Ok so this story has three chapters left, thinking of how the ending will go. Hate ending stories but it has to be done so i can edit. 4,000 reads, whoo! (does the happy dance) Check out the awesome cover made by one of my awesome followers and commenters @worldgirlalways! She's the best <3

Chapter 38: And now I wait

Hannah:

Max and I arrived at Coldstone Creamery, I love this place! You can get any flavor of ice cream in a waffle cone bowl. It brought my spirits a little since my encounter with Charlie and the workload I got from school. Limping from class to class was a little painful. The nurse only provided me one pain pill, since two made me drowsy and I don't think any of my teachers would like drool on their desk. Heading inside the cold atmosphere, good thing I wore a long sleeve shirt, I looked at the menu on the wall to see what kind I want. Mmmmm, rocky road and strawberry with gummy bears sound good. Or maybe chocolate with marshmallows topped with fudge. Strawberry topped with bananas and cheesecake bits was divine too.

"Thinking about what to get?" Max's voice rung me out of my thoughts as I looked at his grinning face.

"Yeah," I answered with a small laugh, "but I can't decide between a mudslide or a strawberry blonde."

"You don't want both?"

"No, just one."

"Hi, welcome to Coldstone! You guys decided what you want?" the ice cream guy asked, his nametag said Dwight.

"I'll take a strawberry blonde delight in a waffle cone bowl." I decided on that one, I think we have chocolate ice cream at home.

"I'll take peanut butter cup perfection," Max ordered, that sounds like a good one too. As we waited for our ice cream, we shared a comfortable silence not much customers in here today. Leaning against the counter, I began scoping the place, It sucked that there's no music here for me to bob my head to.

"So how did you like your first day back?" he asked as he broke the silence.

"School is school; nothing's changed except the rumors."

"Hey don't worry about that, ok? Just ignorance." I nodded and blew out air from my mouth. Tim gave us our ice cream, giving me a wink as we went to a table near the door. In the corner of my eye I saw Max glared at him, he had a scowl on his face when we walked away. All I could do was smile back awkwardly, not sure of anything else. Sitting down, I dug into my strawberry blonde moaning in delight when it hits my tongue.

"Oh, my gosh this is so frigging good!" My mouth was full, it sounded like I said gibberish, and he just laughed lightly and ate his too. We went into conversation about any shows we are obsessing about, he liked the show 'Sons of Anarchy' and I told him about the trailer I saw for 'Once Upon a Time'. They added 'Frozen' characters and even 'Wizard of Oz' for the next season. I'm so excited.

"So we're avoiding what happened at the hospital?"

"What do you mean?"

"The kiss and me telling you that I really like you."

"We've gone from like to really like now?"

"Yes, I stand by it and it might even change."

"Max I- oh crap." As I made a glance to the entrance, I rolled my eyes when Lucy and all her bitchiness invited of the parlor.

"What?" he asked me, following my stare to the door.

"Lucy." But what made my eyes widened and mouth gape slightly open is the guy with her: Charlie. Why is he with her? I thought he couldn't stand her. Max told me to ignore them but how can I when they're making a way to our table?

"Great," I mumbled when Lucy and Charlie came full view in front of us.

"Hi Max, Hannah. I didn't think you guys would be here," she said in a chipper voice, which I knew it's fake.

"It's ice cream Lucy, who wouldn't want to be here?" I questioned with a fake smile. She smiled too and turned our direction to Max.

"Max, if you ever get bored you can join us."

"Yeah Max if you want to enjoy vapid liars."

"I'm not the one that had to lie dating someone because the whole school wouldn't believe her."

I chuckled in disbelief, she's something else. Staring at each other she tilted her head about to start up again.

"Lucy shut the hell up." Charlie scolded heading to the counter, Lucy followed him like a loyal puppy.

"Hannah, she's not worth it." I agreed with Max as he held onto my hand, silently thanking him and Charlie for saying that. She tried to snuggle with him but he removed her arm. Ugh, I looked away because I needed a bathroom to metaphorically throw up. I excused myself, telling Max to watch my ice cream while I'm gone. I finished my business, checking if any toilet paper was caught on my ankle boot or anywhere else on body, washed my hands and left.

"Ow, sorry," I said, bumping into someone accidently when I left the bathroom. The person holding my waist so I don't fall.

"It's not your fault, Hannah," Charlie in front of me holding me up again. "Hi."

"Hi." I gave him a small smile, looking down and shuffling my feet. When I looked at him, his face seemed stern but empathic.

He broke into a light chuckle when he said "This is the second time you've fallen for me," I glared at him playfully and pulled his grip from my waist but he held on.

"Charlie let go of me," I said in a timid voice.

"Why?" he inched closer to me, our foreheads almost touching. No, can't do this.

"I can't stand on my leg for too long," he obeyed and let go, I started to limp away but he grabbed my wrist turning me to his face.

"I know we're not in the best of place right now, but I was hoping we could be friends."

"We are."

"Are you sure?"

"Charlie, we'll talk about this later. My ice cream is melting and my leg hurts."

"Fine. Call me." He lets go and I met Max at the table. Apologizing for taking so long we finished our ice cream.

***

He took me home twenty minutes later; Charlie and Lucy were still there but I didn't say bye to him, since I'm gonna call him tonight. Before I got out of his car, he asked if I wanted to hang out with him next weekend and I said sure. He kissed me on my cheek, feeling a bit warm and tingly. I got out of his car and opened my house door, no one is in the living room. I called both mom and dad on the phone, both working late and said I could call up one of my friends.

Looking through my contacts I stop at loopy, Charlie's nickname. Huh, should I call him? I mean we haven't had a full conversation about us fully and we're out in the open and he can come over. Pressing the call button to his name I sat on the couch, licked my lips in anticipation, hearing the dial tone on the other line. "Hey," he picked up after three dial tones.

"Hi, you said you wanted to talk."

"Yeah, are you busy?"

"No, are you? You can come over if you want so we can." I held in my breath, waiting for his answer, the other line is silent. Did he hang up? Frowning, I said hello and he said it back. "Sorry, my mom was telling me something so I had to put you on hold. I can come over but just for an hour."

"Okay, see ya until then." We both hang up; I took off my shoe leaving my boot on as I go to the kitchen to get a drink. And now I wait.