Max never texted. She looked at her phone several times and thought about messaging Kate, but stopped herself every time. In between her indecision Max vainly tried doing homework, but did not really accomplish much. She was constantly glancing at the door and having distracting thoughts. This was how most of her night went until it was just past 9:00 PM when there came a knock. When Kate's gentle voice identified herself, Max opened the door. The brunette paused a moment before addressing her friend when she saw the blonde holding a pillow and a blanket, along with a bag of various things. Kate was dressed in her pajamas, off-white pants with a pale blue trim and a plain white t-shirt.
"Did we...um, plan this?" Max asked in confusion.
"No, but this is the plan from now on until you don't need it," Kate said playfully.
"Umm, I don't know about this..."
Kate sighed in minor frustation before saying, "Tell me you don't want me here without lying and I'll go."
"I-" Max began and paused, looking off to the side.
"That's what I thought," Kate said cheerfully as she gently pushed her way in.
Max struggled for words for a moment as she closed the door behind them.
"Did you say this is the plan from now on?"
"Uh huh," Kate confirmed as she placed her belongings on Max's bed.
Max began to protest, "But..."
Kate had sat on the mattress and Max couldn't help but stare at her lithe form as her friend lay down, stretching her slender body before turning to look at her. Max forgot what she was going to say.
I'm too weak. I can never say no to this girl.
"Um, never mind." Max sighed, "Okay."
"Glad you've accepted it. So...looks like you've been doing some school work?" Kate said, now sitting up again.
Max turned back to her open book and laptop, and the mess of snack wrappers surrounding it. As she picked them up to throw away she said, "Yeah...well, no. Not really. It's been hard focusing."
"Oh...did you want any help? Not sure I would be that useful, but I could try."
"You're sweet, but no...that's okay. Thanks though." Max returned from tossing the trash into a small bin and then came back to close the laptop and book.
"Hey, Maxine?"
Max gave Kate an odd look and then smirked before saying, "Max, never Maxine."
"I just wanted to try it out. Why don't you like your full name?"
"I don't know, just doesn't feel like me. Well, if you're calling me that, then I'll call you Katie. How do you like it now, Katie?" Max playfully added.
Kate smiled warmly. "Hmm, I actually do like that. But I think I'll keep calling you Max."
Max's good-natured bravado deflated under her bashfulness, hearing Kate's reply.
"Oh, okay then. I guess...you'll be, uh, Katie now," she said, stumbling a little over her words.
"Just for you though."
Max's heart skipped a beat. She gave a nervous smile and searched for something to do instead of just standing there and showing how flustered she felt.
God, help me.
She took a few faltering steps before going back to her book and laptop. Now with a purpose, she calmed down and took them to their proper places. Book in her bag and computer to her desk. The brunette glanced over to Kate who appeared to have been watching her the whole time.
Max coughed to hide her slight startle. "So..." she began awkwardly. "I guess you're all ready for bed? It's kind of early. Well, for me."
Kate giggled lightly. "Me too. Actually, I thought we could watch a movie."
"Oh? Sure...what movie?"
"Anything you like. Your choice."
"Well then...I guess I'll have to figure that out" Max stepped to her small collection stashed on the other side of the room.
I know what movie we are definitely not watching.
She touched Blade Runner, which she had bought recently. She did not know why though. She would never watch it. It wasn't Chloe's copy anyways. She shook off the memories the movie started to bring up and continued searching.
Hmm, Gattaca.
Still Sci-fi, but not quite the action flick. More Kate's speed, Max guessed.
"How about this one?" She held up the movie and said, "Ever seen Gattaca?"
"No. I'll give it a try. You must like it?"
"I actually don't remember a lot about it. I know it's something about the future where people some people are genetically engineered to be the best, but someone who isn't takes the identity of another who is, sorry that could've been worded better...but, that's most of what I remember."
Kate, easy going as ever, said, "Sounds good to me, let's watch."
Max nodded and opened the case as she walked to her laptop. Once she inserted the disc, Max skipped the previews to get to the main menu. Now ready to start, she went over to the bed. Kate had lay down on her stomach, off on one side, so Max placed herself beside her friend, both facing outward with the computer in the middle at the end of the bed.
"Is this good?" Max asked.
"I think I need to adjust a little." Kate scooted more towards the middle until their sides touched. "That's better."
Max almost moved away, but stayed still, letting their hips connect and legs press together. Kate lifted that leg and let it fall back down so it partly draped over Max's. For what felt like the longest moment, the brunette held her breath. She was glad the lights were already dim, because she was sure her blushing face would have been painfully obvious. Max slowly exhaled as she reached over to start the movie. Nothing was said for a while after that and Max again wondered if she was reading too much into everything. Now and then during the movie though, Kate's leg moved in a stroking motion across Max's own and when their feet touched, the brunette thought her heart was going to explode. Kate did not appear to know she was doing it. Max gave her a sidelong look and Kate was still staring straight at the screen.
She's just one of those touchy friends. That's all...I never see her that way with anyone else though...maybe just her closest friends? I just don't know...
Max got through most of the movie without incident until they reached the climax. At this point, one of the main characters, having finished helping the other protagonists, then incinerated himself, not wanting to live anymore with his disabling injury.
Max had a panicked look on her face and turned to Kate after pausing the movie. "Oh my God, I am so sorry! I completely forgot about the ending. I'm so sorry." without thinking she held Kate's face tenderly in her hands. Her friend stared back at her and confusion and then the realization hit her. Kate's hands moved to grasp Max's arms, but the blonde did not pull them away. Max could feel her friend take a firm but gentle hold on her as she said reassuringly, "Oh Max, it's okay, really. It doesn't bother me at all," Kate said in an almost subdued tone.
