Standing in front of Phoebe's house was not nerve-wracking, like you thought it would be. Instead, you just wondered why Phoebe hadn't come to you first, but you were willing to take a blow to your pride if it meant you'd be able to freely talk with your best friend again.

Slowly, your hand reached for the doorbell. Ding-Dong.

"Come in, (Y/N)!" Your brows furrowed as you opened the door. Phoebe was standing in the kitchen, hands full of cupcakes. 'I forgot she was helping with the bake sale.' Cherry was holding another bake sale to raise money for the narwhals after the first bake sale wasn't successful due to Phoebe's major sugar rush.

"How'd you know it was me?"

Phoebe froze, setting down the bowl and looking at you with wide eyes, "Um, Cherry said you were going to come over."

You nodded and her and sat behind the counter, watching her whisk what you could assume to be cupcake batter. You leaned over and dipped a finger in, licking the batter and shooting her a thumbs up.

"So," You started, noticing how tense she was, "Do you want to forget about whatever happened?"

Your best friend visibly relaxed, "Ugh, yes!" She walked around the counter to give you a hug.

"If it's any consolation, Phoebe, I really am grateful for all the things you've done for me." She nodded and just tightened her grip on you, as did you.

"Ugh, barf! I couldn't think of anything grosser." The sweet moment was obviously ruined by her brother.

You turned to him with a pointed glare, "What do you want?"

He raised his brows, reaching over to dip a finger and quickly licked off the batter, "Last time I checked, this was my kitchen."

Rolling your eyes, you once again sat behind the counter, in Max's seat, since you knew it'd annoy him. He rolled his eyes at your childish behaviour and sat beside you, flicking your forehead.

"Ouch! That hurt." You grumbled, running your forehead.

"Kinda the point." He grinned smugly, and you cringed.

You both reached for the batter when Phoebe swatted both your hands away, "No double dipping."

You pouted, and Phoebe quickly handed you a spoon with a small amount of batter with a sweet smile, the one a mother would give to her upset child right before she cheered her up.

You grinned childishly, playfully licking the spoon when your phone buzzed. It was a text from Adam.

Adam: Do you want to meet at the mall in about 30 minutes, I have a break between classes.

The corners of your mouth turned up, ever since meeting Adam, he had been calling you out and you had been spending time together, like siblings would. It got you thinking that you might just take him up on the offer for adoption, if he rethinks it.

(Y/N): Sure, I'll grace you with my presence.

Adam: Sweet.

"Who's Adam?"

All signs of a smile vanished from your face as you met eyes with Max who was shamelessly reading your messages over your shoulder.

"Adam?" Even Phoebe was intrigued. You shook you head, practically hearing the gears turn in her head, she was going through all the guys you've interacted with before. When she couldn't come up with any result, she turned to you with a questioning look.

"Oh, just a friend." You gave her a teasing smile when she glared at you. Even though Adam wasn't anything like that to you, you were going to enjoy Phoebe thinking he was.

"And this friend is asking to meet, so I'm gonna have to go." You said, quickly eating the remaining batter on the spoon and placing it in the sink.

Hugging Phoebe one last time, you left her house, closing the door behind you.

"Do me a favour and go after her." Phoebe said, turning to Max, "I'd do it myself, but I really need to finish these cupcakes."

Max scoffed, "Why should I do it?"

"Come on, please? I really need to know who this guy is, and judging by that look, I can tell she likes this guy."

Max rolled his eyes, "Come on, she didn't look like that at all. You're just being paranoid."

His sister sighed and placed the bowl down, pointing her whisk at him, "If you do this, I'll bake you a whole batch of cupcakes."

This got him to turn around, "And brownies?"

She rolled her eyes, "Fine, but only if you find out which school he's from."

"Aye Aye Captain." Max saluted, grabbing his keys and leaving the house.

"Hey dude!" Max watched you wave to Adam and then hug him. You were sitting near the fountain for about 10 minutes while Max just watched, pretending he was playing an arcade game.

His eyes grew as wide as plates when he realized that the guy was way older than he would've guessed. His breath was slightly knocked out of him and he cringed, he had read about this in the news, but it was so weird in person.

His phone ringing pulled his gaze from the sight he couldn't peel his eyes away from, for some reason.

"Hello?"

"Max, did you find them?"

"Oh, yeah, I did." He answered, distracted.

"And? Did you find out which high school he goes to?"

"Oh, I don't think he goes to high school."

"What?!" He flinched at his sister's shriek and adjusted his hold, following you and Adam into the food court.

"Is (Y/N) dating a punk who dropped out?" "Oh, that would be so much better."

"Max, what're you talking about?" "Let's just say that I finally understand the phrase 'cradle robber'."

Phoebe gasped, "No way.."

"You know what, I may not need those cupcakes, I've kinda lost my appetite."

Hanging up the phone, Max scowled at Adam as he paid for your ice cream with a smile. He quickly used his telekinesis to cause him to drop the ice cream, right before giving it to you. At you slightly horrified face, he smirked, waiting for the train wreck to happen, those were your favourite shoes.

Instead, he just watched as Adam apologized and you waved it off, saying that you were going to get your shoes cleaned up.

'What the heck? If that was me she would've kicked me.'

As you turned around, you saw Max leaning against a wall, watching you with slightly wide eyes. What was he doing here?

You quickly walked up to him, "What're you doing here? Are you following me?"

He scoffed, "No, why would I be?"

"Well, I can't think of a single reason, yet here we are." You said, putting your hands on your hips.

Max sighed, relenting, "Phoebe asked me to spy on you and see who you were meeting."

Your eyes widened, 'Seriously?'

"That's beside the point. More importantly, who is that guy?" He accused, pointing a finger at Adam who was watching awkwardly in the distance.

"He's just my friend." "And you two aren't involved romantically at all?"

"What?! No! Of course not! He's like 8 years older than me!"

Max felt something tight in his chest loosen a bit and just stood there, looking mute. You placed your hands on your hips and tapped your foot, "Anything else? Can you leave?"

"No."

"What? Why?"

"This is just too creepy. I don't trust this at all." He said, gesturing to the both of you.

You scoffed, "Are you sure you're not just jealous."

Max mimicked you, "No, of course not."

The fact that he answered without any hesitation kind of disappointed you. Cheeks colouring at the thought of him saying yes, you looked away.

You bit your lip, "Well, do you want to join us?"