Hellbent
Chapter 17
Maxxy’s Case
It was a warm October morning. Ashley stood in the kitchen admiring the garden out the window. Spring was in full bloom as the yard came to life with a splash of color. The wisteria draping over the veranda swayed in the breeze, a soft shade of lilac.
Ashley felt an excited spark light up inside him as he glanced down at the Flyer for the ‘Lake Bake Sale.’ It depicted a photo of HeatherVale Lake with a subheader that read ‘Selene Valley's Baked Goods, crafts, and Collectibles Market.’ He glanced down at his empty cat-shaped wallet and nodded.
He approached the fridge and felt that flame die inside him again. Maxx’s hospital bill, stuck to the fridge door jabbed at him with painful reminders of what happened the last time he baked. His shoulders slunk over, and he dropped the flyer to the floor.
Keke and Nunu circled his legs, meowing for food, swarming around like sharks in the water. He rummaged through the bare pantry, pulling out their box of kitty kibble. He knelt and poured it into their bowls, shaking the box until it was empty. Ashley knit his eyebrows, and a wave of determination washed over him.
He threw the empty box into the bin and rushed to the backyard. He ventured over to the chicken coop by the fence and smiled at the fresh batch of eggs laid by Signora Pollo.
He scurried back inside, washed the eggs, and retrieved the flour from the pantry, overcome with determination and excitement.
“AAAA-RAAAD!” A shrill voice cut through him like a needle to a lead balloon, making him drop the eggs to the ground.
Ashley: “M-MAXX?!”
He shrieked and shivered as the eggs cracked and spilled out all over his bare feet. Maxx gaped at him.
Maxx: “OHH, NAH-AH! Are you trying to kill me AGAIN with your lame baking?!”
He screeched.
Ashley: “N-no! It's for the bake sale!”
He cried, showing him the flier.
Maxx: “PFFT, LAAAAME!”
Ashley: “...Dude! I have to! I don’t have any money left! I need to buy cat food.”
He cried.
Maxx: “What about ME?!”
He threw his arms up. Ashley rolled his eyes.
Ashley: “That’s why I don’t have any money.”
He pouted bitterly.
Maxx: “Oh yeah?! You could have had NO Maxxy! How could you bake again after what you did to me?!”
He cried. Ashley bowed his head.
Ashley: “I-I’m sorry… I just needed to make some money for your hospital bills and to feed my cats… and I’m not good at anything else.”
He sighed.
Maxx: “Pfft, you’re not good at baking either, A-Rad. Don’t worry! You don’t have to be good at anything! Maxxy got you covered!”
He gave him a thumbs-up. Ashley stared at him, confused and taken aback by his backhanded compliment.
Ashley: “...Uhm, What?”
He blinked mutely at him.
Maxx: “Sell Maxxy Merch for da money!”
He grinned widely, pulling out his box of poorly-made shirts and glamour-shot photos.
Ashley: “Uhh, how am I supposed to sell those?”
He scratched his head and shifted his eyes.
Maxx: “Don’t worry, A-Rad! Maxxy will be there for meet ‘n greets wit da fans!”
He grinned.
Ashley: “Wait… Really?! You’ll be there?!”
He gaped at him, taken by surprise.
Maxx: “You can’t have a Maxxy market fundraiser without Maxxy!”
He said loftily and winked at him.
Ashley: “I guess not, haha. I bet lots of people would love to see you perform!”
He smiled a bit. Maxx grinned smugly.
Maxx: “Owwh, yeah, I’ll give ‘em a rockin’ performance!”
He thrust his hips. Ashley awkwardly shifted his eyes and scratched his head.
Ashley: “Uhh, I meant your music, dude.
He nodded to his guitar case in the corner of his bedroom. Maxx’s smile dipped into a frown.
Maxx: “Oh… dat.”
Ashley clasped his hands together.
Ashley: “OH! Maybe this will help spread awareness for your missing bandmates, too?!”
He added with a glimmer of hope, pulling out the missing posters he made with the photo Susan gave him of Maxx with Jaxon, Danny, and Dicky. Maxx tensed up.
Ashley: “Let’s go get everything set up!”
He beamed and grabbed the car keys and the box of merchandise.
Maxx: “I’ll meet ya there, A-Rad!”
Ashley turned to him, giving him a quizzical look.
Ashley: “Oh?”
