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[The replies are immediate.

max
HEY
don't get mad at her for that
she's drunk she didn't mean to let your name slip
but she's been hung up over this mystery guy for like a week
I'm not stupdldhdnaadjd

Okay, so, clearly, Dana has taken Max's phone at the moment. (And a drunk Max is attempting to take it back.) Which means, should he actually want to talk to Max...

max
TALK to her
I don't mean text eihter
you come find us or you call
do the right thign nathan ]

( 'prescott' and 'right thing' are hardly synonymous. he looks up from his phone, takes in his empire of drunken partiers. he and vic have the corner table, a space where they can watch everyone and laugh with impunity. hayden's with them, too.

why would he leave this for anything?

... )

naggy bitch
where are you?

tell anyone about this and i'll fukc you up

( vortex alliances be damned. )

ugh im not gonna TELL anyone
i wouldnt betray max like that
she's a good bean

parking lot
sending Trevor justn Chloe inside for munchies
youve got a few minutes

[Dana seems completely unfazed by being called a naggy bitch or threatened. She's seen Nathan threaten people before, even if it wasn't her.]

please come
even if its just to tell her gooodbye
she deserves closueer
and sorry for bitching at you

[Medium amount of sorry, anyway.]

( max being a 'good bean' is sorta the whole problem. and what the fuck is with people apologizing to him? )

whatever
just keep that punk bitch away from me

( it'd be bad otherwise. bad for him, bad for her, bad for max.

vic looks surprised when he stands, but he tells her he's meeting frank in the parking lot for a re-up. it'll be hard to explain himself when he returns empty-handed, but that's a problem for future nathan.

so he makes his way outside, finds where they've made themselves comfortable. it's more chilly than he expected, but it's october, so he shouldn't be surprised. )

...Beat it, Dana.

( whatever he wants to say to max, he doesn't need some nosy prep hanging around to hear it. )

[The two girls are sitting on the retaining wall in the parking lot, Max's head in Dana's lap and the taller girl is petting her hair. Dana is a little drunk too, and high, if the color in her cheeks and eyes are anything to go by.

She shakes Max's shoulder gently when she sees Nathan coming down the sidewalk, whispers something to her. Max sits bolt upright like she's been shocked, looking wide-eyed at Dana before she turns her gaze around to find Nathan. And her eyes immediately soften.

He tells Dana to beat it and she rolls her eyes. "I was gonna. But if your truck is here, maybe take her over there? You'll have more privacy, less chance of running into Chloe. But if she doesn't call me in fifteen minutes, I'm coming to find you both."

She stands up, earrings dangling with the movement, and helps Max up as well before she essentially hands her off to him and walks away. The look she passes him as she leaves isn't threatening or a glare, it's gratitude. She's glad he's here to talk to her. She even gives him a nod as she heads back inside the building.

And Max...]

Did you get Lisa's pictures? Was that too stupid?

( nathan isn't sure what to do with someone looking at him like he's done something good, so he looks away as max gets hefted into his grasp. she's lighter than he remembered.

when she speaks up, he considers lying. maybe he should say he doesn't know what she's talking about. but she's so earnest when she's drunk, she asks about these photos like they're the most important thing in the world. he's drunk, too. fortunately, nathan's better when he's fucked up than when he's sober. drugs take the edge off, dull the voices in his head. )

No, they were... ( ~~endearing, precious, perfect~~ ) ...the right about of stupid. Or whateverthefuck.

( god, he doesn't know what he's doing. taking max back to his truck, he considers just talking outside, but privacy is what he's after. fifteen minutes to make this right, as if he knows what 'right' is. he takes a moment to dig into his pocket for the keys, then begins to lift her up into the cab. )

Dana, huh? Didn't know you fucked with her.

( he didn't know chloe still fucked with anyone at this school, either. anyone outside of max, anyway.

he knows he just needs to say sorry, but nathan's certain that once he starts apologizing, he won't be able to stop. )

[The "right amount of stupid" is the perfect answer apparently because Max momentarily grins at him, opening her mouth to respond before she gives a soft "eep" sound at being lifted, then laughs, her face lightly flushed.]

