The Way She Makes Me Feel-Elmax [UNDER EDITING]

Chapter 14-Are You Gay?

-Max's POV-

          I wake up around seven and immediately got out of bed and got dressed. I put on and tuck in my dad's old and slightly over sized band tee shirt into my jeans. After brushing my teeth and hair, I went ahead and made toast and scrambled eggs, which is like the only thing I know how to make on the stove other than noodles. My mom got up at seven thirty and I set breakfast down on the table. 

"I thought you'd want something in your stomach before work", I say. Mom lets out a chuckle. 

"So this has nothing to do with El staying?", she asks. 

"I mean, maybe a little but-".

"Max".

"Yes?".

"She can stay on a few conditions", my mom starts. "Me and your father are paying for funeral fees.  So paying for another kid is hard.  Every Sunday and Saturday I want you girls to find something to do to make money, walking dogs, pet sitting, baby sitting, maybe yard work. That way you can pay for things you want. Also to help do chores around the house, and you can't wake me up before seven-thirty".

I nod. "Wait", I say. "Every, Saturday and Sunday? She can stay for more than a week?", I ask.

          "Yes Maxine. I've decided, that if you girls are up for it. She can stay till the end of the summer. I already talked to Mrs. Byers about it. I wanted to help her out by letting El stay here and she agreed". I feel a big smile spread on my face. I know that part of the reason that my mom was up to the job was that she was young for a mother. She always did her best to be nice to my friends' moms and help them out if possible. "OH MY GOD THANK YOU!", I cheer squeezing the life out of my birth giver. I put on my shoes and race out of the door. I then forget that I made myself breakfast and turn around. I sit back down and snarf  down my food and run out the door again. I grab my bike and start running it. I realize I can ride my bike about halfway to the Byers and hop on. 

          I make it to the Byers's completely out of breath and impressed with my own speed. I sit on their porch swing for a few minutes, remembering how the doctors told me no extreme exercise until my lungs heal from all the smoke (and thinking I should have listened to them) , until the door opens.

 "Max?", says Ms. Byers. I wave weakly at her. "What are you doing here so early?", she asks. 

"Here to see El", I answer, panting.

"So early? How do you even know she's up?".

"Because El wakes up at like six-forty-five". 

           Ms. Byers chuckles before pointing inside and heads to her car. I heave myself off the swing and head inside. El's sitting up on the couch and jumps up to give me a hug. "I heard her say your name!", El says before giving me a kiss. I still can't help but blush. "My mom says you can stay till the end of the summer", I blurt. El grins before doing the cute squeal-laugh thing she does when she's super happy. I haven't heard it since our shopping trip and before that since around the time that Will first came out. 

"Thing is El, we have to make our own money if we want anything", I say. 

El just beams at me. "I only want you", she says. This girl is going to drive me insane. 

"What in the world is going on out here?", Will says, tiredly poking his head out of his room. "Jeez, it's like eight. Why are you guys up? Why are you here?". 

"Sorry, we'll be quiet", I say. 

"Wanna watch TV?", El asks me. I nod and she leads me back to her spot on the couch. I get under the blanket she was using and she climbs under as well before snuggling up close to me. We watched reruns of The Jetsons until around eleven when Will's door finally opened.