5 seconds to midnight || Max
Location: Maxley’s apartment, New York City - @rylbenzo
When: December 31st, 2017 - January 1st, 2018
Despite his parents and brother interrupting their planned extended getaway from everything in New York, Max couldn’t be happier to have them all around, as he stood on the rooftop terrace. His arms were wrapped around Ashley, both to keep her warm and to keep himself warmed up, and as he looked over, he smiled at his parents standing around hugging each other, too. Both he and his dad reached out to engulf Sam in between them, although Max might have poked him in the ribs doing that.
They had left the dogs downstairs, even though Pongo clearly hadn’t liked that idea and tried to clamber up the stairs to the rooftop terrace with them. In the end, he would be happier inside, where he, Olive, Walter and Smudge couldn’t hear the loud fireworks. He fought the urge to check on them, knowing that Smudge and Olive were taking care of their little puppy, teaching him the ways of being an Irons-Benson dog, but he was still curious what they were doing. He only stopped fidgeting, when a soft, but insistent elbow buried itself in his side.
Not only had his mother prepared a dinner worthy of a Michelin star or two, she had also prepared some hot dessert they had taken up on the roof with them, as they waited for the ball to drop - quite literally. They couldn’t see Times Square from here, but they were following a livestream on Sam’s phone, while they were munching away on their food. And if everyone stole a spoonful of Sam’s dessert, well, he still deserved it.
In the last few days, Max had wondered what the New Year would bring - he wasn’t big on resolutions, but he had still made one for himself. One which had to do with Ashley, who had one arm around her, and was all but disappearing inside his other coat, which he was wearing above her own. “I’m happy you found me, or I found you ,” he muttered, bending his head to place a small kiss against her cheek. He had silently vowed to keep her happy and safe, and that was one resolution he wouldn’t give up on.
“I love you, Ashley. So, so much.” His words had been timed perfectly and their lips met, just as the ball dropped on Sam’s phone and the fireworks started, and they only parted, very reluctantly, when his family started hugging each other and wishing a happy new year. His hand searched for hers, while they drank their champagne, and he couldn’t resist pulling her to him to kiss her again. “I’m happy.” And Max was, undoubtedly so.
