I sat on the couch and watched TV for a while, as long as the volume was on low. I heard heavy boots walk down the hall, I assumed it was Ron going out with his buddies this evening. 

I fell asleep, I must've been asleep for a couple hours, I saw Mom in the kitchen making her dinner to take with her.

"Hi Mom."

"Hi Max, I didn't wanna wake you."

"I just now woke up."

"Me too not too long ago. So, I'm leaving you some money to order a pizza tonight if you want to."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Hey did you hear that boy Ron Petrie got arrested for breaking and entering, he stole a statue. You go to school with him right?"

"Yeah, I talked to him after I ate lunch outside our apartments. He lives across right across from us."

"Yeah stay away from him, he's a bad kid. Breaking and entering Maxine, that says a lot about that boy."

I stood up from the couch and walked to her.

"He seemed nice when I talked to him, our old neighbor-"

"Ron stole from him as well."

"I feel sorry for him I'm sorry."

"It's very kind of you to feel sorry for the old man."

"No not him, Ron."

"Ron? Seriously Maxine, you feel sorry for that damn delinquent!"

"He just fell into the wrong crowd, that's all, he's actually a good kid, I can see it in his eyes."

"I don't believe a word of it, he did fall into the wrong crowd, you're right about that, but he's not a good kid. Why do you feel sorry for him!?"

"Even when he doesn't do anything wrong, people still give him crap about anything."

"He can't last one day without getting into trouble. Max, I swear if you date someone like him I will never love you, you will be disowned, do you understand?"

"Would you really disown me or is it an empty threat? You just woke up from a three hour sleep."

"I'm serious Maxine, you date any guy with leather or piercings on him, you will be kicked out because you'd rather be ungrateful. You make good grades in school and you have a clear record, don't you dare let anyone ruin that, not even a scummy delinquent like Ron Petrie."

"Look at me Mom, I wear leather as well. Parents are so hypocritic!"

"I'm a hypocrite!?"

"Yes! I wear a leather jacket, I have pierced ears!

"When did you get a leather jacket?"

"You bought it for me remember!?"

"No!"

"See, this is what working the night shift does to you!"

"I work so I can put food on the table and support you ok!? How dare you be so ungrateful! You know-"

"Get out and go stay with Ron for all I care?"

She froze.

"I guess that's what I'll do. I'm gonna go out and clear my head."

I walked out.

"Max!" I heard her say as she started to cry.

I was already out the building. I saw Ron getting ready to go in.

"Hi Ron."

"Hey Max," he smiled.

His smile left when he saw I was about to cry.

"Are you ok?"

"I'm fine."

"Did the old man or the landlord curse you out?"

"No, me and my mom had a fight a couple minutes ago, I just need to clear my head that's all."

"What about?"

"I called her a hypocrite because that's what parents are. She asked me if I heard of what happened to you last night and I said yes."

"It was about me? Figures."

"Ron, I like you, I think you're a nice boy that fell onto the wrong side of the tracks. Mom judges you like the rest of them and I won't let her. I like you Ron."

"She didn't kick you out?"

"She almost did for associating with you."

He bowed his head.

"You know I'm quitting school?"

"What? Was it because of what happened this morning?"

"Not just, it's everything. I'm quitting school, clearing my name, I'm one step away to becoming a permanent criminal, and I'm getting a job helping my mom."

"I knew you were gonna get your life together soon, very soon. Listen Ron, you have my full support, I wanna be your friend."

"Didn't we become friends already?"

"I guess so."

"Wanna come in my apartment, meet my mom?"

"Sure, I'd love to."

We smiled and went in the building. 

When we got in walking down the hall, we saw the old man giving us dirty looks but we ignored it.

"Two hell spawns sitting in a tree," the old man mumbled.

We walked into Ron's apartment, we saw the landlord talking with Ms. Petrie.

"We'll talk more later," he said.

He gave Ron a dirty look but smiled at me as he left the apartment.

"I'm back Mom," Ron said.

"Hi honey, who's your girlfriend?"

"I'm Maxine Gagnon, I go to school with Ron, it's nice to meet you Ms. Petrie."

"You too Maxine."

"She goes by Max, Mom," Ron said.

"Oh."

"Can Max stay for dinner?"

"Sure, if it's ok with her parents."

"My mom said it's ok," I said.

She smiled and nodded. 

"What did the landlord want?" Ron asked.

"I uh...I was talking him into giving us a two month extension on the rent."

"How come?"

"I got fired from my job this morning."

"Oh my God Ms. Petrie, I'm so sorry."

"Was it because of me?" Ron asked.

She nodded sadly.

"My boss was mad that I had to get off early to pick you up from jail, he couldn't tolerate it."

"I'll get a job Mom, I'll help you!"

"No, you keep going to school with Max."

"I quit school."

"...What?"

"I quit, I'm gonna get a job and go to night school or something."

"Night school?"

"Yeah, night school, I can get my diploma, get a job, help you pay the rent, get my life together, and get everybody off our backs."

She smiled.

"I'm very proud of you son."

"I'm proud of him too Ms. Petrie," I said.

Ron took his jacket off but then something clanged to the floor.

"What's this?" Ms. Petrie asked as she picked it up.

It looked like a exotic cuff bracelet, pretty valuable.

"A friend gave it to me."

"Where did you and your friends get this?"

"From an old lady's purse."

"You promised you wouldn't steal anymore!"

"I did, I didn't steal it, one of my friends did but he gave this to me as a payment or something, I'm giving it back to the old lady when I see her."

She stood in front of him just staring. Will she believe him?

"Mom, I wanna change, I really do. Do you believe me?"

"You're my son Ron, I always love you unconditionally, but you've been acting up in school, with the law. Does Max steal things to, is she one of your partners in crime?"

"No ma'am, I don't steal."

"Max is perfectly innocent! I just started talking to her more, we just became best friends."

I smiled when he said that.

"I don't know if I wanna believe you or not. You're my boy, I love you, but I don't know whether to believe your story or not. You know what me and the landlord were really talking about?"

"What were you two really talking about?"

"He said he will give me a two month extension...if you move out."

"What will happen if I don't?"

"Then he'll kick both of us out."

"What did I ever do to him!?" Ron yelled.

"Let me give him a piece of my mind! That's the worst ultimatum ever!"

I started walking away but Ms. Petrie stopped me.

"That is not necessary Max, I appreciate it, I really do."

"He's making you choose money over your child!"

"I won't let him."

"I'll move out, let you live here where it's warm if he ever fixes the heater of this darn place, he never cares for us anyways, he only cares if we pay him money on time! I'm old enough to take care of myself, I can rent my own place and get a job like I said, even night school! If you really believed me you would stop at nothing to let me stay here."

Ms. Petrie was silent.

"You really don't believe me, you're giving up, that's not what a good parent does!"

"You're saying I'm a bad mom!?"

"Yes!"

"Then get out! You really think I'm a bad mom then move out then!"

"Fine I will!"

Ron walked out the door.

"Nice meeting you Ms. Petrie, I gotta go."

The door to my apartment was unlocked but Mom left for work. I decided to pack some clothes in an old backpack of mine and some basic essentials. I wanted to leave with Ron! 

I ran out as fast as I could and saw him storming out of the building.

"Ron wait! I'm coming with you!"

He stopped.

"I don't know if it's a good idea for you to go with me, it maybe dangerous."

"We'll survive as long as we protect each other."

He smiled.

"Ok you can come with me."

I smiled too. I gave him a hug before we started our small journey.