This is a little birthday gift for me / from me and to all of you :)
This idea came from the fact that my first thought while reading this series was "wtf are these names" but I have grown to love the names.
Just a few notes: this will be a two-shot and it's a modern high-school AU
Chapter One: It's Maxon
Romance in high school varies from one prrson to the next: there's puppy-lovers, high-school soulmates, the flame, and the annoying 'on-and-off' couple. This is the time where one is supposed to find out the true definition of love, whatever name it may go by.
Two names to remember are Maxon Schreave and America Singer. These two young high-schoolers who originated from completely different backgrounds yet somehow found their way into each other's arms. He was the son of the town's mayor and she was the daughter of an artist but at the end of the day, they had a passionate romance.
They just needed their families to know.
-o-
At the end of another gruelling school day, America makes her way through the hallway of her crowded high school. She stops right at her boyfriend, Maxon's, locker and at the exact moment he closes the door, she greets him with a kiss. Taken by surprise (and a great one at that), Maxon holds America's waist and brings her closer to him. After another quick kiss, she rests her hands on his firm chest as she parts from him. For a moment, America almost forgets what she needed to tell him.
"I have great news," America says with a bright smile on her face.
"And what's that?" Maxon asks, quickly sneaking another kiss. She bites her lip for a second.
"My sister Kenna is coming to visit and she's bringing her husband James and their two kids. This is the first time she's visiting since her baby was born!"
Maxon smiles. "America, that's amazing!"
"You haven't even heard the best part." Her hands move up to his shoulders. "I'm inviting you over."
Maxon's eyes open wide and he suddenly finds himself with nothing to say. He doesn't have any problems with going over to America's house. It's meeting her parents and siblings for the first time which makes him anxious.
"I would love that," Maxon says, hiding his nerves from the girl he loves.
This is obviously important for her and for him as well.
-o-
Two days later, America paces around her front porch waiting for Maxon to arrive. Her parents and younger siblings are all inside, catching up with Kenna and her family. They wouldn't notice that she stepped out. She, on the other hand, waits impatiently for her boyfriend to get here. Finally, Maxon's car pulls into her driveway and she meets him where his car parks.
"Sorry, for being late," Maxon says, kissing the side of America's head. He looks down at his watch. "Actually, I'm right on time according to the time you originally told me to come at. Why have you been waiting as if I was an hour late?"
America doesn't respond. She throws her hands up with her shoulders in a shrug. Maxon laughs a little. America shakes her head as she grins.
"I just want to prepare you for my family," America says. "I love them to death but they can be quite..." She looks up as if to search for the right word. "...loud."
"Then we'll just give them this," Maxon says, holding up the fancy bottle of wine he brought for her family.
America's eyes pop out of her head as she touches the bottle with her fingertips.
-o-
The moment Maxon steps into America's house, his ears fill up with various pleasant sounds that range from running footsteps from children with their screams, light conversations between adults, and a baby who hesitates on whether or not to cry. This situation may bother or even annoy some people but Maxon finds it brand new and refreshing, relaxing almost. He comes from a quiet, pratically silent household so this different enviroment intrigues him.
"There's my niece, Astra," America says, pointing to a running child. "My brother, Gerad." A second running child who follows the first. "And my sister, May."
America points at a girl who is practically a younger version of herself due to their strong resemblance. As May chases Gerad who chases Astra, America grabs her sister as she whizzes past them and holds her still by the shoulders.
"May," America introduces, tilting her sister's chin upwards towards Maxon. "Meet Maxon."
"Hello there," Maxon says, looking down towards the little girl with his best comforting smile.
May's mouth forms a small circle, her face radiating with an innocent awe. From her point of view, she's seeing the mayor's son in her house, right before her eyes.
"May..." America mutters, patting down on her sister's red curls to resurface her attention. "Don't you want to say something?"
"Are you Ames' prince?" May asks Maxon with a toothy grin.
"Prince?" Maxon questions, highly intrigued by this unexpected fairytale concept.
America looks up straight ahead into nothing, embarrassed to the point where her cheeks match her hair. Once upon a time she told May that Maxon was the equivalent to Prince Charming while she was decribing how wonderful he is. When America's eyes meet Maxon's, she sees him wiggling his eyebrows playfully to which she returns with the same blank expression she had seconds ago while looking at the wall. She tries to think of something to say that would save her from this situation but she grabs the wine bottle from Maxon's arms and scurries off.
"Mom!" America calls for. "Get the bottle opener, Maxon brought wine!"
That leaves Maxon alone with May. Still in joy from being called as America's prince, Maxon can't stop grinning. He looks back at May who continues to look up at him with so much curiosity, entranced at the idea that the mayor's son is her sister's prince. She takes his hand and leads him into the house, asking him more questions about his "royal life."
-o-
After what seemed like twenty-one thousand questions from May that varied from having a horse-drawn carriage, royal balls, and having a fairy godmother; America finally returns with a hint of alcohol on her breath but nothing too over-powering to make her vertigo. She needed something to get her through the evening she was already wishing to be over.
