No More Wasting Time

Chapter 10

"I told you it was a left!"

"The GPS changed directions last minute!"

"Charlie said to follow her car!"

"Well she's ahead of us now so we need to rely on the GPS!"

"Guys! It's a red light!"

Max pressed hard on the brake and we all went flying forward. On instinct, I threw out my hand in front of Max, causing him to not go forward as far as the rest of us. He cursed and quickly asked if we were all okay and when we turned we saw Hector rubbing his head while his other hand was securely wrapped around Diego who had his eyes wide and his skin was pale. In other words, it seems like his life flashed before his eyes.

"I'm sorry guys. Blame Caden," Max said and continued to drive when the light turned green. "He distracted me."

"It wasn't my fault! If you had turned like I said too-"

"No, its your fault! You always-"

"Guys! Focus on driving please. I'd like to make it back home in one piece," Diego pleaded before checking on Hector and his head. "Just follow the GPS now. We definitely lost Charlie."

"The good thing is that it's barely going to be nine so we still have the full day to enjoy," Hector said with a smile.

That guy is always smiling and it would be a lie if I said I wasn't creeped out at times. He looked way too much of a manly man to be the way he is. The tattoos, the muscles, his sense of fashion which screams bad boy. Yet, he was one of the nicest and most positive guys I've met. What a weirdo.

"Caden check if you got a message from Charlie."

"Charlie? I don't te-" I stopped as he glared at me and mouthed a certain boy's name. "Right, I forgot I gave her my number."

From: Victor
Yo we are almost there. Did you guys leave?

From: Victor
A response would be nice you know.

From Victor:
Meet up with me tonight. I need to talk to you.

"I got nothing," I said and ignored the questioning look Max shot my way. "GPS says to turn here."

"Shit!" Max yelled and quickly turned, all of us grabbing on for dear life. "I hate GPS."

"Okay, how about I drive?" Hector offered, Diego quickly nodding his head in agreement. "I understand the GPS better than you do and with your driving we are going to get pulled over."

Max grumbled out his complaints but still pulled over when it was safe to do so. Both Max and I got out and switched places with Diego and Hector, Max sitting as far away from me as he could be. Hector's driving was much smoother and a lot safer. He used the turn signals properly, maintained the right speed, and didn't get upset when people cut him off. He instead seemed to be enjoying himself and as a bonus, he and Diego were chatting away about some book they both had read. I sometimes wonder if all they talk about is books. It was nice to see Diego smile since he usually kept his head down at school and had a straight face. I was really glad that Victor had gave me a heads up, I don't know what I would've done if they got to Diego.

"Look, we were supposed to get there is twenty minutes with your wrong turns and now we'll get there in just ten minutes!" Hector cheered, making Max glare at him and stick his tongue out.

Diego laughed at Max's childish behavior and shook his head, looking out the window a minute later and admiring the view. Since Charlie's family's cabin is in the woods, the view we had right now was big trees and we could see some mountains in the very back. The sun was bright and lit up the woods, the green from the leaves were shining bright and looking healthy. Birds were flying and squirrels were climbing trees looking for food. It truly was a nice view, definitely one you didn't see back at my mom's.

"Someone's phone just vibrated," Max suddenly spoke out.

"Wasn't mine or Diego's," Hector said, glancing at me from the rear view window.

I looked down and my eye brows furrowed when I saw that it was actually a text from Max. I didn't dare glance at him in case Hector was still glancing at me and instead made an excuse that it was an email notification. I opened up the message, still a little confused that he would message me when I was sitting right next to him.

From: Maxie
Still no message from him?

To: Maxie
I got nothing.

From: Maxie
. . . I'm cold.

I felt my heart give an extra thump when I read that. Back when we were dating, Max was always shy to tell me what he wanted, especially when it came to cuddles. His code word for telling me that he wanted that was him saying he was cold. When we would stay up texting each other, he'd always tell me he was cold. The night when we got back from the camping trip was the first time he had texted me actually saying he wanted cuddles and he wished I was next to him. I think that's when I really knew I had madly fallen for him. I still remember the sting of the slap he gave me when I first tried to talk to him after the whole situation. He told me to leave him alone from that point on. But what hurt more wasn't his words or the slap, but the fact that he had tears in his eyes and I could see the betrayal. I caused him to feel that. I couldn't even image what I made Diego feel.

To: Maxie

I'm cold too.

I knew I probably should've told him about Victor's text, but I just felt like I didn't need to burden him with that information until I actually met up with him and got actual information. With that in mind, I got out of our messaging chat and went onto the messages between Victor and I. I haven't agreed nor denied his request to meet up yet and while I was still weary about it, a small part of me wanted to talk to Victor. We did commit a horrible action but when it was just us two hanging out, he was a good friend. We both shared some secrets and did feel that friendship, that brotherhood. 

To: Victor

When and where?

I dared to take a glance towards Max but gave a mental sigh of relief when I saw his eyes closed and his head limp against the window. He looked adorable and at peace when he slept. He would sometimes make a pout in his sleep and would at times let out a small whine when he couldn't find his comfortable position. He moves a lot when he sleeps so his hair would become a giant mess when he woke up, his eyes holding bags from still being tired. Yet, he was still perfect to me. A vibration from my phone captured my attention and I already knew who it was.

From: Victor

Tonight at 3, I'll send you the address.

He followed that message with an address and when I looked it up, it belonged to a diner that was open 24 hours. He was smart, meeting up at three in the morning to make sure that everyone would be asleep. It reassured me that he was coming alone as well. All of the guys and girls from that friend group always crashed around two in the morning and the latest Max has stayed up was 2:30. Diego always knocked out around midnight. My only problems would be Hector, Charlie, and Rosalie. I didn't know much about them but something told me that Charlie and Rosalie would be my biggest problems. I had to figure something out. I have to-

"Mmm, cold."

I slowly looked down to see Max still sleeping but now resting his head on my shoulders, one hand snaking around my arm as he cuddled into it. I glanced in front to see if Diego or Hector noticed but to my surprise, Diego was also asleep and Hector seemed to be in his own world. I relaxed my tense muscles and relaxed against the seats, slowly feeling myself fall asleep as well.