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Safi felt like she was going crazy.
Something had wormed its way into her brain, something that planted desires and thoughts that had slowly grown into a sort of obsession. Max Caulfield was all Safi could think about lately.
She’d tried to find ways to ignore it, but all she managed to do was mitigate the insatiable hunger she felt whenever her name rolled off Max’s tongue. This type of want was unnatural. Something Safi had never felt before. It had her sneaking around Max’s classes, shapeshifting just to watch the photographer teach. It had her spending every other night at Max’s place, focus only on the woman beside her while a movie played in front of them. It had her glaring daggers at Vinh’s back every time she saw him even look in Max’s general direction.
It certainly didn’t help that Safi already had Vinh on her shitlist. They’d hooked up on occasion, sure, but he’d gotten jealous and irritable and Safi simply didn’t want to deal with it. Things were already tense between them, and then he’d decided on a whim to pursue Max of all people. What right did he have, when Safi’s feelings for Max was the reason the two of them cut things off in the first place?
Watching him grin at Max, cracking jokes, leaning down to say something that Max chuckled at? It caused her brain to quiet, replaced by something that felt like static. All she could think about was how badly she wanted Max to laugh with her like that.
Safi hadn’t planned on doing anything about it. She really hadn’t. At least until that thing in her brain that had started out as nothing but the odd thought about how pretty Max was began spreading to the rest of her nervous system. It hijacked her senses, igniting her with a need for her best friend that she simply couldn’t mask any longer.
She’d used her powers to mess with people before, sure. Gwen, Lucas. But this time felt different. She wasn’t using her powers to avenge her dead best friend. She was using her powers to selfishly cut off something that hadn’t even started yet.
Safi just wanted Max to look at her, and only her. Was that so bad? To want those blue eyes looking up at her, eyebrows pinched in that adorable way they always did whenever Max felt upset or nervous.
She’d gotten close, once. During a party that she had dragged Max to. The photographer had gotten plastered, and her and Safi had found a quiet corner to hide in when the music and people inevitably got too loud.
Max had been sprawled over a couch, head on Safi’s lap. Safi had combed her fingers gently through Max’s hair. And as Safi leaned over and looked down at the woman, wide blue eyes meeting dark brown, she’d felt something tug within her.
Best friends don’t do this. Best friends don’t do this. She’d repeated over and over in her head, like it was going to make the image of Max’s eyes scanning every detail on her face go away. Max’s eyes were swimming with undeniable affection, and maybe even a hint of attraction. Safi was too drunk and might have only been seeing what she wanted to see, but she swore that it was there.
And then she’d never been the same again. Always chasing that feeling, that rush she’d gotten from Max staring up at her like she was the only thing in the room.
Max wanted her. Deep down, somewhere, even if she didn’t know it yet. And there was no fucking way that Safi would just let this opportunity pass by her. She’d make Max see.
Even if it took just a little bit of manipulation to do so.
She would say she felt bad about it. Maybe she would, if it wasn’t Vinh. And if he wasn’t trying so damn hard to get into Max’s pants. She waved the thought away. It didn’t matter what he did. Safi was crazy for Max, and she knew that Max wanted her too. But even just the thought of Max with someone other than her, the thought of someone admiring Max in that way, was enough to irritate her.
Her face felt hot, pumping blood directly to her head as she approached the Snapping Turtle. Safi shut her eyes, imagining herself reaching into the minds of those around her. She thought about them and their perceptions of her, allowing herself to gently influence something different. Her form shifted, shimmering as she presented herself as Max.
Was this slightly messed up? Maybe. Did she care all that much? Nope. The single thing on her mind when she reached for the door handle, walking into the Snapping Turtle, was Max. As per usual.
Safi set her eyes on Vinh and could already feel that familiar jealousy bubbling inside of her, like a lidded pot of boiling water. But she pushed it down. If she was going to be convincing, she couldn’t be making snide remarks.
As Vinh tipped his glass up, downing the shot of alcohol, Safi as Max - sidled into the seat next to him. “Hey, Vinh,” She greeted, hearing Max’s voice come out of her own mouth. Shapeshifting was trippy no matter how many times she’d done it. It was a good thing she’d spent so long with Max that she wasn’t worried she’d have trouble acting like the photographer.
