Chapter Text
"Man look at this gem." Lucas whistled at the view of the small restaurant, nodding his head in approbation as he drove in the street and passed in front of the coffee shop. Max looked at the sign which spelled FK House.
"Why FK?" She curiously asked as she glanced at the black facade of the cafe before it disappeared behind them as Lucas drove forward to search for a parking place.
"Cause his name's Franklin. He was too lazy to search for an actual name." He explained in a mocking tone before turning right where there was an empty spot to park.
"I mean that's basically what any brand owner does." She snorted.
"Right." He nodded as he executed a perfect parallel park.
"Oh I'm impressed." She raised her eyebrows.
"Are you?" He smiled, turning his face to her to see she was shaking hers.
"You get flattered so easily."
"You do too, I just have to call you pretty." He winked as she roll her eyes.
"Let's just go." She said, about to open the door but he stopped her.
"Wait." He interrupted before he turned off the car and walked out to open the door on her side. Max giggled at the gesture, rolling her eyes at this new cheesy side she found he had before she stepped out.
"You're actually going to make my eyeballs bleed." She snorted, she never rolled her eyes so often until she met him. It was at least two times a minute.
"Just being nice." He shrugged as they started walking to FK's. "You hungry?" He then asked.
"Yeah a little." She shrugged. It was past 4 and she hadn't eaten since lunch after all.
"Alright let's order sum, you'll like it, Frank bakes like a god." He smiled, a smile she had never seen on his face, but it looked good on it. Lucas seemed proud, but also excited. She has trouble to believe that it was the same man who was breaking heart on the daily.
They walked inside of the restaurant side by side, when they stepped inside she could already smell the good food. She took a look around seeing many african american appreciation posters hanging while some relaxing Soul music faintly played on the speakers. There weren't too many people as all the tables weren't taken. They walked to the counter where a guy approximately their age stood in a uniform.
"Welcome, what can I get you?" He gently asked with a formal smile, but in a bored tone.
"Hey, just call Franklin and tell him Lucas is here." He answered. The guy looked confused and hesitant for a second but he seemingly had nothing better to do so he walked to the kitchen in the back. They stood side to side in a not so awkward silence while waiting for Franklin to come. She didn't know what she could talk to him about honestly, their only interaction was sex so far so he was basically a stranger to her, though he knew sides of her no one else did. "So, why are you looking for a job?" He asked, breaking the silence at last. She sighed looking for a suitable answer, because she could not get in depth but she had to tell him something he would believe, and after giving it a thought, there was no simpler than that.
"I just need to save money." She simply responded.
"Why, you got projects?" He curiously asked, and she gulped. 'No I need to run away from my abusive father and take my little sister to start a new life.' she thought, but never said it out loud.
"Um, I..."
"Hey lil man how you doing?" She was interrupted by a strong voice, both her and Lucas turned their faces as they saw who she assumed to be Franklin walking towards them. She let out a relieved sigh, she didn't want to enter the details nor make up a lie so he arrived at the right time.
"Franklin!" Lucas exclaimed as they bumped fists.
"I see you're still in good company you player." He teased, looking at Max. "My name's Franklin. Nice to meet you." He smiled and offered his hand which she gladly shook.
"Hi Franklin, my name's Max."
"Max? Sounds–" He arched an eyebrow.
"Masculine? I get that often." She nodded.
"It's short for Maxine." Lucas explained.
"Nah it's alright, I've got a homie, his name's Mandy. Sounds like a mean girl name but he cool." Franklin shrugged. "So you brought me some help?" He asked Lucas.
"Yeah actually but we wanna eat first you know, taste it before you sell it." He commented, Franklin arched an eyebrow.
"There's no such saying." Max shook her head. "But I'll order please." She turned to Franklin.
"Sure I'll personally bring it to your table let's have your interview there. You're in but I needa stay formal." He whispered the last sentence, causing her to giggle.
"Alright Frank we'll seat by the window tables." Lucas let him know before both of them went to take a seat face to face. This was almost like a date from an outside point of view, but she knew better than to think it was one.
"Thanks again for this Lucas."
"No problem." He shook his head. "Anyways so.. I thought for professional reasons we should exchange numbers." He cleared his throat, seating more comfortably.
"That's the most unprofessional way to ask a girl for her number.." she scoffed, leaning back in her seat as she crossed her arms.
"Hey, I tried." He sighed. "I just think we could use some communication to.. you know." He shrugged.
"You're unbelievable.." She whispered before taking out her phone from her pocket. She handed it to him after she opened the phone app and quickly he dialed his own number, she called on it and he saved her number.
"What are you naming me?" He curiously asked with an innocent smile. She didn't answer but rather turned her screen to show him. "Hookup? Really?" He shook his head in disbelief.
"I think it's poetic." She shrugged.
"It's just dumb!" He frowned.
"But it's the truth." She smiled. "No I'm fucking with you I'm just gonna name you Lucas." She giggled, his disappointed face immediately seemed relieved.
"So! I brought some waffles, donuts and cappuccino. All home made I'd like to add." Franklin arrived with his hands full and placed the plates on the table. He took a seat next to Lucas.
"Thank you so much it looks delicious!" Max exclaimed excitedly. She reminded herself to bring Zoe here someday.
"It is!" Lucas whose mouth was already full commented. Max giggled as she sipped some cappuccino beforehand.
"Okay let's start the interview. Are you two fucking?" He asked, and immediately Max spat everything she had in her mouth on Caleb's white shirt.
