THESE DECEIVING EYES

[maxwell eli horowitz]

I REMEMBER WHEN, I REMEMBER
i remember when i lost my mind

there was something so pleasant about that place
EVEN YOUR EMOTIONS HAVE AN ECHO IN SO MUCH SPACE

Fucking FINALLY. It had been exactly four hours, thirty-seven minutes and sixteen seconds since Max had arrived at school and he had been waiting as patiently as he could for lunch to roll around. It was a bright summer day in Central Cove, and there was no way any member of the student body would be able to resist eating lunch outside in the quad, which is where he was headed now. Pacing quickly through the halls, Max held tightly to his megaphone, which he had picked up from his locker as soon as class let out, and reaching the upper quad after a few minutes. When his hunch about the quad's population was confirmed, a loud laugh erupted from his throat. Oh, this was going to be great!

"Get the fuck out of my way!" Max screamed, holding the megaphone up to his lips. His body was shaking slightly as he took large jerky steps up to the middle of the tables, sneering at the kids he ordered to move as they backed away from the table and laughing wickedly as he noticed them flinch with fear and surprise. With two easy jumps, one on the bench, followed by another onto the table top, Max glanced down at the full food trays, huffing loudly. "What the fuck? What a mess!" He growled loudly, turning around on the table to nudge each tray off onto the benches, which only caused his anger to flare. "Move, move, MOVE. Off my table!" He hissed, jumping down onto the benches to knock the trays off, and then hopped to the ground, shuffling around the table to swiftly kick all of the food away. "This is very, very dirty! Don't you boys know how to clean up after yourselves?" The junior glared at the four boys he had harassed moments before, stepping lazily back onto the table top before holding his hand over his eyes to peer out at the crowd. His mouth twisted into a crazed grin when his eyes fell on Ava, then Mac, Noland, and that short little prick.

"Good! Everyone's here!" Max laughed loudly into the megaphone, wide wild eyes scanning over the crowd. He held one hand on his hip as he cleared his throat, tilting his head slightly as he began to speak. "Hellooooo Central Cove High! For those of you who don't know, which is no one, actually. I'm very popular, you see," Pausing to laugh bitterly, Max turned the volume up. "I'm Max. But MaxWELL to you, Ava" As he sneered her name, he shot her a sharp glare. "And I have something very important to tell everyone! I need to set some shit straight, and all of you are going to listen, got it?"

[ava keely fields]

SO I PUT MY H A N D S UP ,
they're playing my song.
THE BUTTERFLIES FLY AWAY.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Taking a bite of her non-fat Caesar salad, Ava Fields looked up with a smile as she saw her boyfriend enter the quad. Her dark eyes took a few moments to find his face as they traveled up his black jeans and perfectly tight red sweater, narrowing slightly with concern when they finally found his expression. She had never seen him look so dark and angry, and the megaphone in his hand was confusing, though she soon understood it's point when he began to scream into it. Ava jumped when he began to swear, trading a frightened look with the rest of the Freshman girls she sat with before looking back at him, swallowing hard. The Junior was generally boisterous, but she had never seen him act so...cruel. Not only did he yell at four perfectly innocent boys, but he removed them from their table, destroying their lunch in the process. His brown eyes seemed crazy as he smiled, speaking into the microphone after taking his place atop the table.

Her shoulders slumped slightly, and she couldn't help but feel wounded at his words. "I'm Max. But MaxWELL to you, Ava" What did that even mean? She bit her lip slightly, unable to take her eyes away from him. What the hell was happening?


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[noland didier massey]

IF YOU‘RE WONDERING IF I WANT YOU TO
-I WANT YOU TO, I SWEAR IT‘S TRUE-

SO MAKE A MOVE


Smiling down at his boyfriend, Noland Massey leaned over to give him a quick kiss before turning his attention back to the conversation about some new movie that was coming out. It was the first time in months that everything in their group felt normal. Well, mostly normal. There was still one thing, one person, missing.

"Get the fuck out of my way!" Noland's eyes snapped over towards the sudden exclamation, gasping when he saw the source. There was Max, making a giant disruption as he tormented a few sophomores and destroyed their lunches. With wide eyes, which were glued on the scene, the senior blindly reached for the girl beside him, slapping her arm lightly. "Oh my god...Mac, look."

