Archive of Our Own ^beta

“And with a kiss, Sundar the Bold awakens the princess.”

The party ‘oohs’, ‘aahs’, makes a couple of gagging noises, and Dustin catcalls. Whether it’s meant for Sundar or Lucas, Lucas doesn’t know. He casts a glance at Max beside him, who still looks at the table of their figurines and stat sheets with some bewilderment. His stomach flips a little, so he turns to his best friend.

“Since El came back, you sure have gotten all romantic and sappy,” Lucas shoves Mike’s shoulder, who blushes behind his D&D board.

“Shut up,” Mikes says, but he doesn’t deny it.

Lucas shrugs. “It was a cool campaign, man. Even the ending.”

Especially the ending.

“Will, that save in the final battle was cool as shit!” Dustin says, pulling the attention into the reminiscing phase of their campaigns. Funny how that always happens within seconds of it ending.

“So, what did you think?” Lucas asks Max quietly as Will hops up on his chair to re-enact that natural 20 that saved their asses.

She looks up from the table, eyebrows raised high. She has pretty blue eyes. “That you’re all a bunch of nerds.” Lucas frowns. “But I knew that already, and I still like you guys.”

Lucas snorts. “So…you had fun? You like being one of the nerds?”

She hesitates. “It wasn’t quite what I was expecting. More creative than I thought it would be. But…I’m not sure it’s my thing.”

Lucas’ stomach sinks. Before he can respond, Jonathan calls from the top of the stairs. “Hey Will, are you guys done yet?”

It’s the third time he’s asked. Which probably means Will’s mom has called 10 times by now. No doubt Jonathan doesn’t mind using Will as an excuse to spend more time with Nancy, but now that they’re actually done with the campaign, it’s likely time for the party to dissolve.

Mike, Will, and Dustin all start packing up the various books and drawings and figures. Max reaches out to take Lucas’ hand and stops him from packing up with them. 

“Hey, even if it’s not my thing, I’d still want to play sometimes so I can be with you.” Her eyes dart to the side. “You guys.”

Lucas can’t help the smile that spreads across his face. He’d prefer she actually like this thing he loves…but liking his company enough to be here is a great second option.

“See you guys!” Will says excitedly as he makes for the stairs. Dustin and Mike follow him loudly up the stairs. Lucas will have to thank them later for leaving him some time alone with Max, though he doubts they did it intentionally.

“I liked having you here,” Lucas admits. “Even if your ‘Zoomer’ doesn’t actually exist.”

“You’re just jealous you’re a normal human character and I have magical speed boost powers.”

Lucas laughs. “You’re ridiculous. And Sundar the Bold is not normal.”

“Yes, he awakens princesses with a kiss,” she teases, and squeezes his hand. He’s kind of amazed that she hadn’t let go of it already.

He hasn’t really been sure what he and Max are in the weeks following the Snowball dance. They went back to their friendly banter with occasional moments of such vulnerability that he thinks they’re something more. But he hasn’t tried to kiss her again, and she hasn’t either. Sometimes he worries it was a bad kiss for her—it certainly wasn’t for him.

But with her hand in his, her free and open smile, and proof that she’d sit through four hours of something she doesn’t really like to be with him, Lucas feels a little of Sundar the Bold rising within him.

“Max…will you be my girlfriend?”

It’s not exactly how he imagined asking her. He’s dreamed of it these last several weeks, with varying levels of romantic gestures and poetic words. But he’s not upset he acted while he had the guts.

Max’s eyes widen. She swallows. “Why, so your stalking can be less creepy?”

He might have recoiled from the sarcastic comment a few weeks ago. But her grip in his hand has actually tightened, and her fluttering eyelids betray her excitement and nerves.

“No, cuz I really like you.”

She visibly softens, and a shy smile comes to her face. “I really like you, too. I…yes, I’ll be your girlfriend.”

Lucas smiles and laughs and pulls her into a hug. She buries her face in his chest and calls him a dork. When they separate, it’s only a few inches. They both nervously lean in, smiles dropping in preparation. It’s a more intentional kiss than the one Max surprised him with at the dance. They don’t know exactly what to do once their lips are pressed together—Lucas is pretty sure neither of them have any practice at this. But it’s perfect.

They pull back after a moment and smile broadly at each other. She’s so cute. She’s funny and smart and brave. Lucas can’t quite believe at 13 years old, he found the girl he’ll be with forever. No way he’s ever messing this up.

i. Lie

Lucas whoops as he picks up speed on his bike, working out some soreness from the long night. He’d slept partially on a rock, but it was worth it. Behind him, Will shouts “Slow down!”

But Lucas will not slow down. They’d just had their first outdoor campout of the year. Solo! It’s the first time their parents approved without Jonathan, Mr. Wheeler, or Lucas’ dad tagging along.

Spending late hours around a campfire playing D&D, roasting marshmallows, and piling into a tent is as good a Friday night as Lucas can imagine.

The only thing that would’ve made it better is if he didn’t have a pit of guilt roiling his stomach all night.

Mike and Dustin and Will all catch up to Lucas as they pedal down the empty street. They each have comically large bags on their backs. Lucas carries the tent, Mike and Dustin the sleeping bags and now-empty food bag, and Will the D&D material.  

It’s cold in late March, but none of that phases the boys as they head home from a triumphant campaign and night on their own. Will and Dustin peel off to head home with shouts of victory, and then Mike and Lucas race the rest of the way home.

It’s not twenty seconds after they turn on their street before Lucas’ stomach plummets. Max is sitting on the curb in front of his house. “Oh shit,” he says.

“Oh shit,” Mike echoes. He knows what Lucas did. “Ummm…good luck.”

He speeds away unhelpfully as Max gets to her feet and puts her hands on her hips.

“Hey Max,” he says uneasily as he slows to a stop and puts a foot down to catch himself. “What…what are you doing here?”

She raises an unimpressed eyebrow. “Thought I’d surprise my boyfriend with a fun hike this morning. Because my boyfriend was so depressed last night that he couldn’t hang out because of a stupid family reunion. Was your family reunion in the woods with Wheeler?”

Lucas’ mind races. Is there any way to double down on this lie? Find a way to uphold the imaginary family reunion and explain why he’s got a tent on his back? 

“Before you spend too much energy trying to lie your way out of this, I already talked to your mom. I know there was no reunion.”

“Oh,” is all Lucas can say.

Max scoffs and storms off, down the street. He wonders if her mom dropped her off, or if she walked the twenty minutes here on her own. His guilt intensifies.

His bike clatters to the ground as he chases after her. “Max, wait.”

“You lied to me Lucas!”

“I know, I’m sorry!” He catches up and walks alongside her, pleading. Her face is red. He hasn’t seen her this angry before. She’s not even hiding her hurt behind sarcasm this time. “I didn’t know how to tell you I wanted to hang out with the guys instead of you.”

That explanation doesn’t help. He probably shouldn’t be surprised.

She stops. “We’re done.”

