~ You sure got my attention, I just wanna grant your wishes ~
Chapter Five: Figuring it Out
"Good morning, lovely..."
A soft, gentle voice tugged me sweetly from sleep, my lips curving slightly to form a tiny smile at the sound. I peeled my eyes open, meeting a pair of deep brown ones, listening as he took in a sharp breath as he met my gaze.
"Good morning, Max," I murmured, rolling onto my side. He swallowed, offering me a small smile.
"Hi," he managed. "Did you manage to sleep well last night?"
I chuckled and nodded. "Did you?"
Max bit his lip and smiled. "Yeah," he whispered. "I did."
I laughed lightly, rubbing my eyes and stretching, before something occurred to me.
"Uh..." I frowned. "How'd you get into my apartment?"
Max laughed, watching me. "Lucas let me in," he elaborated. "I wanted to start your birthday off with homemade breakfast," he grinned. "So I came over early and asked him to let me in."
I laughed quietly. "As long as you didn't break in," I teased, slowly sitting up and smiling a little. Max chuckled, ruffling my tousled red hair.
"Be in your kitchen in twenty minutes, alright?" he instructed. "It's almost done."
I smiled. "Alright," I said, watching him stand up from my bed. He hummed gently to himself as he left my room, shutting the door after himself and leaving me to quietly gather my thoughts. I sighed contently, slowly standing and making my way to my bathroom for a quick shower.
When I was clean and dressed, I slowly made my way out of my room and down the hall, Storm's slender figure dancing between my feet as I walked. I giggled slightly as I pushed my hair from my face, leaning down and scratching the spot just on top of his head that always made him purr, laughing lightly to myself and finally emerging into the living room.
"It smells great," I told Max, letting my feet carry me into the kitchen. He smiled at me from where he was flipping an omelet onto one of my plates, a similar one on the counter beside where he stood.
"Only the finest for the birthday girl," Max winked at me, causing me to giggle slightly as I poured myself a cup of coffee.
"Here ya go, baby," Max grinned, setting an omelette in front of me. "Eat up; you've got a big day ahead of you!"
I smiled, nodding slightly. "Yes sir," I laughed, saluting him playfully. He grinned, watching me go about eating, and I swear I saw him bite his lip slightly as he stared, his eyes sparkling.
"What?" I asked, watching him now as I slowly chewed. He smiled a little, shaking his head and blushing a soft pink.
"Sorry," Max apologized. "I didn't mean to stare."
I laughed, his body slowly relaxing as I touched his hand across the table. "It's okay," I told him, running my fingers through my hair. "I don't mind," I teased him.
We laughed.
* * * * *
"Here," Max grinned, placing a guitar in my hands. I chuckled slightly, taking it from him and setting it in my lap.
"And what do you expect me to do with this?" I laughed, looking around us. Max just kept on grinning, shrugging.
"Play," he said, as if it were the most obvious thing ever, because really, it was.
I smiled and looked around. After breakfast, Max had put me in his car, and he'd driven through Chicago, back to the park he'd taken me to the first night we'd hung out, up onto the rocks we'd laid on while we talked and stared up at the night sky. It was a little busier now, but no one noticed us all the way up on our pile.
"Well..." I paused, placing my fingers on a chord. "I don't know a lot," I prefaced. "But I do know a couple of really great songs."
Max grinned. "Play one," he insisted. "Sing it for me... If I know it, I'll sing too."
I smiled and nodded, taking the pick he offered me and beginning to tune the acoustic guitar. "Do you know who the Civil Wars are?" I asked.
Max shook his head, frowning. "Not really," he admitted. "I know they did that one song for the Hunger Games, but other than that I don't really know much about them."
I smiled, finishing tuning. "Well," I began. "I like them a lot," I said. "I was upset for like, two weeks when I found out they split up. Anyways, they have these two really fantastic songs that I fell in absolute love with, and so I made Lucas teach me how to play them on guitar."
Max nodded. "What songs are they?"
I laughed lightly to myself. "One's called 'Falling', and they other's called 'Poison and Wine,'" I paused. "Which one do you wanna hear?"
