Max ♕

Mixing with LA's elite is like stepping into a movie. The kind where rich kids dominate the screen and guys like me are just background noise, there to give the rich kids some depth.

And I hate it.

Everywhere I look, there are bottles of champagne popping or people toasting to some great charity or cause like they're the second coming. The only thing helping me to keep it together is the thought of how it would impact Alyssa if I flip.

But my patience is wearing thin. Maybe it's hearing her Mom call me a stray, but suddenly I see past the grandeur of this place to the ugliness behind it. These people might smile and seem pleasant on the surface, but they're hypocrites, swanning around preaching about climate change and poverty while riding in private jets. All the while I stand and nod, forced to hold my tongue, because the thought of embarrassing Alyssa right now holds more weight than my pride –I'm sure as hell that's not a good thing.

At one point, we find ourselves embroiled in another conversation with some rich tycoon couple who think they're the next Messiah.

"We're named in numerous charities for our contributions," the woman says. "We've had causes named after us. That's how much we've donated. One of the charities was thinking about building a statue of us – isn't that amazing?" They look at each other all proud and shit, and I can't keep my mouth shut any longer.

"Are you donating for you or for them?"

They both jerk to look at me, clearly perplexed. "Whatever do you mean?" the man asks.

I shrug, acutely aware of Alyssa's eyes burning through my profile. I have no idea what it is she's thinking, but I can't keep it up any longer. "You seem pretty focused on the recognition you get for donating than the actual cause. Would you still be happy to donate if you had to remain anonymous?"

Their faces pucker like they're sucking a lemon, and I feel Alyssa tense. "Excuse me, young man," he says, "but we have donated hundreds of thousands to charity, which I am certain is more than you have ever donated in your life, yet you have the audacity to stand there and shame us? What exactly are you doing to make a difference in this world?"

He shakes his head and takes his wife's hand before the pair walk away. Alyssa turns to face me, but the look on her face suggests she doesn't agree.

"You about to tell me I was wrong?" I ask.

She frowns at the agitation in my voice. "I don't think you're wrong, I just think it was an unnecessary thing to bring up."

"Oh come on," I say. I can feel myself getting angry, not at her but this place. The sooner this night is over, the better. "They're out here acting so high and mighty and what are they doing it for, Alyssa? To help those less fortunate or to feel good about themselves?"

She sighs and steps closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. "I get it, I'm just saying that either way, whether they're basking in the recognition or not, they're still donating to good causes."

My jaw contracts as I focus on the wall, trying to calm down. "You want a drink?"

She shakes her head but looks up at me innocently. "No, but I want to dance."

Despite my agitation, it's hard to say no when she's looking at me like that. I take her by the hand and pull her into the next room, where some of the other guests are dancing. Somewhat nervous, she wraps her arms around my neck as I pull her in closer, and for a moment I forget that we're here in the clutches of hell. I just keep my gaze on hers, the faces around us blurring to nothing, the way I prefer it.

"Thank you," she says in a low voice against my ear. "For being here. I don't think I'd have lasted the night without you."

Her words make me smile. This isn't exactly my favorite place – that much is obvious – but hell if it doesn't make me happy to know she appreciates it.

We stay like this for a little while longer. I'm not much of a slow dancer, but I pick it up quickly by watching the others. Alyssa seems impressed when I try to take the lead and tightens her grip.

"Who knew you were such a good dancer?" she teases.

"I'm a man of many talents."

Something wicked flashes in her eyes but she doesn't say a word, just smiles a little and rests her head on my shoulder. I hold her closer, surprised by how easy this feels despite everything. I'd usually be on edge at being somewhere unfamiliar, but she's got this way of making me feel relaxed – I can't work out whether it's an advantage or a hindrance.

The moment is lost when some of her friends spot us and whisper. The mean one's jaw is practically on the floor, and when Alyssa spots her staring, she looks embarrassed. I'd be lying if I said that watching her face fall didn't hurt, but I'll be damned if I let it show.

"Come on," I say, grabbing her hand. "Let's go."

"No," she says. Instead, she exhales slightly before leading me over to her friends. I barely have time to react before we're standing in front of the firing squad. "Marnie," Alyssa says. "You remember Max, right?"

The look on Marnie's face is priceless. Her eyes flit from Alyssa and over to mine, scrutinizing every inch of me. When she takes in my suit, she smirks. "Barely. You're that poor kid's older brother, right?"

My throat feels tight at the mention of Kino. It infuriates me to know he goes to school with kids like this. "His name is Kino, and yeah, I am."

"Right," she says innocently, "Kino. That's the one."

She's about to say something cutting, I can tell, but Alyssa gives her a brief goodbye and leads me back into the main foyer. I've had enough of the small talk, so when Alyssa and Maddie are caught in conversation with a couple, Hayden takes me outside to cool down. He can see it in my face that I'm losing my patience, and if anyone knows what I'm feeling right now, it's him.

"At least it's nearly over." He leans against the wall and loosens his tie, forgetting it's a clip-on. It comes off in his hand, and he stares down at it before sighing. "The things we do for love."

I'm silent as I look back at the house. I still have no idea how it happened – how someone like Alyssa crashed into my life. We're from two different worlds, opposite in every way, and yet here I am at some elaborate party, and I'm doing it for her. Maybe he's right – the things we do for love.

Back inside, Alyssa is nowhere to be found. I search each room downstairs, growing more uneasy the longer it takes. A narrow corridor leads me to a quieter part of the house, and that's when I hear her voice around the corner, followed by Justin's.

I round the corner, taking in Justin advancing toward Alyssa, and step between them. "Can I help you?"

Justin's eyes narrow as he tilts his head to look at me. "We're talking here," he says, "so why don't you just crawl back into that alley you came out of."

My jaw contracts. I'm a second from landing this kid in the hospital, but I don't want to make a scene. Instead, I grab Alyssa's hand and start to lead her down the corridor, ignoring the voice in my head begging to kill him.

"Okay, Alyssa," he calls after her. "Go ahead and follow him like the bitch that you are."

It happens so fast that it feels like a blur. One second I'm walking, the next my fist hooks Pretty Boy's chin. He lets out a yelp that attracts a few guests, who stare at me in horror.

Justin gets to his feet while I'm busy distracted and and advances toward me, but I duck his next hit and land another to his nose, sending blood across my suit. A woman screams in horror, and a second or two later, I'm grabbed by security and carted through the rest of the house.

Alyssa hurries after me, ignoring the horror-stricken faces of the guests as I'm pulled through the crowd. Her mother grabs her arm as we pass through the hallway and hisses, "Don't you dare leave this house with that boy."

I don't get to hear her reply. Security throws me out onto the grass where I roll several times across the lawn. My knuckle is stinging – Pretty Boy's face is harder than I thought – but it's Alyssa I'm worried about. Based off the horrified looks of her friends, I've pretty much ruined her life. If I thought we didn't stand a chance before, we sure as hell don't now.

A/N

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