Chasing Daylight

Chapter Seven

I can see you starin', honey

Like he's just your understudy

-Taylor Swift

Max

I fucked up, I knew it as soon as I woke up the next morning. I was angry last night and I took it out on Maria. "Fuck," I sighed getting up. I found Maria's door closed, so I knocked lightly.

"What?" She asked opening the door. She had red-rimmed eyes and a big sweatshirt hanging at her midthigh.

"I really need to apologize for last night," I said picking at my fingers. "I said some really awful things that I didn't mean. It was rude and disrespectful to you. All you've been is kind and respectful. I've been a horrible roommate and I just keep making it worse. I'm sorry, okay."

"You can keep saying sorry, but until you show me, I don't really believe you," Maria said rolling her eyes. She had a right not to believe me, but I really was doing my best. I didn't apologize to just anyone.

"I'm trying," I sighed. "I swear I'm trying."

"Well try harder," she replied. "I'm done with this conversation. I'm hungover and I'm late for my classes."

I sighed closing my eyes as she closed the door in my face. I needed to be better, that was the fact. I kept screwing up. That needed to stop. She was so kind and I didn't want to hurt her like I hurt everyone else. She deserved better.

--

Friday night I woke up on the couch to the sound of the apartment door opening. Someone stumbled inside causing me to sit up. 
"Maria?" I asked as the door closed. The sound of heeled boots on the wood floors told me it was her.

"Hi Max," she giggled. "I'm drunk."

I felt myself relax a bit because I knew weren't going to have to have another fight. She seemed to be pretty carefree when she was drunk, which I appreciated.

"I can tell," I laughed. She wouldn't speak to me if she was sober. I stood up and followed her to the kitchen. On her way to the sink, she tripped on her own feet and I had to catch her before she fell. She giggled standing up and stumbling again.

"I need water," she mumbled.

"Sit down and I'll get you some water," I said placing her on the barstool. She rested her head on the counter.

"I want to go to sleep," she mumbled.

"Alright I'll help you get to bed," I said helping her off the stool glass in hand.

"I can't sleep," she whined as I pulled her to the bedroom. I hadn't been into her room before, but I didn't really have a chance to look around because I was to busy trying to get her onto the bed.

"It's quiet in here," I said pushing her onto the bed. "Take off your shoes"

I watched her attempt to pull off her boots as her eyes filled with tears. "I can't have the dreams," she mumbled. I watched her for a second confused. I rolled my eyes as she kept tugging at her boots. I sighed dropping down and helping her pull her boots off. I pulled back the covers and pushed her down before pulling the covers over her.

"I don't want to sleep," she whined.

"Just go to bed," I said turning off her lights and closing the door. I heard her let out a little sob, but I walked away before I could hear anything else. I could stop having sex in the apartment, but I wasn't going to comfort her. That was too far for me.

The next day I sat down next to Mason at the coffee shop.

"Hey man," Mason said taking a sip of his coffee.

"Hey," I sighed drinking my black coffee. I hated these stupid coffee shops. I would have much rather been in a bar.

"What's your problem?" Mason asked.

"You know how I feel about coffee shops. We could be at a bar right now," I replied.

"It's noon," Mason laughed. "You shouldn't be drinking at noon."

"The bar is open," I shrugged. "Why did you make me meet you here anyway?"

"I didn't want to meet at the apartment because I knew Maria would come up and I don't want to risk you lashing out at her again."

"I'm not always an asshole you know that," I frowned.

"I know, but she seemed pretty upset," Mason replied. The bell rang on the door and I was shocked to find Maria walking through the door with her friend and another girl and guy. They were laughing about something as they walked to the counter. She didn't notice us as they ordered their drinks and walked to a table in the back of the café. They still hadn't stopped laughing. I hadn't heard Maria laugh until Sophie came over. I was such a douche. I turned my attention back to Mason just to find that he was watching Maria with a little grin on his face.

"You like her don't you man?" I laughed.

"Shut up," Mason said rolling his eyes. "Are you letting her get some sleep?"

"Yeah, I had sex in a bar bathroom the other night and she didn't even come home until after midnight," I sighed.

"You don't have to have sex man," Mason said rolling his eyes.

"Yeah well, she came home drunk last night stumbling and mumbling. I tried to help her to bed because she told me she was tired and she got all upset and said she didn't want to go to bed and talking about dreams and shit. She started crying so I just turned off the lights and left. Do all girls cry like that. I feel like she's always crying."

"She was drunk," Mason laughed.

"Listen I'll try and be a better roommate, but I can't deal with the emotions and shit. That's just too much," I said shaking my head. "She's too emotional."

"You're ridiculous," Mason said shaking his head. I watched as Mason's eyes drifted to her again. She was now deep in thought staring at her computer. I knew he had a thing for her and I knew he was trying to be respectful of her and me, but he was so fucking obvious. He made her tea for god's sake.

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