The Halfway Group (book 1)

Chapter 16: Max's Movie Marathon

Jimmy's POV:

I woke up and dashed to my bathroom.  I haven't been this hungover in months.  This is horrible.  I lurch out of my bathroom and into the kitchen to make a Hangover cure and Max is already up.  "Morning Max, sleep okay?" 

"Yeah Jimmy, what about- oh you don't look so good."  She says looking concerned. 

"Yeah, I feel like I got smacked by a ton of bricks but that's a Hangover for ya."  I say as I grab the eggs and hotsauce. 

"So um you guys asked me to write down the movies I haven't seen from Disney and Pixar and I did."  That sorta cured my hangover. 

"Max, how big is this list."  I say mixing the eggs and hotsauce.  She hands me the list.

"Oh god Max, oh god.  Hercules?!?! Come on Max that's the first one!  Little Mermaid, Big Hero 6, Toy Story?!?! Chloe is gonna have a coronary. Cars eh, I don't own it. My god Max, I'm gonna have to wake Haley from the dead and Chloe too.  We need to get started on this."  I say, I shoot Haley a text as her door opens and chloe walks out.  Max is red as a beet as I grab chloe and pull her into the living room.  "Chloe, read this list. It's from young Max." 

Chloe skims it as she stops at Toy Story.  "Max, we are best friends.  How did I not know this. Metal head, we have to have a marathon now.  We have nothing planned and it's early enough. Max, you get sleeping Beauty up in there and Jimmy and I shall go fetch us breakfast."

"What's Jimmy gonna do?"  I say as Chloe gets her shoes on and drags me out the door.  "Chloe I forgot my keys,"

"Well go get them. Let's hurry I can't believe she hasn't seen Toy story." 

I open the door again as I grab my keys and head back out.  Max is already trying to wake Haley up. 'Good luck Max'  is what I whisper as I close the door.  "So, where we heading for Breakfast?" 

"This badass Doughnut shop down the highway, it's not too far, and then we need to go to the store, I have an idea we could make.  I need to practice for work and who better to teach me than the rocking chef, Jimmy Carswell."  She punches my arm and smiles. 

"Okay, so doughnuts and then store.  I need to stock back up on tobacco too. So that needs to be done as well." 

As I drive she goes through my CD's and pulls one out I didn't recognize.  "Green Day? Who's Green Day?"  I stop the car and look at her.  "Chloe Elizabeth Price, how have you not heard of Green Day?"  She glares at me and punches my shoulder hard and smirks "of course I've heard of Green Day, and Jimmy, call me by my full name again, and you die,  right up here! Take a right and it's literally there." She runs in as I shout get me some cream filled ones.  And she runs back out with 2 boxes.  "Fuck yes dude, doughnuts are life. To the store now good sir."  Chloe eats a doughnut as I brake check and she chokes on it.  I'm losing it as she slowly ever so slowly turns her head to me and I swear I can see fire and brimstone in her eyes.  "Drive."  I do as commanded and head to the store.  We run in and see Daniel and Trevor skating outside.  "Hey Daniel, you still not wiping out are you?" Chloe says. 

"Hey Price! No, I'm better now.  You should come chill and skate sometime."  Daniel says, as Chloe laughs.

"Would if I could dude, but I got a girlfriend and now a job.  But maybe sometime!"  Chloe drags me in the store as Daniel and I fist bump.  "Later dude!" He shouts as Chloe drags me further into the store. 

"So what do we need?"  I ask as Chloe pulls out a list she made.  "I need all of this." She hands it to me.  "Well, I have half of this at home so we just need the sour cream, olive oil, ground sausage, and cheese."  We grab the ingredients and head out, I head to thr nearest tobacco store and buy chloe a pack of cigarettes and myself a roll of chew. 
"That stuff is so gross. But I don't get to talk." She lights her cigarette and rolls my window down as we head straight home.  I grab the groceries as we head inside.  Haley, Max and Rachel are playing Mario Kart when we get back, "I go out for 10 minutes and you guys get into my game cabinet."  I laugh as Rachel and Max point to Haley.  "Haley, I don't care, I got 10 bucks on Max."  Max blushes and starts kicking ass. "Chloe, get in the kitchen and start cooking I'll be there in a minute."  Haley sticks her tongue out at me as Max finishes and I slide her 10 bucks.  Rachel gets up and hugs me and kisses me and punches me for not waking her up.  "So what movie we starting with, I say Hercules." Rachel agrees and Max nods but  Chloe says toy story.  So i put Hercules in while I'm helping Chloe make food.  "Okay, so we need to brown the meat and then add the onions and taco seasoning."  As I'm walking her through the steps I catch a glimpse of the TV, and see Hercules starting.  Chloe finishes the meat and I start the other stuff I put the cream cheese in the crock pot and mix the meat in.  "Chloe, you did amazing."  We fist bump then she hugs me.  And tells me thanks for the coaching. 