Max leaned back on his hands, thinking lightly. "'Falling,'" he decided, grinning again. "Now play!" he laughed. I giggled slightly to myself, before slowly beginning to pluck at the strings.
"Haven't you seen me sleepwalking?" I sang. "Cause I've been holding your hand..."
I closed my eyes, listening to the music. "And haven't you noticed me drifting?" I sang next. "Oh, let me tell you I am..."
I smiled. "Tell me it's nothing..." came next. "Try to convince me that I'm not drowning... Oh let me tell you I am."
I began strumming, picking up the tempo slightly. "Please..." I sang. "Please tell me you know.. I've got to let you go."
It slowed down again, making me smile again. "I can't help falling, out of love with you..."
I drug the last note out, smiling lightly as I resolved there, cutting the song short. I giggled slightly, watching Max stare at me as I shifted his guitar away from my body, shrugging slightly. "It's a really good song," I mentioned. "I'll make you a playlist sometime," I promised.
Max just grinned, slowly pulling his ukulele from his case. "So," he smiled. "As it is your birthday," he chuckled. "I've got a multi-part present for you."
I smiled slightly. "You didn't have to get me anything, Max."
He chuckled a little, absently strumming his uke. "But I really wanted to," he assured me, slowly biting his lip, and I realized suddenly in that very moment how extremely amazing he looked leaning back on his elbows in front of me, his soft brown curls tousled slightly as the cool wind blew against his cheeks, his sparkling brown eyes staring at me sweetly as he plucked delicately at his ukulele, his lips slowly spreading into this cute little smirk as he-
"Symphony?" Max called. I forced a small smile as I let my mind run back to reality, shaking myself internally.
"Sorry," I murmured. "I kinda spaced."
Max grinned. "Don't worry about it, baby," he assured. "Did you hear what I said?"
I shook my head shyly. "No," I admitted. "Can you repeat it?"
He chuckled and nodded. "I asked you if you had a song preference," he whispered. "It being your birthday and all, I thought maybe you'd like to choose the song."
I smiled. "Anything you please," I laughed. "You're voice is soothing doing anything."
Max grinned. "Do you really enjoy it that much?" he asked. I laughed slightly, nodding.
"I do," I told him. "It's super calming and really beautiful," I assured. "Why're you so hesitant about singing so much?"
Max's smile slowly disappeared, biting his lip, tentatively this time. "Well..." he was silent for a minute, a bit conflicted about answering me.
"You don't have to answer if you don't want to, Max," I assured him. He shook his head.
"No, I want to," he said. "I just..." he sighed, pausing again, before getting this 'screw it,' look on his face and opening his mouth again.
"My last girlfriend was super picky about when I sang," Max finally whispered. "She got really irritated when I sang at the 'wrong' times, and sometimes she'd just up and tell me to hush... I never wanted to upset her, so I tried my best not to sing around her," Max blushed. "I guess the habit of watching when I sing is still there."
I slowly reached over and rested my hand on his forearm, trying to assure him. "I can't even fathom why she wouldn't want to hear you sing to her," I smiled softly. "I love your voice."
Max slowly smiled, sending me a grateful look. "I know," he whispered, though it wasn't with a cocky flair that he said it. "And I really appreciate it."
I giggled slightly, leaning back on the rocks again. "Good," I smiled. "Then as the birthday girl, I command you to sing a happy, bubbly song," I laughed. "Please."
I could sense the grin Max had plastered across his face as he slowly began to strum, singing me song after song after song, his gentle voice making me grin and bop my head, closing my eyes and enjoying the unusually pleasant Chicago winter day. It wasn't numbingly cold, but it was a sweet kind of cold, the kind that with a cute sweater was enough to keep you warm. I laughed and smiled as we talked idly between songs, our laugher carrying easier than ever between us.
"So do you wanna hear part one of your present?" Max asked, still absently strumming. I slowly nodded, shifting my position so I laid on my stomach facing him.
"Sure," I smiled, propping my chin up on my elbow. He stopped strumming and grinned, holding out three fingers.
