Saving Max

Chapter 41

Caden and I don't talk for a whole week after our fight. The morning afterwards I woke up on my bedroom floor, tear stained cheeks and red puffy eyes greeting me first when I enter the bathroom. I cried a little more after that, my hands holding tight to the edge of the cool white sink. My mom rushed into he crammed room a short time later, holding me close in her fragile arms to try and make it better. I'm not sure how long it took me to stop crying that morning, but after it did finally come to an end, so did my sadness.

Well, at least on the outside. On the inside though, I was slowly, painfully falling apart. I wasn't sure of very much in those few moments after my eye dried up, but I was sure of this: I needed to pull myself together. There were things that needed to be done, and me wallowing in a river of my own tears was not going to get that accomplished.   

And besides, I still needed to take care of Max, no matter what happened between Caden and I. Staying strong for Max was my first and most important priority, and that's exactly what I planned on doing.

I pulled away from my mom then, sniffling away all of my tears and lifting my head up high. I squared my shoulders back, smiling as strong as I could to her as I marched out of the room, lightly dusting my hands on my old, dirty jeans. I was determined to look motivated when I walked out into the kitchen, despite my beaten down appearance. I looked prepared for what the day had to offer, ready to leave yesterday's disasters behind and focus on what was in store for the future.

That morning was the last time I cried over Caden,too. I thought about him more than I'd care to admit, but never cried. I wasn't going to be that girl, no matter how much wanted to be sometimes. Caden was a big part of my life, but he was not my entire world. I still had my friends and work, and even school to focus on. I wasn't completely lost without him, not knowing what to do with myself now that he wasn't around. I threw myself into my job (which is something I was very pleased to do after my 'accident,' seeing as Kelsey didn't want me around until I was fully recovered. I worked from he time school let out until the moon was high in the sky, only a few cars littering the street at the quiet time of night. I would do my limited homework on my break, all of my classes assigning only light work preparing for the start of winter break. The dance tonight is meant to mark the beginning of our vacation, giving us the chance to leave this year behind with a bang before we start up again in January.

Katie convinced me to tag along with her and Adam, something which still makes me a little uncomfortable. I don't want to impose on their night and their plans, even with the insistence that I'm not a burden to them. They told me that friends should stick together, and while that's true, I also don't want to be third wheel the whole night. I'd much rather just go alone.

It's only morning now, so I have time to break it to the couple that I won't be meeting up with them, but I still have to figure out how I'm going to do. I don't want to hurt their feelings, but I also don't want them to think that I don't want to be near them and their cute couplie habits. I mean, it's true, but they don't need to know that.

"Bella..." I hear the voice close to my ear, soft and calming right beside me. I turn my head to see my mom, her hair bundled on the top of her head in a messy bun, a spatula clutched loosely in one of her hands.

"Hm?" I hum, my fingers aimlessly picking at the cloth spread over the kitchen table.

She laughs, shaking her head as she makes her way back over to the stove. "I asked if you wanted me to make you some eggs."

"Yes, please." I tell her, letting out a long sigh, pushing myself to my feet. "What is everyone doing today?" I ask, leaning myself against the counter next to her.

"The guys are going down to the police station again to see if they can finally get someone to listen to them. Derek tells me that it's proving to be even harder than they thought. Says that they can't even get anyone to believe them even with Max there.