Bea POV
Mae and I headed downstairs, while praying that the Old Fox doesn't lock us in here, to the basement. In front of us a large furnace installed by my family, a couple of drawers and a metal storage closet. Behind us, under the stairs was a couple of packed boxes, including a conveniently placed baseball bat.
Mae: O-Oh man, I love creepy basements.
I turned to Mae with a confused look on my face, asking myself if she really did just stutter. I knew her from the past and now. She rarely stuttered, as she was always sure of herself. Mae seemed really nervous for some reason, and I felt worried about her too.
Brushing it off as a friend thing, I turn back to the furnace, trying to hide my worried look, and just played along.
Bea: Aaand why wouldn't you. Look at all this... splendor.
Mae: looks around Geez she's got a lot of junk. chuckles a little Maybe she's got a few more husbands stacked in the corner.
I smile and snicker a little. Now that's my Mae. But why did feel different, but in a good way? And why did I think of her as my Mae.
Bea: Is it possible that...? N-No... it couldn't be... could it?
I try to shake the idea out of my head, feeling a small blush appear on my cheeks.
Bea: A-Alright, let's get this done so we can home.
The both of us walked towards the furnace, where Mae just looks at with a cute, curious look.
Bea: No! Bad Bea! Stop!
Mae: That's the furnace?
Bea: That's the furnace.
Mae: I've decided his name is Clanky.
Bea: snickers Okay, you just hang out. I'm going to fix this right quick. Don't, like... break anything.
Mae: What am I gonna break? This is a basement full of crap!
Sighing, I walk forward with my cigarette lit in my mouth, looking over the furnace. Quickly I spot the problem.
Bea: Oh geez... okay. Shouldn't be long.
Mae: Can I help?
The moment she said that, my heart just stopped. As lovable Dammit brain! as she is, I remembered every moment she tried to build or fix things, which usually ends in disaster.
Bea: Nope!
Mae: Why am I here then?
Bea: smirks Because you wanted to come along. Just chill.
When she stopped speaking, I assumed she decided to stop talking and went to work, while subconsciously thinking about how much Mae really means to me.
Mae POV
Dammit! I was hoping she would say yes!
After what seemed like hours of debating with myself whether or not I truly fell for the goth girl, I accepted that as fact. The easy part was accepting how I felt about Bea. Now comes the hard part: impressing her.
I was hoping she'd let me help so I could impress her with my repairman skills (which were completely nonexistent), so I tried to devise a different plan.
Mae: Aha! I'll try and fix it myself! Bea will have no choice but to be impressed! But I'll need some gear...
Knowing that Bea probably won't let me use her tools that she is using, I decided to get a bit crafty. Upon closer examination, I came up with my own solution.
Mae: I bet I can make something out of all this... junk. Geez. Who even would have this much junk?
Exploring the room, I gathered a green fan, an orange fishing pole, a blue gnome, and a tennis racket. Once that was done, I headed back to the furnace and improvised a foolproof plan.
One epic building montage later...
I looked at my own invention with a proud look on my face.
Mae: Hey alright! I should, like, start a company: Sustainable Garbage Turbine!!!
Bea: OK, done!
Mae: What?!
I see the beautiful crocodile walk out from behind the furnace.
Bea: I think I fixed it. Now let's see what we've got here...
She turns to look at me and I smiled widely.
Mae: Yeah we did!
Bea: *We?* What did you do?!
Mae: shows off creation I engineered an elegant long-term solution.
I felt proud that she looked at what I created... that is until it fell apart.
Mae: ...goddammit.
Bea: Way to go Mae. Please don't ever fix anything ever again. Like, don't even have a pet. Anything you have to maintain.
Mae: Aw friggin crap!!! It was totally gonna work!!! This is so typical!!!
Wanting to end the conversation and sulk, I just kicked my failed invention and sat down, my head in my hands.
Bea POV
I watched as Mae angrily kicked the invention she created and failed at keep together, and sit down with her head in her hands.
