Max POV
As I am looking out the window in Algebra II in deep thought. I was thinking about Home. Or the closest thing I can and probably ever have to having a home. I am only welcomed in "my" house because Jeb wants me to be his personal servant and he still acts like I am an object that he can beat the crap out of. Ugh. I hate him sometimes. While I was thinking of being Jeb's personal pillow in which he punches and kicks I unconsciously touch my side. I instantly gasped. Hopefully no one noticed. I instantly took my hands off of my side and calmed down.
~Lunch~
So that was basically how Algebra II went, me just sitting there thinking about my life. I ended up being late to almost every class this morning because I getting lost. Stupid big school. Here I am walking outside to the football field. It was completely empty but I could still see into the Lunch Room. I sat down and leaned against the goal post and I pulled out my lunch and ipod. I quickly turned it to a random song and "3 am" by Matchbox 20 came on.
She say it's cold outside and she hands me my raincoat
She's always worried about things like that
She says it's all gonna end and it might as well be my fault
And she only sleeps when it's raining
And she screams and her voice is straining
She says baby
It's 3 am I must be lonely
When she says baby
Well I can't help but be scared of it all sometimes
Says the rain's gonna wash away I believe it
She's got a little bit of something, God it's better than nothing
And in her color portrait world she believes that she's got it all
She swears the moon don't hang quite as high as it used to
And she only sleeps when it's raining
And she screams and her voice is straining
She says baby
It's 3 am I must be lonely
When she says baby
Well I can't help but be scared of it all sometimes
Says the rain's gonna wash away I believe it
She believes that life is made up of all that you're used to
And the clock on the wall has been stuck at three for days, and days
She thinks that happiness is a mat that sits on her doorway
But outside it's stopped raining
She says baby
It's 3 am I must be lonely
When she says baby
Well I can't help but be scared of it all sometimes
Says the rain's gonna wash away I believe it
While I listened to this song again my mind drifted back to my life. I never had someone to comfort me when I had ad dreams or when I was cold or sick. Jeb always just said "Suck it up and get cleaning the bathroom". And this song made me realize that I don't have anyone to run to. Okay I need to get out of this mood.
~7th period aka last period~
Choir. Why do I have this class? Did Jeb sign me up? Does he hear me singing? And even if he did know signing me up for choir would be something nice and that's just not Jeb and Jeb would HATE to see me happy or enjoying something. Uhm. Oh well I should be happy I am in this class.
"You must be the new student?" I nodded to the teacher. "Would you mind singing something for us? Because I still need to place in alto or soprano." I nodded again. "Okay you can pick a song from there or you are welcome to grab a guitar or play the piano" Again I nodded and I headed over to the guitar. I grabbed an acoustic and went up to the mic. Here goes nothin'. Woah déjà vu.
FANG POV
So I am in seventh period and I am sitting in a chair near the back and I am just sitting there watching people. Then Max came in, in all of her beauty. Okay I really needed to stop thinking that. Anyway then Mrs. Joanaa started talking to Max (I was too far away I couldn't really hear) and I saw Max nod a couple times and then she headed up to the stage. She grabbed an acoustic and went to the mic. Before I knew it I heard her start playing a song I have never heard. . She moved her fingers over the strings beautifully. Okay stop stop stop I don't even know her. But there is one more thing I noticed she was good at guitar!! Like really good!
(WHO I AM by JESSICA ANDREWS)
If I live to be a hundred
And never see the seven wonders
That'll be alright
If I don't make it to the big leagues
If I never win a Grammy
I'm gonna be just fine
'Cause I know exactly who I am
I am Rosemary's granddaughter
The spitting image of my father
And when the day is done
My momma's still my biggest fan
Sometimes I'm clueless and I'm clumsy
But I've got friends who love me
And they know just where I stand
It's all a part of me
And that's who I am
So when I make big mistake
When I fall flat on my face
I know I'll be alright
Should my tender heart be broken
I will cry those teardrops knowin'
I will be just fine
'Cause nothin' changes who I am
I am Rosemary's granddaughter
The spitting image of my father
And when the day is done
My momma's still my biggest fan
Sometimes I'm clueless and I'm clumsy
But I've got friends who love me
And they know just where I stand
It's all a part of me
And that's who I am
I'm a saint and I'm a sinner
I'm a loser, I'm a winner
I'm am steady and unstable
I am young but I'm able
I am Rosemary's granddaughter
The spitting image of my father
And when the day is done
My momma's still my biggest fan
Sometimes I'm clueless and I'm clumsy
But I've got friends who love me
And they know just where I stand
It's all a part of me
And that's who I am
I am Rosemary's granddaughter
The spitting image of my father
And when the day is done
My momma's still my biggest fan
Sometimes I'm clueless and I'm clumsy
But I've got friends who love me
And they know just where I stand
It's all a part of me
And that's who I am
As she started singing louder I saw her wince when she took a deep breath, I wonder what happened! Oh well I might find out louder I just need to focus on her voice. It is so amazing I think she could probably out sing Hannah Montana, not like I would no I am serious I am just trying to be funny it obviously isn't working so anyway. She was that good.
