Here's Day 5 - Parenting Isn't Always Easy! I went for the more angsty choice because I am trash for angst. So, I hope you enjoy!
It wasn't rare for Max to object many of David's ideas. So this was nothing new.
David stared down at the 11-year-old, who stared back at him with his arms crossed. His vibrant green eyes glared daggers at him, as soon, as he finished the sentence. Max shook his head, furiously, "No, you can't come to parents day tomorrow!"
"But why not?" David questioned as he followed Max to his room. "Why?! David, you're not my fucking dad! Why else?!" He yelled back.
David felt the line hit him, and he had to try so hard not to flinch. He was about to reply, when Max held up his hand, "No, David, just stop, Okay? I know you pity me and all. So the last thing I want is for you to come to school and pretend you're my dad! It'll only make my life more of a living hell then it already is!"
Max began to push David out of the room and into the hallway. He instantly slammed the door once he did so and wiped away at the tears threatening to fall down his cheeks.
It had not been Max's day that day, and it made his mood fall down, immensely. School had been a mess, filled with questions by other students if his parents were going to go to school the next day. Max had not answered any of their questions only throwing glares at them. Still, his silence said enough to his fellow students. He had heard their faint whispers behind him and seen the look of pity on all of their faces as he walked passed them in the hallway. It reminded him of the past schools he had been at. Where the kids, clearly, knew the situation Max was living with his birth parents. It reminded him of the years he lived in literal hell both at home and school. It all made him forget the drastic change that had occurred this past year. Of course, that gave him no right to yell at David the way that he did, but when mad he was rather impulsive.
Max kicked one of the crayons on his floor and let a few more tears fall, before sliding down the door and onto the floor. Behind him, he heard David's defeated sigh and fading footsteps. Max stared ahead of him and his eyes landed on the photo he kept on his bedside table.
It had been a recent one and it included both Max and David at the park. From what he could remember, Gwen had taken the picture and had printed it out and given a copy to both of them. With a sigh he stood up and went to lay on his bed, holding onto as he fell asleep.
On the other side of the door, the moment Max had slammed it shut, David couldn't contain his flinch. He held his hand up to knock but paused, knowing Max and his temper it was best that he left him alone. He let out a shaky breath and turned around to cook dinner.
It had been nearly a year since David had taken Max in and became his foster parent. Currently, he was working to become his adoptive father and was keeping it a secret from him. The only other person who knew was Gwen, knowing she would keep quiet. Yet it was times like this that made him second guess his decision. Max made it seem as if he were miserable with David and that was the last thing David wanted. After all, he raised the report on his parents for the misery they were putting Max through.
David didn't realize he was crying until his own tear hit his hand. It was warm and startled him. He quickly wiped it away, not being able to help but let out a few more. He held a hand over his mouth to prevent a sob and placed a hand on the counter to keep him standing. Slowly and painfully he began to let himself cry. David closed his eyes and questioned everything he was doing.
Did Max really see him that way? Was David making it seem like he was doing everything out of pity? Was he being just as terrible of a parent as Max's birth parents?
Each question raised more and caused more tears on his side. He knew being a father was hard, even more to such an angry 11-year-old. Still, he couldn't help but take Max's words to heart. He wanted to better for Max, to be there and care for him the way his birth parents didn't want to.
Yet at the moment, it just seemed like he was doing everything wrong. Max was unhappy and anything he tried to do didn't make things better.
"Maybe…Max is better off with another foster parent." David whispered to himself. He wiped away at any tears still present and looked at the clock. It was almost dinner time and he needed to began to cook. In his mind, he decided he would think about everything later, and so he turned it all off. As David cooked, the smell wafted throughout his apartment, and eventually into Max's room.
Max was asleep and gripped tightly as if he were going to get up and leave. The smell got to Max and woke him up. Slowly, he stretched and got out of bed. Memories of what had happened earlier returned to him and he felt some guilt arise in him.
As soon as Max opened the door, the scent got stronger and his stomach grumbled. He walked, slowly, towards the kitchen where he found David. Like usual he hummed along to a tune, but his movements were forced and the tune was slow and sad.
Max saw as David noticed his presence and turned around to greet him.
"Oh, Max! Sorry, I didn't see you there, how are you feeling, bud?" David asked him, smiling.
Max shrugged and looked away. He noticed how David's eyes were red and puffy and his cheeks were dried with tears. Yet, he said nothing and took his place on the stool near their small dining table. There was an uncomfortable silence as David served their meals and sat down. Max grabbed the fork and slowly picked at the food for a few seconds, before eating it. David would usually start up a conversation but he stayed quiet this time, focusing on his food instead. Max took a deep sigh and then looked up at David and spoke.
"I'm sorry."
The apology startled David, making him look up with an expression of surprise. "Excuse me?" he asked.
Max felt his cheeks heat up and he looked away. "I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier." Max gulped and continued, "The kids at school gave me hell, and I took it all out on you."
David was speechless. Rarely had Max apologized, but here he was. David placed his utensils down and cleared his throat.
"Apology accepted, Max, thank you." He told him. David thought for a few seconds before asking, "Were the kids at school treating you differently...because of me?"
Max moved around the peas on his plate. "Sort of, they just talk behind my back as if I was fucking deaf or something. They think my parents abandoned me, and maybe they did, but-ugh- it's fucking stupid as hell," he said this time angrily poking the peas as if doing so would solve his problems.
David's mouth formed a thin line, "Hey, language…" Max rolled his eyes, but David continued.
"Max, those kids, they know nothing about you or your life. Which means they have no right to talk about you behind your back. Your parents didn't abandon you. They were never parents, to begin with, so don't feel bad for what they couldn't and didn't want to do. You have no fault in this, which is why you are no longer with them. Because you deserved better, and I hope I'm at least better than they were."
Max looked up at David. He was silent for a few seconds before he spoke. "You are. You're much better than them, and I'm really happy about that, despite my fucking attitude telling you otherwise."
David smiled and stood up to take the plates to the sink. Max sat there, flustered. That was an enormous amount of emotions and feelings he let out for him. It would also probably be the last for a while. Still, David appreciated it, and happily dried his hands with a piece of cloth. He turned around to face Max but noticed he was no longer in his chair.
Suddenly, he felt two arms wrap around his legs. Max hugged him tightly and longer than before. David smiled and quickly crouched down and hugged him.
He knew that even if they did have an argument things would get better. As Max pulled away and left murmuring about how he had to do his homework, David made his decision.
He would turn in the adoption papers tomorrow.