[Forest] Trying to hide

[Carolanne Roberts]

Carolanne rolled her eyes in his direction, "You are so talking to yourself! Don't lie to me, you're horrible at it. Besides, you get the same goofy expressions I get when you think," she said with a small chuckle. Laney gave a fake gasp, "Did I just hear what I thought I did? Please, say it again so I know for sure," she joked, a smile playing on her face, "I'm right for a change."

Laney couldn't take it. Why did he have to torture her so! She couldn't believe he still remembered her ticklish spot. She continued to try and catch his hands even though she knew she never would. The tickling just needed to stop, only for a moment.

Almost as fast as it had started, Maxi stopped tickling her. With a grin, she held up her injured pointer, "Geeze, Max. Work out much?" she asked with a laugh. Of course he did, he was Max. Laney looked at her finger and stuck out her bottom lip a bit before smiling at him again.

Carolanne caught her breath and stared up at Maxi. What was he thinking now? Oh boy, she thought to herself. Laney tilted her head slightly and gazed up at him. If the silence wasn't awkward enough, try having the guy you like on top of you. The worst part, he wasn't getting off. Laney cleared her throat and glanced sideways.

Was she supposed to say something right about now? She hoped not, it'd just come out all scrambled. Biting her bottom lip, she turned her attention back to Max. She wanted to pull him down into a kiss and would if it wasn't for his attitude earlier. What was she supposed to do?

[Max Hennerdale]

"Alright, but talking, no" Maxi shrugged, he knew Laney knew him too well to believe him, "Arguing yes. Serious clashing thoughts.. and dont start trying to say you can read my thoughts I might just believe you!" Well he believed himself crazy so why not believe she could read minds.

Having an injured finger waved in his face made the blonde laugh. "You know I do, Lane." Laughing again, it was surprising how much time Laney used to spend in the holidays down by the gym, or dancing around with him. Maxi liked to keep in shape, leastways he could run pretty fast when he needed to. Though, Max and the word 'Run' didnt often co-exsist.

Okay, so the conversation goes. "Hey Max. Hey Mark. What did you do last night. Chilled by the fire in the common room, you. Oh you know, hung with Laney, Ashy's sister... kissed-her-then-sat-on-her-watched-her-split-with-cristian-broke-more-hearts... You know, The usual" The whole one word was just Maxi speaking, or thinking extreamly fast, though if he knew Mark, he would clap Max on the back and say something like, finally Max is back!

When Laney turned her attention on him, he smiled at her. Yes, he was tense, yes he was sat on her, yes he would probably slap himself for all of this tomorrow, no he wouldnt regret it, why, Max never regretted anything he did. His motto, and it was something he stood by, Never Have Any Regrets. And Maxi never did.

Hang on! How the hell did this happen? Did he miss something here? His lips were on hers once again. How? When? What? Pulling back quickly, he ran a hand through his hair, jumped off her and stood up, looking down at her as though he had been stung, "Im..." Was he? "Sorry, I" Didnt he? "Didnt mean to do that"

[Carolanne Roberts]

Carolanne nodded, "right," she said, dragging out the 'i'. Laney shook her head, "Max. I assure you, I can't read your mind. If I could, we wouldn't be here," she said motioning from him to her to the ground. "Besides, that'd be just a little creepy," she said with a giggle.

Laney smiled and poked his abdomen again, this time much softer. Max was a fantastic dancer and used to give her lessons. She should ask him sometime to resume her teachings. Laney made a mental note to ask him some other time.

The last thing Carolanne remembered was gazing into Max's blue eyes with a smile on both their faces. How did it suddenly turn into them kissing again? She didn't make the move, did she? No you didn't! Max kissed you! Laney's eyes widened in shock. She didn't know what to do with this sudden turn.

Laney propped herself up on her elbows when Maxi jumped up. Why? Great, now you're asking that damn question. All she could do was stare at him, her mouth slightly opened searching for a response, searching for anything. Lane shook her head, "Did you just?" she asked. "Er, Max?" she continued. He was apologizing.

