Bark Or Bite

Chapter 18

Maximus is silent on the way to Ian's house.

"Maximus talk to me." His eyes stay focused on the road, his jaw clenches, and his grip stays tight on the steering wheel.

"Maximus." I speak again in a more forced tone. If he wants to be upset, he can talk about it. The silent treatment is childish.

"What?" His tone is calmer than mine.

"Talk to me about it."

"What do you want me to say?" He keeps his attention on the road ahead of us.

"I want you to say what's on your mind."

"What's on my mind? Okay. I don't want you seeing that guy. I don't want to hear his name. I don't want him near you. I don't want to have to deal with knowing you're in his house. I don't want his scent on you. And most importantly, I don't want to give him the opportunity to hurt you." Maximus finally glances towards me and shows me the pain in his eyes. He jaw unclenches a little, showing me that his emotions are stirred more from doubt and fear than anger.

"Maximus, he won't hurt me. I promise. I know it's different now, but Ian is still the same guy he was three years ago." I put my hand on top of his.

"Trust me, Maximus."

"I trust you."

Maximus and I are two blocks away from Ian's house.

"I can walk from here." I unlock the door.

"What? No. You're not going alone." Maximus shakes his head.

"Maximus if you get any closer he'll smell you and know something's up. Just stop the car."

Maximus sighs, but stops the car. I jump out before he has the chance to change his mind. I walk the short two blocks to the beautiful home I use to spend so much time in. It holds so many memories, good and bad.

I walk up the long pathway and the three steps leading to the heavy wooden door. I knock three times and hesitate, then knocked four times. It was our secret knock in the eighth grade. The door opens slowly and the first thing I see is Ian's crystal blue eyes. His face instantly tuga at my heart, just not like it use to. His eyes widen.

"Hey, Ian." I put my thumbs in my pockets and let my hands hang at my side. When he doesn't respond, I spoke again.

"Can I come in?" Ian hesitates. He doesn't speak, he just opens the door a little wider.

I walk into the familiar home, but notice different scents. Everything is different now. The house is different without the spark in his eye or the smile he wore whenever I was around. I don't miss Ian, but I do miss him being happy.

"How've you been?" I try starting a conversation.

"Why are you here?" He asks flatly.

"I needed to make sure you were okay." I knew he would ask that question, but I never came up with the right answer.

"Oh, I'm doing fine. After you broke my heart, which I understood, then you decided to come back and reverse my entire healing process, and now that I'm progressing you decide to show up again and shatter my heart once more. But don't worry about me, I'm doing fine." Hatred, betrayal, and despair flash through Ian's eyes as he sends me a deathly sarcastic smile. It's almost enough to prick tears in the back of my eyes.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I did that to you. It seems like I've been saying that a lot lately." I hang my head, and feel incredibly ashamed of my past actions. All I do is hurt people. Maximus, Cameron, Max, Ian. I don't deserve any of their friendships.