"Max!" He complained.
"What?" She ignored Lucas to look at Franklin. Why would he ask that?
"Damn I gotta clean all that mess now.." Lucas exhaled as he stood up to walk away.
"Lucas..!" she called him when she realized that she was now alone face to face with Franklin who just asked the most out of pocket question. "Why do you ask that?"
"To be safe, last time Lucas brought some girl here and we had trouble 'cause they were fucking, don't wanna repeat history you know." He explained.
"No we're not.." She lied, smoothly, like she was used to.
"Ahh great, that's one problem off the table." He rubbed his face with his two hands as Max gulped.
"So are we getting to the actual questions..?" She arched an eyebrow.
"Uh? Oh you know what you're in, don't bother. Me I gotta hit the bathroom anyways. When can you start?" He asked.
"Um I'm not really sure right now.." She shrugged.
"Fine, I'll be right back. Come see me at the counter in 5."
"Okay I'll.. go check on Lucas." She cleared her throat and stood up as they went in different directions. She walked to the counter to ask the other employee. "You've seen where Lucas went?" She asked.
"In the staff room." He tilted his head to point at a door with 'STAFF ONLY' plastered in capital. She nodded and walked to it, she opened the door and had to search a bit before she found Lucas who was sitting half naked on a bench. Her lips parted in a perfect O when she took a look at his strong shoulders and muscled arms, his body never failed to make her feel some way. He raised his face when he noticed her presence so she acted up.
"Put on a shirt." She frowned.
"You don't like it?" He playfully said, standing up as he walked closer to her with a smirk on his face.
"Hey, your brother is already suspicious about us so stay away. I didn't know you brought all the girls you fucked here?" She arched an eyebrow as he rolled his eyes. "It gave me a bad image in front of my employer just because I'm hanging with your fuckboy ass." She sighed.
"Hey, first of all we do have sex so he's not wrong, but I'm not the only one to blame! And second, it was one time. I don't know why he can't forget that." Lucas shook his head.
"What happened?" She knitted her brows, curious.
"Nothing, I just had sex with one of his employee once last year, when she saw me walking in with another girl she started causing a scene in front of everyone.."
"You're actually a jerk.." She noted.
"No I'm just simple, I say no feelings but because I'm nice some girls start thinking we have something going on." He spoke, almost sounding offended, and for a second she asked herself if it was a good idea keeping this 'relationship' with him, but she quickly brushed the thought off as she picked up a shirt that was thrown on the bench and pushed it on his torso.
"Just dress up, I need to pick up my little sister so we have to go."
"You have a sister?" He asked.
"Yeah I do."
"Oh I didn't know."
"You wouldn't know since we spend more time fucking than talking." She scoffed before she left the room, closing the door behind her. She went to the counter where Franklin was standing alongside what seemed to be his only employee. "Hey, so what days can you have me here?"
"It depends, what are your availability?"
"Can I send you my timetable so we can work on the schedule together?"
"Okay sure just come by Saturday." He nodded, and right after Lucas left the room as well, finally dressed up. "Yo Lucas Imma need you here too bro. You've been on a break since summer break began and if that pretty girl is gonna start working here that means more clients you understand?" He said.
"Yeah sure I'll see what I can do." He shrugged while walking to the exit. Max didn't forget to wave goodbye before she followed Lucas outside.
"So you've stopped working here?" She asked.
"I know, you were so excited at the thought of working with me." He teased and she shook her head in disbelief. "Nah more seriously I just stopped to have a little break you know, but I'm getting back in as soon as possible." He sighed. "Besides I'm still making efforts for the restaurant!" He scoffed. "Having you here is profitable for the company's growth.." he chuckled.
"You think so?" She tilted her head, smiling. Lucas looked at her.
"Yeah I told you you're pretty, it's gonna bring in more clients."
"I just wanted to hear it another time." She teased, winking at him before she walked to the car. Lucas looked at her go, a smile on his face as he scoffed, shaking his head. Maybe hanging out with her wasn't so bad, she was cool.
A few hours later, Lucas parked his car in front of his house turning it off as he leaned back on the driver's seat. He loudly exhaled, getting comfortable in his seat before he took out his phone from his pocket and turned it on to look at the time. 9:37. After dropping Max he went to the mall's gym and spent most of his time there. After doing his routine he met with some friends and they hung out for a bit. He was sweaty in his sports clothes but decided to stay in the car for a minute before he'd go home. Lucas unlocked his phone and scrolled through Instagram for twenty minutes, liking pictures, watching reels and responding to some texts. As he was typing he remembered he now had Max's number saved, so immediately he went to his contacts and clicked on her name. He hesitated between a phone call and a message, but decided it was too late in the night and too early in whatever relationship they had to call her. So he just texted her « hey you asleep? ». He sent the first message and stared at his screen for thirty seconds waiting for her answer, he guessed she was either asleep or busy right now after she didn't answer for a minute so he decided to leave it at that but then he saw the bubbles. « no one sleeps this early ». He snorted at her answer, a smile on his face as he typed his response.
Lucas
just checking
Max
took you long enough to send me a text
Lucas
what, you was waiting for it?
might as well have sent the first text then
Max
lol never in a million years
Lucas
why not?
Max
why would i send a guy the first text?
Lucas
because...? you can
Max
shh you don't get it
Lucas
then explain?
Max
can't, i have to sleep now so bye
Lucas
i thought no one slept that early?
Max
i make the rules😐
Lucas
bullshit
but see u tomorrow after school?
Max
sure