His heart stops. “Wha—what?”

“This isn’t okay!” she cries, voice loud in the still morning air.

“What, because I wanted to spend a night camping with my friends?”

“Because you lied, shit-head!” She’s angry, but for just a moment, Lucas sees something much deeper flicker across her face. “I thought you were different. But you’re not. So this cute little boyfriend girlfriend thing we tried out is over.”

“Max,” Lucas whispers, reaching out for her hand. “I messed up. Don’t—”

“You did mess up.” She pulls her hand from his. “See you around, Lucas.”

He watches her walk away. An ache swells around the pit of guilt in his stomach. She’s still within sight when he decides he needs to fix this.

-0-0-0-

Max groans in frustration as she picks herself up off her ass for the fifteenth time. She figured out kickflips weeks ago, but she still can’t reliably stick a heel flip. Should’ve spent more time on her board than with Lucas. She brushes her pants off, and turns around to locate her board.

Lucas is bending over to pick it up, his bike forgotten on the ground beside him. He’s got a backpack on, and is trying to avoid crushing a bunch of flowers in his hand as he grabs the board. 

She lets out an annoyed sigh and tries to push away the pain caused by just seeing him. It’s been a long week since their breakup. It’s not like she can just avoid him. They have three classes together!

“Hey Max,” he says in that hesitant voice she used to find cute. It’s definitely not still endearing. Especially when paired with those kind eyes. Definitely not endearing.

“Back to your stalker ways, I see.”

His half-smile is sad. Good.

He steps forward to hand her the skateboard. After she takes it, he thrusts his hand out again to present the flowers. Daisies. 

“I’m really sorry,” he says for the fourth time this week.

“I know,” she says.

“I shouldn’t have lied.”

“I know,” she repeats, rolling her eyes again.

He swallows. “I wanted you to feel like you were always going to be my first preference. No matter what. And…when our first campout of the year came together on the same night that you asked me out, I panicked. I thought it was better to lie than make you feel like you were second to the guys.”

Max feels herself soften against her will. “That’s stupid. I don’t need you to drop your friends and life just because I’m your girlfriend. You’re allowed to want to hang out with your best friends. And obviously lying to me is worse.”

He nods. “It is. I screwed up. I’m really sorry, Max.”

She frowns at the flowers in her hand. Can she really just forgive him? Just like that? It seems too easy.

Before she can make any decision, Lucas speaks up again. He looks around the school parking lot. It’s empty, but for a few school administrators who haven’t gone home for the weekend yet.

“I came here to ask you to take me back. But…Max, even if you don’t, I hope you know we’re all still going to be your friends.”

Her eyes sting and she turns her head away. She hates that he can see her so well. He’s a dumbass, but there’s a reason she likes him so much.

“I know.”

“You’ve been leaving right after school this week.”

“Billy’s my ride,” she explains, but he sees through her. He could argue that she used to come hang out with them after school, even if Billy was her fastest way home. Or argue that she’d missed the ride today so she could skate alone. But he doesn’t.

He only nods. “If you’ll let me, I’d like to hang out with you til you're done. And give you a ride home on my bike.”

Her anger at him is a faint shadow compared to the light his apology and steadiness brings. She surges forward and kisses him. They haven’t gotten a ton better at kissing, but it seems to do the trick as Lucas wraps his arms around her.

When they separate, Lucas grins at her. “Is that a yes to hanging out and a ride, or a yes to taking me back as your boyfriend?”

“Dork,” she says. Her eyeroll is much more playful this time. “Help me out with the heel flip and then you can take me home, Boyfriend. And for the record, I don’t like flowers.”

“Noted,” he says with a smile.

She still doesn’t get the hang of the trick. She spends an hour of laughter trying to teach him to skate instead. He’s a coordinated and athletic guy in almost everything else he does, but he’s pretty helpless on a skateboard. 

They’re both grinning when he drops her off—a block from her house—and he leans in for another kiss. Maybe they are getting a little better at it.

When she gets home, she steals a vase from her mom to put her flowers in. She keeps them lively for as long as she can, and smiles whenever she sees them. She doesn’t think she needs to apologize to Lucas for lying. At the time she told him she didn’t like flowers, it was true.

ii. Wandering

Max doesn’t hate Gym class. Especially on days where they don’t have to run for the first 20 minutes. She gets to hang out with Lucas after they’ve done their stretches. He always picks her first if he’s choosing teams, which is especially great when they play basketball. Automatic win if she’s on his team.

The sport is volleyball today. Lucas is also pretty good at that, even if he doesn’t know the difference between a bump and a set.

He seems distracted, though. It only takes a couple of minutes for Max to realize why, when Lucas is playing at the net opposite Lisa Miller.

Lisa Miller. The girl who got boobs and a butt before everyone else in school. She’s obnoxious about it, too. She knows she has the attention of every one of these pubescent boys in school. 

Even Lucas.

Max does a pretty good job biting her tongue, but every time she catches his eyes drifting to Lisa Miller, she can feel her fuse shortening. When he misses a pretty easy hit because Lisa went for the block and their bodies met at the net, it all comes spilling out.

“Dammit, Lucas, can you just focus,” she says. She’s not proud of the volume and bite of her request. Especially when Lucas turns to her with surprise and hurt in his eyes. He knows she’s competitive, but she’s never reacted like that.

It doesn’t help when Lisa gives Max a haughty stare.

“Wha—what?” Lucas is clueless. Of course he is. It’s possible he didn’t even realize he was checking Lisa out in that too-tight t-shirt and those too-tight shorts. But she doesn’t want to give him the benefit of the doubt. Better to be angry at him than admitting she’s jealous of Lisa freaking Miller.

Max storms off to the locker room. Lucas chases after her. Class will end soon enough that they won’t get in trouble for missing the end of their volleyball match.

“Hey, Max,” he manages to chase her down and tugs at her hand. She lets him. He’s soft when he asks her, “Is everything okay?”

It’s worse that he’s kind. This would be easier if he was being a jerk in more ways than his wandering eyes. But Max can’t help the anger and hurt from making her act rashly. “Why don’t you go ask Lisa Miller?”

Utter confusion. She wishes she saw guilt on his face. At least then her anger at him could be more justified. 

But no. Whether he knew what he was doing or not, a wandering eye is not okay. Hell, maybe it’s worse. Yeah, it’s worse, she’ll go with that. He’s just a pig naturally. Not even by conscious choice.

“Lisa Miller?” he asks, looking over his shoulder. “What does she have to do with anything?”

“Like you haven’t been ogling her all class, Lucas. Guess you’ve still got that stalker in you.”

She regrets the words as soon as they come out. Not only because they’re cruel in this context, but it also taints their inside joke. It’s become such a term of endearment for them, and now…how is she ever supposed to use it again? So maybe, she just won’t.

“Max, what are you talking about?” He doesn’t get to have righteous indignation. He doesn’t get to be right, here. He doesn’t get to look at another girl and be the good guy.

