I was standing outside the hospital, in a quiet corner trying to get my temper in check. I was mad at my brother and Veronica. No, not mad. I was more disappointed. Every time I asked them to be careful and not get involved in any issue related to Max, they did the opposite. And now one of them was expelled from his school, and the other one was scowling at her broken hand. 

They didn't take Max seriously. They didn't know he never made any empty threats. Max being involved in drug dealing was not news to me. I knew a lot of his dirty secrets. I had seen how far he could go, I knew what he was capable of. 

In the past, I had always taken a step back, I had tried to play defensive and not provoke him, to protect my family, to protect Veronica, but not anymore. He had crossed a line, and he'd pay for it. I was done playing safe.

I took out my phone and called Jace.

"Where the fuck were you!?" His voice boomed from the other end. 

"What?" I asked, confused. 

"Avi had called me last night asking about you. What the hell happened dude? Veronica was out all night, looking for you! You weren't even taking our calls." 

Shit. She had called all my friends too? Just how long was she wandering around, looking for me, last night? I felt like kicking myself for being so irresponsible. "I'm sorry, man. I was really out of it, can we talk?" 

"Yeah, sure. What's up?" 

"No, can we meet up later? I need a favor. It's about Max." 

Jace knew my history with him. He understood it all better than anyone. So he quickly agreed. "I'm in. I'll see you in an hour." 

As soon as I hung up, a dark and all too familiar looking Sedan pulled up in front of the hospital and I saw Andrew Stone get out of it in a hurry. When he spotted me, he rushed over to me, a worried look etched on his face. "How is she?" 

"Stable. She needs to go through a surgery in two days." 

"It's going to be fine. She'll get better in no time." He sighed and clamped a strong hand on my shoulder. "Where's your Dad?" 

"He was here all night. I just asked him to go home, so that he could freshen up."

He nodded, studying my face for a few seconds. "What's on your mind?" 

"Max. I met him today. I heard you cut him off and threw him out of your house, is that true?" 

"I didn't have any option. I haven't seen him in three days, I'm hoping that'll force him to come back on the right track."

I chuckled at that, I couldn't help it. "You have a lot of faith in him." 

"I'm his father." When I didn't say anything, he continued, "How did he look? What did he say?" 

"The usual bullshit. He has kept himself busy for the last three days." 

"What do you mean?" 

"He broke into Veronica's house, and vandalised it. He planted drugs in my brother's locker at school and got him expelled." I finally looked at him, studying his face for any reaction, but I got none. He had his game face on, something that he had carefully practiced for years. 

"I can talk to the school board and get Julian back in school," he offered. 

"Dad's already on it. We don't need your help." I had overheard dad speaking to someone over a call, trying to sort out this mess and he genuinely seemed concerned regarding how this might affect Julian's future. Atleast now, I knew that deep down he did care about Julian. Maybe that was the only silver lining to this situation. 

He opened his mouth and shut it, then let out a heavy sigh and asked. "Have you reported any of this to the police?" 

"If we do that, would you or would you not try to do everything in your power to dismiss any case filed against him?" 

He looked away, and I was met by silence for a few minutes, before he answered my question. "I would."  

"Thought so." I shook my head. "I'm thankful for what you've done for me and my family in the past. You saved my mother's life, and I can never forget that. But I have to tell you this, you're one of the main reasons why Max is what he is today." 

A quick flash of something unreadable passed through his face, before his stony mask was back in place. "I know." 

"I don't think I can always overlook that," I mumbled before walking away from him.

I made my way back to the lounge area and found Julian and Veronica sitting together. He was asleep on her shoulder, and it made me smile. I had never seen him so comfortable around anyone, except her. She had placed her head on top of his, and was staring off into the distance. 

I took a moment and looked her over. She had hardly slept well for the last two nights and she looked exhausted. One of her hands was hurt and patched up from the night Max broke into her house, the other one had a splint for her dislocated thumb because of punching Max this morning. Faint dark circles hung under her beautiful eyes and her dark hair was messy in her ponytail. 

Max was the reason for all of this, but the root cause was me. His hatred for me. He saw her as a challenge because she wasn't the one to back down or give in to him, but he had made her as one of his targets because of my inability to stay away from her. 

A moment of possessive concern washed over me, so strong it almost brought me to my knees. I couldn't lose her. I needed to make sure she was okay. I needed to protect her from whatever was making her look so tired and miserable. 

I'll protect her from everyone and everything. Even from myself. 

Tyler walked in after a long time and took a seat beside me. He extended his long ass legs straight and crossed them at the ankles. He had nice ankles, of course. Okay, that thought definitely warranted an eye roll. 