“Max!” Vinh’s face lit up as he turned to Safi, twisting on the stool to face her. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Safi’s composure nearly cracked at his expression. Why did he look so happy to see Max? Jealousy flared like a fire inside of her, the lid about to explode. But she simply flickered her focus to the bar, where Amanda waved at her. She waved back awkwardly.
After taking a couple moments to cap the hatred she was feeling for Vinh, she turned back to him. “Look, I’ve got somewhere to be soon, but I really needed a favor.”
Vinh smirked. “And you came all the way here? Don’t tell me you’ve been keeping track of my habits now, Max.”
Safi chuckled, the noise strained. “You wish.” The words were harsher than she intended, but if Vinh noticed he didn’t comment on it. “I heard that you and Safi used to be pretty close.”
She broached the subject hesitantly, gauging his reaction to the words. His expression twitched with irritation just so. Safi would be lying if she said it didn’t send a small wave of satisfaction through her.
“Anyway, this is… pretty embarrassing, actually.” She threw in a small awkward laugh. “If, hypothetically, someone were to try to flirt with her. What would be the best way?”
Watching Vinh’s face crumble in real time was exhilarating. The vindication she felt, the cruel satisfaction that came from knowing just by his eyes that he’d thrown in the towel concerning Max? It was indescribable. She had never felt this before. This rush of knowing that she’d quickly put an end to any competition, with only two sentences.
Vinh cleared his throat, stuttering as he answered. “Did not see that one coming.” He joked, but something in his voice sounded disappointed. Safi relished it. “Uh… I mean… Safi values straightforwardness. I wouldn’t beat around the bush. Just tell her how you feel.”
“Thanks!” Safi said abruptly, her goal completed. She didn’t want to spend any more time around him than she had to. She hopped off the stool, struggling to contain her smile as she turned back to him. “I’ll see you around.”
Vinh waved weakly, and Safi practically skipped out of the bar. She’d killed two birds with one stone. Now she just needed to get Max to realize how badly she wanted this too. Though something told her that would be even easier than getting Vinh to back off. Just a nudge would be enough.
She left the Snapping Turtle, waiting to shift back to herself until she was out of sight of the bar and its patrons. She let go of the hold she had over herself and those that had been around her, allowing her form to shimmer back into her own.
Safi reached into her jacket pocket, pulling out her phone and opening the messaging app.
Safi
Movies at yours tonight? You’ve been busy lately, I miss you.
2:18 p.m.
Safi tapped her finger against the side of her phone case, ready to put it away and wait for a response. But then three dots appeared, indicating that Max was typing. Wow. That was almost record time. The thought of Max seeing her text and immediately responding tugged at that worm in her brain. She tried to brush it off, to no avail.
Max
Of course! I just have a class at 5. Come over at 7?
2:18 p.m.
Safi
Perfect.
2:19 p.m.
And so it was settled. Safi couldn’t wait. Only four and a half hours, and Max would be hers.
Safi got to Hellerton House a couple minutes early, just so she could have the small satisfaction of knocking on the door at seven o’clock on the dot. She watched the time on her phone, and as soon as it changed to 7:00, she raised her fist and knocked on the door, slipping her phone into her back pocket.
She could hear Max’s soft footsteps padding over to the door, heard the lock twist, and then the door opened. Safi couldn’t help the grin that slipped across her lips as she looked at Max. The photographer was in a brown knitted sweatshirt that was tucked into black denim. She looked good. Salivatingly good.
Reel it in, Safi, she begged herself. She needed to come off as normal, at least for now. Though Max certainly made it hard for her, when she caught the woman’s eyes flickering over her figure. She nearly jumped Max then. But she somehow, by the grace of some unseen force, held herself back.
“You look good.” Safi offered as a greeting. She didn’t feel like bothering with the small talk, not when she was so excitedly anticipating what exactly this “movie night” was going to turn into.
