Max Clarke

“Really? Harry Styles? You had to make me the most ugly one in that group?” Reyna’s words are joking and she grins at the other, glad she hadn’t overstepped the mark, glad she still had a chance with the brunette. She squeezes Max’s hand back, running her thumb over the skin of her knuckles, a small smile still tugging at the corner of her lips.

“To be fair, they’re all pretty ugly, but Harry is the best out of a bad bunch, so...” Max says with a small grin, heart fluttering pleasantly at the squeeze of her hand and the gentle touch at her knuckles. 

“Hey no, it’s honestly not you, I have this thing where – I don’t wanna hurt you, Maxie, and I know that if I stay here I will…” Her voice is soft, a sigh falling from her lips as she closes her eyes, trying to take a calming breath. “You’re not the one who has to be good, Max, I don’t trust myself.” Her eyes open and she reaches out a hand, taking a hold of Max’s own, squeezing it, comforting her. “I don’t–”

Tilting her head at the words momentarily, Max shakes her head. “You’re not gonna hurt me, Frankie Frank.” She says softly, nodding lazily in an attempt to back up her words. “You know how i know?” She asks and continues before the other can reply. “’Cause when you thought you had the possibility to hurt me, you tried to run, an asshole wouldn’t run, they’d stay and be an asshole. And secondly, ‘m a big tough girl.” She tells the other, chest puffing out at the words. “I’ve already been fucked up beyond belief, nothing you throw at me would do any damage whatsoever. Besides, you should be running from me because i am the fuck up. I mean,” She chuckles bitterly. “I’m the one that always screws things up. I wouldn’t be here if that wasn’t the case, i’d be... god, i’d be happily married right now if i wasn’t such a worthless screw up.” 

A laugh, short but loud, falls from Reyna’s lips as Max denies how pretty she is, and Reyna shakes her head fondly, far too fondly for this early into the relationship. “I’m sorry, do you see Shrek in the mirror or something, because all I see is beauty, and someone who doesn’t realise just how beautiful she is.” The words leave her lips quietly, and when she realises what has been said, her eyes shift down, locking with her food, avoiding Max’s own gaze. “Sorry, I uh, sorry…” 

Max feels a blush crawl across her cheeks at the other’s words and shyly ducks her head. When Reyna apologises, she lifts her head again, a frown on her face. “What are you apologising for? Momentarily becoming Harry Styles? Because that was honestly the sweetest thing ever.” She says softly, squeezing gently at Reyna’s hand, comforting the blonde and herself as the nagging in the back of her head returns in full force, reminding her that she’s too far gone and things will only ever end in tears. 

Though she feels stupid, Frank takes a step back from the brunette as she throws wobbly punches, unable to ignore the voice in her head that’s telling her she needs to leave before she reacts negatively, before she does something she’ll regret. “I can’t be here anymore – I gotta – I can’t hurt you… I’m sorry.”

“Wait, what?” Max asks, a hurt frown curling onto her brow. “You’re leaving? Why? Was it something i said?” She says, a pitiful pout forming on her lips. “Please don’t leave me, Frankie Frank, you’re like, one of the only people aside from my girlfriend i like in this place. Please stay with me for a lil’ while longer.”  She pleads, taking a small, hesitant step towards the other. “I’ll be good, i promise.”

Reyna watches carefully as the other sinks her teeth into the flesh of her lip, ignoring the nerves pooling in the base of her stomach, though she manages to ignore them when Max smiles at her, the sight soothing her worries ever so slightly, something that only left a nagging at the back of her mind, one that lingered, questioning her decision about hiding Thalia, questioning her lies. 

Max snorts slightly at the words, shaking her head fondly. “Me, eye-candy?” She asks. “I’m a wallflower at best, besides, from your looks alone, my sister thought you were way out of my league. You’ve definitely got the eye-candy part down.” She smiles fondly at the memory before reaching out and gently twining their fingers together again. “And given your radiant personality, I was half convinced she was right.” She chuckles softly and squeezes the digits locked with her own. 

So all that I’m asking is that you handle me with caution cause I don’t give myself often. But I guess I’ll try today

Max’s words take a few moments to sink in, her heart stopping momentarily as she realises what was said. Your girl. The words circle her mind and it takes all of her power to not allow a large grin to spread across her lips. The way the other pulls her fingers away however, has her looking directly at the brunette, an eyebrow raised. 

At the softly spoken words, Max fights back a smile, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip painfully as she realises that maybe she hasn’t completely fucked things up, again. At Reyna’s offer, she can’t fight back the smile and glances shyly back up at the blonde, taking a moment to calm her rapidly beating heart and the warnings her brain is throwing at her, before responding. 

Reyna doesn’t respond to the comment about little relatives, only giving a small nod as she tried to push back the emotions sticking at her eyes, closing her throat, her eyes closing momentarily as she inhales deeply, her chest aching.

After a momentary choke on her drink at the tender brush of lips against her knuckles, Max finds herself relaxing and shrugs slightly. “Well, when your girl keeps dropping un-subtle hints, you’ve gotta promise to deliver eventually.” She says with a smirk before the words she’s spoken hit her fully, and she feels her face flush once again and nervously pull her hand from Reyna’s to drum her fingers nervously against the table. 

“Oh wow, a leather jacket, so badass Maxie, I’m so impressed!” Her words are sarcastic, obviously so, though deep down, Frank knows that Max could probably take her down easily, were she sober. A laugh falls from her lips as the other raises her fists slightly higher, the sight too much to bear without breaking into giggles. “Don’t test me Maxie, I will boop you so hard!”

“You know, i’m starting to like you less now that you’re doubting my badassery, Frankie Frank.” Max says, narrowing her eyes slightly at the other’s sarcasm. “No, don’t you test me Frankie! You are not getting anywhere near my nose!” She cries, throwing a few wobbly punches just for show.