(AN: So yeah, I'm back I guess (if you didn't read my other story babble). Sorry it took so long. School. That's all I'll say to justify my inactivity. Original Draft finished 7/04/2015. Happy belated Fourth of July.)
The day had been going slow. No one that Max and/or Clyde knew had come in for some snacks or a visit, and everyone else seemed to not want sweets. Clyde napped on one of the tables, while Max tried to guess Clyde's phone password. He had left a certain song on repeat, and challenged Max to stop it. Nineteen attempts later, she was nowhere. She gave up, accepting the circumstance she was in now, and tried to enjoy the song.
It was nice enough. It sung about girls, but in a respectful way. Knowing the multitude of Clyde's music from two weeks on the job, she was surprised by this new song. Soft drum beats, sweet piano chords, smooth vocals, and even a trumpet made it a good enough song to pass the time with.
Max shimmied around behind the counter to the music, whistling along. To pass the time, Max brought out the cookie tray and arranged what was left. A certain customer kept buying the whole first batch at the beginning of the day, so they were lucky that there still was some cookies. Shimming to the front of the counter, she moved some cookies around. She made a smiley face first, but felt it was boring. Trying to think of something, she started to move them around aimlessly. Scratching her head, she couldn't tell what exactly she was trying to make.
Giving up on the cookies, she turned around to wake up Clyde. However, as she turned around, she collided with a taller figure. A taller, bustier figure. Before she could freak out, Max felt herself get picked up in a bear hug and swung around. Max knew this feeling before, but the grip was tighter, and there was more energy in the movement. When she was put down, Max looked up to see her cuddler. She was met with a very sexy, and very tall brunette. A smirk graced her face.
"What is with this town and smirking?" Max thought before getting pulled into another hug. Max collided with her chest again, refocusing her mind to other things. The girl swayed about as she held Max, singing along with her own words.
"Oh, I think that I found myself a small cutie/She's got some freckles, blue eyes, and a sweet booty." She sang along. Max blushed. Was her booty really sweet? And who was this girl cuddling her?
"Dana! This is the fifth time today! Consent! Have you ever heard of it? It's very popular with most people." A voice scolded the girl cuddling Max. The girl moved to face the voice, bringing Max along. There stood a serious looking blonde. She was about the same height as the girl hugging Max, but her figure was more voluptuous. She had some serious curves, giving her a mature, older look. She saw the blonde grab the cuddler's arm and pull her away from Max. That allowed Max to see the rest of the girl who held her.
She was greeted by the graceful and athletic figure accompanying the brunette. Max saw what the other girl,"Dana", was capable of as she dodged a swat of the blonde's hand aimed at her head, and even grabbed the other arm with a quick motion. As she gripped down, Max saw how toned Dana's muscles flexed as she tightened her grip. Max felt more inadequate than before, but even more intrigued. She didn't know which one she liked more. Max didn't even move as Dana went and grabbed her again.
"But Jules! She just so cute! See?" Dana said, picking up Max and holding her up like a little puppy. Max felt herself blush harder. She's been blushing a lot since she's arrived in Arcadia Bay, hasn't she? Even so, Max saw the blonde back up a bit, possibly repulsed by Max's face. However, Max did see a little blush on the blonde's face, as if acknowledging Dana's opinion of her.
"Okay, so she's actually cute. Just remember to ask before you grab?" She said, rolling her eyes.
"I will." Dana said. Just then, a crashing sound drew all their attention. As Dana turned around, with Max in tow, Clyde appeared to have woken up from his nap. Watching him get up, Max saw Clyde give a smile.
"Oh, I think that I found myself a cheerleader." Clyde said, walking towards them.
"Juliet, you're serious as ever. Dana, beautiful as usual. Can you let go of my coworker? I need her for work." Clyde asked, but Dana refused. Bringing Max closer, Dana held her tighter.
"But she's so cute. I can't let you have her. Who knows what you'd do to this wittle baby?" Dana said, carrying Max. Juliet just facepalmed.
"Well, she has been here for well over a week, so I guess you're a wittle wate." Clyde said. Dana backed up a bit.
"You didn't, did you? Please tell me you didn't." Dana said. Max rolled her eyes.
"Uh, whatever you think he did, I can assure that nothing happened between us." Max answered her. Max heard Dana sighed in relief.
"If you say so, cutie. Oh, yeah. I'm Dana by the way." Dana said as she sat herself down in one of the booths. Dana brought her head next to Max and rested it on a shoulder.
"Max, pleasure to meet you." Max said, not turning around to face Dana as her head kept Max from turning. That and the heat from Dana convinced Max not to move around as much. Dana hummed in response, nuzzling closer to Max. Max instead looked to Clyde.
"She seems to like Max. Totally was not expecting that." Clyde said, walking closer to Juliet, who was coming back from her facepalm.
"What do you mean?" Juliet asked, looking at Clyde.
"Nothing. Just rambling here." Clyde answered. "So, what brings you here? I don't think it was a case of the munchies?"
"Well, Dana just finished practice and took a bit of my coffee." Juliet started, but Clyde raised a hand.
"You could've said 'my coffee', and that would've done it." He said. Juliet nodded. Max wondered what was in the coffee to make Dana act like this. Just then, Max felt her body get lowered into the seat of the booth. Laying down on the seat, Max tried to turn herself around, but stopped when she met Dana's chest. Before she could do anything, Dana brought Max in closer to her, burying Max's face in. Clyde let out a quick chuckle.
