Watching You Always

Chapter 1 - Only the Beginning

"You're quiet today," Max points out as we walk down the slightly faded sidewalk. I shrug my shoulders, not having much of an answer.

The mid-November air pierced my exposed skin as we walked home. The leaves on the trees had been long gone. It's quiet out, almost as if it's mocking me, telling me I should be the one to stop the silence, but even then I won't speak.

What I won't tell Max is that I've been having a weird feeling lately. Every moment of the day it feels like thousands of people are watching my every move and I hate it. But I don't dare tell anyone. What's the point? Everybody will think I'm crazy. Maybe I am.

"Lily seriously, what's going on? You're normally the biggest chatterbox on this side of New York." He giggles, but I can tell that overall that he's genuinely concerned.

"I just didn't sleep well last night." It isn't a lie, but it isn't the entire truth, either. He seems to accept it though as he sighs.

"Was it your dad again?" I subconsciously pull my sleeves down, hiding the temporary bracelet of red, purple, and blue.

"No, I don't think he even came home last night."

Max rolled his eyes. "I always hated him and what he does to you."

"Well, there's not much I can do about it, huh?" I snap, and he seems to mumble something under his breath that I can't catch, but I decide to ignore it.

Before long we reach his driveway. "Do you have any plans tonight?" I shake my head no. "Wanna come over for dinner? My mom's been up my ass about getting you over. You know how much she likes you," he giggles as he walks closer to the door.

"Yeah, sure. I like hanging out with Bree more than you anyways." He laughs slightly, taking his keys out of his pocket to unlock the door.

For whatever reason, I don't feel the same way in Max's house then I do everywhere else. I don't feel thousands of eyes watching me at all times. Honestly, it feels great to have a break from that feeling.

Max's mom, Bree, comes home a few minutes after we arrive. "Max! I'm home!" She calls, and I can hear her carrying grocery bags. Max and I leave the living room and join her in the kitchen.

"Oh!" She glances at me, a smile immediately appearing on her face. "Lily, what a surprise! Max finally talk you into staying for dinner?"

"Yeah, it's really nice to spend time with both of you," I tell her, Max and I sitting down at the island.

"Well, it's always a pleasure having you."

Max seemed to be moving a lot. His hands were always moving, whether they were rubbing together, his legs, or somewhere else. His leg was bouncing for the past five minutes and just recently stopped. His eyes seem to be moving from side to side constantly, almost like he was waiting for something.

He gets up and looks at Bree for a moment. "I forgot some of my homework at school, can I go get that quick? I promise I'll be fast." Bree tells him it's fine, as long as he doesn't keep me waiting. He practically runs out the door, muttering a small apology as the door slams behind him.

"Boys," Bree groans, rolling her eyes.

Max's brother, Andy, comes home about half an hour later, still no sign of Max. "Hey Mom, and oh, if it isn't my brothers' favorite person." He comes up to me and gives me a small fist bump, which I awkwardly give back. When he walks past me I can't help but roll my eyes. I've never gotten a good vibe from him.

An hour goes by and Max comes running through the door, curling over and panting.

"Maxwell James Hollenbach," Bree scolds, and Max put a hand up as if to stop her from speaking. "Yeah, I know. I'm late. I got caught up in talking with my Algebra teacher, sorry."