Saving Max

Chapter 4

I wake to an earthy smell, with just a trace of mint. I crack my eyes open, ignoring my body's protest, wanting more sleep. As much as I would like to go back to sleep, I know I can't, because I have school.

As much as I hate Monday's, I can't help but feel like people judge it too harshly. It's not Monday's fault that it's at the beginning of a school week. Monday's didn't do anything to deserve that kind of hate. It is what it is, I suppose.

My eyes having adjusted to the sun's light glowing through the room, I begin to panic when I realize that it's not my own.

Well, duh, I don't have an earthy scent, I think to myself, shaking my head. Looking around the room, I try to remember if I ended up drinking at all last night. I don't get drunk often; actually I've only gotten drunk once, but I still didn't want to take any chances. Right before I'm about to scream, everything comes back to me at once. Max coming to the hospital with Caden, coming back to their 'house' after my shift, and Caden offering to let me spend the night. Sighing in relief, I turn on to my side and let out a nervous laugh.  I'm not even sure why I forgot about it all, I guess I was just really tired last night.

Thinking about it, I can't remember the last time I've slept so well. I usually toss and turn throughout the night, not being able to shut off my mind in order for me to fall asleep, but last night I don't remember having any trouble at all.

Smiling to myself, I get out of bed, noticing that I only have on one of Caden's shirts that comes down to the bottom of my thigh. Pulling it down a little, I exit the room to find a sleeping Caden on the couch, Max nowhere in sight. Walking over to the kitchen, I begin my search for breakfast, the realization dawning on me that I don't know where anything is. I open one cabinet, finding the cups. Taking one out, I go over to the refrigerator and see what they have to drink. I find orange juice, and decided to have a little bit of that. after pouring myself a glass, I open the drawer next to the refrigerator and find a couple boxes of granola bars, finding my favorite, peanut butter chocolate chip.

Sitting down at the table, I tear in to the granola bar, temporarily forgetting about the orange juice I poured myself. As the package around it crinkles, I hear Caden let out a groan, turning on his side so that he's facing me.

"Morning." he says in a husky, deep, and groggy voice. I'll be damned if it wasn't the sexiest thing I'd ever heard.

As much as I despised Caden before, there was no denying how hot he was. Every time a girl would look at Caden, you could practically see them undressing him in their minds. I didn't, of course, and Katie thought I was crazy. I was too busy throwing myself in to my studies and my work at the hospital to care about his looks. But I sure as hell noticed them, even if I didn't react like every other girl at my high school.

"Morning." I mumble, trying to talk through my mouth full of granola goodness. "Did you sleep okay? I feel kind of bad that I took your bed last night while you had to sleep on that old couch." I tell him, a guilty expression on my face, even though on the inside I'm kissing the ground he walks on. His bed was really comfortable.

"I'm fine, don't worry about it. And besides, I'll have that room cleaned out by the end of today so there'll be a room for you if you decided to spend the night again." he says, walking in to the kitchen. I'm thankful that he's one of the few guys who actually wear shirts to bed when he comes in to my view, t-shirt and long pajama pants on. I don't want to end up drooling over him.

"I will definitely be spending the night again. Since Max doesn't need to come to the hospital anymore, I'll have to come visit him." I tell Caden, offering him a sleepy smile.

"I'm hurt." he says, putting a hand over his heart dramatically. "I thought you would like to see me, too." he says, leaning back against the counter.