Sins 34
The next day dawned dull and dismal. It matched the moods of several people that day. Most of which were Max's brothers. Reid had driven her back to the dorms first thing in the morning. He even walked her to the office and waited for her. The provost was polite to her as he handed her the forms and copies of her transcripts. He wasn't really expecting her back but you never know. He even excused Reid for the day so he could drive her to the airport.
He walked her to the gate or as far as they would let him go. She stayed with him until they announced her flights boarding. She tearfully hugged him goodbye and made him promise to call her. She told him she would as soon as she landed just so he knew she made it safely there.
He watched from behind the security panel as she was given a boarding pass and ushered onto the plane. Then he slowly walked away, heading for the parking structure. He watched from the parking as three planes from the airline she was flying on took off. Before he let the tears finally come. Despite her reassurances he was certain that she wouldn't come back.
No one ever has and they promised the same thing. It took him a whole twenty minutes to regain some measure of control. He started the car and drove to the shoreline instead. He wasn't ready to face school yet. Instead he sat in the sand feeling sorry for himself until lunchtime. Caleb called him."Hey man you ok?" said Caleb. Reid wiped his eyes and sniffled "yeah, just can't believe she's gone" said Reid. "She'll come back Reid," said Caleb "what if she doesn't?" said Reid
"Reid she loves you she'll be back just trust her," said Caleb. "That's easy for you to say no ones ever walked out on you," said Reid. "Man you missed school anyways so meet us at Pogues' I've got something to show you" said Caleb "and Reid she will come back" said Caleb. "Yeah whatever, I'll be there," said Reid. Then he hung up; he wasn't in the mood to deal with Caleb.
He continued to sit there for a few more hours. He was just thinking about Max. Remembering all the things he was going to miss about her. From her smile to the way she teased them all. In the last few months she had truly become their sister and now she was gone and it hurt like hell. "I love you," he whispered. "Come back to me please" he said softly. His phone rang again and he debated throwing it away. Instead he answered."Hey baby, I made it, are you ok?" said Max.
"Yeah just missing you already" said Reid. "Ah that's sweet, I miss you too, I love you" said Max "I love you too" said Reid "Reid sweetie my calling card is dying I'll call you later ok, now get off the beach and quit moping" said Max
"How did you?" said Reid the phone cut off before he heard her answer. He frowned at the phone in his hand hoping she would call back. When she didn't after a few minutes he figured she wouldn't. He sighed and stood up. Brushed the sand off his pants and headed for Tyler's truck. He drove over to Pogue's house.
Caleb's car was already there and so was Pogue's bike. He walked around back and knocked on Pogue's door. Tyler answered it and he shuffled in. "hey how are you doing?" said Tyler "ok, I've been better" said Reid. "Hey man we've got something to show you," said Pogue. Reid followed the two boys farther into the room. Caleb was there and he was holding something.
He extended his hand and gave it to Reid. It was a present and there was a card sitting on top. He opened the card first, slightly confused by the unexpected gift. The card said, Reid I know your going to miss me but I promise you I will be back please wait for me. I wanted to give you something to remember me by but I couldn't think of only one so hope you enjoy signed Max.
Reid slowly tore open the paper as his friends watched. Inside were a photo frame and a cd case. He flipped over the frame and a picture of Max clinging to his back at the concert greeted him. He smiled at the smile on her face. She looked so happy in the picture he wanted to burst into tears. He set it down before he did and flipped the cd over. It was in a clear plastic container with no other markings.
He opened it to find a burned disk, he frowned at it. "Does your cd player work?" said Reid "yeah hand it here" said Pogue. He turned on his stereo and opened the cd turntable. Set the disk in the only slot and closed it. He hit play and waited.
The sound of guitar strings came from the speakers. The amp she was using crackled slightly and Pogue turned it up to compensate for it. Soon a soft voice filled the speakers. It was Max singing a song that sounded familiar. It was a love song called I promise you, Tyler later named it.
While it played they were as quiet as a mouse. Reid was just standing there listening to her voice. The song ended and Reid slowly sank to the couch. His eyes were filling with tears. He put his head in his hands and tried to compose himself. The others crowded around him. Patting him on the back trying to reassure him.
"Its going to be ok, she'll come back" said Tyler. "If she doesn't we'll go get her, ok" said Pogue. Caleb silently watched Reid. He had never seen the blond so emotional in his life. Max must have gotten to him something fierce it must really be love.
