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listened as she spoke with ease.

"How was today?"

Looking up to meet Dr. Branov's eyes, Maddox scoffed before rolling his eyes and looking away.

"You ask me this question every time we meet."

Interlocking her hands, Dr. Branov shrugged. It was true, she'd always start each session off with the same question, in the same squeaky chair, and the same annoying tone.

"And I'll continue asking it until I get a clear answer," she said with a pointed look, "But for now, your...useless statement will have to do. At least it's a different answer each time."

The tip of Maddox's lips curled up just a bit, enough to show a hint of his amusement. Dr. Branov, or Dr. Maverly Branov, was a psychiatrist. Maddox was her undocumented patient. His mother and Dr. Branov were dear friends.

"So," Maverly started, "Talk to anyone yet? You seem to have one friend and I don't mean to offend you in any way, but my son is across the country trying out his dull acting career. I get you two FaceTime and do your shit, but he's not present here all the time. So you have no one to confide in that you can physically touch."

"How kind," Maddox responded with a sarcastic smile settled on his face.

"No problem," she replied, "So will you answer the question or will we be throwing shots back and forth until your hour is up?"

Silence consumed their session, he refused to respond and she stubbornly waited. This was one question she hoped to receive a new answer to.

As the clock took away the time from their session, inching the hour hand to 8pm, Maverly sighed.

"I can't help someone who refuses to be helped," she said, "This has got to stop, I'm just a tiny bit tired of wasting an hour of doing nothing with you. I could use this time to tend to some other patient who most likely needs more attention than you do at this moment."

"No one is stopping you," he said with a glare.

Slamming her hand against the desk, she matched his glare with a gleam in her eyes that equaled the idea of a challenge. "You're damn right," she snapped. Pointing her finger to the door that led him out of her home office, she spoke once more, "Leave."

Raising an eyebrow, he smirked, "Don't we have five more minutes left?"

Shaking her head, she lent back against her chair, allowing a sickeningly sweet smile to grow on her face.

"Well I'd rather let my next patient come in and leave five minutes earlier, so then maybe she could get back to that horrid household she resides in before her family does. So leave, get the hell out," she spoke nudging her head for him to go.

Getting up, he sauntered over to the door, "Can't wait for our next session," he winked.

Throwing her head back, Maverly laughed, "You infuriate me Maddox!"

Saluting her, he opened the door only to crash into someone.

"Fuck," he swore. What the hell? Where did that person appear out of? Hell?

Maverly chastised him, "Language dumbass," she said walking over before slapping the top of his head.

Ducking, he rubbed the spot her hand had hit. Grumbling under his breath, he quickly grabbed the person's hand before pulling them up.

"Evelyn?" he questioned peering at her.

She stopped dusting her plaid skirt off as she stared back at him, "Maddox?"

Her face scrunched up in utter confusion, "Is this your house?"

As Maddox opened his mouth to respond, the cheery woman beside him beat him to the punch.

"Oh god no honey. If he was my son then I'd look much older than I really am. I wonder how his mother manages to look so young and youthful with his idiotic self as her kid."

Scowling, he looked over at Maverly.

"That hurt," he said before pointing to his heart, "Right here."

Waving her hand to dismiss his words, she smiled at Evelyn.

"So you two know each other?" she asked with amusement on her face.

Evelyn looked back at Maddox before a full blown smile reached her eyes, "He's the friend I told you about!" she squealed.

Nodding along with Evelyn's statement, Maverly's eyes grew wide and the smile on her face was awkwardly frozen.

"Uh huh, I see," she began, "You are...his friend?"

If she expected a straight-forward 'yes' to leave Evelyn's mouth then she was mistaken.

"Um," Evelyn bit her lip, "Well he's my friend," she said putting emphasis on the 'my' to indicate she thought of him as such, but he had yet to think. Tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear, she offered a shaky smile.