Once she finished the song Mrs. Joanaa started clapping really really loudly and then everyone started clapping everyone but the girls in the corner who were just glaring at her. Max then went to put away the acoustic and she hopped down from the stage and she twitched a little and you could see she regretted it, but I think everyone stopped paying attention to her as they just went back to talking. She walked over to sit over far from everyone else and sat still.
~End of class~
After a bunch of people sang the bell rang. And Max was the first one out. I saw her rush out of the classroom and I was closely behind. I wanted to be out of there really badly. She quickly left the building into the still raining cold. She didn't care if her hair got soaked or if her clothes got wet. She really is different.
After about five minutes I walked out to my car and it took about 5 seconds for my hair, shoes and black hoodie to get wet, I wonder how Max is doing? Why do my thoughts keep going back to her? Ugh. Anyway so I went to my Black diesel 4x4 truck and got in and put on Nickleback. The first song that came on was "Gotta Be Somebody".
This time, I wonder what it feels like
To find the one in this life, the one we all dream of
But dreams just aren't enough
So I'll be waiting for the real thing, I'll know it by the feeling
The moment when we're meeting, will play out like a scene
Straight off the silver screen
So I'll be holding my own breath, right up 'til the end
Until that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever with
Cause nobody wants to be the last one there
Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares
Someone to love with my life in their hands
There's gotta be somebody for me like that
Cause nobody wants to do it on their own
And everyone wants to know they're not alone
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there
Tonight, out on the street, out in the moonlight
And dammit this feels too right, it's just like deja vu
Me standing here with you
So I'll be holding my own breath, could this be the end
Is it that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever with
Cause nobody wants to be the last one there
Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares
Someone to love with my life in their hands
There's gotta be somebody for me like that
Cause nobody wants to do it on their own
And everyone wants to know they're not alone
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there
You can't give up, looking for a diamond in the rough
You never know, when it shows up, make sure you're holding on
Cause it could be the one, the one you're waiting on
Cause nobody wants to be the last one there
And everyone wants to feel like someone cares
Someone to love with my life in their hands
There's gotta be somebody for me, ohhh
Nobody wants to do it on their own
And everyone wants to know their not alone
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there
Nobody wants to be the last one there
Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there
I started singing along. You know how I said that I am a huge music dork? I wasn't kidding. Once I got out of the parking lot I took a right and made it down maybe a half a mile when I see a girl with a red hood covering her head. She had blue jeans and black converse. Wait hold on is that Max? Huh. She was shivering but I could see her head lean back and she looked up to the sky. I was just about to pass her when I saw here face was red and she wasn't just shivering but she was also shaking and I am guessing that she was crying. Just say it is a boys intuition. So I pulled over next to her and her head quickly turned her head and looked at me. I never noticed that you can get so lost in her eyes but then again she seems to avoid keeping eye contact with anyone.
"Do you need a ride?" I asked her. She shook her head, no.
"Are you sure? You look really cold. Are you okay?" She nodded. Not much of a talker huh?
"How far is your house?" I asked again trying to get her to talk.
"Not far."
"As in?"
"10 miles" she said as she looked down. I was shocked. 10 miles in the rain is a lot. She must have seen the shock on my face because she started to walk farther down the sidewalk.
"Hey wait I will give you a ride. 10 miles in the rain is a lot." I said. She went back to no talking and just shook her head. I don't know why I said this but I wish I didn't. I just blurted it out not even thinking if I was invading her privacy. "Is that why you were late in Algebra II?" She suddenly looked over shocked. But after a little while she gave me a nod. "Where do you live? I can give you a ride to school." I again blurted out and I don't even know why I offered but it is too late now and I wouldn't pull out of the offer. "Please." I said.
"Thank you" she replied shyly. I nodded and I motioned for her to get into the car. After some hesitation she climbed into the passenger seat.
"Where do you live?" I asked.
"1965 Center Park" she mumbled. "Okay sounds good I live on that road too." She nodded. And the rest of the ride was silent.
Once we got to her house she mumbled a quick thanks as she got out. I nodded and before she got to far I said "Pick you up at 7:30?" Again she nodded and she ran inside.
