On My Own Time

Chapter 17

"You suck!" Sara yelled at me and threw another grape at Max.

We were currently throwing grapes at each other and trying to catch them with our mouths. It was lunch time and they were trying to cheer me up since I was still in a sour mood. I had successfully ignored Victor and Caden all day and I wasn't planning on talking to Victor for the rest of the day. I was grumpy and I didn't want to text him something I might regret later.

"Come on, Diego! I know you can do better than that!" Charlie yield and threw another grape at me.

After a few more tries I finally caught one and Charlie cheered, Sara and Max groaning because they lost. They can be very competitive but I loved them so it was alright. I continued to eat the rest of my grapes normally as Sara began to complain about an upcoming test she had.

"Sara, you pass every test. You'll be fine," Charlie said and ate one of her carrots.

"Charlie are you going to the camping trip with us?" Max asked, cleaning up the grapes that had fallen all over the table.

"The one the school does?"

Sara groaned and nodded her head. Her dislike for camping would always be funny to me. It was funny because she didn't like the jokes and activities and everything but she loved to swim in the lake. Sara's love for swimming was as big as my love for food and that's big.

"I don't see why not. Sara and I can share a tent," she said with a shrug.

"It's coming up soon, we should go buy items tomorrow," Max said.

I nodded my head and crumpled up my trash. Max followed my lead and the girls gave us their trash, batting their eye at us so we would throw it away for them. Max chuckled but grabbed their trash and I grabbed the rest of it, following him to the trash can that were placed at the back of the cafeteria.

"Ah shoot, I completely forgot that I need to go to my locker. Wanna come?"

I shrugged and said, "Sure. Let's just go tell the girls so they don't think we simply bailed on them."

We turned around to inform the girls but stopped when they were swarmed around by many other girls. Max and I glanced at each other before we turned back around and walked out. We would be back before the bell rings so we didn't worry about leaving our backpacks with them. Max led the way to his locker, humming a beat to some random song and nodding his head. Max loved music and could actually play the piano really well. He never pursued it as a career because he likes to play the piano for fun only.

"Hey, you should visit tomorrow. My cousin wants to see you again and show you his new book collection since you appreciate books more than I."

I chuckled and leaned against the lockers beside his and said, "You know I would but I would much prefer you guys to visit mine. I still feel a little drained from the last talk your mother gave us."

Max laughed and nodded his head, closing his locker and fixing the books in his hands. Max's mother was something else and anyone would agree to that. Max's parents were complete opposites, yet they loved each other. Speaking of Max's parents, I wonder if my mom did end up going to see Max's father.

"I'm going to the bathroom, wait for me here?" Max asked and I nodded, grabbing his book from him and leaning against the wall.

My mind wondered to this morning's events. I was still very upset but Max, Charlie, and Sara were trying their hardest to cheer me up so I was hiding my anger for now. Though it gets harder everytime I see Caden. Gosh, just thinking about it again makes me upset all over. Speak of the devil and he shall appear. There Caden was, walking down the hall with Victor by his side. Crap, what do I do? I looked around, trying to come up with something to do. They still hadn't seen me and if I went into the bathroom then they'd definitely see me cause that bathroom door makes too much noise. I absolutely did not want to run in with them but luck was on my side. Max came out and I pulled him against me, making him throw his hands out to land against the wall on either side of my head. I quietly shushed him when he opened his mouth to talk. Max's bigger form completely covered me and I somehow shrunk myself even more to make it so that they absolutely couldn't see me.

"Get a room," I heard Caden yell and Victor chuckled.

They didn't see me. I was in the clear. Max turned his head and released a breath, moving when they had disappeared around the corner. I put a hand over my quickly beating heart and sighed. Those two are going to kill me.

"So that was fun," Max said and chuckled. "Its not every day that my best friend shoves me against him to make it look like we are making out."

I winced and said, "Sorry. I just didn't want to deal with them."

Max laughed and took the books from my hands that were holding tightly onto them. He nodded his head and began walking back to the cafeteria, expecting me to follow right away. I was grateful to have Max as my best friend. He didn't make the situation awkward or weird and just went along with it because I needed him to. I seriously could not ask for a better friend than him. It makes me wonder what his reaction would be if I told him I wasn't exactly straight. I mean his cousin just came out and he doesn't seem bothered at all. I know I keep repeating it but I guess Max really is the best.