Max's P.O.V.

(I don't think I've done a p.o.v. of Max yet but it's gotta happen.)

I loved hearing my parents flirt with each other. I know it seems weird. Most kid are grossed out by it. But I've seen the shit my parents have gone through and I've heard the fights and the horrible things they've said to each other. I know what it looks like to see them at thier lows. So to see them at thier highs was something I would love to see every secodn of every day. I loved, also, because of my injury I wasn't allowed to do much. Like put groceries away. So with my love of seeing my parents happy, and not having to do anything, I felt really good sitting at the kitchen island drinking my soda and eating my skittels. "Kendall stop it!" I smirked seeing my mom swat my dads hands away from her body as she stood on the step ladder in our pantry putting things away. My dad turned around and gave me a stupid grin bending down to more groceries. "Max i'm not going to keep buying these stupid protein mixes anymore if you're just going to let them sit up here where no one can reach them."

"Well actually I can reach them. So can dad. Just not you mom." My dad snicekered as my mom glanced back at me giving me a death glare. "Thanks for getting them though. I'll start drinking them when I go to physical therapy." She only nodded stepping off the ladder and shoved my dad to the side making him slap her butt. I rolled my eyes looking back down to my phone hearing them giggle at each other and took a sip of my drink. I checked the time on my phone and felt the butterflies in my stomach knowing any minute Emily was going to be coming over to give me homework and hoepfully make out. I glanced back up to see my mom standing in front of the fridge putting a gallon of milk inside and I frowned. "Can I ask you guys something?" My dad leaned agaisnt the sink and nodded opening up another beer. "When did you guys use the L word?" My mom slammed the fridge hard and turned to me wide eyed. I smiled small and shook my head raising a hand. "I'm just curious. You guys have been together for what...like 100 years?"

"Give or take a few." My dad gave me a dirty look but I laughed him off. "Your mom and I have been in love since the moment I saw her. I approached her at the bar she was sitting at, alone and asked her to dance. She is a horrible dancer and kept stepping on my toes but I still fell for her." My mom snorted taking my dads beer and smiled big at me.

"Don't forget the part of that cute story where you broke my actual dates nose, and threw him in jail for the night so you could make your move." My mouth fell open and my dad shrugged pulling my mom into his side. "As hard as this is for your dad to hear I didn't fall in love with him in one night. It took some time for me to understand he is a stubborn asshole who usually uses his fist to solve prolems and I eaither accteped that about him or move on." My mom stopped and looked up at my dad who was smilin small down at her. "A year after he asked me to dance in that gross dingy bar, I said yes to marrying him and 25 years later, here we are." I smiled small and cleared my throat getting them both to look at me.

"Do you think everyone on Earth has a soulmate?" My mom frowned pulling away from my dad and walked around the island sitting down next to me on a bar stool. I let her pull me into her and closed my eyes as she rubbed my back and kissed my head.

"I do think everyone has a soulmate. And i love that you are so happy with Emily. She is such a good girl...and she makes you happy." I opened my eyes seeing my dad staring down at us, and smiiled small. "You do whatever your heart tells you baby. If you want to say the L word to her go for it. Your heart is never wrong." I opened my mouth to answer her, and tell her that was what i was going to do but got cut off. There were soft knocks at the front door that made my mom slide off her stool and go out inot the livign room. I looked to my dad and he smirked grabbing his beer and a bag of chips off the counter. He winked and walked out of the kitchen just as my mom walked in, arms linked with Emily who was smiling small. "Since you have school work, why don't you guys stay in here where there is more ocunter space." Emily nodded slowly and took the seat next to me as my mom walked to the fridge. "You're dad and I will be out in the living room. Make yourself at home sweetheart and let me know if you're going to be staying for dinner." My mom grabbed herself a beer before shutting the door and walking out, smiling big at us. As soon as she was gone I turned my full attention to Emily who wasn't looking at me, or even facing me. I frowned as she shuffeled thoruhg her black messenger bag bitting her bottom lip.

"Are you alright?" I reached out and pushed hair out of her face making her scoot back and clear her throat. I dropped my hand to my lap and watched as she put a bunch of books, and yellow folders on the counter in front of us.

"I need to tell you something Max." She set her bag on the ground by our feet and turned to me. Her eyes were glistening. She was fiddeling with the pen in her hands, never once taking her eyes off me. "I messed up Max and it's been killing me inside knowing I have to tell you, but not knowing how." I slouched a bit and nodded, encouriging her. "Do you remember that day you freaked out when you saw me with that new kid Austin?" I slowly sat myself up straight and felt a weird tug in my stomach watching the first few tears fall out of her eyes. "I lied to you. He wasn't just a friend. We...we hooked up a couple times." I felt my mouth part slightly just as she put both her hands on my arms. "I promise you Max it meant nothing and I haven't been with him since. And i'm never going to be with him again. I want to be with you and I lo-"

"Get out." She stopped and i felt my anger raising inside me. I shoved her hands off my arms and she gasped out sliding off her stool. "How could you do that to me?!" I didn't mean to yell but my emotions were getting the best of me. "You told me you were just showing him around town because he was new! You lied to me! You cheated on me! After three years of us being together and you threw it all away!"

"Baby I love you though. I want to be with you and only you. I know that now!" I got off my stool ignoring the pain shooting up and down my side as I started to walk. She got in front of me and held my arms makign me stop. "I'm sorry Max! I messed up! And I'm going to make it up to you! Please give me another chance! I love you Max!" I saw over her head my parents standing in the door way and something snapped. I roughly, and very aggressively shoved Emily off of me. She stumbeled back, but before she fell on the floor my dad caught her.

"Get out! I don't want to see you again!" Emily sobbed out and grabbed her bag on the floor turning. My mom flattened against the wall as Emily rushed past her and my dad watched her leave. My mom turned to me, and I felt the first tears start to fall out of my eyes. She took a step towards me but I turned quick and shoved all the books and papers off the counter. Some knocked over my soda and it spilled everywhere. I looked down at the mess I made as a sob ripped out of my throat making me squeeze my eyes shut hard. I felt a hand on my shoulder and shoved it off. However because of my pain in my side, and the fact that I felt like someone ripped my heart out of my chest, I didn't have the strength to fight it anymore. i was turned and pulled into my dads arms. I wrapped around him tight and cried openly on his chest keeping my eyes shut hard. One of his hands held the back of my head while the other rubbed my back. I let out another cry but not as loud as the first.

"I'm so sorry Max. I am so sorry buddy." His soothing voice sort of helped me calm down. In fact it made me feel really, realy calm. Like I was going to fall asleep.

"Oh my God Kendall." I pulled away from my dad hearing my moms worried voice. I felt something cold on my side and looked down fast. Through my plain grey shirt i could see a trickle of blood comign through, slowly turning into a huge stain.

"He must have opened his stiches. Call an ambulance Jules." I looked back up to my dad and felt more tears coming out of my eyes. My knees were shaking and I felt like I was going to throw up. "Max keep your eyes open buddy, okay? Just keep lookign at me." I nodded and started to feel my weight giving out from under me. As I started to fall, my dad catching me, my eyes started to close. The last thing I remember seeing was Emily smiling at me.