Reintegration program - Elmax

Chapter 63 : Holidays

The school finished a week ago and Mike decided to celebrate it with a night in his basement. He was happy because all his friends would come, even Max, who calmed down since a month now. Maybe she understood that Jane wasn't important, finally! He prepared everything they needed, things to eat, blankets, pillows, video games and movies with the couch facing the TV. It would be a nice night, he knew it. The first ones to arrive were Dustin and Will. The three boys sat on the couch, waiting for the others.

- This year was so weird, stated Mike with an amused tone. I hope the next one will be calmer!

- It wasn't that bad! told Dustin.

- Come on, garbage invading the school, ew, no thanks!

- You really wanna begin a debate about this? Again?

- What? You're still on their side?

- Melissa is my friend and so is Jane!

- Come on, Jane is far now and Melissa totally disappeared! answered the black-haired boy with an annoyed tone.

- Jane will come back and, I'm sorry, but Melissa didn't disappear, we still see her.

- What!? Without us!?

- Because you wanna spend time with Melissa? frowned Dustin.

- No! Of course not! But, I don't like knowing all of you hanging out without us, that's all, we were your friends before them! And we're way better!

- Ok, if you want us to stay, you'll really need to stop talking like that, or we'll hang out without you.

- Ok, ok! I stop!

The three friends waited in an awkward silence the arrival of the others. Once all here, the ambience became warmer, even if Max wasn't taking part in the conversations, lost in her thoughts. Mike installed Mario Kart and proposed a tournament.

- Come on Max, it's your turn! said Mike, finishing his turn.

- I said I didn't wanna play, answered the redhead with an upset tone.

- This is your favorite game! You don't want to kick our ass? joked the black-haired boy.

- More than you think, mumbled Max, heard by only Lucas and Bev who were sat on each side of the girl.

Mike insisted, putting the controller on her knees. Lucas, not wanting her to explode, took it and played at her place.

- It's supposed to be her turn, but it's fine, do what the hell you want, grumbled Mike.

- Exactly, let me do what the hell I want, replied Max.

- Thank you for coming to ruin it! Why did you come if it's to be like that!?

- Because Bev insisted, and I can't resist her.

- Good, if you can't resist her why don't you date her, at least she is not far believing she has a chance!

- Stop! intervened Lucas. Max wanted to make an effort for you, and you, you act like a cunt, like, all the time! You had been awful this year! With everyone, not just the ex-prisoners!

- What!? They are the origins of all our problems! And, I'm sorry but you were acting the same when they arrived!

- Yeah! But we changed our minds because we realized they were like us!

- Like us!? You're kidding!? I don't remember when I went in jail!

- It shouldn't be long, told sharply Max.

- Yeah, really funny! Why don't you find a real person to love instead of depressing on a girl who won't come back!? You really think she loves you!? It's just manipulation, you're all so blind! I mean, she had sex with adults, it's stupid, everybody knows it's not normal but she still did it!

- She did it because no one gave her a real chance!

- A real chance!? You really think she deserves a real chance!? You really need to know who your friends are, because you're really completely lost!

- Lost!? I've never been so sure in my entire life!

- Why!? Just because you decided to love Jane and to accept that slut and garbage in your apartment while you were right alone!? It won't make them better person!

- Wanna bet!? 'Cause I'm really proud of who they are and who they want to be! They work hard every day to be accepted and guess what!? It works! People are smarter than you and know who the people to trust are and those to avoid, like Alban and his dirty family!

- You really want to talk about dirty family!? Because almost all yours fucked your girlfriend! Except you! Not frustrated!? It's not what Jane was reproaching you!? To be sexually frustrated!?

It was too much for the redhead. She didn't want to be violent with him, too scared to detach the small pea he called brain. She took her stuff and left the house without looking at them. She wasn't sexually frustrated, she wasn't with Jane for sex, she had other qualities, not like Dan! Dan was just an asshole but Jane, she was more than that, she just wanted to hug her for now, to congratulate her for her progress, but she couldn't.

The group of friends stayed in the basement, not daring to move, all looking at each other with the same wide opened eyes, while Mike was looking angrily at his door, like if Max was still there.

- 'Told you, said Dustin, breaking the silence.

- Shut up!

- No, you went too far!

- What were you expecting by insulting the girl she loves!? frowned angrily Beverly.

- She doesn't love her! stated Mike.

- She does! And Jane loves her too! Why is it so hard for you to understand that!? Her private life with Jane is not your goddamn business!

- And Mallory is a very nice girl, told Lucas. If you had talked with them, you would realize how normal they are.

- Everything was fine before them, told Mike.

- Everything could still have been fine if you accepted them, but you didn't!

- So Will is the only one lucid here!?

- Um...intervened the young boy. In fact, I apologized to Jane for my behavior, well, she is still mad and now, I don't know what she thinks about me, and I think I don't wanna know, but I'm not hating them anymore...

- Yeah, said Bev. And Max is really trying to forgive him about this, because he fucking apologized to Jane and to Max!

- Get out of here, all of you! ordered Mike.

The friends didn't hesitate and quickly walked away. Mike's behavior was getting worse with the time, he couldn't even spend a night with his friends without insulting someone! It wasn't the Mike they knew.