Carolanne pushed herself up stood in front of Max. She searched his face for some truth, what was he really feeling? Laney ran a hand through her locks and sighed. What am I going to do about you Maxi? she asked herself.

[Max Hennerdale]

"Wouldnt be where? In the forest?" Total new twist on the whole guys are dense theory, especially Maxi, he had been known to have his blonde moments. In fact, he was practically known for them, which he preffered to the whole "You're Max, you broke with Ash right?" routine, even months after the two had finished, people kept coming upto him asking that question. The famous breakup of Maxi and Ash became nearly as big as Dan and Dia. Of course it wasnt as big considering people were more interested in who the Professors were, well, for lack of a better phrase, 'doing', rather than the students.

Maxi half laughed when she poked his abdomen. The thing about Max was, he didnt like his stomache soft, he preferred it hard, though if he ever landed on it because it was so damned hard it hurt for days at a time, though that was nothing compared to when he would pull a muscle in it. Seriously, that hurt.

She's going to ask questions. I know. What are you going to say. I dont know... That wont be good for her. Unless you can think anything useful get lost please. Suit yourself. No sooner had he thought this, the first question came and with a nervous laugh that was almost guilty in a way of 'I cant believe I did that!' Kinda way. After all, he was trying to disencourage her. "I... Uh... Did?" Maxi took a deep breath and looked at her. Talk about your fixeruppers Max, you dont half get yourself into messes. You again? Call me Bill if you like. Bugger off. Mental headcase much?

Maxi kinda smiled while rubbing the back of his head, again out of nervousness, "Im sorry, Laney... I uh... I dunno what.." Bugger. "Dont know what came over me."

[Carolanne Roberts]

"Yes!" she said loudly. "You, me, here, arguing, yelling, screaming. Remember yet?" she asked him. Sometimes she swore he was a natural blonde. With a shake of her head she held in a laugh. She couldn't help but think of his famous blonde moments over the holidays. The things that went over this boy's head.

Carolanne stared at Maxi still in shock. He did kiss her, she wasn't just imagining it. First you push me away and now you're the one kissing me? What the heck happened? Laney didn't really want to ask him this, infact, Laney didn't even want to know why he had kissed her. The point was that he did.

Lane watched as he rubbed the back of his head. Quickly, she grabbed his hand, "Will you stop doing that! you're making me nervous, for goodness sake!" she said a little annoyed. It was a quirk of his and she liked it, showed her some insight into what he was feeling, but must he add to the confusion some more?

"Please, don't apologize." Carolanne brought a hand to her forehead. What do I do? Help! Staring up at him with a smirk, she motioned with her finger for him to come closer. She wasn't sure what she was doing, nor what she was going to do if he even came close to her. Maxi, please don't let me down, she thought to herself.

[Max Hennerdale]

"We were?" He asked confused, then dawning sets in, "Oh, right! Yeah! We were!" Sometimes he could slap himself for his own stupidity. This was something he was used to at least, drifting off into his own world then having blonde moments which no matter what, you couldnt help but find amusing. His facial expressions said it all, he was a goon, and he knew he was.

This was not going to help with her confusion and he knew that. He was trying to fight her off and then the next moment he kissed her. It was like one of them stupid cartoons or films on the Muggle Telly where they yell at eachother and then for no apparent reason kiss eachother, even though just a few moments before they were screaming until their voices were hoarse.

Maxi jumped when she took his hand at flying speed, he thought she was going to smack him or something. "Oh your nervous?" He laughed with a little shake going on which he was sure she could feel for the brief moment she had hold of his hand, "And I'm as cool as a cucumber I suppose!"

Maxi stopped apologizing like she asked. Besides he wasnt even sure he was sorry. This was just awash with confusion, one minute he felt like he had to say no, then the next minute it was like he couldnt say no. This was all just too weird for the blonde at the moment, he had never experianced anything like this and it was new to him. She wants you to go closer Max He thought as he stepped closer to Laney, so they were barely inches apart. Looking down at her with a quizzicle look, he didnt know why she did that, nor did he know why he stepped closer without so much as a second thought.

