Free Making It Through by Erin Cristofoli Page A

Mady, that was really amazing.”
    “It was a piece that Matt and I were working on. Seems like a lifetime ago.”
    “You should definitely play more often.”
    I blushed and stood to put the guitar back in it’s place in the corner. “Maybe someday. That was really hard.” I pressed my hand into my sternum, the emotional pain from my heart physically hurting me.
    Max watched me for a moment before, thankfully, changing the subject. “Do you want help with that paper now?”
    I nodded. “Sure.”
    We both crawled up my bed to the headboard and sat there, my paper uselessly laying on my desk, across from us.
    “You don’t feel like working anymore, do you?” he asked quietly.
    I shook my head. “Nope, I think I've changed my mind. Maybe tomorrow.”
    He drew me to his chest and hugged me hard. The beating of his heart soothed me, and I felt my tension ease, calm replacing it. Not long after, I started to doze.
    I woke when Max stirred beneath me. I glanced around groggily. “I’m sorry I fell asleep.”
    “ I'm happy to be your pillow any time you need it. I do, however, have to get going. I have an early practice tomorrow.”
    “I’ll walk you out.”
    Max grabbed my hand as we made our way to the front door, the house still quiet.
    I hugged him tightly. “Thank you for studying with me and for sticking with me.”
    He kissed my cheek. “Anytime. I’ll text you tomorrow?”
    I nodded, and he slipped out the door. I felt his absence immediately. Upstairs, my phone dinged. I shut my door and crawled back into bed before grabbing my cell.
     
    Is it weird that I miss you already?
     
    A smile broke across my face.
     
    Get out of my head, Max.
     
    Good to know...
     
    I slept that night better than I had in a while.

We were crammed into the small study room at the library, papers and books strewn everywhere, mixing together, creating a wonderful mess and utter chaos.
    “Do you think you have it all sorted to a place where we can stop, Mady?”
    I rubbed my eyes and removed my glasses, placing them in their case. “If I look at any more figures, or another paragraph of words that I have to look up in the dictionary to understand, I think I might just scream.”
    Max laughed. “W e're done, then. Pretty sure the library staff would frown upon that kind of commotion.
    I leaned back in my chair. “Yeah. I bet you're right.”
    He had begun to sort our papers, when he commented, “You know, I didn’t know you had glasses until today?”
    “That’s because I never wear them. I'm strictly a contact girl, but, this morning, I dropped one in the sink, and it went down the drain. When I went to grab another pair, I realized I hadn’t reordered them.”
    Max started to fidget, his leg bouncing slightly. He was probably the most laid-back person I had ever known, so something was up.
    “What the heck is wrong with you, Max? You’re acting funny.”
    “Nothing’s wrong. Just getting packed up. Do you want to go eat?”
    I raised my eyebrow. “You’re weirding out because of dinner? Okay… sure, let’s eat. I don’t feel like going home anyway.”
    We walked through the library doors towards Max’s car before he spoke again.
    “So, I was wondering if you would mind if we stopped by my parents’ house for a few minutes before we go eat. They're having a small family gathering, and because I haven’t been over there much lately, I promised I'd stop and say hi. It won’t take long, I promise.”
    I felt an uncomfortable lump form in my throat. “Uh, why not just go without me? I can eat at home easily enough.”
    “Please?” He looked me deeply in the eyes, leaning toward me, his want clear, pulling at my heart.
    “Why do you want me to go? It’s your family. It feels like I'd be intruding.”
    Max draped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer, starting to beg, his lips grazing my ear, making me shiver. “Pleeeeease Mady? For me? These things can be dull, and it would be awesome to have