Max seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, but then her eyes met Safi’s. Safi watched as a soft flush adorned her cheeks. Fuck, she wanted to kiss Max so badly. “Oh! Thanks, this is one of my favorite sweatshirts.” Max smiled, eyes crinkling adorably.
Max turned, and walked over to the kitchen, letting Safi let herself in. Safi did so, shutting the door behind her.
She followed Max into the kitchen, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you’ve got wine or something in here.”
Max shot an affectionately annoyed look over her shoulder. “Is getting drunk all you think about?”
Oh, if only Max knew.
“Nope,” Safi answered truthfully. “But it is pretty fun.”
Max huffed out a light laugh, rifling through her cabinets and finding a bag of microwaveable popcorn. She tossed it onto the counter. “Voila!”
“Wow, Max.” Safi raised her eyebrows in faux surprise, though her tone remained playfully sarcastic. “You’ve really outdone yourself this time.”
Max popped the bag into the microwave and set the timer. “Only the best for our movie nights.” She stood up straight when she finished, then turned back to Safi. Something cautious flickered over her face. Like something was troubling her. “Hey, Safi. I uh… I talked to Vinh earlier.”
Safi tried to ignore how hearing her name from Max felt. It drove her insane, mind wandering to how delicious it would be to hear her name from Max’s lips while the girl was breathless, lost in pleasure.
“Mhm,” Safi hummed noncommittally, acting as though she had no idea why Max was bringing this up. “And how did that go? You two have been getting pret-ty close lately,” she mentioned, the bitter tone of jealousy creeping into her voice.
Max was quiet for a moment. Safi chanced a glance at her, noticing that the photographer was studying her. Similar to a puzzle that Max just couldn’t seem to figure out. “He was acting weird.” She finally admitted. “And he asked about you.”
“Really?” Safi gasped and pressed her hand against her heart. “I didn’t know he was still so hung up on me. Can’t blame him, though.” She turned back to Max, resting her hands on the counter that separated the two of them.
“No, no, I mean…” Max trailed off for a moment, eyes narrowing at Safi. When she continued, her words were slow. Like she was putting pieces together as she spoke. “He asked me if I’d told you. About my feelings. For…”
Safi bit back a smirk, trying and failing to maintain her innocent demeanor. She couldn’t help it. Watching everything fall into place for Max, the gears turning in her head, made Safi want to kiss the woman so unbelievably badly.
“Safi.” Max stared at her. “Did you…?”
Safi tilted her head back and groaned, raising her hands in mock surrender. “Okay, fine. I may or may not have shapeshifted into you and told him you have feelings for me.” The popcorn popped in the microwave behind Max, slighting ruining the reveal, but Safi honestly couldn’t find it in her to care all that much.
“I knew it.” Max half-hissed, accusation dripping from her tone. Safi raised a brow. Max had never spoken to her like this. What did it say about her if she liked it? “I knew you were messing around with Vinh. With me! Why, Safi?” Max seemed less distressed about the whole situation and more confused, searching Safi’s eyes for an answer.
“Because he wanted you,” Safi snapped, briefly losing her composure at the thought of Vinh’s face lighting up when Safi had approached him as Max. She pursed her lips, then walked around the counter to stand across from Max. She crossed her arms and leaned against the counter. “I think the better question, Max, is did you deny it?” Safi asked, her voice low.
“What-” Max sputtered, a flush coloring her cheeks. She bristled, defensive. “How is that even relevant?”
It was almost cute, really, how quickly Max had deflected. But Safi knew Max’s tells. That nervous glance to the side, the fidgeting, the bitten lip. Max knew exactly how it was relevant, and what her hesitance to clear things up with Vinh meant. Safi didn’t mind dragging it out of her, though. She enjoyed their banter, the games they’d been playing around each other.
Safi clicked her tongue, shaking her head. “Come on, Max. You’re oblivious, but you aren’t that oblivious. You know what all this means.”
Max swallowed harshly. Safi watched her throat bob, eyes darkening. The thought of sinking her teeth into the side of Max’s neck invaded her brain, the idea of seeing it adorned with marks she left there driving her insane.
