How Did We Get Here?

Chapter 2: Maxwell

My door hinges still creak every time I open them. I noticed months ago and decided I would oil them eventually. Eventually never came around and we would be leaving this house tomorrow afternoon.  It was a little sad but also expected. Little Max never followed through with anything.  Every book on the shelf was dog-eared somewhere around the middle and never finished. My room was never thoroughly cleaned, a trash bag usually sat on the floor waiting to get thrown out. There was a cup half full of cold coffee left behind everywhere I went. Maybe I got that habit from my father. 

Dad always started things he couldn't finish, like a happy and adultery-free marriage with my mother. He ruined her. He ruined our whole family, not that we were ever the perfect nuclear family you see on Christmas cards but it was still nice to pretend. I can't remember a time when we were even all together on Christmas, not that it ever bothered me but I could always tell it upset Mom. Honestly, even though it sucked, I knew the move would be the best thing for her. She needed to get away from this shitty little town where everyone knew her name but not a thing about her. She only ever moved here for my dad, it was his hometown, but now she had no reason to stay. Not when her best friend was miles away.

I reached over and flicked on the light switch. All the light did was shine on the fact that my childhood bedroom was empty. The only thing left was probably a million cardboard boxes filled with the years of my belongings. I kicked a box out of my way as I walked toward my bed. I collapsed onto my unmade sheets with a deep sigh. I stared at the stippled ceiling and my mind involuntarily drifted towards Bella and her obnoxiously loud music pouring out of the bathroom. At least she wasn't singing. I scrubbed my hands over my face and glanced at the box that was now acting as my nightstand, containing all the things that would need to be packed last minute, like my headphones. I reached over and grabbed them before connecting them to my phone and picking a playlist. Anything to drown out the thoughts of her. I could not believe that we would be living in the same city and possibly being forced to eat dinners together whenever our mothers wanted. I could barely make it through seeing her once a year, I didn't know how I would survive seeing her constantly for at least the next year. 

I pushed her from my mind and pressed play on the music on my phone. All my friends were out tonight, I think they were seeing a movie together. I didn't get invited, it was like I had already moved. They would forget about me in no time and if they saw a picture of me their new friends would ask who I was. It wasn't like I was ever popular but in my small friend group we at least all knew each other. I noticed that our group chat had died recently, they probably made a new one without me. Maybe moving will be good for me, maybe I'll gain some real friends. Nathanial never had that problem, everyone loved him. I mean, of course, Nathanial was great but how different could we possibly be?

As the song ended I noticed that the shower had been turned off. The music had moved from the bathroom to the guest room next door to mine.  The song was barely audible but it sounded pretty okayish given that it was coming from Bella's phone. I slowly sat up in my bed and then stood to make my way to the bathroom. As I passed the guest room on my way to the bathroom I shouted, "Finally," to Bella. 

As I walked into the bathroom I was hit in the face with a wave of heat. This bathroom had gotten hot.  The mirrors had completely fogged over and I wondered to myself if she had left any hot water at all. I would save my shower for the morning. I walked over to the sink, turned the tap on and quickly washed my face and brushed my teeth. I left the bathroom quickly, starting to sweat from the heat. 

I walked down the hallway on my way to my room. I paused in front of Bella's room noticing the door was cracked open. I looked in to see Bella cleaning her glasses with a... sock? She was dancing slightly to the music playing on her phone. She looked so at peace...so I aggressively kicked her door open the rest of the way. She screamed fucking bloody murder, I swear to god I went deaf. 

"What the fuck, Max!" She grabbed her chest in panic. 

"Nice pyjamas. Where'd you get them? The men's section of Walmart?" I said as I leaned against the doorframe taking in her oversized graphic tee and baggy plaid pants. 

"Yes, actually. They are super comfortable dipshit." I rolled my eyes and strolled into the room. She tossed the sock at me that she had been using to clean her glasses. I dramatically collapsed onto her bed as if  I had been shot in the shoulder. I held up the sock and gave her a questioning look. 

"I forgot my glasses cleaner at home, okay? Got a problem with that?"

"Yeah, I do. Your misuse of that sock is completely offensive. Socks are used for the integrable purpose of keeping your feet warm and... you know." 

"You are disgusting!" She yelled. I snickered at her reaction, before getting comfortable in her bed. I always did enjoy getting a rise out of her. I looked around the room, picking up the mess she has already made. My eyes stopped on the nightstand to my left, more specifically the book sitting on it. A bookmark was sticking out around the halfway point, and on the cover was a shirtless man with an impressive six-pack. I reached over and picked it up, opening it to the bookmarked page.  I scanned the page picking out some...inappropriate words. 

"Damn, Bella. You're into some kinky shit." I watched her turn around and her face drop in terror. 

"OH MY GOD, MAX!" She rushed over to me and ripped the book out of my hands. I let out a brief laugh as Bella's face turned bright red in embarrassment. "GET OUT!" she screamed. 

"No, I don't think I will." I could practically see the anger emitting from her. She walked over to the opposite side of the bed I was on, sat down with her legs toward me, and kicked me in the side as hard as she could. Startled, I fall to the floor with a thud. 

"Oww," I said with a groan as I stood. I looked over at Bella, who had a triumphant look on her face. I looked over at her smirking. "Don't worry, Bells. I'll be out of your hair as soon as we get to BC. I'll stay away from you as much as possible," her face lit up slightly, "Unless, of course, your friends are hot."

Bella smiled for a second but it quickly transformed to a scowl. "Ugh, you are such a pig! Get out!" she said again, disgusted. I laughed as I walked toward the door. 

"Close the door and turn the light off, would you." She called on my way out. I flicked the light switch off, and grabbed the door handle, pulling it behind me as I left the room, but instead of closing it, I left it open. Just a smidge. 

"You are such an ass!" Bella yelled after me and I continued my way down the hallway. I heard her footsteps approach her door as she slammed it closed the rest of the way. I snicker to myself. 

I decided to grab a glass of water before finally going to bed. I went down the steps to find my way to the kitchen. I grabbed a glass from the cupboard and headed to the sink. I started to fill it up, only to hear steps behind me. 

"Why can't you leave that poor girl alone?" I glanced over my shoulder to see my mom standing at the entrance to the kitchen. I shut the tap off, turned around, and leaned my back against the sink. 

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, I think everyone on the block heard Bella yelling at you." She replied with a smile, letting me know she isn't mad. 

"I don't know," I said, "It's funny to get her mad." My mom just shook her head and smiled. 

"Sure, honey." She turned around. I could hear her walk up the stairs and a few moments later, her bedroom door closing. I didn't have the energy to decode that whole conversation. I put my glass into the sink and headed up to my room. I turned my light off and close my door behind me. After nearly tripping over every box in my room I laid down on my bed. Tomorrow is going to be a shitshow, I can feel it...