Chapter Seven: Too Much Awkwardness

Maxs Pov

(One week later; Tuesday)

"No I did not! You're such a liar," Ella exclaims, playfully slapping Caden's arm.

"Max I swear! She was snoring and everything. Everyone in the movie theater was staring at us because she was so loud."

I can't help but smile a little at imagine if Caden and Ella in the movie theater; Ella passed out, snoring and Caden trying to shield her with a blanket to keep people from staring so much.

"I believe you, she's done it to me, too," I admit.

Ella glares at me from across the lunch table, a small pout in her face. Caden pulls her into the crease of his arm and kisses the top of her head as if to say sorry. They're such a cute, cheesy couple.

It makes me sick.

Since when did I sign up to me a third wheel?

"You guys are so cute together," Nudge says. "How come I can't find a guy to be cute with?"

"Because you friend zone everyone," Angel adds.

"I do not!... well, not on purpose. I just really like making friends and being nice to people."

"I have a friend I think you'd be good with," Caden speaks up. "He doesn't go here, so you haven't had the chance to friend zone him yet."

Nudge lights up instantly. "What's his name?"

"Cameron, he goes to a public school just a few minutes away."

"Omg yay, please text him and tell him about me and let me know what he says."

"Actually I'm going to hang out with him after classes, if you wanna come," Caden offers.

"I'm in!" She imminently agrees. "See I knew there was a reason you started sitting with else, well besides sucking faces with Ella."

He rolls his eyes but I can tell that he's happy that he's getting along with Ella's friends, as is she that he is too.

Caden started sitting at lunch with us ever since we went on that double date. He's actually a really cool, funny guy and I've gotten to like him more that I've talked to him but I still do miss my alone time with Ella; She is the only person I can hang out with for long periods of time without getting bored. But Caden promised me one full day a week of my choosing with her, without him around so I at least have that to look forward to.

Hopefully.

I feel my phone buzz inside my pocket; I pull it on, on the screen a message from Sam is displayed. At the top of the other four messages he's sent today.

I'm not purposely meaning to ignore him but I've been so distacted lately that I haven't had time to catch up with him since being back to school.

Sam: Hi beautiful

Sam: What's up?

Sam: Max...

Sam: Are you mad at me?

Sam: Did I do something wrong?

I feel bad for not answering his messages.

Sam is one of the sweetest, sensitive guys I've met and I feel guilty for not answering to his first one this morning because I should've known he'd think the worst.

Max: Hey! sorry, I'm not mad. I've just had a lot of stuff to do.

As soon as I press send the message says read and the typing bubble pops up seconds later, as if he's been waiting by his phone all day for a response.

Sam: Oh okay. sorry I just assumed…

Max: Ik but I'm not. swear. how've you been?

Sam: eh, okay i guess. The moms and I miss you around.

Max: Aw tell regina I said hi and that i'll be home for

Christmas to see the both of you

Sam: I'm sure she'll be relieved to have her designated gift wrapper back ;)

I smile down at the small screen. Regina -Sam's mom- has never exactly been the best at wrapping gifts so ever since I was six, I begin wrapping all her gifts for her. It was the best time of the year for me -me wrapping presents, Sam keeping my company but having to wear a blind-fold so he wouldn't see the gift, my mom bringing up fresh christmas cookies and Regina hot chocolate.

Like a happy little family.

I miss that.

"What are you smiling at?" Angel leans over.

"Just talking to Sam."

"Finally! He's been messaging me every single day, multiple times a day trying to figure out why you weren't talking to him. Now I don't have to listen to him moan and grown about you."

"Shh."

Max: i'll ALWAYS be back for christmas

Max: Hey I gtg, bell just rang

Sam: okay. Facetime me tonight?

Max: alright. Love you

Sam: Bye, max. love you

"How were classes today?" Sam says through the computer screen.

"Okay I guess," I shrug. "We had a meeting today to talk about the end of the year projects."

"What is it?"

"Well basically you know how TA is a school for special talents? So the end of the year project is where you prove you were worth being accepted into the school by showing off a talent. Like performing, or writing a novel or composing a song, essay ect and out of everyone they choose a selected number to compete in an international contest with people from TA all around the world and there's a winner for each category and yea."

"Why didn't they have that last year?"

"They did but they did it privately with each individual person. This year they changed it because this way, with everyone together, it's a lot quicker and easier for them."