[mackenzie audrey anderson]

confusion that never stops,
- - - - - - - OF CLOSING WALLS AND TICKING CLOCKS.
GONNA COME BACK AND TAKE YOU HOME, I COULD NOT STOP WHAT YOU NOW KNOW.


"Harrison Ford is always going to be the best action movie actor ever," Mac Anderson said with a smile, leaning her elbows on the table. She felt....Okay. Almost normal, which was as good as it had been since August, and better than she'd ever thought she'd be after her life at fallen to pieces a few months ago. She shook her head slightly, enjoying the hot spring sun of her mass of brown hair, and the conversation she and her small group of friends were having. Arguing about movies was so typical of how her life used to be that she felt a bitter-sweet pain in her chest, one entirely too reminiscent of how her heart ached when she thought of...

Mac jumped slightly, almost knocking over the Redbull she was leaning over as Noland suddenly slapped her arm, amber eyes going wide as she looked over at him. "What the hell, Noland?" She raised an eyebrow at his words, frowning slightly as she turned to look past Dara, facial expression completely changing as she took in what the Senior had been gesturing to. There he was. Maxwell Eli Horowtiz. Her best friend since his birth sixteen years ago. The boy she had been in love with since the sixth grade. The reason her heart felt like it had broken into a million pieces. And it seemed like he had just gone crazy.

She sat there, frozen, unable to even glance over at Nate for advice as she listened to his words, the twisted grin on his face making her stomach churn. She was without a doubt frightened, but she couldn't get up. Reaching out a blind hand, Mac held onto Noland's arm tightly, fingers turning pale. What was he going to say? What was he going to do?

[maxwell eli horowitz]

I REMEMBER WHEN, I REMEMBER
i remember when i lost my mind

there was something so pleasant about that place
EVEN YOUR EMOTIONS HAVE AN ECHO IN SO MUCH SPACE

Max paused for a moment before continuing to speak, eyes bouncing from Mac to Ava, then to the large mass of people around him. "I've caught wind of a rumor that's been spreading around. About Ava and me. Something like 'Ohmygod, did you hear that Max and Ava are dating? Ooooooo!' and I need to say..." He met his gaze with Ava's, narrowing his eyes. "It's bullshit. That little bitch and I are NOT dating. Well...We're going on dates but she's definitely not my girlfriend. Oh no no no! She's way too fucking stupid and ugly for that." As he said this, Max couldn't stop himself from laughing brightly, eyes burning with a savage rage. "The only reason why I even give her the time of day is because I'm lonely and desperate to forget YOU, Kenzie." His eyes flashed over to his former best friend, flickering with a momentary softness. Just the sight of her was almost enough to tame his swelling anger. Almost.

"It's really fucking hot today, right guys? Daaamn! You know...Wouldn't it be the shit if I did a rain dance and it actually started to rain? That'd be nice...Then it wouldn't be sooooo fucking hot!" With a tug of his wrist, Max unzipped his hoodie and shook it from his arms, letting it drop onto the table. "But ANYWAY! As I was saying. Ava and I are not dating. Never were, never will be. I hate that bitch SO much. You hear that Ava?" He grinned wickedly, holding out an arm to point at her, closing one eye and looking down his arm as if he was aiming. "I. Fucking. HATE. You. You're such a spoiled little bitch! Oh! And a GIANT fucking sluuuuuuut! Hey everyone! Let me tell you about our first date. Now, remember that this is out FIRST date!" Max held a hand over his chest as he cackled, bending over slightly as he tried to speak through his laughter. "So I take her out to a movie and dinner, right? Because let's face it, why be original for a girl like her? There's NO point, because all that hard work will go right over her ugly little head. Or get sucked into the void that is her GIANT chin. Seriously, have you seen that thing? It's bigger than J-Lo's ass. ANYWAY. So we're at dinner, right? The Olive Garden. And we're sitting off in the corner by ourselves and halfway through dinner I feel something trying to unbutton my pants and guess what?! It's her fucking HAND! Bitch was trying to give me a handjob in the middle of a restaurant on our FIRST date! What. The. FUCK! Oh, Ava. You are one classless lady. Are you even a lady? Fuck, with the size of the clef on your chin, I'm not even sure. Seriously, Crimson Chin, is that just a sack of testosterone hanging on your face? Your face balls are bigger than Bruce Willis's testes!"

