A Forced First Date Is Not Usually A Good One

Max whimpered, getting on and awkwardly wrapping his arms around Lydia's waist.

"Hold on tighter or you'll fall off," she demanded. "And put your feet right there, so you don't burn 'em."

He did as she said, but he didn't like it. He didn't want to do this at all.

She revved up her bike and they were off, leaving a trail of burnt rubber behind. After a very fast ride, she pulled up in front of an ice cream parlor and took off her helmet.

"Come on, kid, we're studying here today."

"I don't have any money," he replied immediately. "I don't want you to spend money on me either."

She glared at him.

"So you're saying I saved up my allowance for a thank you gift just so you could pussy out and practically spit in my face?" she growled.

"What?" he replied, frowning deeply. "I thought...I didn't know! I'm sorry, Lydia, just f-forget I said anything..."

"You better hope I do," she sneered, but her face brightened a little.

She walked into the ice cream parlor with her hands in her pockets, nodding for Max to follow. Though she tried to look tough, there was something awkward about her walk; she knew it was hard to seem like a badass when you were buying ice cream with a tiny dweeb.

Max frowned, looking over the flavors. He regretted it, but he had plain tastes in food.

"Uhm, I just want vanilla," he replied. "With gummy bears."

"Yeah, whatever." She leaned over the counter and ordered two large cones, handing Max his when they were done.

"There. You gonna stop trying to run now, you big pussy?"

"I guess," he replied, practically deep throating his ice cream.

She sat down, giving him a weird look.

"...So. I guess you're wondering why I brought you here."

Max looked weird suddenly.

"...I have to go," he replied, his face suddenly pale.

"I didn't say you could leave," she said quietly, though sh strained her voice. "I just bought you ice cream--the least you could do is stay and finish. Be a fucking man."

"No!" he replied, leaving his ice cream on the table. "Th-the last time someone sat me down like this...I'm sorry, I guess, I mean, for whatever I did,"

"You didn't do anything," she snapped incredulously. "Are you fucking listening to a word I'm saying?!"

Max frowned, fidgeting. "Then just say it!"

"I invited you here because I felt bad, okay?!" she snapped, scowling and crossing her arms. "I thought I was kinda being a jerk and it was nice of you to teach me sign language and shit, so I figured I'd thank you. I didn't know yu were going to be a horrible little bitch about it."

"I'm..." Max frowned, feeling like an idiot. "...sorry, it's just...this is how Renee told me she didn't like me."

"...What?" she said, blinking at him.

"Renee...took me to a really nice restaurant and told me she didn't like me and just left me there," he mumbled, looking miserable.

"You like Renee?" she asked, anxiously cracking her knuckles and flexing her fingers into fists.

"No...no, she made it clear she didn't like me," he replied, sighing heavily. "Renee is why I leaned sign language."

Her eye narrowed. "You mean, you...why. Why the fuck would you do this?!" She slammed her hand on the table.

Max frowned.

"What?" he asked, unsure of what he had said.