In her panic, Max did not notice how much Kate's attention was distracted from her words by the touching of her face and their closeness.
"Are you sure? Max's worried gaze faltered, but remained locked on her friend.
"Yes, it's not even the same. It's...really fine, um Max. Please uh, don't worry. I promise."
Kate was having a hard time finding the words, but Max still did not realize it. The brunette let out a big sigh as she released her gentle hold and flopped backwards on the bed.
"A Kate Marsh promise is as good as gold," Max said still laying back, but with her head turned towards Kate.
"That's Katie to you. Remember?"
"Oh yeah..." Max smiled bashfully closing her eyes and turning her head toward the ceiling. She then kept her head still but turned her eyes toward her friend as she spoke, "Katie...did you want to finish the movie still?" Max asked timidly as she tried out her friend's new name and felt the intimacy it broadcast as she spoke it.
"Of course," she said and pulled Max up to a sitting position. They both returned to laying on their stomachs and Max pressed play. They naturally ended up pressed closely together again. Max smiled inwardly as she felt Kate return her leg to lay on her own.
The movie ended a few minutes later. Right after, Max closed the laptop asked, "So, what did you think?"
Kate propped herself up on an elbow and said, "Actually, could we do something while we talk about it? You ever play with your friend's hair? I haven't done that in so long."
"I might have done it before," Max mumbled.
"Well, I love it. It just feels so good. Let's take turns, of course. Mind if I go first?"
"Sure...I mean no, I don't mind."
Max watched as Kate undid her clips and let her golden locks fall around to frame her face.
She never spoke the word about someone outloud, because it sounded too ridiculous, but all she could think was ...she's a goddess...
Max pushed herself to put away the laptop to get out of her stupor. When she came back, Kate was sitting crisscrossed and facing forward towards her on the floor in front of the bed, waiting for her. She gave Max a small smile before the brunette placed herself between her friend and the bed. Max lifted her hands to comb through Kate's long and luxurious hair, but paused.
...just friends...friends do this...she said so herself...
Max began and almost cried out in surprise when Kate softly moaned the moment her fingernails grazed the back of blonde's head. She forced herself to not physically react. If Kate kept making those sounds though, Max was pretty sure someone would have to pry her hands off the blonde's head before she stopped.
"So..." Kate began. "What did I think?" She pondered. "I liked it. Very tragic though."
"Yeah..."
"But I like some sad movies. As long as they're good. It's nice when they give you something to think about."
"Did this one...do that?"
"Yes, definitely. Crazy to think how regular people could be discriminated against like that, you know?"
"Those not genetically modified?"
"Yeah. Can't imagine not being allowed to do things based on who I am. I guess neither could...Jerome?" Kate said, citing the main character who took his own life at the end. "He wasn't able to be the person he was meant to be."
Suddenly, Max was not sure they were talking about the movie anymore.
"And...what would you do?" Max hesitantly ventured.
Kate paused with a sigh. She then spoke in a seriousness beyond the scope of film discussion, "Whatever it cost, I would find a way."
Max froze under the weight of her friend's words. Catching herself, she resumed putting her fingers through Kate's hair. Her touch became more focused in those moments, as if trying to respond to her friend in some form. There was a small period of silence and then lighter talk of the movie resumed.
At one point later, Kate asked, "Ready for your turn?"
"I'm already turned around," Max joked. She leaned her head against the side of the mattress.
Kate turned around and began. She felt Max first tense up, but then quickly melt under her finger tips. Kate gave a quiet sigh of relief. Max did freeze up again though when Kate started combing her fingers past the brunette's hair and down her back. As before though, after the first moment, she again visibly relaxed and now periodically hummed sounds of contentment.
They had not resumed talking yet, so Kate spoke out quietly, breaking the silence and said, "Max? I need to say something..." She paused and said, "I-" then had a realization. "Max?" Nothing. "Max?"
Leaning over to see her friend's face, Kate was first disappointed but then felt great relief seeing Max had fallen asleep. She knew it by the rise and fall of her chest, the way she breathed. Kate couldn't help but think how cute her friend looked with her mouth slightly open. "You're adorable," Kate whispered to herself.
She thought of lifting the brunette up to put her in bed, but shook away that fantasy when imagining how, even if she could manage to get her friend up there, it would probably end up waking her.
Instead, Kate retrieved a pillow and strategically placed it on the floor. After turning off the lights, she returned to gently eased Max down onto it. Her friend stayed asleep, but as soon as she was laying down, Max fidgeted and squirmed in agitation. She had a distressed look as her head turned back and forth. Kate quickly pulled Max's blanket down on her, but it had no effect. Lifting up one side, the blonde slipped in behind her friend and put one arm around her, holding her firmly as the other stroked her hair and whispered in Max's ear, "Shh, it's okay, Max. I'm here. You're safe with me..."
Max let out long breath through her nose and was finally still. Kate felt her friend's body relax in her hold and knew she was going to be okay now. The arm not around Max felt awkward and uncomfortable, but it was all worth it to Kate.
"We'll get better at this," she whispered. Kate looked out across the room lost in thought and the darkness hid the growing concern on her face. Almost without thinking, she kissed the back of Max's neck.
"Good night, Max." Kate let her eyes close.
