Max woke up feeling the weight of yesterday's mess still stuck in her chest. The burnt hair, the angry looks, the shame—it played like a bad replay in her mind. She wanted to stay under the covers forever.
Then, her phone beeped. She glanced at it.
*[OG's Group Chat]*
*Jade (7:03 AM):* Party at 6 tonight! Everyone's coming! 🎉🔥
*Jane (8:50 AM):* Obviously! No way I'm missing!
*Others:* Count me in! Can't wait!
Max's heart skipped. *This is exactly what I need right now.* A night away from everything. But then the crushing thought hit her.
*Mom will never say yes. How do I even tell her?*
Max heard footsteps approaching her room. Her heart started pounding. *What excuse am I even going to use?*
The door creaked open slowly.
Her mum peeked in and called out, *"Maxwell! Are you awake?"*
Max stayed quiet for a second, then finally whispered, *"Yes, mum..."*
Her mum stepped inside, looking around the messy room, eyes narrowing. *"It took you a while to answer me.*
Max sighed, *"Morning Mum *"
Her gaze swept the cluttered floor and scattered clothes. *"Why is your room like this? Even at 18 still acting like a child "*
Max bit her lip, *"I'll arrange it Mum"* trying to avoid and more talk
Her mum folded her arms. *"Get dressed. You have work."*
Max's voice trembled a bit. *"Mum, I don't want to go today. I'm tired... stressed..."*
Her mum's tone hardened. *"That's not your choice."*
Max swallowed her thought and said quietly, *"I feel sick."*
Her mum didn't buy it. *"Get dressed and go to work."*
Max shook her head, then reluctantly followed her mum to the bedroom. She lay down on her mum's bed, pulling the blanket over herself.
*"Mum, I'm really sick. Please..."*
Her mum looked at her closely, doubt flashing in her eyes.
*"What's wrong with you?"*
Max closed her eyes. *"Headache... didn't sleep last night..."*
Her mum sighed deeply. *"Fine. You can rest today. But tomorrow, you're back at work."*
Max nodded silently, heart pounding—half relieved, half worried.
*But the party tonight... How do I tell her now*..
The room was dim, only streaks of morning light sliding through the curtains. Angela sat at the edge of the bed, half-dressed for the day, checking her phone. Max lay under her blanket, pretending to be asleep—or maybe just too tired to care anymore.
The door creaked open.
*"Good morning Mum,"* Michael said, voice raspy with sleep as come mum's in, still in his boxers and a wrinkled nightshirt. *"Why is everyone gathered here like morning devotion?"*
Angela looked up.
*"Max says she's sick.*"
Michael raised a brow.
*"Again?"* He walked over to Max's side of the bed and nudged her gently.
*"What's wrong with you now, Our baby ? You just want to skip work and sleep in mum's room?"*
Max gave a weak shrug.
*"My head hurts. I didn't sleep well."* And I'm not your baby....
Angela said nothing, just shot her a look that said, *You better be telling the truth.*
Michael sat at the edge of the bed. *"You better not be faking, Max. Because the salon gist ."* He yawned. *"Sha, I'm hungry. I'll wait till you two finish this mother and daughter bond ."*
As he stepped out, Max's phone buzzed beside her. She reached slowly for it.
*Jane.*
*Jane:*
*Have you told your mum about the party?*
Max stared at the screen, thumb hovering.
*Max:*
*I lied. I told her I'm sick.*
Seconds passed before Jane's reply popped in.
*Jane:*
*What?? Max! 😩*
*Why would you do that? You know if you get caught, it's over.*
Max bit her lip, heart suddenly pounding.
*Max:*
*She wasn't going to let me go. I panicked. I just wanted to breathe today.*
*Jane:*
*You should just tell her. Come clean.*
*Maybe she'll understand?*
Max rolled her eyes, even though her throat tightened.
*Max:*
*This is Mum.You really think I'll go to a party after lying? She'll ground me for the whole year ..
*Jane:*
*So what's the plan then? Are you going or not?*
Max didn't respond right away.
She looked up. Her mother was still in the room, going through emails like she hadn't just had a whole conversation about Max's "sickness."
Everything inside her twisted.
She wanted to go.
She wanted a break.
But one wrong step and everything could crash down.