[ava keely fields]

SO I PUT MY H A N D S UP ,
they're playing my song.
THE BUTTERFLIES FLY AWAY.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Ohmygod...." Ava felt the plastic fork slip from her fingers as she stared at Max, blinking rapidly to stop the tears from welling in her eyes, which to her surprise wasn't too hard. The surprise at being publicly ripped on and insulted by her....By Max was blocking off her ability to really think, let alone have an appropriate emotional reaction. Was it her fault that people thought they were dating? She didn't see how it could be when he was the one asking her on dates, and when they occasionally held hands on campus. Not to mention the time he kissed her in front of everyone, including that girl....Mac. Ava's eyes snapped over to the Junior as Max mentioned her, staring the girl with a bitter expression before turning back to Max.

Her jaw dropped slightly as he began to tell the story of their first date, almost unable to believe what she was hearing. So yeah, maybe that had happened, but she had just been trying to make him happy! A tear rolled down Ava's cheek, causing her to look away from him. Never in her life had she been so insulted, and especially not by a male. Her father and her uncles would have seen to that immediately. She could hardly comprehend that he was calling her a slut in front of the entire student body of Central Cove High School, but apparently he wasn't ready to stop there. He had to add her looks to the mix.

Shrugging off the comforting pats on the back from her friends, Ava let out a silent sob, covering her face with one hand, peeking out at him from between her fingers. She wasn't able to take it anymore. The petite Freshman stood up slowly, grabbing the handles on her brown leather purse, hoping to make a run for it. She never wanted to see Maxwell Horowitz again.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[maxwell eli horowitz]

I REMEMBER WHEN, I REMEMBER
i remember when i lost my mind

there was something so pleasant about that place
EVEN YOUR EMOTIONS HAVE AN ECHO IN SO MUCH SPACE

"Woah woah WOAH!" Max shouted into the megaphone when he noticed Ava get up to leave. Where the fuck did she think she was going? Didn't she want to stay to hear what else he had to say? "Bitch, sit the fuck down! The show's only just begun, babe! Apparently you're not only classless, but RUDE as well! Didn't your precious daddy teach you any manners? I swear, you're so fucking spoiled it's ridiculous! 'Oh, gee daddy! Thanks so much for my new Prada purse! And these new red hooker heels are the BEST!' Ha. Ha. HAAA!"

He laughed, amused with himself, and spun around on the table twice before suddenly adopting a serious expression. "Let's get back to business, shall we? As you all now know, thanks to ME, that skank Ava and I aren't a couple. Ew. Just the thought makes me want to blow chunks. Better watch out, there's no splash guard. HA! So. Now that you all know the TRUTH, let me fill you in on another little something. Remember how I said I was USING this BITCH to forget Mac? It's true. I'm SO fucking in love with her that I can't stand it. And you know what? I fucked it all up! YEP! I did! I'm sure everyone knows what I'm talking about, too. A few months ago, three months, two days, and sixteen hours to be exact, I found out a little something about her private life with...Ugh. That little fuck FitzWILLIAM. Seriously, FITZWILLIAM? Who the fuck does he think he is? DARCY? What the fuck. He's too short to be Darcy. Is he here? Shit, I don't think I can even see him through this crowd he's so fucking tiny! ANYWAAAAAAY. When I found out what they did, fuck, I went crazy! I was never so crazy in my whole life, right? RIGHT?"

