Hidden Motives

Toxic

Thirty minutes later James and I arrived at this well-lit restaurant. Rene and Kailyn were waiting at the front.

"Zara! I wasn't expecting to see you here! We have so much to catch up on!" Kailyn exclaimed.

I laughed a little and said "I bumped into James on the way here and he offered to let me join you guys! I hope that won't be a problem"

"Of course not!" Rene said. "We love spending time with our Zara!"

Kailyn smiled at Rene when he spoke and they looked at each other with love in their eyes. Something Max and I never had. Something I hadn't had with anyone. It seemed impossible. I believed in love, but it hadn't come to me yet. Especially with Max. Well, he didn't believe in it. Completely absurd, but that's just how he was. Definitely not for me.

"I'm going to go tell the host to add another seat to our reservation. I will be right back" Rene said landing a soft kiss on Kailyn's cheek. She blushed and looked at me.

Once he left I whispered "Oooo so you two are official now! You need to fill me in!"

Kailyn smiled and look at James. He got the message and said "I will be right back I'm going to give you two some space and use the bathroom"

"Thanks" Kailyn said before bursting out laughing. Once James had gotten far enough away she said "He is so American! He called it a bathroom! Clearly, it's a washroom!"

I faked an awkward laugh. Bathroom sounded much more normal to me to.

"Umm anyways fill me in!" I exclaimed.

"Oh yeah haha. So basically he found out about my crush on him at the back to school party. I was a bit drunk. He ended up telling me he felt the same way and when you went missing everyone freaked out. I was in no condition to drive so Rene let me spend the night. We talked and decided to give the relationship a chance. Ever since then we have been inseprable. He's been my support. I'm sorry I didn't check up on you earlier." Kailyn said.

"Oh my goodness! That's amazing Kailyn! I'm so happy for you two!" I exclaimed.

Kailyn smiled before saying "Umm what's going on with Max?"

I sighed. "I'm done with him. He's not for me. I've received that message time and time again yet I always go back to him. He's bad news. I can't afford to have someone so negative and toxic in my life. He hurts me, he lies to me, he angers me, and he saddens me. Nothing positive came out of giving him a chance. Nothing positive that lasted anyways. He hurt my relationship with Adyline and I haven't talked to Dylan in days. Not that I want to. But I mean, you get the point right?"

"Yeah I get where your coming from. Sometimes I feel like there's no one for him. Scarlett is to dark and Adyline is to pure. So are you. There's not anyone I can see with him. Although when you punched Scarlett I sensed that same rage in you. He has secrets and their bottled up inside him. They cause him to be cold and angry. Sometimes. And I'm saying only SOMETIMES I see a reflection of that in you. At one point I thought you two would be perfect, but I'm not so sure anymore. Especially after what he's done to you already. You deserve better." Kailyn voiced.

"You think I have anger issues? I'm not as crazy as him! I have emotion and I'm not a literal stone. I also am not toxic! I want others to be happy around me and expect that same energy back! I don't need someone who draws me in like he does! It's not healthy!" I said becoming a bit temperamental.

"Zara I'm not trying to be rude. Please don't get mad, but this is what I mean. Your short-tempered and not all sunshine and rainbows. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Max and you are more similar than you think. I'm just not sure if he's for you. Sometimes those around you see your character better than you do. It's true for Max and it wouldn't surprise me if it were true for you." she said cautiously. I knew she didn't want to offend me so I calmed down.

"You might be right." I sighed. "Max and I are similar. That's why we connect so well, fall so hard, then fight so hard. Our similarities hurt us and help us. We're toxic for each other. Maybe even a toxic endgame."

As I said this James came back and so did Rene.

"Our table's ready" Rene said.

We all then followed him into the restaurant. I looked at Kailyn and she had a surprised look on her face. My words had confused her just as much as they confused me.