Shattered

Chapter 4

I'm frozen in place. Max looks like a god in the light of the moon, and I feel my heart in my throat. He sits down and makes himself comfortable, preparing to wait. To wait for me. I know what he did earlier today, but the look on his face makes me want to run to him. He looks beyond nervous but excited, and he keeps fixing his hair, only making it stick up more every time. I can't let him sit there for hours waiting for me. Better to let him down quickly.

As I walk out from the shadows I wonder if Max can hear my heart beating. When I'm halfway to him he finally notices me and looks up. Shock is plain on his face as he stares at me. I suddenly realize how terrible I must look. It's been too long since I've showered, and my hair is in a knot on top of head. My eyes are probably swollen from crying, and I know realize that my hair being up means the cut on my head is openly displayed to him. I quickly undo my hair and brush it over my forehead. I wish he would say something.

"I'm sorry." I surprise myself at the words. Max looks just as shocked.

"Sorry for what?" he asks, "I'm the one who needs to apologize." I shake my head.

"There's nothing for you to apologize for," I say, "You don't have to pretend to be sorry for being yourself." I can tell my words hit hard by the way he flinches.

"Emma, listen," Max says, his eyes pleading with mine, "I was coming to lunch. I was on my way when you jumped up and left. I tried to follow you but you were gone before I could." I scoff.

"Yeah I'm sure you were just dying to see me, right after you see your best buds Angela and Johnny." I glare at him, and he gulps.

"They aren't my best buds," He assures me, "I was just saying hi."

"I thought you didn't like them!" I exclaim, "You ruined Angela's shoes!"

"I don't like them!" He yells right back to me, "But I don't want to spend the rest of high school with a target on my back. I was apologizing for the shoes!" I laugh sharply.

"Some apology that was," I say, "she was practically riding you in the middle of the hallway!" His eyes flare.

"I can't help that people are attracted to me, Emma," he says, "and I can't help that Angela is one of those people." I want to punch him for being so stupid.

"You're right, Max, you can't help that people want to sleep with you the first time they see you," I can feel tears in the back of my throat, but at this point I don't care. "But you know what you can do? You can not make someone feel like they might mean something, and then treat them like they're trash. You could look around you and notice that you might just be making someone's already shitty life even shittier. You could look closer and see that I can't take much more before I'm broken permanently!" My voice rings through the meadow and I'm breathing heavily. Tears stream down my cheeks, but I don't move to brush them away. Max stares at me, question in his eyes, but he doesn't say anything. I sigh.

"Just go." I say and turn back towards the shadows.

"Emma." his voice is soft, almost a whisper.

"What?" I say sharply.

"What happened to your head?" He asks. I reach up and make sure the cut is covered.

"Nothing," I say and keep walking, "I fell." I feel a hand around my wrist and I'm suddenly facing Max's blazing eyes.

"Don't lie to me Emma." He whispers. I feel his breath on my cheeks and it gives me shivers.

"I'm not lying." I say, unconvincing. He gives me a shattered look.

"I am not blind, like some people, to the violence within the homes of many," he says, "Particularly that of which is directed towards a child." I look at him, trying to keep my face blank. "Why do they hurt you?" He asks, and with that I can no longer keep it inside. Tears run freely down my face and I let him take me in his arms. I must be getting tears and snot all over his shirt, but he doesn't seem to care as he only holds me tighter. I gasp as pain shoots up my side, and concern flashes across his face.