Chapter V - The Truth

just focus, Max, Um, Are you okay? I so this is kind of weird. Okay. Jenna has been getting these notes in her locker, like poems and stuff, and she wanted me to figure out who it was. And yeah, have you told her yet? No? No, I didn't. I thought that maybe you'd want to tell her. What Why would I want to do that because you have a crush on her? Max? What you don't know? I? Oh god, this is humiliating. Yeah, thanks, No, sorry, I didn't mean. I just look. I think it's really sweet what you

were doing. I read the notes and they were really good, THEO really romantic. Really Yeah, Jenna's a lucky girl. You really think so? I do? Often this is perfect. You can tell her for me, what I mean. She wanted you to find out who it was, and you did, so now you can tell her. But THEO, if you know she's going to know it's you, wouldn't it be better to just tell her yourself ask her out? But she might say no, okay, but that's true. Even if I tell her, don't you want her to hear how

you feel from you? I don't know. I guess I never really thought about what I would do if she found out, So you were never planning on telling her. I was kind of just focused on writing the poems, if I'm honest, I never really thought about what she might think of them. But you were writing those poems for her, right, Yeah? You really think they're good, the poems. Yeah, I mean it's it's clear you really care about her. Well, you know what they say, poetry is the food of love.

I guess the opposite is true too, love makes for good poetry. I guess THEO if you're not going to do anything about it, I did promise Jenna i'd figure it out for her. Yeah. Yeah, it's totally fine. I get it. So you're okay with me telling her that you like her sure, and if she doesn't like me back, well I hear heartbreak is good for poetry too, Right, Anyway, I should get to study hall. Are you coming? Um? Actually, I've got other stuff I need to do. Are you

going to tell Jenna now? No? No, I'm meeting her after work. I just I don't much feel like sitting in a dark and quiet library right now. See you later, Max. Yeah. By THEO from a Typical Artists and I heart radio. You're listening to Maximles. This is chapter five The Truth. Good afternoon, Max, Hey liss honey. Well, I'm so sorry about the other day with Oh, no need to apologize. I understand where your father is coming from. Joe. Isn't my dad, he's my uncle. How nice to have family

in town. No, it's my parents. They they passed away a few years ago. So Joe takes care of me. Oh I see, I'm so sorry Max, Yeah, me too. He seems like he's a fantastic guardian. He is, even if he's being stupidly overprotective. You don't think you should be worried that that boy Riley is still missing, isn't he? Yeah? He is, which is whyatt I just I think I can help. Max. I understand being worried about your friend, really I do, but you need to take care of yourself.

The last thing this town needs is another missing child. Yeah, yeah, I know. Chin up, Max, It's going to be okay. Why, just on my way here, I heard some people discussing the search party this afternoon. They're doing another one. I guess they want to look deeper into the woods. This time they'll find Riley. Max. Yeah, yeah, they will, right, Yes. Now the reason I'm here, Oh right, what are you shopping for today? You? In fact, I was hoping to

solicit your aid in a peculiar problem I'm having. Really you want my help? Well, as you know, this town really is quite small, and people do talk. Guessing you've heard some stories about me. Apparently you're very good at solving town issues. See, I can help with Riley. Missing pets and stolen bikes are a bit different. I think. I don't say that to diminish the things you do, Max, but it might be best to work your way up to the serious stuff. So what kind of problem are

you having? It's the end. There's been some strange noises this past day or so. I fear that someone may have broken in. Oh wow. Now, I don't want to distract the community watch group with this when they've got much more urgent things to focus on. So I was hoping you could lend a hand. You're sure my uncle didn't put you up to this to keep me busy. I assure you he did not. Why would someone want

to break into the maple floorpe. It's not even open yet, right exactly, It's practically empty, so I have absolutely no idea why anyone would be lurking about unless unless what, Well, it's foolish, but some of the noises, it almost feels as if the place is haunted. What. I'm not inclined to believe in such things, but the building really does have quite the history. Oh, I am in, I am all the way in, excellent. I know you have school and work and all of that. So I was thinking

maybe Saturday. Whatever is going on, I don't think it's a danger. Said today is perfect, lovely. I will see you then, have a good day, Detective Miles, thanks you too. Hey, Mr Monty, is my uncle there? Hey? Joe? Yeah, Yeah, everything's fine, No, not yet. Well, that's actually why I'm calling. We just got a new shipment of stuff in and I offered to stay late to do inventory. Is that okay? No? I think we're planning on ordering a pizza, maybe like