Max squatted down on the table to stare directly into the eyes of one of the boys in front of him, waiting for an answer, and when he finally mumbled in agreement, Max rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Don't fucking lie. You don't think I know I'm a fucking PSYCHO right now? I bet you're all pretty fucking scared. Shit, I would be. Some crazy stud is on top of a table yelling about crazy shit. Well actually, I might be turned on. Look at me. I'm hot. I know it. You know it. We all know it. But let's ignore the obvious for a minute and get back to the point, okay? Stop changing the subject! This is fucking SERIOUS!" Huffing, Max stood up quickly, almost falling off the table, but caught his balance just in time, giggling joyously. "So as I was saying! I really FUCKED everything up between Mac and me. Goddamnit I love her. You all have no idea. That girl...She's everything to me. And without her...Well, look at me. It's been almost a year since my life was taken away from me. Yeah, she's my LIFE and I need her! Do you honestly think I like being this way? You think I like being fucking PSYCHO? NO, assholes, I DON'T! But I can't blame her for hating me. Shit, do you want to know what I said? DO YOU!? Well I'm going to tell you anyway."

Taking a deep breath, Max ran a hand over his face for a moment, sobbing loudly before coughing and laughing again. "I called her a WHORE. I called the sweetest, most beautiful wonderful awe-inspiring girl in the world a WHORE. What the FUCK is wrong with me? I'm such an asshole! I'm a fucking asshole and she knows it! You all know it! I don't deserve her. Fuck, I don't deserve half of the things I have. But I'd give all of that just to hear her say my NAME. ONE WORD. Isn't that great? Fuck! I'm just glad she's even looking at me! I could die I'm so happy! Keep looking at me, Kenzie. Please just look at me! I need you to do at least that!"

[mackenzie audrey anderson]

confusion that never stops,
- - - - - - - OF CLOSING WALLS AND TICKING CLOCKS.
GONNA COME BACK AND TAKE YOU HOME, I COULD NOT STOP WHAT YOU NOW KNOW.


Sixteen years. Mac had known Max for sixteen years, and she had never, ever seen him like this. To be honest, she hadn't known it was possible. Her former best friend was many things, and while she may have called him crazy before, she had no idea that one day he would literally turn into such a wreck that he would stand on top of a table in front of the entire student body and rip apart a seemingly innocent girl. He looked like a maniac, smiling and laughing one minute, glaring intensely the next, and if Mac didn't know any better, she would assume that somewhere on his person he was carrying a loaded gun. The junior bit her lip lightly, remembering that she didn't know him anymore. For all she knew, he did have one. She had never been more afraid in her life, though her concern was mostly for him. Max had snapped.

Throughout his entire speech regarding Ava, she couldn't help but wince at his every word. She knew exactly what it felt like to be torn down by the Junior, but thankfully what he did to her hadn't been so public. Until now, it would seem. The first time he brought her up, Mac hadn't been able to quite believe what she was hearing but it soon became very clear that he wasn't done addressing the issue. She let go of Noland's arm in order to hold onto the bench with both hands, shooting Fitz a guilty glance before turning her gaze back to him, hoping he wouldn't be so cruel as to say exactly what it is that had bothered him so much, though it wouldn't really matter. Thanks to him, the whole school had known for the last two months.

She couldn't peel her eyes away from him, even when it became painfully obvious that the entire campus was staring at her every few seconds. She needed to hear what he had to say, even though everything about him hurt her. He was hurting himself up there. Raising a shaky hand, she held it over her mouth, unable to believe what she was hearing. Not only did he just tell everyone what had happened between them, but he was telling them, her, that he needed her. That he loved her. A tear rolled down her cheek, her breathing heavy as she physically shook, caught in a web of fear, sadness, regret, and anger. She had waited her whole life to hear him tell her he loved her in the same way she did him, and when it had happened, she had messed it up. The last year had been the worst in her entire life and yet....

The entire world seemed to still as she stared at him. She didn't care anymore. The both of them were responsible for everything that had happened between them, and they were both falling apart, Max in a much more public manner. Looking at him, she knew what she had to do. Even though every fiber of her being fought her, she slid her legs over the side of the bench so that she could stand, wobbling with fear. She needed to help him. She had to. She loved him, didn't she? Clearing her throat slightly, she kept her gaze steady, staring at his face in the way he had said he needed, answering his other request. All she had to do was simply say his name, and as she took a step forward, she did. "I'm listening, Max."

