My Roommate Max... A Max Schneider Fan Fiction

Chapter Twenty-Two: Plans

~ you're older, you're lonely... You'd walk home and you'd follow me ~

Chapter Twenty-Two: Plans

I felt Max's body rumble as he spoke, but he wasn't speaking to me. I could tell it was late, my mind begging me to go back to sleep.

"I couldn't sleep; I wanted to make sure she was alright," I heard Dustin's voice. Max's body shook with a half laugh, his fingers still pulling through my hair.

"Yeah," he said. "I know the feeling," he told my brother. He was laying on his back, my body curled close to his with my head on his chest. I could hear his heart beating under my ear, his breathing steady as his chest rose and fell. I drew warmth from him, his soft scent lingering in the air around us. Even only half awake, my body knew it was safe where it was.

"Did she fall asleep relatively quickly?" my brother asked, his voice concerned. I felt Max nod in response, his hand coming to rest on my back.

"As soon as I laid down with her she was out," he told Dustin. "She didn't say anything about what happened; she didn't want to talk about it. So I didn't push the subject."

There was a short silence, Max's fingers rubbing circles in my back as he waited for Dustin to speak. My brother sighed, and I could tell he was running a hand through his hair, like he often did when he was concerned or worried.

"Blakely and mom don't have a very good relationship," Dustin vaguely elaborated. "Never have. And it just got worse when everything went down. They had it out pretty often before she left. But they both wake up the next morning and act like it never happened."

"I'm not sure that's exactly healthy," Max commented. He kissed the top of my head, holding me closer.

"Its not," Dustin agreed. "But that's just the way they work. Just go with it for now."

I felt Max nod again, his breathing still even beneath me. "I will," he said. "I don't want to do anything to upset her."

My body slowly began to give into the tired feeling, and I was asleep again before I could hear either of them say anything else.

* * * * *

"I wish you'd go back to sleep," I told him, grabbing his arm as he moved to leave my room. Max looked back at me and smiled, his face obviously tired.

"I'm fine, beautiful," he lied. I frowned at him, tugging on his arm. He walked back to where I sat on the bed, standing in front of me. He took my hand, holding it to his chest. I looked up at him, concerned. It was the next morning, something like eight o'clock. I don't think he'd slept much at all the night before, worried over me. I felt bad, looking into his tired brown eyes.

"Go back to sleep, please," I asked. He sighed, sitting down beside me and resting his head on my shoulder. He laced our fingers together, squeezing my hand gently.

"Alright," he said quietly. I smiled triumphantly, kissing his cheek. He gave a sleepy chuckle, releasing me. I scooted to the front of the bed, crossing my legs and setting a pillow in my lap. He laid his head on the pillow, getting comfortable in my lap. He sprawled out on the bed, his eyes slipping closed. I leaned against my headboard, rubbing his back.

"Is it gonna bother you if I sleep like this?" he asked tiredly. I smiled softly, even though he couldn't see it.

"No, baby," I assured him. "Besides, I've done it enough to you."

He slowly smiled, kissing my hand that laid by his face. He yawned, settling again before sleepily saying "I love you."

"Love you too," I told him, even though by then I knew he was asleep. I reached for my phone, unlocking it and plugging in my headphones. I pushed my earbuds into my ear, cranking my music and reading on my phone.