AJ had spent the next morning lying on the couch, not really paying attention to the TV in the corner. She missed Coal lying at her feat, tickling her enkles with his furry chin. She missed Punk, coming over and handing her a cup of tea whilst planting a sweet kiss on her head. She just wished that things could be simple. That Max could get better overnight, Punk could work things out with his mother in a gradual form, and she could pluck up her courage to tell him he was going to be a father.
"April, sweetheart. Would you mind taking Cassidy to school? I'm running late for work." Sandra walked into the sitting area as AJ looked up at her whilst lying on the couch, nodding with no choice and standing up to go take her little sister to school.
She, in understable conditions, felt like she was back at high school. She stood in her old shower, lathering her body with soap, wishing Punk was standing behind her, running his hands down her slippery arms and sides.
After enjoying the lukewarm water, she headed out of the shower to get changed and dry her long hair which had darkened as she got older. It used to be a caramel brown colour and now it was more heading towards the colour of black.
She headed downstairs and walked into the kitchen, smiling at Cassidy sitting at the kitchen table eating her cereal, her backpack already on. It was hard for April to have such a younger sibling, she was only ten years old. It didn't seem so bad when April was eighteen, but now she was twenty three, creating her own offspring, it was surreal to think she still had a little sister of ten.
"You ready, Cass?" AJ smiled, watching her sister smile with excitement. She hated not having a close bond with her little sister, but she really was just too young to go out for brunch and go shopping.
"Yeah." Cassidy smiled, jumping off the kitchen chair and making her way towards her sister. She was so excited to see her sister again, and even better, have her walk her to school.
As AJ walked her sister to school, she knew this would be her own life in ten years, wether Punk was by her side or not, she would never part ways from her son or daughter. She promised she would make the best living for her son or daughter.
After walking all the way to school with Cassidy, smiling as she ran away into the playground with her own little friends, she headed back to her home, passing the old shops and cafe's she remembered from when she stayed in Chicago. It felt like just yesterday that her and Punk ran away with Max. She remembered walking out of her gate, Max on Punk's back, their bodies still fo teenagers as they foolishly ran from their past. She didn't regret it. But it would have helped a whole lot of they faced their demons, instead of their demons coming to find them later on.
She passed by an old coffee shop, walking in and ordering a hot chocolate, really taking her chidlhood feelings to the max, even asking for whipped cream and marshmallows. She then stared out all the delicious cakes and treats, not being able to decide which one she wanted.
She ended up deciding on the brownie and was on her way back in the streets with a brown paper bag which held her brownie and a warm hot chocolate in a take away cup. Although she missed her boyfriend dearly, and Max, she was enjoying this alone time, especially when she had so much to think about.
With Punk...
Punk woke up the next morning in hopes to go see Max. He was happy with how things went with his mother the previous night. Not too much was said, but enough to make a start somewhere. He was beginning to see the honesty and sincerity that AJ had clearly seen in Stacey for these past few years.
He missed AJ dearly. He missed falling asleep with her, holding her in bed when the sun rose, making her breakfast. He missed his normal life with her. He'd messaged her at least one hundred times in the past days, but she never replied, he knew she wouldn't. He tried calling, no answer, he even tried calling Sandra, but she never answered either. He just wanted to know that AJ was ok and that she was coming back soon, because he missed her so much. He couldn't even explain.
Punk got ready and headed to the hospital early in the morning. He didn't know how he was meant to tell Max that their mother was in town and hoping to see them. He didn't know how Max would react, especially since he couldn't remember much about his mother or father. But he knew he had to tell him. He was old enough to cope now.
"Hey, buddy." Punk said, walking into the hospital room to see Max sitting up watching TV.
"Hey." Max smiled, glad to have a visit from his brother, only... he wondered where AJ was, he really missed her, "Where is AJ?" He asked.
"Oh... she's just away to see her mom for a few days." Punk said, trying to explain things in an easier way to Max, "Anway, how are you feeling?" He asked him, taking a seat whilst unzipping his sweater.
"Better." Max nodded, "I mean... it's still sore, but it's less painful than yesterday." Max explained as Punk nodded, glad to hear that the pain was decreasing for his brother.
"Good." Punk nodded, "Are you sleeping ok?" He asked, hoping to try and ease in the conversation of their mother being in town. Come to think of it however, there really was no way to tell Max, other than to just blurt it out.
"Yeah. I can't lie any position other than my back. But I'm getting a good sleep." Max nodded, looking back up at the TV, watching some action movie.
"Listen... Max." Punk said, his brother still watching TV, "There's something we need to talk about." Punk said as Max then turned his attention to his older brother.
"What? What's wrong?" Max asked.
"Here's the thing... Our... Our mom is in town. She's here with intentions to see us... well actually, I've alreadys seen her, but... she wants to see you." Punk said, looking at Max stare at him blankly.
"Why is she here?" Max asked with confusion.
"She found out through April that you were stabbed... but, none of that matters. What matters is... I've spoke to her and, she wants us to forgive her for neglecting us and treating us like shit." Punk said as Max just leaned his head back on his pillow.
"What if I don't want to see her? I've done fine without her for these past years." Max said.
"I know... that's how I felt. But once I spoke to her, I seen a lot of change, even in just the way she spoke and looked. I really believe she wants to make things right." Punk said, "And even if we still can't get along with her, at least we can say we tried and we spoke." Punk said as Max just shook his head.
"I don't need a mom. Ok? I don't want to see her." He shook his head stubbornly.
"I know... I know. That's how I felt. But this is a chance for us to have a new start. She just wants to build some fences with us and show us she isn't what she used to be." Punk said, "I'm not forcing you to do anything, if it comes down to it that you still don't want her in your life, then that's fine, but promise me... give her a chance? I didn't think I could, but once I listened to her and told her how I felt, I seen a lot of good in her heart." Punk admitted to his brother, "Promise me you'll give her a chance?" Punk asked his brother, AJ in his mind throughout all of this. He was doing this for her afterall, but maybe when it came down to it, he was really doing it for himself, to build some sort of relationship with his mother, even if it wasn't the strongest in the world.
"Fine." Max rolled his eyes, not acquainted to the idea of seeing his mother who he couldn't even remember what she looked like. But he supposed, everyone deserved a chance.
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