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

Part Seven

Roxie's POV

"Max has been a while I'm going to go and see if he's alright." If he's alright? Of course he's not alright. I think to myself as I begin walking up the stairs. His door is wide open, and he is no where to be seen in the room. Ignoring the uneasy feeling building up in the pit of my stomach I start to search the other rooms. Bathroom - clear, Tom's room - clear, Nath and Sophie's room - clear, Jay's and Jess' room - clear, mine and Siva's room - clear, and finally the spare room... clear. 

Trying not to panic I run back along the landing to Max's and Anne's room and wrench open the wardrobe door...

"No." I gasp. His clothes are all gone as are some other personal items, I notice as I begin looking around the room in dismay. Where has he gone? Will he be back? Why didn't he say goodbye? So many questions, so little answers.

Jess' POV

"He's gone!" Roxie shouts while running back down the stairs.

"What do you mean he's gone?" I ask, refusing to believe the obvious. 

"He's gone, and he's taken all of his stuff with him!" I don't get how or why. I mean one of us should have heard something, unless he was taking extra care to be quiet and not heard. Which again leads to why? Firstly why has he left? If this had happened to me I would want my friends around me. And if it's because he doesn't want to be in this house anymore then he could have gone and stayed at Charly's; and then started looking for his own place, if that's what he wanted. But why leave without telling us where he's going, or even saying good bye? That just doesn't make any sense.

Charly's POV

"Pick up!" I scream in desperation, after ringing Max way to many times. How could he just leave us all like this? Does he not realise how much we all worry? "Max please come back." I practically beg into the answer phone. "We're all so worried. If you don't want to stay in that house, I get it. Everyone will understand. But I have a spare room, you know I'd love for you to come and stay with me. Don't shut us all out Max. I know you're hurting, but you really need your friends right now. And we need you to let us help you, and to let us know that you're alright. Please Max."

I throw my phone onto the bed in the spare room, before burying my head in the pillow, and crying. He's my best friend for god's sake. Why do bad things happen to good people? How did everything go so wrong? Is this my fault? I was forever wishing that he was single, and now he is. But I never wanted it to happen like this, and now I'm not closer to being with him than before. I'm further away in fact. All because that stupid bitch cheated on him with his best mate; and now he's missing. I'd give anything to go back to how we were a few weeks ago. I didn't realise how lucky I was until now. But now it's too late, and what if I never see him again because of it?

Max's POV

I ignore my phone for what feels like the millionth time while standing at the train station, waiting for the train that will take me back to Manchester and away from this shithole.

The train pulls into the station and I step onto it before walking down one of the carriages and sitting in a seat besides the window. As the train pulls away it's as if my life is one of those bad movies, me starring longingly out of the window for something I can never have again, while watching the city that was my home disappearing behind me.

I pull out my phone to find out that in the end Charly decided to leave a voice mail.

"Max please come back." Yeah, not gonna happen. "We're all so worried."  All minus Tom and Anne. And the thought is like a dagger in the heart. "If you don't want to stay in that house, I get it." If? Of course I don't. "Everyone will understand. But I have a spare room, you know I'd love for you to come and stay with me. Don't shut us all out Max." But shutting everyone out is the easiest way. I don't have a continuous stream of sympathetic looks aimed at me; or constant reminders of a past that can never become my future, no matter how much I want it. And that it why I can't go and live with her. "I know you're hurting, but you really need your friends right now." No what I need right now is a time machine to take me back a couple of months ago. I realise now when it is I lost Anne. It was when I went on holiday with Jack for a week. My eyes are now open to the subtle changes in Anne when I came home. Slight hesitation when touching me; a look in her eyes for a fraction of a second when I was touching her, silently saying that she didn't want this. A playful glance between her and Tom when they thought no one was looking. All obvious signs I didn't realise I was seeing at the time, but that I am now all too painfully aware of. I dispair at the thought of what her and Tom must have gotten up to while I was away for that week. "And we need you to let us help you, and to let us know that you're alright. Please Max." I'll give her that one. I do need to let them now I'm okay... Well considering. It's not fair to keep them worrying.

I start a new text and write 'I'm okay.' and send it. Short, and to the point. No room for false hope that I'm going back. Seconds after sending the text my phone starts ringing again. Won't she ever give up? Ignoring the phone I close my eyes and begin to drift off into a sleep plagued with nightmares