Wowsers. Wasn't expecting that. Thought I was flying for a second there... [And wouldn't that be funny. Triggering a second superpower. Still wouldn't make her a hero, not even close.] Oh, Dana! Right. Yeah, I... couldn't talk to Chloe or Warren.

[For obvious reasons. She didn't want Chloe finding out it was Nathan and though she tells Warren a lot of stuff, she does not feel comfortable talking to him about losing her virginity. For one, it might just hurt him. She doesn't want to hurt anyone.]

Dana's been through some shit, and she's so sweet. Didn't know her that well before... last week? We've hung out a lot recently. We have a froyo date tomorrow. Oh my god, I never meant to tell her your name, I swear, and I didn't tell her about my room, just that I had my first time with someone who wasn't responding to my texts anymore. Are you angry with me?

( once max is safely housed inside, nathan planned on shutting the door and walking around to the other side to let himself in. but max is drunkenly rattling on with so much enthusiasm, it'd be shitty to slam a door in her face now. after taking a glance behind him, he figures it'd be easier to just follow her inside by climbing over her, which he does with some effort, because he's still drunk himself.

from an outsider's point of view, it looks suspiciously like nathan has pushed a drunk girl into his car, checked if the coast was clear, then entered in after her. what a goddamn creep.

he settles beside her just as she ends on 'are you mad at me,' and he's not sure if he is or not. not entirely. he's more angry about having people in his business than he is with max specifically. )

Not mad, just...

( he wants to be her pillow. he wants to be the person who walks her home. )

...freaked out. All this shit, it's fucking... Wait, did you say 'wowsers'? ( it takes a second for the absurdity of that to register. his laugh is nice, and soft, and devoid of malice. ) Are you nine?

[Oh. He's climbing over her. She's momentarily interrupted in her drunk rambling, and by the time he's settled on the other side of her, her face is considerably redder. For a split second there she'd almost gotten the wrong idea.

She watches him as he answers, shifting to lean back against the car door so she can face him. And laughs at his question.]

Yeah. I say that. I really like your laugh, I wish I could hear it more often. I've been wanting to say that you're allowed to show your emotions in front of me, Nathan. You're human and emotions are normal.

( he'd expected her to do the responsible thing and pretend that nothing ever happened. doesn't look like he's getting that lucky.

so, the mirth he'd felt dies in an instant. )

Don't talk about that. Nothing happened.

[She groans and drops her head back against the window. Why are guys like this? Oh, right. Patriarchal conditioning.]

Fuck toxic masculinity. Seriously. Shoulda lost my virginity to a girl. Too late now, I can't rewind that far and I like you, and I liked it. Just wish I knew how to help you...

[She could have rewound a little, just now, maybe. She's tested the powers a tiny bit while inebriated and they do still work, but they're harder to control. It gives her a headache. And last time a nosebleed.

Anyway, if she never says anything, nothing will ever change. Nathan needs her to have said that. She's very sure of that. Of course, she's also still drunk, so. Easy to be certain of something when you're drunk.]

( there's so much to unpack in that sentence— )

Rewind what? Life isn't a movie. Fuck, if I wish it was, sometimes.

( he'd edit so much shit out if he could. rewind is a weird choice of words, but they're both drunk, so it hardly registers.

being liked by max is the least surprising thing about all this. )

I get it. I like— you. ( he moves past that part as quickly as he can. it hurts to linger on it. he spent a week in isolation so he wouldn't have to linger on it. ) But things are fucked up. Here. Arcadia Bay is fucked. You wanna help me, burn this place to the ground. Or, I dunno, run away or some shit.

( he runs a hand through his hair, looks at her through messy bangs. )

I mean it. Get outta here, Max. For me. 'Cause I can't.

[After he repeats the word "rewind," she becomes aware, even drunk, she should not have said that. There's an urge again to tell him but... fuck, they're both messed up right now, aren't they? Would he even believe her? She sidesteps explaining that for now.

...and then immediately smiles, this small, secret, pleased smile, when he says he likes her. That probably shouldn't fill her with as much warmth as it does. She looks at him and brushes her hair away from her face. He looks good with his hair like that, actually... Right, totally getting distracted.

