Saving Max

Chapter 16

"Do you have everything you need? Pajamas? Toothbrush? Brush?" I stand behind Max, looking through all of the items in his draw bag that's secured on his back frantically to make sure he doesn't leave anything behind.

Caden and I are about to drop him off at my parents house, and I'm becoming more and more nervous by the second. I'm stressing out for nothing, I know, but I just can't help it. I don't like the fact that Max won't be with us tonight. It's not that I don't trust my parents, I just can't help but think of everything that could go wrong. And in our circumstances, that's a lot of possibilities.

"Chill Bella, you've already looked through his bag five times." Caden mumbles, walking up from behind me, stalking straight out the door. I sigh, watching his retreating figure with a frown on my face.

We haven't talked about what went down last night, and it seems like with every second that passes the air between us becomes thinker and thinker. It's suffocating me slowly, and I'm not sure how much longer I have to breathe before it pulls me under.

I know it's my fault, Caden couldn't possibly know that what he said last night changed my mind, cleared it of all the fog. He's not a fucking mind reader. I feel bad, almost like I'm keeping a secret from him, which I guess I am, in a weird sort of way.

I'm going to fix it. I don't know when, but I am. Maybe tonight, if I can grow a pair and actually confront him about it. Every time I think about it I chicken out. I'm terrified that he'll be mad at me, and angry Caden scares the shit out of me. More than I'd ever care to admit.

"Okay." I whisper to myself, patting Max's shoulder a few times, leaving a guiding hand on his back as we walk out the car, following Caden's footsteps. He's already in the drivers seat, thumbs tapping along to some shady rap song that's blasting through the car's speakers.

He only listens to rap when he's mad. He always listens to either alternative or EDM. It's only when he's angry that it's turned to rap. When he's mad, Eminem is played so loud throughout the house that it practically shakes the furniture.

As I slide in to the passenger side, I can't help but rack my brain for why he's like this. What did I do now?

I don't bother changing the station, knowing we'll only get through about four songs until we reach my parents house. Besides, Max is used to it by now, so there's not really a point. And the loudness of it gives me an excuse not to talk, so right now, I'm all for it.

Soon, too soon, we arrive, Max jumping out of the car before it even shuts off, his cut up shirt flying in the wind as he races towards the front door. The sun's just beginning to set, fading away as it falls behind the land,  so we showed up at the perfect time, the incoming darkness perfect for trick or treating. The weather's nice too, for late October, so it should be a nice night to go out and get some candy.

My mom meets him before he gets to the door, stepping out on to the porch with a wide smile on her face. I smile back as she turns her attention to Max, Caden and I both shuffling over to them, a good distance kept between us the whole journey over.

"Are you ready to go get some candy?" I hear my mom ask, Max nodding his head excitedly as a reply as a couple other kids I recognize as our neighbors twins runs out of the house, trying to get Max to run along with them by pulling at his sleeve.  

To my surprise, he does, taking off in a fit of giggles as he chases one of the girls around the yard. The sight brings a smile on to my face, knowing how far he's come since I first met him almost four months ago. It seems like only yesterday I came in to the last room at the end of the hall, finding him sitting there on the edge of the bed covered in cuts and bruises.