“You don’t even know,” she scoffs. “We’re done.”

She turns away and runs into the locker room. She can’t let Lucas see the regret already suffocating her.

-0-0-0-

Lucas sneaks out of his last class five minutes before the bell rings. He knows Max’s last class is math, so he heads to the east hall, so he can cut off her exit before she makes a run for it. 

When she emerges from her classroom and sees him, she freezes in the hallway. She narrows her eyes and marches toward him. Lucas can’t help the brief fear and excitement that passes through him. Something about a fiery Max really works for him.

She grabs him by the arm and tugs him outside where they can find some space alone.

“What?” she asks.

Lucas takes a deep breath. Truthfully, he didn’t know he’d been ‘ogling Lisa Miller’. But he remembered his dad’s counsel that worked out all those months ago. His girl is never wrong. So he reaches into his backpack and pulls out a box that had been burning a hole in his bag for a month. 

“I’m really sorry,” he says, and hands the box over to her.

She looks at it confusedly. “What is this?”

“A peace offering?” he says. “I…I’m sorry I looked at another girl. For what it’s worth, I don’t think I was looking at her,” he hopes his emphasis on the word ‘looking’ makes it clear what he means. He knows why he might have been looking at Lisa, even if he didn’t mean to. “I promise I won’t even glance at another girl anymore. Truthfully, you’re the only girl I want to look at.”

“Gross,” Max says, but a smile creeps onto her face. Then it slips off her face. She doesn’t open her gift, and Lucas is worried this make-up won’t go quite like the last one. “I’m sorry, too.”

He frowns. “What?”

She huffs. “I…might have overreacted. You’re a guy. Puberty is apparently a bitch for you guys, too. And compared to what I know my step brother is like, you’re one of the good ones.”

Lucas snorts. “Really strong endorsement. Better than Billy.”

She hits his chest playfully. “By the way, don’t make promises you can’t keep. I know you’re gonna look at other girls. Even accidentally. But promise me you’ll try not to.”

He nods, “I promise.”

Her smile is soft when she leans forward. He’d rather these break-ups not be so frequent, but he’s all for the make-up kiss that follows. They kiss for a moment longer than usual, even moving their lips against each other a little experimentally. It’s awesome.

“Alright, what is this?” she asks when they separate, opening his gift box. It’s a collection of five small Dig Dug minis. He’d spent his March allowance on it.

She smiles as she inspects them, so Lucas smiles too. “Mad Max deserves some trophies for being on the leaderboard.”

She pulls him into a hug. “You’re such a dork. Thank you.” She leans back and glares at him. “Top of the leaderboard.”

He laughs. “Obviously. You’ll never let me forget it.”

“Take me home?” she asks.

“You got it.”

As they walk to his bike, where he’ll take her almost all of the way home—he thinks her parents might think 13 is too young for a boyfriend—he casts her a sly glance.

“So, tell me the ground rules. Am I allowed to talk to another girl?”

She narrows her eyes at him, but doesn’t say anything. So he teases a little more. “Maybe I just can’t make eye contact? Should I stare at their foreheads when we talk?”

“Okay, funny guy.” She nudges him with her shoulder. 

Truthfully, Lucas is thrilled that Max got jealous. So he teases a little more. “When I walk down the hall, should I just stare at the ceiling or the floor? Just in case there’s a girl?”

“Careful,” she warns, but she’s still got that adorable smirk on her face. When it drops suddenly, Lucas worries his joke went a beat too long. “Wait, how did you get me this gift already?” She holds it up. “I broke up with you two hours ago.”

He decides not to comment on how it’s probably the shortest break-up in history. 

“Oh, um, I actually bought it the last time you broke up with me. But then you forgave me with just the flowers and I forgot to give it to you then…so…”

She blinks. “You’ve been holding it in reserve?” she says dryly. “In case you messed up again?”

“Or a birthday!” Lucas says, hands out and palms open.

“My birthday is in four months!”

“And a wonderful birthday it will be,” he assures her. 

She rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling widely. “It better be.”

Lucas sighs. Well, there goes his April—and probably May—allowance.

iii. Together

“Why isn’t Max here?” Eleven asks as they settle into familiar seats in Mike’s basement. Hopper has gotten more and more comfortable with Eleven spending a few hours with them on weekends like this. It’s been nice. At least, when she’s not reminding Lucas of his heartache.

“She broke up with me,” Lucas says miserably. “I told her she’s still invited tonight, but she says we need some space.”

El frowns, which surprises Lucas. He’s never thought Max and El got along all that well. Certainly better than when they first met, but El sticks close to Mike. And Max…well, she used to prefer being close to him.

“Why?” El asks, confusion in her eyes.

Ah, so she isn’t frowning because she’s sad. She’s confused. Join the club. “No idea,” Lucas sighs. “At least the last two times, I had an idea what I did.”

“She’s broken up with you three times?” El’s eyes are wide. Behind her, Mike laughs.

Lucas glares at him. “Hey, a little sympathy would be great right about now.”

“You guys will get back together,” Mike waves his hand dismissively. “You always do.”

But Lucas isn’t so sure. Max has been avoiding him for two weeks. And not just trying to avoid his gaze in the halls at school, like the first time they’d broken up. She seems to be taking different routes to her classrooms. Coming to their shared classes late and leaving the second the bell rings. 

El leans forward and covers his hand with hers reassuringly. “I am sure you can make it right.”

Lucas isn’t so sure this time. But he’s going to try.

-0-0-0-

Max stares out the kitchen window as she lazily scrubs her glass clean. It’s a nice evening. Setting sun, no weather. She wonders if Lucas and the others are out exploring the woods or if they’re holed up in Mike’s basement again.

Her mom sets a few more dinner plates near the sink. Neil is still sitting at the kitchen table, useless, reading the paper.

The doorbell rings, bringing her out of her reverie.

“Get that for us, will you Max?” Neil calls out. Useless.

So she puts the glass in the drying rack, wipes her hands on a rag, and heads for the door. She opens it to find Lucas with his stupid, wonderful smile.

A jolt of panic runs through her and she looks over her shoulder, bringing the door closed so no one can see from behind her. “What are you doing here?” she whispers at him.

“I’m fighting for you,” he says.

So adorably misguided. “Well…stop it!”

“Not gonna.”

She should’ve seen this coming. Maybe part of her did. Not bothering to call out to her mom and Neil, Max steps out of her house and shuts the door behind her.

“Fine…just…let’s fight somewhere else.”

She marches toward his bike, and he bounces behind her. “No, I’m fighting for you.”

“Yeah, yeah, I heard you.”

She lifts his bike up and turns back to him. He looks at her curiously, probably because her playful energy does not match their broken-up state. She doesn’t blame him. He’s completely in the dark on this one, and he has to be. But just because she broke up with him, doesn’t mean she doesn’t really like him still.

“Come on,” she says. “Let’s go to the park.”

