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***
Max's tears became angry as she marched up to the man, slapping him across the face.
"Max!" Karen and Mike yelled.
"How could you! I- you- you suppose to be dead."
"I'm sorry baby, I wanted to-"
"Why did you leave me?"
Max and the man cried while everyone watched in confusion.
"Max, you were seven! You had friends, if I took you we would've gotten in so much trouble! I missed you so much, oh god Max I'm so sorry." He wrapped her in a hug, crying into her head. "You're so tall honey," the two laughed through these tears. "You think I'll be taller than you soon?"
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves now."
"Max, honey, who is this?"
Max pulled away from him and wiped her tears away. "Mom," Karen wanted to cry again, "this is Billy. He's my older brother, but you could ask anyone in Cali and they'll tell you he's my dad."
Mike felt a pain in his chest. Her brother. But he was her brother, some some random man that left her.
"Mom?"
"Yeah, Billy um they adopted me."
"What happened to Susan? And Neil?"
"We need to talk."
***
Everyone listened as Max told her story. El was holding onto her shoulder the whole time, rubbing her back when she needed to take a breather. Mike was holding her hand, because HE was her brother. Billy cried the whole time, wanting to kill the dead man, and her foster dad. Karen sobbed, thanking the gods that Max was safe with them now. Dustin threw up, Lucas stared in shock, and Will felt as though he understood her.
"Mike? Can you get Max some water?"
"Sure El, I'll be right back."
Mike walked to the kitchen, more like ran.
"El, can we go outside?" Max whispered to the brunette. "Of course, anything you need darling. Hey we're just gonna step outside for a bit, fresh air."
The girls walked outside, Max sitting in the grass. El sat next to her and started playing with her fingers. "You okay?"
"He's alive."
"He is."
"I always thought that it was me, that it was my fault. Everyone I've ever loved died. I thought Billy did too and promised myself I would never love anyone ever again. But he's here and he's alive. His necklace, the pendant has a saying. 'L'amour est une bénédiction, mais aussi une malédiction' it's French for 'Love is a blessing, but also a curse'."
"That's a beautiful saying Maxie."
"Why didn't he want me? Why did he leave me? Did I do something wrong?"
"You, you were perfect Max. I left because of Neil, I couldn't take it anymore."
Both girls turned around as Billy walked closer to them. "You were my baby, I love you so much Max, but I couldn't have you. I had to leave to save myself. Now looking back I wish I took you with us, god we could've been a family. Me, you, and Jayden."
"Jayden, what-"
"We got into a car accident last month. She died, I'm sorry." Max bit her lip as tears pooled in her eyes. "I'm sorry too, I know how much you loved her."
"We were engaged, she beautiful."
"Will you stay this time?"
"I'm not leaving ever again."
"Promise?"
Billy linked their pinkys, "promise." Max smiled, kissing his hand. She got up, "I'm gonna go see what's up with Mike. He looks jealous? I don't know." She looked back inside. El got up to follow her when Billy stopped her.
"El right?"
"Hi," El said shyly. Billy pulled out the ring from his pocket. "You like my sister?" El was shocked. she never classified it it as a crush, just getting upset when Max was upset, wanting to protect her forever, wanting to live together in a little cottage and wear cute dresses, and have picnics, to dance with her, okay maybe she hears it now. "Um, I don't-"
"It's okay to be confused, don't worry. I just see the way you look at her. Take this, and if it isn't Max, I want you to give it to someone you love one day." He said placing Jaydens engagement ring in the palm of her hand. "Billy-"
"Your a good person El, thank you for taking care her."
