Maxine’s POV

Before we head to Olive Garden we stop at Macys for whatever reason and pick up dresses, jewelry and handbags.

“Why the hell are we here?”

“Because you need to look presentable for the guest. Now shut up and let me pick out our outfits.” Razor tells me as she looks through the racks of clothing.

After about ten minutes Razor finds us almost matching dresses, me in a teal blue toned one and her in a sky blue one. Along with both of us having grey clutches and tan heels.

“Miss we are in a hurry so scan these and let us go.” Razor tells the checkout lady,
The lady scans all the items and we then change into our new outfits, then getting Joe to drive us to the restaurant.

We get there in no time and then when we enter Razor tells the greeter that we had a reservation here under the name Barabins-Johnskarth, before he leads us to our seats the song my father used to sing to me plays out of nowhere, and crazy enough Justin comes out playing a guitar to that same tune. One thing is missing though, that one voice that always sung it but that’s when I hear it coming from the back of the restaurant.

“Go, he’s waiting for you.” Razor whispers to me.

“Is this really happening?” I ask, happy tears flowing and making my mascara run.

“Don’t make me ruin this moment for all of us.”

“Splash down in the silver screen, into a deep dramatic scene.I swim through the theater,or maybe I'm just a dreamer. Like a kite in the bright midday,wonder stole my breath away. Shy sonata for Mercury,the stars always sing so pretty.” The familiar voice sings the first verse as I continue down the hall.

“This picnic will soon depart, real life, I'm sad to see you go, I'll miss you with all my heart, but I'd rather be alone. 'Cause I couldn't live without sunsets that dazzle in the dusk.So I'll drag the anchor up and rest assured, 'cause dreams don't turn to dust. Dreams don't turn to dust!” I sing back to the voice, remembering how we always sung it and every lyric.

“I made for the countryside and my eyes never grew so wide. Apple raspberry river blue, I don't wanna leave without you. In the sound I gladly drowned, into the emerald underground I rub my eyes 'cause it's hard to see, surrounded by all this beauty.” He sings as I get a bit closer to paradise.

“This picnic will soon depart, real life, I'm sad to see you go, I'll miss you with all my heart, but I'd rather be alone. 'Cause I couldn't live without sunsets that dazzle in the dusk.So I'll drag the anchor up and rest assured, 'cause dreams don't turn to dust. Dreams don't turn to dust!” I sing as the lyrics flow off of my tongue.

“When tiger eyes begin making you blush. When diamonds boast that they can't be crushed, let them go cause dreams don't turn to dust.” The brunette man sings as I see his hair around the corner.

“This picnic will soon depart, real life, I'm sad to see you go, I'll miss you with all my heart, but I'd rather be alone. 'Cause I couldn't live without sunsets that dazzle in the dusk.So I'll drag the anchor up and rest assured, 'cause dreams don't turn to dust. Dreams don't turn to dust!” My dad sings as I finally see those recognizable eyes.

“Dreams don't turn to dust, dreams don't turn to dust” We sing together as I finally reach my dad and he gives me a huge hug, tears in both of our eyes.

“You found me.” My dad says, tipping my head up with his finger.

“How did you know that we were looking for you?” I ask him.

“Razor set it all up.”

“I should have known. She knows everyone.”

“Of course she does. You look very beautiful tonight.”

“Thank you.” I say, blushing.

“Wanna dance darling?” He asks me.

“Like how we used to?” I ask hopefully,

“Will you let me lead? You can step on feet.” He says, quoting He is We.

I step on his feet and he dances just like we used to.

“I saw you at that concert in Canada.” He tells me.

“Where were you?”

“On stage, looking at you the whole time.”

“I should have known. I didn’t recognize you.”

“It’s been ten years, I didn’t expect you too. Do you want to know that mysterious text messages were from me?”

“So that’s why they knew everything. How did you know Martin and I were dating and got engaged?”

“Razor and Jack, plus I saw it on YouTube.”

“How do you know Jack?”

“I married him.”

“So that's why he didn’t let me know his husband's name. Well I love him.”

“I love you too boo!” Jack says out of nowhere.

“I missed you daddy. Why did you leave?”

“I don’t even know to be honest with you but lets not worry about that. How about we leave for Baltimore though with Jack after dinner and make hot fudge sundae cupcakes? The three of us.”

