Saving Max

"What are you doing here?" I ask Caden, ushering Max into the hospital room and closing the door behind him, the sound echoing off the walls.

"I'm here to see the person who's been helping my brother. I wanted to say thank you, and let you know that you don't have to take care of him anymore. I'll be looking after him now." Caden tells me, moving to open the door. A sudden anger rises within me, so I quickly stand in front of it, blocking his way.

"What makes you think you can take care of Max when you can't even take care of yourself?" I spit out, slowly becoming all too aware of what little space there is between us.

"I'll make it work. It might not be ideal, but you and me both know that it's better than where he's living now." Caden says, his voice low. I sink back against the door, not saying a word, knowing that he's right.

"Fine. But I want to help."
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Bella Turner works at the local hospital, counting down the days until she's out of high school and off to college. But one day, all of that changes when she finds eight year old Max, covered in bruises, sitting on the edge of an examination table. Every Friday he would be in the same room, awaiting her arrival. After a while, Bella couldn't imagine doing anything else.

But one Friday, he doesn't come alone. He comes with the one and only Caden Parker, Max's brother.

Caden is trouble, and everyone in town knows it. He got sent to military school two years ago by his father to try and set him straight. Even the slightest thing would set him off. He's back now, though, and there's trouble in his wake.

Bella doesn't know why she wants to help him. Maybe it's all the secrets in his eyes, or maybe just the little boy holding his hand, but she does. She wants to help them with all of her heart. Looking at Max and Caden, she knew that there was no way she could leave them alone. She was going to save them.