We danced.

  We actually danced.

  my hands on Max's shoulders, hers on my waist.

  of course I sucked at it but Max helped guide me.

  "I know someone else who goes by Max" I say "she's pretty . . . cool! pretty cool!"

  the current Max blushed as though I complimented her.

  "huh" she whispered looking down "that's nice"

  she looked up again and our eyes met.

  eye contact is really hard for me for some reason, but looking into Max's eyes they looked like the Max's that isn't here.

  I don't know if we leaned into it or if Max is just fast, but we ended up kissing.

  I searched my mind and found that I had no problem with it.

  It kinda felt like a fairytale, but the song stopped, and she dragged me back into the crowd.

  "I'd feel like a jerk if I just abandoned a girl I just kissed" Max said, grinning, I nodded.

  "yeah" I smiled back.

  a lively song started up, seems like someone brought drums and started pying.

  I kept thinking of the princess Max, now that I think about it, I feel guilty for not going to check on her, I bet she thought her whole life that she would be queen.

  but that doesn't matter right here and now.

  I chase after her as she weaves through the crowd, her hand still in mine.

  she grabbed a free food sample as she went stuffing it in her mouth, she did that with one of every person we could find, she even bought a few candies from a tent.

  there were less people in the actual streets, but still a lot, Max sat down on a stone bench and started eating the entire bag full of candy.

  "you're hungry" I say, sitting down next to her.

  "I didn't have dinner" she replies offering me a caramel.

  I ate it, then spotted a jewelry shop set up, colorful cy beads hanging from their racks, I went over, Max following.

  "two of those ones please" I say, pointing to the copper and teal beaded bracelets, I handed over a silver piece to the jeweler in exchange.

  I gave one to Max and her eyes lit up.

  "you . . . you don't need to" she says, eyes wide, but sliding the bracelet on nevertheless.

  "it doesn't matter that much" I say shrugging "besides I need to pay you back for teaching me to dance"

  "I didn't teach you as much as I led your stumbling" Max smirked.

  "well, you're exaggerating a bit, but yeah" I pulled her out of the shop "now I am going to lead you somewhere"

  I let go of Max's hand to climb the tree.

  we were just outside of town, a little ways back from where they set the fireworks off.

  a giant beach tree stood there, engraved with messages and hopes for the future.

  beach trees are a symbol of the moon goddess, Lay, who grants people rest and peacefulness.

  I sit on one of the branches not close but not far from the ground, Max follows me up.

  We watch the people setting up the fireworks on the other side of the field.

  "what are they doing?" Max asks pointing across to them, a person lights a match and lights the fuse.

  "you'll see" I grin and watch her face light up watching the beautiful sprays of light in the night sky, the loud crack doesn't seem to bother her.

  "wow" she whispers "what is that"

  "a firework" I say another loud crack sounds off while the sky brightens again, Max covers her ears this time.

  we wait until the fireworks end, they st about an hour, and Max slides out of the tree.

  "I have to get home now" she says, fake wings shifting as she pulls her hood up.

  "okay, do you want to meet up again?" I say but she must've not heard me, she kept walking away.

  I sigh and lean back against a branch, fiddling with the bracelet that matches hers.

  I wonder if I'll see her again.

  if I don't, how long will it take for her to forget me?