Come a Little Closer ((Completed))

Chapter 16

What if Max is telling the truth? What if he wasn't ignoring me to hurt me? But that doesn't make sense. Why would he ignore me to help himself?

These questions have been flowing in and out of my mind all week. Max went back to ignoring me right after he left my room on Monday. It's Friday now and he doesn't so much as look in my direction. He even got me to work with Kennedy for the event. I am now helping pick out the layout for the community invites and printing them out. Max is working on my original assignment with Haily.

It's been an off week, but tonight is Sam's party and I plan on going.

After the last bell of the day rang I gathered my stuff and tried my best to leave the room before Sam could start talking my ear off with a pointless conversation.

"Rory!" Sam yelled. I thought about just walking and acting like I didn't hear her, but she grabbed my arm.

"Oh, hey." I said.

She smiled. ''I've been begging you all week to come tonight, so this will be my last attempt..but please--"

"Sam, I'm coming. I've had a weird week so I could use some fun.''

She frowned. ''Oh, yeah your Aunt Jenna was here about that house right?"

I nodded. ''She isn't anything to me. She used my family for our house knowing she would get it soon.''

She looped her arm around mine. ''So what even happened? Did she win?"

"Bill did his best to get her to stop, but she did win the house. It's going on the market soon.'' I said holding back tears. That house holds all my memories. The kitchen had mine and Layla's height written on the wall. Our hand prints on the front sidewalk. My whole childhood is there..and it feels awful. My dad was torn away from me, then Layla decided to be an awful sister and now my childhood home isn't mine anymore.

"I'm sorry.'' She said. ''I'll make sure to save you some hard whiskey." She smiled.

I almost gagged at the thought of that disgusting drink. Whiskey is one drink I don't think I'll ever be able to drink. "No, thanks.'' I said.

She shrugged. "See you tonight!" She said and ran off.

I shook my head and opened my locker tossing my books inside. For the first time in weeks I don't have homework. It felt good walking out of that building and into my own car knowing I'll have a stress free weekend.

--

I was the first one home, so I decided to clean up a little then take a shower. I was just in a towel when I heard a knock at the door. I scoffed and put a towel in my hair and slipped on my robe.

Once I got to the bottom steps I could see it was Blake and Max. I stopped dead in my tracks and looked down at my hardly there clothes, and could feel my cheeks warming up. Where are Max's keys?

"Rory!" Max yelled. I jumped back into reality and walked to the doors.

"What are you wearing?" He asked.

"Exactly what it looks like." I said pushing the door toward me so they could walk in. Tinsley came running in between them. She tossed her backpack off and flung onto the couch, crossing her arms and pouting her lips.

"Why don't you get some clothes on.'' Max said.

"Please don't.'' Blake said. ''I wouldn't mind if you took the whole thing off."

Max looked at him and shook his head. ''Aurora, go get changed.'' Max said still looking at Blake.

"Good idea.'' I said and walked back up to my bedroom.