[ava keely fields]

SO I PUT MY H A N D S UP ,
they're playing my song.
THE BUTTERFLIES FLY AWAY.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Max's tone forced Ava back into her seat instantly. With the way he was acting, there was no saying just what he was planning on doing, and no matter how hurt or offended she was, the Freshman did NOT want to push him over the edge. He was closer to the brink than she had imagined as it were. His insults hit her like a ton of bricks, but she couldn't help but sigh with relief when he finally turned his attention away from her. She, like the rest of the school, had heard the rumors that circulated about Mac, and the musical Senior, Fitz, but she had never known it was true. That was the reason he was flipping out? Maxwell Horowitz had lost his mind because some girl was never interested in him? She couldn't understand. Before she could stop herself, words loudly poured from her mouth. "Are you serious? This is why you're acting so crazy?"

The Freshman covered her mouth with a hand, wincing. Speaking was a mistake, but sometimes she couldn't hold things in. Max had beat her down in front of everyone in order to confess his love to her?! On top of all the hurt and humiliation she felt, a slow burning anger was starting to burn in her stomach. What had she ever done to him? She had been interested in him since the beginning of the school year, and he had played along for this? What was so special about Mac? What did she have that Ava didn't?

Turning slightly, Ava folded her arms over her chest, glaring at the other girl who obviously was too enthralled with Max to look over at her. A quick once over revealed nothing that she didn't already know. Mackenzie Anderson was too tall, too plain, and too boyish to resemble anything close to pretty, let alone "the sweetest, most beautiful wonderful awe-inspiring girl in the world" like Max was claiming she was. In fact, it seemed like he had plenty of cause to call her a whore. Why he was so torn up about it was completely beyond her.

When Mac stood up, Ava rolled her eyes, balling her fists as she clenched her jaw with anger. How was it possible that this situation could get any worse? So what if she was listening now? She had apparently had sixteen years to do that. Ava huffed loudly, glancing back over at Max, still afraid but to outraged to keep herself in check. "You have got to be shitting me!


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[noland didier massey]

IF YOU‘RE WONDERING IF I WANT YOU TO
-I WANT YOU TO, I SWEAR IT‘S TRUE-

SO MAKE A MOVE



Noland sat in awe as he watched the drama unfold. It was rare for him to be speechless as he was now, eyes stuck on the man shouting on the table. He never expected to see Max loose his mind this way, but honestly Noland couldn't blame him. He knew everything that was going on between Mac and Max, thanks to the vast amount of time he spent with her over the months after that night at the fair and what he heard from Nate. The senior could only imagine what Max was going through. Hell, if it was him and Nate in that situation, Noland would be the one on that table right now, though he was incredibly thankful it wasn't.

When he felt Mac move away and stand up to address Max, Noland quickly shot a hand out to grab her arm. "Mac...You should sit down," He whispered to her, glancing from her to Max, then back to her with concerned eyes. "I hate to say this but...We don't know if he's armed, I don't want you to get hurt..."

[mackenzie audrey anderson]

confusion that never stops,
- - - - - - - OF CLOSING WALLS AND TICKING CLOCKS.
GONNA COME BACK AND TAKE YOU HOME, I COULD NOT STOP WHAT YOU NOW KNOW.


Mac was unable to stop herself from flinching when Noland grabbed her arm, but she kept her cool enough to stay where she was, not taking her eyes off of Max. She knew that her best friend was right. The Junior could hurt her. He could kill her if he wanted to, gun or not. But regardless of all of this, she needed to talk to him. He had been there every day for as long as she could remember: staying the night with her when she was too afraid to be alone, bringing her chicken soup when she let out the tiniest sneeze, and most importantly, he had loved her unconditionally, as a friend, and more. Attempting to get him off of the table was the very least she owed him.

Shrugging off Noland's arm easily, Mac made slow steps towards Max, never taking her gaze off of his face as she wound through the tables, feeling more self-conscious than she ever had before. She didn't feel like any of the things he was saying she was, standing there in her dark skinny jeans and red-blue plaid, messy hair in a side ponytail to keep it out of her face. She didn't feel sweet, or kind. She didn't even feel like Mac. The last time she had really been herself was the day they had...She bite her lip slightly, trying not to shake as she arrived at the table. She was hopelessly, irrevocably in love with him, and she always had been. Hopefully that would be enough to make him sane again.

