Reintegration program - Elmax

Chapter 16 : Day at home

Neil hit the table with the dish of his hand, making startle the persons around the table and the objects on the table.

- We are a family, whether you like it or not, am I clear? said angrily the man between his teeth.

Max' habits came back instantly. She looked down to avoid his red eyes and to not cry in front of them. Billy was maintaining the look, as usual, while her mother was watching the scene, scared and unable to intervene.

- AM I CLEAR!?

- Yes! answered Billy and Max with a controlled shacking voice.

- Good. I want you to not forget this, especially during the dinner with Mr.Mayfield. Will your boyfriend be there?

- You have a boyfriend? frowned Billy with a mocking tone.

- Why do you care!? replied the redhead. Yes, he will be there.

- Nice, I can't wait, said Neil with a fake nice tone.

Max didn't really agree with this part. She hoped a fireball would burn the town the day before this hell night.

- How is school Maxine? I heard that some garbage had invade the halls, continued Neil.

- Yeah, but I don't think they will come back, there had a fight and none of them came back since, answered Max.

- Good. They had nothing to do with us, they are too inferior to expect a second chance.

Max was, by surprise, hurt by those words. She realized it was exactly what she used to tell before, she was talking exactly like Neil, and it was scaring her! She didn't want to be like that, it was the failure of a life. God, she needed to clear her mind before becoming a racist, homophobic asshole!

- You don't eat, Maxine? Your mother cooked for you your favorite meal all the morning.

Max looked at her plate. Her stomach was so tied that just drinking water could make her throw up. And, it wasn't really her favorite plate, after all this year they still didn't know that pastas with a creamy sauce with mushrooms was her favorite meal, not...this! She didn't even know what she was eating! It looked like chicken but not cooked with something like...vegetables? Maybe? Her mother had never been a good cooker, and it was still not the case, she even thought she was worse, which was really hard.

- I'm not hungry...

- Eat, ordered Neil.

- I feel sick.

- EAT!

Max had a startle and took her fork and knife without debating. She hated the effect he had on her, she felt like if he was controlling her, controlling everyone by fear. She hardly ate, first because she was not hungry, but especially because her hands were shacking so much that holding the fork was the hardest thing ever! The chicken was cold and the vegetables were insipid. She tried to eat the faster possible, wanting to finish this ordeal. By luck, there was no dessert, allowing her to leave the table. She quickly walked to her room, followed by Billy going to his. She didn't know why, but she wanted to talk to him.

- Hey, said the redhead.

- What do you want shit bird? You missed me? told Billy with sarcasm.

- No, I was just wondering why you were still there! I mean, I would run away if I was you.

- I'm planning to. I found a job, I just need an apartment now.

- Great, smiled Max, relieved to know he would be far from his father. Where?

- 'Doesn't matter. I'll leave after this fucking dinner.

- Yeah, what a shitty idea, mumbled the redhead.

- Yeah. You'll come back after today?

- I don't know, I don't really have much things here, I think I can take the rest today but...I have no reasons to come back!

- 'Cause you had one today!?

- The dinner, I wanted to be prepared to have a shitty night.

Billy looked at her with a frown but had an amused scoffed. He was surprisingly calm and relax, even after a lunch like that, certainly used to it or worse.

- Well, I let you now, and I'll wait a bit before leaving.

- 'K.

Max pouted like to say goodbye before going to her room and closing the door. She had nothing to do. She searched in her closets and nightstands but everything was almost empty now! It took her only half an hour to reunite everything in her bag.

After two hours doing nothing, she said goodbye to the three persons, before taking the bus and going back to her apartment, finally breathing.