Loving You Was My Mistake

Chaos in the Moonlight

They returned with snacks and alcohol, turning Max’s room into a small, makeshift celebration even though the real show at the stadium had already begun. It felt like they were trying to build their own world away from everything else, a temporary escape from responsibility and emotion. Munoz stood by the stove popping popcorn, the easiest thing she could manage, planning to mix it with the snacks they had bought. John and Max were already pouring alcohol into plastic cups from the bar, while Claire struggled with the Bluetooth speaker, tapping his phone repeatedly until frustration made him give up. They wanted loud music, something to fill the silence that Max could not stand.

“Play the music, Claire!” Max shouted, glancing at him. “It is too quiet in here.”

“I am trying but your speaker is not connecting,” Claire replied, stepping closer. He grabbed a cup, took a quick sip, and before he even lowered it, Max had already taken it from him. Claire laughed, taking another drink before passing it on.

“It is really dead in here,” John said, stretching his arm across the bed. “Max, give me your phone. Yours is new, it will connect faster.”

John connected it within seconds, and music exploded through the speaker, loud enough to shake the room. No one needed instructions. They all started dancing at once, laughter filling the space as the energy shifted completely. Munoz danced near the stove while still making popcorn, fully carefree and loud, especially now that she was drinking. When the popcorn was ready, she abandoned the stove and joined them, moving between the boys without hesitation. It no longer mattered that she was the only girl in the room. The night had blurred all boundaries.

They were enjoying themselves so much that the stadium show slowly stopped being important. Even Claire, who had been eager to meet his girlfriend Grace, began to forget the time. The alcohol softened responsibility, and laughter replaced urgency. But just as the moment peaked, Max’s phone rang.

The music stopped instantly as the phone was connected to the speaker. Munoz rushed to answer it and announced loudly that Grace was calling. Claire froze and looked at Max in confusion, realizing his phone was off earlier. Max took the phone quickly and answered after Claire nodded.

“Grace,” Max said, breathing out.

“Max, where is Claire?” Grace asked immediately, her voice anxious. “Are you with him?”

Max glanced at Claire before confirming. Since the phone was still connected to the speaker, everyone could hear the conversation clearly. He handed the phone over.

“Love, how are you?” Claire greeted softly.

“Claire, I have been waiting for you,” Grace said, frustration breaking through. “It is cold and I am still outside. Are you really coming? I cannot stand here alone.”

“I am coming, love. We are still at Max’s place but we are leaving now,” Claire replied quickly.

“What is wrong with your phone? I tried calling many times,” she asked.

“It shut down. I will charge it now,” he said.

“Alright, but please hurry,” she said before ending the call.

Silence returned briefly. Then Max spoke, pouring another drink.

“So are we still going to the stadium?” he asked slowly. “Honestly, it does not feel like it will be better than this moment. We can just call Grace and tell her to come here instead.”

The room paused. They understood what Max meant, but each of them had different reasons. Max did not want to go because of what he was carrying inside. Claire did not have the luxury of staying, not with Grace waiting outside in the cold.

“We have to go before something happens to my girlfriend,” Claire said firmly, looking at Max.

“Yes, we should go,” John added, standing up. “But we cannot leave this unfinished. Let us finish the alcohol first.”

“And the snacks,” Munoz added, lifting the bottle from the table before drinking straight from it.

“Munoz!” Max snapped immediately. “Stop that. Drink from the cup. This is strong alcohol.”

“I am fine,” she laughed, already unsteady. “Maybe I will get drunker than all of you.”

“That is the plan then,” Claire said, half joking.

“I do not think this is a good idea,” Max warned. “We will get into trouble drinking in public.”

“No one will notice,” John insisted. “We will be careful.”

They all agreed anyway, and within minutes they were inside a taxi heading toward the stadium. Their voices were loud, their laughter uncontrolled, and the driver kept glancing at them through the mirror, clearly aware they were intoxicated. When they arrived near the venue, police officers were checking bags and pockets at the entrance.

They stopped immediately.

None of them wanted to risk losing the alcohol, so they sat down nearby, trying to finish what they had left before entering. The atmosphere outside the stadium was tense with excitement, music from inside spilling into the night air.

Max’s phone kept ringing. Grace was still trying to reach Claire. After delaying her for a while, Claire finally stood up and left them, stumbling slightly as he entered the stadium to meet her.

John did not stay long either. A passing girl caught his attention and within moments he was gone, disappearing into the crowd with an easy smile and no explanation.

That left only Max and Munoz.

They sat together, finishing the last of the alcohol, talking loosely as the night deepened. Munoz laughed at nothing in particular, while Max stared ahead, his mind still heavy despite the noise around him. For a brief moment, it felt like it was just the two of them in a separate world, disconnected from everything else.

Then it happened.

Max turned his head.

And saw her.

Nixie.

She was standing behind them.

The world around him froze instantly. The alcohol, the noise, the crowd, everything disappeared from his awareness. He stood up so fast he almost lost balance, blinking as if trying to confirm she was real. The moonlight above made her face visible, and the flashes from the stadium lights sharpened every detail. She was not smiling.

Before he could speak, her hand struck his face.

The slap echoed through him more than the sound itself. Max froze, his hand slowly rising to his cheek, disbelief written all over his face.

“Nixie…” he whispered, barely able to breathe.

“Why did you betray me?” she asked, tears already forming in her eyes. “All these years… I was a fool.”

Max said nothing. His voice refused to come out. He had imagined this moment in many ways, but never like this.

Nixie had come with her parents. She had not told him because she was still angry. That realization made everything worse.

Munoz stood silently beside him, unsure whether to move or speak.

“Where is Diana?” Nixie demanded, stepping closer. “I want to deal with her too.”

Max felt panic rise in his chest. This was spiraling too fast.

“Please, Nixie,” he said quickly, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Do not do this here. I know I messed up, but I will explain everything.”

He did not finish.

She pushed him away violently. Then, before anyone could react, she slapped him twice more in quick succession.

Munoz immediately stepped forward. “Stop this,” she said firmly, blocking Nixie.

“Get out of my way, b***h!” Nixie shouted.

Munoz did not respond. She simply stood her ground.

People nearby started gathering, drawn by the noise. The attention made Nixie hesitate. Her breathing was heavy, her emotions raw, but she slowly realized the consequences of continuing. If this escalated, her parents would find out everything.

And just like that, she stepped back.

The silence that followed was heavier than the fight itself.

Max stood there, stunned, his cheek burning, his heart sinking under the weight of everything collapsing at once.

And for the first time, he understood that nothing in his life was hidden anymore.