Disclaimer: Never have I owned any of these characters. Ever.
Maxoline: And the Hard War
Caroline uncoordinatedly busts into the apartment carrying plastic bags all up her arms. She attempts to close the door with her foot as she carefully sets the bags down on the floor. "Max, I'm back!" she yells, nearly out of breath.
"One second!" Max screams from her bedroom. She comes out in her bra and underwear almost giving Caroline a heart attack.
"Max! What the hell?" Caroline tries not to make it obvious she was staring. Although it was kind of hard with her being right there. The set was black and lacy and it made her look like a sexy vampire.
"Sorry. I left my clothes out here."
Caroline quickly picks the groceries back up and walks passed her while sneakily glancing at her ass as she bent over to pick her clothes up. She starts organizing everything away hoping her hot cheeks weren't giving her away.
"So, what did you get me?" Max asks while throwing her shirt on.
"Nothing. I had to stick to the budget."
"You went to the store and didn't get me anything? What did I do?"
"You didn't do anything. I just-" Caroline stops talking when she notices Max starting to pout. "Don't make that face at me."
Max shrugs, coyly. "What face?"
"That face," she points.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Max, I'm warning you."
"I'm sad…"
Caroline stares at her pout before grimacing as she gives in. "Damn it, Max. Fine. I'll get you something!" She stalks over to the couch and picks up her coat and purse. She hated that Max had some kind of voodoo magic over her and she also hated not being the one Max wore her lacy underwear for.
"Thank you. You're the best."
Caroline sticks her tongue out. She opens the door and just about steps out before colliding with Randy. "Ow!"
Max runs over.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm…" Caroline trails off as she sees Max step over to Randy and kiss his forehead. "And you meant Randy, not me."
"Do you need some ice?"
"No. I think I'll live," Randy replies. Once he regains his vision fully, Caroline watches his eyes trail over Max. A pang of jealousy takes her by surprise.
"Well, I got to go," Caroline smiles. She happily splits the two up by forcing her way through them. "Got to go get Max something from the store."
"Oh, no need for that," Randy grins. He reaches in his back pocket and pulls out a bag of beef jerky. Max gasps.
"My favorite kind!" she beams. Max snatches the bag as Randy chuckles.
"But you still want me to get you something, right Max?"
Max didn't hear her over the smell of the jerky.
"Guess I'll go find a car to cry in," Caroline says loudly. The couple pays her no mind. She sighs.
"We should do something fun tonight," Randy says. He closes the gap in between them to kiss Max on the lips. "Just me and you. What do you say?"
"Will there be meat involved?"
"Plenty of meat," he nods. "Plenty."
Max laughs as Caroline gags.
"But Max, we have dessert bar stuff to take care of. You promised you would give the dessert bar your full 6%."
"It's just one day off," Randy shrugs. "Think of it as a vacation day."
"Oh. You gonna take me to paradise?"
"I wanna take you all night long."
"I am still in the room here guys," Caroline cuts in. "Max?" She turns to her roommate.
She sighs. "I did say I would help. It's only fair. I wasn't around for startup and Caroline basically had to do everything herself."
Caroline nods. She blamed Randy for that. She wouldn't forget how he broke her after leaving L.A. That was before he came and took her back. Max was her best friend. She hated seeing her hurt.
"Alright. I don't want to keep you from your duties." Max snickers. She hoists herself up to kiss him. "Last chance. We don't have to go straight to dessert."
"The only dessert Max is getting tonight will be at the bar," Caroline cuts in again taking Max by the arm. Caroline waves to Randy as the two exit the apartment.
Caroline looks over at Max for the sixteenth time since staring inventory. She was restocking the liquor like a pro. Caroline took notice in when Max was focused on something, she could sure accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Max cut open another box with her mini knife. She smiles as she takes the tiny green glasses out one by one and sets on the trays. Max looks up for a moment and sees Caroline looking at her. "I knew you've been staring at me!" Max muses. She breaks down the box and throws it in the pile on the floor.