It’s a short ride. Lucas tries and fails a couple of times to get her to talk. She’s still not quite sure how she’s going to avoid talking. He’s persistent. The steady dork.

They sit on the two swings in the park and lightly sway.

“You’re really not going to talk?” Lucas says. “I think I deserve something here.”

Max sighs and won’t meet his eyes even as he bores a hole into the side of her face with his. “It just isn’t working out,” she lies. “We work better as friends.”

He frowns and even in her peripheral vision, she can see the hurt on his face. “Why?”

She racks her brain. He couldn’t just accept that answer? Persistent dork.

She groans. “I don’t know, Lucas. We just do.”

“So you don’t like me anymore?”

Somehow this straightforward question is impossible to lie to. Even to protect him. “I...I still do.”

He stops swinging and reaches out to stop her, forcing her to face him. He’s deadly serious. “Max, what’s up? I deserve to know how to fix this.”

Her eyes sting. “You…can’t, Lucas. It’s not your problem to fix.”

“Is it your mom? Neil? They don’t want you having a boyfriend? Cuz that’s okay. I can wait until we’re older.”

Her heart beats hard in her chest and her eyes sting even more. God, she better not cry.

“It’s not my age…it’s…” she groans again. But Lucas is right. He deserves to know why she just ditched him. He won’t stop until she tells him anyway. “You know Billy.”

“Yeah,” Lucas says slowly.

“That he’s a piece of shit.”

Lucas snorts. “Until you scared him off with a nail bat between his legs.”

She smiles, but it fades quickly. “He’s not just any piece of shit. He’s a racist piece of shit.” Lucas’ smile drops. “And Neil is even worse.”

The silence is tense for a moment before Lucas responds. “You broke up with me because I’m black?” he asks.

“God, no,” Max panics. “No, no, no, Lucas I don’t care that you’re black! I really like you! You’re funny and kind and really cute.”

She was hoping he’d smile at that, but he’s still frowning. “It sounds like you broke up with me because I’m black.”

The reassertion gives her pause, and her blood runs cold. “Oh my god,” she whispers. “I…I didn’t…Lucas, I’m so sorry. It’s not because I don’t like you. I...I just didn’t want you to ever hear what they say. Or worse.”

The pain on his face is still evident, but somehow he still manages to be concerned. “Have they hurt you because of me, Max?”

She shakes her head again. “No. Billy just makes little comments now and then, and Neil doesn’t even know we hang out. And my mom would never put up with him hurting me. But the things he’s said…Lucas, I never want to subject you to that.”

“I’ve been bullied before.”

“That sucks. A bully at school is different than your girlfriend’s family, though. I hate that I don’t want to bring you over to my house because of them. I hate that I make you drop me a block away. It’s not fair to you that I’m afraid of what they’ll do if they know.”

“So you ended things. Just like that.”

“I’m so sorry,” she says, and the tears finally fall. “I didn’t mean…”

Lucas stares at her hand in his. “This sucks.”

“I know, they—”

“No,” he says, eyes snapping up to hers. “It sucks that you never talked to me about this. That you just broke up with me.”

“I didn’t want you to feel that prejudice.” She pauses, and admits additional motivation. “And…and I’m embarrassed by the house I’m living in.”

Brow furrowed, Lucas squeezes her hand. “I wouldn’t judge you for your step-dad’s beliefs.”

“I know,” she says. “I still…hate that it’s even a thing.”

“You should have told me. We should have talked about it.”

“I didn’t want you to have to worry about choosing between your girlfriend and adding this awful noise in your life.”

“But that’s my choice, Max.” His voice is firm. “I have to deal with this stuff all the time, and I have to decide when it’s worth standing up to the bully or glaring at a cashier or even telling Mike he’s being dumb, and when I just need to move on and ignore what’s happening.”

She nods, contrite. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

He softens. “You’re worth the noise,” he tells her. “If I’m not, then—”

“You are!” she all but shouts. “God, Lucas, I don’t care what they say or think about me. I just…hate that they say it. And that they might say it to you one day.”

He squeezes her hand. “We’ll face it together. Just like we’ll face other things together next time.”

She nods rapidly and leans forward to pull him into a hug. It’s awkward in the swings, so Lucas pulls them out of the swings and into the hug.

“I’m sorry,” she says again, face buried in his chest. No one has ever made Max apologize like this. But then, no one else makes her feel like Lucas does. “I don’t even have flowers to make it up to you.” 

He laughs and rubs his hand over her back. “It’s okay. I’d probably just end up giving them back to you for something stupid I say.”

She laughs as she squeezes him tighter in her arms.

iv. Preemptive

Summer means even more time with the party. Mike and Dustin and Will and Max all exploring the woods or going to the new mall. When El can join them to make it a full party like today, they find themselves crammed in the Wheeler basement, and Lucas wouldn’t have it any other way. Will seems a little annoyed that Max and El’s presence means D&D is off the table, but it’s a small price to pay. Besides, they can make just about any stupid game fun.

“That was terrible,” Lucas laughs as he looks for the M&M on the floor.

“You’re not any better,” Mike grumbles. But when Lucas locates the candy and tosses it, it’s right where it needs to be for Mike to easily catch it in his mouth.

“Easy peasy,” Lucas brags, turning his head to waggle his eyebrows at Max, who sits on the couch next to El.

“You’re so amazing,” she says sarcastically, but her smile says she likes their dumb little games.

“Alright, alright,” Mike says, grabbing another M&M from the bag. He launches it again, and it goes soaring way too far to the left.

Lucas dives for it, and stumbles to the couch where his face collides with Max’s arm. He gets a whiff of something before leaning back on his knees.

“Did you not put on deodorant today?” he asks.

Max’s eyes go wide. Dustin snorts. El tilts her head and furrows her brow. Mike hisses an “ooh”. 

“What is wrong with you?” Max asks.

Lucas raises his hands. “No, no, I’m just asking. I forget all the time. It’s not that bad.”

“Oh. My God,” she says, crossing her arms. Either to close herself off from him or to keep her pits closed, Lucas isn’t sure.

“Really. You have a wonderful…um, natural aroma.”

“Dude,” she says, glaring. “Stop talking.”

The others laugh. More at Lucas than Max. Still, he wishes they wouldn’t. They’re making it worse. Worse than he’s definitely already made it.

“It’s alright, Max,” Mike says. “He’s already got something in reserve for when he forgets to put his foot in his mouth.”

Lucas groans again.

“Shut it, Wheeler,” Max says, but then turns to Lucas, eyebrows high. “Is that true? Are you preparing to repair our relationship?"

“I…not necessarily,” he says, cringing. “For a fight or your birthday. Whatever happens first. It worked so well having something prepared last time…”

Her eyeroll is big this time. She stands from the couch and holds out her hand. “Alright. Show me.”

“Show you?” he parrots, taking her hand.

The walk from Mike’s to his house isn’t far. He wishes he didn’t still have Dustin’s laughter and singsong “Someone’s in trouble” ringing in his head. 