nine or so. No, you don't need to What was that? Oh? Wow, great? Thanks? No, she just said she'd give me a ride home. Yep, of course, I love you too. Where are you calling for me? Uh? Nope, it was out on the phone, wrong number anyway, tills all locked up? Wait wait, wait, it's only four thirty. Right, you've got that extra curriculo thing today I forgot yep, exactly. Me and a friend are doing an environmental survey in the park. All right,

thanks bye? What not the answer you were expecting? THEO? THEO has been sending me these notes. No, no, THEO and I are friends. This there's no way I thought we understood each other. This is a disaster understood each other? What do you mean? I thought THEO was like me, like, too busy for dating? You mean, yeah, too busy for dating? Well, I mean after talking to him, I'm not sure that. I mean, is he totally cracked? Never in my life

have I thought about THEO combs in that way. If it makes you feel better, I actually think because like, even if dating was on the table, he shouldn't want to date me, and I would never want to date him. We'd want to date people like ourselves, or at least that's what I thought. I'm sorry, Jenna, I'm totally lost like another girl. Okay, that's what I'm saying. I don't want to date THEO, not because he's not great and all,

but because I don't see him in that way. In fact, I'll never be able to see him in that way, because because you want to date another girl? Yeah, anyone in particular, that's your first question. Well, I don't know. I'm kind of like invested in your love life after all this. I'm curious Max. You always zig when I think you're gonna zag. No, No, there's no one in particular. What what are you thinking right now? No, it's nothing. I just got I got swept up in the romance

of these notes. I guess I was kind of hoping this would all lead to you sailing off in the sunset with someone. And you thought THEO was the same way that he wouldn't want to date you because he would want to date a boy instead. Yeah, And I don't know. We never talked about it or anything clearly. Maybe he does want to date boys too, but I just thought it doesn't matter now our friendship is screwed up forever. Why because he likes me and I can't like him back. I don't see why that has to

ruin everything? And for what it's worth. Well, I wasn't planning on saying anything, but I don't think you'll be offended by it now, So what is it? Max? I don't think THEO was really all that invested. What well? I told him that I knew it was him who wrote the notes so that he could tell you himself instead of me, and he didn't want to see I knew whoever was writing these was a coward. Come on,

that's not fair, Jenna. Theo's your best friend. He probably didn't want to mess anything up either, then why write them at all? I think I think you're his news? What? Yeah, that must be it. He seemed way more focused on his poems being good than anything else and was going on about heartbreak is food for poetry or something. I don't know. I wasn't really following. That sounds like THEO, so maybe he was just playing a part the poet in love with the beauty a full news. Maybe I

think you should talk to him. You won't tell him, right, tell him what that I'm that I'm gay? Oh No, I don't think it's mine to tell. I am surprised that he doesn't know already. Aren't you guys like really close? Yeah? We are, but I don't know. We don't always talk about real stuff, you know. Yeah, why didn't you tell me what? In all the heart to hearts we've had in the past few years? Okay? Fair? So you didn't

know in middle school what I mean. We were friends then, so I assume you hadn't figured it out, or otherwise you would have told me. Oh my god, Max, How are you making this about you right now? Sorry? Sorry, I'm not I I just want you to know that you could have told me. You could have told me anything. I was still figuring it out, okay, and it wasn't something I wanted to talk about until I had completely figured it out. Did you think that I'd care? Because

I don't. I don't think anyone would. It's just it's hard being different in Hastings. You know, it's easier to just go along with what everyone else is doing and there are no gay people here. My uncle is gay. Okay, great, one person. Actually, I'm pretty sure he's dating someone, so that would make two people who aren't totally straight. Really, who is he dating? I have no idea, but he's been spending large parts of the weekend out and then he comes back all happy. Gross. I know you don't

think I understand what it's like to be different. I mean, every family in Hastings is like the perfect white bread all American, two parents and two point five children, and I'm me. Yeah, you're you president of the Hastings is the Best Place to Live Committee. Just because I love Hastings doesn't mean I always feel like it loves me. You're not alone and being raised by a single guardian person. THEO lost his mom too. I know that's part of

why I'm sorry Max, for whatever that's worth. I actually am sorry for what that THEO likes me and that I don't like him. But you do, No, I don't. Oh, come on, Mac, everyone knows ironically THEO is the one exception to that. Yeah, well I guess I know why he wouldn't. He's been a bit distracted. I'm sorry. It's not your fault. Besides what, I don't know what talking to THEO this morning about you, I wasn't nervous for the first time ever, ever, since Ross told me that

