A Party

Max was hesitant to tell Anna anything about her life with the man that had destroyed her. She could never say it out loud, but she remembered everything. Where she'd learned to play guitar, where each food and bloodstain on the back seat came from, and perfectly remembering his tan, rough hands leaning toward her. However, to Max's surprise, it felt good to let it out. Even something as simple as his name. It frightened her because for so long she assumed that if it was bottled in, it didn't exist. As if saying it aloud would make it real again, and she had accepted that.

Max shut her eyes and took a few nervous breaths.

"I didn't mean to mention it, I'm sorry . . ."

Anna hastily jumped in. "No, please! I am here for you now. I still love you."

Max didn't know what to say to Anna. She knew she loved her too but just hadn't said those words in so long, it felt like a foreign language. A language she thought she could never again understand.

"Max, you don't have to tell me anything. I just want you to know that if you need to, you can. I won't judge you, okay?"

Max nodded her head, feeling cautiously thankful. "Okay."

Anna smiled and repeated in agreement, "Screw my Mom, and screw Eric."

A few hours later, Max and Anna heard the creak of the door. Anna's head snapped around toward the sound and Max once again reassured her that it was not a murderer. The girls went back to what they were doing, which unfortunately for Max was Anna giving her a makeover. Max had begrudgingly agreed to Anna's request because otherwise she would be doing nothing. Why not? she said to herself, immediately regretting it when Anna pulled out a neon pink lipstick. Not long after the door opened, Anna and Max heard a rapid shuffling, scurrying about the living room.

"MAX!" Chris yelled, busting through her door.

The girls jumped at the sound of his abrupt entrance and Max couldn't help but notice Chris's face made him look like he was in shock.

"What the hell?" Chris said, out of breath.

The girls looked at him, still a bit startled by him practically breaking down the door.

"What?" Max asked, annoyed.

He squinted his eyes and stepped back.

"Uh, nothing. Just wanted to see . . . uh, make sure that . . ."

Max and Anna looked at each other, amused, awaiting an explanation.

"Are you guys like . . . playing with makeup . . .?"

Max raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Chris, it appears that way."

Anna smiled charmingly. "I had some in my purse!"

"Chris . . . are you okay," Max whispered flippantly, once again with a smirk on her face. "I mean, you can stay if you want—"

"No, no! I'm fine. Just wasn't sure what I was walking into." He let out a little laugh.

"What did you think, we were gonna kill each other or something?" Anna giggled and looked at him, clearly waiting for a response.

He pursed his lips and turned around. "See you later, ladies!"

"Oh my God," Anna laughed. "I honestly can see where he's coming from, though."

Max nodded in agreement. "You know what? Me too."

After Chris left, Max noticed Anna's amused expression turned goofy in a matter of seconds. Anna was looking at the floor while Max stared at her slightly annoyed. Max was an impatient person and was not about to enter a guessing game.

"Alright, Anna. Spit it out. Why do you look all weird all of a sudden?"

Anna jumped a little and looked at Max with what seemed like embarrassment.

"Oh!" she said in a high pitched voice, "I'm sorry, I just . . ."

"You just what?"

Anna let out a small breath as she tilted her head to the side staring at Max. Max thought she looked annoyed, but as always she didn't care. Anna bit her lip and awkwardly asked, "so, what is Chris's story?" Max raised her eyebrows, surprised by the question.

"I know it's none of my business, but I was just wondering." Anna let out a breathy laugh and stared at Max as though it was the most important question she'd ever asked someone.

"Well . . ." Max started, "I don't know what you'd like to know, but he is probably the best person I have ever met."

Anna smiled and looked at Max obviously wanting more details.

"Um . . . well, I know he had a hard life. Like me. But it was with something very different. Even so, he has taken care of me for years and I don't deserve him. That's how I feel, anyway."

"Did you guys ever . . . you know . . ."

Max scrunched her face and raised her voice, "GOD no!"

Anna appeared rattled by her reaction, but a smile leaped across her face as she shouted, "GREAT!!"

Max squinted her eyes and subdued a smile knowing exactly what was going through Anna's mind. It appeared her newly found friend had a crush.

"Chris probably wouldn't want me to say anything else, but you can trust him. If you ask, he will be honest."

Anna's smile never fell. It actually seemed bigger as she looked shyly back down at the floor. "Okay! I will do that. Thanks, Max."

Max wasn't sure how to respond correctly because it had been quite some time since she partook in girl talk. "Oh . . . well, sure. Yeah, you're welcome."

Anna giggled softly and hurriedly grabbed more make-up from her purse.

"Okay!" she shouted, "let's make you a beauty queen, babe!"

Max's face was blank while she anxiously watched Anna come closer with some blush. All she could get out was, "uh . . ." before the powder smacked her cheek. She knew then that she was not going to escape and chose to accept her fate.

A few hours later the two friends emerged with makeup all over their faces to find Chris writing once again on the ugly couch.

"Hey roomie!" squeaked Anna.

Max saw Chris light up at the sight of Anna and she rolled her eyes, but not because they were annoying her with their Shakespearean, unnecessary shyness toward each other. After her conversation with Anna, she saw the spark between the two of them and wanted them to get on with it. She actually quite enjoyed watching them flirt and act like idiots.

"So, Chris," Max interrupted their little moment. "Anna has informed me that we need to throw a party."

He made no reaction, which Max expected because they didn't know anyone else. Their lives weren't exactly a recipe for celebration.

"Uh, okay. Why?"

