Chapter 20
The Critique
That morning, Blair, Blake, Sylvia, and Demetrio sat at the dining room table eating breakfast. Blake was smoking and reading the newspaper. Ashley made them cappuccino, blueberry pancakes, bacon, and crepes stuffed with creme and topped with fresh fruit.
Demetrio: “This is delicious, Ashley! I am impressed!”
He gave an OK sign with his hands as he sipped his cappuccino. Ashley flashed Demetrio a smile and sat down with them to join them.
Ashley: “Grazie mille!”
Blair: “Would you like to hear me sing and play my synthesizer later, Ashley?”
Ashley’s eyes glittered as they eagerly nodded.
Ashley: “Of course”
Blake lowered his newspaper and raised an eyebrow. He knew Blair continually asked Maxx for a sample of Sex Beest and wondered if this was his way of getting around to hearing his dreadful music. Ashley continued to eat their breakfast and enjoyed the peace and quiet without Maxx around. They liked that Maxx slept in until two or three in the afternoon.
~
They went to the pool that afternoon for a swim. Blair was in his blue swim trunks and Ashley was dressed in their non-binary flag tank top and spandex black swim shorts. Blake sat at the table having a smoke and Celeste was sunbathing in her purple bikini, sunglasses, and sunhat.
Celeste: “So I gotta ask… Who the fuck is Filly-babe? Your asshole ‘friend’ keeps mentioning that name… Is it a new band or singer or porn star or something?”
She asked. Ashley stopped and bowed his head. Blair knit his eyebrows.
Blair: “I don’t think Ashley wants to discuss it, Celeste…”
He said gently as he reassured Ashley. Blake exhaled a long drag.
Blake: “She’s a woman who had a one-night stand with Maxx.”
Celeste swerved her gaze to Blake.
Celeste: “Uh, okay? So why is he asking everyone around here about her?”
Blake drew another breath.
Blake: “Because she comes from here.”
He said sternly and glared up at the room where Maxx slept.
Blair: “...She comes from here?”
He asked and raised an eyebrow.
Celeste: “Never heard of her.”
She shrugged.
Blake: “This is because that clown fuck is using the stupid nickname he gave her… Her real name is Felipa Flores.”
He replied evenly. Celeste’s and Blair’s eyebrows rose in surprise.
Celeste: “...This entire time he was asking for that skank and she actually fucked him?”
She asked incredulously and sat back.
Celeste: “I am surprised… and yet… not.”
She said slowly.
She cupped her chin.
Celeste: “Interestingly…, when she returned from her trip, she never mentioned Maxx.”
She added. Ashley drew another breath and shut their eyes tightly. They laughed bitterly.
Celeste: “...Did he come all the way here just to find her? …He does know that was a one-night stand, right?”
She asked archly. Blake harrumphed and nodded.
Blake: “Bingo. That’s precisely why he came here. I knew this ‘buddy trip’ was a sham from the get-go.”
He growled. Ashley got out of the pool in tears. Blake drew a breath.
Blake: “Ashley…, I know this is a hard pill to swallow but you were done with Maxx when you found out Sex Beest wasn’t a band. You knew this would happen and you let him back into your life. A leopard never changes its spots.”
He said firmly. Blair climbed out of the pool and patted Ashley’s back.
Blair: “Look, Ashley… I know Blake is harsh but… he means well… and… When you’re away from Maxx, I notice you’re much happier.”
He began in a gentle, calming tone.
Blair: “...Is this friendship worth hanging onto? I mean…”
He lowered his head and drew a short, gusty breath.
Blair: “He never asked once what you want to do. Whenever you do want to do something, he dismisses it and belittles it. He’s always ridiculing and misgendering you… Since he came here, he talked about himself and asked about ‘Filly-Babe.’ I mean, does this feel like a buddy trip at all? It sounds like he wanted to drag you here to find someone who only intended to sleep with him once.”
He said gently. Ashley heaved a deep sigh as the tears trickled down their cheeks. They could not deny anything of what they said and held onto the last thread of hope that Maxx would change.
Maxx marched out wearing a neon yellow mankini. Celeste put her hands up.
Celeste: “GAGH! MY EYES!”
She grumbled. Maxx grinned at her.
Maxx: “Like what you see, baby?”
He purred. Ashley rolled their eyes at Maxx as their patience for his antics eroded.
