After five minutes of consistent banging on the restroom door coupled with thinly (and uncreative) veiled threats—half of her paintings were not the recommended flushing-down-the-toilet size and selling used paint and paintbrushes on eBay weren't things that lured in potential buyers ninety-nine percent of the time, speaking from experience—Max finally opens the door and barely dodges Maya's outstretched hands.

"Careful, if you manage to knock me out then you'll never know." She manages to skirt around her sister in the hallway and runs into the living room, Maya hot on her heels. Jeb is sitting comfortably in his armchair completely absorbed in reading the newspaper and barely pays them any mind, even when Max and Maya circle around him and the coffee table, like sharks in the water.

"Dad can't save you forever," Maya says to Jeb's newspaper, hands on her hips. Max thinks that the glare her twin is channeling might be enough to move Jeb away with the sheer force of will.

"He's doing a pretty good job right now," Max retorts while Jeb idly flips a page and continues reading. "And besides, it doesn't need to be forever. I'm just seeing how long we can keep this up even when I'm ninety percent sure you know what Nick gave me."

"I just—I just need to hear you say it," Maya replies, feigning a dash to Jeb's right. Max stands her ground, knowing Maya wanted her to run the opposite way.

"You'll be waiting a long time, then." Max peers down past Jeb's shoulder to the newspaper. Railroad construction set to happen early November, New bakery and pizzeria coming to Central Plaza. "Woah, we're getting a pizzeria? Now Maya and I don't have to drive twenty minutes to get pizza on the other side of town."

That catches Maya's attention as well, and Max watches in amusement as her sister leans in towards Jeb and looks over the newspaper. "No way! It's about time they did something like that," Maya says. "Now we don't have to depend on frozen pizza."

"They're planning on opening in December," Jeb adds helpfully, thumbing through the rest of the pages. "Maybe you two can start working there. Or, Max can work there with whoever is the 'Abstract Art Nick' I've been hearing around the house lately."

Max nearly trips over her own feet at the suggestion and her sister explodes in laughter, shoulders shaking as she takes a seat on the coffee table, narrowly missing old stacks of sheet music. Gods, this was totally not what she had in mind for a Wednesday night. She should've stayed in the bathroom to take a second shower or something. Max feels her face begin to burn because it was like everyone and their fathers knew about her whole stupid crush.

"Oh my god—I can see it now," Maya manages gasps between breaths. "That pizza place will be famous in town for artistic pizzas that have an even amount of toppings because that's what happens when you hire artists with slight OCD to make food."

Max glowers at her twin and Maya just revels in it, basking underneath what JJ has deemed the InstaKill stare two summers ago. "I kid, I kid, Maxiepoo. Or maybe not really. Because you've gotta admit that there is some truth to that statement."


Maxiepoo: boo

NickFromArt: Calm down, Halloween is next month.

Maxiepoo: i know, but it's never too early to start scaring people

Maxiepoo: also saying hey this is max isn't a great opener

Maxiepoo: so i settled for the next best thing

NickFromArt: lol

NickFromArt: Ten points for creativity then I guess.

Maxiepoo: tyty. i try

Maxiepoo: this might come off a little forward or whatever but

Maxiepoo: do you want to sit with my friends for lunch tomorrow

Maxiepoo: oh dear that sounded so cliquey and mean girls esque

Maxiepoo: unless you want to keep sitting with brigid & co thats cool too

NickFromArt: Oh sure.

NickFromArt: Haha, Brigid can be overwhelming sometimes.

NIckFromArt: Sometimes it's hard to get a word in when she's talking.

Maxiepoo: sounds like brigid

Maxiepoo: anyway my regular table should be back right corner

Maxiepoo: next to the plywood covered window that they still havent fixed yet from last year

NickFromArt: Okay.

NickFromArt: Just curious but what happened to it?

Maxiepoo: some underclassmen threw a baseball bat or something at it

Maxiepoo: don't ask why idk either

Maxiepoo: rumor has it someone said "bet" and they wanted to prove them wrong

Maxiepoo: #justwestfieldthings


Maxiepoo: hey gang

Maxiepoo: i asked nick to sit with us tomorrow for lunch

Maxiepoo: so whoever gets there early please save an extra seat

TheBestSeestar: Imma tell him 'you cant sit with us'

TheBestSeestar: Bwahahaha

TheBestSeestar: :3

DRAMAQUEEN: OOOOH NICE NICE !

DRAMAQUEEN: Either me or Iggster should be there first ! :D

Maxiepoo: anyway guys BEHAVE

TheBestSeestar: dw we're experts at behaving :)

Maxiepoo: aka dont embarass me too much

RedHeadedWonder: So no storytime?