"No yeah we're friends," Maddox interrupted, "I did make a friend. Isn't that a great way to end our session? By answering your question," he said.

Looking between the two, it seemed Maverly was in a bit of a shock.

Concern etched on Evelyn's face, a frown hung on her lips, "You okay Dr. Branov?"

Snapping out of it, Maverly smiled, "Just perfect," she said. Thinking for another moment, Maverly clapped her hands in excitement.

"Ooh!" she started, "How about we cancel our session today Evelyn and you and Maddox can go out for the two hours your parents don't expect you to be home."

"And do what?" Maddox asked raising an eyebrow.

Shrugging, she turned around to return to her desk, "I don't know. Yolo it."

"I don't think that's how you use the phrase," Evelyn mumbled, confusion lacing her tone.

"It isn't," Maddox snorted walking out.

Running to stay in pace with him, Evelyn smiled shyly up at him. "So what should we do?"

"Do you want to go to the pool?"

Freezing, she stopped walking. Turning around to look back at her, Maddox gazed at her in confusion.

"What?"

"Um I don't know about swimming," she mumbled.

"It's fine don't worry. We can just dip our feet in the water, we won't swim."

Looking at him with hesitance, she sighed before walking towards him.

"Ok," she whispered with a nod.

Nodding as well, he offered her a helpful smile. Just barely there, but enough to encourage her confidence.

"Ok," she whispered to herself.

"This isn't so bad," she faintly said.

"Only your big toe is in the water Evelyn," Maddox said shaking his head, "Can you even feel the water touching your skin?"

"Of course," she shot back.

"Uh huh really. So tell me, is the water cold or warm?"

Staring at the water and then him, she bit her lip in exasperation, "I don't know."

"Just put both feet in," he groaned.

Wanting to get it over with, she plunged her toes into the water with a grimace. Taking a deep breath, she relaxed.

"Oh it really isn't that bad."

"Like I was telling you," he said.

They kept their feet in the water for about twenty minutes, making small conversation until eventually Evelyn mentioned something about her feet pruning up.

Moving onto the grass outside the pool house, they laid down staring up at the stars and moonlight glow.

"When I die, I wish to become a star up there," she mumbled quietly.

Looking over at her, Maddox scrutinized the pointed arch of her nose, her soft skin, the small smiles and frowns that adorned her lips, her eyebrows that scrunch up in response to anything mildly confusing. He took notice of the faint hollowness of her cheeks, showing the subtle high cheekbones she possessed. Her jawline was soft, but structured.

She was a beauty, he wouldn't deny that.

"Why?" he whispered.

Meeting his gaze, a soft glow enhanced the brown pools of her eyes.

"Because," she smiled gently, "If anyone is going through a tough time, and they wish for things to get better...I'll shoot myself across the sky letting them make a wish."

Her eyes flickered downwards before coming back to his eyes.

"So they can be happy," she finished.

His lips curved up into a faint smile as he couldn't help but find the innocence she held within adorable.

She was kind.

"Well I hope you won't be wasting your afterlife on me," he whispered.

His statement was vague, but he hoped she'd understand his words. How he hoped she wasn't gone while he was still living. How he hoped she wasn't up there in the sky, listening to his wish and making it come true.

She could not be gone without living a full life.

Shifting closer to him, she grabbed his hand without question. Squeezing it, she let him know she understood.

"Okay," she whispered hoarsely.

Nodding, he squeezed back, rubbing circles on the back of her hand with his thumb.

He had never had such an encounter with anyone. Of course he'd been with his share of people in bed, but this was different. It was platonic and innocent. Pure and caring. He felt appreciated. He hoped she did too.

"I'm tired Maddox."

Her statement was bland, but he knew what she meant. She was drained. She was just exhausted, she was tired of just being. He knew she was hurt and afraid and worried and anxious. She flinched at the slightest of sounds not even aware she did it. She fidgeted constantly, and she was always on edge, prepared for anything. He knew that when she meant she was tired, she meant she was consumed with emotional and physical fatigue.

