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MAX COSTELLO

PAST
NOVEMBER 2019

Jodie took our team out for lunch today to celebrate our first draft of the online comic story, everything was going so perfectly and yet I was still waiting for the catch but it never came. So now I finally accepted that this was a well deserved roll and I couldn't wait to see my ideas printed in the final copy.

We decided to eat at a pasta bar, the five of us with plates mounted with all sorts of pasta, sauces and meats. My eyes were definitely bigger than my stomach but I was ravenous after the morning we had.

The first draft was complete and that gave us some time to relax, all we had to do now was make improvements and edit the shit out of it. But we had completed the biggest step and we are so close to publishing it for real.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I dig my hand in to retrieve it. Oliver's name stretches across the screen and I furrow my eyebrows, he never calls me in the middle of the day.

I glance at Jodie who was already looking at me. "Take it," she encourages.

"Thanks," I smile as I wipe my mouth with a napkin and stand from the table. My finger swipes across the screen and I place my phone to my ear, walking to the front of the restaurant. "Hey."

"Hey," Oliver's voice echoes through the receiver, but I couldn't grasp the tone of his voice. "I'm sorry for calling you at work."

I shake my head. "Don't be stupid, you can call me any time. What's the matter?"

Oliver sighs deeply. "I've got my first counselling session with the mental health team on campus in twenty minutes and I'm just freaking out." He rushes his words and I frown.

"Don't freak out," I tell him calmly. "Just breathe and remember how much this is going to benefit you. Talking to someone, getting it out in the open, a professional who can help you. If you don't like it, you don't have to go back. No one is going to force you to."

"Yeah," his voice is quiet. "I guess."

I purse my lips and stare ahead at the window. "Just go with an open mind, leave all your anxiety outside and take this as an opportunity to talk about things honestly. Get things off your chest and listen to what they can offer you."

"You're right," he says instantly. "I'm just scared because I don't know what to expect."

"Well know that it'll be a safe space and you can leave any time. It's all on your terms, don't feel obliged to stay if you don't feel comfortable. Give it a shot, you'll never know unless you try, baby." I say quietly.

Oliver hums. "Okay, I will. Thank you, that's calmed me a little." He admits.

A smile plasters across my lips. "I'm pleased, let me know how it goes after. Yeah?"

"Sure," he says shortly.

"Do you want me to come see you tonight?" I offer.

Oliver clears his throat as I hear people talking in the background. "Up to you, it's a Wednesday."

I shrug. "So what if it's a Wednesday? I can still come and see you."

"I'll let you know how this goes first and then I'll figure out if I need some added support," his tone sounded slightly chirpier now and that relaxed my shoulders.

"Okay my love," I nod. "I love you. Talk to you later, good luck with the session."

"I love you too," he breathes out slowly. "Will do. Bye."

"Bye." I nod before cutting off the call and walking back over to the table.

Jodie catches my eyes and smiles. "Everything okay?" She asks.

I nod and flash her a smile before perching back down. "Yeah."

"That your girlfriend?" She beckons her head towards my phone.

My head rotates towards her and I shake my head. "My boyfriend." I clarify.

Her eyes widen for a moment and she dismisses herself. "What an ignorant thing for me to say." She huffs before tutting at herself.

"It's alright," I say before picking up my work and piercing it through the layers of pasta.

"I shouldn't have assumed," she shakes her head. "I have a girlfriend and I'd hate it if someone did that to me."

My eyes glance up at her but I brush it off. "Doesn't matter," I say before filling my mouth with pasta. "Everyone can make that mistake, sometimes it just comes out before we realise what we're saying."

"Right," she nods as she pushes her plate to the centre of the table and rests on her elbows. "You should invite him out with us sometime. My girlfriend, Danielle, comes with us too. People bring plus ones all the time, it's especially great when I have the company card."

"Yeah, he'll definitely come by to say hello at some point. He's still at university and a dedicated student, he doesn't always know when to switch off. I can barely get him out on the weekends, so it'll be a miracle to get him out with you guys." I explain as Jodie listens carefully.

"That's fair, uni work is very stressful," she tells me.

I nod in agreement. "Very," I smile. "He'll come out with us when he has the time to focus on having fun."

The screen of my phone flashes as it rests on the table, a notification of an email. Jodie glances over and smiles. "Aww, is that him?"