“We really should get back,” he says. “Dustin’s leaving for camp tomorrow, and we shouldn’t ditch the party.”

“Plenty of time left in the day, Romeo. I need to understand the scope of this so I know whether this is worth breaking up with you over.”

“Breaking up with me?” His voice cracks. “For getting you a gift?”

“Obviously,” she says, but the squeeze of her hand puts him at ease. “Here I am, thinking things are good. And you’re over here preparing to screw things up.”

“Things are good!” he says, opening the door to his house and leading her up the stairs to his room, grateful Erica isn’t lurking about to cause more trouble. “The best, even!” He pauses outside his room. “Max…this really isn’t that big of a deal. We can just wait until your birthday.”

She only nods her head. So he sighs and opens the door. He should clean his room more frequently. Still, Max has seen it in worse shape and still likes him okay.

He drops down to his knees to reach under his bed, and wheels it out. He gets back to his feet, and holds it sheepishly in front of him. It’s a new skateboard. Specifically, one that she’d been eyeing the last time they’d walked by the store.

Max’s jaw is slightly open, eyes wide. Gosh, her eyes are beautiful. He almost says it, but then she says, “I’m breaking up with you.”

“Wait, what,” he starts, before he understands. It clicks when she flashes him an adorable, penitent look. “Oh.” He gives her a flat stare. 

She reaches her hands out slowly, making a grabbing motion. He groans, and hands the board over to her. “Will you forgive me,” he says in a monotone voice.

“I suppose,” she says dramatically, snatching the board from his hands. She admires it for only a second before setting it on the floor, though. Then pulls him into a fierce hug. “You’re amazing. Thank you.” 

His heart thuds pleasantly in his chest. When she pulls back, it’s to press a soft kiss to his lips, hand cupping his cheek. Based on what Mike has told him, Lucas and Max don’t make out with the frequency or intensity of Mike and El. But Lucas can’t imagine anything better than how he and Max do it.

And he’s even learned enough not to comment on the very slight odor that he smells with her so close. And he knows not to comment on how they’ve officially crushed their last record of shortest breakup. Progress.

“Does this mean I don’t have to get you another birthday present next month?” he asks her as she bends down to pick up this gift.

She takes his hand and tugs him back out of his room and down the stairs. “Yeah, you’re off the hook.”

Unfortunately, Lucas hadn’t learned enough to know that means “no, I’ll be expecting another present”.

v. Present

“Happy Birthday, Max,” Lucas says. They’re at their usual drop-off spot down the street from her house. Just because Lucas has decided she’s worth the noise of her step dad and brother, doesn’t mean either of them are interested in intensifying the noise. Max clambers off his bike, and moves to his side.

He readies himself for a kiss goodnight. Instead, her slight smile slowly fades into a frown.

“Wait…you really didn’t get me something for my birthday?”

Lucas hesitates, not sure if she’s joking or not. He’s gotten better, but sometimes it’s still hard to tell with Max.

“What?”

Her brow creases. “Even Wheeler got me a birthday present, Lucas. I just figured my boyfriend didn’t want to give me his present with everyone else.”

“Wait…are you being serious right now?” he asks. He steps off his bike and puts the kickstand up. “You specifically told me I didn’t need to give you a gift.”

“Obviously that wasn’t true!” Max says.

Lucas shakes his head. He’s been bewildered many times in this relationship. But this takes the cake. “So I’m in trouble,” he says, hands out. “For listening to you.”

“No,” Max’s eyes flash. “You’re in trouble for not giving your girlfriend a present on her birthday.”

She says it like it’s the simplest thing in the world.

“I gave you your birthday present early!”

“You gave me that present because we broke up and you wanted to get back together with me.”

“You broke up with me because you wanted the present!” 

He’s not shouting at her, so much as he’s shouting at the insanity of it all.

“I broke up with you because you were preparing to screw up!” Max exclaims. “Who has so little faith in their relationship that they have a gift waiting to repair it?”

“Someone who is dating a crazy person, obviously,” Lucas says. “This is actually insane. You’re insane. You take my gift for you early, and now I’m in trouble for not having another one. When you specifically told me I didn’t need it.”

Her arms are crossed. Her glare deepens. “I’m insane. For wanting someone special to do something special on my special day.”

Lucas holds up his hand and counts on his fingers. “I spent two months' allowance on the birthday gift you took early. I organized the party with all of your friends. I came and picked you up. I wished you a happy birthday. I took you home.”

“Wow,” she says, rolling her eyes. “Counting your greatness now, I see.”

“Yeah. One of us should.”

“Please, Lucas. ‘Organizing the party’...that was barely different from any of our normal hangouts except your mom made a cake and Erica was there. You always pick me up and drop me off. Wishing someone a happy birthday takes no thought or energy. And word to the wise, probably don’t go around telling people how much you spent on them.”

Lucas nods, hurt joining his anger and shock at this whole situation. “Good to know how appreciated I am,” he says sarcastically. “Maybe I’ll stop giving you rides to and from your house, if you’re just taking me for granted.”

She flinches and tilts her body away from him. “Now you know how a girlfriend feels when you don’t do something special for her birthday.” 

“You’re ridiculous,” is all Lucas can say.

“And we’re done,” Max bites back, turning on her heel and stalking towards her house.

For the first time, Lucas isn’t sad that he’s just been broken up with. He’s angry.

The sadness comes later that night when he’s tossing and turning in his bed.

-0-0-0-

Max isn’t sure how to feel when Lucas comes bearing gifts a week and a half after their fight. Probably their biggest fight, and it was so stupid. Part of her wishes Lucas didn’t come with an apology, and that he would’ve forced her to do the groveling. The other part of her thinks Lucas is doing exactly what he deserves. Beg her forgiveness. Make things right.

“Hey Max,” he says, and sits beside her at the park picnic table. He must have stopped by her house to find out she was here. Luckily Neil is at work and Billy is at the pool. But the fact that Lucas had taken that risk means a lot to her. No doubt her mom was excited to finally meet him.

“Hey,” she says hesitantly.

He sets two small boxes on the table. “I talked to my dad,” he explains, and gives her an apologetic look. “Apparently, I made the most rookie mistake known to boyfriends, and everyone should know ‘I don’t want a gift’ means ‘yes, I want a gift’.”

Max snorts. “It’s the most simple girlfriend translation known to man.”

Lucas chuckles. “Well, sorry I didn’t speak the language. I still don’t understand why we have to speak different languages, but I think I at least understand why you wanted something. It’s not about the gift. It’s about knowing I was thinking about you. I’m sorry I didn’t show you that.”

Max looks away from him, some guilt swirling in her. “You did, though.” She takes a deep breath. “You might have your head in the clouds now and then, but you show me. I’m sorry I don’t always show appreciation for it.”

He wraps his arm around her shoulder. “Your birthday was a special day, and deserved special attention though.”

