*Trigger Warning: This chapter contains gay slurs and a physical fight the ends with blood, so if you're sensitive to those things, either skip this chapter or proceed with caution*

I fell asleep very easy that night. I still couldn't believe I was dating my biggest crush ever. It was so wild yet so spectacular, and I couldn't wait to see him tomorrow.

I woke up and checked my phone, and I see dozens of messages from so many people. There's ones from Gabby, Ben, people I didn't recognize, and, this one made me pause, Max. I didn't know what to do. I was scared of what could be underneath the notifications saying "sent a new message."

I slowly opened my phone to start with Gabby's message.

This message is accompanied by a screenshot of multiple stories Max had posted. I was tagged in all of them, and I felt sick reading them. It felt like he looked up every gay slur there was in the English language. My stomach was filled with knots, and my eyes were welling up with burning hot tears.

I managed to build up enough courage to look at the other messages. As I suspected, all the messages from Max were just saying he tagged me in his stories. Then, I went on to look at the messages from all the unknown people. I assume they're friends with Max because they were all just calling me "faggot."

The worst message though came from Ben.

I wanted to message him back, but he blocked me. This fucking asshole just took away what made me happy just a few hours ago. I felt the tears stream down my face. I could barely breathe I was crying so much. It felt like Max's hands were wrapped around my lungs and was crushing them. The tears kept rolling until eventually my body must have run out of fluids, but even then, I was still doing what I can only describe as dry crying.

Once I finally calmed down enough to be able to see, I look at when Ben sent the message. He sent it about twenty-eight minutes ago. If you subtract the amount of time I spent crying, he sent it about three-ish minutes before I read it. I then realize what he said he was going to do.

I quickly rush out of the house towards Max's house. Even while running, I realize how crazy it is that I'm going towards the guy who just messed up my current life, but there was no fucking way I was going to not try to stop Ben from fighting Max. I knew Max couldn't win, but I didn't want Ben hurt. I am very grateful for my memory being what it is since I remember how to get to Max's house. Once I reach the right sidewalk, I see Ben turn into Max's driveway. I'm so out of breath, and my feet hurt like a nightmare, but I sprint anyway. There's not a vehicle in sight in the driveway, Max's parents must be gone somewhere. I grab ahold of Ben's shoulder, and I try to speak, but all that comes out are wheezes. He brushes off my hand and goes into the house.

I stop to catch my breath. I doubt I can stop him regularly, but I absolutely could never stop him while tired from running. Once I can breathe again properly, I go inside and hear a crash upstairs. I rush up the stairs, great more running, and I easily find Max's room seeing as the door is open and the sounds of loud banging were coming from this room.

I look in through the doorway, and I see Ben and Max going at each other. It looks like blood is flowing out of Max's nose, and there's a large bruise forming on Ben's cheek.

"Both of you stop!" I shout to try and draw their attention. It works on Max who must've not realized I was there, but that only gave Ben the chance to hit him again. He did and I watched as Max hit the floor. I rush over and try to pull Ben away. Eventually, I get him to turn and face me, and I think he sees the worry and fear on my face because his expression changes from anger to that of sadness and regret, an expression I know very well from my own face.

"Would you please stop?" I yell at him, and I see him slowly start to regret more and more, "this isn't the you I know, and I don't like it."

He just stands there completely silent before stuttering out, "he... he hurt you."

"I've been called slurs for years; you don't need to attack him for it!"

"I'm sorry."

"You should be," I turn to help Max up.

"Don't you fucking touch me," he spat out, along with some blood, as I stretched out my hand.

As I wipe of the blood off that hit my face, "I helped you out, dude; you want him to go back to beating your ass." He quickly takes my hand, and I help him up.

I turn back to Ben, "you better apologize right now."

"I did."

"Let me rephrase, apologize to Max now," I respond angrily. As much as I hate him, I don't think anyone deserves violence unless they lead with violence.

Ben slowly turns to Max, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't've attacked you." He said it in a tone that at least came off as genuine.

"Honestly, I think you broke my nose back into a straight position," Max responds with a chuckle clearly trying to lighten the mood.

"I'm really sorry about everything that happened," I tell Max as sincerely as possible, "I never condone violence, and I tried to stop him as soon as possible."

"I don't know what to say," he said with a shocked expression.

I turn to Ben and grab his hand, "we'll be going."

As we start to go, Max shouts, "thank you!"

I turn to look back and give him a thumbs up. We then leave the house.