Rachel bounces into the kitchen and lays her head on my shoulder watching me mix everything together and smiling.  I can feel her smiling she kisses my cheek and then Shadow starts pawing my leg.  Chloe picks him up and comments on how fat he is but cuddles him regardless. "He thinks he never gets fed but don't let him lie to you, he gets fed and plenty of love."  He's purring as Chloe plays with his rolls. She carries him into the living room and sits next to Haley who cuddles him too.  "My cat gets more attention than I do, I'm just as fat and adorable."
"But you are mine. And mine alone." She grabs my throat and kisses me hard.  "I missed you...." She squeezes harder and bites my lip."

"Rachel, let's do this in the other room."  She grabs my hand and lead a me to the bedroom.  And closes the door.

"Max, what do you think so far?"  Haley asks as Shadow has migrated to Max.  She's the only one who hasn't pet him, and he plans to change that.  He rubs on her legs and paws at her arm. He then hops on her lap and starts rolling around. Finally she pets him and he starts purring louder than ever. He's such an attention whore.

"I'm loving it so far.  We need to see more!!"  As the movies almost over, Rachel and I come back out of the room as Chloe and Max and Haley are eating.  I have a big red mark on my neck that they all see and Haley gags, and chloe and Max whistle. 

"Shut up. You two."  I say as I get my food.  As Rachel and I eat we start watching Toy Story as Haley pulls me aside and tells me that dad called her last night.  My mood goes from happy to rage in a matter of seconds.  I grab shadow and walk to my room and slam my door.  Haley walks up to it and knocks but I don't answer.

"Jimmy, please open up.  We want to have a fun time.  We need you for that."  She pleads.  She walks away and Chloe walks up to the door.  "Come on man, come out and chill I have some weed if you wanna smoke."  That doesn't get me talking Max and Rachel come next and Max asks for me to let her in, I open the door and Rachel holds the door open for herself as Max walks in.

"Jimmy, talk to us.  You are the reason we are all hanging out like this, what's wrong. Then Rachel sees my arm and immediately cries.  That's when I talk. I don't want her to cry.  "Rachel I don't like my dad, and Haley told me what he said last night and I just lost it." She hugs me and Max joins that hug.  "Jimmy you can always talk to me.  I mean I'm your fucking girlfriend.  You need to talk to me about this stuff." 

"You can call me or text me anytime Jimmy, you are one of my friends now.  I'll always be there for you.  I really appreciate you inviting me over to hangout and stuff."  I smile as she says that, it's always nice to have new friends. 
"Please don't tell Haley, she's gonna kill me....." 

"Jimmy we have to, it may be the only way to stop you from doing it more." 

"Haley!! Get in here." I hear her run down the hall as I hang my head Rachel lifts my sleeve up to reveal the dripping blood.  "Chloe, get in here, you two get out for a minute. Rachel if your boyfriend screams don't run in here, he's just being murdered."  Rachel and Max leave as Haley locks the door and glares at me.  "James. Craig. CARSWELL WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING WE ARE.IN THE OTHER ROOM AND YOU DO THIS? I COULD STRANGLE YOU RIGHT NOW."  Chloe just stands there sort of ignoring us as Shadow runs to her because of Haley yelling.  "I FUCKING LOVE YOU JIMMY, YOU ARE MY ONLY BROTHER. Please... just please talk to us..."  She embraces me in the tightest hug yet.  And cries into my shoulder,

Goddammit why do I make everyone cry.  I look at my arm and see the blood.dripping still onto my shirt. 

"Hale, I'm sorry I'm so very sorry."  I hug her tight while she's hugging me,  Chloe just joins in the hug to be difficult and to break the tension which is what we both need. 

"Price, you ruin the moment." 

"That's what I'm good at, Chloe Price, moment ruiner."  Me and Haley laugh as we head out into the living room, Max and Rachel had already started Toy Story, so we got comfortable I sat on thr couch snd Rachel laid her head in my lap, as Chloe and Haley got on the other couch and cuddled.  Max cuddled with Shadow.  This was the perfect day off of school I could ask for.