Records Later, Still Confined (Sequel to BTC)

Chapter 28 (Trigger Warning)

A/N: Trigger Warning: Mild mentions of abuse.

ALSO. The A/N at the end of this chapter is IMPORTANT! SO PLEASE READ IT.

A couple weeks later.

Chris' POV

Sabrina and I walk downstairs Saturday morning. Sabrina holds a sleeping Hayden in her arms and sits down on one of the couches. I glance out the window, then do a double-take.

"Uh oh."

"What?" Sabrina asks.

"Max's car is here."

"What? She hasn't come over in the middle of the night in over two weeks. I thought things got okay again after last time."

"Well, maybe it isn't as bad as we think it is. I know she's said she just sleeps better here sometimes. Maybe that's all it was."

"Yeah, maybe."

Riley then appears at the top of the stairs, "Hey, guys? Max is here."

"We know." Sabrina says.

"Of course you do. Well, uh, she's kinda having a rough morning so, you know...maybe just take it easy on her."

"Yeah, absolutely." I say.

"Okay, and, uh...Don't stare."

"What?"

"Just don't stare." Riley says.

Sabrina and I glance at each other, worriedly.

Max appears a the top of the stairs next to Riley, looking down; her hair was covering a good part of her face. At first, nothing appears to be wrong. However, as the girls walk down the stairs, I notice Max has a gnarly fresh scar above her left eyebrow that went all the way to her temple.

"Oh my God." I say, walking up to Max, "What happened?"

Max crosses her arms and sighs, "Nothing, Chris."

Max looks up at me through her eyelashes, looking like she could break down at any second.

"Come with me." I say.

I put a hand on Max's shoulder, but she shrugs it off.

"Don't touch me."

"Max..."

"I'm sorry, I just...don't wanna be touched right now."

I sigh, "Then just come with me. Please."

Max looks back down at the floor and nods, uncrossing her arms. I gesture for her to follow me and she does. We walk down the hall to the library. Her hand brushes against mine as we walk and my eyes widen.

"Jesus, you're cold as ice." I say.

"I just got here and there's a bit of a chill in the air."

"Have you been up all night?" I ask, opening the doors to the library.

Max steps in and gives me a deadpanned look, "Do I look like I've gotten an ounce of sleep in the last 72 hours? I mean, look at you. You of all people should know what sleep deprivation looks like."

I raise an eyebrow at her.

Max sighs, "I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I'm not in the best mood."

"Ohhh, I've noticed." I say.

I walk over to the fireplace. I turn the knob and the fire lights itself ablaze.

"Come sit and get warm." I say.

Max sits down on the floor in front of the fireplace and I sit next to her.