She looks at the background of my phone and I nod, clearing the email so that she could see. It was a picture of us from my birthday, both drunk but both extremely happy and Oliver looked to die for.

"He's cute," she comments with a grin.

"Sure is," I smile down to the picture. "He'd be cringing right now if he heard us say that."

Jodie chuckles as she glances up at me, she shrugs simply. "Least he'd know that he's cute."

"Oh trust me, he knows," I laugh before taking my phone and shoving it back into my pocket. "Thanks for lunch Jodie."

"Well deserved," she grips my shoulder before turning to the rest of our team. "Right should we all go get a quick drink at the pub before heading back?"

Was that a trick question?

PRESENT
OCTOBER 2021

"Yeah, what can I get for you?" I ask the blonde girl in front of me, leaning over the bar.

"Could I get a Guinness and a gin with elderflower tonic, please?" She questions and I nod.

Pulling away from the bar I begin to prepare their drinks, the bar was fairly quiet today. Considering it was Tuesday and just past two o'clock, I wasn't expecting many customers until later.

I hadn't heard from Oliver or Jamie for three days since he left the hospital, I knew they wouldn't have gone back to their flat after what happened. Deep down I was worried, petrified even. All I wanted to know was that he was okay, to talk to him, to get him to understand that I didn't do anything to aggravate this.

My worst fear is that he thinks I've gone back to doing drugs and hanging around with dodgy people who ask you to do favours. That wasn't the case whatsoever and they only came back to settle the old debt that wasn't even my fault in the first place.

This situation was blown out of proportion and Oliver didn't deserve anything that happened to him. I should have been the one who got beaten and burned and drowned. It should have been me for being such a fucking idiot to do something I knew was dodgy for Jeff.

If only I could turn back time and save all of us.

I had dropped Oliver a few calls and a few texts but I didn't get any response. In the back of my mind I knew that Oliver's hands were still bandaged up and I had no idea if he'd even be able to hold his phone and type out a text.

Anything to convince myself that he didn't want to see me. I didn't want that to be a reality. The thought of him being annoyed, angry or upset with me destroys my soul. He had every right to be, this was my fault and I put him in danger.

I just wish I got the chance to explain and apologise until his ears blocked me out. I knew how much grovelling I had to do and I was more than willing to do that for however long I needed. All I wanted was my Oliver back in my arms, to take care of him, make sure that he's okay.

But I knew he wasn't. Who would be after a group of thugs break into your house and torture you to the edge of your life?

I place the glasses down onto the bar and the girl glances up at me. "That'll be £12.50." I say as she waves her card.

My finger punches in the amount onto the card reader and hands it over, she taps it at the top and it beeps. I force a smile at her and nod. "Thanks," I say before placing the machine back in its slot.

I release a soft sigh and lean back against the wall. Glancing around the bar, I didn't see any other customers coming for a little while. The last thing I wanted to do right now is work, but after I almost emptied out my account to get the money to Jones, I had a lot to make up for.

My phone vibrates in my pocket and I reach down to grab it, a notification from Facebook popping up. I couldn't tell you the last time I opened that app. As I unlock my phone and read the notification, my heart skips a beat in my chest.

Jamie Willis has requested you as a friend

I furrow my eyebrows at the screen but rush to load the notification, instantly accepting the request. He hated me but there must be a reason why he's trying to add me on Facebook. Literally any reason, no one uses Facebook anymore.

A notification falls from the top of my screen and my eyes gravitate towards me. Jamie had sent me his number via facebook messenger and demanded that I called him right away.

I press down on the number and raise the phone to my ear, listening as it rings before Jamie answers on the second ring.

"Jamie?" I call out as the line dips. "What's going on?

"Are you with Oli?"

My eyes flick between the taps of beer on the bar. "What? No." I shake my head.

"Fuck," Jamie curses.

"What's wrong? I don't understand. Is he not with you?"

"We've been staying at my friend's house the last couple of days," Jamie explains quickly. "We left him there as we both needed to go to work, he's just told me that he's seen Oli leave the house on his outside camera. I haven't looked at my phone and that was almost four hours ago and he hasn't come back."

My throat clenches before attempting to butt in. Waiting for Jamie to finish what he needed to say. "I've been texting and calling him but I know he can't do much with his bandaged hands. I'm worried about him, he's not in the right frame of mind."

"Where do you think he would have gone?"

