"So Michael seems nice." Anna states, laying back on my bad scrolling on her phone.

"Mhm." I respond, trying to avoid talking about him after what happened. Tomorrow was a school day since the break has ended and that means Anna has to go back tonight so we're tying to spend what little time we have left with each other.

"I'll bet a lot of people don't like him because of this tattoos." She states.

"Yeah like Max." I input, rolling my eyes.

Anna suck on her lower lip, scrunching her perfectly shaped eyebrows together. "Has he even contacted you since I've been here. And you know after what happened with you two?"

I hesitate for a moment before responding. "Well yeah, like once or twice."

"Once or twice?! Michael's tried getting in contact with you more than your own boyfriend." Anna exclaims, raising up on her elbows to look at my reaction.

"Well he does have a life outside of me..." I drag out. "Plus we love each other. He's just trying to get used to the fact that we're not long distance anymore."

"You sound like you're trying to convince yourself." She says softly.

"How about we stop talking about this?" I ramble. "I mean you're leaving tonight and I want to be able to have other conversations with you that don't involve Michael or Max."

Anna groans, but nevertheless, complies. "What you want to talk about?"

"Are you talking to anybody?"

"Like do I have a boyfriend?"

"Exactly."

"Okay, um what would you say if hypothetically I had this friend who happens to be a guy, but we have exceptions to our relationship?" Anna begins, looking everywhere but me, every so often smoothing out her floral dress.

"So hypothetically this guy is your friend with benefits?" I sum it up for her.

"Well yes." She nod, nervously.

I sigh not trying to judge her in any way. She's always been good a playing the field. "Live your life." I state with a shrug.

"You're the best." She laughs. After that we pretty much just lay around in my room and talk about nothing or watch movies, or eat food. Four hours turned into twenty minutes and twenty minutes turned into bear hugging each other out the door. Neither of us wanting to let go.

"Why do you have to go?" I whine.

"Perth calls for me." She playfully remarks.

"More like Robert calls for you." I murmur so my parents don't hear it.

Anna slightly blushes and rolls her eyes at me. "Stay in touch with me. I love you guys!"

"We love you too!" My family yells back to her and I push back my tears as I watch her car disappear down the long strip of concrete road.

Mum starts to get up, taking her walker into the kitchen. My dad follows her in there scolding, "What do you think you're doing?"

"Fixing dinner Greg." Mum responds with a witty face. Dad stands there with his hands on his hips and tuts. "You guys have to eat somehow."

"We can get takeout." I butt in. "I mean no offense, but we can't really ignore the fact that you're-"

"I'm fine." My mother cuts me off, a pure look of denial washing through her eyes. "Now I'm cooking dinner and you will let me do this."

Dad and I both nod, and I head to my room until then. I lay flat on my bed and sigh as loud as I can. I dread going to school tomorrow because I don't want to have to face Michael. I don't want to have to look at him whilst I'm with Max. Every time I think about it, I think about how I almost kissed back. Almost kissed him back. And truthfully, the only reason why he did that was because he thinks that by seducing me, I'll be a part of his gang. Like he said he'd do anything if he thinks it's going to benefit the lives of his loved ones.

He wants me to work with Luke and Calum, but they both really don't like me. They wouldn't even give me a place in front of a fire. I could freeze for all they cared. Ashton seems decent, but so did Michael at first. Now I'm thinking that I should probably start making new friends when I get back tomorrow because if I don't I'm stuck with sitting with the 'gang' at lunch tomorrow.

~*~*~*~
The normal 6:00 routine starts my day in the morning and I yawn, checking my phone to see a missed call and text from Max. Surprised that he actually called me, I text him back.

Me: Hey sorry I didn't get your call. Ma fixed a great meal last night and I fell asleep.

I wait by the phone for a few minutes, then I realize that it's 6:00 in the morning and he could still be sleeping. So with that, I go across the hall to take a shower and change into something more flattering than a band tee.

I come out with a plain black, figure hugging, top on with some of my light blue skinny jeans and my combat boots. As I'm stepping out of the bathroom, letting the steam seep out, I hear something plummet onto the floor. The sound comes from my mothers room.

"Ma?" I call walking into the blackened room.

Someone groans from the side of the room and I turn on the light to see my mother on the floor jerking like crazy and foaming out the mouth. "Shit!" I whisper/shout to myself. I walk over to my mother and turn her on her side so she doesn't choke. I pat her back softly and try to get her to communicate with me.

"Ma? Ma can you hear me?" I say louder than before. My tone rising and falling with each phrase.

She groans again and starts stutter nonsense words and jerks more. "Becca?" My father's voice booms, making me jump. At this time I begin to panic. Probably because it was sinking in that my mother was really sick. "Marley go get a cloth and then go."

Without speaking I retrieve a wet cloth for him, but I stand still in my place. "Go to school, Marley. You don't need to be late."

"Dad mum's not doing good. I can't just leave."

"Marley, just go!" He shouts, and I tuck my tail between my legs to leave.

On the way out of my house I spot Max walking up my drive. "Hi!" He cheers. "Sorry I haven't really texted you much. I know Anna was over so I thought you might want some time with her."

"You're fine." I sigh and keep my head down we walk to his car.

"Everything okay?"

"Other than the fact that my mother is laying in there having an attack, sure." I sarcastically reply, silently adding: Michael and I kissed in the back of my mind.

"Well shouldn't you be in there?"

"Dad told me to leave." I simply reply with a shrug.

~*~*~*~
Max respected the fact that I didn't want to talk about it so we were content on talking about our break. It's funny because after we had sex, it only feels like it brought us closer. Not that it drew us apart. "Well I love you, babe." He kisses my cheek, beginning to walk off.

"Oh wait." I grab his arm, so he'll turn around. "Uh do you have lunch with me today?"

Max shakes his head. "I'll be in a committee meeting. How come?"

"Uh I was just wanting to sit with you today. We haven't really hung out in a while."

"We can after school. Plus you've got Michael."

"Right." I plaster a fake smile on my face. "I love you."

"Love you too." He squeezes my hand and walks down the hall. I blow out air from my cheeks.

"Are you trying to sound desperate?" Michael's voices chimes from behind me.

I don't even look around. I roll my eyes and begin to walk away. "Where are you going Marley?"

I still don't answer. Not even when he stops me and turns me around himself. "We need to talk."

"I'm not joining your gang. There's nothing that you can do that will persuade me to change my mind." I justify before he can press any questions.

"It's really not as bad as it sounds." He reasons.

I shake my head. "Why would I want to work with two people who hate me so much?"

"Firstly, I don't appreciate you calling it work. It's a privilege. Secondly, I've told you that once you get to know them, they really aren't that bad."

"I don't care. I'm not doing this."

"You almost kissed me back." He announces really loudly. What if Max were to walk into that one?

"No-no I didn't." I stumble over my words. "I will never kiss you back either. You were nice at first, but now that I see who you really are I want nothing to do with you or your gang."

"Or does seeing me how I really am make you want me more?" Michael smirks, and leaves me wishing Anna never left me, and that Max was in my arms right now.

"Nice to meet your friend by the way!" He calls. I roll my eyes and prepare for the rest of the day.

Notes

Is Marley trying to convince herself that her and Max are in love? Why did Michael really kiss Marley? Will Anna ever know about the secret Marley is holding for Michael?

Hey guys! Let me know what you think about this chapter and feel free to predict what you think might happen. Don't be a silent reader!!!