⚠️WARNING: This chapter has themes of Bullying, Death, Body Dysmorphia and Eating Disorders, Bad Foster home pasts, and poverty. Reader discretion is advised.⚠️

//Max's POV//

"Well, everybody's been doing something," Marie shrugged.

"How's that band you wanted to make happening for you?" Y/n asked her, sitting in a chair.

"I wanted to wait until you came home. Maybe when the school year starts we can try to get some gigs."

"I told you, I'm not going to be your frontman," Y/n refused.

Len walked over to me.

"Do you need some backgrounds on everyone?" He asked me.

"Sure..?"

"Marie. Totally the coolest gal I know. People think that she is rich and has a whole lot of money, so people used her. We're the only people who really care about her. Her mother died when she was born, so please don't mention things like that. It upsets her," He pointed to Marie.

"Angelo, he's really poor. He works a lot for his family and this is a rare moment for him to be off. He's bullied for shabby clothes. I really do feel bad for him. We've tried giving him some of our pocket money but he always refuses," He pointed to Angelo.

"Li is a transfer student, so it was hard for her to fit in and it still is. She's from the west, so she's used to a different lifestyle, and she has a heavy accent. She was made fun of for being more rougher and tomboyish than most girls here. She was even attacked one time, girls cutting her hair. Thank god Y/n found her before they can hurt her any more. Those two are really close."

I watched Y/n swing an arm over Lianna's shoulder.

"As you know, Y/n and Louis are cousins. He comes here every summer from up North. He and his mom live in a nice house and he goes to a nice high school but, he really misses his dad. He died when he was very young. Y/n was only 5 when that happened and he was 8."

He looked over to Jesse.

"And Jesse. Her story is really sad. She is an orphan. The only family she has is her older sister, Lynn. They've been in multiple foster homes but none ever really cared about them. Once Lynn was older, she let Jesse live with her so she won't be in foster care anymore."

I looked down, "What about you?"

"Me? Well..It's kinda gross to people so if this grosses you out, tell me and I'll stop."

Len lifted up his shirt.

He was one of the skinniest people I've ever seen.

He was literally skin and bone.

"LEN!" Y/n yelled.

"I know.." Len mumbled.

"Why haven't you been eating?" Y/n put her hands on his shoulders.

"I can't Okay?! It hurts..I was explaining to Max," He looked back at me, "I make myself throw up."

"Have you been seeing the doctor?" Y/n asked him.

"Yeah but..it's really not helping."

"Honey, you have to stop," Marie put a hand on his shoulder.

"It's so hard. I always see myself as fat and that's when it gets to me. Every time I eat, I have to get rid of it," Len looked down.

"Len. Please stop, I don't want you to hurt yourself. We all care about you. I care," Angelo hugged Len.

"I reckon Len told you all of our stories?" Li looked at me.

"Yeah. You all have it hard, don't you?" I frowned, actually feeling bad for these people.

I barely know them and I feel really bad for them.

"We Get by. That's why we're here. Y/n started this group to let us all have a better time and forget about all the shit in life that makes us sad," Angelo ran his hand through his hair.

"What's your damage?" Marie asked me.

"Marie! You can't just ask someone what their life is like!" Jesse scolded her.

Y/n walked over to me.

"You don't have to tell them if you don't want to. They'll understand," She whispered.

"It's okay. I feel like since I know what their life is like, I guess it's only fair I tell them mine," I shrugged.

I don't do this often.

Tell people what my life is like.

The only people I've told was David and Gwen, and later Y/n.

At first, I didn't know why I told Y/n on the day I met her.

At first I found her pushy, but this weird force made me tell her.

I found some sort of comfort telling her.

I was actually surprised she showed sympathy.

"My parents don't love me. They only sent me to that dumbass camp to get rid of me for the summer. That's really it. I mean nothing to them," I admitted.

Everyone looked shocked, except for Y/n.

Y/n put an arm around me.

Everything went silent for a minute.

"I'm sorry..I didn't know," Marie apologized.

"Yeah, that's got to be hard," Louis added.

"I'm really sorry, sugar cube," Li nodded.

Everyone was apologizing and telling me that everything would get better.

I felt this warmth in my chest.

Everyone cared, everyone listened.

Y/n pressed a hug onto me

"Group hug!" Len yelled.

