Once and for All- Part Three Of The Conclusion To The United Series

Chapter Three

Max's POV:

"What was it?"

I fidget nervously with the hem of my t-shirt, looking up at Finn as he stands in front of me. I'm sitting on the bed in my so-called 'new bedroom' as I recall everything I remember about my last encounter with Remo.

"Well, from the way you described it...it was most likely a panic attack." Finn answers, leaving me almost speechless.

I'm sorry, what?

"A-A panic attack? Seriously?" I ask him. He nods his head and looks down at me with a pitied look.

"Will it happen again?" I question and he bites his bottom lip.

"Most likely, especially if Remo comes near you again like he did last time." Finn answers and I can feel my heart racing again. I don't want it to happen again. It felt like the whole ship was weighing down on me.

"Don't worry, I'll tell him to back off." Finn adds in quickly after seeing the nervous look on my face. I smile warmly at him and fiddle with a bright red curl and a sudden thought crosses my mind. In Jason's vision when Setràkus Ra and I were signing the adoption papers, my hair was just like this- long and bright red. I already prevented myself from drawing on the walls, I should try to prevent something much deeper. Now.

"Finn, follow me." I order Finn, standing up and heading to the door. Finn hesitates for a moment before following closely behind as I open the door and walk outside, barely taking a single glance at the Mogadorians wandering the ship around me. I just lead Finn to his room, immediately opening the door and stepping in, closing the door behind us.

"What is it?" He asks me, a confused look in his ink black eyes. I look up at him and smile.

"You have that hair dye I asked you to bring?"

Jason's POV:

I explained the whole dream I had last night to Leo. I told him that everything was fine, that Max is okay. He seemed pretty relieved at that, but kind of upset that Max didn't appear in any of his dreams. He got over it fairly quickly, though. I guess it's not Max's choice whose dreams she randomly guest stars in.

I'm about to walk outside the room when someone bursts through the door. Ivan.

"Jason, uhh...I, kind of need to talk to you..." he trails off, glancing around the room and fidgeting nervously. His eyes have a cornered animal's look in them.

"O-Okay." I reply, moving back to sit on the bed again. Ivan hesitantly walks over and sits down next to me, still fidgeting anxiously.

"What do you need?" I ask him, leaning back against the bed on my hands nonchalantly. He takes a deep breath before speaking.

"I...have a, a crush on someone..." he looks at me warily, as if expecting me to laugh at him, and that's honestly hysterical. I already know who he has a crush on.

"Yeah, I know." I snort. He gives me a confused yet panicked look.

"You-You do?" He asks me, his voice shaky and worried.

"Yeah. Max."

His face drops. He blinks for a few moments before shaking his head, laughing.

"What?" I question, my brows furrowed together in confusion. Ivan looks back up at me with a stupid grin on his face.

"You're so stupid, Jason."

"Dude!" I exclaim, sitting upright as he starts laughing again.

"Come on, what is it?" I ask him, playfully shoving his shoulder. He smiles at me and sits upright again.

"It's not Max. I mean, yes, I still love her, but I'm not talking about her right now." Ivan replies and I feel my heartbeat quicken. What if this crush of his is me? What if Ivan likes me?

No. He can't possibly like me. It's probably Nine after their little kiss-and-greet in the kitchen a few days ago.

"Who is it then?" I ask him calmly, feeling like my heart was lit on fire- and not in the good way.

"It's um..." he glances up at me purses his pale, warm lips, then looks down at the floor again. "I can't say right now. I'm just...still trying to figure it out. And I'm not sure what to do." He explains slowly. I think for a moment before answering him.

"Just tell them. Just suck it up and do it." I reply. Ivan slightly freezes and looks back up at me.

"Are you sure?" He questions. I nod my head and he looks down again.

"Okay. I'll tell him."

Him.

I have to take a deep breath before asking him a small question.

"Him?"

He freezes up again, a light blush forming on his cheeks. He looks up at me and smiles sheepishly and my heart skips a beat.

"Uh, yeah. I-I'm bi..." he trails off for what seems like the millionth time, looking up at me expectantly.

"Okay." I reply simply. He seems shocked at my response.

"You're...You're okay with that?" He asks me. I just shrug my shoulders.

"I mean, Max is pan so..."

"Max is pan?"

"Yep."

Am I really the only one who knows that?

"So...go ahead. Just tell him." I tell Ivan, silently praying that he just says it now. To me.

Ivan freezes and stares at me for seconds, seemingly examining me, before nodding his head and looking towards the door.

"Alright. Thanks, Jason." His eyes flicker towards my cheek and he hesitates for a second. At first I think he's going to kiss me again, but he just smiles, stands up and leaves.

It's not me. If it was, he would've just straight-up said it. But it's not. It's not me.

Why am I so disappointed? Ivan and I never stood a chance with each other, I'm still dating Piper and it wouldn't work out between us anyways. So why am I so upset about it? I really shouldn't be. I'm fine. I don't need him. I'm probably just lying to myself about having a crush on him, too. I don't need him or want him.

Then why do I feel like my whole world is falling apart?