Caroline shrugs. "I can't help it Max. You're cute when you're working."
"Aren't you supposed to be doing inventory?" Max tilts her head. Caroline knew she was trying to distract her from the fact that she was blushing.
"Yes and I'm almost done."
"Uh-Hu. Well, I'm done with my job. Pretty good, hu?" Max glides to the side while using her hands to gesture magically to the shelves. Caroline laughs.
"Not bad. You're getting really great with this bar stuff."
Caroline gets out of her chair to walk behind the bar with Max.
"You know, you might be right," Max says. "I actually really love being behind the bar. I think it's what –"
Caroline bashes her lips on Max's. Her words get caught in her throat causing a choking sound to escape her mouth. Not before long, Max pulls away.
"W-why did you do that?" Max sputters.
"I don't know," Caroline frowns. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't thinking. I have no idea why I would just kiss you like that. I don't even like you. No…I mean, I do like you in a friend way. Nothing more, nothing less. It's really the low-light in here that's to blame. It turns people on. Not that I'm turned on right now. Dear god please say something."
"Caroline! Max yells, snapping her out of her rant. "Relax. I'm not mad."
"You're not?"
"No," she shakes her head. "It was just a harmless kiss. No biggie. I know you don't think of me like that. We're best friends like you said."
"Yeah," Caroline nods. "Woo! Well, glad that's cleared up. I'm going to take a short break to the ladies' room."
"Take your time," Max smiles back at her as Caroline speed walks to the bathroom.
Inside, she takes a look at her flustered face and smacks herself. "What were you thinking?" Caroline scolds. "That was the perfect time to admit your feelings you dummy!"
Caroline halts her self-loathing session when she hears someone enter the bar. She peeks out just enough to see Randy come up behind Max and kiss her neck. He wraps his arms around her and Caroline sees Max's face light up.
"Oh," Caroline grumbles. "I can't tell Max I love her. She's happy with Randy and I have to respect that."
"You almost done?" he asks in between kisses.
"Yeah. Got done a little early," Max breathes.
"What do you say we take care of those plans we made before?" Randy gives her a squeeze.
"Great idea."
Randy turns Max around to kiss her mouth. Caroline decides to stop eavesdropping and made her presence known.
Max is the first to notice her come out. "Hey, you don't mind if I cut out a little early, do you?"
Caroline flicks her eyes at Max's hand resting on his chest. She quickly zones back in. She wanted to stall their love making the most she could, but didn't want to be a selfish friend. After all, it was going to happen sooner or later. Caroline also made a mental note of Max asking before she just blew her off to go blow Randy off. That touched her. "Not at all. Go have fun."
The two bolt out the door leaving Caroline all alone. She sighs.
…
Caroline laid awake in her murphy bed as the love birds giggle in the bedroom. She rolls her eyes as she turns over. They have been up for hours doing who knows what in there. Surely they couldn't still be going at it. Caroline sat in the dessert bar for an extra hour to make sure she didn't come home to hear anything.
She kept thinking about that kiss they shared. It was without a doubt one of the best kisses she ever had. Max's lips were plump and soft against Caroline's. The way they seemed to move on their own drove her mad. Max was an excellent kisser. There was no denying that Caroline was jealous of Randy.
Morning came sooner than Caroline hoped. She sprung out of bed before the couple to get started making breakfast. She knew Max couldn't resist chocolate chip pancakes.
Max came out of her room complete with tousled hair and no pants. She wore her long brown shirt. Caroline assumed, or more like prayed, she was also wearing underwear. Randy came out shirtless as per usual. The two kiss before smelling the scent.
"Do I smell chocolate chip pancakes?" Max beams. She walks over to the counter and Caroline slides a plate over to her.
"Yep. Made them from scratch just how you like."