"Ahhh, okay. Makes sense. So which one are you going to do?" Sam asks.

"I don't know yet."

"I think you should do the singing one. You love singing."

I don't know. I've never tried the singing before and I sure as hell don't want my first time to be in front of the whole school.

"I think I may just stick to writing like I did last year," I concur. "I got really good scores on that."

Sam looks a little disappointed in my choice not to try something new but he nods supportively anyways because that's just who he is.

I like that he still looks a lot like the way he did, when I left -same shaggy brown hair, warm hazel eyes, and tan skin tone. It makes me feel like I haven't missed too much back home. But Its the little changes that I notice too and make him seem older and more mature than he did a month ago. It's clear that his features have gotten sharper -a more square jaw line, sharper cheekbones and the loss of the rest of his baby-fat.

"Hows my mom?" I ask.

"She's good," he assures me. "but she misses you a lot. I guess that's the cons of only having one child.. She comes over almost every evening though to hang out with my mom and we do dinner together."

"I miss her, too." A lot. "And you guys -How's my second family?"

"We've been good. Mom's her usual fun, carefree self. And I've been trying to get out of the house more, so I've started going to the gym with Sean, every day."

"You… to a gym?" I laugh. "Flex your arm."

He stands from his large oak bed filled with so many memories and backs away from the camera. I watch as he brings his thin arms up and flexes them to reveal a mere ghost of a muscle. I once again laugh but only jokingly.

"Shut up!" He yells, but he's smiling too.

"Okay, fine," I apologize. " I'm sorry."

"I just started going with him last week, so you're not going to see any results this soon." Sam defends.

Images of sixth grade Sam come rushing back to my brain -he was barely four-eleven, while I was already five-six. I remember the bigger kids use to bully him for his small size but he was too scared to tell his mom. He only confided in me, and would make me promise not to tell another soul.

I can't help but frown at the memories. "Are you still doing online school?"

After I left for TA, Sam dropped out of school and began doing online classes. I was one of his only friends and with me gone, he had no more motivation to go.

His smile drops a little but he quickly recovers it. "Yeah... but honestly, I love it. I don't have to get up and get ready at six a.m. or worry about leaving out on time and I can eat whenever I want and have so much free time. It's great."

"Good. I'm happy that you like it… but what about collage? Or after college"

"What about it?"

"You can't hide in your house for the rest of your life. What are you going to do about work? Or starting a family?"

He's silent for a minute. "To be honest, I haven't really thought that far. I just assumed you'd be back home by then and we'd figure it all out together."

"Sam-" I begin but am cut off by a knock. "Hold on. Someone's at the door."

I shuffle over to the door and throw it open as usual without looking, expecting it to be Angel, Nudge or Ella but it turns out not to be any of them. But a male.

"Riley, what are you doing here?" I question.

His face quickly switches from a happy smile to a nervous look. "I'm sorry, were you in the middle of something?"

"Um," I look back at the lap-top. Sam's confused face shows on the screen. "I'm just surprised."

"Well I have nothing to do, so I thought to myself, 'hey, I wonder if Max wants to hang out'?"

"You mean right now?"

He laughs. "Yes, that's why I'm here."

I'm still confused. "Riley, it's nine already."

"Oh come on, Max. It's not that late. And since when do you care about curfew?"

I contemplate it over and over again in my head. I don't particularly want to go out alone with Riley but at the same time I haven't done anything all week and I'm tired of being cooped up in this room.

"I'm sorry Riley, I can't tonight. I'm actually on facetime with someone."

"Oh, right. Maybe another night then?" He looks disappointed.

"Yea, sure," Is all I say before closing the door.

I head back over to my laptop where Sam's waiting.

"Who is this guy?" he insists.

"Nobody."

"Max clearly he's someone. Is he your boyfriend?"

"No, god no," I assure him. "He's just a friend."

"Max-"

"It's getting kind of late and I haven't slept much this past week. I'm gonna try and get some sleep okay?" I cut him off.

"Of course… I Love you, max."

"Love you too Sam. Goodnight," I wave goodbye, before clicking the red botton and ending the call.

I know he wants the whole story with Riley but I don't have the energy to give it to him and I honestly don't want to. Sam's my best friend and I tell him mostly everything, but I know he still has some feelings for me even after our break up and I don't wanna accidentally hurt him over some guy I barely know, so it's better just to say nothing.