Courageous

CHAPTER FIVE

It took Carter a while to get used to hanging out with Max but after a week or so of them going out for burgers or them studying together, this time most of their outings being without Noah, he was actually pretty cool around him. 

Max seemed to notice too how he had changed his behaviour around him and even pointed that out one day while they were studying in his dorm room. His roommate wasn't there since he had class and Max had called Carter claiming he needed help with his photography class. He actually needed a model which is why he had even called him in the first place. 

One thing he needed to know about Carter though was that he hated being filmed or photographed. It was okay that one day where he had snapped a few pictures of him while eating since he didn't know he was doing it but right then, he knew and his moves and poses were completely stiff. In his defence, he had no idea as to what to do. He tried smiling at the camera with one of his arms on the back of the chair but you could clearly see how fake his smile was. 

Then he turned around the chair and placed his arms on its back. He tried to look cool or whatever but by the way, Max was staring at him, with his lips pursed as he tried to contain his laughter, he could tell he wasn't cool at all. More like an idiot... 

Max resisted the urge to laugh, "You good there pal? You look like you're gonna fart," 

"Oh, shut up! I just feel awkward since you keep looking at me," He snapped as he relaxed on the black chair was posing on. Max had asked to sit on the chair and look good (and then commented how he didn't have to do much to which Carter blushed) but he found that impossible. He was too embarrassed to do that. 

"How am I supposed to take pictures of you if I'm not looking at you?" The green-eyed male deadpanned as he placed his camera down on his thighs. Then after a few minutes of silence, he smirked. "Let's go take a walk!" 

Carter looked at him like he was stupid, "Why?" 

"Get up and let's go down at the pier. I'm driving!" Max ordered him as he grabbed his equipment and then grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the room once he noticed he wasn't gonna move on his own. 

He started whining, "I have a class in an hour," 

"We'll be back before it even starts," he promised him. If this had been Noah, Carter would have stayed by his decision and would have stayed inside but Max wasn't him and with that killer smile, he had Carter's knees bending and him agreeing to with him. 

He highly doubted that they would be back in time though... 

• • •

"Why are we here in the first place?" His question went inside his right ear and out of his left one. He groaned as he tried to keep up with him. He was fiddling around with his camera as Carter whined, clearly displeased about their surroundings. He would rather be back at his dorm listening to music while he waited for time to pass so he could go to his class and get over with his day. It was Friday and he couldn't wait for the weekend because he was so done with everything. 

Well, that was until he noticed a man selling cotton candy a few meters ahead of them. 

He let out a cheer like he was a little kid and he ran towards him to get himself one. He had no idea that while he was paying and eating his delicious treat, Max was taking pictures of him. Carter was walking ahead of him, a small smile evident on his lip as he danced around the pier. He loved cotton candy ever since he was a kid. His mama had gotten him some after he had gotten vaccinated for the first time (well as far as he could remember that is). 

He hummed under his breath his favourite song and then when he turned around, he froze once he noticed how Max was taking photos of him being silly. "Hey! What are you doing?" 

"What does it look like I am doing?" He said, his voice husky as he continued staring at him, his camera held close to his chest as if he wanted to protect it from him. 

Carter rolled his eyes as he huffed, "Those pics better not be your project," 

Max smirked, "Oh they are!" 

"Why the f**k would you use these? Why did you even take them?" 

He rolled his eyes at his fool language and have him another smirk but this time he winked too, "Because you were too stiff back at my dorm so I guessed that if I got to loosen up, you would pose for me without even realising you were doing so. Now am I freaking awesome or what?" 

Carter scowled, "Or what," 

He stuck his tongue out in reply. 

"What are you even gonna name it anyway?" Carter mumbled as he walked closer to see the pictures he took. Max seemed to understand what he wanted because he immediately opened his camera and fumbled around with it before he showed him a picture of him eating cotton candy with his eyes closed, his head held up at the sky. He looked at peace which is something he hadn't felt for a while (mostly because of school).

"I was thinking 'pure bliss',"