Celeste: “No. You wouldn’t want to cheat on ‘Filly-babe’ now, would you?”
She asked wryly. Blake smirked and chuckled.
Shauna came out.
Shauna: “Ashley, Tristan, and Deimos are here to pick up the whoopie pies they ordered from you.”
She said and moved aside to let them out to the patio. Deimos and Tristan stepped out and both gawked at Maxx. Oh, my goodness, Tristan thought.
Deimos: “Is he for real?”
He pointed to Maxx with disgust. Ashley came up to them and greeted them. They went into the house and returned.
Ashley: “Heya! Here’s your whoopie pies!”
They beamed, presenting them with soft and creamy, fresh-baked whoopie pies. They looked delectable with the moist chocolate cakes and fluffy marshmallow filling.
Tristan: “Thank you, kindly.”
He smiled and paid them.
Maxx: “PFFT, Whoopie pies?! Did A-Rad fart on them with his fat ass?!”
He cackled, making farting noises with his mouth. Blair rolled his eyes. Ashley clenched the money tightly as they felt their impatience climbing. Tristan laughed awkwardly and shifted his eyes. Deimos stared blankly at Maxx.
Deimos: “Nice to see American Pizza’s shitty humor is alive and well. I thought that crap died out when you turned eighteen. Oh well, I never found it funny.”
He rolled his eyes.
Tristan: “Same.”
Ashley: “...No, Maxx, but you pooped in the bath with your skinny ass.”
They blurted. Maxx furrowed his eyebrows at them.
Maxx: “NAH-AH! NO, I DIDN’T!”
Deimos: “I would have said they were making a shitty joke—pun intended—but your reaction confirms that it’s true.”
He deadpanned.
Blake smirked.
Blake: “Say, weren’t you in a band?”
Deimos raised his eyebrows.
Deimos: “...Yes. I was in Ouro Novo and in Nuklear Intoxikation! The latter was just in name as I did jack fucking shit, no thanks to our ‘leader’, Craig.”
He said flatly.
Blake: “Would you like to hear Sex Beest?”
He smirked. Deimos and Tristan gaped at Maxx.
Deimos: “You know what? I would.”
He nodded.
Blair: “I’ve been asking for samples the entire time.”
Maxx: “LATER! GOSH!”
He snapped. Deimos bore his hot gaze on Maxx.
Deimos: “No, I want to hear a sample NOW. I want to see just how amazing Sex Beest is.”
He folded his arms over his chest.
Ashley: “Go on, Maxx. Show them ‘Sex Beest’. Show them how you’re so much better than me!”
Maxx smirked.
Maxx: “Owwwwh! I’ll show them!”
~
They went to the gaming room in Blair’s mansion, which was a room designated for playing video games, watching TV, and playing music. It had a wooden TV set, a Kentendo, and a CD/record/cassette player combo with huge speakers.
Maxx came back with a cassette, slid it into Blair’s boombox, and pressed play. Roaring guitars blasted through the speakers, followed by Vivienne Vivacious’ vocals. Tristan laughed. Deimos heaved a harsh breath and pressed stop.
Deimos: “I want to hear your music, Maxx, not Tortugazm…”
He said firmly. Maxx gaped at Deimos and he thought he never heard of Tortugazm. Tristan surveyed Maxx. Is this guy for real? He wondered. Maxx sighed and slid in another tape.
Maxx: “Fine, fine…”
He pressed play. An electric guitar strummed haphazardly played in the background with Maxx’s squawking voice screeching. Tristan winced and Deimos gaped at Maxx as if to say it was much worse than he imagined. Blair winced and cupped his ears. Ashley blinked mutely, unphased.
Maxx: “It’s da best isn’t it?”
He grinned smugly at them.
Tristan: “No, this is… quite terrible. This is you screeching to whatever with no rhyme or reason.”
He said in a matter-of-factly tone.
Deimos: “ ‘Da Best’? This is the worst pile of garbage I ever heard. You’re screeching like a banshee and screaming the same phrase repeatedly. This is like a toddler’s attempt at metal. This is an insult to metal. I would give tips and pointers on how to improve but you’re hopeless. Stick to the clown act with imitating American Pizza ‘humor’ because you’re nothing more than a chronic failure.”
He spat. Ashley stumbled over a laugh.