“Thank you,” she says, leaning her head on his shoulder. “For what it’s worth, I didn’t break up with you because of the birthday gift.”

“No?” he asks, confusion in his voice.

“It was you repeatedly calling me insane that did it.”

He laughs. “Oh, shit. Yeah. That’ll do it.” She lifts her head to give him a sardonic smile. He only grins back and hands her one of the gifts. “Here, open it. This one is because I’m sorry I called you insane and didn’t give you a birthday present.”

She pulls off the lid of the box and reaches inside. It’s a bar of her favorite chocolate and a mixtape. She scans the list of songs he’s messily scrawled on the side of the case. A few killer tracks, a couple she doesn’t recognize, and one that he should know better than to gift her. She smiles. 

“It’s perfect. Thank you.” She kisses his cheek, and he grins. ‘Proud of himself’ is a cute look on him.

He slides the other box in front of her. “And this is a belated birthday present.”

She opens the second gift and gasps. “Lucas…how did you…”

It’s a beautiful bracelet. She’s not even a jewelry kind of girl, yet she still loves it. It’s not the crappy kind that you spend a dollar on and breaks the first time you try to put it on. It’s got a soft and warm golden color. The thin chains glisten in the sunlight, somehow feeling delicate and sturdy in her hands as she pulls it from the box. A simple heart-shaped charm turns as she holds it out in front of her.

“Full disclosure,” Lucas says with a cringe. “I know you said not to talk about money…but I’m broke. My dad gave me this and said my mom never wears it, so it might as well go to someone who will.”

She finally turns from the beautiful bracelet. “You stole this from your mom?”

“No, my dad did!”

“Lucas, what if she sees me wearing it!”

His face falls. “Oh. I didn’t think about that. I’ll just tell her…I stole it?”

Max shakes her head and puts it back in the box with a smile. She hands it back to him. “Put this back. The chocolate and tape are perfect.”

Lucas frowns. “But that was to apologize to you.”

“It works great as a belated birthday present, too.”

His eyes narrow. “This is another trap. You actually still want a birthday present.”

She bursts out laughing. “First of all, the first time wasn’t a trap. Secondly, no. I’m serious. No hidden message here. I don’t need you to spend crazy money on me, Lucas. Maybe take me out, just the two of us.”

He nods. “I’ll take you to a movie,” he says. “We’ve been wanting to see The Goonies. And if we wait until Friday when I get my allowance, we won’t even need to ask Steve to sneak us in again.”

She interlocks their fingers. “Perfect.” 

Really, the best present is just him being present.

vi. Forever

He should’ve realized her smile was fake sooner. 

Now that she doesn’t seem to be trying to fake it anymore, he can look back on the last couple months and see where the cracks in her facade had been. 

Maybe it wasn’t all fake. Maybe she still found genuine joy as they all hung out, making fun of Dustin’s Never Ending Story, or when it was just him and her cuddled together watching a movie. But after Will and El moved, after the reality of Billy really set in, after her mom and step dad started fighting…had any of her smiles been real?

“Thanks, Lucas,” her mom says for the tenth time as he carries in the last box from the truck.

“No problem,” he says for the tenth time, carrying the box back to Max’s room. The trailer home is small, but she’s got a nice space in it. At the very least, it’s a space away from Neil and memories of Billy.

Max sits on her bed—still without sheets and blankets on it—staring at the wall. Lucas’ heart breaks for her, and he sets the box down. He sits beside her and takes her hand, squeezing it gently. She doesn’t squeeze his in return.

“It’s going to be okay,” he whispers.

She nods, but doesn’t look at him.

He gently rubs his thumb along the back of her hand. He’s at a loss for words. He doesn’t know what to say. What she needs. For all the insanity of the last two and a half years, he’s never lost someone like she has. Even if Billy and his dad were pieces of shit, they were important parts of her life. And they’d just been ripped out, throwing her mom and her into chaos.

“I think tryouts went well by the way,” he says. Max looks over at him. “I’m not going to be a starter or anything. I might not even play this season. But I think I’ll make the team.”

She nods, and a flicker of a smile comes to her face. He hopes this one isn’t fake. “That’s great.” Then she frowns. “Shit…sorry I didn’t even ask.” 

He can see her beating herself up. That’s the last thing he wants. She’s not as present right now, and Lucas understands.  “No, no, it’s okay. You’ve got so much going on.”

She stares at their hands. “Still.”

He searches desperately for something to say. To make things right.

“I think I need some time,” she whispers. 

He nods. “Okay. Time for what?”

She looks up at him, and tears are in her eyes. “Time…apart.”

His stomach sinks. “Oh.”

“It’s…I’m just not in a place to do this. I don’t have the energy to treat you like you deserve.”

“Stop it,” Lucas says. “I don’t need anything right now, okay? I just want to be here for you.”

She shakes her head. “Even you saying that just makes me feel worse.”

He can’t imagine what she’s feeling, but those words definitely bring him an ache. “Then what can I do? Or…not do?”

She lets go of his hand. “You can give me time.”

-0-0-0-

‘Time’ turned from days to weeks to a month. 

Time where Lucas didn’t really leave her alone, even if he stopped holding her hand and kissing her hello or goodbye. He still invited her to hang out with everyone. He still called her up to check in on her. Even if El didn’t say it, Max suspects El started writing her more frequently the last few weeks at Lucas’ request. He’s so good, and he doesn’t realize it just makes her feel even shittier that she can’t return that goodness.

Yet despite that, she hopes deep down he won’t stop. She wonders how deep his bag of tricks and gifts and kindness is.

Somehow Max knows the knock at her door is him. Maybe she’s got some Lucas sixth sense. More likely…he’s the only one who would come knocking.

She sighs and gets up from the couch. She turns off the TV—she doesn’t even know what she was watching—and shuffles over to the door. Sure enough, the door opens to reveal Lucas. He’s holding flowers. Daisies again. It tugs at something in her.

“I told you I don’t like flowers,” she says.

“Then you told me they were alright,” he counters with a smile. He holds them in front of her to take. She doesn't. “Which I took to mean you like them now. Maybe my girlfriend translator still isn’t all that good though.”

It coaxes the smallest smile out of her. It doesn’t take long to slip off her face, though.

“What are you doing here, Lucas?” If he’s expecting her to invite him in, he’ll be disappointed.

“I wanted to see you.”

She huffs out a sigh. “I told you I needed time.”

“From a friend?”

“You have flowers!”

“Friends bring flowers!” She glares at him. It’s his turn to huff. “Fine…of course I want you back. But seriously, that’s not why I’m here. I just…I miss you. Not just as a boyfriend. And I don’t know what needing time means. And I thought maybe…”

“Maybe what?” she snaps.

“I don’t know, Max!” He sighs and finally lowers his hand. “Even our more serious break-ups in the past weren’t like this. I want to fix it. I want to be here for you, and you’re not giving me a whole lot to work with.”

Of course she isn’t. There’s nothing to work with.

“This isn’t something you did wrong and can fix with flowers,” she admits.

