Shelter from the Storm

Chapter Ten

Faith

After that afternoon, I spent the whole time trying not to cry. Every time I thought about Max, my eyes got kind of wet. He didn't even help me to my room like he usually does. I hope he's not mad. I can feel my phone buzzing next to me signalling that I have gotten many texts. From Max. But I just can't take it right now. I need some time to myself. Think about things. I hope he's not mad. Why would he be mad if he was texting me so much? He feels bad, obviously. I can't ignore him for too long though, because I now live in his house.

I can't stay away from him forever. Why would I ever think I could stay away? Why can't I just be confident and go talk to him? Why can't I just walk up to him and say I was sorry. For making such a big deal. Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"It's unlocked." I say.

The door opens and a pair of dazzling green eyes meet mine. I shouldn't have doubted that he would come.

"Hello sunshine" he says. He walks over to my bed. "May I sit?"

I nod shyly. I move my legs to make room for him.

"You know-"

"I'm sorr-"

We stop and smile.

"You first." He says.

I take a deep breath.

"Well I just wanted to say I was sorry for making such a big deal out of this. You didn't know. I had no right to talk like that. Especially to you." I say.

He gives me the seriously? look.

"Faith. Don't be sorry. You have been through a crappy life. If anything, you have every right to talk that way." He puts his hand on top of mine. "I promise you. It's okay. Please don't be sorry, and please don't cry."

His hand on mine is comforting and sends a radiating warmth that spreads from my hand to the rest of my body.

"You're too nice to me Max Ryder." I tell him.

"No. I'm just giving a girl what she deserves." He takes my hand and presses it to his lips.

Is he trying to kill me? The blush on my face is probably tomato red so I take my free hand and try to hide my face. He looks up at me with a confused look.

"Why are you hiding that beautiful face of yours?"

This only makes me blush even more. I take the hand that he kissed and put that one over my face, too. I giggle.

"You know exactly why you weirdo." I reply.

He take both of my hands in his and takes them away from my face and smiles. Does he really find this attractive?

"You ARE blushing. That's adorable."

I guess so.

"I swear. One day, you'll kill me from all of this blushing,' I say, " You know that right?"

"Just doing my job." He says with a quirky grin on his face.

All of the sudden, I remember how much school I'm missing. Kaden is probably extremely worried about me. He's my best friend, and I haven't even contacted him.

"Are you okay?" Asks Max.

I didn't even notice. I was zoned out I guess looking at a wall with a worried expression. Max snaps me back into reality. I turn my head to where I am staring at Max. Straight into his dazzling green eyes.

"Kaden." I say, almost in a whisper.

Max has a questioning look on his face.

"Kaden," I say louder, "I have to call him! He's probably worried sick! I can't believe it. I'm such a bad friend. How could I go almost a month without talmmmmmmppphhhh. Mmmppphh! Mmmmpphhh!!"

My sentence is stopped when a hand goes over my mouth.

"Ssshhhhhhhhh..." He says.

I sit there with his hand over my mouth until he finally says something.

"Are you done now?" He asks.

I nod.

"If not I will have to resort to other means."
I nod. My eyes wide. He slowly takes his hand away.

"You are not a bad friend. You have just been through a lot. It's understandable that you could forget."

"Kaden doesn't even know what I've been through. I never told him. I always kept that part of my life a secret. Now that this happened, I can't really keep it a secret anymore."

"Faith? How long had he been abusing you?"

Tears threaten to spill. And eventually they do. The sobbing starts and I don't know where else to go but Max's arms. I launch myself at him and bury my head in his chest. He's startled, but wraps his arms around me.

"F-five y-years." I say as sobs interrupt me.

He rubs my back soothingly and kisses my head.

"You're safe now Faith. I'll always be here for you. No matter what."