Blair: “I have to agree… I don’t think voice lessons would help you.”
He added.
Maxx: “Y-You don’t get it! It’s DA BEST! A-Rad tell dem it’s da best! You wore my shirts! I HAVE MERCH!”
He caterwauled and pulled out a cardboard box. He held up a small white shirt with “Sex Bees” on it.
Tristan: “Why does it say ‘Sex Bees’ when your band is allegedly named ‘Sex Beest’?”
He challenged.
Maxx: “Da printers made a mistake, ya frog! DUH!”
Deimos flared. Ashley frowned at Maxx.
Deimos: “So this means you sell these pieces of shit as ‘merch’ instead of getting a refund or a correction?”
He asked sharply.
Deimos held the shirt up to the window and stretched it.
Deimos: “Also, what the fuck is this material you printed these on? These shirts are translucent, they’re all too small, and they reek of mothballs! You went to the cheapest company possible to get these made, didn’t you?”
He rasped. Maxx glared at Deimos.
Maxx: “I only have size M for MAXXY, LAME-OS! S for sexy and XS for EXTRA SEXY! I don’t want lame fatties wearing da merch!”
He stomped his boots. Ashley clenched their seat, feeling their ire soar.
Tristan: “A great way to limit your fanbase, as if you’d have any…”
He muttered.
Deimos: “The only one I know who could wear this is Tristan and he wouldn’t be caught dead in this piece of shit.”
He threw the shirt at Maxx and held up the poster of Maxx’s pouty face with “Sex Bees.”
Deimos: “You spent more on these fucking posters than you did on your ‘music’ and shirts. You’re not in this for the love of music; you’re in this for the love of yourself.”
He snapped. Tristan nodded in agreement.
Maxx glared at them as his orange face turned red.
Maxx: “A-Rad! TELL DEM IT’S DA BEST! YA STUPID FAT FUCK!”
He demanded. Ashley furrowed their eyebrows at him
Ashley: “NO, YOU STUPID CARROT CLOWN JERK!”
They blurted. Maxx’s jaw dropped. Deimos raised his eyebrows and Tristan cupped his mouth. Blair smiled widely.
Ashley: “Your music SUCKS and you SUCK!”
They cried as the dam broke.
Ashley: “You don’t care about music and you don’t care about me or anyone else, only yourself”
They cried.
Ashley: “Oh, and this ‘buddy trip’ wasn’t because you were sorry and trying to make it up to me; it was all about finding Felipa, but guess what, dude?! She doesn’t even care about you!”
They added for good measure.
Deimos turned to Ashley.
Deimos: “Wait, Felipa is ‘Filly-babe’? People who know her never mentioned she had an encounter with Maxx so… I guess she forgot him.”
He shrugged noncommittal. Tristan harrumped.
Maxx: “NAH-AH! YOU FAT ASSHOLE! YOU FATTY FAT FUCK! FILLY-BABE LOOOOOOOOOOOOVES MY SEX BEEST! YOU’RE JEALOUS I GET PUS-SAY AND YOU GET BURGERS, YOU LAME FAT LOSER!”
He roared.
Ashley: “I-I can’t take this anymore! I’ve had ENOUGH! I’ve HAD it with you! You’re nothing but horrible to me and you keep getting worse and worse! I don’t know what happened to my friend back in Selene Valley! Or maybe you were always a mean jerk, but I didn’t see it before?”
They rubbed their temples.
Maxx: “NAH-AH! You’re da ungrateful one, ya fat asshole! I GAVE YOU A ROCKIN’ REBEL DIET! I GAVE YOU A BUDDY TRIP AND A VIP BACKSTAGE FOR SEX BEEST! YOU HAD NO ONE BUT ME! AND YOU BETRAYED ME, YA FAT ASSHOLE! Yer not A-Rad anymore! YOU’RE FATLEY! YOU BETRAYED ME FOR LAME-OS, DA FROG, AND DA NERD!”
He barked at them. Ashley huddled themselves. Deimos rolled his eyes. Tristan drew a long breath and felt for Ashley to put up with this screaming toddler.
Ashley: “...I took you into my home and fed you and took care of you for nothing in return. All I did was try to help you get back on your feet and be a friend to you when you had no one else. You weren’t trying to ‘help’ me with this ‘diet’; you were being mean! I was happy with how I looked before and you made me feel bad about myself! Sex Beest SUCKS! YOU SUCK! Well… Deimos, Tristan, and Blair are my TRUE friends, and don’t be mean to them!”
