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

Part Eleven

Anne’s POV

I’ve barely put my suitcase down on the floor by the time Tom pushes me up against the wall.

“We haven’t got to hide anymore.” He mummers against my lips before kissing me, his hands exploring my body, as mine hold him tighter against me. He lifts me up before carrying me to what is now mine and his room; he places me on the bed, and the fact that there is now no one to hear us or walk in on us adds to our excitement. It really is just me and Tom now. As we begin undressing each other I find that all thoughts of Max slip from my mind. I’m caught in the moment and for once in what seems like a long time, pure happiness.

Max’s POV

“Shit.” I swear as I fall up the stairs causing a loud bang. Why must getting to your room late at night whist being drunk as a skunk be so hard? I try so hard not to wake anyone one up and then fall at the first hurdle. Literally.  I pick myself up and continue stumbling towards my room. It’s clear to me now, how people get addicted to alcohol, it’s great for making you forget, and be able to have a good time. But what’s even better, if you get in the state I’m in, you’re asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, and you're too out of it to dream the things you spend all your waking hours trying to forget.

Jess’ POV

“At least he’s talking to us now.” I say, trying to keep everyone’s spirits up. Nathan had just got off the phone to Max, but the fact that he had picked up was being over shadowed by the fact that he was clearly  drunk despite it being early in the morning.

“We need to get him home some how. Then we can all support him and help him through this.”

“That’s a great idea Siva, but do you have any idea how we could do that?” Roxie asks.

“Yes, I do actually.” He Continues. “Max still cares about us all, especially Charly. If we tell him she’s been in some kind of accident he’ll be on the first train back.” I can feel myself smiling, and looking around the room I notice I’m not the only one.

“That’s an amazing idea!” I shout in excitement. It may not be the nicest plan in history, but it will work.

“Nath babe, you tell him. You’re the most likely to be able to keep a striaght face.” Sophie says.

Nathan’s POV

Two hours later I’m picking up the phone to try and convince one of my best mates that his best mate has been in an accident and is now lying unconscious critically ill in hospital. Can I really do this?

I have no choice.

With my story straight, I press call.

“What?” A still drunk Max asks.

“You need to come home now.” I pause to swallow as I would if I was upset about something, and struggling to talk about it. “Mate it’s Charly.” I continue. “She was hit by a car.” I pretend to try and chock back tears. “It’s not looking good.”

“How is she?” Comes the voice of a broken man. And the fact that my lies are causing this means I no longer have to fake the emotion in my voice.

“She’s in intensive care Max. Get on the first train here. Text Jay what time it gets in and he'll pick you up from the station and bring you to meet the rest of us at the hospital.” I hang up, and this time when I swallow it really is to try and dislodge the lump in my throat.

“He’s coming. Jay you’re picking him up from the station, he’ll text you the time soon.” I say walking back intot the living room, where the other's were waiting to see if he would buy it. 

Soph’s POV

Max comes running down the stairs looking remarkably sober; but in a right state. With his suitcase dropped at the bottom of the stairs he begins frantically searching for his keys and phone.

“Max?” Jack asks concerned.

“I need to go home. Charly’s been in an accident, she’s in intensive care.” I suck in a sharp intake of breath.

“Is she okay?” I ask.

“She’s in intensive care!” He shouts back at me.

“Sorry.” Stupid question.

“Ring us when you know anything, okay.”  Jack says, and Max nods once before heading out of the door. First he lost Anne and now he might lose Charly; how is this fair?

Max’s POV

First I lose Anne and now I might lose Charly. What kind of fucked up world is this? Do I really deserve any of this?

I get to the station and am lucky to find a train at the platform about to leave for London. I get on it, not quite able to believe the mess my life is in right now. If I hadn’t have left, would Charly have been hit by the car, or would she have been sat at hers talking to me trying to make me forget about Anne? Could I have prevented this? Working myself into an even worse state I pull out my head phones and turn them up full volume, too loud to be able to think straight. She’ll be okay. She has to be.