This is a very special chapter. One, because I'm dedicating it to an awesome reader. Two, I love what's happening in this chapter and the following one. It's not as well written as the grandma speech, but, I don't know, I'll leave that to you guys, hehe.

DEDICATED to: Skeleboi03 (who's actually a girl, apparently >.<) for being an awesome reader and giving me amazing words to motivate me to continue doing what I love: writing. She's part the reason why Hate Me Harder reached 100+ votes. Every read counts. Thank you guys so much!!!

Take a sec to read at the end of this chapter guys!

Okay, you guys can continue reading; I've finishing blabbing...

---

Max was no show on Tuesday too. And Wednesday.

How did I know? Because I kept looking for him, every single second of the days. I made sure to glue my eyes on the classroom doors during English and maths. There was no practice because of rain. I didn't like that there was none because of a reason other than playing. I'm not going to state why.

There should be no why.

Why should I care? It's not like he's my friend.

But I couldn't help it. And that was a secret; deep, deep inside me, barely existing.

Katie didn't tell me what happened. She didn't speak a word about why Max and Mason disappeared. Well, Mason came to school today though.

I didn't ask.

If that didn't add to my sour mood, it'd been raining ever since Monday. It stopped during twelve to one only to start at three. Mum hated it. Dad didn't care as usual and Katie, she didn't have any reasons to hate it.

What surprised me more was Mason, sitting on my couch, watching tv while sipping on whatever he'd been given. Or did he make it himself?

Did I have to spell it out for him that this wasn't his house?

"Oh, you're here? Want a cup?" Katie walked passed me to the couch, planting herself next to her boyfriend.

"What if I say yes?" I eyed the guy when he turned to me. "What are you doing here?" That's not what I wanted to ask.

"Then I'd reply with 'go get it yourself'. And don't talk to my boyfriend like that. He's here because I asked him to."

"What she said."

I glared at Katie, "he was my teammate before he became your boyfriend. And, I thought you were busy?"

"Busy with what?" He gave me a 'what are you talking about?' look which only confused me more.

I thought he was helping- you know what, I didn't care. Whatever happened with Max Winters and his life doesn't concern me. I shouldn't care.

I don't like him. I shouldn't like him.

I'm not gay...

I turned around, getting back to my room as fast as I'd come. I sat on my desk, going through homework when I suddenly thought of him again.

Did he get his homework? How would he if Mason didn't come to school on Tuesday? Maybe Katie helped and she just chose to not tell me because I was never friends with them.

Right, I was never friends with him.

Stop thinking about him Alan. You sound like a weirdo.

When did Alan Davis Baker care about Max Winters?

Ever since he fell for him.

Wait, no. That's wrong.

Ever since I fell on him. 

Twice.

Why couldn't I forget his warm touch?

I've touched guys before; guy friends. But I've touched so many girls too. Okay, not much, but enough to know the soft skins like the back of my hand but, his, his was so different. It made me want to explore.

That alone freaked me out.

I'm not gay.

"Alan!" I groaned at Katie's yelling. What was she even saying? "Wanna' watch with?!"

No one in the house did that except for her. "What?!"

"We're watching Peninsula! The second movie of the zombie one! Do you wanna watch or not?! We're starting!"

I shut my laptop, knowing I'm not going to finish anything tonight and made my way out. They'd already started and the sponsor credits were rolling. It was loud too, since it was raining hard. Mum and dad were probably going to be late if they didn't want to get wet.

I, not caring if I was third wheeling, again, sat on the side couch, away from the couple.

Just like that, I forgot about Max Winters as I engrossed myself into the film. Why were Korean movies so fucking perfect? How do they do it?

"I need the toilet," Mason said all of a sudden, standing up as we found one of the characters get stuck in the middle of an arena full of zombies.

I couldn't stop the retort from coming. "I thought you only needed my sister?"

Katie chucked a pillow my way. I laughed it off, continuing to watch until I felt like the doorbell was ringing.

"Katie, pause the movie. I think someone's at the door."