"Yeah, Max. Get 'er goin'." Clyde said. Juliet smacked him.
"Don't encourage such acts. Poor Max didn't allow Dana to do that." Juliet said, chastising Clyde.
"Hey, if I was in Max's place, I wouldn't be complaining." Clyde confessed. Max stopped listening to them. She wanted to move her arms, but Dana's grip held them down.
"Well, if you can't beat them..." Max thought to herself. Resting her head down, Max closed her eyes and went to take a nap.
"Look at that. It's a thing of beauty, ain't it? Why don't you write an article about modern love, Juliet? I'll provide the photo for the story." Clyde suggested, looking over Dana and Max. He was met with a slap to the face.
"I think that qualifies as libel. I'm not here to ruin people's lives." Juliet said, as Clyde rubbed his cheek.
"It's not exactly a defamation of their reputations. They seem to be enjoying each other right now." Clyde said. Juliet just glared at him.
"Using them as an image for something they don't even know they'd be participating in doesn't seem unethical to you?" Juliet asked Clyde. He just shrugged.
"You have to admit, though. It would make a nice photo for something." Clyde said, walking over to his phone, leaving Juliet to watch over the brunettes. Clyde came back and shot a few photos at different angles. Looking at Juliet, she had her arms crossed and death glared at the ground. He could tell something eating at her.
"You didn't tell her, did you?" Clyde said. Juliet shook her head, not looking up. Wiping her eyes, Clyde shook his head.
"You promised Terry you'd tell her before she left." Clyde said. Juliet just nodded. Clyde sighed.
"Look, I was just joking. I know you love Dana a lot, but sooner or later, you'll have to tell her." Clyde said, motioning her to follow him. Juliet followed Clyde as he locked the front door and led her to the kitchen. He pulled up a chair and offered it to Juliet. She sat down.
"I know you feel a little pressured since both Terry and I told you to just do it. Now that Terry's gone, you probably feel like shit. Don't let that keep you down. You're only human. When you feel ready, go get her." Clyde said as he settled on an opposite countertop. Juliet sighed.
"I know. It's just been very hectic lately. Her practices and my club meetings make it difficult for some impromptu date where I can tell her. My responsibilities to the club hasn't help either. Now, that new girl..." Juliet said, curling her fingers into fists, looking ready to rip something up.
"Look, you know Dana is always that way with stuff she finds cute. This is no different." Clyde said. Juliet just shook her head.
"I know..." Juliet started.
"But..." Clyde continued.
"That stupid girl just accepted it and joined in with what Dana did so easily, like it was fucking second nature." Juliet said, making fists in her lap.
"Max is just easy going. She knows when to just go with the flow." Clyde said, defending Max. Juliet was shaking her head, trying not to cry.
"I just feel I might be too late when I saw Dana... " Juliet managed to choke out, before outright sobbing. Clyde got up and patted Juliet's back.
"There, there. Just let it out. Stay strong. You haven't lost her." Clyde reassured Juliet, continuing to comfort her.
"Thanks for letting me nap, Clyde. I really needed." Dana said, still holding Max.
"Don't mention it. You might want to hurry out. Juliet might get pissed." Clyde said, walking back the kitchen.
"I know. Hey, Max. Thanks for being okay with being used as a pillow." Dana said, turning Max around.
"No problem, Dana, but give me a warning or something next time?" Max asked. Dana nodded.
"Dana! Come on!" Juliet called from outside.
"I'm coming!" Dana called back.
"Goodbye, Max. See you later." Dana said. Just as Max was about to say goodbye as well, Dana leaned in and gave Max a peck on her nose. Dana smirked and walked away. Max put her hands in her pockets as she watched Dana walk out. Feeling something in a pocket, she grabbed it and brought her hand out. It was a folded piece of paper.
"Did she really?" Max thought as she unfolded the paper.
"Practice at 9:30 this saturday. If you're interested, you can watch. Don't worry, I'm sure the other girls will love you. Clyde will know where to drop you off." The scrawl on the sheet read. At the bottom was Dana's signature and her phone number.
"She really did." Max thought to herself. She went to grab her phone to test the number. From the threshold leading to the kitchen, Clyde had watched the whole thing.
"She really did." Clyde thought to himself. "Juliet might kill me, or Max, or both of us."
"Dana? It's Max? Can I really come see you?" Dana's phone read. Dana smiled to herself as she walked along with Juliet. Her fingers were like the Flash.
"Of course, grl. Be careful, tho. The girls might not be able to keep their hands off u." She texted back.
"Kay. I'll be there." Max replied. Dana smiled bigger.
"Who you texting, Dana?" Juliet asked, taking Dana's attention away from the phone.
"Just a friend, Jules. You coming to my practice this Saturday, right?" Dana asked, puppy eyes aimed at Juliet.
"I can't. Sorry, Dana. Club stuff, you know?" Juliet said, regretting the schedule she has to follow.
"It's alright, Jules. I understand." Dana said. Juliet could tell Dana wanted her to attend this practice, along with the 6 others she missed.
"I really hope she didn't get that girl to go." Juliet thought to herself, as they walked along.
Just wanted to let you all know I'm still here and I have a lot of other stories that I've written. I just need to edit them. My usual editor, like myself, has been busy, so I'll need to edit my drafts myself from now on. Just need to find the time with my schedule and responsibilities. I just hope you can be patient with me. I didn't want to keep you all waiting, but it's been hard lately. See you all soon.
PS: Could you guess the song in this chapter?