THEO wrote the notes. I don't know what THEO liking me made him repulsive to you. No, it's it's not that. It's the poems were so beautiful, you know, so passionate, and then talking to him about them was he didn't mean any of it. I didn't say that THEO thinks the world if you. I don't know what it is exactly. THEO is more passionate about the idea of love than he is about me. Yeah, yeah, that's what it is. Classic prioritizing having a crush over who the crush is,

and that's a pretty cynical way to look at things. Yeah. Well, understanding people has never been your strong suit. Max. You're right. I don't understand how you could feel strongly enough to write poems for someone and not do everything you possibly could to tell them. I get being scared. I mean, I never told THEO how I feel. But if I were really in love with someone, I like to think I'd do anything for them. Isn't that the way it's

supposed to be. I have no idea, Max, find me another girl in New Hampshire who also likes girls, and maybe I'll tell you. Well, I've already solved one. Jenna Ambrose love life mystery. I'm on a roll. I wish Riley was here. I feel like he'd have the answers. You know, Riley has never dated anyone either. Yeah, but he has that thing, you know, the fitting in thing that we don't the perfect family. He feels like he has things figured out. Yeah, I just hope he's okay

me too. Any new leads. I'm exploring a few avenues, so no, yeah, basically not. But speaking of I gotta go. They're doing another search party. Are you sure that's a good idea after what happened last time? I promise I won't go running around this time. Hey, Max, thanks for for listening and for being cool with everything. Of course, Jenna, I know we're not that we're not as close as we used to be, but I'm here. I'm always here. Yeah, all right, go be reckless and stupid. I'm not being

reckless or stupid. You say that now, Hiley, Riley, Riley, Riley, Righty, Riley Right, Riley Riley Okay, right, Riley? Where are you right? Is that? Riley? We're right? Why is Mr Beatie breaking off from the crew? Where is he going? It's just an animal, Max? Is that cabins? What are you doing? Ross? What? Why? Why? Sorry? I didn't mean to scare you. Were you following me? Were you joining the search party without a buddy? I

was late? So you walking around alone has nothing to do with the fact that Sheriff Combs would definitely call your uncle if he saw you trying to join the search again? Look at me, I'm fine, aren't I? Now? Come on? What where are you going? Mr Beaty is up to something great? Here we go? Look Ross, there's a cabin up there. Okay, so what we're in the woods? Woods have cabins. But why is Mr Beady heading toward it in the middle of a search? Is it his cabin?

Is this where he's been coming in the middle of the night. I don't see him anywhere? Why, your beauty, you said you saw him? Yeah? Where did he go? Maybe he's searching like we're supposed to be doing. Why are you even here? Ross? Remember what happened last time? But how would you know I would be here? Come? On. Whatever, what's your plan here? Just barge into someone's house. I know I saw Mr Beaty walking to the cabin seconds ago. There's no likes on, so so maybe he's not there

at all. Right, there's one way to find out. Oh, you can't be serious, Come on, Ross, what's the worst that could happen? You want me to go down the list? If Betty isn't in there, we can poke around the in and out before he gets back. And if he is in there, we'll play dumb. Say we got lost on the search and are looking for help. Ship, What what's wrong? That's a solid plan. I knew you'd come around tell her. Now let's go ship. It's locked? Is

that surprising? Maybe there's a black door or you can't be serious, it's unlocked. I think crawling through a window still counts as breaking an entering, even if it's unlocked. Okay, I don't see anyone. I think we're clear. Are we really doing this? We have no idea if this has anything at all to do with Riley? Well, only one way to find out. Yeah. Maxie Miles was created by Lauren Shippen and its production of Eighth boocal artists and I Heart Radio. This episode was written and directed by

Lauren Shippen. Dialog getting and sound as I'm by Marrissy Younging of Hemma Creek Productions, with editing systems from Lauren Davis and Melissa Ponds. It featured Jordan Cobbs Maxie Miles, Mike's a Follow as Ross Teller, Morgan Elgerton as the OCMBS, Jacquelin Landgraph as Miss Honeywell, SHAWNA. Cannakar as Jennet Ambrose, and Lauren Shippen as manager. Original artwork by Shane McMullan.

For more information about the show, please visit Maxie Miles dot com and follow at a Typical Artists on Twitter and Instagram. Maxie Miles is executive produced by Lauren Shippen and I Heart Radio and for more podcasts for my heart Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Thank you for listening and keep curious.