The sun had barely risen, a soft light creeping through the curtains of Max’s dorm room, casting a warm glow across the room. You were still tangled up in the sheets, half-dazed, with your arm lazily draped over Max. The weight of the night—the closeness, the shared vulnerability, the intimacy—was still settling in, and you couldn't help but feel a bit proud that you had been there for her. After all, Max had been through so much, and last night was a kind of release, a way to reconnect.

As you lay there, still half-asleep, you felt Max stir beside you. You opened your eyes to see her sitting up, stretching her arms above her head with a soft yawn. The sunlight caught her auburn hair, and for a second, it almost felt like a dream. Her usual laid-back demeanor was still there, but there was something about her that felt… freer, like she had let go of something.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” Max said with a soft, teasing smile, her voice still raspy from sleep. Her eyes twinkled a little, and you could tell she was in a good mood. "I gotta go meet the gang today, remember?"

"Safi, Moses, Amanda, and the rest,” Max said, pulling on her yellow gloves and slipping her jacket over her shoulders. “You know, my version of the geek squad." She grinned as she tossed you a playful glance. "I’m sure you’ll like them. They’ve got all the geeky vibes—smart, weird, and a little bit chaotic. They’re your kind of crowd." No the hell they're not...