Bloody Nose {Max Mayfield x OC}

Skateboarding

The humidity of the air chokes me as I huddle behind the bleachers. The click of the heavy doors being opened sounds and the fiery burn of fear escalates through my spine.

I wake up abruptly in a coughing fit. I clutch my sides gasping for air, tears streaming down my face.

After a couple fits of wheezing I finally collect myself. I sit up from the puddle of sweat to notice Meatball had gotten spooked and is standing at the far corner of the room with his tail puffed out.

I unravel the sweat-soaked blanket from my body and shakily stand up. My skin is sticky and my hair is practically drenched. I head for the door, feeling tired and dizzy.

I make my way down the hall to the empty space of the yellow-walled kitchen.

I reach for the sink and twist the cold knob three times, each time resulting in a squeak. It probably needs oil.

I cup my hands under the nice cool water and bring it up to my mouth. I guzzle it down, sending a wave of gratitude down my spine. I repeat this again except this time I splash the water on my face.

I slide onto the hard floor, my face still dripping wet. I lay there for a while, feeling slightly better. In our old apartment I used to lay on the kitchen floor whenever I had a nasty fever or something like that. I'm not exactly sure why it makes me feel better, it just does.

-

"Ellis..?" A voice rings out. I sleepily sit back up to see my mother standing at the edge of the hallway. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, everything is okay," Everything was in fact not okay. I can't sleep. I barely eat anymore. My mind just can't escape what happened. Everything is supposed to be good now that we're moving to some podunk town in the middle of nowhere. But that's not going to change anything.

"Why don't you grab a change of clothes from your backpack, it should still be in the car," my mother says awkwardly. She tries to be helpful and supportive, I'll give her that, but mom has never been the comforting type. It has always been the Get over it, you'll be fine mentality, but now that it's something that I can't just "get over" I think she doesn't know what to do.

I stand up without a word and walk out the door. The screen door slams behind me.

Once I reach the car and grab my bag, I can't but help stare at the house across the street. I'm not sure why but the redhead has still managed to linger in my mind after the small interaction we had.

I think she'd be cool to hang out with. The girl rides a skateboard and that's already badass.

I head back inside to my empty room. I peel off my soiled clothing and peer at the scar across my rib cage. I immediately avert my eyes and hit myself. I cannot afford to think about it right now.

It's slightly pass sunrise at this point. Sunlight angelically pools through my window and onto sun spots across my floor. I smile when I gaze at Meatball sitting like a bread loaf in one the larger sun spots.

I pull out a bra, underwear, blue jean shorts, and one of those large plain white t-shirts you can get in a pack of like five or six at the store.

Once I finish getting dressed, I take notice to the fact the t-shirt keeps sliding off my shoulder. I sigh in annoyance, that's going to bother me all day.

-

Mom had picked up subs for breakfast since we aren't even close to being fully moved in. After handing me my food she had quickly disappeared to go sort out a lot of the moving process and figure out her job's new location. Mom had particularly moved here because she was just able to transfer to the office here from her original work.

I take a few hefty bites of the sub before immediately becoming nauseous and losing my appetite. I can't keep food down very well anymore so I wrap the two thirds of sub I have left for later.

I shift my gaze to the neighborhood and decide it's a good time for a walk.

-

I had walked to the end of the neighborhood and was now making my way back to the house. The sun beats hot against my back, but there is a nice breeze today that cools me down every so often.

I hear a strange rustle from the clearing of woods to the left of me. I immediately turn towards the noise.

There is something so unsettling about it. Unnatural even, but I can't put my finger on why. My heartbeat quickens and my brain is loud. The static noise my brain has conjured echos around my very being. I become less and less aware of my surroundings.

Suddenly, a strong force hits my side. I am knocked off my feet on impact and the side of my face smacks the road, causing my stomach to lurch.

"Shit shit shit!" A frantic voice shouts. My brain finally silences, but my entire body is throbbing in pain. Hot blood pours down my face. "I am so fucking sorry!" The voice continues.

I look up to the girl with hair of flame. She's kneeling over me, gazing at me with piercing blue eyes.

"I-uh, it's okay," I say sitting up. I try to slightly smile but that just leads to the metallic taste of blood filling up my mouth.

"God I'm so stupid-you've literally been here for less than 24 hours," The girl says defeatedly. "I should probably help clean you up," The redhead says while gazing at my angry nose bleed which has now started leaking through my white t-shirt.

She lends me her hand, and I graciously take it.

My vision has almost sorted itself out and now I finally get to see her up close. Her skin is a rosy tan and she's wearing a striped t-shirt with frayed blue shorts. Her palms and knees are both bloodied.

"Are you okay?" I ask, slightly chuckling.

"Dude, I probably just gave you a concussion and you're asking if I'm okay!" The redhead states while also laughing. She's really pretty.

"I'm Ellis, in case you were wondering," I introduce myself, attempting to wipe some of the blood off my face. It was pointless, my nose it still rushing blood.

"Max, Max Mayfield," Max states with a smile. She grabs my arm and starts leading me to her house.

Despite almost killing me, I still think Max is really cool.