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Chapter 13: Operation: Bring the Brains Back

It's not that I'm dumb. It's just that my brain is like the Bermuda Triangle. Once information goes in there, it's never found again.

~Starlight24

I stood outside the door, rocking on the heels of my feet as I rang the doorbell for the second time, waiting patiently for someone to answer.

"Coming!" came a voice, and I heaved a sigh of relief. Finally someone had decided to remember that I existed. "Sorry, I was having a bath and my parents weren't home," continued the voice, and I smiled.

Max opened the door, and my jaw dropped. He'd just had a bath, and his hair was damp and disheveled and he was toweling it, only wearing a pair of low-waist, white washed jeans. All I'm going to say is that he's positively ripped.

I quickly regained my posture and made sure he hadn't seen my jaw sweeping the floor. I shyly tucked a lock of hair behind my ear and waved.

"Day?" he asked, not bothering to hide his confusion. "No offence, but what are you doing here?"

I blushed and held out my notebooks in front of me so it was shoved into his face. "I need help."

He seemed to have realized he was shirtless, only after a few minutes because I was being so casual about it. He glanced down at his torso in embarrassment and I averted my eyes. I was acting like I saw my crush shirtless every day. "What happened?" he asked, concern immediately overtaking his previously confused tone.

"Uh... My parents have given up on me and think I hang out with the wrong kind of people," I said, my voice soft and meek as I stared at the floor.

"That's a lot of help to ask for," he said, scratching the back of his neck and ushering me into the house.

I walked in, faced him and put my hands on my hips. "I need you to help me whether you like it or not, and I will stay here until you get me an A+," I declared, and he chuckled. Nope, I was not going to be nice and prim and proper and perfect in front of Max even if I had a crush on him. I was the same old high maintenance Day, and I didn't care who I was talking to.

"Okay, where do we start?" he asked, getting back to business.

"Math," I stated. "I really, really suck at math and you're in the school's math club," I told him like he didn't know that fact himself.

"Okay," he said, smiling.

"Really?" I asked, surprised that he'd agreed so easily. "I mean, aren't you super smart? And usually super smart people are also super busy, right?"

He laughed. "Actually, Day, since I'm so super smart," he mocked me. I don't like it when people mock me, especially if Max does. "I finish my assignments two months early, so it gives me a lot of free time later," he grinned.

"That is so stupid." I informed him. Here I was, struggling to finish last week's assignments while he was happily doing the work that was supposed to be given two months later.

"No it's not!" he defended. "It gives me time to..." he gave me a little smirk. "To help damsels in distress." Oh, I was not a damsel in distress.

"I'm not distressed," I said, trying to state the obvious. "I'm just... facing a bit of adversity, that's all."

He raised his eyebrows incredulously and laughed. "Really, Day?" he chuckled. "Really?"

"What?" I asked, getting defensive. He was usually giving me compliments that made me feel all fuzzy inside. Now all he was doing was making fun of me. I was better off hanging out with Jase. Max had this ability of making anyone feel ultra-stupid.

"Okay, sit down and I'll help you out," he said, pushing me into a chair and dashing upstairs. His house was a little bigger than mine, and very neat. It had plants and a lot of sunlight along with white walls that made everything seem very airy and spacious.

He darted down again and smiled at me. Much to my disappointment, he was wearing a t-shirt. Oh well.

*****

"This is all your fault. I'm going to have equational dreams tonight. It'll be a nightmare of numbers trying to dig a hole and throw me into my numerical grave." I was rubbing my temples and groaning.

Max had been teaching me for the last three hours and I think I never want to see my Math books again for the rest of my life.

"What next?" he asked, energetically. How was he still alive? Helping me out with math seemed to have almost rejuvenated him. It was sad.

"Fresh air. I've been deprived of a life for the past three hours," I said, outstretching my arms and acting like I was sleepwalking towards the door.

"Absence does make the heart grow fonder, doesn't it?" he asked, catching up to me and grinning. This boy was as smiley as a Cheshire cat.

"Don't you go all poetic on me, Mister. You're teaching time is over." I told him this strictly, teasingly pushing his chest away with my palms.

"Is there no thank you? Gosh Day, where are your manners?" he clutched his heart and acted like some sort of high and mighty king that had just been wronged. I rolled my eyes. And they called me dramatic...

"Thank you so, so, so much for helping me my darling knight in shining armor. You deserve a numerical award for your efforts," I drawled. I wanted to act like I completely, totally couldn't care less about his presence on planet Earth. It made my crush on him look more inconspicuous.

He rolled his eyes. "Wanna go for a spin?" he asked, and I looked at him in confusion.

"Huh?" I asked, not quite getting him.

"Follow me," he motioned towards a door near the stairs and I followed, curious. There was a set of stairs that led downwards and I involuntarily clasped onto his wrist (okay, maybe not completely involuntarily) because it was really dark. He chuckled, and it vibrated through the room.

"You'd better not be trying to kill me, Edmonds," I hissed, tightening my grasp on his arm, making him flinch ever so slightly. "Because I have a killer pinch that will kill you first."

