Saving Max

Chapter 40

"Please, can you run all this by me one more time?" I ask pleadingly, my eyes running across the room in search of someone who is willing to answer. Out of all six of us, I seem to be the only one that's completely unaware of what's supposed to be happening. Even Max seems to be in less of a frenzy than me.

Everyone had already come up with a plan before I entered the conversation about two hours ago, leaving me more than a little out of the loop. It's a little unfair, too, that Max and I weren't here for the initial formation of the plan, seeing as we're the ones who are going to be carrying it out in a weeks time. If they would have waited for me to come home and let me have a say in creating the plan, then maybe I wouldn't feel so helpless right now.

"It's not that hard, Bella." Caden sighs at me patronizingly, resting his forehead in the cup of his palms from his seat on the couch. He looks fed up and tired, like he's drained from simply explaining things to me a few time over. I find it quite stupid, if I'm being honest, seeing as Max's safety is in danger if this plan doesn't go right. If I'm not completely sure of what's going on and what I'm supposed to do when the time comes, Max might end up back with David. I didn't think it would be so much of a burden to Caden to keep that from happening, but I guess I was wrong. I don't really know what's going through his head, anyways. He doesn't really seem too keen on talking to me about things like that anymore.

"We're going to have some police officers stationed in a few different spots around the park, making sure that at least one of them will have you and Max in your sights at all times. Caden is going to call David Friday night, telling him that you two are done trying to hide Max from him and are ready to give up, and that you'll be there to hand him over. We're sure that this'll make him show." Derek explains, focusing his attention on me from where he's standing, right next to the arm of the couch. He's next to Caden, who still isn't looking at me, but instead is studying the creases in his joggers. "You'll have a wire on you, so the police can hear everything David is saying, and you're going to, essentially, piss him off. David is the most likely to admit to everything when he's angry, which is when we've figured out he's the most vulnerable. Gear the conversation towards his abuse, or the night he attacked you, and get him to confess to either. If he's charged with assault, he'll be put away for a long time. Long enough for Caden to become his legal guardian, for sure."

I nod my head, running a hand through my hair stressfully. This seems to signal the end of the conversation, no one in the room knowing what else to say. I'm not sure anything else needs to be anymore, though. All we can do now if hope for the best.

 I let my eyes fall down to where Max is resting next to me, his head lolling to the side as he snores peacefully against my side. I stare for a minute or so, the whole room silent, watching the both of us with an intense curiosity. I bet they're wondering what's running through my head now that everything is finally coming to an end.

I'm sure that they'd be surprised to find out I'm wondering the exact same thing. Right now, staring down at the boy that's become my whole world for the past five-almost six-months, I can't seem to piece together my thoughts. They're a mix of love and fear and adoration, but that's all I can make of them; they're just a jumbled mess of feelings that all seem to little to describe what I feel for Max. He makes me so happy, every second of every day, that I feel like I could burst. I have never, not once, questioned his love for me; not even on his worst, most terrible days. He was a ray of sunshine in the darkness that surrounded him, and I got to see him brighten his own way into a better life with Caden and I.

To say I'm proud of him would be the understatement of the century.

He's such special boy, and I'm so happy that I've been a part of his life, even if only for a little while. No matter where my life leads me in the years to come, I will never forget Max, or the impact he's had on my life.