In the two days following his kiss with Max, Mike managed to convince himself that this time would be different.

His previous vow of never falling for anyone ever again had already been broken, but this time he decided he wouldn't rush in. This time he would be logical about things, and he wouldn't let himself fall head over heels in love within the first forty-eight hours.

Not to mention there was still a chance she would back out like last time. The elation he'd been feeling on Friday night had once again become tinged with doubt in the cold light of day. What if she panicked and said it was just because of the mushrooms? He had to protect his heart from disappointment and not get carried away.

It was a good plan. The only problem was, his brain couldn't seem to get on board with it. Because all he could think about was Max and her petal-soft lips and their watermelon chapstick taste.

She was consuming his every waking thought, and he couldn't even act on them because he was grounded for an entire week due to his illicit weekday jaunt to the Bay Area.

Not only that, but his father had been roleplaying as a drill sergeant since Saturday when he'd forced Mike out of the comfort of his bed at six in the morning and up onto a ladder to take down the Christmas lights. After that, it had been a relentless stream of chores, including but not limited to cleaning out the eavestroughs, skimming the pool, mowing the lawn, and power-washing the patio stones.

He'd just finished boxing up the Christmas decorations and putting them away in the garage when he finally staggered into his room, immediately collapsing face-first onto the bed. His arms felt like noodles. He was pretty sure if he closed his eyes right now he'd fall asleep within seconds even though it was barely nine o clock.

The phone started ringing and Mike didn't move, knowing someone else would pick it up.

"Mike, there's a girl on the phone for you!" Nancy called through the door of the bathroom that connected their rooms. "Don't tie up the line too long, Jonathan's calling me soon!"

He rolled over and reached for the phone on his nightstand, his heart beating fast. Could it be her?

"I got it!" he called out, waiting for the click of Nancy hanging up before saying, "Hello?"

"Hey you." His breath caught at the sound of Max's voice. He could tell by the noises in the background she was at Surfer Boy.

"Oh hey, what's up?" he replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Argyle's too stoned so I got stuck with delivery duty tonight. Wanna sneak out and ride around with me?"

"Yes," Mike answered immediately, cursing himself for sounding so eager.

If he got caught his parents were putting bars on his window but there was no way he was missing out on spending time with her alone.

"Rad. See you in ten. End of the block."

Mike leapt to his feet, suddenly filled with enough energy to run a marathon.

He made his way down the hall and peeked his head into the den where his parents were watching a movie, bidding them good night with a big, fake yawn. It was way earlier than he normally went to bed but neither of them seemed suspicious of it after the day he'd had.

Once he got back to his room he swapped out his sweaty clothes and grabbed the rarely used body spray his mom had bought him, spritzing it under his collar and hoping it wasn't too much.

He regarded himself in the mirror, swiping his fingers through his bangs until they sat the way he wanted them to. Jesus, his hands were already getting sweaty. The fact that she'd reached out to him had to be a good sign though.

Mike turned off the lights and walked over to the window, unlatching it and sliding the pane up slowly. He climbed through, landing awkwardly in the bush below with a muffled oof.

Brushing himself off, he crept across the front yard and turned down the sidewalk, immediately spotting the taillights of the van at the end of the street. His stomach turned itself inside out as he approached.

Max looked over when he appeared in the window, flashing him a smile that made his heart skip a beat. He wanted to kiss her right away, but figured they should probably talk before doing anything like that.

"Since when do you have your license?" he asked instead as he opened the door and climbed inside, settling back against the beaded seat cover.

She shifted gears and pulled out onto the street. "Since I turned sixteen over winter break."

Mike paled. Had he known it was her birthday? He doesn't think he did. "Oh shit, well, happy belated birthday…?"

Max chuckled dryly. "Don't worry about it, it never is."

Mike frowned. He wished she'd told him. If he had known maybe he could have gotten her something. A funny card at the very least.

Eager to change the subject, he directed his attention to the cardboard box wedged between their two seats. He knew it was full of cassette tapes, but he'd never really gotten a good look before. Many of them were in blank cases with handwritten labels; supposedly every employee of Surfer Boy had contributed at least one mixtape at some point.

"What is 'Argyle's Van Rocking Jamz?'" he asked, squinting at one of them.

Max glanced over as she reached a stop sign. "As in, if the van's rockin', don't come knockin'?"

"Ugh." Mike dropped the tape in disgust. "What's even on it?"

"Mostly funk metal and ska revival."

He chuckled before pausing to listen to the catchy music that was currently playing. "Who is this?" he asked, nodding at the tape deck.

"Red Hot Chili Peppers. They're from L.A. Ever heard of them?"

Mike shook his head.

"I guess they haven't reached the Midwest yet. They're gonna be huge, trust me." The corner of her lips quirked up. "So maybe your friends will hear about them in like… ten years or so?"