*Max:*
*I don't know yet.*
She locked her phone, slipped it under the pillow, and closed her eyes.
For now, silence was safer than truth.
Angela stepped out of the room, heading to the kitchen without another word. The quiet left behind felt too loud for Max. She turned on her side, staring at the ceiling, her fingers clenched under the blanket.
She was tired of thinking. Tired of pretending. Tired of lying. But still... she couldn't figure out how to *fix* it. Her stomach twisted with guilt, her chest tight with frustration.
How was she supposed to be honest now?
A few minutes passed before her mum's voice echoed from the kitchen, *"Maxwell, food is ready !"*
Max dragged herself out of bed, heart pounding. The food was the least of her worries. What filled her mind was Jade's invite. The party. The lie. And whether she'd be brave—or stupid—enough to come clean.
She stepped into the kitchen, eyes low.
Angela was plating breakfast, calm but unreadable. Max sat down slowly.
And then—like her mouth moved before her brain could stop it—she blurted, *"Mum... Jade invited me to a party tonight."*
Angela didn't even look up.
*"A party?"* Her voice was light, but it held weight. *"You? The same person that said she's too sick to go to work?"*
Max swallowed. *"It's just—something I really need. Just to breathe, Mum."*And it not like I really have an headache Max murmured*"
Angela finally looked at her. Her expression was quiet, sharp. *"No."*
Max blinked. *"No?"*
*"No, Max. You lied about being sick just to stay home, and now you want permission to go out and dance? What do you take me for?"*
Anger and sadness collided in Max's chest like a crash. She stood up suddenly, pushing back the chair.
*"You never listen,"* she whispered. *"It's always no before I even explain."*
*"Maxwell—"*
But Max had already left the room. She heard her mother calling again, firmer this time, but she didn't stop. She wanted to cry, scream—anything to get the heaviness out of her body.
She picked up her phone. Her fingers hovered over her dad's number.
But what was the point? He'd already say no. He wasn't a fan of late outings, and definitely not parties. "You're still under my roof," he'd say. "And 18 doesn't make you wise."
*Being grown meant nothing here.*
Michael found her slumped on the couch, arms crossed, breathing hard.
*"Max,"* he said gently, *"Just talk to her calmly. You could've asked before lying."*
*"Leave me, Michael."*
*"I'm not the enemy, I'm only correcting you "**he said. But Max didn't look at him.
Angela walked in just then.
*"You're grounded."* Her tone was final.
Max stood, eyes brimming. *"Of course. Because if it was you—"* she turned to Michael, voice cracking, *"or Martha or Martin, there'd be no problem. But because it's me, the 'baby,' I get leashed like a pet!"*
*"You're the youngest!"* Angela snapped. *"You think I don't know what happens at these parties? You think I don't see how boys look at girls like you?!"*
Max stormed off. She didn't want to cry in front of them again.
Back in her room, she opened her chat with Jane.
*Max:*
*I can't come.*
*Jane:*
*What?? Why??*
*Max:*
*I told her. She said no. Now I'm grounded.*
*Jane:*
*Ugh, I'm so sorry babe. Your mum is strict fr.*
Max dropped the phone on her bed and curled up. All she wanted was one night to feel free. But apparently, that was too much to ask
Michael did everything he could to calm his Mum down—soft words, logic, the classic *"She's just upset, give her space"*—but nothing worked. Her arms stayed folded, her jaw tight. Max's name now tasted like betrayal on her tongue.
About an hour later, with a deep sigh and a glance at the time, Angela grabbed her bag for her meeting. Before leaving, she gave Michael a final warning:
*"She steps out of this house again, and I swear—don't even try to cover for her."*
Michael just nodded, assuming Max wouldn't be foolish enough to try anything that day. But by the time he settled into his bed, headset on, music drowning out everything... Max had already made her move.
She tiptoed into his room, peeped. *Perfect.* He was knocked out.
By 6:08 PM, she slipped quietly out of the house—no one noticed.
Her heart raced the whole ride to Jade's place, but when she saw the lights, the people, the energy, *it all melted*. She was free.
Inside, music thumped and laughter filled the air. People were dancing, chatting, taking pictures. Jane spotted her almost instantly, jaw dropping.
*"MAX?!"*
To be continued 🧐