Reaching the table she stood there for a moment, looking up at him sadly, realizing that the four feet between them was the closest she had willing been to him in months. Thinking about that hurt almost as much as what had been keeping them apart. "Max," she called softly, slowly raising her right hand to hold it out to him, "Come down. Let's talk about this somewhere else."

[charles jonathan anderson]

I REFUSE TO CLOSE MY EYES

: :

I HAVE LOVED, AND I HAVE LOST
I have turned, and I have tossed
I have listened, and I have watched
I've gave into this for long enough
I have lost, and I have loved
Sleep has stolen far too much
So don't close your eyes, not just yet
SLEEP IS JUST A COUSIN OF DEATH

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Charles Anderson had been the Chief of police for the last fifteen years. He had seen more things than he cared to remember, some of which he would never even talk about. Murders, robberies, kidnappings, he'd seen it all. But this...This was something new. As he walked up to the group of tables, arms folded over his chest, Charlie analyzed the situation. While he was used to dealing with some of the crazier people around the Central Cove area, none of those people had ever been Max, the boy he had known since before he was born. He had changed Max's diapers, rocked him to sleep, babysit him, and watched him grow up, and never had expected to see him acting like this.

Holding in a sigh, he glared at the kids looking over at him suspiciously, not wanting to alarm the ranting boy in the table. He of all people completely understood what it was like to go insane over the loss of a woman and Max had never had a handle on his emotions in the first place. Charlie wasn't quite sure what Max was about to do, but he was ready for him. He had to be. He raised an eyebrow as he watched his daughter walk towards him, afraid for the both of them. He made no move to stop her, however. Maybe this would help the both of them. And who was to say what it would hurt if he interrupted.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

[maxwell eli horowitz]

I REMEMBER WHEN, I REMEMBER
i remember when i lost my mind

there was something so pleasant about that place
EVEN YOUR EMOTIONS HAVE AN ECHO IN SO MUCH SPACE

"Shut the FUCK up, you dirty skank! Keep you're filthy mouth SHUT!" He snapped at Ava, hissing loudly before jerking his head back to Mac, gasping.

Maxwell couldn't believe that she was actually looking at him. After all this time, Mackenzie Audrey Anderson was finally looking at him! And not only that, but she said his name! He was stunned, unable to move or speak for a moment as he stared at her, body trembling. His eyes began to flood with tears as he sobbed hysterically, holding the megaphone between his legs. "K-Kenzie...! Kenzie!" Coughing loudly, Max abruptly stopped crying and stood up straight, lifting the megaphone back to his lips as he wiped his eyes, knocking his glasses off his face and crunching them under his foot as he takes a step to steardy his balance.

"That's all I've wanted from the start! All I wanted was for you to listen! I tried telling you! I tried! I told you I love you! I always tell you I love you! Goddamnit why wouldn't you listen?! I even SHOWED you how much I love you! And how do you answer? You ignore me! Avoid me! Throw me away! And then you....You REPLACED me with that cock sucker! That asshole! He never deserved you! NEVER! I've always been there! I always take care of you! ME! Not HIM! I need you, goddamnit...." Max quickly directed his gaze to Ava when he heard her ugly voice cut through the air, growling fiercely as he stared her down with crazed eyes. "What the hell did I say, Ava?! SHUT UP. I've been waiting for this moment for a LONG time, and I'm not going to let your ugly ass ruin it for me! Now, I'm only going to tell you once more. Shut. The. FUCK. Up! Or so help me I will come over there and make you!"