~7:30~
So I am at Max's house waiting outside. And Max just ran out. She hopped into the car fast kinda like she was afraid of something. I looked at her weird and she looked at me she still seemed a little anxious. So I pulled off of the curb since I didn't want her to be scared anymore than she is. She looked thankful.
"Are you okay?" I asked her. She nodded.
"Why don't you talk?" I asked her and she shrugged while she was smirking. So she was now trying to annoy me. I rolled my eyes at her. She smirked again.
~After School~
"You ready?" I asked her after Choir. She nodded. What is up with her not talking? Once we got in the car I invaded her privacy again by asking "Why do you look like you are in so much pain?" she looked at me quickly and says "I am not".
"Suuuurre" I said totally not believing her. She just replied "I'm not hurting" in a tone that said to just drop it. So I did.
After I dropped her off. I started to go down the street (my house was only three doors down on the other side of the street). I know I haven't really talked much about where I live but lets just say I live with my brother, Iggy, my little sister, Angel, my little bro, Gaz, and my parents. I'll explain their characteristics more later.
~3 hours later~
I am sitting on my balcony yes I know we get the only balcony and I love it. So anyway I am sitting there and I am playing "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi on my acoustic when I saw a car pull into Max's driveway. I didn't think much of it until I heard the car door slam and I saw him march up to the front door and barge in.
After about 15 minutes I very faintly heard someone start yelling. I listened harder and I could have sworn I heard "…you lazy scum bag why isn't my dinner ready?......Oh you had homework?....I thought I taught you to work for me FIRST!!!....(silence)" Ummm okay. I think I should probably check this is out. So I got off of my balcony by jumping, no it's not dangerous it is skillful so DON'T TRY AT HOME! Anyway so I started walking across the street and I saw a shadow across the yawn. It looked like a blob on the floor (which I am assuming is a person) and the other shadow was towering over it. I kept walking and I saw, through a window, Max laying on the floor, bloody, and the angry man standing over her. As I was just stood in front of the window the man looked up and Max appeared unconscious. He looked at me with surprise and then he looked like he was going to pop a vain. If I wasn't trying to figure out what just happened I would have thought his face would be funny. My bad. He quickly moved towards the window and closed the blinds but I had already seen the damage.
(The Next Morning)
It was 7:30 and I am across the street waiting for Max to come out. When she did she looked terrible. She was very pale and she was clutching her ribs.
"Hey" she mumbled. I nodded to her and quickly drove away, the last thing I needed was for that man to see me. Man that would turn out badly. Once we got to the stop sign at the end of the street I turned to her "What in the world happened to you? Why are you so hurt?" I already knew the answer but I wanted to hear it from her. Only to know if I was right. She looked at me shocked (she seemed to do that a lot huh?)
"I am not hurt" she said.
"Oh really than why are you so pale and why was it that on the day I met you, you gasped when you touched your ribs or even when you were crying while you walking that 'short' distance to you house?"
"You noticed that?" She said with wide eyes. I nodded.
"I tripped and ran into a table and it bruised some ribs" she said and if I hadn't of seen her last night I would have believed it but that wasn't the case now was it?
"You're lying"
"No I am not"
"Yes you are. I can see your house from mine and why do you let him do that to you?" Again she looked shocked. She just quickly looked away. I pulled over to the side of the road and turned to face her. She seemed a little confused about my sudden decision and she turned her head slightly to see me and that was enough of and invitation to talk as she will give me right now.
"Please tell me. I don't understand why you let this happen."
"It is complicated."
"I don't mind ditching Algebra II so start talking". She shook her head and turned to face the window. I reached out and touched her arm and she immediately pulled winced and pulled back. I looked at her and thats when I noticed her hoodie had ridden up showing part of her forearm. I gasped slightly. It was black and yellow. She looked down and saw it and she immediately pulled her sleeve back down but it was too late and now it was my turn to be shocked. "Where else?" I asked her. She looked at me for a second and sighed she must have known I would never give up. She slightly lifted up her shirt (mind out of the gutter people, I didn't mean it in a peverted way) to show her lower part of her rib cage. This was even worse her right left side was swollen and a couple of her ribs seemed to stick out more than the others.
"Why?" I asked mostly to myself. She looked away and pulled the bottom of her shirt down. "Why are you letting this happen?" I asked her a little more loudly.
"I have to."
"Why?"
She seemed to snap at this point, "If I fight back I am out and I have no money, no family and no friends to go to. So that is why I put up with it so I have a bed, heat, clean water and food."
"You have a friend" I mumbled and again I didn't mean to say it.
"What?"
"I said you have a friend"
"Who?"
"Me…"