Shattered

Chapter 5

The next morning I'm woken up to the sound of birds chirping outside my window. For a minute I think I'm still asleep, considering I'm sleeping on a cloud, but then I realize it's just the very plush guest bed. The events of last night come rushing back to me and I smile. I pick up my phone and I notice how bright it is in my room. I look at the clock and see that it's well past ten in the morning. I look at my missed messages from Lily. She's obviously freaking out about my unexplained absence. I decide to call her.

"Hello?" she picks up.

"Lily," I say, "It's me." I hear her sigh.

"Thank goodness!" she exclaims, "I was starting to worry I was going to need to call the cops!"

"Nope," I assure her, "No cops are needed. I just woke up this morning and was still feeling under the weather so I decided to stay home." I'm not sure why I'm not telling Lily the truth, but something inside me doesn't want Lily to know how screwed up I really am.

"I feel you, girl," she says, "Well I'm glad you're not dead. I've got to get to class, I'll call you later."

"Bye." I say and she hangs up. I stand up out of bed and stretch. I notice that my side is significantly less painful. I slept with the ice pack on it as much as I could, and it looks like it paid off. My side is still purple, but it's starting to yellow around then edges, and the swelling has gone down exponentially. I head to the bathroom and brush my teeth with the toothbrush Max gave me before heading downstairs.

The smell of bacon floats in the stairway as I make my way downstairs. Max is at the stove manning a frying pan when I enter the kitchen.

"Good morning," I say and max jumps at the sound of my voice. He laughs nervously and turns to face me.

"Hey," he says and smiles awkwardly. I give him a small smile in return before sitting down at the bar in the middle of the kitchen.

"Do you have any coffee?" I ask just as Max sets a steaming mug of it in front of me. I laugh and take it in my cold hands.

"Sorry that I didn't wake you up for school," Max says with his back facing me, "I thought you could use some sleep."

"Thank you," I say, "I appreciate it." He shrugs like it's no big deal and goes back to the bacon. When breakfast is ready, we eat in silence. It's killing me to think last night ruined the relationship I had with this boy. Both of them; the sweet boy from school and the mysterious stranger from the meadow. I look up at him and he's staring at me. I stare back into those beautiful grey eyes that look like the sky just after rain. My heart starts racing and my palms get sweaty, so I pull back.

"Look," I say, and he looks even deeper into my eyes, "I know last night was weird in many, many ways, but I really don't want it to effect the friendship we had. Especially if I'm going to be staying here for a while. I just want to go back to how we were a week ago." Max seems to take this into consideration, a scowl plastered on his face.

"I couldn't agree more," he finally says, and I let out a breath that I didn't realize I'd been holding, "But what do you mean by if you're staying here?" I sigh and give him a sad look.

"Despite how much I already like you and your mom, I barely know either one of you. I can't let you take me into your home." Max scoffs.

"Nonsense!" He exclaims, "We're practically family. From the moment I saw you walk into biology I knew there was something special about you. Although, I'm still not entirely convinced it's not a matter of the head..." He circles his finger next to his head and I gasp.

"That is not funny!" I yell at him, launching a piece of egg at him. He greedily eats it. "Ew, you're so gross!" I say, "I really didn't think through the whole living with a boy situation." Max laughs and I can't help but marvel at the way his eyes sparkle when he lets his guard down.