"Part one is three, free, honest questions," Max stated. "You can ask me anything between now and midnight, and I'll answer honestly, no matter what it is."
I smiled slowly. "Really now?" I teased. He laughed slightly, nodding.
"They're only good until midnight, though," he reminded me. "So use them wisely," he said, trying to give me a firm look, but cracking a smile towards the end. We both ended up busting out laughing, rocking back and forth and just grinning at each other.
"Okay," I said. "So I have my first question."
Max smiled. "Shoot, baby," he laughed. "But then we should probably go, so I can take you out to lunch and do all the things I planned."
I nodded, before slowly biting my lip. "What was the name of the girl you used to always come into the shop with?" I asked slowly. Max's smile never left his face, but you could see it become sad, and you could tell it wasn't exactly an easy thing for him to talk about.
"Adeline," Max told me. "Her name was Adeline."
I slowly smiled, nodding slightly as I watched him set his uke back in his case. As soon as the sadness was spread across his face, it was gone again, his mouth spread into the soft little smile. "Ready to go?"
I slowly nodded, returning his smile. "Sure," I said, slowly beginning to make my way towards the edge of the pile. Max stopped me though, grabbing my wrist.
"Slow down there, baby," Max grinned. "Remember what happened last time?"
I chuckled. "I'll be fine."
Max gave me a cute, almost protective look. "Well," he said. "Just to be safe, let me go down first, so I can be there to catch you if you fall."
I nodded, allowing him to step around me and slowly begin to descend the rocks. Once he was on the ground, he looked back up at me and nodded, watching as I turned and began climbing down after him.
As soon as I was in his reach, he held his arms out, his fingers grazing my waist for a moment, before his hands fell on either of my hips. He held them there as I finished the seven foot descent, his grip secure and strong as he guided me down to the ground.
"You okay?" Max asked, making sure before releasing my waist. I nodded, smiling up at him sweetly.
"Yeah," I assured him. "Thanks, Max."
Max smiled and nodded, though his fingers had yet to leave my hips. I didn't complain, honestly loving the feeling his hands on my waist gave me, the way they fit easily against the contours of my body. He suddenly realized that he was still holding me though, and he quickly retracted his hands.
I tried not to show my disappointment as he smiled and led me away from the pile.
* * * * *
It was easy; popcorn, soda, candy, coffee... I felt so young. There was nothing that bothered me when Max was around. It was almost like breathing. I never wanted to let him leave my side, and by the way he lingered when he knew he needed to, I knew he didn't want to leave my side either. I found myself spilling everything and anything to him, aside from a few certain things... I even found myself telling him things I'd never even spoken aloud, secret wishes and desires left on my bucket list to achieve before I die. Max would often stare at me with wonder while I spoke, as if he hung onto my every word, because, in all honesty, I think he did.
Sometimes I questioned why our friendship was so easy, and I never could come up with a plausible answer... But, strange as it might sound, I almost didn't want to know why we had what we had, because the more you pick apart things like this, the less magical it seems... And I never wanted to lose the magic of the feeling I had when Max was around. I loved it, and if it stayed forever, it'd never be long enough.
"C'mon, lovely," Max grinned, his fingers lacing around my wrist and tugging me towards the front entrance. I smiled slightly as I let him guide me, watching the excited sparkle in his soft brown eyes.
Max had made my birthday an absolutely wonderful day; after our morning in the park, he'd taken me out to lunch, then back to his apartment for a marathon of my favorite Disney movies, then back our for dinner. He didn't let me pay for any of it, insisting it was my birthday, and he was going to take care of everything. It was now nearly eight in the evening, and the sun was hanging low in the sky. He'd driven me to the Chicago Zoo, and I'd yet to fathom why, considering it was closed at this hour.
"What exactly are we doing here, Max?" I asked, smiling slightly. He grinned back at me, squeezing my wrist as he opened the gate to the zoo.
"Just trust me on this, Symphony," he assured. "It's another surprise."
I laughed and nodded, allowing him to pull me along. He began tugging me towards the Africa exhibits, before he stopped suddenly, turning towards me.
