Saving Max

Chapter 48

My thoughts are foggy and disheveled as I wake, my eyes slowly peeking open to the sun's blinding rays streaming onto my face. I let out a sleepy groan at the sight, flopping onto my stomach to shield myself from the brightness. I feel like I only got a mere few hours of sleep in the night, nowhere near enough for me to function successfully and make it through the day. I couldn't seem to fall asleep after seeing Caden, my mind refusing to shut off its stream of thoughts concerning the less than ideal incident until about two o'clock in the morning. Even now, starting a new day, I don't think I'll be able to concentrate on anything that doesn't have to do with the encounter that lasted all of three seconds.

We locked eyes when I pulled my car around his, our gazes meeting in a single moment of surprise before both of us were forced to go our separate ways down the road. There were other cars out, after all. The middle of the busiest street in town is no place for a reunion, especially one of our sorts.

To be quite honest, I don't even know why this is effecting me as much as it is. It was bound to happen eventually, right? I should have even expected it, seeing as it was his house I was visiting in the first place. The probability of not running in to him there was slim anyways, so why am I freaking out about something as small as meeting his eyes from across a street?

 Maybe it's because as much as I wanted to believe I was ready to face him again, in my heart I knew I was dreading the day that it was bound to happen. Thinking about meeting Caden again and actually doing it are two completely different tasks, neither of which I think I'm ready for quite yet after what happened last night. I can still love Caden and want to support him, thought, even if I'm not ready to face him in person quite yet.

I still have a little ways to go before I can do that and be sure that I'm strong enough to stand on my own. I relied on the love and support that Caden and Max provided me with for too long, and I don't want to fall back into the same dependent nature that I acquired during my time with them. When I see Caden next I don't want to need him for anything, but instead be able to provide everything I need for myself. If my life ever does reconnect with Caden's in the future I want us to build each other up, not tear each other down so much that we have to lean on each other for everything that we do.

I hear my door creak open and turn my head to the side, curious to see the source of the noise in this early hour of the morning. My mom's small head pops through the doorway, a bright smile lighting her face as she enters further upon seeing my open eyes. "Good morning, Bella. I made pancakes!" She says happily. Making her over to my side she takes a seat on the edge of my bed, smoothing her hands down over her jean-clad knees.

"Yum." I comment, ever so slowly pushing myself into a sitting position to face her. "That sounds great."

My mom nods her head, patting my shoulder a couple of times before pushing herself back to her feet almost as soon as she sits. "They're ready in the kitchen, honey. Come out when you're ready, okay? I have to talk to you about something."

I furrow my eyebrows as I watch her leave, flopping myself back down against my bed tiredly. What could possibly be wrong now?

Knowing that I won't get any answers by laying in bed all day (even though the option does sound tempting), I push my heavy body out of bed, carrying my sleep deprived self out into the kitchen to face both my parents sitting patiently at the table. A steaming pile of pancakes is placed before them as promised, and I waste no time grabbing a plate and helping myself, momentarily avoiding the stern stares being cast against the top of my head.

"Can we talk, Bella?" My dad sounds uncharacteristically serious, the sound making a lump form in the back of my throat. I cough to try and clear my lungs, doing so to no avail.