Sins ch 9
Max slept for several hours then woke because she was hungry. It turned out to be close to dinnertime so she headed for the cafeteria. Jenny was nowhere to be found, so max ate by herself. She needed time to think about everything. Half of her wanted to just pack up and go home. She didn't want to be a home wrecker. If Caleb accepted her eventually his mother would find out.
She didn't envy her brother one bit. Not only was he the appointed leader of the group but also he was trying to hold all this together. Max made up her mind right then and there if Caleb didn't ever acknowledge her she would never force him to. She finished her meal and put her dishes away. Since she had slept all afternoon she was going to have to stay up and complete her homework tonight.
She opened the door to her room and was greeted by a sight she wished she hadn't seen. Jenny was in her bed having sex with some boy who looked vaguely familiar. Max quickly closed the door. "Are you crazy?" said Max. Jenny seemed to be considering it. "Get him out of here" said Max. "In a second" breathed jenny. The man on top was obviously about to come. Max looked disgusted and walked into her bathroom.
The boy made a grunting noise and was apparently done. "That was great," said the boy. Someone chose that moment to knock on the door."Yeah who is it?" asked Max when the two lovebirds froze. "It's Reid, open the door," he said. "Shit!" said Jenny under her breath and started shoving her new man into the bathroom. "Just a second" said Max.
With the boy toy quickly ensconced in the bathroom, Max opened the door. Jenny had thrown on a bathrobe. Max sat down at her desk she had a lot of work to do and she couldn't meet Reid's eyes right now.
"Hey babe, I just wanted to tell you the good news Tyler scored us tickets to Nightwish for their show in Boston on Friday" said Reid. He was grinning at her widely. "That's great just great," Jenny said nervously. "Something wrong babe?" asked Reid. "No its cool, I'd love to go" said Jenny. Max rolled her eyes how could she do that to Reid.
Max glanced toward the bathroom and noticed they had left boy toy in the dark. She couldn't stand it anymore. Reid deserved better, Max closed her eyes and used her power to flick the bathroom light on. Reid saw the sudden spill of light from under the door and the tips of a pair of converses. "You can come out," said Reid
The door opened slowly and a brown haired head popped out. The boy toy reached for his pants off the floor and Reid noticed he was wearing only a pair of boxers. He looked at Jenny plainly he was pissed at her. "When were you going to tell me?" said Reid "babe, I" said Jenny. "Don't even" waved Reid cutting off her excuse. Reid turned and walked away striding down the hallway at almost a run.
Max had seen the hurt look in his eyes as he turned to walk away. She got up from her desk and went to the door. "Have him gone by the time I get back," said Max. She sounded angry and she was. That was wrong of Jenny to do Reid like that.
Max ran down the hallway towards the front of the building. She spotted Reid's blond head heading for Tyler's truck. "Ah shit!" she said out loud and ran across the lawn jumped a hedge and a staircase and kept running. She reached Reid just as he was starting the car. She was on the passenger side so she opened the door and jumped in.
Reid already had the car in gear and was pulling out of the space. He saw her get in but didn't say anything. He was gripping the steering wheel in a death grip. His knuckles were white. He was driving erratically and recklessly.
Max had to change stoplights several times just to avoid him hitting anyone. "Reid slow down" said Max. Reid responded by angrily shifting. "Reid your going to kill someone please calm down" said Max. "If you don't like my driving get out!" he said sharply back. Max decided to try another tactic. She fastened her seatbelt and concentrated on keeping other vehicles out of Reid's way.
Silence reigned as she worked to keep both them and fellow drivers alive. She had just gotten them clear of town when Reid finally spoke again. "You did that back there?" he said. "The road or the bathroom?"" asked Max. "The bathroom" he said. His tone was cold and slightly clipped. "Yes" she said. "Why?" said Reid. Max looked at her lap "because what she was doing was wrong" said Max softly. Reid pulled off the road at a park and stopped the car.
He put his head on the steering wheel, and then hit it in anger. "I am so stupid" he said. "No your not" said Max. "Then why didn't I see it sooner?" he said. "Cause you didn't want to, I guess". He got out of the car and Max followed him. He had his back to her and was suddenly quiet for a few minutes. He was staring out at the Ocean. Max walked closer and saw his shoulders heave.
He had his face in his hands and she heard him stifle a sob. Max put her arms around him. "Its ok" she said softly. He accepted her hug reluctantly. As though he were embarrassed that he was crying like a little boy. Max didn't care, he was hurting and he was a friend.
She let him relax into the embrace; he was a man and had to have some pride. After a few minutes he pulled away from her. "Oh god I hate her so much" he whispered. "She deserves it," said Max. He had his arms across his chest like he was in pain. By the look in his eyes she guessed that he was. "I thought she was the one," he whispered. He put his hands into his hair and growled in frustration.
"How could I be so damn dumb!" he yelled. Max let him rant he needed to vent and if he used they were far enough away from everything that no one would notice. He swung his fist at the nearest tree and connected. She heard a cracking noise and hoped it wasn't his hand." How could she do that?" he whispered. He turned to her and the expression he gave her was so sad that she wanted to join him in the cry fest.
"I don't know," said Max. She reached out to hug him again and he held up his hands to ward her off. She stayed where she was and let him compose himself.
He took a few minutes to calm down. He was so angry right now he didn't know if he wanted to cry or blow up her car. He put his head down and looked at his feet. He felt so bad right now but he didn't want to be alone right now. Jenny was the first girl who had lasted more than a week. He really thought that meant something. That maybe just maybe she was the one. Apparently he was wrong "why did you follow me?" he asked at last. "Because you're a friend," said Max softly. "Thanks, glad I at least have you," said Reid. "I can't believe she did that?" he whispered. "Me either" said Max.
Reid widened his eyes and looked at her sideways. "Why not?" said Reid "because she's stupid she had someone who obviously cared about her and she threw it away, sorry but that's dumb in my book" said Max. "Your right that is dumb" said Reid. His voice was softer more subdued. It still had the edge of anger to it but it was sadder now.
She felt the urge to hug him again but knew he probably wouldn't let her. "Have you ever done that?' he asked. "No, I didn't really date all that much" said Max. "But you wouldn't would you?" said Reid. "No definitely not, I wouldn't want to hurt someone that way" she said softly. Reid closed his eyes for a moment and this time he hugged her.