Bloody Nose {Max Mayfield x OC}

Stars

    I think I was happy at one point in my life. Of course I was very little-I'd started dragging my hammered mom off of the lawn at the ripe age of eight-so I don't remember it very well.

    I do remember staying at my great aunts house when I was probably six-going-on-seven. Her name was Tammy W. Shire, she'd always emphasized the middle initial since that was her writer's name.

    Aunt Tammy had almost entirely raven black hair except for a streak of white that framed the right side of her face. She had a tall boney figure with pale manicured hands. She always wore sleek long dresses, her favorite one being a plum color that contrasted nicely with her hair and skin. Tammy W. Shire was the epitome of elegance.

    One time, she'd brought out a collection of vintage stuffed animals for me to play with. Aunt Tammy watched as I lined up each stuffed animal and gave each one a name, the names ranging from Bob to Princess Sparkles.

    I don't remember where my mother was during my stuffed animal naming ceremony, but I don't remember caring where she was. I didn't have a pang of dread that she might come home blacked out or that I'd have to make dinner out of a moldy loaf of bread and a container of ketchup. I was just being a chubby playful kid.

    My mom and Tammy had a falling out some time later and I've never seen my aunt since.

    "Cookies are done!" Mrs. Wheeler's voice announced from the kitchen, making me jump slightly. Everyone quickly dashes up the basement stairs, the stairs creaking violently as the many pairs of footsteps march up them.

    Hands scramble towards the warm chocolate chip cookies arranged on the silver pans. Mike walks towards the group with a stack of cups and a gallon of milk. He pours the milk in a cup, and to my surprise, he hands it to me.

    "Thanks," I say, grabbing the cup and feeling how the pads of my fingers prickle under the cool sensation.

    "I'm sorry for how I treated you," Mike says after a moment, his hands shaking as he pours more cups of milk to hand out. "You helped El yesterday which means the world to me. I don't react well to change and it caught be off guard when you first came around ,"

    "I accept your apology," I think for a moment "So, are we friends now or did El make you apologize?"

     "Friends, I hope," He said with a slight chuckle. I give him a smile and grab another cup of milk  before joining Max at the table.

    I hand Max the extra cup of milk and she hands me her extra cookie. I look across the table and notice Lucas staring at me with an indiscernible expression. I can tell he's thinking very deeply. When he notices my gaze he quickly turns away. I notice Max roll her eyes, and I start to feel bad for Lucas.

    I take a bite out of the cookie, the sweet chocolate melting on my tongue with each bite. I wash it down with the milk, trying not to focus on the unnamed guilt I feel.

    Then it clicks. Max is cheating on Lucas with me. I feel my body tense up recounting the times in the past two hours that the redhead lashed out at him.

    "Hey, you okay?" Max asks, and I feel myself shrink under her beautiful gaze. Despite my guilt I still want to kiss her.

    "Yeah I'm fine. Actually I think we need to talk later," Her expression switches to dismay so I hastily add "Nothing serious," Though it is relatively serious.

    "Lucas, honey, what happened to your face," Mrs. Wheeler asks while eyeing the gash on his face. I watch her expression change as she surveys the series of bruises and cuts we all sport. "My! All of you are cut up. Please don't tell me you all got into a fight,"