Chapter Text
The hospital had basically been Max’s new home for about two months. Fortunately for her, today, that was finally going to change.
After endless days of painful physical therapy, neurological testing, emotional breakdowns, tasteless hospital food, and let’s not forget the sharp, antiseptic smell that seemed to cling to everything, Max had somehow made a full recovery. She could chug down solid foods, her sight had returned, and most importantly, she had full control of her body. Her doctors couldn’t explain how she was able to function normally after breaking all her limbs and spending nearly two years asleep. Of course, they didn’t know the truth that Max hadn’t actually been in a coma, but under a spell cast by an evil wizard from another dimension. Naturally, neither she nor Lucas felt the need to explain for obvious purposes. Still, none of that mattered, Max was finally leaving this shithole.
She looked over at her raggedy duffle bag that Lucas had waiting for her the moment he found out her mom skipped town and has now been classified as a missing person since the “earthquake”. He made sure to pack it with all of her favorite clothes, her comics, pictures from her desk, even items she didn’t think she’d miss. It was as if Lucas had been preparing for this moment since her coma began. He recognized the fact that Max no longer had a home to return to, so he made sure he had a small piece of her home ready whenever she was ready. Glancing at the green bag that was sitting beside her hospital bed, Max felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time. Maybe she wasn’t completely alone after all.
Once Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair signed her discharged papers, Max and Lucas wheeled her belongings towards the exit. Max reached for her duffle bag.
“I’ve got it”, Lucas said slipping his hand under the strap before Max could grab it.
“No I can—“ Max pulled, but the bag wouldn’t budge
“Trust me,” he cuts her off with a sincere smile, but a calm voice that always made Max’s stomach turn to butterflies. He followed with a cheeky grin “It’s way too heavy for you”.
Max rolled her eyes
“It’s not even that heavy…” She muttered annoyed, still trying to yank the bag.
Lucas glanced at the crinkly plastic bags Max held in one of her hands that she accumulated over her prolonged hospital stay.
“Want me to carry your baggies, too?” he asked nodding at them.
Max paused in disbelief staring at him, and let out a giggle. “You are ridiculous!”
“And you’re not letting me help??” he countered with a serious expression.
“Fine” She said, letting Lucas take the weight. But only a little. She wasn’t about to make it too easy for him.
Lucas lifted the bag higher on his shoulder.
“Light as a feather” He grinned.
Max teasingly shoved him. “You are such a dork”
“You love it”
Her cheeks flushed “Shut up…”