Maxx: “It’d be more rockin’ if I made a grand entrance in a limo when you’re set up!”
He gloated.
Ashley: “Oh… ok?”
He scratched his head and forced a smile.
~
At Heathervale Lake Park, Ashley set up the market stall. He had painted a large pink banner, which read: “SEX BEES” with a small ‘T’ added out of error. The subheader read, ‘Help Maxxy find his missing bandmates and fund his hospital bill.’
He had set up the booth with Maxx’s glamour-shot photos and T-shirts hanging on the wall behind him. The missing posters of Maxx and his bandmates sat on the table beside him. He set up the life-size cardboard cutout of Maxx dressed in a pink leopard print suit with a speech bubble next to him that said, “Come see Maxxy perform and meet Maxxy!”
Ashley looked around at the surrounding market stalls, mostly run by elderly ladies with baked goods and crotchet crafts. They were decorated with eye-catching colors and glowing lights, drawing people in.
Ashley: “Hmm…”
He pondered and looked back at his market stall with a frown.
Ashley: “...Something is missing.”
He sighed at the barebones set-up of Maxx’s T-shirts and glamour shots.
Ashley shifted his eyes to the boot of his car and had a lightbulb moment when something caught his eye.
~
Ashley had decorated the market stall with items he had pulled together from the car. He set up mason jars with herbs and flowers from the park gardens and placed Maxx’s glamour shot photos in them to spice them up more. He hung the T-shirts along a string of fairy lights, casting more light onto their graphics. He gathered twigs and branches around the park and sat down, crafting wreaths to hang up as decorations.
An elderly lady dressed in bright red and large tortoiseshell glasses approached the stall.
Old Lady: “What honey do you have?”
Ashley tilted his head.
Ashley: “Huh? Oh, no, sorry, we don’t have any honey!”
He waved his hands.
Old Lady: “But it says Six Bees!”
She pointed at the banner and T-shirts. Ashley shifted his eyes.
Ashley: “Oh… hahah, it says Sex Beest…”
He awkwardly corrected her, scratching his head. The old lady gaped at him, looking appalled.
Old Lady: “You filthy young lady!”
She scolded him and marched away. Ashley sighed.
Ashley: “I’m not a lady...”
He pouted.
Ashley looked over at the cardboard cutout of Maxx and sighed. He caught a waft of the sweet scent of lavender and geranium, catching his attention to someone approaching him.
Makayla: “A Sex Beest fundraiser, huh?”
She quirked an eyebrow. Ashley glanced up at Makayla with her guitar strapped on her back. He blushed, taken by surprise.
Ashley: “...M-Makayla?!”
He swallowed hard.
Makayla: “So, where is the ‘star’ of the show?”
She scanned the park for Maxx.
Ashley: “I don’t know…”
He sighed.
Makayla: “Wow, he couldn’t even rock up to his own fundraiser?”
She scoffed and shook her head. Ashley sighed.
Makayla: “Why are you running this, Ashley?”
She pressed him.
Ashley: “Because… it’s my fault…”
He bowed his head. Makayla quirked an eyebrow at him.
Makayla: “What do you mean? What is your fault?”
She drew closer to him. Ashley embraced himself.
Ashley: “...I’m the reason he ended up in the hospital.”
He confessed in a small voice, looking away from her. Makayla’s eyebrows rose and she sat down beside him.
Makayla: “...What do you mean? …What did you do, Ashley?”
She knit her eyebrows. Ashley felt his heart beating in his chest like a pounding drum.
Ashley: “...I don’t want to say…”
He mumbled, nestling into his father’s faux fur coat.
Makaya: “Why not?”
She pressed him gently. Ashley gripped his hands on his jeans.
Ashley: “I can't tell you…”
He pursed his lips and closed his eyes.
Makayla: “Why?”
Ashley bowed his head. Because I did a terrible thing and you'll hate me, he thought to himself.
Ashley glanced up at Makayla and froze when he saw her expression. She looked like she had seen a ghost.
Ashley: “M-Makayla?!”
He stammered. Oh no, she totally knows and hates me, he thought. Makayla picked up the missing poster with the photos of Maxx posing with Jaxon, Danny, and Dicky on them. Maxx was posing with a pouty face with a Japanese man with teased black hair with a red streak and a dragon tattoo on his chest. There was another photo of them with two other men with their instruments. One of the men had vibrant teased red hair and was dressed in leopard print. The other man was short in stature with teased blond hair.
