I remember my English teacher once assigning us a seven page essay about our greatest fear. I sat at that small wooden desk, pondering over and over of what to write.

My greatest fear at the time was spiders and snakes. Two most known feared, one insect and one reptile.

Then a question popped in my mind. Why were people afraid of these creatures? I mean they are as equal as us? Aren't they? I know they don't stand on two feet nor have opposable thumbs. Yet they do have blood that runs through their veins, and those veins lead a heart. A heart that loves one another.

Later on that day, I learned that I failed my science test.

Now my biggest fear today is knowing that there's a chance that I might be stuck in that room. Begging for my life as someone cuts through me as if I was an old ragged teddy bear.

"It's been about a year now" My lips trembled as I spoke. The voice was leaking with fear and anticipation. I couldn't even recognize the voice as mine.

His hand found its way to mine, fingers immediately lacing with mine. He didn't need to say anything. His actions spoke all words. A comfortable silence fell through us as his hand rested with mine. Is this how it felt to be comforted? My mom was the only other person who held me after I told my story. I wouldn't call it too much of giving comfort as she cried historically, preaching that it was all her fault. I sat in her arms, ending up repeating comforting words to her.

A hand on a hand wasn't enough for me at this point. I needed more, call me selfish if you wish.

Prying Max's hand off of my own, I got off the bed. He stayed in his spot, not saying anything only watched with a curious gaze. Yet I knew he wanted to protest, claiming I needed to calm myself before I do anything irrational.

Taking a deep breath, I replaced myself on the bed. Instead of sitting next to Max on my bed, I sat on his lap, chest to chest.

He held my eyes for the longest time, it felt like years, it was probably only ten seconds really. His brown eyes numbed into mine, it held a message, a message I couldn't understand even if someone would write it out for me.

Finally his arms wrapped around my body. Pulling me impossibly closer, he buried his face in my shoulder as I buried mine in his chest. His scent masked my own, mint. Minty fresh.

"You know" I laughed dryly. "Life is not fair. It's not fair at all."

His lips touched my shoulder, pressing them ever so lightly "I know. Trust me I know"

Unable to hold it in anymore, I cried. Never in my life have I cried this much. It was if a water pipe broke in my head and water just poured out of my eyes.

With the tiniest detail, I noticed that Max was trying to compose his own stance. I guess it was hard to though, as I broke down in his arms. My body shook and crooked as I continued to cry. This was a release for me, a release that I've been holding in for a year. The crying soon stopped after twenty minutes and sobs followed after.

Rubbing my eyes, I looked around. Instead of me sitting on max like we started, he manage to lay us down. I was now cuddled to his side, clutching at his now wet shirt.

I pointed at the wet material "I'm sorry about your shirt"

"Don't worry about it" he mumbled.

I began rubbing my eyes again, wiping away the lasting tears "I'm a mess" I noted. Not much for noting as it was obvious.

Suddenly, I felt a warm hand rested on my cheek. Not even realizing it, I flinched. He immediately pulled back his hand.

"Sorry" he blushed, avoiding any eye contact he could muster.

I didn't mean to flinch I guess it was just a natural instinct for everything that has happened.

Did I want his hand back on me? I mean on my cheek was pretty intimate. This was my best friend however. Yet would I call him my best friend now? Or we even friends at this point? We've been separate for years. Of course, nothing could ever go back to the way it was. We aren't kids anymore. We're not those innocent little being, we're now exposed to the dangers of the world we call reality. And with these dangers there could be an early end to our lives. That's why we need to take the risks now, before it's too late.

So taking my risk I grabbed Max's hand and placed it back on my cheek.

He went rigid at first, not used to the same contact as me. But soon relaxed and kept his hand there, brushing the hair out of my face with his thumb.

We were close, very close. Bodies pressed together, entangled and fitted perfectly. It would have been a perfect moment to kiss. Too bad that wasn't happening.

Then max spoke up.

"I missed you Iris. When you left that day I felt like a piece of me had left with you. You were my only friend. Then with you gone I was alone, no where to go. Everybody at school thought I was some weird kid. So making other friends were out of the question. But seeing you that day, when you saved my ass. I was shocked and stunned but at the same time relieved. I knew you would come back one day, I just didn't expect for all of this to happen to you when you were gone."

"Trust me I didn't expect it to happen either"

"Iris" he moved his hand from my cheek to my hair, running his fingers through it. It was a risky move for him, a shy boy getting out of his comfort zone. "I promise you that I will always be here for you. You can come to me for anything. It doesn't matter if it's to talk about your past or even your homework. Hell if you need I'll buy you tampons. But I hope that will be last resort cause I have no idea what to even pick. Wait is it pads or tampons cause I-"

I put my hand over Max's mouth, taking it as a efficient way to shut him up.

"Max you're babbling" I laughed while I retracted my hand.

He ran his fingers through his hair nervously "I do that when I get nervous" And to top it off he started blushing. His cheek went from a tanned white to a tomato red.

Laughing again, I readjusted my position so that I was even closer to his side. Guess I was in a cuddly mood. His body heat buzzed around me, entrapping me away from the coldness.

"Don't worry Maxie, I'm not going to make you buy me feminine products anytime soon"

"Good" he chuckled.

Barely noticing it, I felt the light tug of his arms, which were pulling me even closer.

~~~

Author note

Long wait much! Yeah I know I'm sorry about that.

During this past month I was obsessively reading the vampire academy series. Which I finished. It's so good, if you haven't read it then you should read it.