February 23rd, 2014

7:37 p.m.

It was magic. The feeling of her lips on his, her fingers swirling into his hair, it was bliss. It was everything and nothing like the kisses shared with him and Brooke. Physically, it was the same sensations, the same cause and effects.

Emotionally and mentally, it was a whole different mix. It was like soaring. Like flicking off the universe for sticking him with Brooke.

If she could, Max would kiss him forever. The soft curve of his lips, that smile. She could stand here under the stars. She could forever hold onto him, forever smell his smell and taste his taste.

Then, of course, reality cuts in. Max's phone in her shoulder bag went off. Hesitantly, the two lovebirds broke their kiss.

"You should probably answer that," Warren said. Each of them were reluctant to part, but, they each sent the other a goofy grin as Max dug into her phone.

"Hey," she said into the speaker upon answering.

"Where the hell are you, Max?"

"I'm with Warren," she said. She couldn't help but blissfully smile at him as she said so.

"Congradulations," Chloe answered sarcastically. "That doesn't answer my question, Maximus. Where are you?"

"Oh," Max replied quietly. The seriousness of the situation suddenly hit her. "There was a fight in the bathroom. Warren and I took off from the back and went to this tree."

"I already know about the fight. I'm with Dakota now. Get your scrawny asses back here."

With that, Chloe hung up. She didn't sound pissed, just serious. Still, Warren looked at Max. "Is there a problem?"

Max shrugged. "Probably something with Brooke. We should head back."

Warren nodded and held out his hand. Smiling goofily, Max took it. They walked hand in hand back to the dance.

They leisured along slowly. Neither of them wanting to hurry back to the chaos of the party. They stayed silent until Warren felt the need to apologize. "I'm really sorry for how that ended in there. If Brooke had done something…"

"I know, Warren," she interrupted quietly. "I'd rather not have it end as violently as it did. But I'm glad it ended like it did." She squeezed his hand and he knew what she meant.

"How's your face by the way?"

"Better. Still, stings a little."

"Here, I can help that." Max stretched up on her tip toes and kissed Warren's cheek lightly. He rolled his eyes, but his smile betrayed his happiness.

"I hope Dakota's okay," Max spluttered.

"I'm sure she is," Warren answered distractedly. "You know the main reason I had to avoid you?"

"Why?"

"She blackmailed me. She took pictures of you during the Christmas Eve party and threatened to ruin your career. Maybe even get you arrested."

A hatred burned through Max. She'd never hated someone this harshly. Not Victoria, not her posse, not even her middle school bullies. Frankly, she'd be scared that Brooke would have that effect on her if she wasn't so pissed at her. Still, Max really didn't want to deal with her.

"What are we gonna do about her?"

"Hopefully nothing tonight."

"Yeah," Max agreed. "Let's hope she left or something."

"Let's."

The two of them started to see the Prescott Ballroom in the distance. Subconsciously, they slowed down. Both of them still needed to talk about a few things.

"So, what are you doing after we graduate?" Warren asked hesitantly.

Max thought for a second. "I'm thinking about following Rachel's example. Mr. Jefferson offered me to be his apprentice while Nathan goes off to Oregon University."

"So you're gonna be a fifth year senior?"

"Pretty much. My classes with Mr. Jefferson are for college credits. I'll have to take other classes too, but the most important is Mr. Jefferson's."

"Cool! I'm happy for you, Max."

"Me too," she shot him a grin, which he returned."What about you? What's Big Brain Warren gonna do?"

Warren sighed. It wasn't a sigh of stress, it was more a reactionary sigh to that particular question. "My mom and dad are making me apply for Harvard and Yale. You know, all the Ivy Leagues. I don't really want Ivy League though."

"Well," she answered with a playful shove. "What do you want?"

"Well, I want to teach. You don't know this, because of the whole Brooke thing, but around the beginning of the year, my mom set me up to tutor our neighbor's kid. I loved it."

"Awe," Max said. She squeezed his hand and Warren returned the gesture.

"Yeah, it was one of the few things that kept me sane during that period. I'm hoping Normal University in Newburg will accept me. I'll be a Chemistry teacher or professor. If push comes to shove, I'll be a chemist."

"Well I," they stopped in front of the back entrance of the ballroom. The thumping music assaulted their eardrums, even from the outside. Max stopped and put her hands on his chest. "Think that you would be an excellent professor. Truly Dr. Graham."

"How will I be able to do any experiments without my assistant?"

Max pouted playfully. "But I'll always be your assistant."

"Yes, you will."

The two shared a chaste kiss before Warren motioned with his head. "We should probably get in there."

"Yeah," Max replied whistfully. "We probably should."