Scoffing, Mike held up his middle finger as he continued rifling through the box, inwardly relieved that things weren't awkward between them.

"Oh shit," Max grinned as the opening notes of "Feels Like the First Time" started playing.

She reached over and cranked up the volume, drumming her hands on the wheel as she sang along to the lyrics. Mike looked over, grinning at her enthusiasm.

"Come on Wheels, I know they listen to this in Indiana!" she exclaimed, smacking him lightly on the shoulder. "I guess it's just the woman in you that brings out the man in me…"

"I don't sing!" he shouted over the music.

"Don't pretend you don't love Foreigner!"

"Of course I love Foreigner!"

"Then don't leave me hanging!"

Mike rolled his eyes but gave in, throwing his head back and belting out the chorus along with her. Max beamed, rolling down the window and letting the cool night air blow through their hair as she sped down the quiet suburban street.

They criss-crossed around town as Max made the rest of her deliveries. She was a wild driver, even more so than Argyle, accelerating hard and then slamming the brakes, rolling through stop signs and practically drifting around corners.

Mike wondered how the hell she'd passed her test. He kept having to stop himself from grabbing the wheel or telling her to keep her eyes on the road, holding onto the handle above the door for dear life the whole time.

Eventually, they made their way back to Surfer Boy to pick up the next round of pizzas. Max parked around back, cutting the engine but leaving the music on.

She paused as she opened the car door.

"You pick the next one," she said, nodding at the tape box.

Mike's nerves spiked as he watched her disappear through the employee door. This felt like a test. She would definitely judge him for making the wrong choice. He had to impress her. And it had to fit the mood. Maybe something a little… romantic?

He ejected the current tape and placed it into the empty case labelled Max Mix #2 before turning his attention to the chaotic box.

The employee mixtapes were too much of a risk, so those were out. His fingers hovered over LZ4. Definitely cool enough, but not very romantic.

He kept picking through the tapes, pausing when he came across The Velvet Underground's self-titled album. He remembered hearing it play from Jonathan's room all the time when he was over there. That would definitely set the mood.

Knowing he was short on time, he popped it into the tape deck, pressing play just as Max reemerged from the restaurant empty-handed.

She leaned her elbows over the rolled-down window on the driver's side. "Slow night, so we have time before we have to go out again."

She tilted her head, listening to the music coming out of the speakers. Mike held his breath as he watched her eyebrows raise in recognition. Then she gave an approving nod. "That's old school. I dig it."

Mike tried not to preen at her approval.

"Now open the glove box for me."

He opened it, seeing a plastic sandwich bag that contained two joints and a plastic lighter.

"Grab one of those and get back here," she said as she slid open the back door and climbed in.

They sprawled across the backseat, leaning up against opposite windows so they faced each other, legs casually intertwined. The only light streamed in from the flickering bulb above the employee door, bathing them in a soft orange glow.

As the van became filled with smoke and the smooth vocals of Lou Reed, Mike began feeling less nervous and more emboldened.

His gaze roamed over Max, lingering on the way her lips closed around the filter of the joint as she inhaled. The next time she sat up to pass it to him Mike grabbed her wrist instead, hauling her on top of him.

"What do you think you're doing?" she laughed, catching herself with a hand on his shoulder.

"Something I've been wanting to do all night." Cupping her cheek, he leaned up and captured the lips he'd been thinking about for days.

Max immediately responded, smiling into the kiss as she settled over his lap.

"Wait." She pulled back, taking a final, long drag from the joint she was still holding before extinguishing it in the ashtray in the door.

Then she leaned in close, parting her lips and blowing the smoke into his mouth before covering it with her own.

Mike's blood fizzled through his veins as their tongues met, teasing yet forceful all at once. He rotated so he could lay flat against the back seat, taking Max with him. Without breaking their kiss, she stretched out on top of him, sucking softly at his bottom lip.

His fingers clutched at her waist as he returned the favour, biting lightly before plunging his tongue back into her mouth, putting all his weeks of pent-up desire into it. She was just–

"Such a good kisser..." Mike's eyes flew open. Jesus fucking Christ, did he just say that out loud?!

"Well thanks," Max said with a raspy laugh that was way too attractive. "You're not completely terrible either…"

Mike smiled in relief. "No?"

She shook her head as she leaned back in. He wrapped his arms around her back, instinctively pulling her closer. His eyes widened as her stomach pressed against the erection he hadn't realized he'd developed, sending a hot jolt of pleasure up his spine.

Mortified, Mike jerked his hips away. "Shit, sorry!"

But Max just smiled and asked, "For what?"

Then she shifted over so that his thigh was between her legs and her hip was against his boner, grinding down in a slow rhythm that stimulated them both.