Makayla: “...What’s this?”
She asked softly. Ashley sighed sadly.
Ashley: “Oh, Maxx’s bandmates have been missing for a few months now, so I’m helping him find them...”
He explained, recalling the years he spent trying to look for his parents to no avail. Makayla’s jaw dropped.
Makayla: “...Missing?”
She gaped at him. Ashley nodded.
Ashley: “Yeah… that’s Danny and Dicky… or is that one Dicky?”
He pointed to the man with vibrant red hair and the other man with teased blond hair.
Ashley: “And that’s Jaxon Tachibana.”
He pointed at the Japanese man with the dragon tattoo on his chest and a red streak in his hair. Makayla froze.
Makayla: “Oh… I see.”
She swallowed hard.
Ashley tilted his head owlishly at her.
Ashley: “Do you know them, Makayla?”
He pressed her. Makayla paused.
Makayla: “...No.”
She pursed her lips.
Ashley: “Ah, damn. I wondered if you met his bandmates before and maybe you had some leads…”
He clicked his tongue.
Makayla: “...They’re his bandmates, huh?”
She cleared her throat. Ashley gave her a look.
Ashley: “Uhh, you seem shocked?”
He scratched his head.
Makayla looked away.
Makayla: “It’s just… I didn’t even know Maxx had bandmates… I thought he made the whole thing up.”
She stammered and laughed. Ashley's jaw dropped.
Ashley: “Made up?! Why would you think that? …Why would anyone make up something so horrible as their bandmates going missing?”
He knit his eyebrows.
Makayla: “Because… nothing about him added up!”
She folded her arms across her chest.
Ashley: “Oh? Like what?”
His eyes widened with curiosity. Makayla drew a breath.
Makayla: “Maybe I should start from the beginning…”
She unstrapped her guitar off her shoulder and placed it on the grass, taking a seat. Ashley brightened with excitement.
Ashley: “Oooh! Y-You’re going to play guitar for me and tell me a story?!”
He gasped at the guitar. Makayla paused and a wide smile spread across her face.
Makayla: “...You know what? That’s a great idea, Ashley.”
She blushed and took out her black acoustic guitar, sitting it on her lap. She gently plucked some strings as she spoke.
Makayla: “So… back in May, Andreas broke up with Craig, left the band, and moved out.”
She began. Ashley’s eyebrows rose. Oh? That only happened five months ago? He thought.
Makayla: “With our band on hiatus to deal with this, we were running low on income. We needed a new roommate to help cover the bills…”
She plucked at her guitar and faded into a flashback.
~
Flashback to June 1985.
Makayla, Craig, and Kurt sat around the kitchen table together, glancing down at a letter.
Makayla: “Really? This is the only response we got?!”
She blinked mutely and read the letter to the group. It was written on a motel notepad paper in pink highlighter markers.
Makayla: “Congrats, you’re da lucky winner chosen for Maxxy Malone of Sex Beest to come crash at your rockin’ pad!”
A phone number was scribbled at the bottom of the page with a note to ask for room 69.
Craig: "WAHAHAHA! We hit the jackpot!”
He burst out laughing at the letter and held up the photo that came attached to it. It was Maxx’s infamous glamour shot photo, featuring him in a gaudy neon pink leopard print outfit, pulling an obnoxious pouty face.
Kurt: “Is this guy serious? This has to be a joke!”
He twisted his mouth.
They were alerted to an obnoxious banging coming from the door.
Craig: “Let’s find out!”
He grinned widely, rising from his seat. Makayla and Kurt gaped at him.
Makayla: “Wait, you ACTUALLY contacted this guy?!”
Craig: “Fuckin’ oath I did!”
He cackled.
Kurt: “You didn’t think to consult us first?!”
He snapped. Craig shrugged.
Craig: “Who’s name is on the lease? Oh yeah, MY name!”
He pointed to himself.
Craig rushed over to the door. The overpowering waft of ‘Wild Stallion’ cologne and booze emanating from the orange-tanned man greeted them. His scrawny physique was weighed down by his guitar case and a suitcase in hand. He had a rat’s nest mane of blonde hair and was dressed head-to-toe in gaudy neon pink leopard print.
Maxx: "OWWWWH! Maxxy Malone of Sex Beest in da house, baby!"
His attention shifted to Makayla’s breasts.