I observed his face for a few seconds, as if that will give me any clue on how he was feeling. Is he still pissed at me? "Um...they ran some tests on your mother and she is sleeping now. I couldn't talk to her, but I did go to her room." 

He gave me a small nod, and we fell into an awkward silence again. 

"Do you want some coffee?" He suddenly asked.

"Sure." I gave him a small smile which he didn't return. God, he's still pissed. 

He got up from the chair and I quickly added, "Strong. With very little sugar." 

"I know." He muttered and left. Even though he was pissed, the fact that he knew how I liked my coffee made me smile. 

This boy has turned me into a sap!

When Tyler came back with two cups of coffee, Julian stirred awake. He took one look at Tyler, and left us alone, saying he needed to use the washroom. 

I hated the rift between them. Tyler was acting uncharacteristically cold, and Julian was just running away every time he spotted him. This had to stop.

"You shouldn't blame him for what happened. He feels awful." I took a sip from my coffee and carefully watched Tyler. 

"I don't blame him." He looked down at his own cup of coffee. 

"He thinks you do. He loves you so much and he thinks you hate him now." 

At this, his gaze snapped back to me. "He said that?" 

I nodded. "Last night. He was crying so much, it was heartbreaking. You really should talk to him." 

"I will." He looked away, his eyes full of guilt. 

We finished our coffee in silence, and I was wondering just how did our relationship get so strained, so quickly. Everything was fine a day ago, and now it was just...ugh.

Just then, his phone chimed with a new message. One look at it, and he was on his feet. 

"I need to go." He tucked his phone back into his pocket. 

"Where?" 

He hesitated for a few seconds and simply said, "Out with Jace. I have something to take care of." 

"Oh...um okay. I'll see you later?" I asked.

"Maybe." He sighed, avoiding my eyes. 

"What does that mean?" 

"It's just that I...I have a lot on my plate right now and I don't know how to deal with it. I just need some space." 

I felt like I had been punched in my gut. But I somehow managed to keep a straight face. 

"Yeah, sure. Whatever you want." I quickly agreed.

"I just...I just need a break." He raked his hands through his hair, and finally looked at me. 

I took a step back in shock. "A break? From me?" 

"It's not like that–" He reached for me, but stopped and I found myself hoping he hadn't. 

We just stared at each other for a few agonizing seconds, before he continued, "I think it'll be good for the both of us. Just until I get my shit together." 

"That's bullshit and you know that." I hated the way my voice broke at the end, but I forced myself to hold his stare. "I'm sorry, okay? I know I acted recklessly this morning, and I know you're mad that I didn't tell you about what Julian was up to, but I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." 

He shook his head, looking tormented. "I'm not mad. Not anymore. I just...need to be on my own for a while." He swallowed hard, and looked down at his feet. 

"Okay." My voice was barely above a whisper.

I waited for him to say something but when he didn't, I knew he had made up his mind. I nodded, trying hard to understand his point of view, but failing. "Just...don't push me away. Please." 

I turned around before he could say anything else and walked away, trying hard to keep my tears at bay.

I would give him time to come back to me. He could take all the time he needed. As long as he did come back to me. 

***

Only after I had gotten out of the hospital, I realized Tyler still had my car keys. But I didn't have the emotional strength to face him again. So I walked. And walked. And walked. 

My feet hurt and I welcomed it. The physical ache was the only way I could ignore the ache growing in my chest.

And by the time I had finally dragged myself home, I was half dead. 

Ash was already home, so I prepared myself for a long ass interrogation. She was sitting on the couch, with a textbook on her lap when I walked into the living room.

As soon as she took in my appearance and spotted my brand new injury, she rushed over to where I was standing. "Don't tell me you got into a fight!" 

"Fine, then I won't tell you." 

"Veronica!" 

"Ashley." I gave her a small smile and she sighed. 

"What happened?" 

I plopped down on the couch and got her up to date over everything that had happened and she regarded me with a disapproving frown. "You know–" 

"I know, I know..." I interrupted her. "...it's mostly my fault and all that. But I just don't like the way he is pushing me away."  

"He has a lot on his plate right now, you just need to give him some space and be there for him, when he needs you." 

"I get it. I just don't like it." 

She gave me a sympathetic smile. "He'll come around." 

"It just feels like everyone seems to be walking away from me nowadays, " I mumbled. 

"Neil hasn't spoken to you yet?" 

"Nope." I shook my head with a scowl. It's been the longest I've ever gone without talking to him and it's weighing me down. 

"He'll come around, too. Don't worry." She got up and made her way towards the kitchen. "I'll make you some hash browns, you hungry?" 

"Always." She always knew how to cheer me up. 

A few hours later, I was still moping around the house when the doorbell rang. I quickly made my way towards it, hoping it was either Tyler or Neil. 