"Thank you for entertaining Maxon, May," America says, ruffling May's curls. "Now, go back to playing. I think Gerad and Astra are running outside."
May runs off. America takes a heavy breath as she runs her hands through her hair, combing any knots that may have formed when she was drinking her wine. Maxon snickers as he kisses the side of her head.
"Your sister is quite the character," Maxon whispers to America. "She asked me if I ever defeated a fire-breathing dragon."
America sighs. "Her head is a compilation of fairy tales. It's unreal."
"Well, not all of it's a fantasy. You are my princess."
"I am not your princess, Maxon Schreave."
"But I am your prince, America Singer?"
America opens her mouth to argue that point but not clever rebuttal comes to mind. She frowns.
"Shut up," she tells him.
"Not a chance, Princess America."
Maxin grins and America pushes his smirk away.
Out of the kitchen comes America's mom. She throws her red hair over her shoulders and smiles brightly as she approaches Maxon. She wipes her hands on her apron before extending a hand out towards him.
"Magda Singer," she introduces. Maxon shakes her hand warmly, adding his free one on top. "Nice to finally meet you in person. We have seen you a lot in the media with your parents. You're way more handsome in person."
"Mom!" America exclaims, feeling the embarrassment come back.
"What?" Magda questions innocently. "It's true. You can't deny that."
Maxon laughs a little. "You have a lovely home and family, Mrs. Singer."
"Well, I sure hope so." She laughs. "Wait until you meet my husband." She throws her head over her shoulder. "Shalom! Get over here!"
Maxon doesn't reply but wipes his suddenly clammy hands on his slacks. America shoots him a thumbs up, saying that everything will be fine. Maxon gives her a small nod. It's one thing for a boy to meet the siblings and the mother of his girlfriend but meeting the father is almost the equivalent of the prince facing the dragon - make one wrong move and you'll be burnt to a crisp.
Shalom enters the room, his eyes locking on Maxon. As America shuffles beside her father to escort him, Maxon gives a smile which he hopes isn't radiating off nervousness. Though Shalom seems observant of Maxon with slightly narrowed eyes, Maxon sees a glimpse of the same soft blue that also resides in America's eyes.
"Father," America starts, "meet my date."
"Right..." Shalom mutters, shaking Maxon's hand. "The mayor's son. America has mentioned you."
"All good things, I hope," Maxon says optimistically.
"Only great things." Shalom still eyes Maxon, increasing the young man's nerves even though he just said a positive sounding comment. "Now, was it Martin or Jackson?"
Maxon doesn't respond right away since neither of those options was his name. America puts two fingers on her temple in pure embarrassment (second time this night), steering her body back to the kitchen to search for that wine bottle. Shalom still waits for a response.
"It's Maxon, actually," Maxon corrects.
Shalom blinks. "Wasn't that one of the options?"
-o-
Kenna, America's older sister, sits on her couch beside Maxon while bouncing her little baby on her knee while singing some rhymes. Maxon can't help but smile at the baby's glee and the trail of drool dripping down its chin. All that changes when baby Leo's face starts to wrinkle and his laughs turn into cries.
"Oh!" Kenna exclaims, knowing that her diaper bag isn't with her at the moment.
"Would you like me to hold him while you get what you need?" Maxon offers.
Kenna looks at him hesitantly. "Are you sure?"
"I insist."
Kenna gently passes her crying baby over to Maxon before getting up and running to the diaper bag across the room. Maxon stands up and rocks the baby on his two feet like a ship at sea. He attempts to sing the same rhymes back, despite his self-declared god-awful singing voice. Baby Leo stops crying and stares up at Maxon with a slobbery, toothless smile.
"Now, I know where Leo gets his drooling," Kenna mutters to America as she rummages through the diaper bag next to her. America shakes her head out of the daze she didn't know she was in and looks up at Kenna blankly. Kenna rolls her eyes playfully since her sister probably didn't hear a word she just said. "You're staring."
"Am not," America replies, wiping her wet chin with her sleeve.
"Deny it all you want but I can't blame you. Girls cannot resist men holding two things: small dogs and puppies. In the case that the man is holding a baby while sitting in a puppy pen then - boom - you're in heaven. I am willing to have a third kid just so I can watch James hold it."
"Down girl," America jokes with a snicker. Kenna laughs, nudging her sister.
Shalom approaches the girls and puts a hand on America's shoulder as Kenna runs back to Maxon and her son. America looks up at her father and he smiles warm-heartedly, giving her a slow and approving nod that she knows is about Maxon. America beams happiness, leaning into her father's arms.
"He's wonderful," Shalom whispers into her hair.
"He truly is," America replies, keeping her eyes on her date.
To be honest, this idea also came from that one line "Is it Martin or Jackson" which is similar to a line in Wizards of Waverly Place (and Gregg Sulkin is my image of Maxon Schreave even though he's a brunet and Maxon is a blond - don't hate me).
Stay Tuned - America's going to be meeting Maxon's parents.