Maxx: “WOAH! DAYUM, BABY!”
He purred at her. Makayla shot him an icy glare and shut the door in his face.
Makayla: “Oh, Heeeeeeellll no!”
She huffed. Craig burst out laughing.
Kurt: “Stop wasting our time, Craig! We need a roommate.”
He commanded.
Craig: “Alright, alright!”
He waved his hand and opened the door.
Craig: “Welcome home, Maxxy!”
He grinned at him, gesturing for him to come in. Maxx sauntered inside with a wide grin.
Maxx: “OWWH! Rock on!”
Kurt and Makayla gaped and glared at Craig.
Makayla: “WHAT?!”
Kurt: “I didn’t mean that bozo! I meant let’s put another ad in the paper!”
He hissed at Craig.
Craig: “Why? We got our roomie now?”
He cackled, gesturing to Maxx who was standing there scratching his butt.
Craig: “Welcome to Casa de Nuklear, mate! We’re a wicked sick thrash metal band!”
He grinned widely, putting his arms around Makayla and Kurt who looked like they wanted to explode.
Maxx: “Pfft oh yeah?! I’m Maxxy Malone of SEX BEEST! Want my autograph?”
He grinned and gloated, pulling out his glamour-shot photos and a pen.
Craig: “Never heard of ya, mate.”
He choked on his drink, bursting with laughter.
Maxx: “WHAT? You NEVER heard of Sex Beest? We’re mega-famous!”
He said loftily.
Makayla: “Dude, we’ve been in the metal scene for years… we never heard of you.”
She challenged him.
Maxx: “Oh… that’s cos we’re underground ‘n only da rockin’ fans know us!”
He waved his hands around.
Kurt: “...How can you be underground and famous at the same time?”
He said gruffly.
Makayla: “So… where’s the rest of the band? Why is it just you on the poster?”
She arched an eyebrow at his Sex Beest glamour shots.
Maxx: “‘cause, I’m da FACE of the band, baby!”
He pointed to his pouting face.
Maxx: “So, where’s Maxxy sleepin’? Not dat I’ll be sleepin’ much! I’ll be bringin’ hot lady babes back home every night for some wild sexy times, OWWWH! We’ll try not to be too loud! Just throw on some music or somethin’”
He beamed with the smuggest grin on his face. They all gaped at him and Craig burst out laughing.
Kurt and Makayla both turned to Craig who was wheezing with laughter.
Makayla: “Come on, Craig, you can’t be serious!”
She hissed at Craig.
Kurt: “This isn’t a joke, Craig! Stop messing around! Kick this idiot out!”
He huffed. Craig’s laughter died on his lips and his expression dampened like a change in weather.
Craig: “Oh yeah? Maybe I need a fuckin’ joke! I haven’t laughed like this since Andreas left! I’m finally laughin’ about something for the first time in a month! You cunts said I need to stop mopin’ around!”
His voice rose and shook with heartbreak. Kurt and Makayla fell silent and drew back.
Craig marched over to Maxx, leading him down the hallway to Andreas’ empty bedroom. He paused at the door, unable to bring himself to enter. Maxx burst into the room, pulling out his suitcase and dunking the contents of his clown clothes onto the floor. Craig stumbled over a laugh.
Craig: “Mate, there’s a closet right there!”
He pointed to the closet.
Maxx: “Nah-ah! I don’t have time for dat!”
He shrugged. Craig laughed at him.
Craig: “You're a funny cunt!”
Makayla turned to Kurt.
Makayla: “Don’t worry, the joke will stop being funny soon enough. Next thing you know, Craig will be kicking him out onto the lawn.”
~
Two weeks later, the lounge room was covered in neon pink streamers with photos of Maxx plastered all over the walls.
Makayla: “You've got to be kidding me.”
She groaned.
Kurt: “You’re throwing him a party?!”
He growled at Craig.
Craig: “Yeah, it’ll be fuckin’ hilarious!”
He slurred on his speech, finishing another beer.
Kurt: “It’s not his birthday.”
H grumbled.
Craig: “That doesn’t matter! I need to party and I need a laugh!”
He waved his hand, opening another beer.
Makayla: “If you can call it a party. Where is everyone?!”
She looked around the empty lounge room.
Makayla: “Where are your bandmates?”
She asked Maxx.
Maxx: “Hmph, they missed their flight.”
