Perfect with You

Chapter 42 - The Stars Then Lied

"So, Chloe. How are your parents doing?"

It was definitely not something she should consider.

"Good. I mean, my dad is. My mom has been working like a dog for the past week"

She has been told time and time again that she had made the right choice.

"Oh, is it because they're saving up for that trip to New Zealand?"

But there was no right choice.

"I figure, yeah. It's fine, though. I've been just hanging out with my dad in the evening"

She knew that changing her decision would also be the right choice. She even knew that Chloe's last word would be "thank you" if she were to...

"That sounds nice. And I must say, this chicken you and Max have cooked is deli-" Just as Ryan was about the finish his sentence and place the piece of meat on his fork into his mouth to underline his compliment, Max could hold herself back no longer.

"Do you think you could ever learn to live a good life without your parents?" But even though she knew well ahead that she was about to say it, her body still reacted with shock and a cold sweat rushed to her, smelling the shame, and her eyes looked so far off to the right and away from the stares that her question had brought her that they nearly disappeared behind her socket.

"That's not really an appropriate question, Max" Ryan spoke up with a held-back voice, but knew if it wasn't for Chloe's presence, it would have sounded a lot stricter.

Chloe, on the other hand, kept quiet, sending only a cursory glare at Max and then proceeded to look down at her lap for a few seconds, trying to ward off the silence that placed her, and them all, in the momentary prison with thorny bars.

Keep it together, Max. You're not here to justify sacrificing or not sacrificing Chloe. You're here to... yeah, what are you doing here actually?

"I'm sorry" Max shook her head, noticing how weird it seemed that she couldn't feel any bangs bumping against her forehead.
"We just read this article at school about the psychological damages of losing one's parents, so I figured I'd ask what you guys think it could do" The words came from some unknown place in her brain and it was a mixed feeling of confusion and proudness that permeated her when she realized how quick and convincing the lie she just came up with was.

"Oh, I see. Well, I still think it's a discussion for another time" Ryan stated a little more loosely as he finally placed the piece of chicken in his mouth and began chewing with a paternal expression.

"Right" She responded while looking over at Chloe who was now, fortunately, sending Max a light smile that could be construed as mildly coy by Max's addled mind. She just read into things that weren't there because of the future relationship they were to have. Hopefully.

"Speaking of school, how are your classes going? Still having problems with your teacher?" A low female voice suddenly spoke up in a pronounced attempt of pushing right through the unpleasantness Max had managed to create.

It was an instant stress relief to hear the voice of her mother that quite rarely came into the light. While Max never did believe the saying that opposites attract, there was definitely a clear distinction between her mother and father when it came to making their presence known. Her mother had always been the quiet type, the one always standing in the back watching who might as well could have been her father in the center of attention. An introvert meets extrovert sort of deal.
Max finally managed to look up with a scenic view, taking everything in at once. The wooden table they were sitting at that had been so heavy to carry around whenever they had to bring in the "fancier" table whenever it was their turn to host holidays. It was covered in simple black tablecloth, with a rather big brown spot on one of the edges that Max's mother was always careful to fold up so it wouldn't be noticed. Before answering her mother, however, Max decided to reach across her plate with the massacred chicken meat and the slyly nudged away vegetables on the edge of the plate to reach for the water in the transparent pitcher. When her mother eventually bowed her head down a little to catch Max's attention, she titled her head up and decided to answer.