𝖢𝖧𝖠𝖯𝖳𝖤𝖱 𝖳𝖶𝖮
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𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙪𝙥

𝗠𝗔𝗫𝗜𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗗𝗡'𝗧 𝗨𝗦𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 complain when it comes to helping others. She was always there for her mom when she needed help in the kitchen, when Maia had a flat tire, or when her brother needed help with his physics homework. No matter what Maxie was always willing to help. However, when it came down to it, there were certain circumstances she was opposed to.

"What?!" The blonde exclaimed, standing up from the seat she had just taken moments before. This is one of them.

The girl currently sat in the brightly lit Chemistry class, Mr. Abrams sitting quietly at his desk in front of her with his arms crossed against his chest.

"Yes, Maxie, you heard me correctly." The teacher spoke calmly. He wasn't at all surprised by Maxie's attitude and knew it would take some convincing.

The girl ran her hand through her hair, letting out a heavy groan, looking up at the classroom roof that still had burn marks from six months ago. "I just-" she took a breath, looking back at her teacher. "I just don't understand why me...and why now, anyways? I mean school just started eight hours ago. How can someone be struggling already?"

"He's not." Mr. Abrams said plainly, as Maxie sat back down. "But he will be."

He could tell the girl was in no mood for games, so he decided to lay it out simply. "Ethan Marks has been struggling with chemistry since elementary school. He needs to turn his grade around if he wants to graduate."

Maxie pursed her lips together as the teacher continued speaking, "Maxie, you're the smartest girl I know. You've been passing my class since the first day, and that's exactly the kind of person I need to help Ethan. All I'm asking for is a few times a week, you and him sit in the library - or whatever you want - and you tutor him. Besides, colleges love that stuff."

Maxie sighed, she knew there was no arguing, so she agreed, and made her way out of the classroom. This might just be the most difficult favor anyone has ever asked of her.

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𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 day Maxie begrudgingly, entered the library, textbooks in hand. She had been dreading this moment the entire day. Saying a quick "Good afternoon," to the librarian, whom she was very familiar with as she spent most days searching for books there, she scanned the room for any sign of the boy.

Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag, approaching an empty table at the back of the library, she realized that Ethan was nowhere in sight. Maxie hesitated for a moment, her annoyance growing.

The blonde scattered the textbooks neatly across the table and got a paper and pencil out. Maxie, who tried to be as positive as possible, took out her laptop. She figured she could get a bit of homework done while she waited.

Maxie opened her laptop and began to work on her assignments. She was always fond of working in the library, the soft rustling of pages and the distant murmurs of students kept her calm and focused, though she always made sure to have her headphones on just in case. However, she refrained from taking them out, worried she wouldn't notice when Ethan arrived.

Every few minutes Maxie would occasionally glance at the clock on her laptop. It felt like she had been waiting for hours, and she couldn't help but wonder why she was putting herself through this. Sure, Mr. Abrams was right, colleges did like it when applicants could teach other students but this didn't benefit Maxie at all. Besides, she had other qualities and did other things that would help her get into her dream school.

Once again, Maxie's mind drifted, this time to the conversation she'd had with her mother the night before. Maxie had complained to Amber about the conversation she and Mr. Abrams had had after school. The woman listened to her daughter's complaints with a bemused smile. She questioned her daughter about the reason for her to be so against helping the boy.

Even after Maxie had listed all the reasons she could think of – his apparent disinterest in school, his nonchalant attitude, and not to mention his reputation as a jock, Amber, always the optimist, couldn't see the problem, instead she saw it as a chance for Maxie to help someone who needed it, which infuriated Maxie.

Although Maxie couldn't deny that her mother had made a good point, it didn't make the situation any less frustrating.

Time passed in a blur. Maxie had finished her homework, within the first 30 minutes. She glanced at the clock on the wall, tapping her finger against the book she had started reading, it was already 3:17 and there was still no sign of Ethan.

Maxie decided that Ethan was not going to show up and she needed to get home. So, she began to pack her bags back up. As she did so the library door slowly creaked open, and a boy walked towards the librarian. He quietly asked her a question, to which she pointed to Maxie, who remained completely oblivious.

"Are you Maxie?" Someone asked behind her.

Maxie finally looked up from her place and saw the face she had been waiting to walk through to doors for the past 45 minutes. "You're late."

"I know. Coach Woods needed us to stay behind to tell us about tryouts."

"For 45 minutes?"

"Well, then the guys and I figured we should get some training in." He said with a nonchalant shrug, barely registering the frustration etched across Maxie's face.

Maxie couldn't help but roll her eyes at his answer, "Mr. Abrams gave us both clear instructions. Meet each other in the library at 2:30, not 2:31, not 2:32, and definitely not at 3:20."

"Jeez, I said I was sorry. Don't need to go all drill sergeant on me." Ethan mumbled in response.

Maxie narrowed her eyes, "Look, I'm not gonna waste my time trying to help someone who so clearly doesn't care about anything - anyone for that matter - but himself. So, if this is how it's gonna be the rest of the time, tell me now because this is not how I work."

She paused, letting her words sink in. "I'm here to help, but you need to meet me halfway. If you can't take this seriously, there's no point in me being here." She said in a softer tone.

Ethan shifted uncomfortably. He didn't particularly enjoy getting scolded by the shorter blonde. He simply nodded as she continued to pack her bag, "Where are you going?" He asked.

"I have work." She stated. "I told you, I'm not waiting on you hand and foot."

Ethan nodded and muttered, "Got it."

Maxie's expression softened further, "I'll be here at 2:30 tomorrow," she said with hope in her voice. "I really hope you decide to show up."

INEZ SPEAKS
kinda a short chapter, but in honour of 1989 tv being released I had to post. fav vault track? I'm predicting mine will either be SLUT! or say don't go.

update: say don't go, is it over now and slut are my top!

can we talk about how much of an ass ethan is being rn? poor maxie's just trying to help, she did cuss him out so she's a queen for that.