Can't We Just Start Over?

Part 1

(Max)

I laid on my bed listening to music. Other than me there were only a few students at Blackwell. It was just after Christmas, I stayed here to spend time with Chloe. It was worth it. I sat up on the edge of the bed and looked out the window. It was cold, there was a small amount of snow and ice. Just looking at it made me want a mug of the hot chocolate Joyce used to make Chloe and me. It was dark out, I could barely see outside because of the reflection of my fairy lights in the glass. My old little analog camera sat on my desk, I smirked. "Well hello my friend, how would you like to go outside?" I said while standing up. "Oh man, I'm so glad no one was around to hear that." I quickly put on my coat, pants and boots. I looked in the mirror, I look like an inflatable santa that people put on their lawns. I laughed to myself and grabbed my earbuds and camera.

The hall was dark, and quiet, my music was no longer muffled and blasting. It was peaceful. I look at all of the slates as I pass. They all said the same generic crap, but then again so did mine. I continued down the hall and went out to the lawn. The air was cold and felt sharp in my lungs. "FUCK" I screech as I slip on the ice filled grass. By the sound of the fall, you would probably be able to hear it from Chloe's house. I started to take pictures of the ice crystal covered forest and tobanga.

(Nathan)

I had to get away from that family. Every time I see them its the same shit. It was late, I would have stayed at my families house tonight but I couldn't take it anymore, so I took my camera phone and jacket and left. Maybe I could get high or drunk or something and watch a movie. I sighed in relief. Maybe I could have a decent rest of the week. As I walk I see a flash. I stop, seeing a figure in the distance. "Whothefuck.." I mumble. I walk slowly. A familiar sound of a photo being taken and instantly printed. Theres one person I know uses that camera. Max. We haven't gotten along since she started school here. Whether its her being nosey and trying to pry into my life, or that blue haired chick. Another flash goes off making her look like a silhouette in the dark. I'm closer to her now, I kneel down with my camera out and snap a picture of the frail figure. "Max?" I mumble. Nothing. I take another step and grab her shoulder, as carefully as possible.

(Max)

"What the fuck?" I yell as I jump. "Nathan? What the fuck are you doing, why did you sneak up like that?" He looks at me and then at the trees.

"You know Caulfield, you're not the only one who takes pictures at night, and I didn't sneak up, you were not paying attention." He laughs. I've never seen him smile like that, it looked gentle. Wait what am I thinking? He's an asshole. I glare at him not saying a word. "Jesus Caulfield, if you keep making that face it'll stick." I shrug his hand off of my shoulder not breaking eye contact. "I'm sorry." He says. Nathan has never apologized before, well at least not to me. His eyes shut tightly for a moment. "I'm going to go, I hope you get some good photos." He turns and walks to the dorms. What the fuck just happened? That wasn't like Nathan. I look down at my bag, filled with photos already. After Nathan is gone I head back to my room.

(Nathan)

I finally got into my room, I shut the door and slide my back down it. I hug my knees to my chest and gasp for a breath. My room was dark, the only light came from the projector that hung over my bed. The smell of vodka and cigarettes lingered in the air, it was calming for me. I would usually drink alone, the vortex club always has alcohol but theirs tastes like ass. I lift my head from my hands and make my way to my bed. I always have a bottle or two of liquor behind the wooden frame. "Thank fucking God." I mumble. I flip on the projector and put a movie on. I didn't even pay attention to it. I plop onto the soft black blankets that wrap over my bed. "Bottoms up," I say, taking a swig of the vodka. It burns but it makes me feel alive. Thats the thing about pain, we all have a way of coping with it, and most times its masking your pain, with pain. I continue to take swigs from the bottle. I've spent so many nights drinking I don't need a chaser just to get drunk. My cell buzzes as the tiny screen lights up.

Victoria-10:51PM) Nate are you okay? Your mom called me saying that you left. WTF is going on???

Nathan-10:53PM) I'm OK.

Victoria-10:53PM) Where are you???

Nathan-10:54PM) I'm at my dorm.

I shut off my phone and take another swig of the bitter drink.

(Max)

After putting my new photos up on my wall I go to put on a movie. There's nothing to watch. I look around and see a note sitting on my desk. 'heres my key, you know I have good movie booty. -Warren.' I smirk and grab the key and make my way to his room. It was dark and quiet. Peaceful. I see Warrens room finally, only because of the shitty things other boys put on his whiteboard. Things written on there range from 'GAYRAM' and drawings of him with weirdly shaped penis'. I roll my eyes and wipe them off with my sleeve. I draw a peace sign in their place. I enter my friends empty room. It was hella cold. hella? did I just think that? Chloe is a good influence on me. I chuckle. Let there be light. I flip on the lamp. Warren's room was clean but the bookshelves and walls were not. He had hundreds of comic books. His walls were covered in posters. I look to the shelf with movies, human centipede, wall-e, and a collection of doctor who. Quite a range. I grab Wall-e, its not my favorite but I'm not really in a Texas chainsaw massacre mood. I shut off the light and leave the dorm. Across the hall I hear something, it was muffled but still loud. It came from Nathan's room. I put my ear against his door. I could here a disney movie playing. "What the fuck?"

(Nathan)

I threw my t-shirt to the ground while i continued to hug the vodka bottle. I had a decent amount already. Something pulls me out of my daze, a knock on my door. "The fuck?" I blurt out while putting down the bottle. I move to the door and open it, uncovering the once hidden person. "Max?" I mumble. She looked fragile, her hair framed her face. She looked cute. What?

"Hey Nathan-"

"What do you want?" I retort, clearly she's being a nosy bitch.

"I just wanted to see if you were okay" She sounded sincere

"Why wouldn't I be?" I don't know why I automatically snap back at her, maybe I'm a little buzzed.

"Y-you looked upset earlier."

"Maybe I was, whatthefuck do you care?" I sigh heavily

She looked at me with her periwinkle eyes.

(Max)

His eyes were glossed over and he smelled of alcohol.

"I do care. I'm sorry Nathan, for everything." I look at his glossy blue eyes. His usually angry looking features were softer than normal. His hair was messy.

"What?" he answers

"I'm sorry Nathan. Please."

"Me too," He looked sincere "I'm sorry, I don't want to hurt anyone."

"Can we start over?" I ask, he nods while pulling me into his room. He moved to his bed to sit, I notice he's not wearing a shirt. I stand in my place, staring at his naked torso. He's thin, but not too thin. His hip bones were noticeable and the bottom set of ribs were too.

"Are you just going to stare?" He grins as I blush. I nod and move to the black leather couch across from his bed while he throws on a shirt. He looked calm, kind. "So, what do we do?" He asks.

"Tell me about you."

"Nosey."

"How about I tell you about me, I don't mean to be nosey I'm sorry." He shrugs, grabbing a bottle from his bedside table. The boy takes a gulp and offers me some. I shake my head.

"Damn Caulfield, turning down a drink? Makes sense though, it looks like you've never had cough syrup." He chuckles at me. We begin to talk about anything and everything.