Max dips her head down to lick a pancake while Caroline gives a smug look to Randy. She didn't know exactly what she was trying to prove, but any attention she could get off of Randy and on to her, she took.
"While you enjoy your pancakes, I'm gonna hop in the shower," Randy says, slowly walking to the bathroom. "Want to join me?"
"Can't right now. Pancakes," Max replies with her mouth full. She smiles back at him showing all the bits of chocolate stuck on her teeth. Caroline and Randy were sure each of them knew what the other was thinking. They both wanted to lick that chocolate off Max's teeth.
"Do you want more?"
"Ugh, no. I can't. Mm…maybe just one more."
Max grand another one from a smiling Caroline's plate. She enjoyed making Randy pissed off. If it was a competition he wanted, that is exactly what he was going to get.
…
Max and Caroline were both on the couch playing footsies. Caroline started the war, but Max was sure to finish it. With their legs just about entangled together, Randy walks in. Max jumps up to kiss him. Caroline gags as she gets up and makes way for the kitchen. Their kiss lingers for a few more unnecessary seconds. Randy's hand dips down Max's back and squeezes her ass. Max yelps at the sudden gesture. She playfully smacks him.
Caroline knew Randy was dangling Max in front of her which only made her more furious than she already was.
"So, you guys have anything planned for today?" Caroline suddenly questions.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Randy replies, slyly.
"I actually don't think we do," Max answers.
"Actually…I'm taking you to the movies."
"Is it the one with the screaming monkey?" Max gasps. "I've been wanting to see that!"
"You mean Monkey Around?" Randy produces two tickets out of his back pocket. Max gasps again.
"No way!"
"An exclusive advance viewing for just us."
"You bought out a movie theatre for me? Aw!" Max grabs the tickets then flings herself into his arms. Randy gives Caroline a smug look from over her shoulder. Caroline glares back.
"I don't know. I heard that movie was pretty awful."
"But nobody seen it yet," Max counters.
"Well…" Caroline starts. "It was predicted to be terrible. Too bad Randy here bought all the tickets because I was going to take you to…"
"The new mac and cheese restaurant?" Max guesses.
"Uh-Hu. They're having an all you can eat buffet."
Caroline stars walking towards Max. Randy gives a knowing glance.
"But you can go there any old time," he reasons. "This is a once in a lifetime thing." He pushes Max's hand that was holding the tickets closer to her face.
"That's true," Max sighs.
"Um, it took me a month to get a reservation to this place," Caroline scoffs. "Wouldn't you rather watch Money Around from the comfort of our apartment?"
"Well, that-"
Randy begins to rub Max's arm. "We can make-out a little before the movie starts. No ushers telling us to keep it in our pants."
"But Max," Caroline stands on the other side of Max pulling her arm. "All you can eat. I even heard they have forty different kinds of pudding."
"Did I mention I'm a lawyer? All I'd have to do is make a few phone calls and I could get us in there right after the movie."
"Well, I'm her best friend and I know her best."
"And I'm her boyfriend and I know her as well."
"Guys, I'm starting to get a little dizzy here."
Max wobbles side to side being pulled by her boyfriend and best friend. She couldn't think straight, her brain was going crazy. Suddenly, Max lurches forward and vomits all over the floor.
"Max, are you okay?" Caroline asks quickly reaching to help her. She offers her a hand and so does Randy. She swats them both away and leans back up slowly.
"No. Both of you are acting ridiculous," Max yells. "I can't choose between you two and if you both loved me like you claim, you wouldn't make me."
"Max, you're right," Caroline sighs.
"I need to be alone right now."
…
A couple weeks went by and Max and Randy were in cruise control. They seemed to be taking things fairly slow (except for the occasional "no Caroline in the apartment" day) and Caroline waited up for Max almost every night. When Randy had no plans, Max made plans. It shouldn't have drove her crazy, but it did. She felt lonely. All she thought about while waiting was that kiss at the dessert bar. The way Caroline stuttered her words and the way she's been acting made her think Max already knew.