Warren swung the door open and they were blasted by by sound. Chloe and Rachel stood looking irritated.

"There you two are," Rachel said.

"Are you wearing his tie?" Chloe asked

"Did you two-?" Rachel wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"No!" They both protested.

"We're wasting time," Chloe said irritably. "Are we still going to the Two Whales?"

"Yeah," Max nodded.

Warren shrugged. Guess he'll go to the Two Whales.

"Dakota's joining us by the way," Rachel added.

"Cool," Max said. "Where is she?"

"Getting ice for her eye. Brooke caught her good."

It was just after that sentence that Dakota slung her arms over Rachel and Chloe, an ice pack in her hand. "Hey girls. Warren. What are we talking about?"

"You're coming with us to the Two Whales right?" Rachel turned to Dakota with a smile.

"Duh!" she answered. It was clear to Warren and Max that Dakota had been injured in her and Brooke's fight. Her eye was swollen and her bottom lip had been cut. Still, she was smiling.

"I know what you two are thinking. Yes, Brooke is still here. I left her sitting on the toilet like she's taking a massive shit."

Max groaned at the imagery, while Warren chuckled. Rachel spoke up, her midnight blue gown sparkling in the light. She reached behind her and unclipped the pins holding her hair in the bun. Her hair fell down her shoulders as Chloe crossed her arms. "We'll take Dakota with us. We'll see you guys at the Two Whales, okay?"

After agreeing, the trio of girls left the party. Max turned to Warren, "How did you get here?"

"Brooke and I took a limo. Can you take me?"

"Of course. Let's go."

"What about Brooke?" Warren thought out loud.

Max impulsively answered, "She's smart enough to figure out her own way home."

"I think I like this evil side of you," Warren muttered seductively.

"You should see all my other sides."

They each smiled, despite the ridiculousness of their flirting, and took each other's hand. They waded through the mass of sweaty, fancily dressed teenagers to the parking lot. Before they could make it out, they were confronted by a pale girl with short blonde hair in a white dress.

"Max and Warren, huh?"

"What do you want, Victoria?" Max squinted her eyes, expecting menace from the bully.

"Nothing. But it's about fucking time you two nerds got together. Brooke was way too much for you Warren, and Dakota is way too pretty for you Max."

"Hey!" Warren and Max simultaneously protested.

Victoria answered with a smirk. "Ciao, losers. I have a boyfriend to attend to." With that, Victoria lightly passed them.

"She can be such a bitch," Max muttered as they made their way out to Max's car.

"Tell me about it. I hope for your sake she doesn't stay to be a fifth year senior," Warren replied.

"God, I hope not."

They each got in the car. Max put it in gear and she started to drive to the resteraunt. Warren helped her with directions. It didn't take long before they parked at the Two Whales. They took each other's hands as they walked in.

Chloe and Rachel sat on the opposite booth in murmered discussion. Dakota sat on a chair at the end of the booth. When the new couple walked in, Dakota and Rachel shot her matching smiles while Chloe sent her a sort of grimace, half-smirk.

As they sat in the booth with their friends, each of the two teenagers pondered themselves and their future.

Max thinks about all the steps that led to them being together. She learned through Dakota what being in a relationship was like. She learned the hard way that there has to be sacrifices in a relationship. She can only thank the universe for giving her someone as kind and as passionate as Warren.

Her feelings of him were an entierely different animal then her feelings for Dakota. There was a lightness in her chest. It's a free feeling, almost like falling.

As she looks at two of her favorite people, Chloe and Rachel, she deep down had always felt a little envious of their relationship. She would have never admitted it out loud, but she had always longed for the kind of dynamic they shared. Even if Chloe was frowning into Rachel's phone while Rachel talked to Dakota, the years that Chloe and Rachel had spent together had created a bond that Max only wish she could have.

As she squeezed his hand, Max wasn't sure if there was any way to describe how deeply she felt. She was wise enough to know, however, that they were going to make mistakes. There were going to be fights, some struggle. But if they could get together through this, they could survive anything.

At her side, there's Warren. When he woke up that morning, he had guessed by this time, he was being forced into making love to a person he did not love. Now, he was holding the hand of the girl he always wanted. He didn't know that he could have so many feelings for someone. It scares him, yet it excites his every being.

Because, after all, we all have a story. For Max and Warren, thier story is far from over. It's only just beginning.

And it all started, when one of them chose to speak.


Hey all, this is the end of Speak. Max and Warren are together! Hurray!

I'm going to start writing the next story soon. As for now, it's untitled, but it'll be a more experimental story. However, it will take place in this same AU and Dakota will appear again, but she'll have a less important role.

Anyway, I can't wait to get started. Thank you for reading and everyone who left a review!

HUF