He pouted.
Makayla: “Oh really now?”
She locked her gaze on him skeptically.
Kurt: “Craig! We have a gig tomorrow, we need to rehearse! We don't have time for this clown nonsense!”
He snapped at him, sitting down at his drum kit by the window.
Craig: “Alright! Alright! Party's over! Grab ya gear ‘n let's do this!”
He pouted, grabbing his bass guitar.
Makayla went into her bedroom and pulled out her Flying-V guitar.
Maxx: “Pfft! Lady babes don’t play guitar.”
He scoffed and laughed at her. Makayla gaped at Maxx, too stunned and appalled to speak.
Makayla: “...Alright, ‘Casanova’, why don’t you show me how it’s done?”
She said scornfully, handing him her guitar.
Maxx: “Nah-ah! Sex Beest don’t play for free!”
He waved his hands at her, refusing the guitar. Craig burst out laughing and Kurt rolled his eyes.
Makayla: “Fine. I'll show you how it's done.”
She huffed, plugging the lead into the amplifier and turning up the distortion. She ran her fingers down the fretboard, firing into a guitar lick, melting his phony orange face. He resembled one of those clown carnival games with its jaw wide open.
Maxx: “Ohhh, NAH-AH!”
He pouted and sulked off to his bedroom.
~
Cut back to present day, October 1985
Ashley: “Ohh… I’m sorry he said that to you just because you’re a lady babe…”
He frowned. Makayla chuckled and smiled at him.
Makayla: “Ok, it’s cute when you call me that…”
Ashley reddened.
Makayla: “...He’s not the first to insult me like that though.”
Her voice trailed off as she plucked her strings. Ashley tilted his head and went to speak when a little old lady approached the market stall wearing a knitted cat sweater.
Old cat lady: “Hello! I was drawn over by your lovely guitar! What are you selling, ladies?”
She beamed. Ashley shifted his eyes.
Ashley: “Uh… well, I’m helping my… friend with his hospital bills… and trying to find his bandmates.”
He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
Old Cat Lady: “Aww, that’s awfully kind of you!”
She smiled and glanced down at the mason jars, admiring them.
Old Cat Lady: “Can I get this beautiful jar without the photo of the clown man in it? I don’t like clowns very much.”
Her face soured at the photo of Maxx. Ashley gaped at her and stumbled over a laugh. Makayla snickered.
Ashley: “O-oh, sure? Uhh, that’ll just be three bucks, please!”
He scratched his head. The old lady pulled out her cat purse and handed him her coins.
Old Cat lady: “How much for the lavender wreathe?”
She pointed to the wreath Ashley made, hanging up on the wall.
Ashley: “...OH! That’s just a decoration! That’s not for sale, haha!”
Makayla put her hand over Ashley’s mouth.
Makayla: “Haha, that will be ten bucks!”
She interjected. Ashley’s eyes widened.
Old Cat Lady: “Oh, no, that’s much too low. I’ll give you fifteen for it. It’s nice to see the youth making crafts again.”
She smiled, handing Ashley the money.
Ashley: “R-Really?! Thank you so much!”
He beamed and handed her the wreathe. Makayla smiled at him.
Old Cat Lady: “You have a nice day.”
She nodded and left.
Ashley: “Wow… my first sale!”
He smiled.
Makayla: “Yes, and it wasn’t his stuff, it was YOUR stuff.”
Ashley paused to ponder, looking down at his craft creations and thinking about how his mother would set up shop out of her van to sell her handmade crafts on the road.
Ashley: “Huh…”
Makayla looked up at Maxx’s t-shirts hanging on the wall.
Makayla: “No one wants his stuff, Ashley. He’s as transparent and dodgy as his shirts.”
She picked up her guitar again and continued playing.
~
Flashback to July 1985
Maxx presented them with a box full of T-shirts, plunking them down on the table.
Maxx: “OWWWH! Check it out, rebel rockers! I got da official Sex Beest merch!”
Craig sauntered over to the box, holding up a T-shirt that read “Sex Bees.” in neon pink text.
Craig: “WAHAHAHHAHAHA! SEX BEES! YOU’RE FUCKIN’ KILLIN’ ME, MATE!”
Maxx: “W-wha?! NAH-AH! IT’S SUPPOSED TO SAY SEX BEEST! T! T! Those goddamn printer assholes screwed up my rockin’ shirts!”