Maxiepoo: NO

Iggster: Sad, Nick will never know about the time Max tried to paint over Brigid's nails with regular paint in middle school because she thought the shade Brigid was wearing was "ugly"

Maxiepoo: OMG

TheBestSeestar: HAHAHA

DRAMAQUEEN: LOLOLOLOL

Maxiepoo: IGGY

Maxiepoo: okay but it was ugly

Maxiepoo: sigh

Maxiepoo: u know guys

Maxiepoo: just do whatever

Maxiepoo: if we weird him out we know he's not the one

DRAMAQUEEN, Iggster, TheBestSeestar, RedHeadedWonder reacted WOW to your message

TheBestSeestar: Dw maxie

TheBestSeestar: Something tells me he can hang

Iggster: bet


Maxiepoo: hey nick left me on read

Maxiepoo: what do i do

TheBestSeestar: Dude im literally in the bathroom you can talk to me

Maxiepoo: yeah right and dad's gonna make more dad jokes

TheBestSeestar: Point taken

TheBestSeestar: But whatever you do

TheBestSeestar: NEVER double text

Maxiepoo: you know i never got that

Maxiepoo: like if you're having a convo and someone HAS to reply

Maxiepoo: a convo is a two way street

Maxiepoo: just like a relationship

TheBestSeestar: Well if staying awake in bio has taught me ANYTHING

TheBestSeestar: The egg doesn't chase the sperm honey

TheBestSeestar: Never chase a man


Thursdays have never been Max's favorite days.

The logic went something like this: She loved Saturdays and Sundays as much as the next student, Fridays meant an evening spent kicking back at the Hub and signaled that the weekend was almost here, Wednesdays were designated art days, Tuesdays were Taco Tuesdays, and then it was a tie between Monday and Thursday.

But in all honesty, Max viewed Thursday as the weird awkward middle day that was right between Fridays and the blissful escape of the weekends. Max was also aware that most people would find that weird and disagreeable.

For example, she could still remember the argument she'd had with Maya a couple of months ago when her twin had spotted "I hate Mondays" shirts on a clearance rack at the mall and insisted that they should buy them to match.

"These shirts speak to me on a spiritual level," Maya had said reverently. "And there's two, so we can totally twin harder than we usually do on Mondays."

"I'd wear it," Max countered, "if you'll buy them." She'd peeked at the bright red markdown sticker with $10 on it and decided that she'd rather keep her weekly Starbucks trips.

Maya made a face. "Um, excuse you. I see what you're trying to do and I don't approve. Twinning is a group effort, Max. I can't possibly shoulder the burden alone."

This was when Max had the unfortunate timing of mentioning that Monday's weren't as bad as Maya was making them seem, which set off a tirade that could've been totally avoided.

It went something like this:

First off, Maya looked at Max if she'd sprouted wings and tried to fly away. Max was used to this look and brushed it off, like any other moment.

Then:

"How could you like Mondays? That's when we gotta go back to school and face people and work and ugh, Max! I wish Sundays could last forever, and seriously, homework is due on Mondays and my emotional energy is drained when Mondays come around. Mondays are a hazard to my mental health, Max!"

(And people thought Nudge was the only one capable of talking someone's ear off; clearly, they had never pissed her twin off before.

This was where Max had tuned out, honestly. But nevertheless, she'd taken two shirts off the rack and walked inside the store, making a beeline to the register.

In the end, Max had ended up paying for the shirts to shut her twin up while the cashier just looked bemused the entire time, no doubt from eavesdropping from their conversation.)

Anyway, she'd only worn the shirt once or twice with Maya until she'd crossed out Mondays and stenciled in Thursdays with paint underneath. The problem was, she'd never worn it again (it was always at the bottom of her drawers) and never in front of Maya—which was fine because she was ninety percent her twin lost it in the mess that was the shared closet. Either way, Max decided to bring the shirt out of retirement by wearing it with all its wrinkled and painted glory. To keep the peace; however, Max threw on her jacket and zipped it up to prevent early morning accusations from her twin before they headed to school.


English period was no better than Wednesday: Mr. Scott, unspoken self-proclaimed lover of all things Shakespearean, was still lecturing about the symbolism of Hamlet and all the uses of irony in all its glory. Between her doodling and daydreaming, Max didn't feel any more cultured than yesterday and wondered how half the class was still awake. Halfway through the class, she considered texting Nick, but remembered Maya's advice

"Are you," asks Lissa, "bouncing your leg?" Max straightens up at her desk and shoots a look at Lissa. To her credit, her red-haired friend only looks slightly bemused, only the faintest trace of a smile on her lips.