"You'll get your happy ending one day."

Sighing, she curled into a ball.

"When?" her voice cracked, "When will mine come? I've never had a moment of happiness, how will I know what happiness feels like?"

Taking a deep breath, he turned his body towards her. Brushing strands of hair away from her face, he kissed her forehead.

"Well," he started, "You'll feel weightless, as if you're walking on clouds. You'll be able to breathe without anyone trying to stop you. You'll be able to laugh without caution. You'll be able to feel like there is nothing for you to do, but relax and let the world's moments come one step at a time. Happiness isn't pure bliss, that's a lie. Happiness is pure innocence. It'll sneak up on you, and engulf you, it'll hug you and kiss your cheeks and let you free."

Looking up at him, she blushed.

"What?" he laughed breathlessly. She looked adorable when she blushed. He felt his heart swell knowing he made her feel a tiny bit accepted.

"I feel that way around you," she whispered to him with her eyes wide and cheeks flushed.

As the words left her mouth, so did the breath from his body. He made her happy.

"Are you sure?" he asked with uncertainty.

Her face twisted in disbelief, "What do you mean by 'Are you sure?' "

Shrugging, he mumbled incoherently.

"You don't give yourself enough credit," she smiled, "You're very kind Maddox, and caring, and considerate."

"I think the only people I'm like that with are my mom, a few others...and you," he quietly voiced.

"Well you make me happy," she beamed, "I think you're an amazing friend. I may not have had a lot, but you stuck around longer and cared less for your reputation. I like you."

Looking up at the stars, one stood out from the rest. It stood out not because it was another color, no it was the same as the rest, but it shined brighter, larger, it brought attention to itself.

"That's going to be you someday," he pointed to the star, "Everyone is going to want you to shoot across the sky for their wish, but I know that you'll choose the most thoughtful and innocent wish of all."

A light laugh escaped her lips, "I'll make your wish come true."

Shaking his head, he frowned, "No Evelyn. I'll already be up there. You'll live a full life."

Soon, they were engulfed in the silent night, some chirps here and there, of nature. Some light breezes lifting the hairs on their head, sending shivers down their spines.

The silence was screaming out, calling attention to itself.

All the sudden, Evelyn jerked to her side, propping her elbows up to look down at Maddox.

"Maddox?"

Opening his eyes to stare into the depths of hers, he mumbled, "Hmm?"

Sighing, she collapsed back down, "I just wanted to hear you."

"Yeah," he murmured, "I know what you mean. When you're not alone, but it's still quiet."

Nodding her head, she started humming.

"What song are you humming?"

"White Blood by Oh Wonder," she replied. He nodded before clearing his throat.

"I love that song," he murmured.

She gasped, "You do?"

"Yeah, their songs are good."

Smiling, she laid closer, "So soft and melodious. Can you sing it?"

After some seconds of contemplation, he gave in with a shrug, "Why not."

As she resumed humming, he opened his mouth. His voice was croaky, raspy. It was vintage.

"I'm ready to fall, so tired of it all," he started out.

"Down deep in a hole, can't do it alone.

I'm ready to climb this mountain inside.

Impossible heights.

Said you'd always be my white blood.

Circulate the right love.

Giving me your white blood.

I need you right here with me.

Said you'd always be my white blood.

Elevate my soul above.

Giving me your white blood.

I need you right here with me, here with me."

His voice trailed off as he finished the section and she broke out into a grin. He sounded beautiful.

"Your voice," she breathed, "I—It's beautiful." She had no words to explain her thoughts, he was just pure perfection.

A light blush covered his cheeks and he was glad the moonlight dimmed so she couldn't see as well. Compliments made him flustered.

"We should head back," he said helping her up. As he followed her to his car, he looked back at the stars above.

Letting a breath escape, he whispered, "You won't get her just yet."

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