[Carolanne Roberts]

The expression on Maxi's face was enough to crack anyone up. Carolanne just stared at him in amazement. "Wow," was all she could say to him at that moment. Moments like these made Laney wonder whether or not the dye had worked its way through his skull and somehow affected his twisted little brain.

Maxi jumped, causing Laney to jump and back away a few inches. She looked at him all wide-eyed before she started laughing. "Ok, so we're both a wreck," she said running a hand through her hair, "Why are you shaking?" she asked once she realized the slight shake he had going on.

Max was now only inches away from her and she could barely breathe. She tried calming herself down but with each rise of her chest, she couldn't help but think this could be the start of something good, something great. Carolanne looked up at Maxi and gave a small smile. Bringing her hand up slowly, she pushed some bangs out of his eyes.

Her hand gently made its way down his face, neck and ended up stopping on his chest. Maxi's heart felt like it would beat its way out of his chest any moment. Why was she so unsure of herself at the moment? All this time, she felt like she was holding her breath. Exhaling slowly, she looked into his eyes. "Tell me what you want, Maxi," she whispered.

[Max Hennerdale]

Maxi, what words would sum this guy up for you? So many words had been used in the past, Twisted, Loveable, Funny and Amusing, A Heartbreaker, Clutz, the list was endless. She stared at him in amazement which made him smile, she had him vexed, and he didnt know why, or how she had done this to him.

"Why am I shaking?" Maxi repeated, there were probably numerous reasons. She had captured him, she touched him, he cared about her in a way he thought he never would, her smile made him smile, her laughter made him laugh, she made him nervous, he was worried about all of this, he was confused, none of these reasons he was about to tell her. They didnt make any sense to him. What was this? "I dont know"

Standing in front of her, close to her, he wanted to reach out but was fighting himself, fighting her, fighting this. How could something so wrong make him feel all warm inside as though it was right? He was a mess, well at least his head was. Everything about her he was realising, as though he was seeing her for the first time. Her eyes, her hair, her smile and her laughter. Never did he think, when he first met her, would he be stood here feeling this.

Her touch made him shudder, though not in a bad way, it sent chills through him as he closed his eyes. His heart was pounding as though he had been running none stop at full speed for a year. He knew she could feel it when she laid her hand on his chest. He could hear the thump in his ears, as though it was screaming at the blonde to stop its suffering. Opening his eyes he looked down at her, Something I shouldnt want He thought despite himself. "Do you need to ask?"

[Carolanne Roberts]

Something about the way he smiled at her made Lane blush. She needed him and in that moment, it almost seemed as if he needed her as well. Carolanne glanced down at her hands and took a deep breath. As memories flashed through her mind, a smile once more painted itself on her face.

Carolanne kept glancing from the tree on her left to Maxi and back. Biting her bottom lip, she looked up at Maxi slowly as he answered her question. Laney reached her hand out and grabbed one of Maxi's in an I'm here for you, kind of way. She held back everything she wanted to say to him. Things were akward enough already.

"Do you need to ask?"

Carolanne was looking down at their feet until Maxi's answer had come out. Her heart was rejoicing and now she was the one shaking. Trying to calm herself down, a single tear fell from her eyes as she looked back up at Maxi with a smile. He wanted her, she wanted him. Was this wrong or right? On the outside, sure it looked wrong, but Laney felt it was right, everything about this was right.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she slowly pulled him closer until her soft lips touched his.

[Max Hennerdale]

What I wouldnt give to just curl up in a ball right about now and hibernate. Maxi thought despite himself. Half of him kept fighting this, which would be a problem considering Laney wanted more than just friendship with Max, and the other half kept telling him to just grab her and kiss her like she never has been. Though at the moment, Max was listening to them both. Though he kept asking himself, What have I done?