They fired back, tearfully. Maxx shot his forefinger at Ashley.
Maxx: “You will pay for this, Fatley! Mark my words! DON’T FUCK WITH DA BEEST!”
He growled.
Tristan: “Famous parting words.”
He said dryly.
Ashley: “Okay, peace out Maxx. Namastay away from me and my friends! There’s the door!”
They rose from their seat, making the “peace” symbol with their hands and then pointing to the door.
Blake came in and grabbed Maxx’s arm.
Blake: “You have five minutes to get out now.”
He said firmly.
Maxx: “Hands off da merch, Mr. Doom ‘n Gloom! I am leaving your fat asshole brother now! Oh wait, his pronouns are fat and fatty!”
He cackled. Ashley glared at Maxx and picked up his merch box. They went to the window and threw it out, getting Maxx’s shirts and posters all over the lawn.
Ashley: “GET OUT!”
They cried.
Maxx: “At least I don’t have a made-up gender, fatso!”
He spat.
Ashley: “You have a made-up BAND!”
They threw their arms up.
Maxx: “NAH-AH!!”
He screamed and shoved them down with great force. Ashley was taken aback by his strength as they fell to the floor. Blake was furious but showed hesitation and fear.
Celeste grabbed Maxx’s neck.
Maxx: “ARGH!”
She threw him out the window and he landed on the ground plunging his head in three feet deep. Blake gaped at her.
Celeste: “Is he finally fucking out?”
She huffed. Ashley huddled themself and nodded, sobbing. Blair knelt down and consoled Ashley.
Tristan scrutinized Blake. He seemed protective of his sibling but why did he show hesitation to Maxx just now? I didn’t think Maxx was strong but he shoved Ashley down with force, he thought.
Blair: “Yes.”
He replied.
Ashley: “YES! He’s gone, good riddance!”
They cried.
Blake: “It’s about time. I always knew he was a piece of shit.”
He said evenly.
Ashley: “I feel so stupid!”
They cried into their hands. Tristan looked away and thought his father is doing for Craig what Ashley did for Maxx.
Blair: “You’re not stupid, Ashley! You were trying to help someone in need! You were a true friend and this is a buddy trip because you made lots of friends!”
He reassured him. Ashley smiled a bit.
Ashley: “You’re right, Blair, it was a buddy trip, after all, because I have you guys now!”
They cried tears of joy.
Tristan noted Ashley mentioned Maxx wasn’t always like this. Was this true or did having better company open their eyes? He wondered.
Tristan: “Ashley, you mentioned Maxx wasn’t always like this… How not?”
He asked. Ashley turned to Tristan, wiping their eyes.
Ashley: “Well… something happened with this weird giant bug and ever since then Maxx became… really mean and like… an animal?”
They stated. Tristan and Deimos quirked an eyebrow.
Deimos: “...Giant bug?”
Ashley: “Yeah, it looked like a giant cockroach! I’ve never seen a cockroach that big before!”
They nodded. Deimos looked at Blake and Ashley. Blake nodded.
Deimos: “...Do you guys mean a Xupran?”
He asked to clarify. They both looked at him.
Blake: “A what?”
Ashley: “...What’s a… Super-ran?”
They scratched their head.
Tristan: “You two never heard of Xuprans?”
He asked in disbelief. Ashley and Blake exchanged a look and shook their heads.
Ashley: “No? Are they a species of cockroach?”
They asked. Tristan swallowed and Deimos gaped at them in disbelief. Blair and Celeste were both in shock.
Blair: “I thought everyone knew this.”
He said as his voice trailed off. Ashley shifted their eyes.
Ashley: “Know what? Why is everyone looking at us like that?!”
Deimos: “You two never heard of the planet Xupra?”
Ashley: “Oh wow, another planet?!”
They beamed with curiosity. Blake arched an eyebrow.
Blake: “...What?! Are you telling me that thing was an… alien?!”
He gaped disbelievingly.
Tristan: “Well, yes, we thought everyone knew of Xupra and Xuprans. We’re surprised both of you didn’t is all.”
He laughed a bit.
