After school Maverick went to go and collect his bike when saw Max walking to the car park
They made eye contact holding it and smiling at one another.
He was about to walk over to her when a group of girls crowded him
He didn't mean to be rude but as they began to talk to him he paid them no mind constantly looking in Maxs's direction
"Um sorry ladies but I've got to go" he said pushing past them and walking over to Max
"Hey You okay?" He asked as the redhead just stood there awkwardly
She felt uncomfortable talking to Maverick with all those girls fully glaring at her
Little did they know Billy was staring at them watching their every movement
"Yeah don't worry um I'm gonna go" she said turning away and walking to her step- brothers car
"Mayfield come over to mine later?" He yelled making her turn around
Hearing her last name roll of his tongue weirdly comforted her
"See you later Alvarez"
He smiled as she left to enter the car and grabbed his bike and left to pick up Leo
Maverick arrived at the daycare center, ready to pick up his little brother Leo. He walked through the door and was greeted by the sound of children laughing and playing.
He made his way to the infant room, where he found Leo sitting in a little bouncy chair. Leo's face lit up when he saw Maverick, and he started kicking his legs in excitement.
Maverick picked Leo up out of the chair and held him close. "Hey there, little man," he said, smiling down at him. "Did you have a good day?"
"Yeah!" Leo said in response, reaching up to grab Maverick's nose. Maverick laughed and gently moved Leo's hand away.
As they walked out of the daycare, Maverick held Leo close to his chest, feeling his little brother's warmth and hearing his soft breathing. It was a beautiful day outside, and the sun was shining down on them.
Maverick looked down at Leo and smiled. "Do you want to go for a walk, little guy?" he asked.
"Ice cream!"
"Yeah let's go get ice cream"
Maverick used his lunch money and bought both of them an ice cream.
Leo got the cookie dough flavour and Maverick chose chocolate
They began to walk down the street Leo pointing at everything he saw. As they walked, they passed by a park with a playground. Maverick decided to stop and let Leo play on the swings.
He carefully set Leo down on the swing and pushed him gently back and forth. Leo giggled and smiled, his little hands reaching out to grab at the air. "Higher!"
Maverick watched him for a moment, feeling grateful for this moment with his little brother. He loved Leo more than anything in the world, and he promised himself that Leo was gonna have a good life. No matter the cost.
Eventually, the time was now 4:00 and Maverick picked Leo up and started walking back to their house. As they walked, he sang a soft lullaby to Leo, who was basically already knocked out from playing today.
When they arrived home, Maverick put Leo down for a nap and sat down on the couch picking up his guitar.
There was this song he had written, it had been left in his notebook for so long he decided to finish it.
(Song in mm)
You were riding your bike to the sound of "It's No Big Deal"
And you're trying to lift off the ground on those old two wheels
Nothing about the way that you were treated ever seemed especially alarming 'til now
So you tie up your hair and you smile like it's no big deal
You can let it go
You can throw a party full of everyone you know
And not invite your family, 'cause they never showed you love
You don't have to be sorry for leaving and growing up, mmh
Matilda, you talk of the pain like it's all alright
But I know that you feel like a piece of you's dead inside
You showed me a power that is strong enough to bring sun to the darkest days
It's none of my business, but it's just been on my mind
You can let it go
You can throw a party full of everyone you know
And not invite your family, 'cause they never showed you love
You don't have to be sorry for leaving and growing up
You can see the world, following the seasons
Anywhere you go, you don't need a reason
'Cause they never showed you love
You don't have to be sorry for doing it on your own
Eric wrote these lyrics when his dad was at literal rock bottom, he never seemed angry at us but he was more sad. He never got out of bed, he barely spoke and didn't even look after himself. After mums death nobody was the same. The house got quiet, family breakfasts stopped then it was the weekly outings soon dad just never left the room. It was like none of us could function properly something was missing more so someone.
When Maverick was younger him and his dad would say his mum was like Matilda.This was because she was so smart, so beautiful and it was like she could sense everyone especially his dad's emotions.
Eric remembers the day his dad promised him he would find his Matilda. He just hopes their story doesn't end the same way as his dad and mums did
It was now 6:30 and the doorbell rang. Maverick was confused on who it was as his dad was at a club and he would never ring the doorbell to enter the house.
He opened the door to see Max standing there awkwardly. Behind him was Leo standing there with his chubby cheeks and big brown eyes, when he saw he had been spotted he ran to the living room.
"You made it" he said smiling
"Yeah hey" she said avoiding eye contact as she felt him basically staring into her soul. She felt a heat rise to her cheeks
"I'm glad you came, house has been way too quiet" he said allowing her in and closing the door
Maverick led Max to the living room not before hiding his dad's beer bottles and trying to cover the cigarette scent even though he's pretty sure she already smelt it.
