If heart ache was a physical pain, I could face it.

Part Five

Jess’ POV

“Max?” I ask as I hear someone walking down the stairs.

“Party’s over.” He says walking into the living room in tears.

“Mate what’s happened?” Jay asks. And that’s when I notice the blood on Max’s hand. What has happened? I wonder as I begin to panic. 

“Max you’re bleeding.” I say and I hear a few gasps.

“It’s not mine.” That’s when I remember Anne screaming at him to leave Tom alone.

“What you’ve done to Tom? He’s your best mate for god’s sake!” I shout getting even more worried now.

“Tom’s fine, happy in fact now that I’m out of the picture.”

“Mate you’re not making any sense.” Nathan says.

“I’ll spell it out for you all then. I just caught my so called best mate in bed with my ex fiancée, but let’s all worry about Tom because of a bit of blood.” The room goes silent. None of us knowing what to say. I mean what can you say? Anne meant everything to him, actually she clearly still means everything to him.

“Maybe calling of the wedding is going a bit far right now? She loves you Max let the dust settle you clearly still love her.” I say.

“She doesn’t love me, she just looked me in the eye and told me she loves Tom and the only reason she agreed to marry me was because she couldn’t find the words to tell me the truth.”

“I’m so sorry.” I whisper, tears in my eyes too now. How can they do this to him? He’s such a wonderful person.

Max’s POV

I’m just about to leave the room when I notice a huge ‘congratulations Anne and Max’ banner and it’s as if it’s mocking me. I was right my friends did put on a party for me, but I wasn’t expecting banners, balloons and confetti. I walk towards the wall and before anyone realises what I'm about to do, I’ve ripped the banner off the wall and am ripping it into tiny pieces. I can hear the boys telling me to stop, but they don’t know how good it feels to lash out right now. I just want to break things, because for the time being at least it makes me feel slitghly better. I walk over to the fire place and pick up a photo of Anne and I together on a holiday we shared in Paris and smash it on the floor.

“That’s enough now Max.” I hear Jay saying and I feel him grabbing my arms but I just push him away. He’s doesn’t get it. He doesn’t know how I feel right now and I hope that he never does. Before I realise fully what I’m doing I’m knocking all the photos containing Anne and me onto the floor with one sweep of my arm, hearing the glass shatter on the floor, but still I want to break more.

“Max please stop!” Roxie screams and it surprises me to hear that she sounds afriad. Surely I’m not scaring the girls am I? I stop thinking about breaking more things that contained sentimental value and clutch my head trying to get rid of the pain but with no such luck.

“I’m sorry I’ll stop now.” I whisper while turning to face my friends with fresh tears in my eyes. I walk over to the table full of food and drink and grab an unopened bottle of vodka. “Thanx for all the effort you all put in, I’m sorry it’s all going to waste, and whoever made the banner, sorry about that too it was a lovely thought. Can someone do me a favour and call me when those two get out of my bed, so that I can pack my things? Thanx.” I say and I’m out of the door before anyone can try and stop me.

Roxie’s POV

“Maybe someone should go after him?” I ask. “I don’t really think he should be on his own right now.”

“I think it’s probably best to give him so space babe. And we should get the rest of the decorations down before he gets back.” Siva says to me.I look around at the living room that is now in a state. There are bits of the banner all over the place and not to mention all of the glass. How could they do this to him? I didn’t realise Anne was such a bitch and Tom was supposed to be his best mate! But even though I’m so angry with what they have done I still can’t help worrying. After all that was Tom’s blood on Max’s hand.

“Maybe one of us should go and see if Tom is alright?”

“He can take care of himself, and he has Anne. Besides even after everything Max wouldn’t have hurt him too badly, he’s not that kind of guy.” I suppose Jay’s right, but I’d rather be doing something to take my mind off it.

“I’ll go and get a dustpan and brush for all the glass.” I say before leaving the room.

Charly’s POV

As I’m helping everyone tidy the room one thought keeps replaying it’s self though my mind.  Max is single. Anne and he are no more. It makes me feel like horrible that this is the most prominent thought in my mind after just seeing my best friend break down in tears before losing it, but worrying about him won’t make him feel any better. Maybe I can even turn this around and make it a positive for the both of us. I mean, it’s obviously a good thing that he’s gotten out of that relationship, and if he’s serious about moving out, then I have a two bedroom flat that he’s more than welcome to move into, as I’m sure he knows. I can help him move on from Anne, be happier. And then when he is completely happy and only then, I can tell him how I feel; and maybe just maybe; by then he will feel the same way.