It was midnight when Max came back. She tip-toes in and gently shuts the door. When she turns slightly and sees Caroline sitting on the couch, she jumps.
"Shit," Max clutches her chest.
"Didn't expect me to be up?" Caroline's response came out more bitter than intended. Max's expression changes from startled to shocked. She shrugs off her jacket and lays it on the couch. "That a new jacket?"
"What?" Max looks down at it then back up. "Oh, Randy got it for me."
"He did, did he?" Caroline fakes a smile. "That also a new bracelet?" Caroline didn't know why she was being so bitter, but she couldn't seem to turn it off. Here Max was looking absolutely amazing after her date with Randy and Caroline was furious that it wasn't her. She was wrong. She couldn't stay friends with Max.
"Caroline, you're acting very odd. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"Oh no!" Max shouts. "Don't even try that bullshit with me, Channing. We've been over this. You are not fine. You're pissed at me and I want to know why!"
Caroline bolts off the couch to stand face-to-face with her roommate. "I don't know why!"
"You don't know why?" Max muses. "Caroline, you are my best friend. We've been living together for years. I never want you to feel like you can't be honest with me."
"That's just it Max. We can't be friends."
"What do you mean we can't be friends?" The pout was back, but it wasn't the cute pout. Max was genuinely crushed.
Caroline sighs. "I don't know. We just can't. You're clearly caught up on Randy anyway. So, why don't you just go back to him? Go have sex or whatever."
A single tear escapes Max's eye. She threw her hands up in defeat. "Okay. I can tell when I'm not wanted."
"Are you seriously playing the victim right now?"
"What do you want me to say?" Max cries. "I don't know what to do right now, Caroline." Max breaths for a moment. Caroline's eyes turn soft. Her rage that just took over passed.
"When I kissed you in the dessert bar, I…it wasn't just because of the romantic, low-light vibe. I love you, Max. I'm in love with you. I've been so selfish and I don't blame you if you hate me right now. You did nothing wrong. I just can't continue being friends with you when I feel this way. I can't keep being selfish. You love Randy and I have to accept that. I'm sorry."
Caroline leaves the apartment before Max can say another word.
.
It wasn't that hard to find her. Her hiding spot was the diner of all places. She sat in Sophie's booth in the dark. Max came in and sat opposite of her.
"Hey," Max offers.
The air was uncomfortable. Caroline smiles slightly.
"Hear me out," Max exhales. "Look, yes, I do love Randy." Caroline nods out of respect while trying not to tear up. Everything she had left in her wanted Max to say she loved her back, but that just died. "I should've known how you felt. You have been acting weird around me for months. The kiss, the pancakes, the grimaces, the fighting with Randy…it was all there the whole time and I was too stupid to figure it out. I'm the terrible friend, Caroline. I just didn't expect you to fall in love with me. Me. I don't get it. You are so smart and beautiful. You could have anyone. I'm just me."
"Randy loves you. I'm sure his reasons are the same as mine."
Max rolls her eyes. "Sometimes I think Randy is mainly into the sex more than me, but I think I understand."
"It's not just because of your body…although I mean, it's pretty…wow…"
"Okay, Caroline. Chill out," Max laughs.
"Remember what I said about you being cute when you work? I meant that when you lit up just restocking the drinks, I saw something in you that I've never noticed before. You're just so driven and I love that about you."
Max's eyes start to gloss over listening to Caroline. Something took over Max's legs as she crosses over to Caroline, scoots next to her and places her lips onto the blonde's. It was a quick, simple kiss, but Caroline still felt those same sparks. Caroline puts a hand on Max's cheek, her eyes still leaking.
"You're so beautiful."
Max reaches up to put her hand on Caroline's.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I don't want to force you to feel anything you're not."
Max gives her another soft kiss.
"I just wish things were different," Caroline chokes.
"Me too."
