-The Wishing Well-
Max didn't know what was worse: the fact that she was fired or the fact that she had no place to go. Yeah, like deciding which is better will help, she thought sarcastically.
She glanced at the city she thought she had come to love, New York. It was the only place she knew was more alive at night than at day time. In its own way, New York was breath taking, especially Times Square with its skyscrapers that seemed to touch the moon, the bright neon lights that imprinted itself on your eyes if you looked at it too long, the people that always had some kind of business to attend to, Max had thought of this place as home.
But she was wrong, even though she loved the city; it just wasn't the place for her. Her career as a journalist was over and she was behind on her rent payments, she didn't have any good friends here yet to lean on, she had nothing here. All she had left to do was go home…to Arizona.
So that's why she was here now, pulling her bags out of her mom's car and tossing them on her old bed. Her room hadn't changed much, the same old Black Veil Brides and Simple Plan posters hung on the walls. The award she won for in sixth grade was still posted above her bed. She smiled at the memory, she joined because everyone told her she didn't stand a chance if she entered, so she did just because she could. Max swore she would never forget Lissa Redmond's face when she beat her.
"It's so good to have you back, Max," her mother smiled and leaned against the doorway.
"It's good to be back, Mom," Max smiled back, at least that's what she hoped it looked like. Don't get her wrong, she loved her mother and her sister, but there was a reason she left Arizona in the first place. "I'm, uh, gonna go for a walk, that ok?" she asked, absentmindedly smoothing out the little crease on her covers.
Her mother nodded enthusiastically, "Sure, no problem."
Max nodded and took two steps at a time as she headed downstairs. She needed some air badly right now.
As soon as she stepped outside the familiarity all came rushing back to her. She glanced at the lawn where she would play tag with her friends Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel. The Flock, they called themselves! Those were still the good times, before—
Max shook her head. She didn't need to think about that, too.
Instinctively, she walked to the little well that was only a few blocks away from her house. It was on a vacant lot that hadn't been occupied for years. The well had been there since anyone could remember; it was part of the community.
Max couldn't help but feel a little start of surprise upon seeing it. Sure she didn't expect it to be gone or anything, but it was all just so familiar and strange all at the same time.
We used to make wishes on this thing, she remembered. She and her friends, particularly Fang and her, had spent a lot of their days hanging out around that well, too. They would throw pennies and dimes while closing their eyes tightly and making a wish. Max couldn't remember if any of her wishes came true, but that wasn't what mattered to them. It was what it symbolized. It meant hope for them, the possibility of anything.
That's what I need, Max thought, hope. A fresh wave of sadness washed over her, why couldn't anything go her way? Ever since that accident in October a few years ago her luck had gone downhill. Her life after that night was just one tragedy after another. She remembered when she first decided to leave Arizona; it was a few months after that night. She knew she couldn't stay, not with every little thing reminding her of what happened. An overwhelming desire to cry came over Max, there were so many things she left unsaid, so many people she didn't say good bye to, so much unfinished business, but she just couldn't stand staying there for another minute.
Now, she just wanted something to go her way, for life to cut her a break for once. She walked over to the well, leaning on it for support. She made a decision and searched her pockets for a coin.
"C'mon, c'mon, I've got to have some spare change," she muttered to herself as she rummaged through her jacket pockets. She sighed when she found none and checked her jean pockets.
Her fingers touched something cold and metallic, "Yes!" She fished out the small penny and looked at it. What should she wish for? She didn't want anything specific; she just wanted life to actually go well for once.
She nodded and closed her eyes tightly just as she used to. Balancing the penny on her thumb nail, she wished for something good to happen to her for once, then she flicked her thumb and watched as the coin flipped in the air for a few seconds before landing in the water inside the well.
Max looked down trying to see where it landed, but realized how stupid that was. She rubbed her hands together and sighed, "Guess we'll both see what happens, huh?" she whispered.
She turned on her heel, ready to head back home when she bumped into someone and landed right on her butt.
Rubbing her soar backside, she looked up to see the person she ran into. "Sorry, didn't see you ther—" she stopped midsentence as a pair of obsidian eyes stared back at her chocolate brown ones. Her breath hitched as she realized who exactly she bumped into. She hadn't seen him in years, not since the accident.
"Fang."
A/N. How was it? This idea just popped into my head, I'm not sure if I'll continue it or not; it depends on how well it's received, so if you like it and want to see it continued, review.
-Indy