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Chapter Ten: Over Before It Even Started

Maxs Pov

(Monday)

I wake to a knocking sound. At first I think it was apart of my nightmare -I was being chaced through an endless hallway and I thought the pounding was my rapid heart beat or the sound of things breaking as they're thrown at me- but it continues when I open my eyes.

I moan, throwing the blacket off of me to look for my phone.

6:03 A.m.

I don't have to be up for another hour.

Who the hell is so important that they think they can come to my room at six a.m. and wake me up?

Another set of knocks come.

"I'm coming!" I yell.

I roll out of bed, slipping on some pants and a shirt before checking out who's at the door. On the other side is none other than Riley; his brown hair perfectly gelled back and his clothes unwrinkled.

He's obviously been up for a while.

"Hey," He smiles. "How are you?"

I simply stare at him. I'm up at six am for smart talk?

"Can I come in? I brought you some breakfast." He holds up chocolate chip waffles, eggs and an ice coffee.

I take the food and coffe with me back to my bed. Riley stands in the door way for a few seconds, contemplating if my silence was a yes or no, before deciding just to come in anyways.

I turn my attention away from him and begin shoving food down my throat. From the corner of my eye, I see Riley taking a seat at my desk and watching me while I eat. I know I probably look a mess after two night mares and three hours of sleep last night but he came here by his own choosing.

"Why are you up so early?"

"I wake up at four-thirty every morning, to go for a run or head over to the gym, and then get food, before classes."

I simply nod.

I praise him for having that much displin to wake up so early every morning and work out but why did I have to get dragged into his early wake up?

"Why are you playing me?" He blurts out.

I swallow slowly. "What?"

"Yesterday at Angel's party.. You say you don't want to date anyone but you were all over Iggy and Fang and kept talking to that Caden guy and Gazzy. I just don't understand."

He was watching me the whole time?

"First of all, I was not all over Iggy. I was hanging out with him because I enjoy his company and Fang was there too so I was talking to him. Caden is Ella's boyfriend and a friend of mine. I was talking to Gazzy about Angel and -actually no. You know what, I don't have to explain myself to you."

He looks regretful of saying anything at all.

"I didn't mean to come off wrong, I'm sorry. It's just I like you and it seems like you are just stringing me along."

"I told you from the beginning flat out that I didn't want to date you and if you thought anything else then that's your own fault. " I exclaim. God forbid a girl has guy friends. I was honest from the start with him. "Riley you need to go."

"Wait no. I'm sorry. I fucked this all up, I just wanted to spend time with you before classes."

"Well I have to get ready and head over to talk to Mr, Burton before class," I make up.

"Well can I see you after classes then?"

"I have volleyball."

Why can't he take a hint!

"What about after that?"

"Leave."

Ellas Pov

My alarm begins ringing, telling me it's time to wake up for classes but Instead of obeying it , I press snooze and snuggle back into the large, warm body next to me.

I could stay like this for hours, not sleeping but laying here with my eyes closed and the same woodsy smells filling my nostrils.I feel warm and safe here.

"Come on Ells, we gotta get up." Caden informs me, running his hands through my matted hair.

"I don't wanna." I whine.

"I don't either, but we have to."

Caden untangles himself from me and climbs out of the bed, despite my protesting. I watch and enjoy the view though, as he pulls his shoes on and fixes his silky blonde hair in the mirror.

I'm not sure how I managed to score such a perfect guy like Caden, but I think God I did. He's probably the best thing that's ever happened to me. I know we've only known each other just over a month but everything about him is just so amazing and I'm falling for him. Hard.

"You should spend the night more often," I suggest.

I wasn't feeling good last night, so Caden came over with tea and DVD's and we watched movies all night. Somewhere between the third and fourth one, he fell asleep on my bed. I didn't want to wake him, so I turned of the Tv and lights and fell asleep curled up against his warm chest.