Jamie releases a sigh. "He might have gone back to our apartment."

I open my mouth to speak when I hear, "Jamie, get off the phone. We've got so much work to do."

"Shit," he cusses. "Max, please can you go over and check?"

My body rotates to my manager's office. "I'm at work too Jamie, but I'll go." I state instantly.

"Please keep me informed, I've got to go."

Jamie cuts off the call before I get a chance to respond. I huff out a breath and head straight to my manager's office, knocking on the door with my right hand.

"Come in!" She shouts.

I push down on the handle and step in, my manager, Katie, tapping away at her computer before glancing at me. "What's up?"

"My boyfriend just got out of the hospital, he's really not doing well and he's gone missing. Please Katie, I really need to go and find him. I'll do double shifts any time this week but I really need to go. I'm worried about him." The words fall from my lips far too quickly.

She blinks back at me in shock and checks the watch on her wrist. "Well Tom should be in in about half an hour or so," she nods. "Go, but expect calls from me tomorrow to make up for lost hours."

"That's fine with me," I shake my head. "Thanks Katie, I'll see you later."

"Hope your boyfriend is okay!" She calls out as I speed from her office.

I run out of the bar and down the street, heading straight for Oliver's old apartment. Why would he want to be there alone? That's if he's there at all.

Where else would I look if he's not?

Fuck. I pray he's okay.

My feet charge up his apartment building stairwell, my eyes falling on his door that still had police tape across the door. I take two large steps and raise my knuckles to knock, inches away from touching the wood but I refrain.

"Oliver?" I call out loudly. "It's me."

I couldn't hear any noise as I edged my face closer, dipping my eyes between the crack of the door and the hinge. Having snapped off from when they barged in. I couldn't see much but I could see a shadow.

"Oliver, please," I say softly. "If you're in there, please just let me know. I'm so worried and I wanna see you."

The sound of something falling to the floor and breaking alerts my ears, then gently whimpering. I press my hand to the door, not realising how hard my heart was thumping against my chest.

"Oliver," I say louder. "Let me in. Please let me in."

The door lock twists and Oliver peeks his head around it slowly. I frown at his obvious fear, when his eyes lay on mine he opens it a little bit wider. "God I've been so worried," I tell him as I step between the tape and enter the apartment.

Oliver glances away and I take one look at his hands, bandages now missing. His skin was blistering, sweeping and sore. "Fuck," I curse as I step forward. "You shouldn't have taken off your bandages, your hands will get infected."

"I don't care," he mumbles

I grip his wrist softly and get a better look in the hallway light. They didn't look healthy, his skin was peeling and the deep redness of them almost made me wince. He must be in so much pain.

"I couldn't do anything with them," he pulls his hand away and wipes his eyes.

"You won't have anything to do with them at all if you get sepsis and they have to be removed!" My voice grows harsh and I close my eyes, instantly regretting it. "You need to go back to the hospital to get them re-bandaged before you get a serious infection."

Oliver shakes his head and turns away from me. "I'm not going back there." He stands his ground.

"If you don't come with me right now, I'll hurl you over my shoulder and take you myself," I say as I loop him and stand directly in front of his body. "You shouldn't be here Oliver, not alone."

His lip begins to quiver and he sobs, I couldn't stop myself from leaning forward to wrap my arms around him. Bringing him into a tight hug as he rests his head onto my chest, trying my hardest to be careful of his wounded hands.

"I'm losing my mind," he mumbles into my shirt.

I rub his back gently and drop my lips to the top of his head. "Please just come with me to the hospital. I won't leave your side for a second and then we can go to wherever you want after if you can get some peace and quiet, away from here, from Jamie and wherever you've been staying."

Oliver pushes his head off my chest and glances up at me, eyes glazing over with tears.

"Let me know what stuff you want me to pack for you, let's head to the hospital for some new bandages. Okay?"

After a few moments he nods and I place a kiss against his forehead.

"Okay, let's go." I mumble into his skin.

. . .

Read up to chapter 47 on Patreon
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Hello my loves, what did you think of this chapter??

Jamie reaching out to Max, I love that they both care about Oliver so much. Even if he hates Max he's his only other choice

I feel so awful for Oliver, not being able to do anything with his hands and hating lifee:(((

Will Oliver and Max get to where they were before?

Hope everyone is well! See you all on the next one, love Sav x

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