UNKNOWN [Lestappen]

20: Ceiling Thoughts

My fingers trembled slightly as I typed out my next message, desperate to keep the conversation going, even if my mind was running wild with possibilities. I swallowed hard, hesitating for a second before pressing send.

Me: how's your tutoring going?

It felt like such a normal question, but I needed more than a casual response. I wanted to know what Max thought of me, of Charles. I wanted to see if I mattered to him in any way. 

A familiar knot of anxiety tightened in my chest, but before I could second-guess myself, Max replied.

Maxie <3: it's been going fine! less people are doing it now tho, so I don't have as many sessions

Less people? That meant more time for him to tutor... me. I felt my face flush at the thought. I tried to keep my tone light as I replied, but inside I was hanging on his every word.

Me: do you ever get anyone your age asking for tutoring?

My heart raced as I asked, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he'd think about me. Was I the only one from our grade that had asked for his help? I needed to know. It was stupid, but it mattered to me.

Maxie <3: not really lol, only had one person my age last week

My pulse quickened. One person? My heart pounded in my chest as I asked, already knowing the answer, but desperate for confirmation.

Me: who was it?

There was a short pause, and I felt the anxiety rise again, but then Max responded, and it sent a slight shiver down my spine.

Maxie <3: Charles

I blinked at the screen, feeling my face heat up immediately. He was talking about me. Me. I couldn't help the blush that crept up my neck as I stared at the message. If only Max knew he was texting this 'Charles' right now. 

My mind raced, a panic setting in as I scrambled to respond, trying to keep up the act.

Me: oh really? who's that?

My heart was pounding so loud in my ears that I almost didn't notice how fast Max typed back.

Maxie <3: you don't know Charles?

I bit my lip, feeling the heat in my face grow. The name 'Charles' never sounded so strange, as if it belonged to someone else. I couldn't help but tease him a bit, my fingers flying across the screen.

Me: name doesn't ring a bell, what does he look like?

I stared at the screen intently, watching as the small dots bounced up and down. He had been writing for the a while, the text must've been long.

Maxie <3: well, he's got soft brown hair, kinda short

Maxie <3: and his eyes 

Maxie <3: his eyes are kinda cool

Maxie <3: they change color depending on the light, sometimes they look green, sometimes blue, sometimes brown

Maxie <3: they're pretty

His response made my breath catch in my throat. Max's description was so precise, so detailed, that it startled me.

My jaw practically dropped. Pretty? Did he really just call my eyes pretty? My heart was thudding in my chest now, and my face burned red. I couldn't believe what I had just read. This wasn't some joke, right?