Chapter 10. Always by your side

"So, let me get this straight: he... kissed you?" PJ said with a raised eyebrow and looked at Max who nodded silently. He was cuddled up in his bed with his knees tight to his chest while hugging a pillow. His face was red and his eyes confused as he tried to avoid PJ's gaze. The big guy suddenly started smiling widely.

"Seriously?! Bobby just kissed you? Like that?"

"Yes! Okay? Why are you acting so weird?" Max burst out. This situation was already embarrassing enough without his best friend making such a big fuzz over what he had just been told.

"'Cause, well... I'm sorry, man, but it's just so cute!"

Max couldn't really believe his own ears.

"Cute?" he asked in disbelief. "Have you listened to anything I just said?" PJ stopped smiling and sat down next to Max on the bed.

"Yes, sorry. I know you both seem to be having some kind of inner turmoil but I'm just impressed that Bobby finally dared to advance. He have more guts than I thought. And come on Maxie, you must admit that it is a little sweet? He had a crush on you since high school, he has been taking a lot of shit 'cause of that and now he finally came out to you 'cause, I guess, he feels safe here." PJ stopped his ranting and looked at Max who seemed deep in thoughts.

"I never thought of it that way," he finally said. "So that's all you're thinking about this?"

"Should I be thinking anything else?"

"I dunno, maybe you should be freaked out 'cause we're friends and if this goes to hell it will be extremely awkward," Max said with a sigh.

"Why would it go to hell? Love like this is beautiful, no matter where you find it. Trust me, I know," PJ said and patted his friend's shoulder and Max couldn't help but to be amazed of how much his friend had changed to the better since he met Mocha. He was more open and confident in himself.

"But Roxanne..." Max started but was interrupted by a headshake from PJ.

"You have to tell her, man. But frankly, you two were high school sweethearts, you had a thing together this winter, but somewhere you have to make a choice. And honestly I think you already have when you talked to Bobby this morning, don't you agree?"

Max Shrugged. "I guess so," he said.

"I stand by you through thick and thin, bro. I just want my friends to be happy," PJ said with a smile and received a glance from Max that was wet from tears being held back.

"Besides," PJ added, "I'm just glad that you two can finally stop acting so weird and include me again." His words where meant as a try to lighten the mood but instead of a giggle, Max responded with hiding his face in the pillow in his arms as sudden, quiet sobs rocked his body.

"I'm a terrible friend..." he whispered into the fabric. PJ looked at him in surprise.

"What just happened?" he asked with genuine confusion in his voice.

"I should've told you right away. I should've included you from the start. You're my best friend, I've dragged you with me to hell and back and you've always followed even though it got you in trouble. And then I do this!" he broke down in new sobs as the tension that had been building up in him for over a week was released.

"It's okay, Max, I understand you. You were unsure, Bobby was, well, Bobby and it's all in the open now. I can't blame you for not telling me when you weren't ready," PJ comforted in a soft voice and suddenly pulled Max into a big, warm embrace. Max dropped the pillow and without a second thought he was clinging to PJ as if he was a lifeline and cried into his shoulder.

It was this way Bobby found them when he walked into the room. He stopped in the doorway and made eye contact with PJ.

"He told you?" he said silently and PJ nodded and said "Everyting," which made Bobby close his eyes in understanding. All cards were on the table and the redhead felt both free and terrified at the same time. Max was finally calming down and he turned as he heard Bobby's voice behind him. With a smile he wiped his wet cheeks and let go of PJ.

"I'm okay," he said thickly and waved for Bobby to come inside. Said hipster did so and closed the door behind him and sat down on the floor before PJ and Max. The three men were quiet for a moment.

"There's just a few things we need to discuss and they circle around you, Bobby," PJ said after a while. The redhead looked up with a puzzled and nervous look on his face.

"First, I'm so sorry about your mother. I hope she will get well soon."

To this Bobby only shrugged but Max saw a faint smile of thankfulness on his lips.

"Second, we will do whatever you want us to, to help you feel better. If you want help with studying, we'll be there. If you want us to join you when you're home, so you don't have to face your father alone, just give us a call."

At the mentioning of his father, panic rose inside Bobby and he started to shake his head.

"It's not that bad, you don't have to..."

"Bobby, we will be there if you want us to. I know how it is, I really do," PJ continued and for a second, something dark could be seen in his eyes.

"I know..." Bobby mumbled and tried to sound neutral but a feeling of relief started to slowly spread through his veins and he relaxed. "Was that all?" he then asked. PJ opened his mouth but Max beat him to it.

"You need to stop taking drugs." To his and PJ's surprise Bobby just smirked at this.

"I've been clean for almost a week, bro," he said. "Took my last hit when I was studying for the test."

Max and PJ just stared at the redhead in front of them before they both could feel warm smiles spread across their faces.

"That's awesome! Congratulations and well done!" PJ cheered. Bobby stood up and went over to Max who felt a warm lump in his throat as the redhead looked him deep in the eyes.

"The only thing I want to light up now, is you," Bobby said softly.

There was a moment of silence. Max looked at Bobby, which in turn waited for a blushing, a kiss or any form of response. PJ looked at his two friends and was wondering if they had forgotten he was there. And then Max burst out laughing.

"Dude, that was the worst pick up line ever!" he gasped after a while and for that, received a punch with a pillow from Bobby.

PJ rolled his eyes. Something told him that if he and Mocha wasn't discrete with their intimacy, it would be nothing against Bobby's nature of not really caring what other's thought once he had been okay with it himself. Sharing room with these two would surely be interesting from now on.

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Author's note

I'm sorry this is so short but frankly I couldn't stand to write next part after this beautiful scene. So I decided to make two different chapters.

And suddenly it struck me how much experience PJ actually have when it comes to bad home situations, friendship and love. Compared to Max, he is often in the background but seeing it now, he is actually more mature than both Max and Bobby even outside this fanfic :O

And finally I know how all this is going to end!