He wailed and shrieked. Makayla twisted her mouth at the cheaply made T-shirts, holding them up in the light.
Makayla: “They’re all so small… and you can see right through them…”
She narrowed her eyes into slits.
Maxx: “That’s da idea, baby! I only want sexy people wearing my rockin’ merch! So ya can check out da hot lady babe boobs!”
He wiggled his eyebrows, nudging Craig and Kurt. Makayla rolled her eyes and groaned.
Makayla: “You clearly don’t know how boobs work if you think busty women would fit into those tiny things.”
Kurt: “No one is gonna wear these cheap and shitty shirts.”
Maxx: “Cheap?! I paid fifty bucks for these, gosh! Some other asshole wanted two-hundred bucks for them! That costs TOO MUCH!”
Craig burst out laughing, slapping his knees.
Craig: “Yeah, ya sure don’t want no expenses spared for your band’s merch, ey?”
He cackled.
~
The next day, Makayla walked past Maxx’s bedroom, hearing him moaning along with a woman.
Makayla: “What kind of woman would come home with Maxx?!"
She looked perplexed and disgusted.
Craig: “...What woman?”
Kurt: “I didn’t see anyone?”
Makayla: “Something smells fishy.”
Craig: “What? Maxx?”
He laughed, fanning his face with his hand.
Makayla: “Yeah. Literally and figuratively."
Craig went up to Maxx's door and listened in. He then burst out laughing.
Craig: "Wahahaha, you gotta be shittin' me! That's the Pizza shop sex scene from American Pizza! That fucker don’t have no woman in there with him!"
He cackled slapping his knees as Kurt and Makayla gaped at him.
Kurt: “You’re fucking kidding me."
Makayla: “Now it all makes sense… I’m willing to bet that’s the case for his guitar, too…”
She pondered, stroking her chin.
Craig: “What are ya talkin’ ‘bout Makayla?”
Makayla: “I’ve heard guitar playing from his room, but… have you guys ever SEEN his guitar?”
Craig and Kurt both shook their heads.
Craig: “Nope. He told me it was broken!”
He laughed.
Kurt: “He told me he broke his hand?”
Makayla: “Sounds like he broke his brain.”
She rolled her eyes.
Makayla: “What kind of egotistical rockstar doesn’t show off their guitar?!”
She pondered.
~
Later that night while Maxx was out, Makayla, Craig, and Kurt snuck into Maxx’s bedroom. Craig burst out laughing at the glamour shot of Maxx with cut-outs of PlayCat models pasted onto it hanging up on the wall. Makayla rolled her eyes and grabbed the guitar case. Craig and Kurt stood beside her as she flicked the lid open.
Makayla: “Well, I’ll be damned.”
She said dryly, as they glanced down at an empty guitar case. Craig burst out laughing. Kurt looked impassive.
Craig: "Wahahaha! Well, so long as he pays his rent, whatever! He can play pretend rockstar! It’s fucking entertaining!"
Kurt groaned.
~
The next day, Craig, Makayla, and Kurt were eating ‘Rockin’ Rooster’ at the kitchen table together. Suddenly Maxx strolled into the room, plonking a massive framed painting of himself in the middle of the table with a smug grin on his face. The painting was a replica of his glamour-shot photo. Makayla choked on her food and burst out laughing along with Craig. Kurt groaned, shaking his head.
Maxx: "Owwwh! Check out my sexy portrait!"
He said loftily as he dragged it over to the mantle above the fireplace and rested it up there. Makayla stopped laughing.
Makayla: "No! Put that thing in YOUR room, Maxx!"
She groaned, along with Kurt.
Craig: "NO! Leave it! It brightens up the room!"
He cackled. Kurt rolled his eyes and cleared his throat.
Kurt: "So how will you pay for your rent, Maxx?"
Craig: "Yeah, I hope that bad boy didn’t set ya back too much!"
He laughed, giving Maxx a light nudge in the arm. Maxx gave him a quizzical look.
Maxx: "Pfft, all good fellas, I got a tenner here for Trent!"
He laughed awkwardly, pulling out a ten-dollar note from his pocket. All three of them gaped at him.
Craig: "Haha, very funny mate, but, all jokes aside, you have two hundred bucks for rent, right?"
He said firmly and laughed. Maxx looked completely dumbfounded.
Maxx: "...W-WHA?! Two hundred bucks? But that costs too much!"
