Chapter Twelve: Home Is Where Mom Is

Maxs pov

"Hey, have you talked to Sam?" Angel asks, taking another sip of her coffee.

"Recently? No, why?"

"He's really worried about you. You should text him."

"I will later," I assure her.

I hope no one told him anything and he's just worried for his normal, everyday reasons.

I woke up this morning at noon to find the three idiots still in my room and still refusing to leave because they were worried about me. Iggy I see why, were friends now, but Gazzy and Fang barely know me enough to care, so why do they? Maybe because I'm Iggy's friend or because they're just those type of guys but either way here we still are.

Six o'clock at night and they're still here.

Along with Angel.

She came over around three to check on me because she was worried that I didn't show up to school and wasn't texting back. As far as she knows though I just have a migraine and am feeling sick.

I couldn't really explain why the guys are here though but she didn't really think much of it.

"Who's Sam?" Iggy asks.

"My friend," I reply at the same time that Angel says "Her ex-boyfriend".

I was trying to leave that part out.

"You still talk to your ex's?" He looks at me questioningly. "Aren't they called ex's for a reason?"

"No. We ended on good terms, good enough to still be best friends."

"How many guys have you dated anyways?" Gazzy asks from the couch.

"That's none of your business."

"Oh, come on. We're all friends here -tell us." Iggy insists.

I know it's not a big deal telling people small things like number of boyfriends but for some reason it's just in my nature to keep things about myself from people. But I trust Iggy, he's done nothing but look out for me in the short time we've been friends and I guess I'm gonna have to start getting use to being around the other two if we're gonna remain friends.

I sigh. "Just Sam."

Him and I started dating in seventh grade until the very end of freshman year. He was the only guy I ever trusted enough to get close to and date, the only guy I've ever felt safe with, the the only guy that I've ever loved.

I've known him for most of my life and we were always close but that bond got even stronger in the two plus years that we dated -we went everywhere together and did everything together. I would spend the night at his house a lot when my mom had to travel for work and we would stay up all night talking, with me wrapped up in his arms. I loved being with him, I loved that his family was like my second family and my mom was his, and I loved that our families had dinner together at least twice a week and how we celebrated every holiday together.

"Wait just him?" Iggy exclaims. They all look at me like I'm crazy. "You had to of at least had like a bunch hookups or something."

I shake my head.

I've talked to other guys before and after Sam but none worth naming because it never evolved to anything more than acquaintances. They all just wanted to use me or want me to be something I'm not… Sam was the only one who wanted me for me and was okay with what I am and what I wouldn't do.

But that ended years ago over and I don't think I'm ever gonna find someone like him again.

"Nope."

"How do you do it?" Gazzy gawks.

"Seriously I haven't gone more than two weeks without-"

"Iggy gross, stop talking," I cut him off before he can say something that I'll never be able to unhear. "Can you guys stop acting like I'm a freak or something. It's not that big of a deal."

"It's not," Fang agrees. "But I'm just gonna put it out there… if you ever wanna end that abstinence streak of yours…"

"Ew. No, never."

"You can sleep with any girl you want, bro, but stay away from my best my friend. Off limits!" Iggy points a finger at him.

"Im kidding!" He yells. "Chill out, it was just a joke Ig. Martinez isn't my type."

Is it odd that I'm glad to hear that? I feel like most people would be offended by hearing that but to me that just means things won't ever get awkward and turn into a Riley situation all over again.

I smile. "Couldn't agree more."

(Friday)

When I hear a soft knock on the door, my heart rate instantly jumps, knowing what waits for me on the other side. I throw the wooden board open and beam at the familiar face of my mother standing across from me

She looks the same as she did when I last saw her last; Her shoulder length brown hair frames her beautiful tan face, making her fierce golden-brown eyes pop and illuminate her perfect smile.

Ever since I was a kid, I thought my mother was the most beautiful woman in the world -inside and out- and I always hoped I would end up looking like her when I was older. But as I started to grow up, I quickly realized that besides the eyes, we look nothing alike.