The smile drops, and she scoots a little closer to him, resting a hand on his knee.]

If you want to leave, what's keeping you here?

[It's not that she's asking him to run away with her or something. She couldn't. Not only does she like a lot of the people here, there's a sense of responsibility... She can help people. And Chloe... If she ever just drops and runs, it would have to be with Chloe. She couldn't stomach leaving her. Even if she is currently lying to her about Nathan.]

( he's buzzed enough to respond to her question with a joyless laugh. a sober, more angry nathan would sooner resort to insults. he's feeling good. feeling liked. it helps that he's drunk. he doesn't immediately assume her feelings are a lie. )

This is my town. It's got my fucking name on it.

( her hand's on his knee, and it's sweet. it's like they like each other. he takes a moment to fix his hair before doing something incredibly stupid — resting his head on her shoulder. it's a belated apology, returning the hug he wasn't able to accept before, but in a less huggy way. )

[All of the Lisa pictures would have been real overkill if her feelings were a lie.

She breathes in shallowly, when he rests his head on her shoulder, and brings her arm up to wrap around him. She can't keep the soft smile off her face, even as she angles her head slightly to press her lips briefly to Nathan's temple.

A memory flashes, Nathan in the bathroom talking to Chloe. "That's my family, not me." Yet he also goes around saying he owns the town, the school...]

You're a complicated man, Nathan Prescott. Sure keeps me on my toes. But does that mean you don't really like your family?

[She can't imagine liking Sean Prescott, based on what she knows of him. But she also hadn't ever imagined liking Nathan Prescott.]

( he hadn't considered it to be particularly complicated until now. it'd all seemed so obvious, but her words are a reminder that people aren't living in his head. max really doesn't know anything. he should be overjoyed by her ignorance. he's been forcing people to stay away, and they have.

but now, he's feeling the consequences of that. max really doesn't know anything, and it all feels too large to broach. )

...We got ten minutes before your girlfriend comes looking for you. ( whether her 'girlfriend' is dana or chloe in this case isn't clear. sitting up slightly, he touches max's hair, smooths a few strands behind her ear. ) Vic's gonna start blowing me up here, too.

You really wanna spend that time talking about my family? Cliffnotes version, they suck... Except my sister. She's sorta like you. Idealistic and shit.

( —not what he'd planned on saying. when's the last time he's mentioned his sister to anyone? it's a nice thought, though.

kris would really like max. )

She just said I had to call her. [Apparently Max is assuming Dana and not Chloe, maybe just because she was the one who said that.

All of these soft and sweet touches are kind of killing her when she doesn't know exactly where they stand. If they're going to keep seeing each other, even if just in private, or... not.

She feels a certain warmth hearing Nathan talk about his sister, because it makes her happy that he at least has someone else in his life who maybe cares about him, who isn't toxic to him or for him. Though she is only assuming that.]

We can talk about something else... I guess the most important question is can I see you again? Can we do... this [She takes a hold of his hand in her own, laces their fingers together like he did that night in her room.] more often?

Yeah. We could. But...

( but realistically, he knows that he's damaged goods. it's only a matter of time before he falls apart and takes max down with him.

he takes a breath. )

I'm probably gonna make you cry again. ( it's the only thing he feels certain of. )

[A pause. Then she squeezes his hand in her own, and tries to meet his gaze.]

Nathan. Do you want to keep doing this?

( he doesn't need think about it. )

Yeah. I do. ( he looks at her, expression solemn and devoid of anger. he's got soft features, but they're easy to miss with his perpetual scowl. ) Just don't let me fuck you up. That's all. That's it.

( like max offered before, he brings his forehead to rest against hers. when he wakes up, he might not believe any of this was real, least of all this moment of intimacy. )

...Run when it gets shitty.

( don't try to save him. )

[Her breath catches, audibly, at his look. A second ago maybe she could have made that promise (yeah, right), but he's making it impossible. She wants this too much.

Dropping his hand in favor of cupping his jaw in both of her hands, she presses a soft kiss to his lips. Sweet, chaste, brief, unless he tries to prolong it.]

