but I thought that might have been a step too far.”
“No, what! Having tiny mice furniture would be cool!!” Max says. He stifles a yawn, and he hopes Bailey doesn’t notice. “I wish I could have mice, but there’s no pets allowed in my dorm.”
“You could just smuggle some in. I’d help you.”
“Sounds like a good plan for a second date,” Max says. Bailey just laughs. Just then, Max’s phone buzzes, and he instinctively looks down to check it. It’s Colin.
“OH AHAHA I’m glad you said it!! Because I was too nervous to! I feel completely the same way! We’d work best as good chums!! Best friends!! Pals!!” Max forces a bark of a laugh. The smile returns to Bailey’s face, and they relax their shoulders in relief.
“Phew, that’s good. I really wouldn’t want to hurt your feelings or anything. Are you sure it’s okay?”
“YEP.”
All of the colour has drained from Max’s face. He feels like the soggy remains of a biscuit dropped into a cup of tea. He feels like a frog who got washed away from his pond in the rain. He feels- pardon the language, but- he feels goddamn terrible! But he tries not to sulk about it. It just wasn’t meant to be! That’s fine, they can still be friends. They can still be friends. They can still be friends.
“They can still be friends,” Max says out loud.
“They?”
“We, sorry. We can still be friends.”
“Oh absolutely! Like I said, I’d love to hang out again, tonight was great fun. Maybe next weekend?”
“It’s a date!” Max grins. “No, sorry. It’s not. It’s a... friendly “hang-out” as it were.”
“Of course,” Bailey chuckles.
Max leaves his phone on the dresser and backs away to sit down on his bed again. He immediately begins to think the worst, which is what he’s always been told not to do, but he can’t help it!!!! What if it’s a murderer!!!!????
He takes a few seconds to steel himself until the person knocks again. This time, there’s a gentle “hello?” from the other side. Max doesn’t recognise the voice, and his suspicions that it’s a murderer don’t clear away immediately, but then he realises... It’s probably his date...
COLIN SET HIM UP WITH A MURDERER???
No... he wouldn’t, surely. Don’t be silly, Maximilian.
Max leaps up from his bed and rushes towards the door. If the person on the other side is holding a knife, he’ll fight them!! Though he doesn’t know how to fight... so actually, no, it’s probably best to squeeze past them and run away. Yes. Plan.