He groaned at the firm pressure of her body on his, bending his knee slightly to give her more. Letting his instincts take over, he planted his hands on her hips and helped urge her along.

They kissed messily, panting into each other's mouths and shotgunning oxygen like marijuana smoke. He was probably going to come in his pants if they kept this up.

His fingers drifted under the hem of her shirt, spreading eagerly over soft, heated skin. Max sat up abruptly and for a second he thought he'd crossed a line, but she just grabbed the bottom of her t-shirt and tugged it off, tossing it somewhere behind her.

Mike blinked up at her. Okay. He hadn't been expecting to progress this far for a while—a few weeks at the very least. Not that he was complaining.

His mouth went dry as he took her in—the dense freckles dotting her arms, the pale skin of her chest, rising and falling rapidly with every quick inhale, her breasts contained in a light blue bra, hard nipples visible through the thin material.

"Max…"

"Your turn," she grinned, pushing up his sweater.

Mike scrambled to whip the offending garment off, pulling her down onto him as soon as it was gone.

The feel of her bare skin against his immediately had him burning up. He kissed her hard, hands running up and down her back as their tongues slid together.

Breaking away, he trailed his lips over her neck until he found the spot where her pulse was pounding and latched on, sucking gently.

Max gasped above him, grinding down harder onto his thigh when he used his teeth. Mike pulled back, watching the blood pool beneath her pale skin. He hoped people saw it and knew she was taken. By him.

Their lips met again, desperate hands roaming everywhere, uninhibited. His brain felt as fogged over as the windows of the van.

And then her fingers started tugging his belt buckle apart and Mike realized he may have to throw all of his preconceived timelines straight out the window.

It made sense they were moving faster than he and El had. They were older and Max was just so much… more. Not just more experienced. More passionate, more greedy. She kissed him like she was starving, touched him like she couldn't get close enough.

When he and El had first started rounding the bases it had been cautious. Hesitant. Full of nervous laughter and whispered questions as they figured everything out together.

This was decidedly not that.

He was completely overwhelmed by Max. Any thoughts of El and their previous experiences evaporated from his brain with every needy roll of her hips against his.

Mike wasn't sure how much more of this he could take. He could feel himself leaking against the cotton of his underwear.

Max broke their kiss, moving her body away as she started mouthing down his torso, her hands working open the fly of his jeans before he even knew what was happening.

Bemused, Mike propped himself up on his elbows. Where was she–?

Then she sank to her knees on the carpeted floor and his mind was wiped clean.

Max flashed him a smile as she tightened her ponytail before tugging his pants and boxers down just enough to expose his erection. She wrapped her hand around the base. He could feel himself throbbing in her palm as she squeezed lightly, holding it upright.

Mike stared down at her in disbelief. There was no way she was about to do what he thought she was about to do. He had to be dreaming.

His fingers curled into the crochet blanket covering the seat. "Um, you don't have to–"

"Relax," she murmured, as she lowered her head, "I want to." Then she paused. "Do you want me to?"

"Yes." Mike nodded emphatically, sitting up all the way. This was moving fast, But he really didn't want to slow down. And he definitely didn't want to stop.

With a small smile, Max leaned in, dragging her tongue over the underside of his length.

"Oh, fuck," he exhaled raggedly, one hand grabbing at the roots of his hair. It was already one of the best things he'd ever felt and she'd barely even started.

She paused and peered up at him, cocking her head. "Has no one ever…?"

Mike shook his head. El had always been uninterested in oral sex. He hadn't minded then, but now he thought he might die if he didn't get to feel Max put her mouth on him again.

"Oh," Max said, blinking away her surprise. "Well, don't worry." She dipped back down, her breath ghosting over him and making him twitch. "I'll be gentle."

Her tongue gave him another long, teasing lick before she knelt up and enveloped him in the soft, wet heat of her mouth. He expected her to pull back but she kept going, taking him all the way to the back of her throat.

Shit. Holy shit. Mike's head was swirling, all sense completely gone.

His free hand reached for her but he stopped himself, hovering just above her head. Was that disrespectful?

Max gave him his answer by tilting her head up into his palm, humming around him when he slid his fingers through her hair.

Mike moaned as she moved up and down his length. His abdominal muscles tensed, pressure and pleasure building hotly in his stomach.

He'd never felt this wanted before. She was completely shameless in how much she desired him—no embarrassment over the sound of her mouth on him or the saliva dripping everywhere. It was doing wild things to him.

She hollowed her cheeks, sucking hard as she started moving her hand along with her mouth. He was panting for air, like he couldn't get enough oxygen to his brain.

He felt his world expand and shrink at the same time and he knew he was about to finish.