“Because you don’t like flowers.”

“Not anymore, I don’t. But there isn’t a gift that can fix this. There isn’t an apology. There isn’t a conversation to have. You did nothing wrong. I just…” She falters, hating the words forming on her tongue. But they’re true. Or at least partially true. “I just don’t like you like that anymore, Lucas.”

She doesn’t seem to like anything anymore. Lucas should find someone who still knows how to smile.

The pain she sees hit him is worse than all the pain she’s been feeling for the last couple months. Worse than the strain of her fake smiles. Worse than the shouts coming from her mom and Neil’s room before he left. Lucas never did anything wrong, and now she’s pulling him into her pit. But maybe this can finally help him escape.

“You…are you being serious?  This isn’t you trying to…deflect or something?”

God, he sounds like the school counselor.

“I’m not deflecting,” she says. “I just…you’re great. Nothing about you is the problem. I just stopped liking you.”

If she says it enough times, it’s probably true.

“Max,” he whispers, and tears form in his eyes. “Why…what changed?”

“There’s nothing to fix, Lucas,” she pleads. “Please stop trying.”

At last he’s speechless. His bag is empty. Maybe now she won’t have reminders every few days of what she’s leaving behind. Of how broken she is that Lucas of all people can’t fix her.

Hating herself more with every slow second that passes and she has to see the hurt on his face, she closes the door. Finally, blessedly, tragically, he doesn’t knock again.

She should’ve known better than to think he’d stop knocking altogether. But at least he slows down, and at least there aren’t flowers in his hand.

-0-0-0-

“Hey, Doris,” Lucas says, stepping up to the front desk.

“Oh Lucas!” The hospital receptionist is a nice lady. They’ve gotten to know each other pretty well over the last year. “How’s your mom doing?”

“Okay,” he says, signing in. Normally he’d engage a little more, but today is weighing on him. He finds the sign-in and scrawls his name down. 

“Good luck, Sweetie,” Doris says, clearly seeing some of that weight in his face.

“Thanks.”

Lucas cinches his bag, and heads to the elevator.

It’s a familiar visit. He never misses a week—even when they’re prepping for a Crawl—but he’s usually here every day of the week. Fourth floor. Down the hall. On the left.

“Good morning, Max,” he says as he walks into her room. 

No answer.

He sidles up to his familiar spot, setting his bag on the chair, and reaches over to the nightstand. Cassette player. Kate Bush on repeat. Again.

“Hope you appreciate my sacrifice when you wake up,” he says, not for the first time. He hits play, and the song from his nightmares plays. He hears it when he’s trying to fall asleep, when he wakes up. He can't remember the last shower he took without unintentionally singing a line from it.

Still, he smiles, and gives Max’s hand a squeeze before reaching into his bag.

He pulls out daisies and a vase his mom had given him. The flowers are a little smashed from the ride over here, but mostly preserved from his careful packing.

He gets the flowers situated on her nightstand, and finally sits down beside her.

“It’s been a year,” he says over the quietly-crooning Kate Bush, who is endlessly running up hills. “To the day.”

He sits back in the chair, staring at her beautiful face. “I know it’s a little silly, but I couldn’t help but think it might happen today. Everyone else is mourning all the people who died a year ago, the occupation of our town. And here I have a little extra hope. Not sure why you’d wait exactly a year, but…” he shrugs. “Can’t help but hope.”

There’s no response. No change in the rhythm of her heart monitor.

“I brought daisies today,” Lucas continues. He’s used to carrying their conversations. “The last you told me, you don’t like flowers. But I’m calling bullshit on that one. Maybe for a time you didn’t, but you’re going to love them when you wake up.”

He thinks of that single day. That single day between when she escaped Vecna and when she went right back into the lion’s den. She was the Max he loved again. Her melodic laugh he'd missed so much. That smile. The brightness in her eyes.

“I miss your eyes,” he says, tearing up. He’s such a regular, he doesn’t usually get emotional in his visits. But the extra hope today has him extra susceptible to pain. “You have the most beautiful eyes, Max. If I told you every day, I didn’t tell you enough.”

He reaches out and takes her hand again. Her skin is soft from lack of use. He feels the need to be extra gentle. “I’m not sure if you’ll be able to see again when you wake up,” he admits. It’s rare he brings up this fear, lingering in the back of his mind since she sobbed, not being able to see or feel anything before dying. “If you can’t, I’ll be your eyes. I don’t have the vocabulary or ability to describe the world like Mike or Will, but I’ll get better at it.”

He looks at her arms and legs. The casts are gone now. Her bones healed. Her muscles will apparently need extensive physical therapy to return to full functionality, but it’s doable. Max is more than strong and stubborn enough to get it done.

He brushes his thumb over her skin. “And if you can’t feel…then I’ll give you something you don’t need to feel with your hands.” He lets the words sit for a moment before cringing. “Gosh, how do I say the wrong shit even when you’re not here to make fun of me for it? Love. I mean love.”

He sits with her for the nearly hour-long duration of the tape. He tells her about the upcoming Crawl, about how Dustin still isn’t himself, about El’s record on the latest course Hopper created for her. 

If Max has been able to hear for this past year, little of this is new to her. But when Lucas doesn’t have homework to do, or isn’t hosting a D&D session here, he has little to do but think out loud. If he can suffer Kate Bush, Max can hear him talk about missing basketball again.

His watch alarm buzzes, and the Kate Bush tape ends at almost the same time.

He gives Max’s hand another squeeze. Suddenly, tears spring to his eyes as his foolish hope is shot.

“I have to go get ready for the Crawl tonight,” he says, regret in his voice. He scrubs a tear off his face. “Please, Max. If there’s anything you can do to help me fix this—”

His voice breaks.

“I’m so sorry,” he rasps out. “If I’d explained better to Jason, or if I’d just won the fight sooner, before the tape broke. Or if I tried to freaking sing Kate Bush to you. Maybe...maybe…”

He swallows. “You’re coming home,” he tells her. “And I’m going to be here for you, no matter what.”

There’s no response.

-0-0-0-

Fourteen year-old Max may have been annoyed. She’d have said he was hovering or overbearing or argued that she could take care of herself, thank you very much!

But sixteen year-old Max, fresh off an eighteen month coma, who can barely keep her head from flopping around loves the way Lucas babies her.

“Are you comfortable?” he asks, needlessly shifting the blanket on top of her, reaching up to fluff her pillow.

“I’m comfortable,” she laughs.

They’re back in the hospital. Probably wise with all she’s been through to be surrounded by trained medical professionals instead of demogorgons. 

“Okay, but you’ll tell me if you need anything?” he presses. “Tell me to shut up if you need it; I’ve been carrying a lot of our conversations for a while,” he grins. “Tell me if you need some water, or need me to call a nurse. No need to tough any of this out, Max.”

She could just stare at his face for hours. “I promise. I wish I didn’t need you to do something as simple as scratch an itch, but I promise.”

