chapter 3

Another month passed until Kaley got back one day from the restaurant to see Hannah's car parked outside. She smiled with delight. Finally Hannah was going to see how trim and in-shape Max was looking again. She bounded upstairs and then crept in to the apartment. She saw Max first. He was wearing a good t shirt that showed off how slim his waist was now; that was a good start, but as he turned around, she could see how glum Max looked. Hannah sat on the sofa, looking as miserable as ever. Several new boxes of Max's stuff had been delivered to the apartment.

'What's going on?' Kaley asked.

Hannah's face lit up at seeing Kaley, it was all a performance. No one could change from looking that miserable, to this happy so quickly. 'Kaley! How are you doing?'

Max seemed disgusted with her falseness and went to his room, closing the door behind him, without even saying a word to Kaley.

'Why have you brought more boxes?' Kaley asked, confused.

'Max and I won't be getting back together,' she said calmly.

'But you saw him; he's really trying with his weight...' Kaley campaigned.

'Yes and he looks great, but I've met someone else,' she stated. 'He moved in three months ago and we don't want Max's crap lying around the house.'

'You mean, you kicked Max out and moved in some new guy at exactly the same time?' Kaley exclaimed. 'You told me you just wanted some space!'

'Well, I didn't want you to ask too many questions,' she went on irritated.

'I don't need to ask any questions!' spat Kaley. 'You cheated on him and then manipulated your way in to getting rid of him, making him hope that there was a chance that you could get back together.'

'He's known for months about Tom. He knew when he moved out I wasn't going to have him back. You're the only one I've lied to here,' she shouted. 'You want to know the truth Kaley? I always used to laugh to myself about how in love with him you always were. I thought you'd jump at the chance to have him stay for a bit.'

'Get out,' shouted Kaley, feeling embarrassed and angry to have her feelings for Max so cruelly thrown in her face. Hannah's eyes boggled. 'You heard me. I don't want to see you ever again. What you've done to Max is unforgiveable.'

'Oh yeah, yeah...' spat Hannah back, irritated, standing up and already walking towards the door. 'You only see what you want to see in Max. You always have. You don't see how weird and twisted he is. No one can put up with that shit!' But the moment she was over the threshold, Kaley had slammed the door closed.

Kaley tiptoed over to Max's room and tapped lightly on the door. 'Max,' she called. 'Hannah's gone.' She listened carefully to hear if Max was coming out. He wasn't. 'I'm sorry, I had no idea she had done that to you. She told me you were just having a break.' Suddenly, she heard movement inside and Max came out again. 'What a bitch, huh?' Kaley said lightly, making Max smile faintly.

'Well, I didn't want to tell you either. I didn't want to disappoint you,' he smiled.

Kaley rolled her eyes. 'Oh Max!' she exclaimed. 'Why do you always need to be so selfless? You should have been ranting and raving about what that bitch had done!' Then she thought more carefully about how she had treated Max as well since he had arrived here. 'And there was me, making you eat healthily and forcing you to go to the gym when you really weren't interested. You should have just told me where to go as well!'

Max only smiled, grateful that someone was supporting him at last. 'So you don't mind if I skip the gym from now on?' he asked carefully.

'You never need to step foot in a gym again, I promise!' laughed Kaley. 'And the kale you hate so much. I'm putting it in the bin now!' she smiled, marching over to the fridge and ceremoniously dumping it. 'Now what would you really like for your dinner tonight?'