Collision Course

Chapter 7: Freaky Friday

A/N: Near the end of the chapter it begins talking about scenes from a movie. You'll know when the scene is being described but the conversations are in italics. Earlier in the chapter Max is speaking with her conscience. Don't confuse the conscience part with the movie scene.

It's been three days since Wes and I went to his cousin's birthday party. I wasn't exactly in my right mind when I left the bowling alley. Everything that I'd been blocking out came back like a gust of cool wind in the streets of Chicago. It caused me to shiver and want to hide in a hole like mammals during winter. I hated that feeling.

When Wes and I left, there weren't many words exchanged. Normally you don't really talk on bikes anyways but this time it was pin-dropping quiet, minus the engine noises. I wasn't sure if Wes heard what Nana said and he didn't want to press me, or if he just wanted a quiet ride. Frankly, I was fine either way.

In the first few minutes that we were on the bike I made a decision. I have known Wes for two days now. To me, that isn't really enough time to introduce him to my hectic life. I'd rather get to know him and learn to trust him than just throwing out my life like its no big deal. So, instead of having him drop me off at my house, I had him drop me off at a nearby cafe. My excuse was that I was meeting my mom and then she would drive me home.

Wes, who was completely oblivious to my behavior-I should be an actor-agreed and dropped me off at the cafe. He gave me a friendly good-bye and then was gone.

I stood in front of the cafe for a minute, waiting to make sure his bike was completely out of view, before I turned down the road away from the shop. It took me a good 25 minutes to make it to my house and by then I was almost completely numb: external and internally.

The house was empty when I got home; silent as a mute. I stood in the threshold for 10 minutes before I finally snapped.

I screamed and shouted with tears streaming down my face as I kicked anything stable mercilessly. By the time I was done my knuckled were bruised and my feet were sore. Tears stains were evident down my face. I went to bed without dinner that night.

It's currently Friday, three days since my outburst. My skin was much better and my muscles stopped being sore yesterday. Let's just say it wasn't the easiest playing sports in gym.

I managed to pull it off saying that I accidentally caught my hand in the car door. Pretty believable story if you ask me. Luckily, everyone else thought so too. As of now, nobody has a clue. Someone I once knew always said I'd be a good actor.

Yeah, someone you once knew. Not anymore.

Can you not? I'm really not looking for another repeat of Tuesday.

You do realize that we are the same person, right? My words are your thoughts too.

Why must you remind me?

Maybe because I'm right.

We're right.

Yeah, yeah.

You know Jimmeny Cricket was Pinochio's conscience and they aren't they same person.

Yeah but... he... God we're right.

Exactly.