Read Online Making It Through by Erin Cristofoli - Free Book Online Page B

thing of the past, and Max sat beside me.
    “Thank you,” I mumbled.
    “For what? I'm happy to fend off the unworthy for you. You deserve better. Here, I got you something.”
    Max reached into a bag in his lap and pulled out a baseball hat with the team's logo on it.
    “You bought me a hat?”
    He shrugged. “It was nothing.”
    I fixed the hat on my head and leaned over to hug him lightly. “Thank you.”
    Max grinned at me and wrapped his arm around my shoulders in response. I went back to watching the game. At halftime, I noticed Max glancing at all the fans leaving their seats for snacks and such. The man who had approached earlier, Pete, and Max were eying each other. Max’s arm tightened around me slightly. I nudged him with my elbow. “What gives?”
    He looked down at me and smiled. “Not a thing.”
    I shook my head. “Pissing contest?”
    That made him laugh. “Something like that.”
    Our team was down in the beginning of the fourth quarter by a field goal, and everyone was on the edge of their seats. The stadium announcer asked for everyone to give it their all and scream out the team chant.
    Max looked at me. “What?” I asked him.
    “Oh, you know what. Come on, let’s hear what you got.”
    I shook my head. “I think I’m good. Thanks, though.”
    “Do you mean to tell me you would rather keep quiet than contribute to the magic that happens when fans cheer for their beloved team?” He placed his hand over his heart. “That is sad.”
    His face changed then. Max’s eyes became sorrowful and his lip quivered. It was then I realized he probably got away with quite a lot as a child. I let out a loud sigh. “What's sad, is you trying to guilt me into doing it. Fine.”
    Everyone around us was chanting loudly. I took in a deep breath before shouting at the very top of my lungs. “Arrrrgggggooooosssss!”
    “Atta girl!” Max shouted.
    It was such a silly thing to do, but it lightened my heart just a little bit.
    Max tapped my thigh, bringing me back from my thoughts. He pointed at the screen, and there we were. Oh God, we were on the Kiss Cam on the Jumbotron. I had always thought that kissing on the big screen for everyone to see was a ridiculous and completely embarrassing activity, and I always prayed to never be shown up there.
    In the live moment, I was stunned. But Max jumped into action, making a show of kissing me firmly on the cheek. My cheeks heated, and thank goodness, the screen changed to someone else. I pulled down the brim of my cap just a little and sank into my chair. “Of all the times to get caught on that camera,” I muttered to myself.
    Max chuckled beside me, enjoying my embarrassment.
    When the game finally finished, with our team victorious, we made our way from the stadium in a sea of other fans. Max wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me from the current of people. “We might as well wait a few minutes. The subway is going to be jammed.”
    He walked us over to a nearby bench and sat. “Did you have a good time today?”
    I looked at him and smiled. He seemed worried. “I had a better time than I expected to, and I’m grateful. Thank you.”
    “You persevered today. I’m proud of you. Thank you for putting some faith in me and yourself.”
    We sat in comfortable silence for a while, until the crowds cleared, and then we headed on our way. I had survived, and it felt pretty damn good.

Max texted me daily, and not just daily, but like a million times a day. Half of the time, it was pure nonsense, the other half, he managed to keep it to arranging our next study session.
     
    Can I come over to your place to study tonight? Scott is having people over. Might not be the best place to study.
     
    That set me on edge. While things had been pretty quiet in the house over the last couple days, it never lasted very long. But studying was better than not, and so I texted back.
     
    You are taking your life in your hands, entering the war zone, but sure, why