𝙼𝚊𝚡 𝚡 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛-𝙱𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚖.

Chapter 30

A familiar voice causes you to jerk your head around.
"Max!"
You couldn't contain your excitement. You began to sprint - despite the immense pain your leg was feeling.

Practically limping, you jump into the figure's arms - only to be stopped by a small tug. He pulled you away, and gave you a confused yet mortified look.
"What are you doing?" He said, quickly glancing around to see if anyone noticed.

"Max, what's wrong?" You question, and Max gives you a frown.
"Why did you just hug me?"

What..?
Is he okay?

Max glances around again.
He looks down at your leg, and then back at you.

"Don't hug me."

You froze.
What did he mean?
Why—
Why was he—

You felt something in your stomach.
It wasn't pain.
Well, maybe it was.
But at the same time, it was also a mixture of other things.
It was indescribable.
Like you've been shot.
But you haven't been shot.
You've been shattered.

"M-Max—"
"Y/n, stop-"
Just as you try to reach for him again, he pulls you away and loosens his grip. Giving you a distraught expression, he speed walks away, fists clenched.

You felt an even deeper pain in your chest.
You could feel the tears.
You didn't know why, but you were trying to find ways to justify his actions.
Had he forgotten about everything?

No, he wouldn't have. He was crying. You saw the desperate look on his eyes that night. You held hands. You hugged.

It was impossible that he would've forgotten that night.

"Y/n!"
David.

Turning around, you attempt to wipe away your tears - but they kept coming.

David ran around the corner, Neil trailing behind with difficulty. He was holding Nikki - who seemed to have been knocked out cold.

Your fault.
That was your fault.

You felt a sudden pang of fear. Your thoughts were the only things you could hear.

You crashed the car.
You caused that.

Ringing.
That's what you heard next.
In your ears.
Your ears were ringing.

David noticed you standing there and his frantic running slowed.
An echo ran through your ears.
"Y/n?"
He walked up to you, but you could barely hear what he was saying.
I'm going to pass out.
David turned towards Neil - who had just caught up with him.
He turned and made a frantic hand gesture - and Neil nodded quickly before glancing to you and to Nikki. Before you knew it, he ran off with her.

"D-David, I—"
You begin to fumble.
Why—

"Y/n, stay with me! What's—-are you—"

Your eyelids felt heavy - like you were going to fall asleep any minute.

You knew what would happen next.
You'd pass out.
But why were you passing out?
Fear?
Anxiety?

David bends down and holds your shoulders, your eyes now droopy.
"Y/n, you look sick. Do you need me to call an ambulance? One's already on the way for Nikki; I can tell them to take you too, I.."

Fading.
He was fading.
"David.."

Black.

~~~

Max knew what he said was wrong.
He knew it very well.
But when Y/n ran up to him with a sudden burst of joy, he felt wrong.
Like he didn't deserve that.
He..
He couldn't explain the feeling.
It was a mixture of dread, and, at the same time, fear.
Like nobody could know about them.
Nobody.
Not when Nikki.
Not even Neil.