I want this so much. And I wish with all my heart that you'll let me into yours. In whatever amount, okay? However long it takes. If you need to disappear again? Do it. But tell me. Send me one message that you need space, and that you'll be back. That you don't... hate me. Can you do that for me? Or, just promise to try?

( his skin is buzzing. the coke in his system makes him feel invincible, like he could do anything, even this. when she kisses him, he feels even higher. alive with something he can't explain.

hormones, he's sticking with that.

the immediate response to her request, something along the lines of 'what are you, my fucking mother?,' dies in his throat at the words 'for me'. the need to be prickly and unavailable comes to him in sharp pangs, but he's better at ignoring them when they're like this. )

I don't hate you. You're a seriously nosy bitch, but... but if anyone can fix the shit in this town, it's you.

( which isn't necessarily a request. he doesn't want her any deeper, and he plans on actively thwarting her attempts at getting to the truth. maybe jefferson will see this as a good thing. maybe he'll praise him for what a good job he's done keeping max off their trails. maybe he'll finally say 'good job,' and nathan can be whole again.

he tips his chin forward and kisses her again, longer, more lingering. he could stay here forever, he thinks. )

So, what, you wanna be... exclusive? Or something?

( because calling her his girlfriend feels too far out of reach. )

[He kisses her again and she feels so calm. For once since she'd discovered her powers, she feels right where she's supposed to be.

Maybe it's the booze.

She's very unfazed by being called a nosy bitch. She gets called nosy by everyone and they're honestly right about that. It feels like a little surge of self-confidence when he suggests she can fix things. God, she's going to try. She has to. Not just for Chloe's, or Kate's, or Rachel's sakes now. But... also for Nathan's.

Returning his kiss, she slips her arms around his neck, thinks about what he's asking her, before she pulls just far enough away to answer.]

Yes. But I... There's something I really need to tell you. But I'm not sure I'm gonna have the time to unless I give Dana a quick call first to let her know I'm good, okay?

[And... maybe ask her to do something about Chloe. Not that Chloe and Dana are that close of friends or anything, though Max was surprised to learn they did actually already know each other. ("Chloe, you did Shakespeare?") Chloe's more Justin's friend in that group.]

( unless max is keying up to tell him that she really is pregnant, he can't imagine what all the suspense is for. still, he begins to untangle himself from her so she can make her phone call is relative peace. )

Sure, yeah. Tell her you're not being kidnapped at gunpoint.

( a comment made in poor taste, but no one has ever said nathan was refined.

since he has a moment to kill, he checks his phone while max busies herself with hers: )

Vic 💋💋💋
ur missin everything!!!
drunk courtney SO FUNNY
such a tryhadr

fuck the drugs
we'll live wo them
just want u here babe

Mr. Jefferson
Behave yourself tonight.
Stick to the script. I can't trust you to go off-book.

Edited 2026-03-08 07:34 (UTC)

[She knows she has to call and not just text Dana, since she'll want to hear her actual voice. It's actually nice of her that she's concerned about leaving her drunk with anyone. At least, she's sure that's it, not that it's specifically Nathan. His commentary as she lets her do her thing is questionable, but she just frowns momentarily before dialing her friend.]

Hey, Dana. Yup, I'm all good. Feeling a little less tipsy. I actually need some extra time with Nathan-- Gawd, shut up... [Clearly, Dana said something to embarrass her there.] No, I'll be okay, but I was wondering if you'd run interference with Chloe? ...Well, that's a long story, but just tell her you saw me head to the dorms to konk out in my room? Thanks... Definitely, Bring It On and froyo at 3. See you then.

[She hangs up, pops off a text to Chloe about meeting her tomorrow evening and how she needs to sleep it off. Then, she sets her phone to Do Not Disturb and returns it to her bag.

Finally, she turns back to Nathan, and sighs, steadying herself.]

Okay, so you probably won't even believe me without some sort of demonstration, but... Ever since I was in that bathroom with you and Chloe, I've been able to... do things, that I couldn't before. [Okay, let's just get it out there, Max.] I can rewind time.

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