Everyone was around me and Y/n.

Once everyone let go, we all decided that we'd get off the topic.

"How about we give Max the old initiation?" Angelo smiled.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Yeah! We haven't done that in a while! That will make you an actual member of our club!" Y/n punched my shoulder.

"In a little bit. First, Y/n. I've been taking care of your little guy, and I brought him today," Li got a little box from the table and brought it over towards Y/n and I.

"*Gasp!* You brought him!" Y/n gasped.

Y/n stuck her hand in the box and when she pulled it out, there was a little bird on her hand.

"Thanks for taking care of him," Y/n thanked Li.

"No problem," She smiled.

"You have a bird?" I asked her.

"I forgot to tell you, sorry. Max, this is Spy! He's a cockatiel!" She held out the bird.

(Yes you have a bird :)) )

Spy was small, but not too small.

He had all of his feathers so he wasn't that young.

"Want to hold him?" She asked me.

"Uh, sure."

"Hold out your hand and he'll climb on. If he nibs you, I'll get him," She explained.

"Y/n, I've punched a bear, I can handle a fucking bird," I whispered.

Spy climbed onto my hand.

I was a little afraid I was going to drop him and Y/n would hate me forever.

'Am I overreacting?' I asked myself.

"You can pet him too, just scratch his neck, he likes there," Y/n demonstrated by scratching his neck.

When I did it, the bird closed its eyes like it was the best feeling in the world.

Soon, Y/n put the bird back in his travel box, which had toys, snacks and water in it.

"I won't be able to go with you guys," Louis said, "I'll take Spy back to your place, Li."

"Thanks Lou," Li thanked him.

"Bye Guys!" Louis waved.

"Bye!" Y/n gave him a quick hug and he left.

"Are we ready to go?" Len asked, bored.

"Yeah, lets go," Y/n nodded.

We all left the room, locking it and left the school.

Everyone got on their bikes and I got behind Y/n.

"That is the cutest thing ever!" Marie laughed at us.

"Oh shut up!" I yelled.

Marie just raised her hands up in defense and backed away.

"Y'all scared her," Li snickered.

We all were riding until we reached the countryside.

"Uh, why are we here?" I asked.

"You'll see," Y/n told me.

After five more minutes, we pulled up to a cliff.

We all got off the bikes.

"What are we doing here?" I asked.

"Look down," Jesse told me.

I walked over to the edge of the cliff and saw a lake at the bottom.

"A lake?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yep and you're jumping off into there," Y/n nodded.

"Y/n. Did you just ask me to jump off a cliff?" I chuckled.

"Yeah. We all did it," Angelo shrugged.

"You guys are serious?" I asked.

"Yeah. Don't be a pussy," Len laughed.

"Look. If you're scared I'll do it with you," Y/n nodded.

"I don't even have a fucking bathing suit on."

"Wear your underwear, dumbass," Angelo rolled his eyes.

Y/n took off her shirt and shorts.

"Y/n, what the fuck?!" I covered my eyes.

"Relax, I'm in a bathing suit."

"We always wear bathing suits," Li shrugged.

I blushed seeing Y/n half naked like that.

"Oooh he's blushing~" Marie cooed.

Y/n took off her shoes, "Not funny, Marie."

Y/n held out her hand to me.

"Come on, for me?" She asked.

I couldn't say no to her, she was too adorable.

"*Sigh* Fine. Only because you asked."

I took off my sweatshirt and my yellow T-shirt.

I felt uncomfortable, but I also took my jeans off.

"Come on, Power couple!" Marie cheered.

"We're not even dating!" Y/n yelled.

We stood at the edge of the cliff together, holding hands.

"You sure this is safe?" I asked her.

"Yeah, probably. I've done this a lot of times and it was fine for me. We'll go on 3."

"1.."

"2.."

"3!" Len pushed us early.

"Wait what?!" I yelled, but it was too late.

We were already falling to the water.

I got scared.

"Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck!" I yelled.

Y/n took my hands, soaring across from me.

"It's okay, we're okay."

I trusted her words and closed my eyes, preparing for impact.

"Splash!"

I swam up the surface.

"That was..actually okay," I panted.

I looked around.

"Y/n! Y/n?! Y/n this isn't funny!" I called out, worried.

'Please tell me she's okay..'

"*Cough!* I'm here!" She waved her arm, coming to the surface.