Caleb was suddenly very angry with his mother. He had found out the night before that she had indeed called Max's Mom. She got the information from the telephone operator and called her. Caleb had never been so angry with the woman in his life. He hadn't even said a word to her as he left for school in the morning. He even ate at school, even though he didn't have much of an appetite.
He came closer to Reid "hey, she's my sister remember do you think I'm going to let her stay gone?" said Caleb. "Then shouldn't we make her a reservation for a return flight?' said Tyler. They all looked at him in shock "oh shit, he's right," said Pogue.
After a few minutes search they found a beat up copy of the phone book. Pogue was using it to balance a table leg.
They each took a copy of the list and started making phone calls for her to come back the weekend after her birthday. Reid was also asking about a ticket so he could fly back with her. At last they made the reservations and Reid also managed to book a ticket for himself. He would be leaving the Friday before the fall break and returning with Max the weekend after her birthday.
"Has it occurred to anyone that Max is going to ascend in a city filled with people?" said Tyler. They all looked at him again. Caleb swore under his breath. "Should we call her and talk to her" said Pogue "yeah it might be a good idea," said Caleb. Reid looked up her number on his cell phone. He received a busy signal the first few times he called.
Max got off the plane into the Los Angeles airport. The sky outside was bright and smoggy .She retrieved her bag from the carousel She bought a calling card and dialed Reid's number. Talked until it went dead and then headed for the bus stop. She got on the city bus and rode it around until her stop and transferred to another bus. Finally one stopped in front of her trailer park and she got off.
She took a reluctant look at the entrance. For a moment she debated getting on the bus again. Instead she vetoed it and walked towards their trailer. She climbed the rickety steps slowly. It felt like it was a lifetime ago that she last did this. She unlocked the door with her key and dropped her bags by the door. She walked in and spotted the mountain of dishes in the sink and the overflowing trash can. Both had flies circling them
"Ew yuck!" said Max in disgust. Her mom was snoring on the couch a beer bottle in one hand and an ashtray filled with butts sitting next to her.
Max instead of waking her grabbed her bags and dumped them in her room. She flopped down on her mattress and groaned. It didn't feel good to be back in this hellhole. It just didn't feel like home anymore.
Max hid her bank paperwork and then walked out of the room. Opened the fridge for something to drink she found only a box of baking soda. She groaned out loud "Max?" said her mom "yeah mom its me, when did you last go to the store?" said Max "oh I don't know," said her mom. "Why are all of the dishes in the sink and are growing stuff?" said Max her mom shrugged, "great answer mom" said Max
"Where have you been?" said mom "I went to meet dad" said Max. "Where did you get the money for that?" said mom "he sent it to me" said Max "and so, was he as big a jerk as I keep saying" said her mom "actually no he died before I got there" said Max. "So why didn't you come right back?" said her mom "I met my brother and we talked," said Max before her mom could ask another question
Max bagged up the trash and took it to the dumpster outside. She went back inside and went to tackle the dishes. She uncovered the sink to find they were out of soap. "Mom I'm going to the store" said Max "with what money?" said her mom "with what I have left, I'm going to Rosa's" said Max. She walked out the door and down the road.
Exited the trailer park and walked down the street. This was the neighborhood she grew up in so it didn't scare her in the least. She walked into the small Mexican store with Rosa's in faded lettering painted on the side of the building. She bought dish soap, a soda, some tuna and tuna helper. She paid for it and walked out carrying a bag.
Walked quickly back to the trailer. Mom was sleeping again when she got there and she had knocked the phone off the hook. Max put it back on its cradle and began to scrub dishes. She was on her third dish when the phone rang. Max grabbed it before her mom could.
"Max?" said a familiar voice "Reid?" said Max "yeah its me, have you got a second?" said Reid "yeah sure go ahead" said Max "who is it?" said her mom "one of my friends" said Max "well Tyler pointed something out to us that were not sure you've thought of" said Reid "and that is?" said Max "your ascension, on your eighteenth birthday" said Reid
"Yeah what about it?" said Max. She looked at her mom she was sleeping again. "Its rather loud and showy so it might be a good idea to find a place without a lot of people" said Reid "oh" said Max "we just wanted to give you the heads up" said Tyler in the background. "Thanks guys I'll keep that in mind" said Max. Then she hung up because her mom was waking up. Max went back to doing the dishes.
"Did you make dinner?" said her mom "not yet still washing the pans" said Max. "Did you leave me enough for cigarettes?" said mom. Max fished out a ten and set it on the coffee table "thanks baby" said her mom.