Brooke Maddox (shadeofmean) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2020-07-17 21:05:00 |
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Entry tags: | !closed, !completed gdoc, !log, [plot] 80s, brooke maddox (shadeofmean), ~2020 july, ~~max caulfield (blackwellninja) |
Who: Brooke Maddox and Max Caulfield
What: Max tutoring Brooke in summer school.
Where: School
When: Friday morning
Warnings: Some language but nothing serious
Status: Closed, completed
How do I always manage to get myself into these things? The question was all too familiar as Max waited outside the Madison Valley library for her tutoring student to arrive. Idly, she tapped her foot, looking around her for any sign of the blond, but not surprising, there was nothing. Max signed and took a seat on the steps. Dressed in a pair of tidy jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers, Max wasn’t worried about getting dirty. She’d already ended up stepping in mud trying to take a picture of a humming bird earlier in the day anyway.
“Come on, Brooke,” Max mumbled, taking the pencil out from behind her ear to idly tap it against the notebook on her lap. It was piled high on top of her English textbook. She was too nice; Chloe was right. She should have never signed up for tutoring in the summer. She should have spent her days taking pictures and sneaking stolen moments with the blue haired girl. Instead, she was sitting here, waiting on someone who was already five minutes late and counting. Worse, she couldn’t even make herself leave because she was too nice. Too kind. She believed in people and giving them chances.
***
Brooke was running late and anyone who knew her well knew that was no real big surprise, especially when it came to anything school related. Okay, probably didn’t help in the slightest on being out so late causing some trouble with her friends, but oh well. What was the school going to do? Give her more summer school? Good luck with that! Just like she knew Max would still be waiting even if she did show up a bit late. Brooke did feel slightly bad on making the girl wait since they were friends, but Max knew Brooke never got anywhere on time. So was it really her fault that Max was waiting? Yes, she knew it still didn’t make it right; however, it was just a bit too late now to get on her case about it.
With waking up a bit late, Brooke groaned as she turned on her bed, trying to find some clothes. Didn’t really matter if they matched or not, it was too early to care and then again she never cared to begin with. Finding some jeans and a hoodie from who knows when, she changed and grabbed two different sneakers. Not even realizing they were two different kinds until out the door. Oh well. Not like anyone would say anything unless they wanted to get knocked out by her. For a moment, Brooke thought about stopping off somewhere else, but her guilt of knowing Max was waiting made her rethink it. Had it been anyone else, she’d have stopped only it wasn’t anyone else. A little after ten minutes of being late, Brooke walked into view to where she could see Max.
“Do I really need to make the same comment that I do every time on how you’re still waiting even after I’m already late?” Brooke was glad for it, but she still always pointed out how Max shouldn’t have to wait around for people. Her niceness needed a limit with Brooke maybe allowed to slip under that limit just a bit.
***
And there she was. Finally. Max glanced down at her wristwatch. Ten minutes. Brooke was ten minutes late. Anyone else would have turned around and left Brooke standing there. Anyone else, but Max Caulfield. Max was just too damn nice and they both knew it. Despite their differences, Max did care about Brooke. Hell, she even considered her a friend as strange as it was. Brooke reminded her of Chloe a little bit too which probably helped Max keep patience with the other teenager where she might not have been so lenient with others.
“Oh, about how I’m too nice?” Max stood and brushed non-existent dirt from her jeans. “Yeah, I was in the process of asking myself how I always end up in these situations that involve waiting for you.” Despite the sarcasm, there was a hint of a smile on her lips. “Come on, let’s go. You’re going to be staying ten minutes later now because you pretty much flunked English and there is a lot of material to cover involving Shakespeare.” Max plastered a fake smile on her lips before turning and heading for the doors, hoping Brooke followed.
She pulled open the door and held it open for Brooke before glancing around inside for a table they could sit at. “Come on, over here.” Max led the way to a vacated table and put down her books and notebooks. Seeing as Brooke was wearing two kinds of shoes, she was not surprised to find that she hadn’t brought anything with her. Good thing Max had an extra notebook and a pen ready for her.
***
Brooke was picky about her friends since she didn’t want to hang out with people who...well if she was honest it was a long list on the type of people she didn’t hang out with. While Max could fall under the category of people Brooke wouldn’t normally consider friends, she let the girl slip under the radar. Max was someone she considered a friend and one off limits from her friends mocking or having some fun on pissing them off. Max was cool even if she could be a real pain on this whole tutoring thing. Probably the only person who could get Brooke to show up and pay attention even if it was only a tiny bit. Hey, she enjoyed napping it was the better way to spend the time rather than listening to boring stuff in school.