He smiles softly. “It’s going to be a process to get your body fixed up,” he tells her. “I’m going to be moving your limbs for you for a little bit. It’s okay if you get annoyed at me. But after a month or so, you’re going to be able to walk with my help!”

She can’t even feel overwhelmed by the timeline he lays out for her. She can only stare at him with awe.

“I’m guessing this time next year, you’ll be learning to skateboard again,” he ends in a rush, excitement on his face.

“How do you know all this?” she asks. It’s daunting, what he’s told her. Having to relearn to walk and skate and everything in between? But she suspects most coma patients didn’t spend their time asleep running from a psychopath through endless victims’ memories. This will be a cakewalk in comparison.

He raises his eyebrows. “You think I didn’t learn everything possible about coma recovery when you didn’t wake up after two weeks?” 

Her eyes sting again. “Dammit, Lucas. You have to stop being so incredible or I’m going to have to ask you to wipe my tears away ten times a day.”

He lets out an emotional laugh, and pulls his chair close to her. His hand is gentle as he reaches up to brush her lone tear away. He runs the backs of his fingers over her cheek.

“Well, I’ll be here to do it, if that’s what you need.”

She’s about to cry again when they’re interrupted. It might be the one person she’s okay being interrupted by.

“Max!” her mom cries from the doorway. She’s still dressed from work. With the insanity of the day, the trip to the Upside Down to save the world, the demos and the military's presence at the hospital, no one called Max’s mom to tell her the good news until twenty minutes ago. 

“Hey, Mom,” Max lets out another sob. God, one day she’ll stop doing that with every person she reunites with.

Her mom rushes into the room, on the opposite side of Lucas, and all but falls on Max as she goes to hug and kiss her. “Oh Max, my sweet baby, you’re awake!” she manages to say between shaky breaths. She brushes Max’s cheek and kisses her forehead.

“I’ll give you a minute,” Lucas says, standing from his chair.

“Stay,” Max says through her tears. “Please?”

Lucas looks at her, then to her mom, who nods encouragingly. “Yeah,” he smiles. “Of course.”

“Lucas has been here almost every day,” her mom says with such intense gratitude on her face. “Never stopped believing you’d wake up. Not once.”

“I believe it,” Max croaks out. “He’s how I woke up at all.” 

-0-0-0-

“It’s been a long day,” Lucas says as he turns off the car. “Do you want me to get the wheelchair, or do you want to try to walk?”

Max thinks for a second. She’d already done so much walking today, to say nothing of the commotion and crowds at the movie theater. “I think I can make it with your help.”

“Great,” he says, climbing out of the car and rushing around to open her door. She’s getting so much stronger every day. He’s so proud of her as he helps her get out of the car and slowly walk to her home.

“It’s still crazy to me that you have a driver’s license now,” Max says. He can hear the strain in her voice, but she’s fighting. He knew she would. 

“Would’ve had it two months ago if the military didn’t make everything so impossible for the last two years,” Lucas grumbles. “Oh yeah, and if Vecna hadn’t tried to kill everyone.” He can feel her struggling, so he takes a little more of her weight as they walk. He all but carries her up the couple steps into her home.

Her mom isn’t home yet from her double shift, so Lucas flips on the lights. “To your bed? Or couch?” he asks.

“Bed,” she grunts. He wishes he’d insisted they use the wheelchair, but this stubbornness is also why she’s progressing so quickly. And why he loves her so much. So he keeps his mouth shut and walks her to her room. 

He helps her sit on her bed and checks her nightstand to make sure her daisies are still looking fresh in their vase. He kneels down to get her shoes off of her. This is something she might be able to do, but after a day of pushing herself, he’s just going to take care of it instead of asking her.

“Anything else I can help undress?” he asks her with an exaggerated waggle of his eyebrows after he sets her shoes to the side.

She laughs. “Dork.”

Truthfully, he thinks they’re in a place where they would both be comfortable with that level of care. She’s the most beautiful girl on the planet, but Lucas is confident he could prioritize her comfort over making sure he got a view of what he…sometimes dreams about. Their physical relationship is on serious pause, and he has no problems with that. Regardless, he’ll let her mom do that more intimate care until Max can do it herself.

He sits beside her on her bed and takes her hand. “I had a really nice time tonight,” he tells her.

“Sorry I fell asleep in the theater.” She gives him an apologetic look. “I know you’ve been looking forward to that movie date for like…”

“Twenty months,” Lucas says with a smile. “And it was perfect. I’m sorry if it was too soon to try—”

“It wasn’t!” she says in a rush. “I needed to do something. And…it was amazing. Besides, it’s a new goal for me to set: Stay awake during my next date with Lucas.”

He wraps his arm around her shoulder. She smiles at him, blue eyes glistening with affection. His entire insides get a little gooey at her gaze. He clears his throat and steels himself to ask the question he’s wanted to ask all night.

“I realize I’ve been rather…presumptuous about something.”

“Oh yeah?” Max says, a playful quirk of her lips. It’s the image he’s always had of her in his head, even though it was absent in her coma and the months of darkness before the coma. Playful, sarcastic, bright. “You have been known to do that.”

His heart beats hard in his chest, even though he knows her answer. He knows it from deep in his heart. From the hours, days, weeks, months at her bedside knowing she was still in there. From the joyous look she gave him when she woke, despite the hell she'd been living in. From the desperate way she clings to him that has nothing to do with her atrophied muscles. His knowing is more supernatural than anything they’ve seen in the last five years. And yet still his heart thunders as he speaks.

“These last couple months. Since everything. I’ve sort of taken something for granted. We never officially got back together. So…Mad Max, will you be my girlfriend?” He cringes playfully. “Again?”

Max lets out a surprised burst of laughter. “I…kind of thought that was implied by how you waited for me and never stopped believing in me.”

Lucas grins. “Now who’s being presumptuous?”

He’s prepared to say more. Take all presumptions off the table. But Max beats him to the punch.

“I love you, Stalker.”

His whole body alights with energy, light like a feather. He’s confident if Max had felt this kind of joy, she’d have been able to make the walk from the car all on her own.

“I love you, too,” he whispers before leaning in for a kiss.

Like most of their kisses in their young relationship or since she woke up, it’s simple. A soft press of his lips to hers. She grips his shirt with a little more strength than before. He lingers a little longer than usual. But it’s simple and beautiful. Like everything they’ve become despite the insanity around their relationship.

She brushes his cheek when they pull back. Somehow, the small touch means so much more to him, knowing that it actually takes real energy for her to do it. “I don’t deserve you.”

“Sure you do,” Lucas smiles. “You’re the one who trained all the stupid boyfriend out of me”.

She snorts. “Guess all those breakups were good for something.”

Lucas brushes his nose against hers, and he closes his eyes. “Yeah, but let’s not do that anymore.” The only thing he wants to worry about mending is Max’s body.

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” she whispers against his lips. “You brought me back from hell. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me forever.”