Never Be The Same

Chapter 9 - In Search of Answers

Christian

It's late tonight and we're in the dormitories with Seb and Ominis. Seb can't stop talking about his dance with Max and how he thinks she's receptive to his charm. Inwardly, it drives me crazy. I want to give him a good thrashing, but I'm forced to keep quiet.

My mind wanders back to our conversation that evening and the slap she gave me. Every time I think back to that moment, I'm filled with a mixture of frustration and confusion. Why did she react the way she did?

I can't help wondering about my own feelings towards her. Max has always been an enigma to me. Her sassy good looks and quick wit caught my eye at first glance, but there's something deeper that makes me want to get to know her more. Despite our differences and the difficult times we've been through, there's a connection between us, a palpable tension that refuses to go away.

I stare at the ceiling of the dormitory, lost in thought.

"You can't even imagine how captivated she was by me. I'm telling you, there's definitely something between us!" exclaims Seb with a satisfied smile.

Try to stay calm Christian, remember she's not yours.

"Great, Seb. Finally a girl who puts up with you," I retorted, rolling my eyes and trying to hide my jealousy.

Seb throws me a cushion in disapproval.

"I found her rather worrying last night, she seemed on edge," remarked Ominis, showing genuine concern.

I listen attentively, guessing that I'm partly to blame.

"What do you mean by that?" asks Seb intrigued "It's true that she seemed a bit stressed while we were dancing, but I thought it was because I was impressing her," he adds with a hint of arrogance.

"I found her completely drunk. I had to take her back to the dormitories and put her to bed. She even insisted that I stay until she fell asleep." Ominis goes on to explain.

"You can't be serious, Ominis? If you weren't my best friend, I'd think you were trying to steal her from me," replies Seb, not quite understanding the seriousness of the situation.

I can feel the tension rising inside me.

"Sebastian, first of all, you're not even together. Secondly, I spent time with her because she confided in me that she was having frequent nightmares. She seemed really upset. I did my best to reassure her and help her fall asleep. I think she's much more fragile than she lets on," concludes Ominis.

Ominis's words echo in the air, and I can feel the tension rising inside me. I'm the only one here who knows part of Max's painful story, but Seb and Ominis don't know. They don't know everything she's been through and the hardships she's overcome. It makes sense that she still carries the trauma of her past.

Seb, however, is disconcertingly arrogant. "All the more reason for me to be there even more for her!" he says with a confident tone.

I can't help but roll my eyes at his attitude. He doesn't really understand the depth of Max's trauma. He thinks he can solve any problem with his charm and arrogance. But Max deserves much more than that. She needs compassion, understanding and real support.

"Well, with those words full of idiocy, I'm going to bed," declared Ominis in a jaded tone towards his friend.

I give him a knowing smile, acknowledging his annoyance at Seb's attitude.