"Y/n! Are you okay?!" I swam over to her.

"I'm good. It's just been a while that's all. I wanted to stay under longer, touch the floor," She explained.

"You scared me!" I scolded her.

"Sorry," She smiled.

"Don't scare me like that again," I told her.

She wrapped her arms around my neck.

"Okay, Maxwell," She smirked.

"Don't call me that."

"You gave me a stupid nickname. You'll live."

"Whatever kitty," I rolled my eyes.

We heard a couple more splashes and everyone else was in the lake with us.

"Ayyy whatuppers," Marie poked her head out.

"Look at the love birds!" Angelo laughed at us.

"You're one to talk, Angelo!" Y/n yelled at him.

"What's she talking about?" Len raised an eyebrow.

"N-NOTHING!!" Angelo stuttered.

"Oh my god! Will you two just smooch already?!" Marie yelled at Angelo and Len.

"Lenny, don't listen to her-"

"No. We should do it," Len swam over to Angelo.

"Oh shit! Is my OTP actually happening?!" Marie freaked out.

"Yesss," Jesse clapped her hands.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" Y/n chanted.

"Can I have some context here?" I asked Y/n.

"Angelo is into Len and it seems Len is into Angelo," She whispered.

Len put his hands on Angelo's cheeks.

"Oh my god..." Li whispered, late to the party.

And with that, Len pushed a kiss onto Angelo's lips.

Angelo kissed back, surprised at first, but got used to it.

Marie, Li, Jesse and Y/n clapped so I joined them.

"....I'm fucking dead. Holy shit my dreams just came true!" Angelo cried, happily.

"Totally," Len winked, his hands around Angelo's waist.

"Does he say that a lot?" I whispered to Y/n.

"Yeah."

'I wish I could kiss Y/n like that.'

"Hey! How about we have a chicken fight battle royale!" Marie asked, as we got closer to the shore, so we could stand in the water.

"That's a great idea. Marie and I should be partners so the couples can be partners!" Li suggested.

"But we're not dating!" Y/n and I yelled.

"Soon~" Marie cooed.

Len picked up Angelo and put him on his shoulders.

I went under water and got Y/n on my shoulders.

"Dammit Max! You scared me!" She yelled at me.

"That's for scaring me earlier."

"And let the battle, begin!" Jesse yelled, being the referee.

Len and Angelo came at us.

Angelo pushed at Y/n, but Y/n stayed strong.

"Come on, Angelo!" Len cheered him on.

"Y/n, beat this guys ass!" I cheered for Y/n.

"Len has wet dreams about you, Angelo!" Y/n yelled at Angelo, distracting him.

"W-what?!" Angelo stuttered.

Angelo got so flustered that he flipped backwards making Len fall as well.

"Disqualified!" Y/n yelled.

"Not fair!" Len yelled.

"Y/n, this is why we're great friends," I nodded.

"Come on, girls! Give it the best you got!" Y/n taunted them.

Li charged at us and Marie showed no mercy on Y/n.

"Come on Y/n! You can do this!"

"Stay determined, Marie!"

"Make this girl break a nail!" I yelled.

"Excuse me?!" Marie gasped.

"Oooh~ You shouldn't have said that~" Li laughed.

"You made her mad," Len backed up.

Marie pushed on Y/n harder than before and she started to lose her balance.

I tried to hold her as tight as I could but we fell anyways.

Y/n fell first and I fell after.

I landed my head softer then I expected.

'Wait..'

I looked at where I landed.

'Oh no..'

"M-Max..."

I fell on top of Y/n.

She was in between my arms and legs, blushing wildly.

My head landed in her bust.

Once I realized where I was, I immediately jumped up.

"Oh f-fuck! Y/n I'm so sorry!" I apologized.

Everyone was laughing loudly.

"Holy shi-hi-hiiit!! I think that will make me forgive you for stereotyping me, Max! Karmas a bitch!" Marie wheezed.

"Max couldn't help himself!" Len laughed.

"It was too much.." Angelo snorted.

"Enough! All of you!" Jesse yelled at them.

"S-Sorry ma'am!" Len and Angelo said together.

"I say we should all get dried off and grab something to eat," Li nodded.

"Agreed."

Luckily, Jesse had towels and we all dried off.

We all hopped back on the bikes and went off.