She is very tan -due to her hispanic and Italian ethnicities- and blessed with silky, pin straight hair and a shorter, petite build. I, on the hand, got my "father's" thick, unmanaged blonde waves, tall stance and athletic build.

I guess kids can still dream though.

"Maximum! I've missed you so much," she exclaims, pulling me in for a hug.

I smile into her hair and close my eyes, savoring the warm, comforting feeling of my mom that I haven't felt in months. "I missed you too."

She pushes me back to arm's length and looks me up and down

"Oh, my. Look at how much you've grown in just a few months time. You look beautiful."

In the last two months I think I've thinned out a bit because I'm not sitting on a couch all day while my mom brings me food but that's really it. Maybe she means because my hair is down and brushed for once and I'm wearing something other than sweats; A purple tank top and black athletic shorts.

"So, what is on the agenda for today?" She questions, finally entering the room.

"Well, my friends wanted to meet you, so I told them that we could go maybe out to eat together. Is that okay?"

My mom nods instantly. "That sounds wonderful."

"Okay, I'll text them to meet us there."

After we finish lunch, we decide to head over to the beach. Soon it's gonna start getting too cold to go so the gang wanted to get at least one more trip in before then. I'm not much of a beach person but my mother lit up at the idea so I went along with it for her.

So far it's been a pretty good day though; At lunch, my mom got to know Iggy and Gazzy a little more, since it was her first time meeting them. Fang didn't say much, but my mom didn't mind -she asked him occasional questions and if he didn't want to answer, she'd change the topic. She has plenty of patience though, she had to tolerate me like that for years.

I think she really likes them all a lot though. Maybe even more than me.

Once we pull up to the beach, Iggy, Ella and Gazzy open the door and immediately take off towards the ocean, all trying to outrun each other. Iggy ends up winning, but he is a good head taller than both Ella and Gazzy so his longer legs gave him an advantage.

Angel and Nudge grab a few towels and set out to go tanning. I don't really understand it though, Nudge is already naturally tan and Angels fair skin refuses to tan but I let them go without saying a word.

My mom grabs some towels, some flip-flops and a swimsuit from the suitcase in her trunk before announcing, "I'm going to change, I'll be right back," and heading off to the changing shack.

Now it's just Fang and I.

"You swimming?" I ask

"Nah, don't really feel like it," he shrugs, "Wanna go sit?"

I nod and follow him down to a spot on the shore. We sit just above where the water stops and just below where the dry sand starts and put our feet into the cold, mushy sand.

I watch for a while as Gazzy and Iggy try to push the other underwater. Iggy jumps on Gazzy's back but Gaz throws him off before Iggy can manage to sink him. Iggy lands in the water with a loud splash and Ella immediately pounces on him when he surfaces again.

"So when's your mom heading home?" Fang says, sometime later.

"Sunday evening I think."

"She seems cool."

"She is." I assure him.

But she's more than just 'cool'. She's amazing, caring, loving, supporting. No matter what happened or what I went through -What we went through- she was always there for me. She didn't judge me, and didn't blame me -she only showered me with love and assured me that everything was going to be alright. And she was right -everything eventually did become okay, again.

"What happened to you?"

He turns to me, confused. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you guy spent two days in my dorm and you were fine and happy and today you barely talk to anyone."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Fang-" I try but he cuts me off.

"Max stop, okay? Just let it be."

He stands to leave, just as my mother comes back -dressed in her one piece bathing suit and her hair tied up into a ponytail.

"Would you mind doing me a favor, honey?"

"What is it?"

"Could you go around and collect all of your friends up?" She sets down a cooler. "I brought some ice-cream for all of us from the food stand and brought some homemade cookies."

"And Fang, if you don't mind, I could use some help carrying the rest of the stuff."

"Yeah, no problem," he smiles sweetly.

God he's so fake.

I stand and brush the sand off my shorts before heading off to get my friends.

"So Fang," My mother says, adjusting herself on the beach towel. "I know a little bit about everyone, except you. Tell me what are some of your interests?"

He begins chewing the cookie in his mouth slowly, clearly trying to stall a few more seconds. "Um, I don't know... Music."

"Music? Really?" She replies, in amusement.