"Are we supposed to be here?" I asked, laughing lightly. Max just chuckled and nodded, turning away from me and setting my hands on his shoulders.
"Yes," he chuckled again. "I know someone who was able to pull a couple strings for me," he explained. "Now jump."
I nodded, jumping onto his back and wrapping me legs around his waist. His arms caught me, holding me by my knees and ensuring I wouldn't fall. "I thought of my next question," I mentioned, feeling him adjust me as I wrapped my arms around his neck. Max nodded, getting comfortable in his grip.
"Good deal," he smiled. "But close your eyes while you ask," he said. "So I can get you to your surprise."
I nodded, doing as he asked as he began walking. "So you seem really fascinated by the fact that I've never been in love," I commented. I felt Max nod, so I continued. "Well, have you ever been in love?"
I felt Max nod again. "I have," he said. "Only one major instance though, where it was actual love. Everything else was more like puppy love."
I nodded, my eyes still closed. We were silent for a few minutes, but it was comfortable silence... An easy one. I felt at ease as I rested my head on Max's shoulder, listening to his easy breathing.
"Ready?" Max suddenly asked, his voice excited again. I nodded slowly, lifting my head, but keeping my eyes closed. "I'm gonna drop you, okay?" he spoke. "But keep your eyes closed. I'll make sure you don't fall."
I nodded, feeling his hands slowly release my legs. My feet touched concrete, but Max kept my hands on his shoulders. "Let me guide you, alright?" he stated. I nodded again, feeling him begin to slowly walk forward. I followed, hearing the low creaking of a metal gate. I smiled slightly as he used one of his hands to bring me closer, resting it over my waist behind him. He suddenly shifted my hands away from his shoulders, stepping behind me and resting one hand on my waist.
"Open your eyes..." Max whispered in my ear. I smiled slightly, letting my eyes flutter open.
I audibly gasped at the sight my eyes met. In front of us stood a beautiful African elephant, elegantly swinging it's trunk around and watching Max and and I with a visible amusement in its eyes. Max smiled at my reaction, watching this unrealistically huge grin just plaster itself across my face.
"Her name is Ellie," Max whispered. A quick look around assured me that we were in fact standing in the middle of the elephant exhibit, although Ellie seemed to be the only one out and about, the others most likely locked away for the evening. Ellie watched us cutely, and it was then that the entire thing set in for me; Max had somehow found a way to get me in to meet one of the elephants at the zoo.
"Hey Max," a sudden voice pulled me from my awe at the magnificent creature in front of me, my eyes looking over to the edge of the exhibit. A tall man, with chocolate colored skin and black hair stood watching us, a small smile on his face. Max chuckled at the man, offering his hand and allowing them to shake.
"Thanks for doing this for me, Terrance," Max grinned. The man who must've been Terrance nodded and smiled, nodding at me.
"Is this the elephant lover?" Terrance laughed, watching me as my eyes found Ellie again. I heard Max chuckle and felt him nod, watching me softly.
"This is her," he stated. "Symphony, this is Terrance Lea. He works here, and he's an old buddy of mine."
I managed to smile and shake his hand, before my attention turned back to the elephant. "I'm sorry," I apologized. "I don't mean to come off as impolite, but..." I tailed off as Ellie stepped towards us, offering her trunk to me.
Terrance laughed. "I understand," he smiled. "Elephants are my favorites too," he assured. "You can pet her, if you'd like."
I grinned again, stepping forward slowly and touching Ellie's trunk. Ellie looked at me and almost... smiled at us, letting me step towards her more and begin to love on her.
"This is amazing..." I breathed. Max smiled as he stepped behind me again, my back against his front as he reached out beside my hand and began to pet the animal too.
"It is, isn't it?" Max laughed lightly, his other hand falling on my shoulder. Ellie trumpeted playfully, making me giggle happily. I'd never been so close to an elephant in my life, and I was beyond amazed and excited to be not only closer to one, but to he touching one as well.
"Here," Terrance offered me a few large leaves. "Let her take these from you."
