Can You Teach Me What Love Is?

Chapter four:

Chapter four:

*Wendy

     “How did you get all these…” I trailed off later that night sitting beside my best friend, Max, who was quickly falling back to sleep while I rubbed and ran my fingers over his arm. “…These scars?” I asked and looked him in the eyes. He dropped his head and planted his hand on top mine as I went further up his arm. Max nodded something no and made a circle around his lips using his tongue.

     “I was a victim of abuse,” He admitted, embedding his fingertips into my hand.

     “That’s horrible,” I muttered focusing on all the pink scars wrapped around his arm.

     “It was the life I was given after…after we were separated,”  He explained after I locked our hands together. He smiled sweetly and my eyes began to roam him from the face down; he looked great for a guy who just attempted suicide.

     Not to mention handsome.

     Max had thought I changed since first grade, but if anyone grew up to be more beautiful, it was him. A full head of thick brown hair, a big glorious smile, luscious green eyes, and a bold chin; yes, he always had those features, but now, he grew into all that, it’s filled him out more and…he was quite handsome too. Though, one thing did make him stand out more different now than before; he had a scar right below his left eye in the shape of an X, it wasn’t very big, but it was noticeable.

     “What about this scar?” I asked laying my finger on it, stroking it to see how deep the gash was. “It looks like a lot has happened since first grade.”

     He chuckled a little and put his fingers on it too. “I was hit with a wooden bat,” He began, and then scratched his head. “And somehow it left a splinter, and when I removed it…well, you see. Yeah ya’know, coming to think of it, a lot has happened since first grade. Seeing you after so many years, I would have guessed you were a model, of course if I hadn’t woken up to you being a nurse.”

     “A model?” I laughed, taking it as nothing more than a ridiculous joke. “That’s crazy, Max, I’m no model!” I yelled, playfully shoving his shoulder.

     “Well then, you’re not seeing what I see,” He said at the same time raising his eyebrows.

     I didn’t see what he saw in me though, I was never what he called “beautiful” and still wasn’t to this day. What did he see? Laying my “thriving for perfection disorder” aside of course. Max was always humble at best, though; it was unlike him to reveal his thoughts on one’s looks, especially mine. Which, I realized that that was something you’d say to someone you haven’t seen in…probably close to two decades.

     “You know, Max, it’s a prayer answered that we meet again,” I told him when we were hugging again. The sad truth was, I never had another best friend after Max moved; and every day after that, I spent all my time praying that God somehow restore what we had, and the good Lord finally did. It was a great time to hug.

     “Still a good Christian girl I see,” He said as he picked me up and laid me in his lap.

     “I remember we used to do this all the time…you were always so much bigger than me, which was why I guess, I always fit in your lap,” I murmured while reflecting on the many things Max and I used to do together, and sadly those things were short in time; but now we could always have each other, and nothing could come between us.

     I lifted my head up from resting it on his shoulder to make eye contact. “Your bother told me you…you tried to commit suicide,” I mentioned, prying for an answer as to why he did such a ridiculous thing to himself.

     “Yeah…yeah that’s true, I’ll admit,” He replied.

     “Why? Why would you do such a thing to yourself?” I questioned upset with him. He grasped me tighter and beat his head against mine.

     “Life’s been rough, Wendy,” He admitted, locking his fingers together around me. “I’ve lost everything…but now I have you, a real friend. I don’t even consider my brother as a brother, barely a friend,” He continued causing my eyes to water with sympathy. “I don’t have anyone but you,” He tightened his gripe, barely giving me any space, but I was comfortable; like I said, he was always much bigger than me…

     “I’d say you could use some sleep,” I said once he released me. “You must be tired,” I added, and he stretched his arms high above his head as he yawned lazily from his mouth. “Hopefully, you can go home tomorrow.”

     “Actually, I’m living with Harry,” He mentioned as he massaged the back of his neck; and I was quite happy to know Max was living with Harry, it meant I had an excuse to see Max more often; maybe then Harry wouldn’t wine so much about us not spending time together, and I’d still get to see Max.

     “That’s wonderful!” I exclaimed. “Now we’ll get to see each other even more!”

     Max’s mood changed from then for some reason, he looked a bit confused as he asked, “How’s that?”

     “Harry and I are dating,” I answered, but it only worsened his confused expression more.

     “Oh…” He replied moments later with a rather long face.

     “Is something wrong?” I asked and became a little worried. Maybe he knew something I didn’t, hopefully it wasn’t bad. He scratched the top of his head and gazed around the room for a second in thought.

     “No, no it’s just…be careful, I don’t trust Harry very much when it comes to women. I don’t want him to hurt you.” I was speechless to have heard what his own brother had to say about him and trust. Was Max insinuating Harry was some kind of player? I knew Max wouldn’t lie, he’s always had my back, and Harry was, well, a bit un-careful about things; as in, he didn’t care to get deathly drunk, and I knew when he was drunk, he didn’t care what he did and who he did it with.

     I then told Max goodnight and drove my way home.