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[beyourzoomer]

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[wonafight]

Fine isn't good enough, Max. [ She deserves to have everything she needs and wants, especially after she basically sacrificed herself for their plan. He thinks that the Sinclairs would take her under their wing in a heartbeat. He knows Joyce and Hopper would if they actually had a place of their own.]

Listen, I've got a big empty house and I could use the company. You can stay with me as long as you want to. Even after we track down your mom.

[beyourzoomer]

[She probably should have seen that coming, but she hadn't. She figured she'd maybe be couch surfing at everyone's for a few nights at a time. She opens her mouth to respond, staring at him even as her hand freezes at the door that she'd started trying to lock but she keeps missing the keyhole. Her hands are shaking just enough to make locking up difficult.]

But --

[But what if his parents come back at some point? She's not sure how likely that is given she's never met them and she's spent a lot of time with the others at Steve's in the last couple years.]

Steve, are you sure?

[wonafight]

Positive. [ He's never seen that look on Max's face and it throws him a little off guard. Like he's doing her some big favor. Like every word he just said isn't the sad truth.

He licks his lips, tossing his keys up and catching them before pointing a finger at her.] But don't make me regret it, okay? No parties. And no Lucas after curfew. [ He can't even keep a straight face for more than a few seconds after that. ] Kidding.

But seriously, don't do anything your lawyer wouldn't approve of.

[beyourzoomer]

[She stares at him for a moment, holding her breath and then nodding, turning so she can lock the damned door. And if her eyes are suddenly a little wet, she hopes he doesn't make a bit deal of it. It's not like he's not seen her in much, much worse conditions. She sinks her teeth into her lower lip before she tucked her keys into her jeans pocket and turns to look at him again.

Max's mouth curves up into a tiny smirk at the Lucas comment followed by the kidding. Like she'd have taken that seriously for two seconds. The lawyer comment, though --

She ducks her head a little.]

In retrospect being an asshole to someone who was trying to help me was -- not my finest moment. [It's...not quite an apology but the sentiment is there, even if she's pretty sure he hadn't taken that comment to heart.]

[wonafight]

[ He huffs and shakes his head. ] I get it. I wouldn't want to be stuck in Mike Wheeler's basement either if I thought I only had 24 hours left to live.

[ Thank God she got more time than that. Even if he was pretty sure he was having a heart attack the moment he saw her eyes and she started rising up into the air. Even the thought of it now sends a chill down his spine and he rolls his shoulders to get rid of it. ] Come on, let's get out of here. I'm starving.

[beyourzoomer]

[There's relief in her expression at his easy forgiveness. That's one of the things she liked about Steve -- he was quick to blow off offenses that weren't really meant to cause harm. But at the mention of his being hungry, she raises her eyebrows, skeptical.]

We ate breakfast like an hour ago.

[wonafight]

[ He pauses, looking at her doubtfully. ] Did we?

[ He'd really just said it as a way to get out of the trailer park before someone asked what was going on, but a quick glance around indicated that no one was paying attention. He shrugs. ] I'm a growing boy.

[beyourzoomer]

[That earns him an eyeroll, though with the amount of boys she's friends with, she doesn't doubt it. They all seem to be bottomless pits.]

More mac and cheese when we get back to your place then? [Since she knows there are leftovers from last night.]

[wonafight]

Our place. [ He gives her a grin and slaps the top of his car. He knows better than to make her any promises he can't keep, but he means it when he says she can stay for as long as she likes. It's not like his parents are coming home anytime soon. And he does have plenty of room. Besides, at least he can make sure he's getting her to school every morning. There's no way they're getting through all of this and then Max Mayfield doesn't graduate. ]

[beyourzoomer]

[It's another moment where she has to swallow down an unexpected swell of emotion because -- God. Just like that he's considered her as part of his family and his house hers too.

And so if her smile is just a little brighter as she climbs into the passenger seat, if her cheeks are a little warmer than usual, well. Words aren't her strong suit but it's not like she's trying to hide her response, either.]