"I really should." Caden says, leaning over the bed and planting a soft kiss on my lips. "I have to head back, I'll see you at school."

I smile and nod. "'Okay."

Max's Pov

Iggy: Where are you? I'm at your locker.

Max: On my way. Still at lunch

I take a one last bite of my sub, say a goodbye to Ella and Caden, and throw my trash away before reluctantly heading off to meet Iggy.

Another chime;

Iggy: Hurry up princess

I mentally roll my eyes but can't help a smile from forming on my face. He's so stupid.

I arrive at my locker, where I find Iggy sitting on the floor playing a game on his phone. He smiles when he sees me, practically leaping up from the floor.

"What is so important that it couldn't wait for me to finish my food first?" I groan.

"Well nice to see you, too," He smiles.

"Iggy what was the purpose of this!"

He sighs but eventually spits it out. "Well since we're kinda becoming friends now and friends are honest to each other, I needed to be honest with you."

"Honest about what?"

"I don't think you should date Riley."

Well that was unexpected.

"I'm not gonna date him, Iggy," I reply immediately. "But what makes you say that? I thought you two were friends."

"Well..."

"Please don't tell me you're in love with Iggy." I joke, trying to lighten up his serious attitude.

He bursts out laughing. "Hell no. No offense, you're hot but even I can tell you're a hand full."

"Am not."

"So you're not a ''my way or the high way', wants all the power and wants what she wants when she wants it type of girl in a relationship?"

When he puts it that way it sounds so bad and snobby.

"What were you gonna say about Riley?" I change the topic.

"Oh right. Just... be cautious about him. I've seen the way he is with people he's seeing; like extremely over protective to the point where it's creepy and almost abusive and just like really controlling, even worse than you. And he's got a really bad temper too when he doesn't get what he wants and has been physical before with an ex or two."

the controlling and protective part I see but I can't imagine Riley laying a hand on anyone.

"Well were not like that, at all. I told him this morning that I didn't want to talk to him again so, I'm fine."

"Good. I'm glad at least one of the girls around here listen to me."

"What do you mean?"

"Well I've told this to a few of his exes before and they didn't believe me. Thought I was just trying to break them up and then they ended up getting hurt in the end."

"I believe you though. And thank you for telling me," I smile. "You're a good friend Ig."

He looks at me for a moment, in shock. "Did... did the famous 'I hate everyone' Maximum Martinez just call me her friend?"

I roll my eyes and playfully punch his arm. "Shut up before I take it back."

"No no no, no take backs. You're offically stuck with me forever now." He loops his arm through mine and begin walking with me towards the direction of my next class. "Do you mind if I get you saying you like me on recording?"

"Yes I mind," I laugh. "And I never said I liked you. You're just... okay."

After volleyball practice is over, we all shuffle out of the gym. When I exit, I find Riley leaning against the lockers on the wall across from me, a odd expression on his face.

What is he doing here?

I told him to leave me alone.

He holds up an Iphone and after seeing the probably obvious confusion on my face, says, "You left this in Calc… I knew you had practice after classes so I figured I'd wait here and give it to you... you mentioned that this morning btw, I'm not stalking you."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. He just came to return my phone, that's all.

"Thank you." I smile and grab my phone from his outstretched hand.

"No problem. Someone named Sam has been blowing up your phone all day," he laughs.

I force myself to laugh along too. "Sounds like Sam. She's needy like that."

I don't know why I feel the need to lie about Sam's gender but after what Iggy told me and what happened this morning, it's better to be safe than sorry.

"Seems like a good friend." He looks down at his feet. "I just wanted to say... I'm sorry again for everything that happened and though I really enjoyed hanging out with you, I understand why you'd never wanna talk to me again."

"I accept your apology," I say and actual mean it.

Him and I may not have worked out as being friends but he did try, really hard. We're just too different that's all. Incompatible.

"Anyways, see you around Martinez."

"Bye Riley."