"Max…" He flexed his fingers in her hair in warning but it just made her speed up. "Max– I'm–"

Dropping his head back, he released a heavy breath as he came, euphoria washing over him in one sharp, bright wave that made his teeth grind together.

He wrenched his eyes open when he felt her pull off, just in time to see her swallow and wipe off her mouth with the back of her hand.

She looked up at him with a smile, lips swollen and shiny. "So, what did you think?"

Mike blinked down at her incredulously. Had it not been obvious she'd just rocked his entire freaking world?

"I think those people aren't getting their pizza in thirty minutes or less," he breathed before tackling her to the floor of the van.

Max's yelp turned into laughter as he landed on top of her, pivoting them in the cramped space so they weren't wedged against the front seats. He quickly silenced her with his lips, the taste of himself lingering faintly on her tongue.

His hands flew to the back of her bra, feeling around desperately for a clasp before he realized it was more of a sporty thing that she'd have to pull over her head.

Too impatient for that, Mike lifted himself up, yanking the front of it down just enough to expose her breasts.

His mouth watered at the sight of her hardened pink nipples, and he wasted no time in licking across one and then the other, feeling them tighten even more beneath his tongue.

He pulled back and pursed his lips, blowing over them lightly. Max gasped, her fingers weaving through the hair at the back of his head and pushing his mouth back down onto herself.

When she was practically writhing against him, Mike sat up, letting the fabric of her bra snap back up. He knelt between her legs, helping her out of her jeans. Thankfully they were baggy enough that he could just tug them off without wasting time removing her shoes.

It was all a little frantic and uncoordinated, but hot. Everything about her and this whole experience was hot. Her mouth was hot, her voice was hot, the way her muscles tensed beneath his hands as he skimmed them up the sides of her thighs was hot.

Bracing himself over her again, Mike stroked his thumb over Max's tattooed hip like he'd wanted to do all those weeks ago when he first saw it.

"That was amazing," he murmured between messy, open-mouthed kisses. "You're incredible."

"Yeah?" She grabbed his hand, moving it between her legs. "Show me, then."

Mike groaned when he felt how damp her underwear was. He felt high. Which like, he was, but it was more than just the weed. It was her.

He dragged his fingers up to the waistband and slipped them underneath, feeling around until he found a spot that made her let out a soft, surprised gasp.

As he touched her he studied her face, trying to gauge what she liked, revelling in the way her brows scrunched together and her mouth fell open. It was his first time seeing her a little out of control, and he liked it.

She was so wet it was hard to keep his fingertips on her clit. It was nowhere near his first time doing this, but all of it felt completely new. The desperation. The urgency.

His thumb took the place of his fingers as they drifted lower, gliding through her wetness on the way.

Her head tipped back as he carefully pressed one into her. "More." He added another, sliding it in deep.

"Fuck," she moaned, her back arching wildly.

He'd heard Max swear hundreds of times; she had a potty mouth that rivalled Dustin's. But hearing it like that had to be the world's biggest ego boost. It made him feel feral.

He sped up the pace of her fingers, curving them in.

"Fuck, your fingers are so– fucking long," she panted. "I knew you'd be good at this."

Mike bit back the moan that threatened to escape him at the implication that she'd thought about this, maybe even brought herself off thinking about it, pretending her fingers were his. Just the idea of it had him already half-hard again.

He slowed his thumb across her clit and she let out a high-pitched whine. He thrust his fingers in faster, a little deeper, just to see. This time her moan was louder, but suppressed, her face tucked into the crook of his neck.

"You like that spot?" Mike asked, curling his fingers upwards to try to find it again.

"Yes, oh my god, please go harder," Max pleaded, her short nails digging into his shoulder blades.

Mike held himself up on his free hand to get more leverage. He was used to going almost painfully slow and gentle. El had always been worried about accidentally losing control of her powers and hurting him, even though he was certain she never would.

With Max, there was no such fear.

He could tell she was close from the way she tensed up. His whole hand was wet, the sound of his fingers thrusting into her obscenely loud, even over the music still playing.

Her voice became hoarse as she tightened around him and cried out. She squeezed his hand between her thighs as she shuddered with pleasure, throwing her head back against the carpet. Mike felt like he was having a stroke.

Somehow he managed to find the presence of mind to flip them over so he wasn't crushing her. They collapsed into a limp pile of arms and legs, Max's head resting on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her.

They breathed heavily together for a moment, their racing hearts settling down. Mike stared up at the ceiling of the van, his mind completely clouded over. He had the distant realization that he was going to catastrophically fail at the whole "not falling head over heels" thing.

"Wow," Max murmured after a minute.

He laughed breathlessly, stroking his fingers through her hair where it flowed down her back. "I know."

"No– I mean, yeah that too, but I meant wow, this floor is really disgusting."