"What? No, no of course not," Max amends after shifting her legs. This was embarrassing—it's been a while since she was this anxious even after all the presentations and speeches that she'd made in her life so far.

"It's okay, Max," Lissa says finally, hiding a smile. "Sorry for interrupting you. You can keep twirling your pencil while you're at it too, for like the next five minutes until lunch."

"Lissa!" she hisses maybe a bit too loudly, because Mr. Scott casts a dark look over to them, probably irritated that they're interrupting his speech. She ducks her head and pretends to be engrossed with taking notes, just waiting for the lunch bell to ring.


Max spots Fang already sitting next to Iggy at their regular lunch table before she makes her way with Lissa in tow. Lissa helpfully takes the open seat next to Nudge, which left the only open seat next to Nick or Maya...who meets her eyes and proceeds to pick up her backpack from the floor and plops it down on the chair, never breaking eye contact.

I'm going to kill you, she mouths over Nick's head and Maya smirks, I'd like to see you try.

In the end, she sets her plate of Mac n cheese next to Nick and slowly sits down, suddenly unsure of what to say.

Luckily, Nudge is more than happy to take the reins on the conversation once everyone had settled down.

"Nice shirt, Max! I don't think I've ever seen you wear that before...oh wait, doesn't Maya also have one?" Nudge leans across the table and squints.

"Yeah, I do have one," Maya says nonchalantly, "in its original condition, I might add."

Max brushes some hair out of her face and ignores the way Nick turns to look at her out of the corner of her eyes, no doubt trying to see her shirt.

"Yeah well, mine has more character after I took some artistic liberties to it," she replies. "It's also closer to the truth than it ever was."

"I like it," Nick says softly. Max momentarily stops chewing her Mac n Cheese and hastily swallows, trying to come up with something to say before completely blanking out. "Though why Thursday's? I thought the majority of people hated Wednesdays because it's the awkward hump day."

This time, it's Maya that snorts. "She loves Wednesday's because it's Art Day. So, therefore, Thursdays become the awkward day between Wednesdays and Fridays. In addition, Max is a weirdo that likes Mondays because if Monday's didn't exist it would be Tuesday's, and Tuesday's are taco Tuesdays, and she loves tacos."

Nick makes thoughtful noise. "I guess that makes sense. Can't argue with that logic."

"So Nick," Iggy asks, "Why'd you move to Westfield at the beginning of senior year? It seems super abrupt considering everything." A pause. "If you don't mind me asking, that is," he quickly adds.

Leave it up to Iggy to ask the million-dollar question.

She watches Nick push around the last bits of Mac n Cheese around his tray before answering. "My mom transferred jobs. Before, we lived in New York—"

"Oh there you are, Nick! I've been looking for you!"

Max barely manages to hold back a groan. She didn't even have to look up to know who that voice belonged to—she's heard it every time she went to Lisa's house with Maya, heard it all the time when club presidents met with the student council board to discuss funding for their respective clubs because that voice would always be demanding more funding for Speech and Debate and Science Olympiad, never mind the fact that literally other smaller clubs existed and also needed money—

"Hello, Brigid," Iggy says coolly to the red-headed junior who was currently hovering over Maya and Lissa on the other side of the table. Max was suddenly glad that Bridgid couldn't see Maya's face because her twin was currently fake gagging, and Lissa only looked bored as she sipped her orange juice. "If you're lost, your table is on the other side of the cafeteria next to the trophy case."

Brigid tosses her hair back and glares at Iggy. "I'm not lost Jeff. And speaking of getting lost, did you get lost on your way to the Science Olympiad meeting yesterday, because you never showed up?"

"I'm not on cabinet anymore, Brigid. And my brother handed in my application along with his. Or did you forget?"

Brigid narrowed her eyes. "You should take some notes from Zephyr. At least he has manners."

Max nearly chokes. Gazzy with manners? Wait until he plants a stink bomb during one of the meetings or the day they served beans during lunch.

"Anyway, I was looking for Nick and wondering why he decided to sit with you guys all of a sudden."

Max had to give it to Brigid. There was only one person who could ask such an innocent question with so much condescension.

"This is a free country, Brigid." Nudge rolls her eyes. "Nick can sit wherever he wants without being constantly questioned."

"I wanted a little change of scenery," Nick finally says and eats the rest of his Mac n Cheese. "Try to get to know more people, and who am I to say no to the Art Club president?"

Max has great front row seats to watch Brigid splutter. "I'm president of two clubs!"

"I know you are, and that's an incredible feat," Nick says quickly. "But I wanted to ask Max some more questions about the club, and I thought it would be really nice to be able to walk with her to our next class."