"Well—"

Max started to explain, but Anna jumped in. "Since neither of you drink alcohol, I thought we could have a different kind of party!"

Chris's left eyebrow was up, but he was clearly amused, indicating that he would be okay with whatever Anna was about to present.

"Why don't we get a bunch of candy and pizza and soda and eat like shit!"

Her smile was so infectious, it would be impossible for Chris and even Max to say no.

"Sounds like a good time, roomie! One problem though — we have no money at all. I'm sorry to disappoint . . ."

"Oh please!" scoffed Anna. "You guys are letting me live in your home, it's on me!"

Max and Chris exchanged glances.

"You really don't have to do that, Anna," Max quickly replied. She was never good at accepting help. In fact, she frequently referred to it as "charity."

"Yeah, that wouldn't be fair—"

"Oh, cut it out, you two. It's on me and I will not accept no for an answer! What are we into? Dominos? Pizza Hut? Lay it on me."

Max was certain that no pizza place would dare set foot where they lived, so she told Anna about the pizza place Italian. The place was literally called Italian, which was offensively tacky, but their options were quite limited. The three decided to go on an adventure to Italian and the fly-infested 7-Eleven down the street. It wasn't an ideal scene, but none of them seemed to be afraid of a few flies and whatever else was crawling around.

After walking through the safari of drunks, addicts, and hookers, Max smirked watching Anna lead the party back home. Anna slammed the door open, apparently ready to welcome the sugar high.

Max leaned into Chris. "Why do I feel afraid right now?"

He laughed out loud. "I'm always afraid of her."

Max shook her head, feeling surprisingly on the verge of an actual smile.

"Okay, everyone!" Anna threw her hands up, demanding silence. "This is very important! If you find yourself on the last piece of anything, you ask if it's okay to eat. If you eat too much of something, we are allowed to tell you to stop being an asshole. But most importantly, if you feel like you're going to barf, don't be a hero, the bathroom is right there," she said as she pointed to the curtain.

"You got it, boss," Chris said jokingly as he jumped on the couch with Max following and timidly taking a seat.

"So . . . where do we start?" asked Max nervously.

"Anywhere, girlfriend! What do you want?"

"Um . . . well I haven't had Skittles for years. I guess I'll take those," she said as she shrugged her shoulders.

"Chris—"

"I am all over this pizza, roomie."

Anna let out a laugh. "I like it!"

She then grabbed a Milky Way and Max watched her turn her attention to her new roommates. "So, what's up? There must be something slightly exciting that has happened to you two at some point?"

Max and Chris both shrugged their shoulders, looking up awkwardly, trying to think of an answer.

Max was relieved when Chris decided to divulge his very exciting afternoon writing a metaphoric story about society destroying creativity.

But as soon as he finished Anna and Chris turned to Max, awaiting her "interesting" current events. She looked around hoping they would leave her alone after a few seconds of silence.

"Uh . . . well, some lady gave me twenty bucks the other day when I was playing 'Don't Stop Believin''. . . so I guess that's cool. Dumb — I hate that song, but still cool."

Anna's smile grew as she lightly pushed Max's shoulder. "Oh my god, that's amazing!! That damn song, I swear!!"

Chris belted out a laugh so big it startled Max. She looked at them both smiling for her, seemingly proud of her, and she didn't know how to react. She let out a small, barely audible laugh, as the two of them started singing.

"Just a small-town girl! Living in a lonely world!"

Max wanted to shove more pizza in their mouths just for a moment of peace and quiet, but instead closed her eyes and tilted her head back waiting for it to end.

Anna exclaimed, "Oh my god, have you guys heard their other song, 'Separate Ways'??"

Max's eyes shot right open at the mention of that song.

Chris, with a bite of brownie in his mouth, nodded his head "yes" and pointed at Anna feverishly.

Max shut her eyes again, but tighter because she knew that song very well. It was just another piece of her psychological nightmare. She abruptly flashed back again, seeing images of a man coming toward her looking like he was about to have a feast. Her hands started to shake, her heartbeat thumped faster and deeper. The song was playing in the background and she could still feel the weight of his body making it hard for her to breathe as he whispered, "You're so beautiful—"

"Max! Earth to MAX!"

Anna was waving her hand in front of Max's face "Did you fall asleep? There's plenty of sugar left if you're in need!"

Max said thank you and grabbed a Twix, but she knew Chris had seen what had just happened — it happened too often for him not to know. Max quickly glanced at him and nodded her head slightly, indicating that she was all right.

The night went on for hours as Anna told Chris about how ridiculous she and Max had been as children. Anna always could tell a story like no one else, grabbing you in with every line.

"So, that is how we ended up eating a pile of leaves!" Anna was laughing like it was the funniest thing she had ever said, and Chris was laughing right there with her.

Max felt herself fading. She yawned and apologized, "I just can't keep up with you crazy people. My sugar crash is telling me to sleep."

Anna and Chris agreed that they should all get some rest, but as they split to go to their rooms, Max turned around hesitantly.

"Hey, Anna . . . I was actually thinking . . . or wondering if maybe you might want to stay with me tonight? You totally don't have to of cou—"

"I would LOVE that. Sleepover party! Sorry, Chris."

"No worries, girls! Have, what is it you say, Anna? Have funsies?"

Chris turned with a tired grin on his face, yawning as he shut his bedroom door.

Max and Anna got onto the tattered mattress, facing away from each other, but they fell asleep smiling, and Max had a nightmare-free sleep for the first time in over a year. With every breath, the old friends fell deeper and deeper into the night and finally felt something they barely recognized. Peace.