Hybrid

Chapter 7

Mara showed up at my house at the same time I did that night. The smirk on her face was so wide that I knew, without her having to say anything, she knew what I was up to last night.

"So?" She asked once we were in the privacy of my room.

"So what?" Playing dumb in this situation was actually the dumbest decision I'd ever made. The look Mara gave me was so terrifying I almost booked it into my closet.

"You know what!" She hissed, giving me an intense glare. "I can smell it all over you, and I'm sure it won't be long before your family realizes it too!"

I felt my cheeks grow hot at the mention of my family finding out about Max and I, especially since I lied to my parents about where I was last night. I sigh defeatedly as I sat down on the bed next to Mara.

"What do you want to know?" I asked, risking a glance in her direction.

"Well, was it good?" I gave her a look, but nodded a little. I wasn't going to lie, and Mara was my best friend. I wasn't embarrassed necessarily, but we've never had this conversation before. I didn't know what to expect and to be honest, I don't think Mara knew either. I looked up and she was staring right at me, and a second later we both busted out laughing.

"He told me he loved me," I said sheepishly.

Mara's eyes widened happily at this. "And what did you say?"

"I told him I loved him," I shrugged. "And I don't care how long I've known him. It's true." It came out defensively even though I didn't mean for it too.

"I believe you," Mara said softly, offering a smile. Just by the look on her face, she knows I didn't mean for it to come out defensively either. "I see it in your eyes when you're talking about him."

I gave her a smile, feeling a relief flood though my body. I didn't want to feel like my best friend was judging me based on my relationship.

"So when can I actually meet Max?" She asked.

"Um, probably any minute now," I blushed. She raised an eyebrow at me, then started laughing.

"When are you going to tell your parents about him?" She asked.

"I don't know," I shrugged, trying to ignore the little feeling in the back of my mind. That small part of me was angry with both of them for not telling me the truth about my biological mom dying when she gave birth to me, and I think that's why I didn't want to say anything Max. At least not right now.

"They're going to find out eventually, and I think you'd rather have them find out by you telling them then having them find out another way," she said.

"I know. It just feels like I can't. Like I want to, but somethings holding me back from telling them," I said quietly.

"You're angry with them," Mara said, cutting right to the chase. I didn't even try to argue with her. I just nodded.

"Who are you angry with?" A third voice joined in, and just the sound of it alone filled me with happiness. My head snapped to the window where Max was standing.

"Hi," I said quietly, not being able to help the huge smile I was giving him.

"Hi," he replied, coming over to sit down on the bed. He looked at Mara and stuck out his hand. "I'm Max."

"Mara. I'm Brynn's best friend," she said proudly, with the smallest hint of edge in her voice. Max picked up on it; I could tell by the way he lifted his shoulders just a little to sit up straighter. Mara wasn't one to mess around with, and I was proud that Max not only picked up on it easily but respected it. By the smile full of happiness on Mara's face, she noticed it too.

"Nice to meet you Mara. Now," he said, looking at me, "Who are we angry with?"

"We're not angry at anybody," I laughed. "I'm mad at my parents, but there's no reason for you to be mad at them."

"Well, if you're mad at them then I'm mad at them. I don't even care what the reason is," Max shrugged. I laughed again, rolling my eyes as he crawled over to sit right next to me. "So, why are we mad at them."

"I'm mad at them because they never told me that my biological mom died giving birth to me. I love my mom to death and would do anything for her whether she's my biological mom or not, but I still have every right to know," I said, letting out a frustrated sigh. I leaned into him, the feeling of his body already having a calming effect on me. "I just don't understand why they didn't tell me. Did they think that I would hate Lacey if I learned she wasn't the mom who gave birth to me?" Max and Mara both shrugged and gave me sympathetic looks.

"Who knows," Mara said. "All I know right nkw is that frozen yogurt sounds really good."

I knew what she was doing and was happy that she was doing it. Frozen yogurt (especially peanut butter flavored) was my favorite. "We'll meet you outside," I said to Max, smiling at him.

"Sounds good," he said, hopping off the bed and crawling back out the window. I watched him walk down the roof and hop off without a sound. I'm still sure that my theory of him being a ninja in a previous life is true.

"You've got him wrapped around your little finger, you know that," Mara smirked as we walked out of my room. I threw my hair up into a high ponytail on our way down the stairs, not wanting to deal with it being in my face anymore. "I barely know him, and it's obvious just by the way he looks at you."

I smiled at this, letting the fluttery feeling of happiness in my chest have its way. "How does he look at me?"

"Like you're the most precious thing in the world, and he would never let anything happen to you," she said. I smiled as I popped my head into the kitchen where my mom was cleaning up from dinner.

"We're going to get frozen yogurt," I told her, trying to hide the big smile on my face. She looked up at the sound of my voice. I think I managed to keep my smile under control, because she didn't ask any questions.

"There's some money in my purse. Would you mind running to the store for me? There's a list right there," she pointed to the counter where her purse was, and a list sat right next to it.

"Sure," I said, picking up the list and folding the paper so it would it in the back pocket of my denim shorts.

"Just take my card, actually. And you can use it to pay for the frozen yogurt," she said.

"Thanks mom," I said, pulling out her card and feeling a slight twinge on my tongue when I said mom. I didn't want to feel like this, but I couldn't help it. She was and always would be my mom, but knowing that she wasn't my biological mom made everything feel off. I almost feel like I need to feel stupid for not knowing.

Mara and I met up with Max outside. He was leaning against my car, and I'm sure the only reason he knew which one was mine was the smell.

"Ready?" he asked.

I nodded. "Let's go."