Maxi didnt know how she had managed to sneak her way into his mind, into his feelings. She had no idea what she was doing to him, she was torturing his insides. He was pulling himself apart with every touch of hers. Yet, despite all this, she was the only one he could think of right now, the bad thoughts he was having were being cancelled out by what she was doing, how she was both torturing him and making him happy at the same time. This was all too confusing for him right now. There were so many things he should have done, should have said. Not just to her, but to everyone who came and went in his life. "Anywhere I go..." Maxi mumbled to himself, wherever he went, he took those closest to him with him. Which meant he took Laney there too. Wherever it was Maxi went when he wasnt around them.

Face the facts. Maxi thought to himself. Just for once would he open his eyes and look around, at the situation. People on the outside, not directly involved in this, or people that didnt know him or understand the complexities of the situation would probably see two people who do care for eachother coming together as something beautiful. Max did care for Lane. Though saying that he cared for Bray and Fay, Girty and Alex, Jac and everyone else, but would he run off with them like he was doing now? Would he run off with Girty and let Alex be heartbroken? No, he wouldnt. So why was he allowing himself to do this with Lane right now? Was it a heat of the moment thing? Pressure? Confusion? He was looking at her through confused eyes as these thoughts circulated. What about Ash? They had just got back on the track of friendship, this could destroy them, this would destroy them. He didnt want to hurt anyone, but no matter what he did, he always ended up hurting people, maybe Mark was right, maybe Max was nothing more than a heartbreaker. It wouldnt surprise him. He didnt need the pain, he didnt want anybody else to feel pain on his account either. Everyone would probably look at him thinking he was going crazy, but he didnt care what people thought. Max was his own person, and it was time he started living for himself instead of sidestepping away for everyone else.

He kept trying not to hear the voice of reason, but it was talking too loud. They were trying to fill him with doubt, but was this his way of stopping himself from falling? Stopping him from being hurt? Was he just trying to protect himself? What about Laney? Could he risk hurting her? The voice of reason was yelling at him to walk away, the more adventurous side was telling him to stay, he couldnt hear anything else, too many things were getting inside his head. He was aware she was kissing him again, but just barely. He was too wrapped up in his own thoughts. He pulled back and pushed some blonde hair from her eyes as he looked down at her. His face was emotionless, but his eyes were full of confusion, pain, dread and hatred. Hate for himself, for what he did to others. He tried to say something but no words would come to his mouth. Nothing would come, his mind was buzzing and he felt, alone. He didnt know why, all of a sudden a wave of lonliness swept over him. He was cold, though he showed no signs of this. Everyone got scared, he was right now. He was becoming someone he never thought he could be. Laney felt for him, but she didnt know him, not properly, she didnt know him like others did. She knew only the good of him, she didnt know the hearbreaking person he could be, she didnt know what he was like when he lost his temper. Parts of himself he couldnt stand, though couldnt help come out. He turned his back on loving people, he always did, what would make this situation different? He didnt love Laney, he cared for her, but he wasnt in love. How could this be a good thing, if he was just going to hurt her like so many others he had done before her.

He knew he was going to break her heart, even if it wasnt now, or in a week from now, but at some point he would. Right now, he wished he was anyone but who he was. He got used to pretending he was okay, but those few who knew him properly, by few he meant one. Rieko. She knew he wasnt. Nobody else saw the sides of Max she did, nobody knew him better than she did. He was falling apart inside, but he was pretending he was okay, he was alright with this whole situation. He would deal like he always did, then get the twenty questions off Rieko where Max would tell her everything and she would be his rock, like always.

He was hiding things, using gentle words to shelter people. He acted distant a lot of the time, usually it seemed like he never listened, even though he was. Tears, he was too used to seeing them glisten on other peoples cheeks when he was stood infront of them, he would shout, he would scream until he couldnt anymore. He was afraid most of the time to admit what was in his heart and so he locked it away. The only one who knew the deepest depths, the deepest secrets Max held was Rieko. Not even Mark knew half the things he thought or he felt. I can forget He often said that. He still replayed the old days in his mind, before any of this happened. When it was just him and Mark, a few of the other lads from Durmstrang being the carefree people they were, but Max, he was never carefree, he always worried, even if it didnt seem like he did. Its too late now... No amount of words could ever describe the way he felt inside, and it would take him years to explain. Most of it he couldnt even put words to. They held him, and they always would do. Something always held him back.

