The rest of 6th grade sucked.

In may of that year. Max's mom got remarried.

The worst day of max's life. she now had the worst step brother she could have. The one who got her so upset and hated her. It was hell how he treated her. And her new stepfather wasn't that nice either. But now they were in her life and there wasn't anything she could do about it.

though her mom changed her last name, she didn't. She wouldn't. Her dad still meant everything to her. And lately he was hanging out more with her. It was like old times. She was laughing more and smiling also. It was though now July. It was summer. And she was spending as much time with her dad as she could. Because this would be the second to last summer in California. She was moving next summer. To hawkins. It was bullshit how her mom blamed her dad for things and how he was the problem and max had to get away from him. She wished he could also come to hawkins but just live with him. The two of them. It seemed so easy yet it wasn't and wouldn't happen.

7th grade was so close. It was august now and a few weeks before they went back to school.

Max wondered how henry's summer had been. He probably was with Clarissa. Ugh the thought of her made make sick. She was the maybe je had been like her. Sitting and being bored most days. Just when she was in the middle of her thoughts her dad yelled " Max , its Henry" . Her stomach sunk. No I can't. I can't talk. She thought was was going to be sick and so she ran to the bathroom. Max then threw up and had to catch her breath. Then once cleaned up went downstairs and outside to the patio to see Henry.

"Hey Max, how are you, can you believe summer is almost over. Bummer right?" He says

max just shrugs and looks at him. His brown eyes staring into her blue.

"Max I just need to know will we ever be friends again, because I really want to be, but I also don't want to keep waiting for you. It hurts me max. I'm in pain." He says

slowly tears were in max's eyes. Pain , something she knew all too well.

"Well your hanging out with Clarissa so , I've tried to keep my distance." Max says.

" what the hell max, you KNOW I would ditch Clarissa for you in a instant. You should of come up and talked to me. The only reason I'm talking to her is because I don't have anyone else. And sometimes having someone to talk to is nice. " he says.

" aren't you dating her, I heard you are" max says while walking with her hands in her pockets.

Henry stunned looked at her wondering why she asked this.

"What? No max , why would I date someone I can barely stand to even hear talk?" He asks.

" Someone told me that you were, and that you loved her." Max says as the tears well up more in her eyes.

" max I don't. Okay you have to believe me. " he says.

" she said you wouldn't ever love me , that I was just someone that you pretended to even be friends with. That I was just someone you pitted. Hearing this hurt. And still hurts." Max says.

"No, it isn't true max, why are you believing all these lies. None of them are true. " he says.

" BECAUSE I LOVED YOU HENRY, BUT I HAVE to protect myself, I would of looked stupid if i told you. Clarissa would have used it against me. I've wanted to tell you for so long, that your my best friend. But I also love you. Okay, the feeling I get when I look into your eyes, the way you crack jokes, the way you protect me and challenge me to do new things. The way you let me lean on your chest. The way you sing me to sleep when we have sleepovers. But it can't happen. You were never my friend to begin with. So a relationship between on would never happen." Max finishes

Henry is silent. His mind has been blown.

then max walks up beside him and says " I think its time for you to go" rushing inside before the water works start.

Leaving Henry alone, to process what he had just heard.