“No?” She teased. “Maybe you need a little help connecting the dots.” Safi pushed off the counter and stepped closer, pads of her fingers dragging along the surface. She held eye contact with Max, obsessed with the way the photographer leaned back, but never stepped back. “Think about it, Max. Drinking together? Those low words, small touches, passing out together in your bed? Did you really think all of that was just ‘best friends’ stuff?”
“I…” Max stammered, mouth opening and closing.
Safi shook her head, hushing Max. “Don’t bother. You know I’m right. I think you’ve known for a while now.” She stopped advancing when she was toe-to-toe with Max, gazing down at her best friend. Her voice lowered as she leaned down. “You didn’t fix things with Vinh because part of you, no matter how small, didn’t want to. Because part of you is hung up on me.”
Max’s head tilted upwards in what looked to be an almost instinctive motion. Safi saw the look in her eye, the one that she’d been wishing to see from Max for so long. Their lips were mere inches apart. It would only take one small movement, from either of them. She was so close she could see the freckles dotting Max’s face. She wanted to count every single one, to know things about Max that nobody else could know.
“Fuck, Max.” She whispered, voice hoarse. “Tell me you want this.”
“...Please.” Was the weak reply, Max’s eyes flickering between Safi’s. There was something in them. Devotion.
Holy shit.
Safi crashed their lips together, swallowing any other pleas that left Max’s mouth. Her hands reached up to cup Max’s face, tilting the woman’s head up further as her tongue swiped greedily along Max’s bottom lip. Her mind went fuzzy as Max’s lips parted, Safi’s tongue slipping into her mouth.
She pushed Max back against the counter, one hand moving to brace them against it, the other sliding to the small of Max’s back, tugging the girl even closer, flush against her. She felt Max’s arms loop around her neck, one hand snaking into her hair.
Safi groaned softly into Max’s lips, before pulling back just enough to speak. “I’ve wanted you so bad for so long, Max.” She breathed the words against Max’s mouth, kissing her again. Max made a strangled noise in the back of her throat, one that was muffled by Safi’s mouth.
Hands grappled clumsily at Max’s waist, pulling the girl closer as Safi pulled away from Max’s lips. Her head dipped down to Max’s jaw, then neck. She trailed open-mouthed kisses down the woman’s skin, finding it unbearably soft. Her teeth sunk gently into Max’s skin, nipping at her pulse point. She quickly soothed it over with her tongue upon hearing a whine vibrate through Max’s throat.
Safi raised her head up to Max’s ear, nipping the skin directly beneath it. “Tell me you want me.” She mumbled, voice husky. When there came no response, she bit the junction of Max’s jaw and neck, a little more intensely than before. “Say it,” she snapped, sucking on the mark after.
“I want you, Safi, God- I want you.” Max’s voice was breathless, Safi’s name rolling off of her tongue effortlessly. Just the way that Safi had always envisioned hearing it. Daydreaming about it was one thing. But this?
This was fucking divine.
Safi pulled back to survey Max’s state. Dark marks were already beginning to form along the photographer’s neck. Her lips were slightly swollen, face flushed, hair tousled. And those eyes… They were looking at Safi like she was the only thing that mattered.
“Say it again.” Safi half-begged.
“I want you. So badly, Safi.” Max breathed out, voice just as desperate as Safi’s.
Safi stared at Max, thoughts consumed by the woman in her arms. She looked so perfect. She looked so wrecked, so desperate. Safi couldn’t believe her eyes. Her mind was scattered, uncontrollable needs rushing through every part of her. Mind, body, and soul.
“My fucking god, Max.” She muttered, watching as Max tilted her head up needily towards Safi, lifting onto the tips of her toes. She indulged, kissing Max slowly now, taking her time. Something unnaturally possessive rushed through her, her only thoughts being how badly she wanted Max to be hers and hers alone.
She needed to know everything about Max. To understand what made the photographer tick. To know what she kept hidden deep inside of her, to draw out every secret that Max kept caged behind her heart. She needed to be as close to Max as she could be apart from crawling into her skin.
Safi pressed Max against the counter, dipping down to kiss her again. She kissed Max like there was nothing else she’d rather be doing, like each kiss was something sacred. Her hands slid down to the hem of Max’s shirt, one of them sliding under the fabric, meeting the warm skin of Max’s stomach.