"Fang's Amazing," Nudge compliments. "He's the lead singer in a band with Iggy and Gazzy. They're called the flock."

"Hmm, I've never heard of it. What type of music do you play?

Iggy speaks next. "We play a few different types, but mostly rock."

"Interesting," She nods. "I'd love to hear some of The Flock's work."

Gazzy smiles. "We actually have a concert tomorrow tonight. We do it mostly on saturdays and wednesdays, depending on how busy we and Max should come though."

"No," I say at the same time that my mom says: "We'd love to."

"Why no?" She turns to me, frowning.

I shrug. "I just don't think that you'd like it. It doesn't seem like your type of thing."

Because I'm still scared as hell of that place after what happened there last time.

"Maximum, believe it or not, I actually happen to love rock music." She gives me a look, before turning back to Fang. "We'll be there."

"Starts at nine-thirty sharp," he nods.

"So," My mom continues. "What about your Family, Fang. What's to know about them?"

A shadow passes over his face. I can't quite tell what it is or what it means but what I do know is that my mom shouldn't have asked that question. I open my mouth to tell him he doesn't have to answer that question but he speaks before I can.

"My mom's a Nurse."

"Really? Anything specific."

"Something with babies." Fang shrugs.

"And what about your father?"

Fang clenches his jaw. Why is my mom pushing so hard with him? Why won't she just stop and let it be.

"I don't know."

"Okay. Well, that's quite alright." She looks over at me with a frown and a glint of sadness in her eyes. "Any siblings?"

SHUT UP!

Fang doesn't answer this time, instead he stands and quickly takes off down the beach.

We all look around at each other in silence, not knowing what's wrong or what to do.

Except Iggy.

He seems to know exactly what's going on because he takes off after Fang immediately.

I find myself standing in front of the men's bathroom; I don't remember getting up or racing after Iggy and Fang but apparently I did because here I am now.

I push open the door without hesitation. The smell hits me instantly -of year old sweat and stale urine. But nevertheless, I cover my nose and continue inside.

I turn the corner and see the my two friends there. I start to ask what's going on but then realize what's going on and instantly shut up. Fang sits on the dirty floor in front of a broken mirror, with his knees pulled up to his chest and his head in his lap. Blood drips slowly from a wound on his hand and I assume it has something to do with the shattered glass surrounding him.

Iggy's sitting next to him on the floor, whispering something into his ear but I'm too far away to hear what he's saying.

"Hey," I say, slowly approaching them.

Iggy looks up at me in surprise -he must not of heard me come in. He quickly stands and walks over towards me, blocking my view from Fang. When I try to go around him, he grabs onto my biceps to stop me.

"You need to leave," He orders.

I peak my head around Iggy's shoulder and end up catching a glimpse of Fang, just as he looks up. His eyes are bloodshot red, tears stain his cheeks. He looks so sad and vulnerable, and so not Fang. The Fang that I know is a confident and strong and nothing like the guy that I'm looking at right now.

"What's wrong with him?" I whisper.

"It's complicated, Max," he whispers back. "Just please leave."

"Iggy let me help."

"You can't Max," He sighs. "I think I'd be best if Fang goes home."

"Okay. Just give me five minutes to pack the car up and we can go."

He nods and I allow him lead me out of the door.

When I get back everyone's already piled in the cars with their stuff, waiting. They must of had the same idea as Iggy.

I open the back door and slide in behind my mother without a word.

"Where are Fang and Iggy?" Gazzy asks from the passenger's seat.

"They're coming."

As Iggy Promised, roughly five minutes later the two arrive at the car. Fang sits next to me, in the middle and Iggy on the other side of him. I can't help searching Fang's face, trying to find any hint of what might be wrong but there's none.

His eyes are no longer red, his face no longer tear stained.

He looks completely fine.

Like nothing ever happened.

I think he feels me staring at him because he turns to look at me. I give him a look as to say 'wtf' but instead of an answer, he shoots me a smile. A perfect, white teeth filled smile and though it looks convincingly happy, something in his onyx eyes isn't right.

There's a dullness in them, one I know all too well.

The dullness I use to have when I felt dead inside.