It's Not Three Inches With You

Chapter 20

Max

The next morning, El and I awoke, a jumble of nerves and excitement. Our bags were packed and ready, clothes for the day already set on top of the chest of drawers.

"Morning." I said as El stepped out of bed.

"Hi," she replied with a smile.

Grabbing my clothes I walked down the hall toward the bathroom when El called my name.

"Max. You don't have to go there if you don't want to. I don't mind if you're here," she murmured shyly.

I felt my face heat up but smiled anyway, trying to act casual.

"Okay," I squeaked, making my way back into the room.

The two of us quickly got dressed, me in a blue striped singlet and denim shorts, El in her black and neon romper. (A/N: Think Battle Of Starcourt Max and 'The Mall Rats' El)

"Come on!" I said with a grin and together we pulled our bags down the flight of stairs leading into the kitchen.

My father was already dressed, a small backpack over his shoulder.

"Hi girls. Ready to go?" he asked and we nodded.

"We'll get breakfast there if you want it," he said and El and I smiled in agreement.

"Alrighty, well, lets get a move on then!"

El giggled and my heart fluttered at the sound.

Perfect.

So, so perfect.

Sliding into the car seat beside El, I placed my bag on my lap, El copying my movement.

We drove from my house in San Diego to LAX and then from the airport to Disneyland Resort, in Anaheim.

The trip was fairly quiet, El and I talking in quiet tones so that my father couldn't hear us.

Not that it mattered if he could, I was just afraid he would want to join in our conversation, which is just...way awkward.

The car pulled up to where we were to park and we followed the signs to the resort's entrance.

I had been here only once- when I was much younger with my parents as a surprise holiday for my birthday and I remember feeling about as lost as El looked as we walked through the huge entrance doors.

A lady dressed as Cinderella, or one of the other princesses that I had never been bothered to learn the names of as a child, greeted us with a smile.

"Hello! It's so wonderful to see you here!" she said.

I looked at El and stifled a laugh at the sight of her expression. She stared around the lobby in fascination and awe, a childish grin of excitement on her face.

The princess led us through to where the check-in desk sat, a bored-looking man in mouse ears and a suit looking up as we approached.

"Hi, welcome to the happiest place on Earth, how can I help you today?" he asked in a monotonous voice, a complete contrast to that of the princesses'.

My father stepped forward and smiled amicably at the man, El still staring around the room in excitement.

"Hi, I'm Sam Mayfield? I have a booking for three here," he told the man, who opened a large book with multi-coloured tabs sticking out at all edges.

"Is that for Jane, Maxine and Sam?" he asked and both El and I flinched at the use of our legal names.

My father hesitated a moment before nodding, as if the names had thrown him off his game.

"Yes, thank you."

The man nodded and reached behind him for two keys.

"Here you go. You two girls are in room 38 and you sir are in room 37."

El and I exchanged a glance.

My dad thanked the man again before leading El and I up the stairs to the hotel rooms.

"Okay, well here you girls go. Get unpacked and everything and come meet me downstairs when you're ready okay?"

I nodded, dragging El down the corridor towards our room in excitement.

"Come on!" I cried and she giggled as I fumbled with the key to unlock the door.

The lock clicked and the door finally swung open to reveal a medium sized room with a large bed and a balcony with that allowed for a view of the park.

"Wow." I breathed. El nodded.

"Wow."

The two of us walked inside, placing our bags down on the bed.

El stepped out onto the balcony, staring at the rides and parades of characters in amazement.

"Its cool, right?" I asked her and she grinned back at me.

"Yeah." She smirked. "Cool."

There was a wooden art piece over the headboard of the bed, displaying a picture of Cinderella's castle.

I smiled. It was exactly how I remembered it.

I walked back over to the door as El unpacked her things, hesitating as I went to close it.

El kept the door open three inches, always.

She turned to see me closing it and stared in confusion.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Closing the door. I can leave it open three inches if you want." I told her with a smile.

She smiled back, taking a step toward me.

"No, that's for Mike. It's not three inches with you." she said, a shy smile lacing the corners of her mouth and I sound myself smiling uncontrollably, my heart fluttering with love.

I was special to her.

"Why not?" I couldn't help but ask.

"So Hopper can't see," she almost whispered and I frowned slightly.

"Why wouldn't you want him to see?" I asked.

She smiled softly.

"He might not... like it."

My eyes widened.

"Like...what?"

El stepped toward me and my heartrate quickened.

"This."

Her hand squeezed mine as we stood only barely an inch away from each other.

Then a knock on the door sounded, the two of us springing apart. (A/N: Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry! Please don't kill me for that!!!)

"Hello?" I asked weakly and the door opened to reveal a lady who appeared to be a maid, dressed in a white dress and mouse ears.

"Hello," she said timidly.

"S-sorry for interrupting, I was just wondering if you girls needed anything so far?"

El looked away, her face bright red and I just stared at the girl.

"No." I said bluntly, the girl blushing too.

"My apologies," she said hastily before closing the door.

El and I looked back at each other, unsure of what to say.

"Sorry," El murmured but I shook my head.

"Why?"

She looked up.

"I...you..." she stuttered.

I smiled softly at her.

"Don't be sorry," I told her. "I liked it."

El smiled back, but didn't move closer, simply watched as I continued to unpack my things.

(A/N: Omg heyyyy- hahahaha- I'm so sorry about that but trust me it's gonna be worth it I promise lol. Anyways, that's about it, it was a little angsty but oh well hahahaha, apparently I write it well (thanks mmmushroom27 lol) Stay safe and totally tubular and I'll see you in the next one! xx)