Makayla gave him a quizzical look. In what world would rent be that cheap?!
Kurt: “You blew all your money on that horse shit, didn’t you?”
He huffed, pointing to the portrait on the wall.
Maxx: “NAH-AH! It’s not horse shit, it’s sexy, gosh!”
He huffed. Makayla sighed, hoping he won’t be able to pay his rent so they could kick him out and be done with him.
Kurt: “If you don’t pay your rent on Monday, you’re out!”
He snapped, pointing to the door.
Maxx: "Nooooo! You can't kick me out!"
Makayla: “Oh, I have an idea, Maxx! Why don’t you sell the portrait for the rent money?”
She said dryly. Maxx grinned widely at her.
~
The next day Makayla, Craig, and Kurt were sitting in the great community hall auction with Maxx. They stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the crowd of elderly people.
Makayla: "…I was being sarcastic."
Craig burst out laughing, slapping his knees.
Kurt: "Did we have to come to this bullshit?"
Craig: "YES, Kurtis! This is gonna be fuckin’ gold! Secondly, if by some miracle he DOES manage to sell that thing, we wanna make sure he pays up that money!"
He said, rubbing his fingers together.
Suddenly a portly middle-aged man waddled onto the stage carrying Maxx’s portrait. Craig and Makayla burst out laughing.
Auction Man: “The next item on our list is… this… portrait of a “Maxxy Malone of Sex Bees?”
Maxx shot up from his seat fuming with rage.
Maxx: “SEX BEEST! It’s Sex BEEST! T! T! T!”
He whined. Craig, Kurt, and Makayla all burst into laughter. Some people in the crowd laughed, others flashed Maxx dirty looks and groans. The man on stage sighed and cleared his throat.
Auction Man: "Starting the bid at Five-thousand dollars."
He said with strain. Laughter trickled through the crowd.
Auction Man: "... One-thousand dollars? ...One dollar?"
He scoffed. More laughter filled the room. Maxx shot up from his seat again.
Maxx: "W-wha?! What’s wrong with you people?! That’s a classic original Maxxy Malone painting, gosh!"
He whined and stamped his feet, throwing his arms around like an angry monkey.
Auction Man: "Please take this and get out."
He grumbled, handing Maxx’s portrait back to him and pointing to the door. Craig wiped away his tears of laughter and looked over at Maxx.
Craig: "Well, Maxwell, If you don’t pay up tomorrow morning, you’re out!"
~
The next day Maxx awoke in the late afternoon, marching into the living room, shrieking like a banshee when he saw all of his belongings spread out across the lawn outside.
Maxx: "HEY! What's da big idea, assholes?!"
He rasped, rushing over to them.
Craig: "Time’s up, mate. Get the fuck outta my house!"
Maxx: "B-but you can’t just kick me out!"
Craig: "Yes, I can. Watch me."
He grinned, shoving Maxx out the door.
Maxx: "Owwh nooo! Wait! W-what about my sexy portrait?!"
He whined, pointing at the portrait still hanging up over the living room mantle through the window.
Makayla: "Oh, no, you're not getting that thing back until you pay us the rent money and bills you owe us, Maxx! See it as leverage."
She said firmly, folding her arms across her chest.
Maxx: "NOOO! Don’t let those assholes kick me out and steal my sexy portrait, baby! How about instead of paying you money, you can bang Maxxy for compensation instead?!"
He whined and begged, grabbing her hand. Makayla recoiled and yanked her hand away from him, glaring at him with disgust. Craig sneered at Maxx, clenching his fists.
Makayla: "...Oh? Bang you? like THIS?"
She smirked, cracking her knuckles and shoving him into the cactus garden with brute force.
Maxx: "OWWWWH! NAAOOOW, BABY! OWWWHWH!"
He wailed and squirmed amongst the cactus needles piercing his skin. Craig burst out laughing, slapping his knees.
Craig: "WAHAHAHAHAHA, HOLY SHIT!"
Kurt: "He had it coming."
They all laughed and went back inside, slamming the door behind them and locking it. Maxx sprung up out of the cactus garden, whining and pulling the needles out of him. He gathered his guitar case and other belongings, shoving them into his suitcase.
Maxx sulked down the road and stopped at the end of the street, planting himself down on the ground. He pulled out a cardboard sign from his suitcase that read: “Rockstar in need of a ride - Wherever da wind may blow me, baby!” He sat there holding the sign out and sticking his thumb up on the roadside.
