Part Twelve

Pink blossom petals rippled down the cobbled road Max and I were on. I adjusted my walk so i was in time with him and he smiled before putting his arm around me and pulling me close.

"I've missed you" He admitted.

"Missed you too"

"I should have made more of an effort to visit"

"No, it's okay. You had your own things to be doing" I shrugged.

"It's not okay. I'm going to be there for you now Izzi. I promise."

"What is it with you boys and your promises?"

"What do you mean?" 

"Nathan promised to keep me safe when he found out and now you"

"Cos' we love you" He shrugged.

"Shut-up." I joked. 

He mimed zipping his lips and locking them. 

"You're going to have to unzip them to eat"

"True"

"How far away is it?"

"Just around the corner"

"I'm starving"

"Same"

The restaurant was practically empty apart from a kids party which we opted to sit away from. We sat down and ordered a large Cheesy Bites with all the toppings we wanted. Max's treat of course. I still hated freeloading off him and Nathan but i guess there wasn't any other option for now.

Max looked distracted. His gaze was focused on the people on the street outside as they passed by as he slowly nibbled on the edge of a slice of pizza.

"When did she start?" He asked suddenly.

"When mum got ill"

"After i arrived?"

"Mhm"

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"You were busy living your life. You love Amy as much as you love me, even now and i figured you might doubt me. If Amy found out i'd blabbed it could have gotten a lot worse"

"I would have believed you"

"Would you? Honestly?" I questioned him with a frown.

He thought about it for a moment before admitting; "No."

"Exactly"

"It's a lot to digest"

"I know. I don't think Nathan has it figured out yet"

"What actually happened?"

"He came into my room to ask me to come upstairs with Amy and him to get food. I was out on the windowsill and he helped me back into the room and I fell onto him. He hit his head and i panicked so told Amy."

"Right?" He said slowly while tearing off a cheesy bite.

"With Nathan being her perfect boyfriend, she was furious. She told me to wait in her room and then hit me. Nathan must have heard her or something so came in and told me to pack my bags and that we were going"

"Wow" He said, his jaw slacked. When he realised he was gawking at me he slowly closed it.

"I know. It must have been horrible for him to see"

"I knew Amy had a viscous side to her but i figured it was just teenage hormones and missing Debbie"

"I know. Mum's death affected her a lot. She took out her grief and sadness on me and i became numb to it. I think that spurred her on"  

"I'm sorry, i'm just finding this all a bit hard to take in"

"I know. It's fine"

"Should we go?"

"Yeah sure"