so be it

Just how was he suppose to get out of this?

Max found himself holding his breath for no reason. If only, he could buy his way out. Some how. Like shopping. A new outfit for Josie. He did know how she loved to try on clothes. Not really for him, he guessed. But still, an audience. Someone to tell her how it looked on her. Things of that nature. But he didn't have enough cash for a vanilla coke at the DQ.

He'd braided her hair once. Only, it was kind of pathetic even if she said it was cute. He didn't know what he was doing.

"Look. You're clearly upset about something." He got up the nerve to say on the way to her house. If only, he could have been in the back seat when he said it. She'd made him crawl over the seat and sit with her, after Derrick bailed. "You should talk about it." He was sure she could tell him what he was doing wrong. He'd do better. She just needed to give more direction. He was trying to be more passionate. But no way was he experienced in ways that she obviously was.

She swelled a frown more fierce. "I don't want to talk about it."

"I want to go home." He crossed his arms.

"What?" She looked at him as if she'd spin a circle, swerving the car and fling his ass on the asphalt.

"You're driving to fast." He informed her. Which was true. What if they got in a wreck? He just got here. He didn't need anymore drama.

"Just drop me off at the library." He looked away. He could catch a ride home with Asa. Maybe he could talk to him about..about Josie.

"Fine." She pulled into the parking lot.

"Great." He faked a smile. It was time to man up. She was making him too much of a girl. Anyway. She let him out at the front door. It was a relief. She wasn't exactly smothering him, perhaps choking him. Treating him, as if she owned him. Seriously, he had no idea girls were like this. Especially, Josie.

He stopped by the Youth Desk and said hello to Asa, who was on his laptop, sitting with some teen girl about college applications. Soon enough, Max found himself a manga comic book to devour. Max smiled in contentment. His backpack rested beside him in the magazine area where he sat. Next thing he knew, Josie was standing in front of him.

"What did I do?" Her arms were crossed. She still looked peeved.

"Is this a trick question?" Max looked up at her as if he wasn't about to answer her.

She was in a huff, but she sat down next to him, kicking his backpack to the side.

"I want this to work." She informed him.

"Why is it such a job to be with me?" He winced, thinking he didn't like the word job.

"Its not." She promised, but he didn't quite believe her.

"You're in such a hurry." Max sighed as he gazed at her out of the corner of his eye. "The dance was nice, wasn't it? And the concert-" He knew something happened. "Whats going on?"

"Nothing. All right." She swelled her frown more, turning from him. As if she couldn't bare to say what was on her mind. "Look. If something had happened..I..I would have left. But it didn't. All right."

Max nodded.

"You don't like me very much, do you?" He got it. He was just something in-between. Maybe good practice for the real thing.

"I do too." She gritted.

"Yeah, I'm good for bossing around and telling me what I need to wear if I want to be seen with you. That's what I'm good for." He sighed.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to be so mean." She bit the corner of her lip.

"Its just your natural instinct." He knew. That was the sort of affect he had on her. Perhaps she liked the power.

She shook her head, no. It startled him when she began to cry. He took her hand. She had a good cry on his shoulder. At least, she was quiet about it. It felt like a break through of some kind. But he knew he wasn't exactly her boyfriend. No, just a friend.