The Adult Max Fanfic Site

Bid Time Returns (or Someday, Next Summer)

Max hit the side of the computer monitor in outright frustration. The damn thing had crashed; again. It seemed as though he was forever cursed, no matter what his location. He sighed for the umpteenth time. Was anything ever going to work out? Since he was no longer teaching at Chilton, or for that matter, not teaching anywhere, things had felt aimless lately. No, not lately, for the past year or so. He had gotten sick of it all one day, the kids, the staff, the schedule. He gave Headmaster Charleston his notice that he would not be teaching for the rest of the semester, and left. Simple as that, he had thought at the time. But it had turned out not so.

He missed the lonely town, and as horrid as he was with people, women in general, he had a certain bond with them. They didn't understand him though, despite his somewhat normallacy around them. The only one person who had interested him in a profound sense was Lorelai. And Rory, but she was a student, not a romantic interest. After a moment, he found himself lost (not for the first time) in thoughts of Lorelai. She wasn't his type really; wasn't any mans type for that matter. She was just...Lorelai Gilmore. Which was more than he could say for most women. They were hardly themselves around him. He doubted that they were hardly themselves alone.

It took Max several moments to realize that there was a message on the screen. It said that the system had not crashed, but he had not shut it down properly. Relieved, he hit 'reboot' and sat back. In vain, he tried to shake thoughts of the Gilmore Girls, his new name for the two, out of his head. No such luck. If anything, it was worse then it had ever been. Instead of surfing the Internet like his earlier plans, Max decided to go for a walk. He shut the computer down, correctly this time, and grabbed a jacket.

He locked the front door quickly. Oddly enough, that one thing went right for him today. Usually the thing would take forever to shut and lock up properly. It didn't. Maybe things would start to go right after all. He passed the bakery and the laundry matt, passed the cleaners and the Rite Aid on the corner, and headed for the park. It was a small one, but it was the prettiest thing he could see without driving the 5 miles to the ocean. He smiled at some kids riding bikes along the narrow paths and nodded at exhausted mothers and fathers who had taken their kids to the park so they could break things outside.

Max walked silently for a while. He didn't hum a song that was his custom, but instead tried to clear his mind. That seemed to work, so he did then start to hum, but found himself straying off the path. He crossed into some residential areas but wasn't worried. He knew where he was very well. But one thing caught his attention. There was a moving truck outside of the Dubovsky's house. He steered himself in that direction when he heard a familiar voice.

"No, no, I want it over there, not by the fireplace. By God, what are you people, deaf?"

Max smiled a little to himself. Well, well, well. A familiar face at last. He walked over to the woman.

"Hello there Ms. Gilmore."

Emily Gilmore turned to him in surprise. Her delicate though aged features caught in surprise then cool recognition. She walked towards him slowly, with her hands behind her back.

"Max Medina. I had wondered where you had escaped to."

He laughed, trying to alleviate the small but noticeable tension.

"'Escaped,' Ms. Gilmore...well, it's a rather harsh term."

"It's Mrs. Gilmore and no, I think it was quite suiting."

Max was quiet. Maybe his helpful approach wasn't working. He tried a subject he knew she's be pleased with.

"How have you been?"

"Me? Well, besides handling Rory's constant phone calls, she's staying with me while her mothers away-"

"Wait, she's 19 now right? Shouldn't she be in collage?"

Max was anxious and worried about Rory's schooling. She had been one of his best and most promising students, and he was shocked if she didn't continue. But Emily was staring at him with a decidedly perplexed expression.

"Yes, she's in collage. I know it's been a year since you've taught Mr. Medina, but surely you remember that it's winter break?"

His face colored a little. How could he have forgotten that? It had only been a little over a year. Quickly, he changed the subject without being rude.

"What university is she attending?"

"Harvard," Emily replied, and Max couldn't help but notice the pride on her face. He was about to comment, when he heard a tell tale bang coming from the house.

"I see she's inside?" Max asked and it was Emily's face who colored.

"Yes. Rory's a dear girl, but, ah, she just hadn't managed grace or even fluid movement yet."

The words she had used were so...old school and outlandish that he found himself trying not to chuckle. He was going to nod or something, but Rory came out of the house carrying something.

"Grandma? I made sure the movers put the closet thingy where you wanted it and-"

She stopped when she noticed him.

"Mr. Medina. Hi. I didn't expect to see you here. You...look good."

"The complement is returned Rory," he said, quickly sizing her up. She hadn't changed much since the last time he saw her, which was a year ago. Her hair was the same length it had always been, but it had professionally done high lights in it. He smiled at her, and, to his relief, she returned the smile.

To be continued.