“Pretty much and you know it’s because I make your day a bit more interesting,” she announced like it was fact and everyone knew it. “Also you know if anyone will get me to pay even the slightest bit attention it’d be you and you’re too nice to have someone else stuck with me, especially when you know how that study session would go.” One word it’d be a disaster. No one else who did the tutoring stuff would be able to deal with Brooke even if she showed up on time. A groan left her lips as she lifted her head to look up at the sky. “Come on! We can pretend I made it on time and not do any of that. When am I ever going to need any of that Shakespeare crap?” Brooke knew Max was going to make her stay, but maybe she could find a way to make the time fly by faster? Groaning, she slowly followed Max almost like she was making the final walk to where she’d be killed or something. Right now she’d probably take that over some boring Shakespeare.
Entering into the building, she didn’t even try to hide her look of disgust at being around this place. Though she did look around to see if she knew anyone. Almost getting ready to head over to talk to a guy she knew before Max picked a table on the exact opposite side of the guy. For now, Brooke figured she’d follow what Max said so maybe she can try to charm her way out of this whole thing, the magic word being try. Anyone else she could use fear, but it was never the way she did things with Max. “Why?” The slight whine in her voice when Max had extra supplies, Brooke placing her head on the table. “What made you even do this? Wouldn’t you rather be doing something else with your time?” Brooke asked, turning her head slightly so her words weren’t muffled by her head on the table.
***
Max barely stifled the urge to roll her eyes at Brooke’s words. Interesting was an interesting word choice for their experiences together. She could think of at least one other word choice that could better describe their situation. In any case, she pushed a notebook and spare pen towards Brooke. The other woman was right about one thing; Max knew no one else would ever put up with Brooke the way that she did. They would have left after Brooke was five minutes late. Max was not easily swayed; besides, though odd, they did have a friendship. Brooke protected her from being bullied and in turn, Max helped Brooke with school. Unconventional, but it worked.
“Because you have to pass the class or you’re probably going to have to repeat a year of high school and I’m pretty sure you don’t want to be 21 and still trying to pass high school English,” Max replied,shaking her head. She opened up her copy of Romeo and Juliet. “Did you at least attempt the reading for today?” Somehow Max doubted it given that she had put on two different shoes that morning.
Why did she do this? It was a very good and legitimate question. Max knew it was because she did care about Brooke despite everything. She didn’t want the other woman to fail. “Of course I would. I would rather be taking pictures, I would rather be-” Max cut herself off before she accidentally brought up Chloe’s name. She couldn’t mention her; there would be bad consequences if she did. Horrible. Max took a deep breath and dropped her voice an octave when she spoke again.
“We both know I’m the only one who will put up with your crap and you need me.” Max poked the other woman’s nose with her pen gently. “That’s why.”
***
While Brooke would never say it cause it wasn’t who she was, she thought highly of Max. Probably the only reason Max could get away with so much with Brooke compared to other people. But she wasn’t into giving compliments, it was not who she was. Did it more by her actions such as listening a bit more or kicking the ass of anyone who gave Max a hard time. It was a win/win for her cause watching out for her friend and also could get into some fights.
“Oh please, the teachers would probably try to find a way to pass me so they can get rid of me,” and Brooke was pretty sure she wasn’t just kidding on that one. Considering the hell Brooke caused in the classroom, she really didn’t think anyone would be surprised if they did try that. “Remind me again why I can’t beat up another nerd to do my homework for me?” It was a question she asked often enough, never meaning Max, and also never really planning to go through with it. Yes, she had thought about it plenty of times, but she hadn’t done it as of yet.
“Yes, I did some of the reading,” okay, that was the biggest lie ever. “Romeo and Juliet die, the end.” She had heard that somewhere, right? Or maybe it was some other boring book, but she was pretty sure she heard it was this book. Brooke could’ve swore some chick who had been hanging with her and a bunch of others at her house had made some offhand comment about it when she saw the book. How they died? Brooke had no idea, but hey, it was something and could look like she did the reading. Even though she figured Max would question it, knowing what Brooke was really like.
