2: Runner's High

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"Should we join the rest of the gang?" Max asked, forcing himself to finally separate himself from Alison.

Max knew if they spent any more time alone, he wouldn't be able to resist her. That was the kind of effect a girl like Alison had on people.

She glanced back at the party. Everyone was gathered around the bonfire now. Alison pointed to the log that Julia and Brady were sitting on. A sudden chill blew through that caused both of them to shiver. Which was odd for a summer evening.

"Who decided to throw the party at this hellhole anyway?" Max muttered as he ran his hands over his arms to warm himself up.

"Come on," she said, a smile tugging at her lips, as she began walking towards them.

Max followed after and walked close to her. They approached their friends who greeted them with a nod. He sat down next to Brady who grinned at him.

"I'm guessing you two are good?" he asked.

"For now," Max said back, although he was unsure how long the peace would last.

Alison and Max were well aware of just how many people had bets on when they would break up. Sometimes they would be in bed together and then one of them would get a text asking if it was true the two had ended things. When they were both in good moods they would laugh about it.

The reality was that it was no surprise to hear Alison and Max argue one morning but also be snuggled up in each other's arms that very same night too.

That was the thing about a relationship as contentious as theirs. No fight stung deep enough that their affection for each other couldn't resolve.

Within an hour, all four of them had knocked back at least two or three drinks and were all starting to feel the effects of the alcohol.

Max looked over on his other side at Alison. Julia was telling her about some ballet thing. She was staring at the bonfire as Julia spoke to her. It was pretty clear to Max that Alison was not listening but Julia did not seem to notice. Julia only stopped talking when Hailey came over.

Hailey Marin was on the cheer squad and alongside a vain personality, she was often seen with whatever boy suited her interests that month. She did not like Alison. Unbeknownst to any of them until tonight. So no one thought much of it when she sat on a chair across from Alison.

"Oh Ali," Hailey said, feigning sincerity. "I'm so sorry, how's your mom?" she asked. "What a horrible thing to go through."

Max, Brady, and Julia all looked at Alison with confused expressions. All three of them were in the dark about what Hailey was talking about. Hailey had also spoken rather loudly and most people nearby were now listening. Alison glared at Hailey.

"Who told you?" she demanded.

Hailey shrugged as she stood up and came close to Alison. "I hear things," she said. "Come on, is it true that your dad is leaving your mom for a woman who is leaving her husband as well?"

Max didn't even try to stop his girlfriend. He only watched as Alison stood up and got in Hailey's face.

"Tell me Hailey, how does it feel to have such a boring and miserable life that you feel the need to gossip about a bunch of grown ups?" she asked angrily. "At least my parents didn't have to bribe a guy to take their daughter to the fall dance."

Hailey glared at her and Julia nervously tugged on the end of Alison's shirt but Alison ignored her. She had always had quite the temperament.

"At least my dad has more self-respect than to cheat on his wife and get his mistress pregnant."

Max watched as Alison's fingers curled into fists and finally decided to intervene. He quickly stood up and grabbed his girlfriend before she could throw the punch he knew Hailey was only a few seconds away from receiving. Alison fought against his grip but Brady quickly grabbed her as well and the two of them pulled her to the parking lot as Alison continued to cuss Hailey out. Julia quickly followed after.

Alison protested and fought them the entire way. It was a good thing Alison could not see the huge grin on Hailey's face as she was being dragged away, it would have only made her angrier.

They got to the entrance of the park and only then did the two boys let her go. Alison looked pissed, more so at them than Hailey now.

"What the hell?" she demanded.

"Seriously?" Brady asked. "Are you trying to get arrested for assault or something?"

Alison glared at him.

"Ali, what was Hailey talking about?" Julia asked softly from behind her.

Alison whipped around and glared at Julia instead of Brady.

"You need me to spell it out for you?" she asked through her teeth. "My lovely father was cheating on my mom for years with some woman from his office and got the bitch pregnant. He left last night and my mom freaked and left the house too. I haven't heard from either of them since."

The color drained from Max's face. He felt terrible for not going over to her house now. Julia looked away from her friend's glare. Alison caught the look on Max's face and rolled her eyes.

"Oh don't feel bad now," she said bitterly. "If I wasn't important enough last night then it shouldn't matter now."

Her anger was justified but it was not easy for Max to keep his emotions at bay. He had his own reasons for being busy last night. Alison pinched the bridge of her nose and looked back at Julia.

"See? This is why I didn't want to come," she said, clearly upset. "Now it's all they are going to talk about for the whole summer."

Julia frowned. "Don't get mad at me," she said. "Maybe if you had given me a real reason other than just not wanting to go then I wouldn't have been so pushy about you coming tonight."

"Right, I'm so sorry," Alison said dryly, rolling her eyes. "I forgot that perfect Julia never makes mistakes, it's always someone else's fault."

Julia looked hurt by that. The girls were both glaring at each other. Brady quickly stepped in between them.

"Okay, stop," he said. "Don't talk about Julia like that, she's right you should have told us what was going on."

Alison rolled her eyes. "Why?" she asked. "I tried to tell someone and he didn't even care."

Everyone looked at Max who was upset to be called out like that.

"You're not the only one with problems, Ali," he said back.

"Max!" Julia said angrily. "Don't be like that."

"Stay out of it," he snapped.

"Hey!" Brady shouted. "Don't talk to my girl like that. This is all your fault anyway."

"My fault?" Max shouted. "Ali was about to clock a girl in the face and it's my fault?"

"Well maybe if you had been a better boyfriend to her, Ali wouldn't have been so upset," Julia murmured while looking at the ground.

Max glared at her. "I dare you to say that again to my face."

Julia's eyes widened and cowered behind Brady's arm.

"Don't threaten her," Brady said angrily. "This isn't about Julia."

"Yeah, it's about how you never let Julia speak up for herself and fight her own battles," Alison pointed out.

"Oh okay, sorry for defending my girlfriend," Brady said, rolling his eyes.

"I can fight my own battles," Julia protested.

"Then why are you hiding behind me?" Brady countered.

She frowned at him. "Do you really think I'm that weak that I can't stand up for myself? Some boyfriend you are."

Brady rolled his eyes. "Don't even go there, Julia. What kind of girlfriend hides their boyfriend from their parents?"

"The kind of girl who has no respect for people's boundaries," Alison muttered.

"You're one to talk about boundaries, Ali," Max countered.

It never occurred to any of them that the things they were saying to each other didn't come from real feelings but rather the ramped up drunken induced ones from all the alcohol and beer they had consumed.

So, they continued to fight amongst one another until they heard police sirens. At once, everyone started running. All the kids back at the bonfire were making their way to the cars or disappearing into the woods.

The four of them continued to glare at each other but then at once, they took off in different directions.

Little did they know that splitting up would cost them greatly.


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