“I’d love to Daddy.” I say, so happy I have my dad back.

“You know Kevin called me that night. He said you loved the cupcakes.”

“Was he the one who gave you the recipe?”

“No it was your grandma. Now let’s go sit down and eat, I bet you’re hungry.” My dad says as I my stomach growls in hunger.

We get to the table where I sit next to my dad and Jack, Martin by Razor, Matt next to her and Justin on the other side of Jack.

“Justin I thought you swore you would never see me again?” I ask him.

“I lied, I’d never leave my bug. It was all part of the plan.”

“Plan?”

“Have you not realized that your dad is back?”

“Good point, but does that mean Leda is really gone?”

“Don’t bring her up at the table.” Matt says, getting teary eyed.

“Guys can we please just be happy that Alex is back because if we aren’t going to be happy I will find a way to make it happen. Plus I haven’t heard my fucking thank you for looking for him. Without me Maxine and I would be at home being lazy ass fuckers dammit!” Razor says.

“I love you too Razor!” Martin says sarcastically.

“Fucker.” My blue haired friend says, flipping my fiance off.

“I hate you all!” I say, laughter filled in my voice.

“Bug how could you ever say that to me?” Justin says, faking hurt.

“Because I don’t like you.”

“Then I don’t like you either.”

Our dinner plates come after Justin talks and we eat in a nice silence, jokes sometimes floating around from Matt and making us all laugh when he makes the waiter give him a piggyback ride.

I don’t know what to think, I met my dad for the first time in years and I have everyone I love surrounded by me but something seems a bit missing and that’s when I hear two voices I forgot to text and call on this journey.

“Maxine!” Harmony and Wizz scream.

“What the hell are you two doing here?” Razor yells at them.

“We heard you were back in town. Thanks for calling us by the way.” Harmony says.

“I just went through more shit than you two ever will, cool it.” I tell Harmony.

“What do you mean?” Harmony prys.

“Girls not at the dinner table.” My dad says.

“Whos that?” Wizz asks.

“Wizz, Harmony, meet Alex Gaskarth, singer of the famous pop-punk band All Time Low. He’s my dad and next to him is Jack Barakat, husband of Alex and lead guitarist of All Time Low. Guess it’s just like the fanfictions.”

“You mean the one you’ve been trying to make me read?” Wizz asks.

“Yeah. Now read the damn fics, it took me a day to read the prequel and sequel so you can stop taking eight months to read it!”

“I have things to do, like right now. Mom we’re coming!” Wizz says, acting like her mom called and dragging Harmony out of the restaurant with her.

“Is it bad to be happy that they’re gone?” Jack asks.

“They are annoying people who I don’t have control of. It wasn’t part of the plan and I get to blame Justin. Dick, plus you were still shallow enough to break up with me over a letter. Screw you.” Razor says.

After that we just end up having more small talk and Alex insists on paying the $200 bill since Razor spent over $15,000 on the whole trip.

“Alex let me pay the fucking bill so you can go have quality time with your daughter and I can get some sleep!” Razor yells at my dad.

“No! I want to show a fatherly act of kindness to Martin so he knows to pay for the woman and one thing I’ve learned is that you shouldn’t let the woman pay because it’s rude and I’m just proving that point!” Alex yells.

Jack ends up pulling out his debit card and paying the bill.

“Jack where is the check, I was going to pay for it.” Razor says.

“You two wouldn’t shut up, so I payed.”

The waiter comes back with the card and then we walk outside.

“Razor I want to say thanks, for everything. I really mean it, without you I don’t think I’d ever meet my dad. I was depressed because he was never there for me but I survived. I met some of the greatest people ever on the journey, Matt and Leda made me really happy and even with Leda somewhere out there she was one of my best friends who I could confide into and Matt you just always made me laugh and feel safe. Razor I met my future husband because of you, and he makes me so happy and protects me when I need to be protecting. You are the best friend a girl could ever ask for and I don’t know how to repay you.” I tell my best friend who is crying.

“I’m not fucking crying if that’s what you're thinking, my eyes are just watering and you don’t need to pay me anything but you need to tell me I’m your maid of honor for your wedding.” She tells me, giving me a hug.

“Don’t worry, you are.” I say, pulling away.

“Martin you’re welcome to come bake cupcakes, as well as you too Razor and Matt.” Jack says, changing topics.