But life was always surprising me in the shittiest ways. 

It was Sam. She was wearing a bright yellow tee and fitted jeans. After wearing a pair of sky high heels, she was exactly my height. Her dark blonde hair fell over her shoulders in soft curls. She was so damn put together, it pissed me off. 

"What do you want?" I snapped. 

Her eyes widened for a moment and she stepped back. "Wow, that's how you usually greet people?" 

"You came here unannounced, uninvited and unwanted. What did you expect?" 

She composed herself quickly. I had never been so rude to her before. But then again, I never knew what a backstabbing friend she was. 

"Can I come in?" 

"No." 

"Fine. I know you're angry and quite frankly I really don't care. Just stop poisoning Neil's mind against me." She crossed her arms over her chest. 

This time, it was my turn to be shocked. "Excuse me?" 

"I'm not..." she sighed and shook her head. "Look, I really didn't know that Heather was spilling everything I told her about you to Max." 

"Why were you bitching about me to them anyway? I've never done anything to you. I have always tried so damn hard to be your friend. I don't understand..." 

"That's the point, isn't it? Even if you try hard I'll never be a part of your group. I'll never be as important as you to Neil." She shook her head and looked down at her feet. 

"What the hell does that mean? He loves you." 

"But you always come first to him. It's always you. He calls you when he is nervous about something. He calls you when he needs someone to hype him up before his games. He calls you up when there is any exciting news he wants to share. You always come first, and I come second." Her eyes were now glazed with unshed tears when she looked at me with barely concealed fury. 

"I didn't know you felt like that..." I murmured suddenly at a loss for words. 

She scoffed. "The other day he was at my house for dinner with my family and he left right in the middle of it, just because he got a vague call from Ashley and he thought you were in some trouble. Do you know how embarrassing that was for me?" 

Shit. I didn't know that. "I didn't know...someone had broken into my house and–" 

"It's always something, isn't it? There is always some drama revolving around you and you suck in everybody who's around you into it." 

I flinched at her words but I couldn't ignore the truth behind it. 

"That's enough, Sam."  I heard a cold voice from behind me and turned around to find a fuming Ash. "You don't know what the fuck you're talking about."

Sam was momentarily taken aback by her words but she didn't budge. "Of course you'll take her side. You are used to living in her shadow. You need to wake up Ash, this is not a healthy friendship." 

Before I could take another breath Ash was in her face. "What the hell do you know about friendship, huh?" 

I tried pulling Ash back, afraid she might do or say something she'll regret later. I had never seen her so furious and it was a shocking sight. 

"I'm lucky that I get to call her my best friend! You know, when Neil first started dating you I really didn't like you much. There was something about you that didn't sit well with me." Ash shook her head and then pointed at me. "She was the one who insisted we make an effort and include you in our group. She was the one who forced me to be friends with you because you were important to Neil and that made you important to us. But I guess this time, she was wrong and I was right." 

"Well, then she should also have made an effort to maintain some distance with him and give us some fucking space!" Sam shot back. 

"Fuck you! There is something wrong with you and your relationship with Neil if you're so damn insecure. You've been dating him for 6 months and you think he'll give up a lifelong friendship for you!?" 

Sam's nostrils flared and she glared at me, before saying, "Just stay away from him. I love him and he loves me. Dont come in between us." 

Before I could even muster up a response to that, I heard Ash say, "I just can't wait for Neil to see you for who you are and dump your ass." 

And with that Ash slammed the door right on her face and turned around to look at me. Her expression was concerned, when she asked, "Are you okay?" 

"Yeah." I nodded, dumbfounded at her outburst.

"She was giving you some bullshit and you were just listening... that was so unlike you."

"Well, you surely gave her a piece of your mind." I turned around and walked back towards the living room. "And that was so unlike you." 

"Someone had to stand up to her, I still can't believe you let her talk to you like that." 

"I- I just felt she was right about some stuff..." 

"What!?" 

I looked at her and shrugged. "I get it. Sometimes even I get really jealous when I see Courtney and Tyler together, I know how that feels." 

"Courtney likes Tyler. Everybody knows that. Their relationship is nothing like what you have with Neil...unless there's something I don't know." She narrowed her eyes at me.

"Don't be silly." I rolled my eyes. "Neil is like my brother."

"Exactly! She should know that. Even if she did have some problems with your relationship she should have spoken to Neil or you about it, instead of going behind your back like that."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

I was so freaking exhausted. I had to deal with Max and his psychotic ass in the morning, Tyler being distant, Neil not talking to me and now Sam. I needed a damn break!

I played with the splint on my hand and cringed. "Mom and dad are gonna be pissed when they see this."

An- Thoughts? What do you think is going to happen next?

Thank you for reading so far❤