Waking up was the hardest part. Maybe, if they could convince themselves it was a dream, it could be okay. They could pretend they hadn't given themselves over to each other in the summer heat, that it was all a hallucination. There would be no stakes than, nothing of Georgia for Max to leave behind. But as Max sits up, Georgia's arm draped across his chest doesn't fall away in a pixelated mist. She's here, wrapped around him in his bed, and there's no time for her to be a dream anymore. She sits up as he gets dressed, and wraps her legs around his waist.
"I don't want you to leave, Max," Georgia whispers, leaning her head against his bare back.
"I don't want to either. But you won't miss me too bad. You'll be busy. Saving lives." Max reaches behind him, taking Georgia's hands and wrapping them around him, rubbing his thumb over the side of her fingers. "Not even peace can come between us," he says, referencing her future tattoo plans.
"I'm getting it as soon as you're gone. Even before I start work. I have to have something to show why I'm really there." Max removes himself from Georgia's grasp, closing his eyes and inhaling deeply so as not to shed a tear.
"You should get dressed too. If you're coming with me." Georgia nods, standing up to walk to the door, than hesitating. It was no secret that Jude and Lucy were sleeping together, and so were JoJo and Sadie, but Georgia still didn't want to walk through the apartment naked, mostly for fear of being asked questions she was too sad to answer. "If you want to borrow something of mine, you can. This whole closet is yours and Lucys while I'm gone." Georgia didn't hesitate to reach for her favorite shirt of Max's, a black tshirt with red sleeves and a white peace sign on the front. "Why am I not surprised?" Max smirks, buckling his belt and walking over to Georgia. He plays with the hem of the shirt, which reaches the middle of he thighs, as she looks through the closet for pants to fit her. "If you want, I'll go get your pants from you and Prudences room." Georgia smiles at him gratefully and sits down on the bed to watch him cross the apartment. Sadie is sitting on the couch, painting her nails, and when she turns her head to speak to Max Georgia is glad she didn't take the risk of getting her own clothes.
After they're both dressed, Max stares around the room, taking it all in. Georgia leans against him, her tears beginning to stain his shirt.
"I don't want you to go," she whispers.
