Odd Living

Twentythree

I wake up to the sound of Ian sniffling.

"What happened Ian? Are you okay?" I ask groggily.

"She just read the poem in front of the class. I lose it every time." He wipes his eyes wth his sleeve.

"Poor boy." I lifted my head off of Max's shoulder causing Max to stir. I placed my head on Ian's shoulder and wrapped my arms around him. "Did everyone else fall asleep?" I ask.

"I think so. I love this movie that's why I stayed up." He whispers.

"I didn't think such a tough boy would cry over such a silly movie."

Ian shrugs his shoulder and wipes his eyes again. "It sends a powerful message."

I chuckle. I've never seen Ian cry over anything before, let alone a love movie based off of Taming of the Shrew by Shakespeare. He is too cute.

"Don't you start work in two days?" Shit. I totally forgot.

"Fuck. I guess I do. What are you going to do without me?"

"Sit in your room waiting for you to get home." Ian says in a louder voice.

"Can you shut the fuck up Ian. I'm trying to sleep." Max yells.

"Then maybe you should go into your room and sleep in your bed." Ian says poking Max's side.

Max sat up with a tired face but his expression changes as soon as he saw my head on Ian's shoulder. "Wait..?" He looks so confused right now. "I thought that... what the... Mack get away from him." Rage filled his eyes.

"Max, I need to tell you something." I try to tell him.

"No, Mack. Get off of Ian. NOW!" He rips me off the couch waking everyone up. "Ian, you cunt." He swings a fist at Ian's face. Ian gets hit right in the jaw, falling to the floor.

"Max! Knock it off!" I try getting Max to calm down.

"Max, dude. What's your problem?" Chad asks stepping in front of Max.

"Get out of my way, faggot. I mean business. Ian isn't going to live to see the morning." Max shoves Chad out of the way.

I stand up and go over to Ian to check to see if he is okay. George and Mikaela are sitting by Ian as well. Chris and Chad try to calm Max down. Nothing is working.

"Stand up, retard, and fight me like a man." Max yells.

"Max, seriously. Stop it. How much did you have to drink?" I ask over his yelling.

"I'm perfectly fine Mack. Just let me kill this baby."

At this point I've had enough. This is going downhill. I stand up and get in front of Max. I push him to the ground.

"Listen, Max. Whether you like it or not, Ian and I have been dating for a while. Why does this bother you all of the fucking sudden? I like him, you don't have to, I DO. So leave him the fuck alone. If you have a problem with Ian, you go through me because I don't want to see anyone else get hurt, understand?" I yell directly at Max.

Everyone else in the room looks like they just pissed themselves. I couldn't care less honestly. Ian got hurt and I lost it.

I redirect my attention to Ian while Max sits there like a lost dog.

"Ian, could you wake up? Ian, please" I pat Ian's chest.

"Mack, I'm sorry. I didn't..." he started.

"Max, get the fuck away from me. I can't even look at you right now." I yelled back at him, cutting him off.

George stood up and walked Max out of the room. I hear them arguing about something. Ian is my top priority at the moment.

"Mikaela, could you go get some water?" I ask.

"Certainly. All we have is tap water though." She says.

"That's fine. Any water will do. Chad, a pillow please?" Chad tosses me a pillow. I put it under Ian's head.

Mikaela hands me the glass of water. I dip my fingers in and flick the water at Ian's face. Seeing his eyes flutter makes me breathe again.

"Oh thank god!" I say to myself. I kiss him on his lips.

"What happened?" Ian questions as he rubs his jaw.

"Max lost his mind and hit you because we were cuddling on the couch. Something stupid really." I whisper not wanting to hurt his head.

"That's pretty dumb. Am I okay?"

"You're fine. Max just needs to cool off. He had quite a bit to drink tonight. Are you able to stand up?"

"Mackenzie, I'll be fine. Just help me up." 

Chris and I get Ian up and to his bed. I tuck Ian in after giving him some pain medicine and another kiss. His jaw is going to be bruised for a while.

"Goodnight Ian. I'll see you in the morning." I close his door and Mikaela is standing outside.

"Is Ian going to be okay?" She asks.

"He just needs some rest and an ice pack. He is a big boy."

We walk back out to the lounge room where Chad is somehow asleep already. I don't know how he does it. I sit down where I was siting before all that happened. I pull the blanket up and watch Mikaela go into George's room. I close my eyes and drift off to sleep hoping to dream about something pleasant.