Honestly, I felt really bad for her. I mean, sure, the invention looked no better than a broken toaster oven, but she did genuinely try help in a way that didn't involve destroying everything.
I wanted to tell her that, but I was kinda... okay, a lot worried that she would take it the wrong way and keep sulking in sadness.
Bea: I'm going to check the exit...
The both of us head towards the stairs, while my mind keeps worrying about Mae.
Bea: She really did try her hardest to fix something... Maybe I should cut her some slack...
I headed up the stairs while Mae stayed behind. When I went to open the door, I realized that the old lady locked the door... AGAIN!
Bea: Dammit...
Walking back down, I look at Mae with the most angry look I had.
Bea: Well, we're locked in. AAAAAGH! I knew this was gonna happen! Stupid, stupid Bea!
I sit on the stairs, staring at the ground in defeat and sigh. I didn't even notice Mae sat next to me until she put an arm over my shoulder, startling me. I turn to look at her, seeing a comforting smile and eyes filled with love and concern.
Mae: It isn't your fault Bea. Sure, you knew this would happen, but there was nothing you could do about it. The fox locked us in here, so she's the one at fault.
I look at her with wide eyes, using every atom in my body to not cry and hug her. We, then, realize that she still had her arm on me and moved away from each other, blushing like crazy while looking away.
Mae: S-Sorry...
Taking a deep breath, I turn to look at her, giving a genuine smile, which catches her by surprise.
Bea: It's fine. Thanks for coming over... and I'm proud that you tried to fix a problem rather than break it down for once.
Mae face turns as red as a tomato as she gives me a shy smile. It felt like an eternity before we decided to focus on the task at hand.
Mae: Maybe... you could try an yell for her.
I give off a humored smile, feeling like the world was off my shoulders.
Bea: It's not gonna work... MRS MIRANDAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! It didn't work.
Mae gave off a small giggle, making me feel victorious. I look back to the door and the knob carefully.
Bea: Well, this knob is really old and loose. Maybe I can like... Figure this out...
Mae: I'll look around too!
As she said that, her eyes went wide with excitement, giving me the impression that she kinda enjoys this call to adventure. It's kinda cute. Brain why?! I blush slightly and chuckles.
Bea: Y-Yeah. You go look around a whole bunch.
With that said, I went up to the door, trying to find away to get out while thinking about Mae.
Bea: I... I think I'm in love with Mae.
Mae POV
As Bea went up the stairs to try and figure out what to do with the lock, I decided to look around to see if there was anything that could help. I walk up to the furnace and look at it first.
Mae: Hm. The one thing she *could* hear is this furnace... when it was... broken...
I look at the furnace, then a baseball bat near the stairs. I sigh sadly, realizing what I need to do.
Mae: Broken things need to be... broken... I hope Bea doesn't end up hating me...
I walk towards the baseball bat and look towards it. Then I look around for any other tools that I can use to not do this, only to sigh when I found nothing.
Mae: Well it's the one tool I do know how to use...
Picking up the bat, I decided that if we want to get out, I had to do it. I glare at the furnace, raising the bat for its purpose.
Mae: A
Mae: Tool
Mae: For
Mae: Beating
Mae: Ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I charge towards the furnace, and, once I was close enough, started to swing the bat in my hands. Once it hit the furnace, a puff of fire escaped and felt the adrenaline pumping in my veins. I, then, continued my assault, causing more loud noises and explosions, until it started to act up by itself.
I laughed like an insane asylum patient as I had released my inner rage on the poor mechanical device.
Mae: Suck it you piece of crap furnace!
I turn to see Bea, looking at me, staring at me in shock. I dropped the bat and tried to find anymore emotions in her eyes, only to find none.
Bea: Wow... that is pretty loud...
I hung my head in sorrow, scratching the back of my head.
Mae: Yeah... geez...
Bea: Surprised I can't hear that back in town.
She looks back to the door and a small smile grew on her lips.
Bea: Ok cool she's coming. Thank god. Hey Mrs. Miranda! You locked us in!
I just stood there quietly, waiting to leave the basement.