How Life's Rivers Flow
By Vampire-knows
Max
I dragged myself to school the next morning, ignoring Ari's wishes for me to stay home. One day was plenty although I wasn't sure if I could handle first period sitting alone. I managed to stagger through the front doors of the school just in time for the first bell to ring, and glanced around to make sure no one I knew was within the area. When the coast looked relatively clear I began the long walk towards the Art hallway, my mind unfocused along with my vision. It was simple instinctive movements. Straight up the main staircase, all the way down the hall, up another staircase and down another hall.
What wasn't instinctive was Fang. Instead of attempting to grab me like usual he went for a different tactic today. "Hey," he spoke, his voice slightly raspy. Probably from all the yelling he took part in after Iggy won the bowling game by a landslide. Or at least, that's what Nudge had texted me anyways.
I was caught off guard by the simple gesture, and although I would have given anything to just ignore him, looking over at Lobo hurt worse than looking at Fang. He looked more upset about the situation than me, and I was the one who felt the blow the worst. "Hi," I finally answered back, attempting to walk past to an empty seat towards the back of the room.
"Max um… there's an extra seat by me you know," Fang tried, his dark eyes concerned. I sighed to myself, but sat next to him, not wanting to be alone no matter how much I tried. Although Lobo probably didn't want to be alone either. I glanced over at his table. A few Sophomores sat around and one senior but none of them looked too available for conversation. Either they were caught up on their phones or in their sketchbooks. Although by the way Lobo fidgeted, staring down at the leather jacketed book in front of him, he didn't seem to care much about his surroundings.
"I feel really bad," I mumbled, refusing to look at Fang.
"You don't have any reason to feel bad, Max. It's not your fault he's upset."
"Yes it is. I knew it was too good to be true. I should have left it alone." I insisted weakly, resting my elbow on the table and my head in my hand. Fang hesitated, his fingers twitching before he finally reached over, brushing some hair out of my eyes.
"Max, I know this is hard on you, and I wish I could make you smile, but since I can't maybe some advice would work instead?" He offered and when I didn't immediately groan at the idea he continued. "Go home. Get some rest, take a bath and relax, listen to some music. You, of all people, deserve to listen to some good music."
I grinned at Fang in spite of my thoughts of wanting him to go away, taking the idea to heart. "Well, I do still have that CD you gave me in eighth grade when I told you I was related to that producer guy."
"Oh wonderful. A bunch of crappy love songs with epic guitar solos in them." Fang chuckled and I found it in myself to laugh too, until my eyes fell on Lobo. He wasn't even smiling. I didn't deserve this kind of joy if he couldn't feel it too.
"Hey Max, look at me." Fang whispered, his voice loud yet quiet- stuck in the back of my mind, although I still did as I was told. "If it makes you smile you should listen to the songs a hundred times over."
"Maybe I will."
Running laps for countless amounts of time had never been my foretay. Then again neither was having sex with my best friend for comfort or kissing random new guys because they could make me laugh. A lot of things were changing lately, and they didn't stop there.
"Greyback, Martinez!" Coach Dwyer called and we both fell out of our sprint to jog over to the coach. I was curious yet hopeful, whereas Lupo seemed to already know everything. She always seemed to know what was going on. Two steps ahead of everybody and everything.
"Since Lupo started the fight yesterday you're good to try out, Max. Lupo, you aren't." She said simply and I blinked in shock, turning to Lupo.
"I'm sorry, what? When did-"
"It's not a big deal."
"It's a huge deal. You ever start something like that again and I'll have you running drills after school for hours. Now get back to yours laps." Coach Dwyer waved us off, and Lupo jogged away without a second thought. I followed after her quickly, eager to keep up.
"Thank you," I said, ignoring the sweat that dripped down my face. It was better than pathetic tears.
"I didn't do it for you," Lupo muttered and I grinned.
"I'm sure you didn't, but thanks anyways. You know, maybe I was too much of a bitch to you in the beginning. I'm sorry, you didn't deserve anything I said about you."
"No, I probably did."
"You really didn't though. Hey, you ever need a favor let me know. I got your back, okay?" I offered, attempting to make up for all the problems I had caused Lupo. Of course she'd probably never forget some of the things I called her, but I hoped we could at least push it over our shoulders, somewhere behind us where we couldn't reach. If I was going to only get the chance of having a good relationship with one Greyback, Lupo seemed a hell of a lot better choice than Lobo at the moment.
"Okay." She grinned at me before we both picked up the pace, and though I knew friendship was a big word for us, we were definitely headed somewhere in that direction.
