Saving Max

Chapter 10

"C'mon don't say goodnight, with the stars in the sky! Let's wait till tomorrow paints the sun across the night! I see love in your eyes, and if you see it in mine, let's wait till tomorrow. Don't say good, say good, please don't say goodnight."

Caden and I dance around the kitchen, both of us trying to make dinner for Max who is currently doing his homework in his room, his door slammed closed because we were 'making too much noise', in his opinion.

I take out the potatoes that we bought last night, and right as I turn around Caden's hand is in mine, twirling me around. I throw the potatoes on to the table as a laugh bubbles up my throat and I place my free hand on his chest, both of us now starting to fox trot.

"Where did you learn to dance?" I question, a huge smile plastered on my face as the song blares in my ears.

He leans closer, his lips brushing my ear as he speaks. "My mom. When I was really little, she would dance with me around the living room before my dad got home from work. I was only five, but I've kept those memories all these years, and so I haven't forgotten how to dance."

I lean my head up to look in to his sparkling eyes for a moment, standing on my tip toes to kiss his cheek.

I don't know why I did it exactly, but I don't regret it. Not even for a second.

As I slowly take my hands back, stealing them from his grip, I continue making dinner. He takes a minute to finally come back up next to me, pulling the potato peeler out of the top drawer.

Tonight is the night of the party. I'm going to show up a little late because I want to say goodnight to Max before I leave. I asked Caden to come with me, but he quickly declined saying he didn't need any reason to get drunk again and mess everything up.

I think he's really trying to change. The thought brings an ear-to-ear grin to my face.

"Oh, I love this song!" I cheer happily after a while of comfortable silence, both of us focused on cooking the food in front of us.

"Yeah?" Caden lightly asks, moving over to the radio and turning it up. "I didn't really peg you as being an EDM girl."

"I wasn't. Well, not until recently." I explain, placing all of the now cut up potatoes in to a pot of water that's beginning to boil on the stove. "This was actually one of the songs that got me in to EDM music."

He nods, listening to the lyrics along with me, stepping back over so that he's leaning on the edge of the table right beside me.

I don't need a second chance, oh I need a friend

Someone who's going to stand by me right there 'till the end

If you want the best of my heart you just got to see the good in me

'Cause I could be the rain in your desert sky

I could be the fire in your darkest night

I could be your curse or your angle, it's all in how you love me

I could be your sun when it's cold outside

I could be your rock when there's nowhere to hide

I could be your curse or your angle, it's all in how you love me

It's how you love me.

"I like it." Caden declares in a whisper, his hand intertwining with mine on the table in the space between us.

I smile over at him, leaning my head on to his shoulder. He mumbles something about wanting to dance again, so I immediately find myself on my feet being twirled around the small room. As we laugh and dance I begin to wonder if this is the only move he can do; twirl me around.