They all watched Maxx out the window, laughing and shaking their heads.
Craig: "What a fuckin’ drongo! I hope we never see that guy again!”
Makayla: "Well, he’s someone else’s problem now…"
She glanced over at the Orange Kingswood station wagon pulling up beside Maxx.
~
Cut back to the present day October 1985.
The sun was starting to set and people were packing up their market stalls. Makayla stopped playing her guitar and put it down beside her.
Ashley: "...I-I can’t believe it! ...No way! Really?!"
His mouth hung open, too stunned for words.
Makayla: "Well, why don’t we wager a bet, Ashley?
Ashley: “...A bet?”
Makayla nodded.
Makayla: “If Maxx has a guitar in that case and he can play it for you, I was wrong about him… and I owe you dinner.”
She flashed him a smile. Ashley froze and reddened.
Makayla: “If there’s an air guitar in that case, then I guess I was right about him and you owe me dinner. How’s that sound?”
Ashley blushed and stammered all over.
Ashley: “R-Really? Okay, you got a deal, Makayla!”
He said softly. Makayla picked up one of Maxx’s glamour shot photos and wrote her phone number on it for him.
Makayla: “Call me when you’ve made your discovery and we’ll arrange dinner.”
She winked at him, handing it to him. Ashley reddened and smiled widely.
Ashley: “Okay!”
He eagerly nodded.
They looked up to see Blake and Andreas approaching them with bewildered faces. Blake was less than thrilled to see Makayla hanging around Ashley.
Ashley: “Hey guys!”
He greeted them with a wave.
Makayla: “Hey, Andreas. Long time no see. Did you run Måneravn today?”
She greeted Andreas. Andreas nodded.
Andreas: “Yeah, it’s been a while. I mostly just sold candles today.”
He nodded to her.
Andreas: “Craig isn’t around is he?”
He frowned, looking around.
Makayla: “Craig at a baked goods and crafts market?”
She laughed.
Andreas: “Touché. I didn’t peg this to be your scene either.”
He challenged and laughed a bit. Makayla reddened and swung her gaze over to Ashley. Blake rolled his eyes.
Blake: “So, how did it go? Looks like you sold all your baked goods.”
He asked Ashley, nodding to the bare table.
Ashley: “...Actually… I didn’t bake anything.”
He tensely scratched his head. Blake frowned.
Blake: “Ashley…”
He sighed. Makayla interjected.
Makayla: “Yeah… why didn’t you bake anything?”
She pressed Ashley. Ashley stared down at his feet.
Andreas: “Why are you selling Maxx’s crap?”
He queried Ashley, scrutinizing the market stall.
Ashley: “...It’s a long story.”
He bowed his head. Andreas quirked an eyebrow at him as questions swarmed around in his head. Why does he kowtow to that clown? And why doesn’t Blake react to this as he normally would? Something isn’t adding up and this doesn’t sit right with me, he thought to himself.
Blake: “Where is that clown?”
He looked around.
Ashley: “...He didn’t show up.”
He said bitterly. Blake twisted his mouth.
Blake: “I’m going to have a fucking word with him!”
Ashley held his hand up.
Ashley: “No, Blake… let me handle this…”
He glanced down at Makayla’s guitar case, looking pensive.
~
Later that evening, Blake dropped Ashley off at home to spend the night with Andreas.
Ashley burst into the dark and empty house.
Ashley: "...MAXX! Where are you? We need to talk!"
His voice trembled with bitterness and betrayal. He shifted his gaze down the hallway and frowned at Maxx’s door. He knocked on the door, causing it to swing open. Keke ran past him and trotted into the room.
Ashley: “Hey! Keke!”
He followed in after his cat and a heavy waft of cheap cologne and mold hit him as he entered the empty room. He scooped up Keke and his eyes darted over to the guitar case leaning up on the wall in the corner of the room.
His curiosity ate away at him, thinking of everything Makayla told him. Ashley crept over to the guitar case and laid it on the floor. He knelt to it, flicking the latches, and snapping the lid open. Ashley cupped his mouth and gasped at what he saw. Suddenly, a loud screech cut through him.
Maxx: “HEY! The fuck are you doin’ A-rad?!”
He shrieked as he barged into the room behind him.
TO BE CONTINUED.
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