Max can't decide if she wanted to focus more on the way Brigid is slowly turning red or the fact that Nick admitted that he was looking forward to walking with her to Art class—

And before she could say something along the lines of sounds like a clear dismissal to me, the lunch bell rings—saved by the bell like every movie cliche—and Maya immediately shoots up from her seat, forcing Brigid to stumble back. Lissa stifles a laugh but also beings to collect her tray and backpack.

"Well, that was a lovely conversation that I don't want to have ever again," her twin says all too loudly. "We better hurry and get to our respective classes before we're all late! Come on Nudge, Iggy, Lissa, and I will walk you to the theatre on our way to Spanish. Max and Nick, have fun in Art!"

Max pretends to make a show of collecting her tray and backpack and ignores the way Maya throws her a wink and practically shepherds the rest of her friends out the door, pushing past an angry-looking Brigid.

"I'm not taking Spanish this year though." She hears Iggy faintly say as they headed out the door.

"Nudge? Iggy?" Nick says in confusion.

"Monique and Jeff," she says without thinking. Honestly, saying their real names felt foreign to her. "It's a long story, but I can explain on the way to class."

Max looks at Nick and offers a small smile that she hoped didn't betray how quickly her heart was beating.

"You ready?"


After the daily check-up with Miss Keller, Max realizes that she'd fallen into a comfortable routine with Nick. They mix paints in comfortable silence and Nick fills up two water pots and arranges the paints in ascending order by the time Max successfully retrieves their sketch after shouldering five other people in the front of the room.

She is suddenly aware of how close he is when their desks are pushed together and how their hands accidentally brush each other's when they're painting. Suddenly she is desperate to fill the silence and ends up says the first thing on her mind.

"So you moved here from New York with your mom?"

Nick hums in affirmation. "Yeah. She took a job transfer in August and we ended up here."

"Must be a complete change of scenery." Max had only been to New York once for winter break, and she could say with confidence that her fragile Californian soul was no match for East Coast winters.

"Yeah. My mom and I had an apartment in Brooklyn. Moving here...never thought I'd see so much greenery. There's actually trees and parks and just a lot of nature, which I appreciate."

Max concentrates on painting the bottom of the globe, wondering if she should mention the way he'd spent almost an eternity looking at the landscape paintings on Miss Keller's walls with a thoughtful expression on his face.

"So you really miss nature, huh?"

Nick hums again. "Yeah. Sometimes I'd catch the subway to Manhattan just so I could walk around Central Park and just look around."

It's at this admittance where Max decides, fuck it, Yolo, who cares if I'm a creeper that pays way to much attention to Mr. Dark and Mysterious.

"I saw you looking at the landscape paintings on the first day," she says softly.

Nick blinks. "Oh yeah. They're really beautiful," he says. "Are they local places?"

"Two of them are," she replies. She turns to her right and points. "The first one is our park, the last one is our community garden behind the science building. I'm not sure what the middle one is."

They revert to painting in comfortable silence and Max can't help but feel like there's something else that she needs to ask him. But mostly, she drinks in the information that she'd found out about Nick. It's not until when Miss Keller reminds the class that it was time to clean up at the ten minute warning period is when she remembers.

"Are you free tomorrow night?" she asks as Nick is cleaning up their paints. "I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this to you, but every Friday we hang out at the Hub, which is a really cool cafe and arcade right next to the park. They have fry Friday's and happy hour on other food."

"I'd love to come," Nick replies. His eyes meet hers for a brief second before he stacks the water pots. "Thanks, by the way, for being so welcoming." She has to strain to her the last part of his sentence over the bustle of all the other students who were also cleaning up.

"Of course," she says automatically and heads towards the front of the class to hang up their drying painting.

"What's your next class?" He asks once she grabs her backpack and hoists it over one shoulder.

"Chemistry with Johnson," she replies. "I'm not looking forward to it. What's yours?"

"I don't have a sixth period. Don't need any extra classes."

Wow. Artsy and smart. What a dangerous combination.

"I'll walk you to Chemistry," he shoots her a small smile. "I'm not in a rush or anything. Not like after lunch."

Well, it would be terribly rude of her to decline if he put it like that.


Iggster: Um, does this mean I have to pretend that I have Spanish after lunch for the rest of the year?

TheBestSeestar: Ya if Lissa and I have to pretend we have Spanish too

Iggster: But at least YOUR classes are in the same direction as Nudge

DRAMAQUEEN: R U saying you don't want to walk me to class every day

DRAMAQUEEN: Or that u don't enjoy our company

DRAMAQUEEN: Don't worry about being late to class u walk twice as fast as with ur long ass legs