eyes [maxpres highschool au]

nine. car

   "Is everything alright, Max?"

   "..."

   "You can tell me anything, you know that, right?"

   I shuffled uncomfortably in my seat. "It's no big deal..."

   "You sure?"

   I nodded, looking over at David. He glanced at me for a second, smiling, before turning his gaze back to the road.

   "Did you get my text?"

   "Wh... oh, yeah... I never read it though, let me..." I fished my phone out of my pocket, reading the message David had sent me. My eyes widened.

Do you want a brother?
seen 10:34 am

   I looked up at David. "Wh... what?!"

   He gave me a tiny smile. "It's a yes or no answer, Max."

   "I- wait, wh- wha- who-?"

   "Remember Harrison?"

   My mouth hung open. "No."

   David giggled.

   "What the FUCK?!"

   "Look, Max." I blinked in confusion as his voice suddenly became more serious. "Harrison is in need of a loving family, just like you were. I hope you don't mind helping another person out who was in a similar situation to you."

   I looked down at my lap, taking in what David had said. "I... I guess, yeah, I'm... fine with it... just... holy shit."

"You'll get used to it, don't worry," David assured me. "He'll be staying in the guest room for about a month, then he'll decide if he wants to stay for good."

   I stayed silent, still processing the news.

   "But other than that... are you sure it's not a big deal, Max? You seem really upset..."

   I shuffled uncomfortably in my seat. "I'm fine."

   "That's a lie and you know it."

   "..."

   I felt David place a hand on my shoulder. I looked over at him and saw him staring somberly ahead at the road. He glanced over at me for a split second.

"You can tell me anything. You know that, right?"

I sighed, noticing he had repeated his words from earlier, and I felt my face flush. "Preston kissed me," I mumbled.

David's whole demeanor changed after he heard those three words. "Oh, really?! Wow! That's- Huh!"

"I don't know what to do..."

"Well, um... do you return his feelings?" David questioned.

I thought for a few seconds. And responded. "...yeah, I think so."

I could tell David was grinning, even though I wasn't looking at him.

"Well, that's wonderful! So... what are you so upset about?"

   "I..." I took a deep breath. "I left."

   "...What do you mean?"

   "He- he kissed me, I panicked, and I left."

   "...Well, did you tell him how you fee-?"

   "I DIDNT TELL HIM ANYTHING, DAVID!" I exclaimed. "I PANICKED, AND I LEFT. THATS IT."

   David quieted down, and thankfully he didn't notice the tears silently rolling down my face.

   "I don't know what to do..." I whispered.

   "Well..." David started. He thought for a few seconds before smiling. "You know, the same thing happened with me and your dad."

   "Huh?" I glanced up at David and saw his face a bit red.

   "When Daniel first confessed to me, I got really scared. I said I had somewhere to be and I just... left."

   "Oh..."

   "I texted him that night, apologizing and telling him I did return his feelings. We started dating then."

   "Wow.. that seems... easy."

   "Though, if you are going to tell Preston today, I suggest you meet up with him in person. It'll probably go over more smoothly."

   "Right, right..."

   We sat in silence for a few moments before I pulled out my phone.

preston?
Read 10:38 am

what.
Read 10:38 am

im sorry for bailing on you...
can we meet up at David's later?
maybe at 12, or something?
Read 10:39 am

ok.
this better not be a stupid prank.
Read 10:39 am

it's not. i promise.
Read 10:39 am

I sighed, putting my phone back in my pocket.

"Thanks, Dad," I muttered.

"You're welcome."

I could almost hear his smile.

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