With Love And War- Book Five In The United Series

Chapter Twenty Four

Calypso's POV:

"Leo, when he crashed on my island, the first person I heard about from him was you. He'd always talk about you- about how amazing and how loyal and kind you are. I was pretty jealous because I loved him, and I started doing things with him, like working with him on my island. I made sure he got attached to me, that he fell in love with me. And when I met you, I was stunned at how well he described you, and even though we were dating, I was still jealous. So I kept it going. I kept trying to get him to love me even more and I could't stop. I felt really bad, especially after I saw how heartbroken you were, and I still feel really bad now. I'm sorry," I explain to Max, who looks shocked at my words. I can't blame her. If she told me she'd known about a deep love for a guy I had and went for him anyways I'd be pretty surprised, too.

And angry. I'd feel much more than anger if I found out that Max went for a guy she knew I loved. Max, though, stays surprisingly calm.

"It's fine, Calypso," Max replies after a few moments of silence. I'm shocked at her reaction. She's just going to forgive me? Just like that? This girl is way too forgiving, it is not healthy.

"But, you can't just forgive me! What I did was horrible and-" I start but she cuts me off.

"Calypso, that past, it's over now," Max tells me. I'm about to protest until I realize that she's right. "What you do doesn't shape who you are. It's what you do to fix it that matters," Max informs me and I feel so much respect for her. I feel like I should be the one going through all of these horrible things, not Max, and I also feel like I should protect her. I guess she just has that affect on people. Max suddenly laughs softly and I look at her with a raised eyebrow.

"What's so funny?" I ask her, cracking a smile at her contagious laugh.

"Nothing, I'm just a lot cheesier than I remember," Max replies. I laugh, knowing that Max isn't usually cheesy.

"So, are we good?" I ask Max hesitantly. She smiles and nods her head.

"Yeah, we're good," Max replies, which is relieving.

"And in that case, I need to tell you that Leo isn't the only one who has eyes for you," Max informs me.

"Really? Who is it?" I ask her excitedly.

"John," she answers after a moment's hesitation.

"John? You mean that cute blond who brought me here? Your ex-boyfriend?" I ask Max.

"Yeah, that's him. You think he's cute?" Max asks me, smirking and raising an eyebrow at me, and I blush furiously.

"Shut up," I laugh, playfully shoving her shoulder. She laughs and smiles at me again.

"He does actually like you. And if you like him, too, maybe that'll expand into more," Max tells me. I nod my head, thinking this over. Do I like John? I mean, before him and Max started dating, I kind of had eyes for him, but that changed over time. Is it possible that I still like him?

"You can take the truth serum. I'll ask you if you like John and if you say yes and it hurts, then you don't. If you don't feel anything, though, then you like him," Max suggests. I think this through but I'm wary of Max asking me questions while I'm under a truth serum. What if she asks if I still love Leo the way John did to her?

That's the point- Max knows how it feels to be asked those questions, she wouldn't do it to someone else. So I nod my head in agreement.

"Okay, I'll go ask Sandor if I can have a serum. I'll be right back," Max promises me then walks out the door looking slightly happy. I think if we put the whole 'Leo and John' thing behind us, Max and I can be amazing friends. Best friends, even.

Max comes back a few minutes later with a syringe full of a light blue liquid in her hands. I breathe heavily and stand up, deciding to fully trust Max. I can tell that she's a trustworthy person.

Max approaches me and I tilt my head to the side to expose my neck. Max softly plunges the shot into me. When she's done, she removes the shot and I feel kind of drained out and tired. Max softly pushes me to the bed, looking at me with a kind expression.

"Okay, Calypso. Do you like John?" Max asks me, looking hopeful. If I say yes and it hurts, I don't like him. If I don't feel anything, then I do like him.

"Yes," I answer simply.

Nothing comes. No pain, no burns. I do like John. Oh my gods. I like Max's ex-boyfriend and she likes mine, holy schist.

"Is it okay if I ask you a few more questions?" Max asks me sweetly. I nod my head, hoping she doesn't ask me anything about Leo.

"Do you...love John?" Max asks me hesitantly. I'm not embarrassed like she was to be asked this. Well, I'm not embarrassed because there aren't tons of people listening to my every word. If she did ask me that in front of everyone, I probably would've punched her.

"I...will once we get to really know each other," I reply and once again, I feel nothing. Max brightens at my stillness.

"Two more questions. Are you still mad at me and, can we be friends?" Max questions and I feel like giving her a big hug right now.

"I'm not mad at you anymore, and I would love to be your friend, Max," I answer honestly and feel nothing at all. Max sighs in relief then pulls out another shot, this time with a white liquid. I tilt my head again and she gives me another shot on the same place as last time. She takes the shot away when she's finished and I don't feel tired or drained anymore. That must drain the truth serum.

"Well, you should go tell John how you feel," Max tells me.

"I should?" I ask her, fiddling with the hem of my white t-shirt. Max nods her head, smiling warmly at me.

"Okay, I'll do it. Thanks, Max," I thank then hug her. She's surprised at first but quickly hugs me back. I don't feel any anger or jealousy now. All I feel is happiness and trust.

"Good luck, Calypso." Max calls to me as I walk out of the room in search for John, hopefully to find what I'm looking for.

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