He just wished something could come and wash away what he had done. He’ll face himself, and anybody else because he had dug this whole himself, he would let go of what he’d done and face upto the consequences of his actions. He had become someone he never thought he could become. It was new to him and added a whole new layer of confusion to the already huge pile of confusion. He hadn’t done anything wrong in his mind, he wasn’t sorry for it either. He never would be. They were all that mattered right now, just him, and Laney.

“What did you do to me?”

He could already tell, his mind was now consumed with thoughts of her. How had she vexed him like this? It was probably already there somewhere inside him, but it had taken this to bring it out and it felt so powerful. He looked down at her, sure there was the confusion in his eyes, but there was also caring, and happiness there too. She had Max caught in her web, and the more he struggled, the more tangled he became. Picking her hand up, he placed it over his chest, his heart was racing and he didn’t know why. He didn’t understand it. He didn’t know what was going on, he didn’t know what would happen. The path in front of him was shrouded. There were so many sides of him she didn’t know, nobody knew. How had he become this way? How had he gotten so tangled, so caught, and why hadn’t he realised it before now.

“I don’t understand why it’s doing that”

[Carolanne Roberts]

She didn't know what had happened. Just a minute ago they were kissing and now she was staring up at his emotionless face. Laney's breathing became heavy as she tried to figure out what had happened. His eyes were full of pain. Did she hurt him somehow without realizing it?

Lane stared at his chest; his white shirt drenched in her tears, mascara marks from her eyes. Carolanne gazed into his blue eyes. She wanted to tell him she was sorry for dragging him into this, but was she really? She wanted him which started this in the first place. She knew the consequences of being with Maxi, it almost always ended in heartbreak. But she needed his touch; she needed him.

"What did you do to me?"

Carolanne looked up at him in confusion. "I don't know, to be honest," she said with a half laugh, "Made you see?" she said, questioning even herself. What exactly was he asking? She didn't know what she did.

Carolanne closed her eyes as his heart beat fast against her hand. She looked up at him. His eyes had changed. It took her a minute to realize it, but they were different somehow. Was that... happiness? Lane gave a soft smile, "You feel it too, Maxi. That's why." It was the best answer Laney could come up with. She didn't really know what else it could've been.

[Max Hennerdale]

Everything was spinning, it was happening too fast, at a pace he couldnt keep up with. As fast as he said no, he was saying yes, well every inch of him but his mind was screaming it at him. Maxi tried to keep his features straight, and straight was a word Max never thought would be in the same sentance of his name. Though was he straight? Things like that dont just happen overnight, you dont go from being gay to straight in the blink of an eye. Where had this all started? He tried to think of people, guys. Nobody was coming to his mind. Probably because it was full of the girl stood infront of him right now. "What happened to me?"

She knew his reputation. As did many other people, it was a risk to even like Max, let alone think of starting anything with him, they always ended in hearbreak, and it was never his heart that got broken. Was he ready to put someone else through that? Maxi, he grew bored of one person, he liked to keep his options open so he wouldnt hurt anyone and he wasnt bored. He got the best of both worlds that way, he wasnt hurting anyone and he was still able to have fun. Though looking at Lane, none of that mattered, he was hurting her anyway, not meaning to. Just being around her, hurt her. Knowing she couldnt touch him, couldnt hold him or kiss him, couldnt be with him. Wouldnt be loved by him and that tortured her, he was breaking her heart without even trying, he was in a no-win situation. Walk away and break her, little bit at a time. Or stay with her, and break her heart when it ended. Things didnt last forever, not at their age, Max was too reckless to be with anyone and he knew that.