Brooke’s attention was peaked now, raising an eyebrow and lifting her head even ignoring the poke to her nose. “Nah, back up right this second. I would rather be what?” She hoped Max knew while yes, she might give her a hard time even tease a bit, Brooke would never share whatever Max told her. First off, she wasn’t one of those gossip bitches, but the other reason being Max was her friend and that would be cruel. “You tell me what you were going to say...and I might put a little work in,” even saying that made Brooke shudder with the horror but now she had to know.
***
Brooke was a hellion; the teachers would probably do anything to get rid of her. Still, Max didn’t know how much sway they had with a complete school system. Besides, she didn’t want Brooke to end up without an education and then on the street or worse. Brooke was tough, but Max knew there were people tougher than her out there and if schooling could keep her away from those types, Max was willing to put up with the attitude. “Because you know I would be jealous,” Max replied simply. Okay, that wasn’t true, but she didn’t want someone being beaten up to do Brooke’s homework. That wouldn’t help anyone.
Did she really do the reading? Max was looking at her curiously. It was a basic answer and really anyone could have told Brooke that, but maybe she tried? Part of Max wanted to believe that Brooke had tried, but the other half of her knew her friend too well. There was no way she made it to the end of Romeo and Juliet. Max found it hard to believe that she would make it to the end of the first Act. “Okay, so then how did the first act end? It sounds like you actually did the reading so that’s good.”
Max paused. While she trusted Brooke, she wasn’t sure how Chloe would feel if she told Brooke about them. It was a secret for a reason; people didn’t approve of that type of relationship. It could land them both in big trouble with their parents. “It’s nothing and I doubt my personal life would get you to do a minute more of homework than you are already not doing.”
***
Brooke knew that jealous comment was complete bullshit, but she’d roll with it since the idea was hilarious. “Jealous because someone else might get my butt in line. Or jealous because someone else gets to spend all their time with me,” Brooke knew the second one was not a winner for anyone. Other than the people she hung out with more than anything, most people knew better than to get in her way. There was a reason some people tried to avoid her line of sight, knowing it’d end badly if she was in a bad mood. The bitches and the jocks avoided her and her friends, fearing they might end up getting hurt from one of them. The company she kept wasn’t the best, but they were her friends. Plus it was never a boring time with them, especially with the amount of trouble they always found.
Oh, she knew that look. Max was trying to decide whether she did the homework or not, hoping maybe Max would believe it. Did she think Max would? Not for a second, but she could hope. Maybe Max was off her game a bit and didn’t realize Brooke was lying just a bit about the reading. There it was! And there was also that tad bit of guilt only Max could get her to feel. No one ever really seemed proud of her for doing something, but Max seemed to be and that made her feel a bit guilty on the lying. Not like it wouldn’t be obvious now with that damn question. Considering the two main people died, Brooke knew she was going to have to take a guess, hoping for the best. “Romeo was in a fight,” she tried to hide the doubt in her voice while being completely clueless on if any of that was right. Maybe she should have opened the book to at least learn one other name in the book besides Romeo and Juliet but little late now.
Very rarely did something catch her interest, but the fact Max was hiding something had her a bit curious. Raising an eyebrow, she studied Max as if the secret was going to show up on her face. “I would’ve kept my word and it’s something, but fine, I won’t push….for now.” There was no way that for now comment was of any surprise to anyone who knew her. While she’d let it go for now, Max knew at some point Brooke would revisit the topic to see if she could find out what was being kept a secret. Brooke would never push, but oh, she’d keep revisiting the topic until she learned something or got bored.
***
Max frowned. It was neither really. She wouldn’t be jealous if someone actually wanted to tutor Brooke instead of her. It would give her more free time and more time just to spend with Chloe which Max would never turn down...ever. Unfortunately, Max was it. No one else could handle Brooke and sometimes, Max couldn’t exactly handle her either. She could be difficult at best. Still, Max knew that, despite that bad girl attitude, she did care.
Before she could answer, Brooke spoke up, answering her question about the first act. Did Brooke seriously read? It was a vague answer, but it was technically the correct answer. Max was honestly surprised, pleasantly so, but surprised all the same. “Wow, Brooke. I’m impressed. It’s vague, sure, but you are right. That’s good that you are doing the reading.” It showed Brooke did care even if Romeo and Juliet was probably one of the most boring things a girl like Brooke could read.
“Good.” Max knew that Brooke would probably keep her secret, but she didn’t want to put Chloe into any kind of trouble. “And...I know you would. It’s just...complicated.”
