Changed Me ( Rewritten)

34

            Max slowly stands up. He begins to take a step back but stops when Max raises both his hands. " It's ok. It's just me " Max says gently as he slowly walks towards him. He watches Max closely. He doesn't even know why he's afraid of them coming near him. He knows that none of them would hurt him. " I-I'm afraid " he says quietly.

            " How about you come to me. I'll stay right here baby " Max says gently, standing a few feet away from him. " I-I know you guys won't hurt me. I-I don't know why I'm afraid " he says quietly. " You just went through a situation that reminded you of the mall. You were scared for me to come to you there. And that's because people hurt you. Your mind reacts by making you scared to be near people. Even those you trust " Poppy says to him gently.

            " I don't want to be afraid. I don't want to be here anymore. I Want to go back to when I was spending time with P'Max yesterday. I just. I just want to be ok " he says. " Yesterday and this morning, do you remember what you told me " Max asks him. He shakes his head no.

             " You said that you like when I hug you or hold you because you feel comfortable and safe. You said it's comforting. So much so that you were even starting to fall asleep yesterday when I held you " Max says gently. Hearing Max say that is the push he needs to walk forward.

            " I-It's safe and comforting " he says as he slowly makes his way to Max. When he's standing in front of him, he slowly wraps his arms around him and hugs him. Max slowly does the same. " You're safe. Everything's going to be ok now " Max whispers to him gently.

            " tighter " he whispers, wanting to feel more comfort. Max listens and immediately tightens his hold as he starts to gently play with his hair. " I'm going to expel them from school. They won't be students here anymore " the principal says. " Thank you " NuNew replies.

            " Where is he? Where is my son " he hears his mother shouting. He quickly looks towards the door, just in time to see his mother rush in. " He's afraid right now " Poppy says quickly. His mother immediately stops walking. " Nat " she says, looking over towards him concerned.

            He notices the female officer that's working on the case against Aek. He moves away from Max and slowly makes his way to his mother. Pulling her into a hug once he reaches her. " Oh my poor boy " she says. He can tell by the sound of her voice that she's been crying.

            " I don't want to explain again. I don't want to. Don't make me mom. Please " he begs her, knowing her and the officer are going to want to know what happened. " I can tell you and the officer ma'am. It's best if he doesn't do it again " Poppy says. " Please do. We can do it in private as well. So that he won't hear " his mother says.

            " I'll come with. There is something I want to talk with you and the officer about " the principal says. His mother nods before pulling away from the hug. " Stay here ok. We'll be back soon " his mother gently tells him. He nods his head before watching everyone leave the room.

            When it's just him, Max, NuNew and Zee left. He feels better. There's not so many people in here. " Nat " Zee gently says. So he slowly turns to look at him. " Is there anything we can do to help you feel better or more safe " Zee asks gently. He thinks for a while before coming up with what to say.

            " I want to leave and get distracted. I want everyone there with me. I-It's safer in numbers " he says quietly. " Ok, we can do that. Are you able to think of anywhere you might want to go. Or we can just head back to your house " Zee says. He has to think for an answer again.

            This time it takes longer for him to come up with something but eventually he does. " One time. W-When I was upset. P'Max took me to this old restaurant and there was a nice lady there. We could. We could go there and eat. Talk about things and laugh " he says quietly. " That lady is Poppy's grandma " Max says gently.

            " I-I promised her to come back. S-So let's go there. P'Poppy could also see his grandma " he says quietly. Zee nods his head. " Ok, once they get back we can tell them our plan " Zee tells him gently. He nods his head before turning to NuNew.

            " NuNew " he says quietly. " What do you need " NuNew ask. " Thank you. F-For stopping when I shook my head no. I know it was probably hard for you to do " he says. NuNew smiles at him and says " I can do it because it's what you needed ". He walks over to NuNew and hugs him.

             NuNew hugs him back. " No hug for me I guess " Zee says, lightening the mood. He smiles before turning to Zee and pulling him into a hug. " Thank you bodyguard " he says. " Bodyguard? How am I your bodyguard " Zee asks confused. " Every time I get hurt or scared by someone. I can tell how much you want to beat them up P'Zee " he says, pulling away from the hug.

            " If I'm your bodyguard then what is NuNew and Poppy. I don't need to know about Max, that one's obvious " Zee asks, helping him cheer up. " NuNew would be my brother. He's my twin. We do almost everything together " he says. " Which on is evil and which on is good " Zee says jokingly. " We're both the evil twin Hia " NuNew says.

            " P'Poppy, I think he would be my guide. He's always there to help me and even helps me understand my own emotions. Like he did when I said I was afraid. If that makes sense " he says. " It does " he hears Poppy say. So he turns to look at him, smiling. " You seem in a better mood. What happened " his mother gently asks him.

            " P'Zee helped lighten the mood. I hugged NuNew and he got jealous " he says quietly. Making the others laugh. " Well, I'm glad he was able to lighten the mood " his mother says, he nods his head. " You guys are all being signed out. So that you can be with NuNew the rest of today. I was at the police station when I got the phone call. So me and the officer need to head back and finish talking " she says.

            He hugs her and says goodbye before she leaves. Once she's gone, they tell Poppy the plan before leaving the school themselves.

                            WC: 1149