When he turned back to Mackenzie, Max's eyes narrowed and a devilish grin pulled at his lips. "Well well well, Noland, hello! I think it's best that you let the little lady go. Don't worry, nothing's going to happen to her. Just sit tight and chill out, got it Frenchie?" He laughed loudly, but instantly silenced himself when he noticed Mac pull away from Noland. He watched through wide, shocked eyes as she made her way through the crowd to stand before him, eyes locked with hers and breath escaping him for a minute as he reveled in their proximity. This was the closest they had been since it all started, after all. Gasping sharply, Max shook his head, waving her hand away. "NO! No no NO! I'm not done yet! Everyone needs to know! EVERYONE NEEDS TO LISTEN! I'm not going to be ignored anymore! Not ANYMORE! I'm going to tell my story! I'm going to tell how I feel! Everyone needs to know! YOU need to know! You you YOU, Kenzie! YOU!"

Max's eyes lit up when he noticed a movement in his peripheral vision, his head snapping up to watch as Noland approached the girl in front of him to pull her back gently. "Oh, look at this! Noland to the rescue, everyone! Saving the angel from the demon! You're a fucking HERO! EVERYONE! Noland Massey is a FUCKING HERO! Give him a round of applause!" He tucked the megaphone under his arm and clapped his hands together violently, laughing wickedly. When no one else clapped with him, however, he growled ferociously. "I SAID CLAP! CLAP CLAP CLAP FOR NOLAND!" Max sneered, eyes scanning the crowd, and grinned when a weak applause filled the area. Pulling the megaphone back out, he followed Mac and her savior with his eyes as they made their way back to their table, catching sight of a familiar face as he did so.

"CHARLIE! How nice of you to join us! Kids, this is Sir Charles of the Central Cove Police Department! He's a hero, too! A fucking HERO! This man, oh, this man...He used to change my diapers, you know? And give me baths! Fuck, he helped RAISE me! It's a shame he has to watch me raise so much hell, right? I bet you're really ashamed of me. Fuck, I know I would be! I bet you don't even want me near your daughter, either right? I can't promise that though, sir. You see, I'm desperately in love with her! And I'm desperate for her to love me. But she doesn't! She doesn't love me! I'm all alone. She doesn't love me and I'm all alone because she doesn't love me so I'm alone! Alone alone forever! Forever without her...Without Mackenzie and I can't take it! I need her and she threw me away because I'm an asshole! And I know there's nothing I can do except stand here and go crazy! I'm crazy for your daughter and crazy without her! I'm falling apart! I need her goddamnit! I NEED HER!" Max began to laugh hysterically, tears pouring from his wild red eyes as he turned his attention back to Mac, heart slamming in his chest and body visibly shaking. It was a wonder he was still standing.

"You....Mackenzie...Mac...Kenzie...I haven't been able to sleep. I barely eat..Ever since that night. You know what night I'm talking about. The night we went to the fair. The night we...The night I made you mine! You were supposed to be mine! Not HIS! Never HIS! MINE! Max's! We were supposed to start dating. We were supposed to get married, have children! All girls! Little Kenzie's! We were supposed to die old together! And now...I'm going to die alone! I told you! I told you I love you! I told you that you're EVERYTHING to me! I wasn't lying! But you...You must have lied! Do you remember? Remember what you said to me?! On top of the Faris Wheel after we kissed! You told me I was the most important person to you! The MOST IMPORTANT! You lied! You lied you lied! How could that be true when you've given up on me?! You gave up on me! And..I have, too. I'm NOTHING without you! You're everywhere...Everywhere I look. My room, here, downtown, outside, inside, everywhere! You're in my clothes, in my skin, in my heart and mind. Pumping through me...Killing me! I can't be without you anymore! I can't! NOT ANYMORE. I would..." Sighing heavily, Max lowered the megaphone, speaking softly to her as he held her gaze. [b]"I would rather die than live another day without you."

[mackenzie audrey anderson]

confusion that never stops,
- - - - - - - OF CLOSING WALLS AND TICKING CLOCKS.
GONNA COME BACK AND TAKE YOU HOME, I COULD NOT STOP WHAT YOU NOW KNOW.