***
Brooke knew she was a real nightmare, but she was less of one for Max though it wasn’t by much. Hey, she was who she was and most people couldn’t handle it. Yes, she had told herself to be a little less her for Max during tutoring, but it never lasted. Not like she was going to go far in life or planned to do anything with her life after highschool so why should she care? Nah, she’d probably be doing like some of her older friends did with doing whatever the hell they wanted.
She was waiting to be called out on the not reading, but holy crap she was right. Why couldn’t all the books be like that? Brooke would be fine if more books were this easy to where she could guess on how they turned out. Though it may have sparked her interest only a tiny bit to find out there was some fighting, death, and other things like that in this book. But she had seen the first page and the whole language was a big nope to her. Damn it! Now Brooke felt a little bad, which never ever happened. Yet, here she was feeling super bad about lying even a tiny bit to Max. “Shit now I feel bad. Okay, I didn’t exactly read it, my cold, dark heart is feeling guilty on acting like I did. Who knew I could guess my way enough to be right?” Hey, she was being honest and she did guess. Maybe it could win her some brownie points to leave early?
“Complicated? Can you tell me how or is that not something you can say?” Brooke knew enough to know when the word complicated was used, it was most of the time about a relationship. If Max wanted to forget it though, Brooke was all too fine with that.
***”
Maybe Max should have guessed that Brooke was “guessing” her way through the reading assignment. It was, after all, such a Brooke thing to do and they both knew it. Yet, Max had not thought that way. Maybe it was because she wanted it to be true; she wanted Brooke to have put in the effort even if it was something that both of them knew would never happen.
When Brooke admitted to guessing her way through the entire thing, Max sighed, a frown forming on her lips. “Well, I will give you points for being able to do that,” Max admitted, shaking her head. “And at least you admitted to just guessing your way through it.” Max did have to give Brooke points for that. She could have kept up the lie, but she didn’t. “Maybe I’ll consider cutting the session ten minutes short.” Considering was the key word there.
Max did trust Brooke despite everything. “I’m just...with someone I shouldn’t be with.”
***
Was it really Brooke’s fault that the books they had to read for school were so boring? Maybe if the school had better books, then she’d actually try. Okay, that was a lie, but she could pretend or something like that. It did feel good for the brief moment on someone sounding proud she did something, but Brooke felt a bit bad. Had it been anyone else, especially a teacher, then she would’ve run with it. Max was a different story and she deserved the truth even if Brooke really hadn’t wanted to give it.
And that was the look Brooke was expecting with being all honest with the truth. See the truth never did anything good. Why were people so big on the truth? It never helped anyone! When only hearing how she might get ten minutes cut off, she put her head back on the table for a brief moment. Then she got an idea that could maybe work depending on Max’s mood of the day causing her to lift her head back up. “I might have read it with that knowledge if the stupid thing was even in English. Like come on who really understands this,” she asked, pushing the book more on the table.
Brooke shrugged at Max’s small little confession. “Who says you shouldn’t be with them? Cause screw them. You seem happy so screw everyone else who has a problem and do your own thing.”
***
Max sighed. “Look, they did not create this curriculum with you in mind, Brooke.” Honestly they probably didn’t create it with any kid in mind actually. Max would admit it was boring and Shakespeare was not the easiest to read or comprehend. Still, in order to pass high school English, you had to read it. It was horrible, but it’s the truth.
“I know it’s not the most interesting…” Max trailed off, looking down at the copy of Romeo and Juliet on the table between them. “But you have to read it to pass.” If Brooke even cared enough to pass.
At Brooke’s words, Max sighed again. “It’s not that simple, Brooke,”
***
Brooke gave her a look at that comment since she knew it wasn’t created with her in mind, but what kid would really understand any of what they read? The smart kids didn’t count since they were always kissing ass anyways for those good grades. No one in their right mind understood what was going on and most likely faked their way through it. Pretty much what Brooke did, the only difference was she didn’t even attempt to read it, especially once she saw the language. The school wanted most of the kids to fail because if they really cared, they’d pick books anyone could understand. There were plenty of options, but they went with this one for whatever reason.
“I didn’t say that. The fighting and the whole death rather than some boring happy ever after thing would catch interest even from people like me if the book was written in English,” Brooke pointed out. If some of her friends knew that, they’d probably give it a try, but no one wanted to read something and understand close to nothing. “Even if I read it, I’m not going to pass because the writing makes no sense,” she tossed back before making a face and then sighing. “Isn’t there a simpler way or like a cheat book to understand this nightmare?” For once, she actually meant it and wasn’t lying to get out of being here. If the book wasn’t such a nightmare to read, she’d do it, but that wasn’t the case and she was asking for options. If anyone would know, it was Max.
