*TW: MENTIONS
OF RACISM* (this is still an ongoing issue we have today, the fight never stops.)

YOU HAD ARRIVED behind the school a few minutes late, holding a stick in hand as you stood beside mike. Max glanced at you from time to time, he so badly wanted to ask you about that dance but held back.

"This is so disgusting. Is this really necessary?" Max asked with his nose scrunched in disgust.

"What the hell's going on?" Dustin asked.

"What do you think? We're looking for dart." Mike replied with in an irritated tone.

Lucas throws some trash out from the dumpster, causing you to recoil back, "Jesus!" Dustin exclaimed.

Lucas then climbs out and lands on his feet before looking at Dustin. "Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to show up. After I drew the short straw. Real convenient."

You cover your nose before sighing, "not to be rude lucas, but you smell." You said gently before standing beside max.

Max turned to you, "see you chose the better and charmer side eh?"

You smile and just shook your head, rolling your eyes playfully and just nudging his side. Dustin and Lucas look at each other, their eyebrows raised— they definitely felt something in the air.

Mike could also feel something in the air even though he doesn't mention it, he took a closer look at you and max— there's definitely something there.

"Are you just gonna stand there?" Lucas threw dustin a stick, "Or you gonna help?"

You and the others use your sticks to rummage through the trash.

𓂃 ࣪˖ ཐིཋྀ.ᐟ

You sat on the steps of the stairs, leaning your head on max's shoulder as he had his arm wrapped around your shoulders also. he leaned his head on top of yours also, staring at the sky.

"We need to talk. AV room. Right now." Mike tells the others and you grabbed your backpack, standing up and going to follow them.

"Party members only." Mike replied as he looked over his shoulder towards you and max, you frowned— what were they keeping from you that was so..confidential?

"Come on, Mike." Dustin said.

"No! This is non-negotiable." Mike replied.

"Sorry max, [y/n]."

"Sorry."

You turned to max with disbelief, he just gripped his skateboard tightly and shook his head with annoyance. "We don't need them anyway, c'mon."

You kept your head lowered, turning away and walking down the steps.

𓂃 ࣪˖ ཐིཋྀ.ᐟ

After school was over, you had placed some things in your locker. Lucas walks over to you with a smile on his face, he notices you weren't smiling though.

"Hey, [y/n], max. Have you guys seen dustin? We're supposed to meet after class." Lucas said but you just slammed your locker shut, max glanced at Lucas with annoyance and also slammed his locker shut.

"[Y/n]! Max!" Lucas called out. He follows the two of you out of the school. "Hey, [Y/n], Max! Hey, where are you guys going? Come on! We've gotta look for dart."

You stayed silent.

"Yeah, good luck with that." Max said.

"What is wrong with you guys?" Lucas questioned with confusion.

Max kept walking, "what is wrong with us? what's wrong with you?" he retorts.

"I don't understand." Lucas replied.

"No! We don't understand!" Max added. "You guys act like you want us to be your friend but then you treat us like garbage!"

"That's not true!" Lucas protests.

"Yes, it is!" This time you spoke. "You go and hide in the AV club, keeping secrets like this is second grade! you know..I thought you were different Lucas, I thought you'd want us part of the party— I thought you'd vouch for us. but it's clear you don't want us around."

"We do. But it's..." Lucas trails off.

"But what?" You interrupt.

Lucas sighs. "There...there are just things. Things we can't tell you, alright? for your guys' own safety."

"Our own safety?" Max added.

"Yes!" Lucas answers.

Max then points to you, "because, what, she's a girl? oh I swear to god if that's the case you're all a bunch of asshol—"

"What? No!" Lucas replied.

You then spoke again, "did you keep secrets from El?"

Lucas then paused, staring at you like he had just saw a ghost or something. "How do you know about El?"

"How do we know about El." Max corrects as he crossed his arms.

"Did you or did you not, Lucas?" You replied irritatedly.

"That was different. Trust me. Okay?" Lucas answers. "That was just...different."

"Okay. You know what? Forget it, okay?" Max replied with a scoff. "We don't wanna be in your stupid party anyway. we're out. have a nice life."

Max then takes your hand and the both of you walked away.

"[Y/n], Max!" Lucas called out again.

"For your info, you still stink, by the way!" You shout as you follow max.

Lucas sniffs himself to see if you were right before he recoils and sighs, "Oh, shit!" He then turns and walks away.

You stopped in your tracks, "I think I'll walk home today." You saw billy, he had that 'I don't want you around' look on his face— you knew what that meant, you knew the way he was looking at your..skin for instance, the color honestly.

"What? Why?" Max asked before he took a look at his brother and clicked his tongue. "Right..I'm- I'm so sorry about him."

"It's okay." You reply, "I'll see you later."

Max watched as you waved him goodbye, he also waved goodbye before making his way to his step brother's car.

"You really need to stop hanging out with [Y/n]." Billy scoffs. "And that kid you were talking to, who is he?"

Max opens the car door and clenched his jaw as he got inside, "he's no one."

"No one?"

"This kid from my class."

Billy watched as Lucas walked away, once he gets into the car he lights up a cigarette. "Why was he talking to you?"

"It was just about a stupid class assignment." Max added while crossing his arms.

"Then why're you so upset?" Billy asks.

"I'm not!" Max says frustratedly.

"He causing you trouble? him and [y/n]?" Billy questioned.

Max rolls his eyes, "why do you care?"

"Because, max, you're a piece of shit, but we're family now whether we like it or not, meaning I'm stuck looking out for you." Billy says.

Max laughs sarcastically, "Jee! What would I ever do without—"

But suddenly billy grabs max's wrist, "hey! this is serious shit, okay? I'm older than you. And something you learn is that there are certain type of people in this world that you stay away from, prime good example? [Y/n]. And that other kid, max...that kid is one of them."

Max went to lean away but billy jerked him forward again, "You stay away from them, you hear me? both of them. stay away."

Max yanks his wrist out of Billy's grip, leaning to his side as he had thought about what his step brother had just said, he hated the fact his step brother thought he had control over who he could be friends with— he knew how his brother was.

Billy wasn't fond of you at all, or your skin— for that matter, and he's told max countless times to stay away from you, but of course max would always go against the grain— anything that would keep him around you.

It doesn't matter what billy said, regardless, max would still be around you.