Deimos: “Yeah… Xuprans are from Xupra. Do you know how you put your garbage on a curb to be collected? Well, those are loaded on spaceships from the Reonan Space Garbage Collection and those spaceships go to Xupra to dump the garbage on their planet because Xuprans will eat anything and not die.”
He explained. Ashley’s eyes widened.
Ashley: “WOW, really?! I never knew that! I thought the Sun Goddess made it evaporate into thin air!”
Tristan and Deimos gawked at Ashley as if they had three heads. Blake rolled his eyes.
Blake: “I’m pretty sure they’re joking, Ashley.”
He assured them.
Ashley: “Oh.”
Deimos: “I am not joking. Did you two grow up in a cult that was isolated from the rest of us?”
He asked.
Blake: “Yes, actually.”
He said bitterly and nodded. Tristan nodded and now it made sense.
Ashley: “Sunshire wasn’t a cult, Blake!”
They knit their eyebrows.
Tristan: “Well, since you’re living in this world with the rest of us, you could learn something about us.”
He nodded. Blake arched an eyebrow at him and Ashley smiled at him.
Ashley: “Of course! I’d love to learn more about my new friends!”
They beamed.
Blake: “Right, we have a lot to learn about this new country we’re in. It is a different world here.”
He nodded.
Celeste looked out the window and saw Maxx stomp away with the Keke doppelganger following him.
Celeste: “Is Keke following him or that weird cat that looks like Keke and just stares at him following him?”
She asked.
Deimos: “Pretty sure it’s the latter.”
~
Maxx wandered through the rainy streets, trying to get out of Papamos—the neighborhood where the Donatis lived. He just walked and walked until he wandered downtown and into Little Tokyo. He shivered and sobbed that he couldn’t find Filly-babe and Ashley betrayed him cruelly. He approached an establishment and saw the neon lights of Dynamite Kitties. A smile tugged at his lips when he saw it was a strip club. There was only a gold 1986 Mitsubishi Magna in the parking lot.
Maxx approached the establishment and entered. No one was inside but a bartender and another man sitting at a table looking through his portfolio. Maxx grimaced when he examined the stage and for girls and saw none. He sat at the bar. Hideaki smiled at him.
Hideaki: “Good evening, sir, what can I get for you?”
He asked.
Maxx: “Ya got any goon?”
Hideaki twisted his mouth.
Hideaki: “...I’m afraid not but we have coolers!”
He went to the fridge to open it. The man looking through his portfolios was Anthony Ramires. He wore a Bart Simpson tank top, jean cut-offs, and flip-flops. He saw Maxx at the bar and a laugh escaped his lips. That has to be the most stupid-looking Vivienne wannabe I ever saw, he thought. He didn’t take his eyes off him.
Hideaki: “We have ‘Peach Blossom Sejuice’ and ‘Boppin’ Berry Sejuice!’ ”
Maxx: “Uhh… Boppin’ Berry!”
Hideaki opened the bottle with a bottle opener and placed it on the counter.
Hideaki: “That will be ten dollars.”
Maxx put his hand down his pants. Hideaki looked and twisted his face with disgust. He sighed with relief when he saw it was an Australian banknote and knew they don’t accept foreign currency. I really have to talk to Masashi about enforcing a policy not to accept cash from shoes, bras, and underwear, he thought.
Hideaki: “I’m sorry, sir. We don’t accept foreign currency…”
He pointed to the ATM in the lounge.
Hideaki: “You can use your debit card there to withdraw cash.”
Just as Maxx was about to withdraw cash, Anthony stepped in and paid for his drink.
Anthony: “It’s on me.”
He sat by Maxx and his grin spread to show his even white teeth.
Anthony: “You… are the most BADASS Vivienne wannabe I ever saw!”
He said as he laughed a bit. Maxx’s face immediately brightened.
Maxx: “Y-Ya think so? Do you know Sex Beest?! It’s my rockin’ band!”
He said eagerly. Anthony gasped and put his hand to his chest.
Anthony: “Know of them? …I happen to be their biggest fan!”
He laughed. Maxx’s grin spread.
Maxx: “I am Maxxy Malone of Sex Beest!”
He said proudly. Anthony cupped his cheeks and gasped.
Anthony: “OH MY GOD! YOU’RE MAXXY MALONE?! I AM MEETING THE FRONTMAN OF SEX BEEST!”
