Chapter four- it was my fault

Chapter four: it was my fault.

EDITED

(Lucinda’s POV)

I was so mad about the incident that occurred with Jake and I. My mom stared at me intently before sighing.

“I don’t get it. For heaven’s sake why would you get into a fight and not with a girl but with a boy” my mom, Mia said, standing in front of me. I sighed sadly because I couldn’t stand back anymore and lose José one way or the other.

“Mom I don’t want to lose another friend. They were bullying José and I couldn’t stand by and watch anymore” I said looking at my feet. My mom tilted her head in confusion, Yes I never told my mom about my other friends. Sighing, I had to tell her sooner rather than later.

“Lose? What do you mean lose?” Mom asked, shocked as she sat down on the chair opposite the one I sat on. Looking up at her with teary eyes, I started to explain--

*FLASH BACK*

I had detention that Friday, so I told Max to wait for me at the school garden where we normally had our private time. When the detention period was over, I headed straight to the garden, only to find Max's backpack. Looking around, I shouted his name but there was no reply.

“But Max never leaves without me” I said to myself while I searched for him within the school. Not finding him, I decided to check the back of the school; on getting there, I heard muffled screams so I looked out only to see Max on the floor bleeding. They were beating him up all in the name of beating the gayness out of him.

“Leave him the f*ck alone!” I shouted, making them stop to look at me then smirk. Walking closer to me, one of them, Lucas, spoke, “well who do we have here? If it isn’t the faggot's friend” he said pushing my hair behind my ear. I pushed him away angrily and ran over to Max who sat up yelping from pain. I looked up at them, the three of them, Lucas, Jake and Roger--who I thought was a nice guy.

“I can’t believe you guys would hurt him just because he is gay. Well now I know how you fools roll” I said helping Max up, “Max let’s get you to the hospital”. Walking past them, bumping my hand against Roger, I moved away because I couldn't trust him anymore. I turned back to Max who sat quietly in my car,“Let me take you to the hospital to check if you have any internal bleeding” I said but he declined. Sighing, I started the car, heading to the hospital while ignoring all his protests. When we were done with the check up, the doctor said he was absolutely fine and all he needed was rest. It was already dark when I dropped him off at home.

“Max, promise me you’ll be alright” I asked calmly as he nodded. Not that I didn’t believe him, its just that I had known Max for quite a while now to know he was suicidal. I decided I would stay over tonight but he declined before walking off into his always empty house. Hoping in my mind everything would be alright, but it felt like it was not. 'I couldn’t believe Roger Ramsey would let them hurt poor Max. For heaven's sake, couldn't he just tell Max he wasn’t gay, than join friends to do the dirty work?' With that thought, I got home.

“Mom! I’m home!!!!!” I shouted, entering my home to see my angry mom staring at me causing me to grin like a mad woman. But she stretched her hands, snatching the keys away from me and walked off. Scoffing a breath, I headed up the stairs and began doing my assignments.

Later that night I got a call from a strange caller’s ID, picking up still asleep,

“Hello?” I answered drowsily

“Hello there, please am I speaking with miss Lucinda?" answering yes, he asked "do you know a young boy with the name Maxwell Romano?” the baritone male voice said as I heard crying in the background.

“Yes! What’s going on?” I asked, more alert now.

“Well young lady, I'm sorry to say this but he is dead. He died tonight at the hospital from loss of too much blood” he said causing my breath to hitch as I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. I couldn’t speak so I screamed loudly, causing the man to try and calm me down over the phone, but it didn’t work one bit as tears rushed down my eyes. My mom soon rushed through the door with a bat in her hand looking for an intruder but upon seeing none, she noticed my teary face.

“Honey, what is going on?” she asked as she walked over to me, hugging me while wiping away my tears.

“Mom, Max is dead mom” I said holding my mom tight. I knew he killed himself, I shouldn’thave left him alone. It was my fault he was gone, it really was my fault.

*FLASH BACK END*

“And mom, same thing goes for Luke Miller, he was lucky to have survived but he moved to another state and school. I don’t want the same thing to happen to José mom” I said looking at my fingers expecting my mom to shout at me, but it didn’t happen. Instead, my mom rubbed my shoulder wiping my tears away.

“Honey it wasn't your fault