Hidden Heroes

TWÊŃTŸ~7

"Okay, she looks good," the doctor said, moving back and towards her computer. With Max, good wasn't good enough.

"Okay, but can we do a full body exam? There might be something we haven't caught."

The doctor glanced at me and I shrugged. She sighed and shook her head. "She's fine. Has she been behaving strangely for you to think there's something wrong?"

"Yes, it's kind of confidential. But in short, she is hanging out with people who bullied her before."

I rolled my eyes. The doctor took note of that as she explained to Max that I may have my own reasons for doing this. But she wasn't a physiatrist so she sent us off.

"See what you did?" I told him. "That was unnecessary and totally uncalled for."

"It's not my fault you're acting like this," he said.

"No, but learn to respect my boundaries. I know what I'm doing and you have no choice but to trust me."

I stuck my tongue out at him when he grumbled and gave up. We headed out to go to get the groceries and debated on what we wanted to make.

"I like spaghetti," I said.

"I know you like spaghetti. I'll make that today but what about tomorrow?"

"Spaghetti."

"Oh my gosh, shut up," he replied. He grabbed a bunch of boxes of raw spaghetti and pasta sauce jars and moved along.

"Can we get this?" I said, holding up a box of zebra cakes.

"Is it on sale?"

I looked at the catalog. "Nooo, but this is. Two for three."

I put a box of oatmeal pies and nutty bars in the cart and grabbed a few apple ciders that helped calmed Maximus down. They didn't have alcohol, but for some reason apples were really soothing.

He came back with milk and yogurt, for he often made smoothies. Max was all about being healthy, the snacks were for me. He only nibbled the cookies Zach and I made before gagging.

Soon, the cart was filled with greens and fruit and we carried the groceries to the motorcycle. We couldn't afford to have a car so we got the bike for a good deal and Max fixed it up a bit so it was good as new. We tied the bags and placed them in the basket in the back, locking it shut. I sat behind him and put on my helmet, wrapping my arms tightly around Maximus. As long as Maximus had been driving this thing, you'd think he'd have gotten better.

"Liz, you're choking me." I loosened my grip and allows him to speed off onto the road. I never liked the sound of cutting through the air, it made me anxious.

When we got home, I helped take the groceries in and flopped on the couch as Maximus started to stock the food. I listened as he opened a cardboard box and water filling a pot.

"Spaghetti?" I asked.

He held up the open box. "Spaghetti."

:.~^*^~.:

I dried the last of the dishes and put them in the dish rack. Maximus sat on the couch, looking at his phone. He was no longer typing, he just stared at the phone screen, seemingly in disbelief.

"Max, what's up?" I asked, keen to know on what was going on.

He smiled widely. "She can get out."

"What?"

"Marcielle, she can finally get out of the hospital."

I sat next to him. "Your fiancé?"

He motioned for me to pass him a banana and I quickly got one.