disclaimer: i do not own maximum ride. james patterson does.
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"Are you sure your okay with this?" We were standing outside the science building.
"Yeah, it's fine."
"I can wait-"
"Max, it's no big deal. I said I wanted to skip so I'm skipping. I can't let you have all the fun."
"Fine." We started walking to the parking lot.
"Nick!" Crap. I knew that voice. "Nick! Wait!"
Nick stopped and slowly turned around. Lisa came running up, slightly out of breath.
"Nick, I need to talk to you," she glanced at me. "Privately."
"I'm busy right now. How about later." He said coldly.
"It will only take a minute." Nick looked at me. I gave a slight nod.
"Fine. You have one minute." They walked a few feet away. Just out of my hearing range. Damn.
I stood watching them for what seemed like hours. I felt really third wheelish. Nick kept glancing at me and when he did, Lisa would shoot a glare my way. Then I would sigh and look down, or up, or anywhere but them. After a minute or two their voices rose, letting me hear one or two things here and there.
"I wouldn't..... Sam said...... You don't even know....... and Max!" Was all I could get from Lisa.
"Really?....... That jerk....... Why does Max....... You spoiled bitch....." Was Nick's response.
This went on for another minute then I heard Nick say, "We're done. Goodbye Lisa."
"One last thing," Lisa stood on her tip-toes and gave Nick a kiss on the cheek. "Bye Nick." She wiped the tears from her eyes and walked back to the science room, and Sam.
Nick stood there and I didn't know what to do. I was frozen, then the unthinkable happened. Nick reached up and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. He reminded me of Ari when our parents scold him. He would always act tough until he got down the hall and into his room. Iggy and I would always try to cheer him up, and eventually we would, but it took lots of hugs and funny stories.
So here I was, frozen on the side walk with my best friend crying a few feet away, and I asked myself; what would I do for Ari?
I ran over and nearly knocked him down, giving him the biggest hug ever. We stood there like that for who knows how long. Neither of us speaking, just standing there in the silence.
"Two years." He said.
"Huh?"
"That's what Monday was. Our two year anniversary."
"Damn." Two years? That bitch will die.
"Yup, and now..." he didn't need to finish. And now she's gone.
"And now we get you a triple fudge peanut butter caramel sunday. I think there's an ice cream shop around here some where." I half smiled.
"Oh really? And how am I going to eat that without throwing up?" I pretended to look offended.
"Me of course. What are best friends for?" We walked across campus to my pick-up truck. It was old, the dark green paint was faded and chipping, but I loved it.
"Nice ride."
"It's no shiny, black BMW but at least it has character."
"Now your making fun of my car? How do we even know this truck runs? What if it falls apart while we're driving down the street?"
"Your just full of questions, aren't you? Well, how about we get in and see just how amazing Henry really is." I opened the driver side door and started to climb in.
"Henry?"
"Yes, Henry. Like Henry Ford."
"You named your truck."
"Yes and is it your car? I didn't think so. Get in and stop bashing Henry he is very sensitive." Nick opened the passenger door and rolled his eyes.
"So this double fudge peanut sundae thing is supposed to make me feel better and throw up the contents of my stomach?"
"One it's a triple fudge peanut butter caramel sundae and two, I would say yeah probably both. Just make sure not to get the vanilla bean ice cream, they ground up- it's just gross."
"How do you know this? You've been here, what, a month? And already you know the ins and outs of this place."
"I like to know that I don't need to depend on some one all the time. I like to know that if I need to I can take a care of myself." He shook his head. "What?"
"Your not like most girls."
"I hope you don't think you're the first person to tell me that."
"I guess not?"
"No, people aren't really creative. They all say the same thing. 'Your not like most girls.' What does that mean? That because I'm not whiny and clingy that I'm not 'like most girls'?"
"Maybe it means that you exceed most 'girl standards.'" I opened my mouth to interrupt him, but he held up his hand. The boy has become a chatter box. "Maybe it means you are better than those girls because you're different"
"Hell yeah I'm better than them." I said smiling. He rolled his eyes. "You don't think so?"
"You remind me of Lisa." I looked at him skeptically. "Before this year, back when I met her. Back when she was nice, funny, smart, independent. All those good things. That's why I fell in love with her."
I had pulled into the parking lot and we were just sitting here staring at each other. I could hardly see his face in the green glow of the dashboard. I reached out at wiped away a tear that was falling down his cheek.
"We better get going this place closes in a half hour." Nick just smiled and climbed out of the truck.
