Tucked Away...

Part 3

"Max wait, I didn't mean it like that."

Max looked angry now.

"Oh yeah, then what did you mean huh? Because I know you aren't thinking of moving, neither of you make enough money for that. So what did you mean?"

"Well I uh- um..."

"That's exactly what I thought, I'm to much to handle, to much of a hassle, I'm just your problem."

"Max that's not true, I care about you."

"Apparently not enough to fucking take care if me! I thought I could trust you, I thought I could actually be safe here, I thought you cared."

"Look, I do care, but we both have to face it, me and Gwen-"

"Gwen and I."

Max interrupted, annoyed.

"Gwen and I just aren't fit to raise a kid."

"Well you could at least try! You took care of like ten or more of us all summer but suddenly it's to hard?"

"Max, I hit you! And it's not the first time I've hit a kid, which I think says a lot about how I am not fit to raise a kid, especially one with trauma like you."

"You wouldn't know anything about trauma David! You don't know the hell I go through every day! You don't know how it feels to finally feel safe, and then be cast aside!"

"Actually Max, I do."

Max stared at him.

"What do you mean?"

"I know how it feels to be constantly scared of someone you once trusted. I know how it feels to be abandoned."

"David..."

"When I was about your age, on father's day, my dad told my he was going out to get milk, I waited for him to get back, I wanted to give him my father's day gift so badly, but he never came back. I still have the gift I was going to give him too, it was just a shitty  neckless that said 'coolest dad'. I guess I was wrong."

David pulled an old, worn out neckless from around his neck, and showed it to Max. The letters on the cheap plastic beads were faded and worn.

"David, I had no idea..."

"I know that's the point. Heh, I bet you didn't even know I was married once."

"What happened?"

"Well, I trusted her to quickly, I was so eager for someone to finally care about me, that everything went to fast. We got married before I could see who she truly was, turns out I was just an outlet for her anger. I would've still been married to her if it weren't for Gwen here. She urged me to get a divorce and eventually I did."

Max looked at them with sad eyes. David looked like he needed a hug, and Max knew how that felt, so very quickly he hugged him, like, lighting speed, then pulled away and curled up, hugging his knees.

"None of that changes the fact that you wanna get rid of me."

"Do you really wanna stay here Max?"

"Yes."

"Alright then, I guess we'll try."

"How about you start by getting me some new fucking clothes, I've been waiting for 3 damn days now."

Gwen looked at him.

"I only offered to buy you clothes yesterday."

"Well I've been wearing these ones since I  got here."

"Fair point."

"Great point."

Max corrected her. Gwen grabbed the keys, eager to get away from this mess. Max followed her, David stayed behind, like last time. Hopefully this time they'd actually make it to Walmart or Target, or whatever shitty store they could afford. Max got in the car and waited as Gwen fumbled with the keys, then started the car. After about fifteen minutes of driving, they arrived at Target. Slightly less shitty than Walmart. Max got out and started walking with Gwen to the entrance. Gwen took his hand as they crossed the street, Max wanted to object, but for some odd reason he enjoyed it, his own mother hadn't done that since he was five. After they got across the street, Max didn't lat go of her hand. Gwen walked him over to the boys section, and let him pick out clothes, which were pretty bland, just some plain shirts and black jeans. Then they headed over to the shoes, where Max found some red Converse that he liked.

"Max, I can't help but notice you don't have any sweaters or jackets."

"The I have now works fine."

"Don't you want a new one?"

"No."

"Why not? You've been wearing that one for as long as I can remember."

"Yeah, and I'd like to keep it that way. This sweater isn't even mine."

"What do you mean?"

"It's my brothers."

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