He turned on a light at the bottom of the stairway, and I gasped at the sight in front of me. A shiny Ducati was perched against the brick wall of the basement, showing off its beauty.

"OH MY GODS MAXIE YOU DIDN'T TELL ME YOU HAD A MOTORBIKE!" I yelled, making him cover his ears. "THAT IS SO, SO, SO, SO, SO-INTO THE POWER OF INFINITY-COOL!"

"Yes, you little hyperventilating porpoise. I have a bike. And please don't call me Maxie, it's so... feminine," he grimaced.

"Whatever you say, Maxie," I sneered. "Yes, of course we can go on a spin you undercover stud," I said, not bothering to hide how impressed I was.

"Great!" he handed me a helmet, so I removed my ponytail and shook out my curls dramatically, and for once luck was by my side- I didn't hit Max's face. Then I placed the helmet over my head as he pushed it up this little ramp-like incline that led to the garage.

"Let's do this thing," I said, trying to act like someone who popped out of Fast and Furious.

"Gee, Day, I hope you're not expecting much! This is just a little ride I'm gonna give you and we can't even exceed the speed limit." Max informed me, trying to simmer down my hopes.

"Oh, what's life without a little fun?" I asked as he sat on the bike and I sat down behind him.

"Place your arms around me," he said, trying to hide the mild speckles of pink that were dotting his cheeks as he pulled my arms across his stomach.

I acted like putting my arms around guys was something I did all the time and confidently wrapped my arms around tightly, giving him a squeeze as he remained rigid. "Loosen up, I'm not gonna kill you," I teased, grinning at his uncomfortable state.

"If you attempt that, I'm gonna be the one needing help and not you," he grinned and I laughed.

We dashed out of the garage, and I could feel the wind whipping my hair. I squealed; a noise of pure joy and excitement, and I forgot where and who I was.

The scenery around me was like a blur, the trees like streaks across the pinkish orange splash of the sky. The soft calls of birds returning to their nests and the rustling of leaves rang through my ears, and I shuddered because of the mild cold and pleasure.

"So how is it?" he asked, his voice a whisper amidst the sounds of nature. It just added to the joy. I was alone on a motorbike under the perfect canopy with my crush. And I wasn't going to let anything ruin the moment.

"Amazing," I gushed sincerely. "Thanks so much," I hugged him tighter and he laughed. "So what other secrets do you have?" I asked, genuinely curious. "Are you a secret agent, too?"

"Yeah," he whispered, taking me off track. Thank goodness it hadn't taken him off track (the literal meaning) or we would've crashed into the streetlamp next to us. "I'm working on a secret project called Operation: Bring the Brains Back for a very special someone."

It took me a couple of seconds before I registered that. "My brains haven't gone anywhere!" I said indignantly. Then it took me a few seconds to realize that he said I was a 'very special someone'. "Oh, and I'm very special now, am I?" I asked, and I could see the smile on his face.

"Yes, Day dear. Your brains seem to have mysteriously disappeared from the face of the Universe, and it is my job to bring it back. Free of costs, too," he smirked and I groaned.

"No, Secret Agent Edmonds is wrong, and if he continues with this assignment he'll go completely off course and end up in a different galaxy. His task is much simpler: Help the Special Someone oil her brains again so they aren't as rusty." I imitated an airhostess when I said this, and I could feel his soft laughter shake his entire body and send tingles from my fingertips to my spine.

"Now, my Special Someone wouldn't want me to land up in another galaxy, would she?" he acted like he was asking himself this question, shaking his head in mock thought.

"Now don't get ahead of yourself, Agent Edmonds," I replied using the same accent. "She may not think of you as a Special Someone."

"Ouch, monotone-mysterious-voice that seems to be giving me all these prophetic messages," he said, feigning hurt and acting like he didn't know I was talking. "That hurt."

His voice was so cute I almost believed him. "Aw, I used maybe. She might just consider you as a Special Someone, too," I assured him, tightening my grasp on his torso so it turned into an awkward hug.

That seemed to have brightened his mood immensely. "Thanks, automated voice!" he said, the laughter bubbling in his tone. "I am now motivated to continue my difficult mission." I thwacked his arm when he said it would be difficult.

"A mission is never difficult, no matter how hard it may seem at first," I said, keeping my voice steely because my character in our little act was devoid of emotions.

"But this one is impossible!" he whined, trying to piss me off on purpose.

"The only thing that is impossible is impossibility!" I said, trying to keep my philosophical stance.

"Why thank you. I shall do my best," his voice was actually full of pride and honor to have been given such an important task. This was when my act crumbled and I burst out laughing.

"Why, the automated-mysterious-voice seems to be malfunctioning!" he exclaimed, feigning horror as I doubled over, making him stop by the sidewalk and turn to face me. "I have something that'll make it much better," he said, almost to himself. Before I knew it, he was attacking me with a round of tickling and I was already laughing, so now I was positively choking.

"Stop, stop," I wheezed, laughing so hard that tears were streaming down my face. It was a good thing I didn't wear makeup or I would've looked like someone who'd just stepped out of a mental asylum.

He grinned at me, and I couldn't think of anything more perfect. I removed my helmet and shook my curls loose again as the sun set behind us. "Are you hungry?" he asked, pushing a stray lock of hair away from my eyes and tucking it behind my ear. It was a casual gesture, but it still made me feel all fuzzy on the inside.

"Yeah," I muttered, still unashamedly staring into the depths of his stormy grey eyes that were alight with humor and determination.

"I know a café downtown that we can check out," he said, revving his bike into action again as I placed the helmet on my head again, feeling my pulse steady in my throat like the flapping beats of a butterfly. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a blush decided to creep up to my cheeks and leave them feeling warm, and Max noticed and asked immediately. "What, was my statement about going to the café embarrassing?" he asked, not bothering to hide the skepticism lacing his words. Something must have dawned on him two seconds later, because he stopped the bike from moving and faced me, one hand cupping my warm cheek as I blushed further. What was he trying to do, mess with my feelings? "You think I'm asking you out on a date, don't you? Is it making you uncomfortable? Or rather, would it make you uncomfortable if I said that I was?"

Well that took an unexpected turn. I hadn't even thought of it that way. "Huh?" I asked, stupidly.

"Day Winters, will you go out with me to the café downtown?" he asked, with this seriousness in his expression that was almost unnatural.

"Max, what the hell is going on?" I asked, my voice having a very nervously excited edge to it.

Then he decided to ruin the moment by laughing. I swear to god, that boy laughs so much it scares me sometimes. "Oh my gods, Day I was just joking!" he was laughing. Even he said 'oh my gods'! Bonding moment achieved.

"Ugh, you meanie," I hissed, rolling my eyes and sticking my tongue out at him, pushing his face away so he could continue driving and face the road so he didn't see my red face. I bet I looked like a makeup experiment gone horribly wrong.

"Aw, did someone wanna go on a date with me?" he asked in his British baby accent.

"No, your Special Someone did not wanna go on a date with you, Max Edmonds. Don't get ahead of yourself or I will choke you with your own eyeballs." I had a gift of saying the most revolting and horrible threats in the sweetest voice.

"You are such a violent person," he said, shaking his head as he stopped in front of a quaint looking café that looked like a cottage with vines growing around it. I felt like I'd been thrown into Snow White's world, and I walked towards it, ignoring Max's statement.
"Do you like it?" he asked unsurely, as we walked in. Scents of strawberries and tarts along with quiches and other delectable items hit my nose like a symphony of smells, and I breathed in deeply.

"Yeah," I said, picking up the menu and seating myself by the window so I could see the deep blue sky.

"My mom owns it," he said, grinning. I looked at him, my eyes wide. "It's called La Café Pétale. My mom's French and my dad's English. So I'm a weird hybrid of that plus being an American citizen because I was born here. Then I moved to England and attended a boarding school in London for a couple of years, and then came back here. What about you?" he asked, smiling at me in this really warm way, like he really wanted to know me. It was like he needed to know me because it was a part of him that he had to complete. Okay, now I'm officially getting ahead of myself.

"I... I used to live here, but then my family moved to the countryside because I was really weak. I was born with an Immune Deficiency, which will never really go away but has become better now. Once we realized that I was okay out in the open, we decided to move back here so I could face the real world. I didn't get bored, though! After all, I am—" I clammed up immediately. I was almost about to say I was Starlight! No one, not even Max was allowed to know that.

"You are what?" he asked, thinking he'd accidently tread on the uneven grounds of my past.

"I'm so entertaining I would chat with myself!" I laughed, lying. Then again, in my defense, I was interesting enough to make up two people.

"That's true," he replied, grinning. "I wouldn't doubt you actually doing that. It seems like a very Day thing to do."

We ate our food contentedly, lapsing into little bits of small talk but not really saying much. I was enjoying my food far too much to really talk, and it was comfy sitting with Max.

We left the café and sat on Max's bike. Why did I have to crush on the most perfect guy ever? How was I ever even going to tell him? Of course he had to be some sort of poetic, motorbike riding stud cum secret agent who used to go to a boarding school in London. Otherwise it would've never worked out.

We drove in silence as the moon rose up from behind us, letting us travel through the endless path of the night.

A/N:

I hope you like Max better now... 

PIC OF MAXXX (dies)

I'm so glad none of you guys hate Day. Someone (name not mentioned), told me that Day seemed like a bitch, and I was freaking out :(

BE PROUD OF ME I UPDATED TWO LONG CHAPTERS EEK!

Teaser: Nat can't help but cause trouble, can she? And stereotypes really suck.

Song of the day: Something Better by Lady Antebellum and Audien

400TH VOTE GETS A DEDICATION <3

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Love you all,

~Lexi

PS. I'm really sorry, but I won't be able to reply to any of your messages until next week because I'm gonna be really busy. I will also only dedicate next week (don't hate me)!

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