Brooke shook her head at Max. “You’re making it not that simple. So what if people have a problem with it? Name one thing in this world you won’t find someone bitching over.” It was a serious challenge because there was really nothing. Though she knew Max probably had her reasons even if Brooke thought it was stupid.
***
It was written in Shakesphere language. It was like literally trying to read a different language all together and Max knew that. It had been a struggle for Max to make it through the book. “Well, there is an old movie from like the 60’s that tells the story pretty well,” Max replied after a moment. “If you can make it through that, you could probably pass without having read the book.” Brooke would have to pay attention though.
Max sighed. “You’re right, but this is not like different types of foods or even war.” It was about Chloe and her and what that could do to them if the secret ever got out. “It’s about love.”
***
Now that Brooke was pretty sure was something she could sit through even if the story did turn out to be boring. Though based on the little bit she knew she was sure this movie was the best option for her. “Seriously?” Brooke knew this book wasn’t going to happen, especially with the way it was written. That whole thing was bullshit and couldn’t understand how anyone knew what it meant. “I’ll make a deal. You end this tutoring session like now and I promise by our next one, I’ll have done the work for Romeo and Juliet without guessing?” Brooke knew she wasn’t always trustworthy with most, but that was only with people she didn’t know or like. Very rarely did Brooke lie to Max and her lies were usually only about doing the work or why she was running late. Nope, she was being straight up honest on how if she could bail now then she’d do the work.
It took everything for Brooke not to snort at the idea of love. That whole thing was stupid, but people even smart ones like Max were stupid enough to believe in the concept of love. “My stance still stands the same. If you love this person and they love you, then it doesn’t matter about anyone else. It’s none of their business and you’re smart so you know what you’re doing.” Brooke had no idea what was going on in Max’s life around her love life, but she believed her friend would be fine.
***
“I’m serious. There is a movie.” Brooke seemed like she could handle a movie, even one that was like twenty years old at this point. However, Max would have to end the session now. She sighed. She would have to just trust Brooke to get it done. “If you do the work, without guessing, and watch the movie, we can end early,” Max replied slowly. “But you have to watch the movie and do the work.” Not like Max could do anything if Brooke didn’t watch the movie, but still, she hoped that she did.
Of course Brooke snorted at the idea of love. “I don’t think anyone knows what they are doing when it comes to love, Brooke,” Max replied honestly, but she did smile. “But I appreciate the sentiment.” Max just wished the rest of the world saw it the same as Brooke.
***
Brooke was completely sure a movie she could handle without much of a problem and much prefer that over the stupid book. Though she could tell Max wasn’t completely sure on whether Brooke would hold up her end of the deal after Max was nice to agree. Okay, yes, she didn’t blame Max. Anyone else and it would be all for show and Brooke wouldn’t keep her word but this was Max. While she’d deny and lie to say it never happened, Brooke also knew Max wouldn’t go talking about anything Brooke did that went against her normal ways. “To prove I watch the movie and don’t do any guess work, I’ll even take some notes,” she offered before quickly adding, “don’t expect any perfect notes like some nerd, but I’ll have notes on the movie to prove I’m not just guessing. They will be semi-detailed even,” it was probably all she could offer up. Did Brooke plan to waste a whole afternoon on the movie? No, but she could get it and watch it late at night or early in the morning before all the fun shit started up like always. Give her something to do while waiting for her friends or before bailing out of the house like she tended to do once people started up their shit.
“As long as you’re not banging some teacher because eww, then I say enjoy yourself. You do whatever the fuck you want,” it was her life motto which probably everyone knew or had an idea of when it came to Brooke. “Come on walk me out, then you can go see your lover and not have to deal with my shit?” She offered with a smirk and a shrug.
***
Max would take “semi-detailed” notes. It was a sign that Brooke was at least trying to do the work and Max could appreciate that. “Fair enough. I expect to see some decent, semi-detailed notes then,” she replied, giving the other young woman a playful smile as she moved to gather up her things. Obviously, Max would much rather be with Chloe anyway,but she didn’t want to let Brooke down either. However, if Brooke at least made an attempt at the movie, Max could consider her task complete.
“Yuck. No.” Max made a face, shaking her head. Who would ever want to bang a teacher? “I’ll walk you out with much gratitude for not having to deal with you shit.” She gave the other young woman a playful wink as they started for the door.