Savior [Completed]

Savior: [Seven]

Seven: Max

Bad Max. Stop thinking like that.

I couldn’t help it though. It’s not that I didn’t feel guilty about having caused a break-up, that too one for my best friend, and although I’d already told him to fix it, on a deeper level it felt nice to think that I’d have Nick around more.

It was ridiculous.

I already knew they’d get back together – I wasn’t going to be a pain anymore – but I suppose that on the selfish level that everyone has but never openly admits to having, I knew that their breakup was because Nick had felt guilty, and that henceforth he’d be careful not to completely ignore me. That thought was just…nice – I wouldn’t have to keep feeling like I was competing with Lani for him and…and man, I’m such a jerk, aren’t I? What sort of person was I, taking a little solace in the fact that Nick had a bit of a guilt complex going on?

It had been written clearly all over his face…but that’s not the point.

At least I do feel bad about messing things up for him a little? That makes me a semi-decent human, right?

“Max?”

“Oh. Hi, Mum. What’s up?”

She shook her head like she always did when I talked like that, then came and sat beside me on the sofa. After my trip to Nick’s I’d gone straight home and after finding nothing else to better occupy myself with, I’d turned on the news, but I had no idea what was being said.

“Nothing much,” she frowned, “but something’s up with you, isn’t it?” The question in my mind must have been apparent, because after a second she added on, “You’re making faces at the TV. You’re thinking about something.”

I nodded.

She waited.

She knew that I’d tell her eventually, that I just needed a few seconds to compose my thoughts. Since that day, when everything had come out in the open, I mean, we’d had many ‘talks’ and not surprisingly, one about me telling them about whatever it was had come up.

*

“So…” I’d been timid when we’d gotten home after dropping Nick off at school. Having him around had helped make me feel just a little bit more at ease, but now, I was alone, and I really didn’t want to face Mum and Dad.

“What is it, Max?” Dad had been about to step out of the car when I’d spoken, and immediately he’d sat back down and turned to me.

The speed at which he’d shifted his focus onto me struck me hard.

They’re so worried about me…God, I’m so sorry.

“I mean, now what?”

Dad looked a little confused. “Well, we’re going to report this tomorrow, and-”

“No, I know that,” I interrupted quickly, “but, um, what happens now?”

The creases on his forehead made it clear that he still didn’t know what I meant.

Man up, Max, and stop being so ambiguous. The worst is over. My voice trembled nonetheless. “I mean, now what happens at home? About me? And you?”

I’d hardly been any clearer, but whatever little clarity my questions had brought seemed enough and understanding clicked. He smiled at me reassuringly. “Now, we’re all going to have hot dinner and go to sleep, and we’ll talk about it again tomorrow. And maybe for a few more months after this, but, Max, don’t worry, alright? Your mother and I, we’re definitely upset about what’s been going on, but…there’s nothing to worry about anymore, okay?”