"Made me see?" Maxi half laughed, "No, you made my mind think of nothing but you" Though maybe that was because he was stood here with her. Was it though? Even when he hadnt been with her, thoughts of her still came to him, but Max always assumed that was because he worried about her. He was worrying more now about her, then ever, he was worried about what he would do to her.

He closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh, one that sent a shiver running through him, he knew she had felt that, how could she not have? She had her hand on his chest and his hand was over hers. As he opened his eyes, he looked into hers and knew by the smile she had seen what his eyes couldnt hide, no matter how much his mind wanted to. "You know my reputation Lane"

[Carolanne Roberts]

Carolanne knew exactly what he was thinking. Nothing good would come of this, but she wanted it anyway. She was strong enough to take it. She was strong enough to want it. Laney knew the kind of guy he was, too. She accepted that as well. He liked his options, what guy didn't? The difference between Ash and Laney, however, was huge. Laney had no intentions in "taming" him, she liked him just the way he was. Besides, tame meant no arguing, she didn't want that; too fake.

Laney shrugged when he repeated her, "Alright then. You tell me what I did to you then," she said with a raise of her eyebrow. How was she supposed to know what he was going through inside?

He shivered and she felt every moment of it, yet she didn't pull away. Reputation, of course she knew. Carolanne sighed and placed a hand on his face, "I do, and it's a risk worth taking."

[Max Hennerdale]

In this world there is real, and make-believe. Sometimes the feelings of one person alone could drive you insane, heaven knew it drove Max to near breaking point. Everyday, he hid things from the world, he didnt tell people things he should do and more often than not he ended up kicking himself because of it. All Max wanted to do, was actually listen to what his heart was telling him, but for one, he was scared of it. Scared of that feeling happening, he had seen what it did to people, and two, his thoughts were too loud in his mind, he couldnt hear anything else.

How could someone feel this way towards him, when to feel that way you had to know someone, and the more and more Maxi searched himself, the more and more he realised he'd kept himself distant from everyone. Nobody knew him, not really. They skimmed the surface of who Max was, who he really was, who he wanted to be able to be but was too scared to be that lad, was locked away somewhere inside him. Again, his eyes were clouded, and rather dazed, he kept telling himself he felt one way, thought he had gotten past this, and then he realised he hadnt. Though Laney, he had done something to him he never thought was even possible. She had caught him completley off guard and unlocked something inside him he didnt even know exsisted.

"..." How was he supposed to answer that? Try the truth? And stop questioning every move you make! Maxi had this way of always questioning every little step he made, was this right, should he do that? "You got inside my head somehow" He ran a hand through his hair and let out a shaky breath, "And I dont know how the hell you've done it."

She was in his head, blatently there. How? She was willing to take a chance, even though she knew his reputation? Maxi hurt people, he didnt think he could love them. Then countering that, she had gotten in his head, a place nobody else had been before, how did he know this wouldnt work? He was scared to say 'alright,' he was scared of his own feelings, though he was fighting them, pushing them away, trying to lock them away so he wouldnt have to feel them. He couldnt do anything but smile at her, regardless of the battle inside him.

[Carolanne Roberts]

This was real, wasn't it? These feelings... his feelings... this moment. She wasn't dreaming, right? She wasn't going to wake up in her dorm room disappointed that it hadn't actually happened. There was so much about eachother that they hadn't learned. What an experience this would be for them both.

Carolanne smiled at his answer. "Max, I can't get in your head without you letting me," she responded. It was the truth. The only way into his head or his heart was if he let you there. It wasn't a matter of ducking and hiding and hoping he'll never find you somewhere in his mind. No, he had to be wanting to think of you first.

She wanted him to hold her. The way he was smiling at her drove her crazy. The way he spoke to her. Her body was already tingling. Was this the beginning of something? Her heart said yes, but she needed to hear it from him. She needed to see that he wanted it too. A smile wasn't good enough. Sure, it said so much, but this was Maxi we're talking about.