Sorry!! I didn't mean to leave you guys with the cliffhanger yesterday ahaha blame Irene. I went to a friend's house and when I got home, the bitch knocked out my power -.-

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                                                                                ***Noah’s POV***

                “Dammit, dammit, DAMMIT!” I shrieked as we made our way back towards Pierce’s car. Max’s parents had no clue where he was and damn were they freaking out.

                “I knew this was a bad idea!” I cried as we got in the car. Owen was sickly pale. “And just to make things worse, Brent uploaded that stupid video!” Pierce snapped, showing us his phone. “Damn,” I grumbled, burying my face in my hands.

                “Guys, we’ve got to find him. God only knows how much pain he’s in right now,” Nason whispered. Pierce had asked Nason if he truly liked Max. Nason had nodded eagerly, and Pierce had kissed him. After Max ran off and Pierce explained everything, I basically tried to kill Andre. My dad kicked him out of the house after we told him everything.

                “Oh my…I think I know where he is,” I choked out, praying I was dead wrong. I told Pierce where to drive and he drove as fast as he dared.

                “There he is!” I cried, pointing at the figure standing on top of the roof. “Try to talk him out of it while I go up there,” I snapped at them as we exited the car. I raced to get up there.

                “Max! Don’t do it!” I heard Pierce scream. Max wouldn’t listen to them. I knew that. But maybe they could distract him long enough for me to get up there and drag his dumbass down.

                I ran as fast as I could to get up to that damn roof we loved to go to when we had problems. I emerged on it and sprinted at Max as he slowly began to bend his knees to jump. “MAX!” I shrieked and tackled him to the roof. I held him there as he struggled.

                His struggles died as he started to cry. I hugged him tightly. My best friend. My best friend that I now knew I was in love with. “I’m sorry Noah!” he sobbed. “Don’t be. Just don’t EVER do this again,” I whispered, holding him as tight as I dared to without hurting him.

                Make it stop

                Let this end

                All these years pushed to the ledge

                “Andre made Pierce kiss Nason to break you guys up. I…I wanted to tell you we set it up. When you ran out of my house. I’m so sorry Maxi.” He sniffed and wiped at his eyes.

                “I just couldn’t take it anymore,” he whimpered. “It’s all gonna be okay Maxi. I won’t let those fuckers mess with you anymore,” I promised him.

                I didn’t want to let myself imagine what would have happened if we had been even a few seconds later. Max jumping…god I just couldn’t think about it. I would’ve jumped after him.

                I held him for a few more minutes. “Max…we should get you home,” I said softly. As much as I wanted to kiss him, he needed Nason. Nason was his boyfriend, not me. I had dumped him and he had moved on. It hurt me to watch, but it was my fault.

                I helped him up and we made our slow way back down to the others. “Max!” Nason cried and flung his arms around Max. Max hugged him back tightly. “Nason,” he whispered, burying his face in Nason’s chest as Nason stroked his hair.

                “I’m so sorry Max. This is all my fucking fault!” Owen cried. “No it’s not Owen. I overreacted,” Max said quietly, pulling away from Nason’s chest. “No. This is my fault. All because I couldn’t just man up to stupid Andre. He blackmailed me, but I shouldn’t have let him,” Pierce said quietly.

                I briefly wondered what Andre could’ve possibly blackmailed Pierce with, but pushed it out of my mind as I watched Max eagerly press his lips to Nason’s. “Don’t worry about it guys. It was me being overemotional. I’m so sorry,” he said when he had pulled away from Nason.

                We got back in Pierce’s car and he drove us to Max’s house. “I’m going to go talk to my parents by myself. I’m so sorry about tonight guys. I’m not mad at you guys but I’d understand if you’re mad at me,” he whispered sincerely. “No one’s mad at you Max! Just promise you’ll never do something like that again,” I said. He nodded. “I promise.

                We watched him as he kissed Nason before getting out of the car and heading into his house.

                                                                                ***Max’s POV***

                “MAX!” mom screamed and ran to me. She flung her arms around me and hugged me tightly. I glanced up at my dad as I weakly hugged her back. He was avoiding looking at me. I could tell by the redness in his face that they had continued fighting after I left. My dad’s face turned red whenever he screamed.

                “Where did you go? We were so worried about you!” mom said as she led me to the living room and sat me down. “I just…I went to the spot Noah and I usually go when we want to think,” I said quietly. I hated lying to my parents, so this was the best way not to lie but not let them know I had seriously considered suicide. Hell I was 5 seconds away from committing it before Noah tackled me.

                “You knew he was going to come back. Unless he ran away to that despicable boy’s house again,” dad said with a snort. “He’s not despicable dad. He’s one of my best friends!” I cried.

                Being mad at me gave him no right to insult my friends. “If his father could raise him right, he wouldn’t be so much trouble,” dad snapped. “His father raises him right. It was his mom that screwed him up,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. Pierce’s dad really did care about him and try to raise him right.

                “Alright, that is enough. Come on Max,” mom said, pulling me up and towards the stairs. “Oh sure! Just drag him away so he doesn’t have to hear the truth!” dad snapped. “Stop it, just stop it!” mom screamed before dragging me up the stairs to my room.

                My dog, Skeeter, was laying on my bed. His tail wagged when he saw me and I walked over and began to pet him.

                “Just stay in your room Maxwell. And…honey, pack some stuff. I’m taking you to grandma and grandpa’s for a few days until your father calms down. I really have been trying to stop this fight but he makes me so mad when he starts screaming about everything,” mom said with a frown.

                I frowned deeply. “When do you plan to leave?” “Sometime tomorrow. Only if he starts yelling again though. If things seem any better, we’ll stay. If not, I don’t like him taking out his anger on you.”

                I hated it, but I found myself nodding in agreement. My parents had never fought this bad before. My dad usually kept his temper under control. It was scaring me. Plus, I obviously didn’t need anything else eating at me emotionally.

                Mom kissed my forehead before leaving my room and shutting my door. “Damn, I thought she’d never leave!” I jumped in shock as Noah crawled through my window.

                “Noah!” He hadn’t done that in a while. He came over and sat next to me. “How are you?” he asked, concern shining in his beautiful eyes. “I’m alright,” I said quietly, petting Skeeter again. Skeeter sniffed Noah before licking his arm.

                He wrapped his arms around me and it felt comfortable. No, no, no. Max, you’re dating Nason. Not Noah. But…well, this was friendly. Noah didn’t like me anymore. He was just being my best friend. The one that comforted me through all the hard times.

                And I was damn grateful to have him right now.