So, I had this finished for a week or so now, but I forgot about it and haven't typed it up yet. It just passed my mind a few minutes ago and I decided to sit down and type it to avoid any MaxMariam deprivation.
Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade.
Enjoy!
"That I'm only up when you're not down"
I'm Only Up When You're Not Down
Mariam would've skipped if it hadn't been for a want to maintain her dignity. She'd just received a very good piece of news and was carrying it in an official looking white envelope to go and show Max. She let herself into the dojo and made her way back to the training room where she presumed the Bladebreakers would be congregating like they always were.
"Hey, Mariam!" Hilary greeted, being the first to spot the Saint Shield in the doorway.
"Do you know what's up with Max?" Tyson blurted out before anyone else had a chance to bring up the subject.
"What do you mean?" Mariam asked, concerned for the blond blader. He had been fine when she'd spoken with him yesterday. What could have possibly happened since then that she didn't know about? "Didn't he show up today?" She'd long ago noticed Max wasn't in the room.
"He's out on the porch," Ray said. "He's upset, but he won't say what's wrong. He thinks we'd laugh at him or something."
Mariam thanked the group for how little they helped and went outside to see Max. He was sitting on the porch, gazing emptily out into the distance. his whole posture screamed out how distressed he was and Mariam was beginning to think that something was actually very wrong.
"Maxie?" She sat cautiously at his side. "What's wrong?"
He heaved a sigh. "You'd just think I was being stupid if I told you," Max mumbled dejectedly.
Mariam felt herself totally overcome with sadness in light of Max being upset. She just couldn't bring herself to be happy, even at her own good news, when Max wasn't.
"No, Max, I wouldn't. I promise. It's obviously important to you, so…" She sent him a reassuring smile as he watched her out of the corner of his eye.
"Promise you won't laugh?"
Mariam nodded.
"Okay, well…" He looked at her with the possibly saddest blue eyes she'd ever seen on him. "My gerbil died."
Mariam's mouth formed a small 'o' of understanding. "I'm sorry." A dead house pet had never been so tragic. She supposed it was because what mattered to Max, mattered to her to some extent. If something bothered Max, it affected her, so it, in a sense bothered her, too. Wow. She had got it bad.
"What's that?" Max broke Mariam out of her reverie, staring with interest at the envelope she held.
"It's really not appropriate, giving certain circumstances…"
"Mariam, I'm going to be nineteen this summer. I think I'll get over Nugget's death soon enough." He hesitated, before adding, "It's probably time I grew up some anyway. Nineteen year olds don't cry over dead gerbils."
"I find sensitivity charming in men." Mariam looped her arm through his. "Besides, you're not nineteen yet."
"I guess not." He smiled wryly. "So, what's in the envelope?"
"See for yourself." She passed him the envelope and watched as he opened it and read the contents of the letter inside. His eyes widened considerably. "You got in?"
"Yes," Mariam beamed.
"That's fantastic!" He grinned wildly and pulled her into a hug, before swiftly kissing her lips. "C'mon!" He pulled her to her feet and led the way into the dojo. "This calls for celebration."
"What does? The fact that I got into a college in New York, or the fact that now I'll be on hand to get under your mother's skin whenever I want?" Mariam was back up to being excited, now that Max wasn't feeling down anymore. Now, she felt absolutely no guilt in showing her excitement.
"You're funny, real funny," Max giggled, and gave her a tug towards the dojo to share the good news with his friends.
A/N: I still need drabble and oneshot requests from my contest. In the near future I'll compile a list of who owes me requests and send out messages, just so everyone knows what's what and I can relax, knowing that everyone is going to get what I owe them.
Review?
