Hola! Again, I'm really sorry about not updating sooner! School and extra-cirriculars are taking over my brain...LOL not really, but I'm super busy this weekend, so I'm guessing this is the only post I'll be able to do. But, I have days off for Thanksgiving in a couple weeks, so that means more posting! WHOO!

Oh, and here's a little anecdote about the mood for this chapter: I was watching some Where The Wild Things Are behind-the-scenes stuff this morning on YouTube, and there was a video about all the kids they had on the movie set. They were all sooooo cute, running around and doing goofy things! So it motivated me to make this chapter very uplifting.

Enjoy!

...

Chapter Eight: A Day With Max Carson

Munch-munch-munch.

Claire looked up from her homework and gave a warning look.

Munch-munch-munch.

Claire simply ignored her.

Munch-munch-munch.

Claire slammed the book shut. "Could you please go do that somewhere else?"

Bella shoved more animal crackers into her mouth. "Mom always says that I can't leave the table unless I've finished my food." She made certain that the tiny bits stuck inside her mouth were visible.

Claire rolled her eyes. "Please tell me you have something better to do today."

"Hmm, let's see…" Bella tapped her chin, making it look like she was considering her options and actually caring that she was bothering her sister. After a few seconds, she stopped. "No." She began to munch loudly on a lion and a rhinoceros. "Now I know you're feeling better," Claire muttered as she gathered her things and moved into the living room. "You have the energy to annoy me to my wit's end."

Bella watched her walk away. "Love you, too, Claire," she said snidely.

"Bella!" Max came running down the stairs. "Look! Look what I made!" He proudly beamed as he held out a structure made of Legos.

"Wow, Max, that's really cool," Bella said, really meaning it. She wasn't skilled when it came to making things. She always needed help with arts and crafts at Girl Scout Camp, whether it be beading or widdeling or even rope tying.

"It's a boat, see?" Max pointed to his construction. "It's really strong and can get through anything!"

"That's really neat," Bella said. "You've really got a knack for building things, don't you?"

"Uh-huh." Max nodded his head up and down excitedly.

"You wanna do something today, since I'm feeling better?"

"Yeah!" Max was practically bouncing off the walls. "Let's go play!" He grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the door.

"Okay, okay!" Bella was gasping for breath from trying to keep up with him. "Slow down, buddy!"

"We're going out to pla-ay! We're going out to pla-ay!" Max sang, retrieving his tennis shoes.

Claire looked at them from the living room. "Oh, good. You're going outside. Don't be afraid to stay out there long. I'm gonna need some peace and quiet – for once."

Bella walked out the door, shaking her head. Claire, being the snake in the grass that she was, took advantage of Bella and Max's newfound friendship. She continued to go off with her own friends and find excuses why she couldn't play with them, only spending time with the two of them once a week now.

"What are we gonna do, Bella?" Max asked, still bouncing up and down. "You wanna go to the park?" A few blocks away, there was a park, complete with a playground and jungle gym.

"Sure. Let's go. But you have to hold my hand when we cross the street."

"Fine." Max grabbed her hand impatiently. "Let's just go!"

When they arrived at the park, no one else was there. There hadn't been any snow yet, but it was still a bit cold outside. Max immediately ran to the playground and went down the biggest slide a few times. Bella couldn't help but start laughing.

"Geez, Max, where'd all this pent-up energy come from?"

Max didn't answer her question. "Come on, Bella! Go down the slide!"

She climbed the ladder and went down the metal slide. Although it was the biggest slide on the playground, it was also the slowest, and wasn't very fun. "Whee…" she said, trying to sound enthused.

"That was pathetic!" Max exclaimed, surprising Bella with the last word. "You gotta do it like this!" He climbed up the ladder and went down again. "WHEE!" he cried. He landed on his feet and looked at her. "Now you try it."

"Max…"

He pointed to the slide. "Do it."

This time, Bella made sure she sounded excited. "WHEE!" she said, mentally cringing at how stupid she must have look.

"That's more like it!" Max said, now hanging from the monkey bars. "Look, Bella! I'm a monkey!" He hung by one arm and waved.

"Max, you gotta be careful on those things!" Bella said, but couldn't help but giggle.

"Whoo!" Max swung back and forth, finally climbing on top of the bars. "I'm King of the Playground!" he declared.

Bella was laughing now – her loud, unladylike laugh that could upset birds nesting in the trees.

"What's so funny?" Max demanded.

"Nothing," Bella said. "It's just…I didn't think you could be so…lively!"

Max looked thoughtful for a moment. "Your turn!" he said, climbing down from the monkey bars.

"My turn for what?"

"Well, I showed you how to slide down a slide. Now you have to show me how to do something."

Bella sighed. "Max, you know I'm not good at that kind of thing."

"Show me!" Max stamped his foot and folded his arms. "Remember, I'm King of the Playground, and if I want something, I get it. Or I'll have to put you in jail!" He pointed to an alcove just under one of the smaller slides.

Being put in jail wasn't the worst thing that could happen, but Bella knew that Max would have her stay there for a while, and just sitting under a slide wasn't all that fun. She racked her brain for something – anything – that would impress Max – and maybe calm him down a little.

"I got it," she said. "Follow me."

She led him around the playground first, just to keep him entertained. The idea she had was a bit boring, but it was all she could think of.

She finally led him to the tallest point of the playground. "Okay, Max. You ready?"

Max nodded.

"First, close your eyes."

Max did so, but quickly opened one of them.

"No peeking."

Max sighed, but did as he was told.

"Good. Now, give me your hand."

"You're not gonna push me off this thing, are you?" Max asked.

Bella was shocked. "No. Why would I do that? Just give me your hand. I promise I won't let you fall."

Max seemed a bit reluctant, but let her guide him to the edge of the tower. She noticed that the wind was gently blowing, which made doing this even better.

"Okay. Now spread out your arms."

He tentatively did.

"Now open your eyes."

As he did, he began to look around. Bella was afraid that he wouldn't get what she was trying to show him, but what he said next changed all that:

"I'm flying, Bella!"

"Yeah, it feels like that, doesn't it?"

"No," he said in his commanding King voice. "I'm really flying."

"Yeah," she said. "You are."

...

"Where'd you learn to do that?" Max asked, later that day.

"Mom," Bella said, knowing that her answer was partly true.

"It was really cool," Max said.

"It's even cooler in my tree house," Bella remarked. "You…you wouldn't wanna go up and try it, would you?"

She loved seeing Max's face light up like a Christmas tree. She knew Max had wanted to go up in her tree house for the longest time, and after today, she knew that he was ready.

When they got up there, Max was in awe. "Wow," he said, looking around. "This is…wow!"

"I knew you'd like it."

He stood on the deck and looked out over the neighborhood, spreading out his arms airplane-style. "You're right," he said. "It is better up here."

Bella smiled, and after a minute, spread out her arms and flew away with Max.