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Warm blanket engulfed Max head-to-toe.

Her head still pulsed. But drums calmed down.

— Ugh... I really need to stop blacking out. It's starting to work on my nerves...

— Indeed, — said Victoria. — I believe I agree on that. You do need to stop blacking out.

Max's heart skipped a bit.

Victoria sat on her sofa while reading a book. Max's book. Yuri book...

Oh my God! I'm dead!

Max's face took a few shades of red.

Victoria's brow rose up.

— Please, tell me this is not your fever showing up again!

— Eh?

Victoria put away cursed literature and came to Max's side.

— Eh?

She removed moist towel from her forehead and checked the temperature.

— It seems it is not, — she said with smile of relief. — I say, Maxine, you gave me quite a scare back then. I thought you might have died.

"EEEHHHHH?! VICTORIA CHASE IS NICE TO ME? WHO THE HELL ARE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO REAL VICTORIA?!"

— I am sorry for worrying you, — said Max while staring at the blonde.

Wide eyes. Marathoning heart.

Victoria frowned.

— I hope you do. I am not dragging your sorry hide to your room next time.

— I'm sorry. Please, forgive me.

She smiled a bit.

— Well... I see you are okay now. I believe, you can manage on your own from here?

— Yes?

— You aren't suppose to answer a question with a question.

— Yes?

— ...

Max tried to get up. But headache hit her again. She collapsed back.

And only now she noticed. She was in her undies. Where the hell were her clothes?!

She saw them resting in a pile near her bed.

"OH MY GOD!"

— Here, — Victoria extended her hand with two pills in it.

First, she looked at them.

Then, at Victoria.

— Cyanide?

— It's painkillers, you dumbass.

— Oh.

Max grabbed them both and downed in one gulp.

— Here, — Victoria gave her glass of water.

Max emptied it.

— Thank you, — Max said.

— Yeah, — Victoria looked away and crossed her hands. — Whatever.

Light blush adored her cheeks.

— Um... Victoria?

— What?

— Could you, please, pinch my cheek?

Victoria blinked.

— What? Why?

— Pretty please.

For a moment she stood there glaring at Max. Unable to decide what to do. To take it seriously or laugh it out. But eventually she reached out and pinched her left cheek.

— Ow! — Max clutched it. — It hurts!

— Of course, it is.

— So, this is not a dream?

— Dream? Which part?

Max smiled awkwardly.

— You being here, — Victoria blushed. — With me.

Heat in the room rose a few hundred degrees.

— Oh, look! I think you're okay now, — she spluttered. — I should go-

Max grabbed her hand.

— Stay.

Okay, scratch that. A few thousands degrees!

— Please, stay.

Practically, it was sauna now.

Victoria's heart could almost leap out of her chest.

It drummed. Drummed loudly. So loudly, that you could hear it outside the campus. Or in another continent. Or on a freaking Moon!

No way Max couldn't hear it!

But Victoria prayed she had deaf ears.

— O-okay...

She fixed her stray (which weren't) golden locks. A few times (unnecessary). And sat on Max's bed. Not to far away, so she wouldn't fall off. But not to close enough, so that she wouldn't touch Max and realize it was all but a trick of her mind.

Max, though, simply took her hand and closed her eyes.

— I need just a few minutes...

— Yeah.

Her breathing steadied. Expression turned into pure tranquility.

— Hey, Max?

— Hm?

— Wanna... Wanna talk about it?

— Not really.

— Oh. I-I see...

Max glanced at her. And squeezed her hand a bit.

— Later. I promise.

— Okay...


Victoria stirred from sleep to a gentle hand petting her head. Warm lump served the pillow. Moving one. Breathing.

She laid on Max's chest.

She jerked up. Away from the bed. But got pulled down.

— Kya!

— Good morning, Princess Goldilock, — Max grinned. — Did you sleep well?

— Max!

— Yes?

— Let go of me!

— Not a chance!

Victoria glared daggers at her.

Maxine-

— Max.

— ?

— Never Maxine.

— Ugh... Max.

— Yes~?

— I see you are fine now. And in high spirits. SO, LET THE HELL GO!

Victoria pulled off. And didn't notice Max not holding her anymore.

She flipped backwards. And crashed to the ground.

— Ay!

She immediately got back up.

— Max, you idiot!

— Sorry, — Max said.

And proceeded to leer over blonde. While leaning on her hand.

Victoria went bright red.

— Could you, please, have some modesty to cover yourself?

— Why~?

She glared Max in the eyes.

— I hate you so much right now.

— No, you're not.

— Ugh! You're insufferable!

Max's grin only widened.

— I hope you freeze to death there.

— I won't if somebody keeps my temperature in operational level...

She patted empty spot besides her.

Victoria's eartips boiled.

She could feel alluring warmth, reaching from there. Comfort of inevitable hug, that she would be subjugated to. Pleasant smell, that she could sense even here.

Victoria gulped.

— In your dreams, Caulfield!

Victoria reached for the doors.

— Wait! — Max leaped from the bed, ran and caught her by the waist. — Don't leave! Please...

Victoria's heart almost jumped from her chest.

— ...

She wanted to rip brunette off her, but changed her mind. Max clinged to her as if life depended on it.

— Max...

— I'm not letting go!

Victoria clenched her fists.

This insufferable lump of cuteness!

— Fine, — she sighed. — I won't leave.

Max looked her in the eyes.

So hopeful. So wishful. So caring...

Cute.

Victoria broke their eye contact.

What am I even thinking?!

— Let go of me, Max.

— You promise, you won't leave?

— I said, I won't!

Max flashed her toothy smile.

— Thank you!

Cute!

She reluctantly let Victoria go.

— I'll make us tea.

— Yeah. You do that.

— Cookies?

— You still have more?

Max grinned.

— Why do you think, you can find some everyday?

Victoria blushed and averted her gaze.

— I-I won't apologize! Don't leave them out in the open!

Max smirked.

— How else would you find them?

Victoria's heart skipped a beat.

— You-you left them on purpose?

— Hmmm... Who knows?

Max span on her heels and bent to pick her clothes up.

— ~~~~

Victoria's face turned a few shades of red.

MAX! she wanted to scream. WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!

But she... wanted to see. One part of her brain appreciated the view.

Max put on her pants and demonstratively fixed them around her butt.

Victoria gulped.

Max threw on her jersey and bent for the socks.

Victoria had a full view of her plump butt.

Max put the one by one.

She straightened up. Fixed her jersey and faced Victoria.

— So, — she smirked, — how do I look?

— Hot.

— Thank you.

It took a moment for Victoria to come back to earth.

What did she ask?

Max already went for teacups and pot.

Realization downed on Victoria.

HOW COULD I SAY THAT?! SO EMBARRASSING!

She wanted to fall down through the earth.

There is NO WAY Max didn't hear that!

— Victoria, — Max called to her, — you coming?

— Yes! Yes, I do!

— ...

Victoria took her spot on the sofa.

— That wasn't marriage proposal, you know.

She gave her blank stare.

— ?

— Yet.

Red tint flushed her cheeks again.

— Screw you, Caulfield!

Max smirked.

— Anytime.

Teapot started to whistle.

— If it's you.

— ~~~~

Victoria averted her eyes. Her eartips burned hot.