“Wait, I have a question. Where am I going to live? Martin has his house up in Boston and we’re engaged, Matt’s apartment is in Canada and Razor’s parent’s house is here.” I say.

“Well you can sell the house in Boston or I can pay it off for you to keep and turn it into a summer home, Matt can rent an apartment here that we can help pay for and Razor can afford her own house with her parent’s money. Maxine and Martin, you can stay with us until you buy your first home together.” Alex says to all of us.

“I’m cool with that! But I’d need to get Jojo! Holy shit Jojo probably misses me. We need to go back to Canada and asap!” Matt screams as Razor hands him a plane ticket.

“Knew you were going to be a whiny bitch, your plane comes at 6am. Be ready.” Razor says.

“That’s too early, but I want to make cupcakes so I’m just going to take Jack’s offer on that.”

“Maxine what do you think about living with your parents for a bit?” Martin asks.

“I don’t mind, now come on, lets go make cupcakes.” I say.

“We’re about two hours away from Baltimore but that’s okay. Maxine or any of you if you’re tired you can ride with us and you can sleep in the car.” Jack says.

“Or just take my limo and a police escort and get to Baltimore faster. Duh.” Razor says as Joe pulls up.

We sprawl into the limo and take a nice drive to my parent’s house. When we pull up I see this huge white house with rose bushes along the front and a white picket fence around it.

“It’s beautiful, something I’d like to buy for Martin and I as well as our future children.” I say in awe.

“I am not having children yet, not till later and when you’re ready.” Martin says.

“I never said I wanted them now, later though.”

We go inside the house and it’s more beautiful than the outside.

“Alex cleans the house nicely doesn’t he?” Jack asks.

“How did I know you were the girl in the relationship?” Razor asks.

“Oh god, Razor not now it’s cupcake time!” Alex screams, running off to the kitchen and throwing his tie off.

We all make cupcakes together and it’s a wonderful time, it’s like the dream I always wanted and I got it. It just took a bit longer than most girls, after all dreams don’t turn to dust. Maybe this world isn’t perfect but it’s perfect enough for me.

“I wanted to show you the depth of this dream. The one where I see you and fall finally.” In the words of YellowCard, I showed this dream to myself and everyone around me and I found it, I ended up seeing my dad and I finally fell happily. I love who I am and maybe, just maybe I’ll never have to make the same mistakes my parents made because repeating history isn’t something I’m ready to do at all. World I found my happiness and I just want it to last, because I’m not ready to go just yet.

Never let go even though it may be hard, life is tough at times and it may take years to get to the happiness but always remember “You have to get through the hurricane where the rainbows will be there waiting just for you and no one else. There will always be something holding you back but once you break down the wall you can make it through.” Some people may just need to help you along the way, and that is perfectly okay because we all need help sometimes.

Notes

I can't believe this is the final chapter of this story before the epilogue. It's my child and I love it more than I do any other story I have written. It was my first official story I did alone and I just can't believe it is basically done.
When I wrote this story it was about this girl who's friend gave her an idea on what her and she would do one the girl hit sixteen and her friend got her license as she knew that why that why the heck someone should let her drive. She wanted to go on this trip and do some pretty lame stuff but would make her dream come true and complete something in her heart that she would have to find in her self despite anything that would hit her. She knows that her journey won't be as exciting as Maxine's but she doesn't mind that as Maxine is a character that she portrayed her emotions through. Razor, the best friend is that girls real life best friend, just with a different name for obvious reasons. She has this dream to make More Specifically, Me Maxine her life story one day with different twists and turns and into possibly a book for people all over the world to read, till that dream comes around that girl will be writing fanfiction from her poster covered bedroom and basing things off of events and stories from her imagination, her life and from the world around her.
And that girl,
Is the one you're reading this from,
Right,
Now.
I really hope you all enjoyed Maxine's life because I sure enjoyed writing about this little character that grew into a girl like me. I've realized Maxine is me in a way, she's ignorant, naive, and a bit dumb at times but she's also smart, loving and over all just your average teenage girl who can share the story of anyone who feels the way she does.
Somewhere in this world might just be a girl just like Maxine who shares every quality she does, down to the smallest detail. If there is I'd like to meet her, just because why not right?
I can't say how much I love each reader, each commenter, every single person in general who reads my stories I love you.
Till darkness completes us,
Sarah's Butterflies