He said gleefully. Maxx felt on top of the world with what Anthony said to him. Hideaki looked at them as if they had three heads. What is Sex Beest? He wondered.
Anthony: “I am sure you wouldn’t have the time to give a peasant like me an autograph!”
He said wryly and tried not to laugh. Maxx rose from his seat.
Maxx: “Maxxy always has time for his fans! Sure, buddy! You can have an autograph!”
He withdrew one of his glamor shots and signed it in chicken scratch, handing it to Anthony. Anthony took it and burst out laughing.
Anthony: “WOW, MAXX! I can’t believe I got an autograph from the Sex Beest!”
He snorted.
Maxx: “YUP! Sex Beest is mega-famous! I had bandmates but they’re missin’! We’re da coolest and hottest glam metal band in the world!”
He shot him a fingerbang.
Maxx: “I’ve been tryin’ to find my missin’ bandmates but a rival band fucked us over and they’re missin’!”
He sighed, feigning sadness.
Maxx: “They stole my guitar and my rockin’ portrait and everything!”
He growled.
Maxx: “I was in Selene Valley and sold lots of records! I fucked millions of girls! I am drowning in puss-ay!”
He nodded happily. Anthony listened to Maxx and believed none of it and found him the most hilarious person he came across since Trevor Hinkley.
Anthony: “Well, Maxx… I believe everything you tell me and I am your number one fan!”
He grinned. Hideaki arched an eyebrow at Anthony. Is he serious? That story is full of shit, he thought. He said nothing because they were just clients and it wasn’t his place.
Anthony withdraws his camera.
Anthony: “Hey, how about a picture of you and me, buddy?”
He grinned and gave him a thumbs up. Maxx nodded eagerly.
Maxx: “Sure, bud!”
Anthony raised the camera and smiled at the camera while Maxx made a pouty face. Anthony took another picture of Maxx at the bar making a pouty face and Maxx laying on the floor making a pouty face. He had Hideaki take pictures of Anthony making silly faces while Maxx pulled the same pouty face.
Anthony: “Thanks, Maxx! I’m Anthony, by the way! You never asked for my name.”
He laughed. Because I know you don’t give a shit, he thought and laughed more.
Maxx: “Nice to meetcha, Tones!”
He shot him a fingerbang. Anthony laughed harder.
Anthony: “Well, okay, cool, my stage name is ‘Tony the Tank Top Tickler!’ ”
He nodded.
Anthony: “Wanna grab a bite to eat at Fred’s Burger Castle?”
He offered. Maxx pouted.
Maxx: “Wh-Wha? What about da lady babes?!”
He stomped his foot.
Anthony: “It’s eleven o’clock and I don’t think they’re coming. Come on. Let’s get something to eat and I can drive you home or wherever you’re staying.”
Maxx froze and folded his arms across his chest pouting.
Anthony: “...What’s wrong, buddy?”
He asked him.
Maxx: “I don’t wanna go back to stay with Fatley and his asshole, nerdy friend, Lame-os, and dat frog! Dat nerrd reads books and not PlayCat! And… And… they all said my music was not good! Lame-os and Da Frog said I sucked and my ex-friend, A-Rad, I MEAN FATLEY AGREED!”
He whined and fell to the floor sobbing. A smile curled on Anthony’s lips as he burst out laughing. He held his hand out and helped Maxx up.
Anthony: “Well, Maxx? What can I say, except A-Rad doesn’t know a true masterpiece when he or she sees one? They’re just jealous.”
He grinned. Maxx brightened.
Maxx: “Y-Yeah! That’s right! Dat fat asshole is just jealous he got no puss-ay!”
Anthony: “Well? You can stay with me then!”
Maxx had stars in his eyes. Everything is comin’ up Maxxy, he thought.
~
Anthony drove out to a rural area twenty miles outside of Pink Top City. Maxx looked around in the passenger’s seat.
Maxx: “Where we goin’, Tones?”
He gaped owlishly at him.
Anthony: “My place, buddy!”
He chirped.
Maxx: “But why’s it in da middle of nowhere?”
Anthony burst out laughing. Man, this fucker gives the term “sheltered kid” a new meaning, he thought.
Anthony: “ ‘cause I like to rebel… Like you.”
He smirked, giving Maxx the side-eye.
