After we split ways to go back home, I go back to my room. I lay on my bed, and I just try to let all the emotions of the past couple days settle. I never thought so much could happen in the span of five days outside of school, but here I am having so many things happen. I got picked first for something athletic, I hung out with my crush multiple times, I got invited to a party, I got a boyfriend, our parents met, we got outed, he got into a fight that I broke up, we had our first real fight, and now I'm home. There's also been so much walking, and my legs can feel it.

I was so exhausted that I conked out after a few minutes of rest. The sleep was peaceful. N o dreams, no nightmares, no stress or anxiety. I would've slept longer if my mom hadn't called me down for dinner. I lazily walk down the steps to the dining table, and my parents have already started eating. I join them quietly, and we have our standard family dinner. Apparently, they didn't realize I rushed out the house earlier, and they just thought I went peacefully to see him. I'm glad because I did not want them to bombard me with questions.

After dinner, I went to go take a shower. The warm water felt good against my skin. The safety of confinement in the glass walls combined with the water truly wash away all the built up feelings. My mind drifts away, and I feel so much inner peace.

After a long while, I step out of the shower and make my way back to my room. I flop onto the bed, and I look over at my phone that has been sitting on my nightstand this whole time. I reach out and grab it, quickly turning it on to see if I missed anything. There are a couple notifications that I couldn't care about in the mix, but for the most part, it's messages from Ben, Gabby, and... Max? I have this unnerving feeling in my gut as I click on one of the notifications. I expect the messages from Max to be more slanderous stories, or maybe he just actually wanted to say the stuff to me personally now. These ideas are flung out the window once I actually read the message.

I couldn't believe it. He wanted to change. Why? How did someone like him want to make such a sudden and dramatic shift? I message him back.

I see he looks at the message andd starts typing, but it quickly became apparent that he was not blessed with the fast fingers Ben has. As he types, I check the other messages, starting with Gabby's.

I type back as fast as I can.

I then look at Ben's messages.

I don't even finish the message before replying.

It was in the middle of writing when Max finally finished his reponse.

I'm blown back for a second. He wasn't taking a while because he's a slow typer. He was taking so long because he was writing out so much, and he probably wanted to get all of his thoughts out correctly. After my head stops racing, I type him back.

I don't know why, but I start crying after I send the message. I don't know what emotions were causing the tears, but they were coming full throttle. I think it's the fact that I have truly effected someone combined with an apology from someone who's been so mean to me that brought this on. I made someone want to be better. I never thought this was possible, especially not with Max. That being said, here I am with it a reality, and I can't stop the tears from coming.

Once I eventually get all the tears out, I see Max has sent another message.

I slowly type out a response.

He quickly types out a response.

I reply back.

He types back at the speed Ben usually replies at.

I switch over to the conversation with Ben. While I was talking to Max, he sent a new message.

After everything that literally just happened, I don't know how I couldn't.

I then switch over to Gabby and hit the call button. The phone only rings for a second before she answers. I spend the rest of the night explaining Gabby everything that has happened since we last talked and periodically texting Ben back to calm his nerves.