Mirror Mirror

Chapter 11

Riley was still outside the hall when everyone started pouring out. Sat on the ground, she was trying to make herself as small as possible. However she could easily tell that most people's attention was still aimed at her. Whispers of disbelief as people lowered their eyes on her. Most people were calling her sad or extra, however none of it really affected her. At this point she felt so numb with anger that not even a few smiles could lift her mood. However when she felt two people sit next to her, she found the energy to look up. Ethan.

"Thank you." he said

"For embarrassing myself?" Riley hadn't intended to be funny, yet she found Ethan giggling next to her.

"No" he continued "for standing up for us"

"Us?"

"Me, you, Harvey, Dylan, anyone who was actually in that assembly because of something more than common courtesy. For all the people who shared a moment with him, for all the people who cared for Max. We needed to hear that. Thank you." it sounded like he was on the verge of tears again

Riley smiled "You really miss him don't you?" this made Ethan chuckle again

"Oh yes. Now that I think of it, you and Max would've been very good friends. Always putting other people first, caring for them, yet bold and funny at the same time." Silence lingered in the air for a minute. "It's a shame, but we have to think of the good times, right?" at that Ethan got up and left.

Riley only remembered there was someone else next to her when they spoke.

"How no one found out sooner I have no idea." Riley turned, it was Emily.

"Find out what?" She asked, cocking her head to the side

"Abut them" Emily waved dismissively in the direction Ethan left, and chuckled "nothing actually happened, or at least that we know of. I think they were both a little scared. With being an internet sensation and all that. They couldn't risk anything happen between them, but the feelings were there."

"Of themselves, scared of themselves." Riley added "Did anything become different between either of them lately." she thought she might've found the reason behind the suicide.

"I don't think so." maybe not. "Anyway, I need to go now, it was nice speaking to you." Emily smiled, and left, leaving Riley alone again. At this point the corridor was almost empty, so she got up and decided that was enough for one day. She headed to library to clear her head.

She opened the door and was surprised to see Brigitte sitting in the far corner, reading a book. Riley sat down next to her, and without lifting her head Brigitte spoke "I thought you might come here."

"How do you stay so casual after all of this has happened." Riley was in awe of her best friend. How she had seen almost everything Riley had, yet she could sit there, hair in flawless curls and pretty lip gloss. Riley hadn't even brushed her hair that morning, it wasn't the most important thing, so why should she bother?

"I concentrate on any good things that happen, or anything that can take my mind off the situation." she said, still not lifting her head from the book. "Like listening to a new song, which was good."

"But what if you can't find anything good?"

"Still a pessimist, eh?" Brigitte giggled, why was everyone giggling today? "Like I said, anything that drags your attention away from the bad. Like I think of you and Harvey, and I think of how you haven't made a move, which surprises me."

Riley rolled her eyes "But that can't make you happy."

"You don't get it, do you? The goal is to not be sad. Even before all this happened I was never happy all the time, so why should I aim for that now?"

"So concentrate on the little things?"

"The little things" Brigitte suddenly got up "Sorry, I need to go, good luck."

"What?" but when Harvey sat down next to her, she understood. Riley looked back to Brigitte and her friend winked back.

"Hey" he said, looking down at the book Brigitte left behind "Gone girl?"

"It's Brigitte's." Riley was still determined to find out more about Max "Harvey? I'm sorry to ask you this, and you don't have to answer if you don't want, but tell me some stuff about Max, happy stuff, habits, memories, anything."

"Why?" he looked at her, confused.

"Erm" she hesitated "Brigitte told me that thinking of the little things can help with the whole situation."

Harvey was silent for a moment. "Max? Well he was pretty much himself on camera, sometimes serious, sometimes silly. But he did have a few habits, usually to do with routine."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he would always get home from school, take his shoes off before his coat, and exactly ten minutes after he would stop whatever he was doing and go mess with Tilly. Like taking her ponytail out, pick her up and flip her upside down and then continue with what he was doing."

"Awh, and how come ten minutes?"

"All about timing, he said. Wait long enough for her to think he had forgotten." He looked down to his twiddling thumbs "He would also finish his Weetabix fifteen minutes before leaving, and got up at exactly 4am each morning to drink water." Harvey stopped dead, like he had said to much.

"You ok?"

"Yeah, sorry" he quickly shacked his head and went back to normal "I just miss him."

They both fell silent, thinking of their own stuff. Riley was thinking of that horrid night, the one night Max hadn't got up at 4 to have a drink of water. The first break in the routine of the world, taking everyone else's down with it. Riley tried to recall the last night she actually fell asleep at a decent time, and didn't have a night filled with monsters and shadows. Was this going to be her life now? or could the little things change everything?