//Max's POV//

I sat in the passenger seat of the car licensed by C.P.S.

"Sorry I don't have my regular car. It's got heated seats and their pretty bomb," Y/n apologized.

"God, you're still a big nerd, huh?" I chuckled.

"Well, Yeah, with a touch of ADHD."

Y/n switched on the radio, the song "Ride" by Twenty One Pilots came on.

"Appropriate song, eh?" She smirked.

"Yep," I put my hands behind my head, "So, how have you been? Life and such."

"I've been good. Works tough, but hey, works work. I live in a house with some roommates. Their cool. I'm literally the only one that's single there except for the owner of the house who's practically a house hermit."

"Nice," I nodded, tapping my foot to the song.

"How about you, Max?"

"It's been fine."

Y/n lowered the music, "Max, really. Are you okay? With your parents, I mean."

"It's..been tough, I guess. I literally just lost my girlfriend last week because of me living there, but what the hell am I supposed to do?! The bitch told me I needed to get my shit together but how?! I have no college fund, and too much of shitty job to get the money together. I'm lucky I got through high school, despite all the shit they pulled taking money from me and kicking me out of the house when they actually do pay attention to me!" I ranted.

We stopped at a traffic light flashing red, the perfect moment for Y/n to take my hand.

"Max, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"Y/n..you're as pure as you were when we were kids," I smiled to her.

That made me think, how is she so pure?

I mean- She literally broke kids out of abusive homes for a living!

That had to put some sort of effect on her!

"Hey Y/n, I'm curious, can I ask you a question?"

//Your POV//

"Sure go ahead."

"What inspires you, Y/n? How can you live through a job like that?" He asked, sounding curious with the tiniest bit of aggression.

I looked at him, took a deep breath.

I had just realized it, now that I remembered him, I realized what that urge was to help kids like him.

"You. It's your story that inspires me, Max."

"..really?"

"Well, Yeah. I've always wanted to help you, but once we split, I couldn't. So I decided that helping kids just like you would be the next best thing," I explained.

"Fuck..Thanks Y/n."

"Ay, No problem," I smirked.

"So...hows the others? I mean from your friend group."

"Well, Len And Angelo Are sort of an on-and-off relationship but, I bet it's hard being a long distance relationship. Len lives in Tampa and Angelo lives in Red Rocks, Colorado."

"I never thought they'd still date after all this time," Max shrugged.

"I know right?? But hey, they're in love. Jesse is actually in Ghana right now doing charity work."

"In Africa?"

"Yup, she sends me photos, it's pretty cool. Li is living in Texas right now, but she moves to a different state or even country every two months or sometimes shorter. Her husband is in the military."

Max nodded, indicating that he was still listening despite his eyes being closed.

"Louis is in Buffalo right now, he's trying to get a masters degree in engineering, so he's not as far as the others. And then there's Marie, who I see everyday. She's one of of my roommates."

"Wow, really? What's she doing?" Max was surprised.

"She's a correctional officer in the state prison on the women unit. We basically take care of each other since we both usually get home around 1AM."

"Cool."

The navigation system said the next street was Max's.

"Aw man. I actually liked talking to you in the car," Max sighed.

"Same."

As we approached his house, I slowed down to the curb and let him out.

"Wait, Max!"

"Yeah?" He turned around.

I took a pen, "Can I see the palm of your hand?"

"What the hell is with you and hands?" He asked sarcastically as he held out his hand.

I quickly wrote my number and a little smiley face.

He glanced back at it and smiled.

"Night' Y/n. Thanks for the ride."

"No problem. Goodnight, Max. We should hang out some time," I nodded.

"Definitely."

And soon, I drove away, watching him from my rear view mirrors enter his house.

I saw his smile fade.

//Max's POV//

I walked in and went to go upstairs before I heard my dad say, "So, did you get wasted again and a cop had to drive you home?"

"No. My friend just drove me home."

"Sure."

"Why would you care anyways?" I scoffed and went upstairs.

I heard him say through the floor, "I don't know why I would care about that brat," to my mother.

Of course he wouldn't.

Even so, that stung.

I flopped on my bed, not bothering to change.

I stared at my hand for 3 whole minutes.

Her hand writing was messy, but I could tell she tried hard to make it neat.

The little doodle of a smiley face melted my heart.

It was something I needed at the moment, just something to make me smile.

Just then, my phone made a ding! noise.

It said I had a follow request on Instagram.

itsy/n.jpeg would like to follow you.

"Huh, She must have master detective skills if she found me," I Said to myself.

Once I was on her account, she had a mix of things.

Memes, photos from her life, food.

It was basically just her living her life to the fullest, having fun with everything.

I wished I could do that.

———

oof that last line was edgy.

well I've been basically writing chapters for this story nonstop because I just love the concept so much.

I hope y'all like it!

Well, that's all I have to say, bye!
✌️

mood: