get me out of this [max/cleo]

Happy, free, confused, and lonely
at the same time

I woke up sore. I had been training extra hard ever since the tournament and I always forgot to stretch first. My bones ached, but I hoped you'd be able to see the pain in my walk. If dad saw how hard I was pushing myself, perhaps he'd speak to me again.

It was early, the light had just broken the night sky and my eyes fluttered open for just a moment before falling back down to sleep again. And just as my consciousness tiptoed the brink of dream and reality a knock at my door caused my body to pulse suddenly as though I were falling from a cliff.

I gasped and took several moments just to breath and check in with my senses. A knock this early?

I drug myself out of bed and I limped a few steps as my legs fought to return but eventually made it to the door. Is Cayden okay? What could he need this early?

The door swung open, and it wasn't Cayden.

"Max?" my tired voice growled. I ogled at him and saw that he looked even more miserable than me.

Happy, free, confused, and lonely
at the same time

He invited himself in the room. I wasn't particularly offended. Given, as the golden child it was well within his rights and quite frankly not out of character. But still, it was something to note in addition to his nervous energy and shady ambience.

He asked me to close the door that he had just walked through. Why didn't he just shut it on his way through. I was struggling to wrap my tired mind around what was happening, it almost felt like I was dreaming. But Max was asking me for help, and not even I dreamed wild enough for that.

I shut the door and turned to him. I nodded to my bed, offering him the surface as a seat.

"Um... are you okay Max? Am I in trouble?"