Anthony made a right-hand turn down a gravel driveway with trees on each side of the driveway. He drove down and made another right-hand turn to a log cabin on a beach. The log cabin was small and about eight feet away from the sandy beach. Handy the log cabin was a fire pit with log seats and a fishing boat.
There was a small veranda with two steps on the cabin with a bench, two rocking chairs, a grill, and a wind chime. Anthony parked his car, took the bags of food in, and went up to the door.
Anthony: “No need to help me, Maxx. I am giving you a place and you’re a famous rockstar.”
He burst out laughing. Maxx skipped along and beamed.
Maxx: “Yep, yep! That’s me all right.”
Anthony laughed as he opened the door. Holy shit, this guy is a treasure, he thought.
He opened the door to a one-story cozy cottage with a vaulted ceiling. They entered the kitchen and dining room combo and the living room neighbored it. The living room had a couch with a large TV in front of it, a desk with a computer by the bedroom doors, and a small bathroom located at the far end of the living room. Anthony set the bags of food on the small wooden table and opened the door at the farthest left. It was a small bedroom that had a double bed with a carved wooden frame, a cedar wood dresser, and a nightstand.
Anthony: “This is your bedroom.”
He nodded to Maxx. Maxx pouted at it.
Maxx: “Well, at least I don’t have to stay with that fat traitor!”
He huffed.
Anthony: “You’re welcome for the hospitality, Maxxy!”
He shot him a fingerbang.
They sat at the table to eat. Maxx ate his chicken nuggets and a few fries.
Anthony: “So… why did you come here?”
He took a sip of his soda.
Maxx: “Huh?”
Anthony: “Why did you come here to Pink Top City, buddy? I mean, it’s not the best place to get known in the music industry as it is in the fetish industry… So why did you come here?”
He smiled, asking a sincere question. Maxx heaved a sigh and drained his soda.
Maxx: “ ‘cause I met this hot lady babe back in Selene Valley and we fucked good and hard! I sang her a song! And she loved it! She came from here and I wanna find her again so we can fuck more!”
He beamed. Anthony spat his soda out.
Anthony: “...Wait, you had a one-night stand with a tourist and you made this expensive trip from Australia to here just to see her?”
He asked for clarification. Maxx beamed and nodded.
Maxx: “Yup, dat’s da truth, Tones!”
Anthony burst out laughing. He laughed so hard that tears welled in his eyes.
Maxx: “Wh-What’s so funny, Tones?”
He asked. Anthony wheezed with laughter and locked his gaze on Maxx.
Anthony: “M-May I ask who this mystery lady is?”
He asked and burst out laughing again.
Maxx: “Oh! Filly-babe!”
Anthony laughed again.
Anthony: “Did she not give you her real name?!”
He tried hard to contain his laughter. Maxx paused.
Maxx: “I think it’s Fill-ipa?”
He shrugged. Anthony roared with laughter and slapped his knees.
Maxx: “Why are you laughin’, Tones?”
He tilted his head. Anthony cleared his throat and tried to stop laughing.
Anthony: “You mean Felipa… That’s how you pronounce it…”
He said breathlessly. Okay, I know for a fact Maxx lost his virginity to Felipa and they had a one-night stand, he thought. He made this expensive trip to see a girl who only intended to fuck him once, he added. This is so pathetic and fucking funny, not even Trevor would stoop to this level of pathetic, he thought as he laughed.
Anthony placed his hand on Maxx’s shoulder. Maxx jolted.
Anthony: “Maxx…”
He locked his gaze on him.
Anthony: “What you did… touched me so much, I want you to headline at Beach Bash. It’s a small music festival taking place at Pink Top Beach.”
He said with a straight face. Maxx beamed at Anthony’s words.
Maxx: “Is that da truth?! Wh-What ‘bout my missin’ bandmates?!”
Anthony nodded.
Anthony: “They’ll never turn up but I can get some instruments! You provide the vocals! Sound good?”
Maxx beamed and nodded.
Maxx: “It’s rockin’, Tones! Sex Beest is gonna blow dem outta the water!”
He shot his fist up in the air. Is this guy incapable of thanking anyone? He thought and laughed. Maxx felt everything was coming up Maxxy and he would show Ashley that he is a true band. The Keke doppelganger stared at Maxx and Anthony thought he saw that cat smirk at Maxx.
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