Then the smell of something burnt invaded her senses. Safi pushed through it. She really could not care less if the whole building was burning down around them as long as it meant she got to keep kissing Max.
But the smell apparently bothered Max to snap her out of the hazy lust the two of them had sunken into. “The popcorn!” She exclaimed, wriggling out of Safi’s grip to rush over to the microwave and drag out the bag of popcorn, hissing when her fingers settled on the bag.
Safi let her go, only for a moment. She sauntered over to Max once the popcorn was sitting on the counter, snaking her arms around Max’s waist from behind and dipping down to kiss gently along Max’s neck. There was something possessive in her movements, and she knew Max could feel it. She just didn’t care to hide it anymore.
Max huffed, one hand reaching up to rest on the side of Safi’s neck. “Nearly burning down my house wasn’t enough for you?” Safi could hear the amusement in her tone.
Safi grumbled a string of obscenities against Max’s neck. “Nothing’s going to be enough for me. Not when it comes to you.” She meant it too, the obsession she felt for Max slipping into her voice, dropping the tone to something low and dangerous.
“We should probably talk about this,” Max mumbled hesitantly. “What exactly are you trying to do here, Safi?”
Safi breathed in Max’s familiar scent, dropping her chin onto Max’s shoulder. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“Like anything’s obvious with you,” Max snarked. Her tone lacked any real bite.
“God, you’re no fun sometimes.” Safi groaned. She pulled back, gently turning Max to face her. She stared at the photographer, examining every detail. God, Max was so gorgeous. Safi wanted to devour her, wanted to be consumed by Max’s presence. “I want you. All to myself. Was me getting Vinh to fuck off not enough of an indication of that?”
Max’s eyes searched Safi’s. Safi knew Max would find exactly what she was looking for: the truth. Safi was nothing short of obsessed. Plain and simple.
“What am I going to do with you?” Max breathed out a soft sigh, reaching up to cup Safi’s cheek.
Safi shuddered as Max’s thumb brushed along her cheekbone. “Not sure. But don’t you think it would be fun to find out?” She pressed, lowering her head to nudge Max’s nose with her own.
Max met Safi’s eyes through her lashes. “Shit.” She muttered, then caught Safi’s lips between her own once again.
Safi grinned against Max’s lips, utterly lost in how good it felt to kiss Max. Utterly lost in the feeling of Max’s waist under her hands, Max’s lips against hers, Max’s soft pants. The only thing she cared about was Max.
“Movie first.” Max pulled away suddenly, leaning back when Safi chased her lips. “That’s what you came over for, isn’t it?” She teased, tilting her head.
Safi narrowed her eyes, irritated. Safi was practically offering herself up to Max on a silver platter and Max wanted to watch a movie? The concept was both so absurd and so frustratingly Max. “You are such a tease. You know damn well that’s not what I came here for.”
“Weird, I could have sworn you agreed to watch a movie with me.” She glanced over her shoulder at the burnt popcorn. “Also, not eating that popcorn would be wasteful.”
“That popcorn was charred to a crisp while my tongue was down your throat.” Safi huffed, disgruntled.
“If you pay attention this time, then we can revisit… all of this.” Max smiled sweetly, stepping out of Safi’s grip.
Safi blinked as she fully processed the words. All those movie nights she’d spent staring at Max, always unable to recount the plot of the movies when Max asked her to. The photographer must have noticed, at some point. She laughed unapologetically. “Didn’t realize you noticed.”
Max simply shrugged and picked up the popcorn bag. She started walking over to the couch, beckoning Safi along with her. “Come on. The movie awaits.”
Safi watched Max walk out of the room, rooted to the floor. Her head spun as she recounted the last ten minutes.
“The sooner we watch, the sooner we can get to your plans!” She heard Max call from the couch.
Safi scoffed lightly. She shook her head and began walking, already excited to rejoin Max and be engulfed in her presence again. The feeling was even better now that she knew that Max was hers, and hers alone.
This fucking girl was going to be the death of her.