"I'm sorry for the mess my dads not here right now to clear up his mess" The blonde boy said as he started to stress over the messy room
"Hey it's alright I know how it is Billy does this all the time" she said resting her arm on his shoulder
Maverick tensed at the contact but also felt calm when he heard her voice
Max quickly removed her hand and kept them to her side
'why was she being so touchy?' she thought
"Hey buddy you wanna meet my friend, come on shes nice. Nicer than Mike" the last sentence made Leo turn look up to face the boy.
Max reached out her hand "'I'm max mayfield"
"I'm Leo" he the younger blonde responded
"See she's nice" Eric told him grabbing him in the air and tickling him
Leo started giggling as Max smiled softly
-
Max had brought comics so her and Maverick were talking about who the best superhero was
"Come on it's GOT to be wonder women, she's just better" the redhead argued
"What?no, no, no you've got it all wrong Spider-Man is legendary" he countered
"Leo aren't I right?" He looked at his brother for backup but instead Leo walked over to Max laying his head in her chest
"Wonder Woman" he said raising his hands over his head
"Wow. Ok even my own brother turned against me"
"See I'm telling you it's wonder women even Lee agrees with me" Max said fist pumping him
Leo giggled at her expression
"No way,"
Maverick then turned to Leo and started playing with him, making silly faces and noises. Max watched them for a moment, smiling at how sweet they were together.
Leo crawled over to Max and held up a toy for her to see. "Look, Max!" he said, his little voice filled with excitement. Max smiled and took the toy from him, pretending to be surprised by it.
Maverick watched them both, feeling grateful that Max was there with them. "Thanks for coming over, Max, I know you wanted to go to the arcade" he said, looking at her with a soft smile.
Max smiled back at him genuinely. "It's fine! I'm happy to hang out with you guys."
They spent the next hour playing with Leo and having fun together. Max was good with kids and she loved seeing Maverick and Leo interact. It was clear that Maverick loved his little brother very much and he was a great big brother to him.
As the evening went on, Leo started to get tired and Maverick put him to bed. Max helped him with Leo's bedtime routine, reading him a story
Maverick was absolutely entranced by Max as she was reading the story to Leo, her voice was so gentle and calm he felt himself already feeling sleepy.
After the story Maverick tried to sneak away but before he could he heard Leo start chanting "lulby! Lulby" he had hoped Leo would forget about the lullabies because he didn't like singing in-front of other people
"What's he saying?" Max asked Eric
"He said lullaby" Maverick spoke faintly hoping Max didn't hear
She burst out laughing "you? As in Maverick Tony Alvarez, you sing?"
"Yes, yes Maxine Mayfield I do" he teased
"Lemme hear this lullaby Leo speaks of then" she asked
"No, no-" max cut him off
"Pleaseee" she begged
"No Max-" he said trying to sound stern
"Come on it can't be bad" she said nudging him cutely
Eric sighed in defeat and picked up his guitar
(Glue song)
I've never known someone like you
Tangled in love, stuck by you from the glue
Don't forget to kiss me
Or else you'll have to miss me
I guess I'm stuck forever by the glue
Oh, and you
Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm
Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm
Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm
Findin' the right words to use for this song
I have you in mind, so it won't take so long
Never thought I'd find you
But you're here, and so I love you
I'm not wrong when I say I've been stuck
By the glue onto you
I've been stuck by glue
Right onto you
I've been stuck by glue
I've never known
I've never known someone like you
I've never known
I've never known someone like you
As Maverick played the song Max stared in awe, his voice was soothing and enticing, she would listen hours on end and still be restless
When he ended the song Leo had fallen asleep and the older boy looked up to see Max looking at him, he blushed yet continued staring at her
"I didn't know you sang or played guitar"
"Yeah I don't usually play for anyone other than my brother" he told her
"Well you should you're really good" she said both of there eyes interlocked
"Thank you for this." He whispered
"Anytime" she told him both still maintaining eye contact
"Um I should get going" Max said clearing her throat as she stood up
"Oh yeah it's getting late, lemme walk you to the door"
It was 8:30pm and Max was about to head home.
"Hey I had fun tonight" she said, gosh her smile was beautiful Maverick thought
"Yeah Yeah me- me too" he responded after realising he was just staring
"See you at school tomorrow, stalker" she said smiling
"See you later red head" the blonde said
She rolled her eyes at the boy as she left but inside a dozen emotions were going through her head
What just happened?
N/A -
I just rewrote 5 chapters and I actually love this chapter