She clicked the button, "are you kidding yourself? Do you hear the rain Alan? There's no way someone's outside in it."

Then, a few bangs echoed through the house, making both of us jump.

Katie was out of her seat before I could say anything. Running behind her, I went to grab the first thing I saw. An empty vase on the cupboard at the front.

"Wait, Katie, don't open the-"

"Max?!"

Suddenly, the rain was loud. Really loud. The storm was hard and I could barely see through it. The noise was continuous.

And amongst those things, Max Winters stood at our doorstep. Drenched in the said rain, dripping a great amount on the welcome mat outside.

He was heaving, full body. Shivering a lot and looked like he'd come from a fight scene.

"What are you doing here?! Get inside!" Katie pulled him in when he didn't move and slammed the door shut making the house shake with the storm. Max didn't say anything for a second and Katie gave me a glance. "Do you need to talk to Mason? How did you get here?"

"Can I... talk to you? For a second?"

He was asking me and I stood there dumbstruck for another. Whatever he wanted to talk about, it wasn't going to be for a second.

But I nodded, after Katie gave me another eye.

"Alone."

I led him upstairs when Katie assured that she'll be fine; which indirectly meant that she'll let Mason know as soon as he came back. What was the guy doing in there for so long anyways?

We slowly made it upstairs and I pushed my room door open, letting him in. He went in and I closed the door, giving us a bit of privacy to whatever he wanted to talk to me about, alone.

When I turned around, I was suddenly attacked from the front and in a blink, I found Max snuggled on me.

The whole wetness seeped into my clothes as he tightened his hold, ducking his head into my neck. I shivered.

"Wh-"

"Just," he breathed into my skin and I visibly shivered again. My mind twisted at how the situation was changing when my heart leaped out of its chest. I took a small step back for precaution. "Don't move." I stopped. I had to move. There's no way he could find out that I have- "for me, please. I want to take a few seconds to calm myself."

So I did as he asked. Slowly, I placed my hands on his back, rubbing it softly.

Then there was a knock on the door. "Alan? Max? Are you guys okay?"

Max didn't look like he'd reply so I turned my body a little without letting go. "Yeah, we're good. Just, give us a moment Mason. I'll ask for you when Max's good."

He replied with a hum and left. I returned to the hug, slowly taking a step forward. Max took one back. Then I took one to the side, before taking another. He had no other option than to follow unless he wanted to let go.

"What are you doing?" Another mumble into my neck. I squeezed my shoulder and head together in reflex.

"Sorry, tickles." A lie.

I moved until he asked me again.

"Finding a way to sit you on my bed." Shit, did that sound weird? "I mean, unless you want to sit on the chair. I thought, I thought, I thought it'd be better if you sit on something comfortable."

He huffed before plopping onto my bed. I was glad that I'd neatened it before school.

I barely got to see his face before he flung his bigger figure to me. I hugged him for a while, just the both of us listening to the sound of the rain echoing. I watched the water spatter on my windows until I heard an extra sound.

Max's sniffles.

I pulled him off of me, finally getting a good look. His face was red along with his eyes that he desperately blinked with. His face was dry, probably with the help of my now wet t-shirt. But, I noticed the trail of tears spilling.

Max Winters was crying in front of me. The perfect guy of Stratford High, the guy I'd thought as nothing, he was broken.

Guilt and pain ran through my body in shivers.

Reaching up, I wiped it off with my thumb, holding his head up high.

Realizing what I was doing, I slowly let go, patting his back instead. "Do you... wanna' talk about it?"

---

Is Max going to 'talk about it' with Alan? Wait and see loves.

On more serious note, I just started a reviewing book! I know, how exciting!

It's called: SIMPLE BOOK REVIEWS. It's up on my list of books, to help other writers get better style in their stories, point out the right and wrongs and review. You can apply your own stories or share this with the others to get the word out there that there's a new reviewer for books!!!

I hope you guys give the word out!!! Just tag your friends to this or my review book!!!

P.S. Me having slippery hands, clicked on PUBLISH instead of SAVE 🤦🏽‍♀️. Lucky you, you got an early update...