I dedicate this to a friend. I met her at the Wattpad Meetup here in the Philippines. And it so happens that her story, Black Equation - The Deceived Ones is included in the Watty Awards Finals Action - On The Rise category. If you could please help out and vote, that would be awesome! Thank you so much! :D

WARNING: THIS IS POORLY EDITED! SORRY!

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“Mom, are you sure it’s okay?”

It had been two hours later. Everyone was at the living room saying their goodbyes to Todd and Maxine before the teens made their way back to the other side of the country.

Natalie smiled. “Don’t make me change my mind, sweetie. Besides, you’re with Todd,” she added, waving a hand dismissively. “I’m sure he won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

Maxine sighed in relief. She really wanted to go on this trip. She missed the gang so much. She couldn't wait to see them again.

James dangled the car keys in his hand. He grinned at Maxine.

“I’m going to give you a ride to the airport,” he informed, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

“That's great,” beamed Maxine.

“Whatever,” muttered Todd, picking up his bags and making a move to leave.

After several goodbyes and more I love you’s, they finally left the house.

“Where’s Maggie?” wondered Maxine, not having seen her all day.

She was hoping that she could at least say goodbye. After all, they grew somewhat close over the Holiday.

She craned her neck and looked around the airport hoping to spot Maggie somewhere. No luck, though.

“She told me she’ll meet us here,” said Todd. He turned to James and asked, “Is there something you want to tell me?”

“Er . . .” James shifted his feet uncomfortably. “Nothing in particular.”

Todd stared at him.

“Why?”

“No reason,” shrugged Todd.

A few moments later, Maggie arrived. She waved at them as she neared. The three waved in turn. She then stopped a feet away from Todd and Maxine.

“I’m going to miss the both of you,” added Maggie, pouting slightly. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Maxine,” she said, hugging Maxine warmly.

“Y – You too,” Maxine choked out, startled.

Maggie gently pulled away. She turned to Todd and warmly hugged him, too.

“Open your eyes and listen to your heart,” she whispered to him. “Don’t hesitate to show how you feel because you’ll never know, she might feel the same way.”

She pulled away, raising an eyebrow at Todd if he understood. He was slightly frowning, but nodded all the same.

“Flight to New York City; Gate nine, now leaving. . . . Passengers, please proceed . . .”

Todd and Maxine exchanged looks.

“Have a safe trip,” Maggie told them, smiling. “Don’t be a stranger.” She paused then hesitantly looked at James. “I guess I’ll see you at school.”

“Yeah,” nodded James, a bit shyly.

“Okay,” breathed out Maggie, looking unsure. “Bye, then.”

With that, she walked away. James stared after her retreating figure. Without expecting it, Todd pushed him at the back.

“W – Wait, Maggie!” James called out.

Maggie stopped and looked over her shoulder.

“I’ll give you a ride home. If you want . . .”

Maggie stared at him for a moment.

“Sure,” she smiled. “I'd love that.”

James grinned.

“I'll have to tell my driver, though. I'll meet you at the entrance.”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

When Maggie was out of sight, James smirked at Todd.

“You didn’t have to push me,” he said.

“Yes, I did.” replied Todd. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have the courage to do that.”

“You’re finally making it a happy ending, James,” remarked Maxine pointedly.

“I’m not,” said James indignantly. “I’m just giving her a ride home. This is not some fairy tale love story, Max. This is the reality. If we’re meant to be, we’re meant to be,” he added, shrugging.

“I don’t think so,” disagreed Todd. “I say, if you think you’re meant to be, you can be meant to be.”

“I agree,” nodded Maxine.

Todd smirked. “See? She doesn't agree with me very often, mind you.”

James rolled his eyes. “Okay, okay. You’ve made your point. Go now, or else the plane to NYC is going leave you.”

With that reminder, Todd and Maxine immediately started walking.

“I’ll miss you both!” James called after them.

Todd and Maxine couldn't help but smile.

“I have a favor to ask you,” said Todd, as he and Maxine took a seat in the airplane.

Maxine wasn't looking at him. When she turned to him, he was staring at her. That was when she realized that he was actually talking to her.

“Are you talking to me?” she asked, wide-eyed.

“No, I’m talking to myself,” he said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. “Yes. Of course, I’m talking to you. We’re the only ones sitting at the back row. Who do you think I’m talking to?”

She ignored his rudeness.

“Asking for a favor, you?” She scoffed in disbelief. “Todd Samuels? Asking me for a favor? Pigs must be flying.”

“Stop being melodramatic. Just tell me, will you do it or not?”

“It depends on what it is.”

“Never mind,” he sighed, irritated that she wasn't taking him seriously.