In the past year, Mac had been through a lot. She'd had her heart broken into a million pieces time after time after time, starting with that night on the Faris wheel and never stopping. Every morning it was a struggle to get out of bed and face the world, too much at times to even walk past her bedroom window. She had taken more sick days from school that year than she had in the other grades combined, and her grades had slipped along with her enthusiasm for anything, including soccer. She had become a shell over her former self, a closed down, quiet, lackluster version of the old Mackenzie, a stranger even to herself. She missed who she had been before....Before she had given herself away. She missed who she was with Max, with Nate, with all of her friends. She wanted that Mac back. She wish she had had the courage to tell him she loved him from the start, or to stay the morning after they had sex. If she had done either of these things, life would be different entirely. They wouldn't be in this position at all if she had just believed him. Looking up at that boy on the table, she felt it again. That same lump in her throat, the sharp searing pain in her chest, the crumbling walls in her mind, and that hallow, dying beat of her heart. She was breaking again, and this was a thousand times worse than it ever had been before because right in front of her Max was doing the same. And it was all her fault.

She shook harder at his words, trying to keep herself upright as a tears began to slide from her amber eyes, each one of his words stinging and slicing into her. She should have just listened to him, but she didn't. She couldn't. It hadn't made sense to her at the time. In Mac's mind she was just....What was available to him at the time, but obviously she had been wrong. So very, very wrong. Unable to control the impulse, she turned back to give Fitz a frown, sorry she had ever dragged him into this. He didn't deserve this. She had used him the same way Max used Ava, and now they were all paying for it. "Sorry," she mouthed silently, knowing it wouldn't mean much. An apology was never going to fix this. The senior had never, and would never, be anything more than a friend to her, and she had known that from the start. What she had done with Fitz was the biggest mistake of her life, and she wished he knew that.

"Please Max.....Leave with me," she whispered, dropping her hand as he waved it away, tears rolling down her face rapidly. This person in front of her wasn't the Max she knew and loved but a stranger, a madman trapped in his body, the same way she was trapped in hers. "I promise I'm listening." She shrugged her shoulder away when Noland grabbed her, but didn't stop him from taking her back towards the table, unable to fight the much, much bigger man off. In all honesty, she didn't even try. She couldn't. She was shaking way too hard. Eyes glued to him, she stood in front of her table, holding herself up with one arm on the table top. The emotions that warred in her mind and her heart continued to clash, overwhelming her in the same way he was. She could hardly believe what she was seeing or hearing, and things only became more complicated when her Father arrived.

The mere mention of his name almost made her head spin, but when she glanced over at him, she couldn't help but feel a little more secure. Nothing would happen to her, or her friends, or the man she was in love with. Not while she was here. After accepting the small smile he offered from a distance, Mac straightened up slightly, bringing her gaze back to Max as she listened carefully to his every word. She wanted to run to him and shake him and tell him how very, very wrong he was. She loved him, she needed him, and she never ever lied to him about that. He was going to have to believe her.

When he lowered the megaphone, she knew what she was going to do. "Don't try and stop me, Noland," she whispered, giving him what she hoped was a reassuring look before turning away, shaking so hard she thought she would fall over as she made her way back to the table. This time, she wasn't going to take no for an answer. "Max," she said softly, speaking softly as she held his gaze. Hoping he wouldn't shove her away she slowly stepped onto the bench seat, and then the table top, carefully avoiding his sweater and his glasses, as she stood a mere foot from him, breathing hard, heart pounding fast as she tried to ignore her fear, and the tears that poured down her face.

"Maxie....I love you," she choked out, looking into his eyes, reaching a slow hand out to rest it gently on his forearm, speaking to him, and him alone, though those closest to them would undoubtedly hear. "I always have. I didn't...Lie to you. That night on the Faris wheel. I thought you were...Teasing me, so I....I'm so sorry, Maxwell. For everything." Covering her face with her freehand, Mac swallowed hard, unable to stop a loud sob from escaping, wincing as the sound rang out around the deathly silent quad. She didn't know what to say, or what to do. Was there even a way to fix this? Mac didn't know. She wasn't even sure she wanted to. She would die if she lost him all over again. Unable to look away, she held a little tighter to his arm, his skin burning into her palm. Just this small bit of contact was giving her enough strength to stay where she was, and she hoped, she preyed, that it was doing the same for him. "I love you with every fiber of my being, Max. I can't be without you. I haven't been....Living since that night. I...I'll do anything. Be anything you need. Please. Just...Come down from here."