25-
They sit on the sofa quietly for a long time. Jude peeks out of his studio every once in a while to make sure they're still there, and not shagging in his bed or dead, but other then that, they're alone.
Every so often, one of them will look up at the other, before looking away.
Maggie observes Max from the corner of her eye. It surprises her, because she's looked at Max millions of times, but now she really sees him. She looks at the details. He usually has stubble on his chin, a blond beard if he gets lazy and doesn't shave for a few days, but now the beard is there, plus a mustache. He looks worn. His clothes hang off his skinny frame and the brunette wonders if it's possible for a person to loose half their body weight in only a few days. There are bags under his eyes and bags under those.
And Maggie knows it's her fault, and all she wants to do is make Max better. But what she doesn't know is how.
She observes her hands, clasped together tightly in her lap, before sneaking another look at Max. Maggie sits upright, her spin straight. He slouches against the couch, defeated.
Max looks at Maggie when she stares ahead. He's used to seeing her in revealing dresses, short skirts, loose shirts. Now she's wearing Lucy's clothes which are tight on her chest and hips, but baggy around her legs. Maggie looks lost and Max knows it isn't his fault. She isn't his problem and she doesn't want to be.
Finally Maggie gives into the silence, "Max, I can't give it all up." She admits. Her voice is a little hoarse from the yelling.
"Can't or won't?"
He reminds her of her father, which makes Maggie inwardly wince, "A little bit of both I guess."
"Are you happy doing it?"
She is sometimes, when she's in control, when the guy begs, when he needs her. And when she and the girls shout at the men walking past, gossiping in between. But not when she's left alone on the corner, alone in the hotel room. Not when they're handsy, not when they're rough. Not when she's bruised or bleeding, and Penny whispers that it's for the best.
But Maggie only tells Max "Sometimes"
"Are you happy with me?"
The answer hardly needs deliberation, "Yes."
"Then why Maggie? Why can't you give it up for me?" Max just wants to know, she doesn't need to change her mind, just explain it.
Maggie hesitates, but the truth worms its way out of her, "I'm scared."
A/N- Hey those who are still with me.
I'm really sorry for the lack of updates recently. I've been away for the summer, but I also hit a serious inspiration block for this story. I've got a vague idea of where I want the story to go once they finally get out of Lucy and Jude's apartment, but I never really pictured Max and Maggie with a happy-go-lucky-let's-get-married-and-have-kids ending, so I don't have a stable idea of where I want it to end. So, the next couple updates will some out relativly fast, but beyond that I hope you'll be patient with me.
Thanks! And please review!