It took me forever to drag myself out of my dorm, but I'm finally out amongst other people. It didn't take long for the dreaded stares to follow soon after. I almost turned around and went back I, but I keep pushing forward.

If I really wanna see a change I can't keep holding myself back.

I make it outside with no real destination in mind. Max instantly floods my mind and a small smile starts to creep on my face, but then I remembered how yesterday went and my face just as quickly fell. Max seeing someone—how could she not tell me that? I would've been crushed, but at least it would've given me ample time to recoup.

I shake my head. Who am I kidding? I'm far too deep to just let it go at this point. I seriously doubt my feelings for her will ever go away. I decide to try the courtyard as a getaway as many students valued the gym more than the courtyard on free time. I might slip through without too much attention.

"Yo!" I spin around and find Justin in fast approach towards me. The look on his face already alerted me to what was about to come.

"Dude!" The skater boy gushed as he looked me up and down. "Your hair is awesome!"

I cut it down from its original state to a messier look. I didn't want it to look too wild so I parted it to the left and decided it was something to try at least. I was gonna let the reaction speak for themselves, but up until now I wasn't feeling the love.

I rub the back of my neck trying to brush off the compliment. It was simple, but if Justin had something good to say then possibly Max might too. The thought of her gushing over him made him hopeful.

The excitement is too much to bear-I need to find her!

I turn to go on my quest for the soft voice girl when another girl's voice came into earshot.

"Warren! Hey! Wait up!" Stella called out as she made her fast approach. I groaned internally. Stella was a good girl as I've said before, but she isn't mines. Well… Max technically isn't mines either, but she will be. Once she sees this new shade of Warren she won't be able to resist.

I hope so…

"Hey, Warren I was wondering—WOAH!" Stella started to say, but stopped when she caught sight of Warren's hair-do. The nerdy girl stared on with her mouth slightly agape until she caught herself. She cleared her throat before composing herself.

"So—Warren," Stella started to say as she continued to stare at me. A deep blush engulfed her face. She tried to hide it, but was doing a terrible job at doing so.

"Your hair is just—wow!"

"I've been trying a new look, but I didn't wanna go all out." I explain shyly while rubbing the back of my neck. "You like?"

"I love it." Stella gushed as she went through another fit of deep blushing.

"Dude, it's totally awesome. You should keep it like that." Justin added. I almost forgot the boy's presence with the arrival of Stella.

My face lifts up in a small, but huge smile. I don't know why, but the confidence in me skyrocketed in seconds. Maybe it had something to do with Stella's constant blushing throughout the entire ordeal. Maybe it had to do with Justin's uplifting description of me-but what I did know was that I needed to see Max.

And now!

I excused myself to the dismay of Stella before jetting towards the courtyard. If Max was anywhere she would be in the courtyard. The girl loved to get her shots in and the courtyard provided her with some good photo ops.

It didn't take long for me to catch sight of her doing exactly what I thought she would be doing. I remember the brief blushing fit Stella had over my new look and take a deep breath.

Here goes nothing.

As I approach her all that confidence I was riding on quickly faded. Everything I thought of saying to her seemed too unfitting or too nerdy. She's still has her focus on her camera, maybe I can slip out of here before she notices me.

"Warren! Over here!" Max calls out before I can make my escape. I curse myself as I spin to face her. Instantly I'm greeted with a flash from a camera in my eyes.

"Ahhh!" I let out as I went blind for a second. My vision focused almost immediately after. Max let out a loud laugh and I swear I almost fall over. My knees became wobbly and I began to sweat a little.

Play it cool dude, play it cool.

"Having fun?" I ask with a small smirk.

"Just a little." Max responded through another fit of giggles. She got herself composed and looked down at the polaroid that sat at the bottom of her camera. I notice her intently study the photo before looking up at me. She did this a few more times before she finally made the connection.

"Your hair!" Max gushed as she walked closer to me to examine it. I couldn't help, but notice Stella's reaction was much stronger and much more uplifting. I shake the memory out of my mind and turn my attention back to Max, who while in my absent minded state closed the small space between us.

I slow my breathing in a weak attempt to hide my excitement—she's basically right on top of me. I've never had a girl so close to me, especially not ones who I'm deeply in love with.

Max ran her hand through my hair and I swear I almost melted on impact. I honestly don't know how much I can take of this. I playfully swat her hand away even though if she decided to play in my hair all day I wouldn't mind it.

"I can guess you like it?" I questioned.

"It's a nice look for you Warren—really."

"Ehh," I said flatly, trying to make it seem like I cared too much. "I just was messing around in the mirror."

Max looked up at me, "You should mess around in the mirror more often." She immediately registered what she said before she turned away to hide a blush creeping on her face.

"Sorry." She apologized.
"Don't be." I assured her.

The chemistry was clicking just right. Everything seemed to be going smoothly and with a clean natural flow—nothing felt forced or challenging. Maybe I can ask her to that movie? I quickly throw that option out as the movie theater was decimated by the storm.

What hasn't been knocked out by the storm? That's the real question and as I think on it the answer becomes more and more complicated. I switch my focus to something simpler, but something that captures the moment I was trying to convey.

Stargazing!

As soon as I'm about to ask, Max shoots up which causes me to jump out of shock. I throw my hands up in surrender and shoot her a confused look. I try and ask another question, but I cut myself off when I see what had her attention.

That guy… the same guy I saw her with yesterday.

"I have to go, Warren. I'll text you." Max quickly shoots back as she chased behind Mr. mysterious.

My blood begins to boil and I don't what's the cause exactly. Maybe it had to do with the girl of my dreams running off with another guy. Or maybe it had to do with the fact I completely forgot about Max's new friend.

Who am I kidding? He's no friend…that would be me. Whoever that guy is he's living the life I want. Just the thought of it makes me get even mad.

"Ugh!" I let out while kicking a nearby trashcan. Sharp pain shot up my foot, but I'm too mad to care about it right now. I pass my hands through my hair and like clockwork I'm brought back to Max's hands running through my hair.

Another wave of anger follows.

I start to walk off and decide to call it a day. My heart and soul has taken enough of a beating today. I push through the boy's dorm door and instantly get greeted by the sounds of a party. I push myself further down the hallway until I move past an open door and glanced in.

"WARREN! My man-good to see you again!" Justin yelled out through the crowd of maybe ten to fifteen people piled in the one room.

I hold my position at the door. "What's the occasion?"

"Good times. You don't need an occasion for a party. You just throw one when you want a good time." Justin poured some clear drink into a red cup before passing it to me.

"Chug."

"I don't know." I wearily say. I remember the last time I drunk any alcohol since the night of the vortex party. I still can't believe I got drunk off half a beer. Speaking of which, whatever Justin passed me in this cup is fucking strong.

I don't want to think of the lingering headache I was gonna get. Then I thought, why not? I deal with the constant headache of Max taking over every free inch of space in my head. What would be any different?

I chug the remnants of the cup down quickly before I can even process it. The burning of the alcohol down my throat was a clear sign this wasn't any weak stuff. I shake off the bitter feeling within me before I looked up at Justin who was watching me waiting on my next move.

"Let's get this party started." I say as Justin sports a huge grin moving aside to let me in the room.

This was gonna clear my mind for sure.