What You Do To Me

Chapter 4: Maxwell's POV

Brooke ^^

"Ugh..." I mutter, opening my eyes. The first thing that hits me is the smell. Cleaning materials and depression.

Then my eyes fly open all the way, the only place that makes this smell is a hospital. But I can't be in a hospital!

"He's awake!" I hear someone squeal, I look to find the source of the noise but find only a familiar pair of bright green irises staring at me.

"Jesus Brooke!" I smile, lightly pushing her face away from mine.

With my youngest sister's face out of the way I got a good look at the hospital room I was in.

Iris and Brooke stood to my immediate left. Brielle sat in one of the 2 waiting chairs while her mom stood behind her, gently rubbing her back. Kimberly's long limbs dominant the other chair and Addison dominates Kimberly, resting comfortably in her maybe-girlfriend's lap. And then there was Casey.

He stood in the door frame, leaning against the wall, and he breaks into a huge smile when he sees me open my eyes.

I flush and struggle to smile back.

I look around the room again and feel a little disappointed. I was in the hospital, but good ol' dad couldn't bring himself to stumble out of whatever bar he was in to come find me? Make sure I was ok? Not even Grandma was here.

I wasn't entirely sure why I was disappointed. I haven't spoken to my father in over a year. But still...

"Wha- what happened?" I croaked; my throat felt like it was filled with fucking concrete.

"Your dumbass didn't drink ANYTHING!" Iris said, jumping forward to hug me and Brooke did too.

"Language!" I snap as I hug them back. "I'm ok! I promise."

"We were all very worried about Max." Brielle's mom says. I always liked her.

"I'm sorry." I say, meaning every word of it. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's ok honey, just focus on yourself sometimes more than you focus on others?" Brielle's mom asks. Her tone is sweet, but it masks a threat. As if she's saying, "Take care of yourself or I will adopt you and do it for you dammit!" I understand where Brielle got her attitude from.

"Yes Mrs. Graywarden." I mumble and glance at Casey. As soon as our eyes meet, he smiles as wide as he can.

"The doctor's said you were just a little dehydrated." Addison spoke up, one hand holding Kimberly's close. Addison's voice was clear, high, and beautiful. She was a singer through-and-through.

"But I'm ok? See girls! I'm ok!" I insist, turning to my sisters and hugging them again.

"Max honey, you broke a record." Brielle's mom interrupts. She spoke quickly, like she couldn't quite believe she had been able to keep quiet. I heard awe in her voice and blushed bright red.

I didn't deserve this woman's admiration. For the first 10 years of Brielle's life, it was just Mrs. Graywarden. Her dad had left them to fend for herself and Mrs. Graywarden stepped up. She worked multiple jobs and yet still managed to be a loving mother to her baby child.

She deserved way more than I did.

"You did amazing Max!" Kimberly said, smiling at me. Her bright white teeth contrasting with her dark skin.

"Tha-thanks." I mumble. I couldn't help it, I never did well with praise. I glanced at Casey and he still had a smile on his face.

I struggled to return it as I remembered something from the race.