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There’s a lot of untapped potential with parental figures for Max. Obv we’ve seen Paul because he’s like. The most popular adult in Hatchetfield.
But have you considered Emma meeting Max through Paul, and being a better match for him because she was an edgy prick as a teenager, so she gets him in a way Paul can’t.
Or, less beneficially, Ted as an older brother figure. Maybe they could meet through Pete if Max has enough of a redemption to be friends-ish with him. I think Ted would also be way more understanding because Max is honestly just Ted but younger and more athletic. Simultaneous character arcs. Or maybe not maybe they’re just awful forever idk
If you wanna get into some LiB/PIEP shenanigans. You could go with Holloway! Tbh I haven’t seen NMT so I haven’t got much for this. But it seems interesting enough.
Or John! Max has to move out or hide from his dad after some inciting event. He gets sick of hopping around between houses of people who kind of don’t like him, so John(probably the only person without a grudge against him) takes him in. You got your classic troubled teen and emotionally closed-off adult pairing. Bonus points if Max is queer and that’s like the only emotional situation John is comfortable in because he dealt with it, too.
There’s so much! So much!