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Text to Emilia

Emilia: She doesn't even like us though!

Emilia: And you're welcome :3

Max: Talk to you later!

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Text to Emilia

Emilia: Umm well alright..

Emilia: Doesn't she have a whole clique of friends to go shopping with though???

Max: Thanks, Em!

Max: Uh, no, no not really.

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Text to Emilia

Emilia: Yeah, today actually! :D

Max: Oh! Well, how would you feel about Vivian going with you?

Max: If you invited her, I mean, that would be super cool of you.

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Text to Emilia

Max: Hey, you were going dress shopping sometime this week, right?

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"Happy Birthday!"

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Emilia, you made it! My God, what in the world have you got packed in that thing? 

Max's Birthday Partay

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Hold on, what? I don't think I heard you correctly.

I can't believe you really sent those out. I've been asked about them about ten times so far, so thank you. 

You know, if you’re invitation wasn’t so compelling I don’t think I would’ve come tonight.

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Oh- hey, thanks for coming! 

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My girlfriend. August 3rd, 2013

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Took it for the dog. February 4th, 2014

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Em doesn't fear the snow. December 3rd, 2013

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Em while in the city. April 13, 2013

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Max hesitantly wrapped an arm around Vivian's waist at her kiss, though he offered her a puzzled expression when she pulled away. Of course, she ignored it and the game continued. And as he suspected, it was mostly between Viv and Ry. He peered closer as Ryder took his shot, not exactly wanting him to win or lose. Though, for the sake of his girlfriend, he felt it best for himself to want to win the game. And yet he was silently rooting for him, wanting to see the glee on Emilia's face at their win. "Good luck." He voiced, waiting on the edge of his seat just like the rest of them. 

The Games We Play || Ryder, Vivian, Emilia, and Max

Ryder had agreed to Vivian’s bet only because he knew he had this game in the bag. Emilia could not possibly be worse than Max he thought, but it seemed as though he thought too soon. As she broke, the balls hardly moved and Ryder’s eyebrows shot upwards. It was a rough start yes, but nothing that could not be fixed. He placed a hand on the small of Emilia’s back and said, “Hey, it’s alright. I think it’s just your form that’s the problem. I’ll help you next turn.” With a wink, he watched as Max did not do much better than Emilia, and and met Vivian’s eyes. Bringing his cue to the white ball, he aimed and shot the red ball into a pocket before standing straight up again and bowing for his friends. “Let’s see what you got, Viv,” he called out.

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Max considered walking out and hoping he wasn't missed, but then Em's hands were on his shoulders pushing him to the pool table. Standing back, he watched as Emilia started- and nearly cringed at the outcome. The balls barely went anywhere, and he looked up at the sound of a chuckle. Vivian, of course. Shooting her a look of disbelief and disappointment, she only shrugged and smiled. Max shook his head and let his gaze fall, hardly amused at her insensitivity. "You did good, Em. Better than I would have." Taking his own cue from the rack, he leveled with the table. "Stripes, right Viv?" He asked, looking up at her for clarification. She nodded, and he aimed for the one closest too him. Though it only knocked it farther away, and even pushed a solid closer to the back left pocket. 

The Games We Play || Ryder, Vivian, Emilia, and Max

“You’re the one trying to cause trouble. I’m just trying to have a good time.” Ryder’s smile broke mirroring Vivian’s as she spoke. She was definitely faking it till she made it tonight and Ryder just had to commend her efforts. “You know Viv, I gotta say, this little act you;re putting on is kinda cute.” He smirked as he watched her study each of the cues she was picking out and retorted, “Oh, what gives you the impression I’m worried? And you’re right, Em will be there to comfort me, just after we win.” Browsing the cues himself now, Ryder continued, “It almost hurts to think about you and Max losing though. I couldn’t imagine you two being any more miserable than usual, that’s just sad.” Ryder tuned around, having picked out he and Emilia’s sticks. “What does it matter? I think you’re forgetting who you’re partner is,” Ryder looked back towards Max and Emilia before smirking at Vivian. “Let’s make a bet Crawford. If I win tonight, you’re coming over. What do you say?”