“No, no!” she quickly said. “I’ll do it — fine — what is it?”

He looked at her eager face, and sighed again.

“Don’t tell the gang what happened in Seattle,” he said in a bossy tone. “Understood?”

“Uh-oh.”

“What do you mean, ‘uh-oh’?” he asked sharply.

She smiled sheepishly. “You see, Kim called this morning. She asked a lot of things, which I answered . . .”

“I should’ve known,” he mumbled, putting his forefinger and thumb on the bridge of his nose. “What did you tell her?” he asked with his eyes closed.

“Um, everything. James, Maggie, Christmas Eve, and a lot more.”

Todd sighed and looked at Maxine.

“Fine,” he said. “Just – don’t mention it ever again. Don’t talk about my past with Maggie anymore, all right? She and I are friends, always will be. Nothing more.”

Maxine was undeniably relieved about it.

They’re just friends, she thought. He said it himself. Just friends. But . . .

“Why did you just tell me that?” she wondered aloud. “I mean, I don’t mind if you and Maggie go on dates together,” she lied.

To her surprise, he covered his face with his hand.

“You make me say things I don’t wanna say out loud,” he said in a muffled voice. He removed his hand from his face and stared at Maxine. “Really, though? You don’t mind if Maggie and I date?” he asked suspiciously.

She composed herself from being dazzled by his staring eyes.

“Nope, I don’t mind at all.”

He leaned closer to her, looking into her eyes. The way he was staring at her made her heart beat faster. She gulped, making him smirk.

“I don’t believe you, Max,” he whispered.

With that, he sat up straight and pulled out his iPod.

It was already night time when they arrived in New York City.

Todd and Maxine planned to repack their things before going to East Hampton. They went to Crystal Life Condominium and repacked. After that, they went downstairs in the lounge to meet Joseph the Chauffeur and take them to the Hamptons.

“Let’s go, Joseph,” called Todd.

Joseph the Chauffeur went to them and turned to Todd.

“Sir, your father and mother have asked me to give you this,” he inform, handing Todd a handsome car key.

Maxine wondered if Todd was going to drive the limousine. But the handsome boy just stood motionless, not leaving his eyes on the car key in his hand.

“No way,” he breathed, staring at the car key. “Are you kidding me?”

Joseph the Chauffeur chuckled.

“Of course not, sir,” he said. “That is your mother and father’s gift for you. They’ve been very busy getting that present for you ready – since they are well aware that you don’t like throwing parties. By the way, sir,” he paused and smiled, “Happy Seventeenth Birthday. Your license is already in your car.”

Maxine's jaw dropped.

What?! It was Todd’s birthday?!

Her eyes found Todd. She had no idea . . .

“My birthday is not until tomorrow,” said Todd in a hushed voice, still staring at the car key.

“They must have figured that it’ll be best to give it to you a few hours early,” guessed Joseph the Chauffeur. “Well, what are you waiting for? Don’t you want to see your car, sir?”

“Uh — yeah, of course,” nodded Todd. He picked up his bag and went outside.

Maxine and Joseph the Chauffeur followed behind him.

There it was, right at the entrance of the building was Todd’s dream car.

Lamborghini Reventón.

Todd stared at it, his jaw slightly dropped. He was one of the twenty people in the world who owned this kind of car. Slowly, a grin stretched across his face. He looked as though everything he dreamed in the world came true.

Immediately, he pulled out his phone and called his parents. He thanked them cheerfully. After that, he unlocked his car and climbed in.

Maxine smiled as she watched Todd's unusually animated figure.

She was happy that he was blissful. But there was a slight sadness in her, too.

I guess I wouldn’t be able to go to school with him anymore, she thought. Oh well, at least he’s happy.

She sighed and started walking toward the limousine.

BEEP!

She hastily looked at the source of the sound. Her eyes landed on the new car.

It was Todd.

He pulled the window down on the passenger seat and raised an eyebrow at her.

“Where are you going?” he asked, as though she'd gone crazy.

“I’m riding the limousine, aren’t I?”

He frowned. “What are you talking about? You’re riding with me.”

She blinked. Her excitement bubbling up inside of her. It took all her will not to giggle in front of him.

“Are you asking me, or are you telling me?”

Todd looked down for a moment, and then he looked at Maxine again.

“Both.”

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It's a bit short. Sorry about that. At least I uploaded...? Hehe. :) Btw, this story is set in 2008 going on 2009.

So what do you think of this chappie? It's poorly edited, as I've mentioned. I think it lacks emotions. I'm not feeling this chapter at all. I'm just sooo busy, and I wasn't in the mood to write this. I apologize again. :(

Upload: I upload on weekends. ^_^

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