My Best Friend, The Sex God

06

"Here," I said, holding out a glass of water. "Drink."

Nate grabs the glass from me and drinks it all in one go, as if it was a shot.

"Hey, take it easy," I told him. I sat beside him on the couch and let him breathe for a little bit and we were both just there, waiting in silence for this storm to be over.

"I broke up with Jenny," he finally said, looking up at me with the world's saddest eyes. They were filled with so much regret that it actually physically pained me to look at them. But I didn't break eye contact because I know that right now I'm look at the side of him he's been neglecting. The nerdy, innocent boy who swore never to disrespect a girl and be my best friend forever.

"Why, Nate?" I asked. I tried not to move or breathe so much. Every year, this happens. And each year it does, it's worse than the last. Frankly, I'm just scared to move. "I thought you really liked her."

"No." He closed his eyes. "I never did. I've been a really horrible person."

"I'm sure Jenny understands."

"No!" he yelled and I jumped a little. He noticed how loud he was and calmed himself down a bit. "No, Allison. I've been horrible to you. Sinfully horrible. You have no idea."

He's talking like his old self again. No more babe's or some other word he's picked up from his other friends. Nate really is a smart guy and I hate that he's downgraded himself so much to be where he's at now. For popularity's sake. "What did you do, Nate?"

"I'm so sorry, Allie." Nate started tearing up.

"What did you do?" I asked again.

"This month, it felt like a game," he said. He couldn't look at me. "I thought I was playing it well. Playing you. I don't... I don't want to hurt you. I'm just different. I can't be the same guy that I was before. I'm tired. I just want to leave all of this behind and..."

"You're not hurting me, Nate," I told him. "You could never hurt me."

"God, Max would be so disappointed in me."

"He's not...he won't," I said. "And he will never be." Suddenly, Nate pulled me closer and hugged me so tight that it was hard to breathe. But I didn't mind.

"No one could have seen it coming, Nate," I kept whispering. "No one."

Max was only five years old when it happened. Nate and I were seven and we had just arrived at our bus stop from school. There were crazy loud noises. Sirens, commotion and smoke. So much smoke.

There was a house fire. It was the house across from Nate's. It was horrible. We saw the whole house engulfed in flames. At first we were just scared and sad for the people who lived there. The Brightons. They were such a lovely couple. They lived there with their only child, who was six at the time.

Then, Nate and I looked at each other in horror. Max loved to play over at the Brightons. He wouldn't stop talking about building spaceships with Johnny. That day, October 12th, was a Tuesday.

"On Tuesday, Johnny and I are going to build a spaceship!" Max would say with so much excitement. 

Nate immediately ran towards the burning house and yelled Max's name over and over.

They saved everyone.

Everyone but Max.

Apparently, Max and Johnny were looking for parts they could use for the spaceship in their attic. Johnny went down to ask his dad for help to move the boxes, but then Mrs. Brighton screamed. They went to check on her and the kitchen had a small fire in the corner. Mr. Brighton ran to grab the fire extinguisher but the flame had quadrupled in size in such a small instant. They ran out of the kitchen and called the fire department. The flame spread like a virus. They ran out of the house. Johnny kept screaming and told them Max was still in the attic. Mr. Brighton tried to go back but the stairs were near the kitchen and it was already impassable. The fire department came. They heard Max screaming. And then they heard crying. The fire was out of control. The crying had stopped.

It was too late.

That day, October 12th... Nate lost his brother.

***

AUTHOR'S NOTE: 

I understand that this might not make any sense right now. It's still way early into the story and I realized how much drama I had played into this. But soon, everything will make sense and come together. Claire, Jenny, and the whole Max thing, they're all related somehow. Trust me, it'll be clear soon enough.

Anyway, here's the update after the super long wait. (Again, I'm sorry.)

Love you all! Thanks for the consistent support even though I don't consistently update. There's so much left to discover in this story so, please, I hope you don't give up on me.

Pretty puh-leaaaseee

- <3 brit