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Max barely saw Ryder leave as he leaned against the wall next to Emilia, his eyes focused on hers. Max always found it so easy to converse with Em, and less so with Vivian these days. The thought was fleeting, though it was still there- hovering in the back of his mind as he assumed Ryder was across the room spending his time with Vivian. It was a little odd, how they were both more interested in the other one's date. "Emilia, I can guarantee that I'm worse than you," he retorted, a grin already on his face. And then a laugh easily followed hers, and he realized that Emilia's smile and laugh were awfully contagious. "Honestly, they probably wouldn't even notice. When Viv and Ry play, they sorta forget about everything else but the game." It was funny, how Max often felt like the third wheel when he was the one in the relationship. 

The Games We Play || Ryder, Vivian, Emilia, and Max

Ryder knew Vivian was putting on a performance tonight and while he was highly amused at her act, he knew he’d have to put on one as well. They were both too stubborn for their own good and Ryder could not let her think she was getting to him. Wrapping his arm around Emilia’s shoulders as they walked to the pool tables, he sought an opportunity to go talk to Vivian when she decided to stray to the cues and left Emilia, Max, and him alone together. Max had barely even acknowledged him before chatting up Em, and Ryder knew Max for too long to not know about that entire scenario; but, that was for a different night. “She’s already getting ready, I guess.” Max was looking off at his token girlfriend and Ryder couldn’t help but follow his line of vision. “You’re right, I should go get us started,” Ryder said before winking at Emilia and strolling over to Vivian. He knew Max would have his attention fixed on Emilia and thus, Ryder took his chances by quickly wrapping his arm around the brunette’s waist and whispering in her ear, “Are you trying to cause trouble?” 

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Vivian was coming on awfully strong tonight, that he realized quickly. Though he kept his mouth shut and his hand locked in hers the entire way through the building and down to the basement where the pool area was. Before he had time to pull her away and see what was up, she left him standing near the entrance to pick out her cue stick. Ryder and Emilia descended soon after, and Max found his eyes meeting the familiar blue ones of the blonde he was thankful was there with him, his mouth lifting in a smile. "She's already getting ready, I guess." A laugh fell from his lips as he ran a hand through his hair, looking over at Vivian once more before returning his gaze to Emilia. "Prepared to watch me make a complete fool out of myself?"  

The Games We Play || Ryder, Vivian, Emilia, and Max

When Ryder’s headlights finally shined on Vivian, he was stunned by her appearance. Though, there was hardly ever a time when she couldn’t get his blood rushing. She was a walking flame and as she entered his car, Ryder could immediately feel the tension enter behind her. “Hey babe.” Ryder could see it all through his rearview and he knew that’s why she was putting on a show. When she kissed Max, Ryder couldn’t help but clench his jaw before meeting his eyes with Vivian in the mirror. They were too similar for their own good- too toxic and too childish. Putting his parked car in drive, Ryder sped off to the pool hall because there was only one way to drive for him and that was fast. “Say Em, we’re going to kill it tonight aren’t we?” Ryder shouted over his music glancing at his rearview ever so often.

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Max had definitely not gotten any better, and he set his gaze on the smudged window, shaking his head in fake annoyance. Max didn't mind all that much to be truthful, but there was a small part of him that wished he was actually good at something. It was a tad embarrassing how much his girlfriend smoked him in a game of pool. "I appreciate your lie, Emilia." He spoke, turning his head to meet her gaze and offer a small smile. He thought about telling her that she looked nice, but found he should save that for his girlfriend. Though when she came into view, he had to stop himself from frowning. She was beautiful, but her clothing consisted of barely anything. However when she slid in next to him, he wrapped an arm around her bare waist and kissed her. "You look beautiful as always," he spoke, nestling her into his side. And with his hand against her skin, he just kept thinking of how much he preferred Em's jeans and T-shirt opposed to Vivian's lack thereof. 

The Games We Play || Ryder, Vivian, Emilia, and Max

"Max! I don’t want to hear it. You definitely got better," Ryder exclaimed through an ever-growing smirk. "Em, what do you think?" He looked over at his date for tonight’s escapade sitting beside him in the passenger seat. Ryder had planned tonight out expertly and he couldn’t imagine it going any other way but brilliantly. This was just the way he liked doing things; testing boundaries and with nerves running high. As he turned into Vivian’s driveway, Ryder shifted in his seat. She was the last stop before the pool hall and the one he was awaiting most.