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Steph wakes slowly, her head pounding. She groans and props herself up in bed. Her room is dim, pre-dawn light peeks through a gap in her curtains and spills across her cluttered floor. She feels around her nightstand for her phone. Steph pulls a face at the time, barely past six, then turns the screen back off. It needs charging, apparently she forgot to plug it in when she came in however many hours ago, but she doesn’t feel like getting out of bed yet. Steph flops back down with a sigh then rolls onto her side.
Max is still asleep, sheets wrapped around his waist and his face half pressed into the pillow. With his expression soft and slack with sleep he looks like any other seventeen year old boy. It’s hard to remember how much of a dick he can be like this. His hair has worked itself free from the gel he puts in it and soft curls brush against his forehead. When Steph reaches over to brush one out of his face, he shifts, his brow furrowing. She runs a hand down his bare back, feeling his muscles and the small scars that litter his skin. Max grumbles something into the pillow and one of his eyes cracks open. He eyes her for a moment then smiles, teeth gleaming. Steph smiles back.
“You alright, man?” Her voice is still scratchy with sleep. Max props himself up on one arm and she sits back up too.
“Fuck me, what-” he yawns. “What time is it?”
“A little after six. What time did we get in?” He shrugs at her, giving her a once over.
“Fuck if I know. That my shirt?” Steph looks down at herself and stretches it away from her to get a better look.
“Yeah, guess it must be.” She shrugs, then glances back at him. “You want it back?” He shakes his head.
“Whatever.” Max swings his legs off the side of the bed and stands. He stretches wide, back popping, then turns to grin at her. “Looks better on you.” He winks and Steph laughs.
“You know it. Get me a drink?” He eyes her, half bent over as he pulls on his jeans.
“Who says I’m not leaving? Maybe I’ve got better things to do than hang around your room all morning.” She flips him off as he backs towards the door, still grinning.
“Like fuck you do.” He laughs and spins around, leaving the door open a crack as he exits. Steph rolls her eyes. “Asshole.”
After a few minutes, Max pushes his way back into her room. He tosses a bottle of vitamin water at her and laughs as it smacks into her chest.
“Christ, Steph, you could at least try to catch it.” She sticks out her tongue.
“We can't all be jocks, Jägerman.” He drops his jeans back on the floor and she straightens suddenly as a thought hits her, fumbling for her phone. She smiles up at him and holds it out. “Put this on charge for me?” He rolls his eyes but crosses her room to get her charger.
“Your dad’s hot assistant was glaring at me again.” Steph pulls a face.
“Miss Tessburger?” Max shrugs, flopping down diagonally onto her bed. His head lands by her knees and she reaches out to tap his forehead. “What did she want?”
“Didn't say. Maybe she’s just jealous that she hasn’t had a go with the Jägermeister.” Steph laughs.
“She’s, like, obsessed with my dad and the election. She’d never risk the scandal of being linked with a highschooler.” She tips her head in thought. “If she’s here, my dad will be down any minute.” Max grins and sits back up.
“Oh yeah? Wanna make a scene?” He puts a hand on her bare hip, trailing it up her side under her stolen shirt. She twists away.
“Maybe not. I’m supposed to go to some event with him tomorrow, and I’d rather not have to put up with an additional lecture. The usual one about ‘acceptable public behaviour’ is bad enough.” She pulls her knees up to her chest and he pouts.
“Oh come on Stephanie, don’t you wanna have some fun?” He bites his lip and she sighs. How he manages to still look hot doing the stupidest expressions is beyond her.
“Whatever man, I’m gonna go back to sleep. You can fuck off home if you want.” She yanks the covers from under him and shakes them out. He pulls a face at her but as she settles them out he collapses back down next to her. His feet are cold against her calves and she shivers, turning so she’s facing his chest. She slings an arm over him and he grunts softly as her hand hits against his back. Steph’s eyelids flutter closed as she feels a warm arm pull her closer.
This quiet peace won’t last. Soon the sun will rise and she’ll have to face the day. Her dad or Miss Tessburger will want something eventually. Or Max will make a meanspirited ‘joke’ about something that happened the night before and she’ll kick him out. Or worse, laugh along and pretend it didn’t happen, even as her gut sours.
But for now, it’s not quite dawn, and with Max warm and quiet beside her, she can sleep for a little longer.