I smiled and nodded, doing just as he said. Ellie sniffled them for a moment, before gently plucking the leaves from my hands with her trunk, ever softly setting them in her mouth and eating them. I marveled at the grace she displayed as she moved and ate and looked at all of us, seeming to just revel in the attention.
"So are you enjoying the last part of your birthday?" Max asked, still standing behind me. I turned to him and grinned, nodding vigorously, before pressing a light kiss to his cheek.
"Thank you," I murmured. "This is amazing."
Max blushed like crazy, smiling slightly and avoiding my gaze. "Anything for you, Simmy..." he said, running his hand along the back of his neck. I smiled slightly, going back to feeding Ellie.
"Would you like to ride her?" Terrance spoke up after a few minutes. I looked over at him, awestruck.
"Can I?" I asked. Terrance just laughed and nodded, approaching us.
"Yeah," he smiled. "Max has to go with you though," he said. "You're supposed to go up in pairs."
I looked back at Max, who nodded with a smile in approval. I laughed and threw my arms around Max as thanks, before watching Terrance beckon for Ellie to lay down.
"Atta girl," Terrance coaxed the giant elephant. He helped Max get situated, before both of them helped me get settled in front of Max. "Hold onto her tightly," Terrance told me, before turning to Max. "And you keep a good hold on Symphony."
Max nodded, slipping his arms around my waist. "Yes sir," he grinned, and I couldn't help but smile as his warm breath caressed my ear.
Terrance chuckled, not failing to notice this. "Alright," he said, looking back at the giant elephant beneath us. "Ellie, up."
It was hard to keep balanced, but once Ellie was fully standing, I let out a fit of soft giggles. Here I was, riding an actual elephant, feeling her strength and sheer power beneath me as she walked, guided by Terrance. I felt so alive, laughing lightly and grinning like crazy, feeling Max smile behind me at my actions.
"I know what my last question is," I stated to Max, very aware of his grip around my waist as I held onto Ellie. Max chuckled, tightening his hold on me.
"You do?" he smiled. "And what would it be?"
I turned back to him. "Why?" I asked simply.
He laughed. "Why what, baby?"
I took a deep breath. "Why go to all the trouble?" I elaborated. "Why go through all this, why make this day so perfect for me?" I asked. "Why'd you do it all for me?"
Max just smiled. "You're special," he stated quietly into my ear, resting his chin on my shoulder. "Every part of you makes me want to give you the world if it'd make you happy, and I've just got this crazy longing to be near you, all the time..." Max paused. "You remember that first night up on those boulders? When you asked me what happened six months ago, and I told you I'd tell you when I figured out what it was about you that enticed me so much?"
I nodded. Max smiled. "I feel like I'm so close to being able to tell you," he whispered. "I know now what enticed me to you that one night at the coffee shop... And, if you'll let me, I'd like to show you."
I turned to look at him, watching him cutely bite his lip. Max avoided my gaze for a moment, almost in nervousness, before finally meeting my stare.
"Would you maybe go out with me, Symphony?" Max whispered. "Like, on an actual date?"
I felt a small smile slowly creep across my face. I pressed a slower kiss to his cheek, nodding my head softly.
"Yeah..." I murmured, watching his nervousness disappear. "I'd like that a lot, Max."
He grinned, squeezing my waist as I turned back around, feeling Max resting his chin on my shoulder again as he sighed contently.
He didn't stop smiling the rest of the night.
_____________________________________
Blech.
I'm really not sure if I like his chapter yet.
I'm honestly too freaking tired to care at the moment :P
ONE! :-)
What's this?! Actual updates?!
Haha yes!
Although I still have the mono virus, I'm getting better, and it should be gone by the time I finish the next chapter.
That means less shitty updates! :D
Yaaaay!
TWO! :3
Update HOPEFULLY within the next week. I can't promise anything though, on account of because I'm taking two math courses this year on top of all my dance and regular honors courses, and it's proving to be a bit of a challenge for me.
So just kinda hang in there till I can get my bearings.
THREE! :P
Y'all 5 Seconds of Summer >>
I'm a fan.
I think that's all I've got for now, loves.
Be safe and happy Labor Day!
Bye :-)
- Casey