(Max Pov)
I was just fifteen years old when my world changed forever. It all happened in the blink of an eye, a moment that I could never take back but wish so desperately that I could.
It started out so cliche too..it would almost be humorous if it didn't end so tragically, but it was a dark and stormy night. I had just called my dad to pick me up from my friend Nicole's house. We had been friends since grade school and I walked with her back to her house on most days. She was helping me with a school project for this year's art fair and was acting as a model for me. I loved painting and drawing since I could remember..My dad bought me my first easel when I was ten and I never stopped since.
Nicole was lying on her bed browsing her phone as we listened to music on her laptop. I was starting to gather up my supplies and looked out the window just as a bolt of lightning flashed through the night sky, lighting up the trees that surrounded us. Washington was known for its rain storms in the fall, but today seemed a lot heavier than usual.
I slipped on my hoodie before checking my phone, an uneasy feeling rose in my tummy as I bit my lip nervously.
"Oh my god, did you see what Skyler was wearing today..blue really is his color, he was so damn sexy." Nicole gushed, making me roll my eyes as I let out a scoff.
"I thought you said red was his color last week." I reminded her, causing her to put her phone down as she stared at me with a bored expression.
"I swear sometimes it's like you aren't even a teenage girl. How are you not affected by Skyler..how can you even talk to him without sniffing his hoodie once?" She groaned, making me laugh as I swung my backpack over my shoulder and grabbed my art case.
"Because that's creepy, and plus, he has no interest in dating a sophomore, he is totally in love with Bethany." I explained, making Nicole pout. Bethany was the head cheerleader and a senior just like Skyler.
Skyler and I have art together and we both are pretty passionate about it so we kind of became friends, but Nicole has had a crush on him since freshman year. She always makes me bring her up at least once in a conversation whenever I talk to him..she pulled the best friend card, so I kind of have to.
Before Nicole could respond, my phone began to vibrate as I answered it and quickly placed it to my ear.
"Hey pops, you here?" I asked cheerfully, seeing it was my dad calling.
"Yeah Maxie, hurry your butt up before I get washed away out here." My dad joked, he has always called me Maxie since I was a baby, it was our special thing.
"Be right there." I responded before ending the call and looking at Nicole with a smile.
"See you at school tomorrow, don't stay up too late stalking Skyler's Insta!!" I teased, dodging a pillow Nicole tried to chuck at my head as I couldn't help but laugh all the way down the stairs.
"Oh, you aren't staying for dinner, Max?" Mrs. Fisher asked as I bounded down the steps.
Linda Fisher, Nicole's mom, was like a second mom to me. Sometimes she would even tease Nicole and I, saying I was her real daughter and Nicole must have gotten switched at birth. Considering I am more like Linda and my mom is more like Nicole personality-wise. Looks wise though I'm a spitting image of my mom..minus my dad's strawberry-blonde hair and blue eyes I inherited. Face and body though I am my mom to a tee..so thanks Mom for the curves..it's great being fifteen with a c cup already..yeah, let's just say I blossomed over the summer.
"Nope, gotta get home, dad made lasagna." I smiled and said my goodbyes as I opened the door and raced outside towards my dad's blue truck. It was pouring out and I couldn't help but squeal as I ran for my life, slamming into the truck before opening it and letting out a burst of laughter.
"You look like a wet dog." My dad chuckled before rustling my hair and then quickly frowned as I started shaking my strawberry locks back and forth, getting him all wet.
"Okay okay, I should have put you in the back like Griffen." My dad mumbled while shifting the car into drive. Griffen was our three-year-old golden retriever and my dad usually took him everywhere with us. I guess Griffen didn't want to go today. Yeah, he hates the rain..he is such a diva now that I think about it.
"Buckle up kid." My dad reminded me as I reached for the belt and swiftly slipped it on.
I looked out the window as the rain began to pick up even more, this was the worst storm we've had so far and I couldn't help but feel uneasy as my dad reached forward and turned on the radio.
"Don't worry, we will be home soon." He reassured me..one thing about Dad was that he could sense how I was feeling just with one look and he could also calm me with one touch.
He reached his hand over and squeezed my own. He began to bob his head up and down to the music as we drove down the winding road towards our house. We lived more toward the woods in a cabin-type home. My dad loved nature and all things wildlife, we even went camping every summer for a week. It's our annual family trip and my dad plans for it a year ahead that's how much he loves it.
Suddenly the car jerked slightly, making me gasp as I looked ahead..I couldn't even see the road anymore, it was covered in water and I began to panic.
"We will just take it slow, the truck can handle it." My dad added calmly, taking his hand from mine as he placed it on the steering wheel.
All I could do was nod my head..something didn't feel right..I felt it deep in my gut, like a feeling stirring deep inside of me, trying to warn me..and I wished I had listened.
I wished I would have trusted that feeling because the next thing I knew a white dog ran into the road, causing my dad to jerk the wheel. It all happened in a flash..the car went off the road. I cried out as I looked at my dad, seeing his worried expression as he called out my name. Then everything was loud, a crashing noise pierced my ears and broken glass flew towards us..so much glass. I felt a sharp pain shooting through my arms and stomach. My head throbbed while the world turned upside down and then darkness...
The next time I woke up I was lying next to a tree, my body weak as the smell of gas and ash filled my senses. I tried to sit up but my arms and legs were frozen, I couldn't move.
"Dad.." I croaked, moving my head from side to side, trying everything to get to him.
I needed to make sure he was okay..I needed to find him.
"She is over here! I found her!" A male voice echoed through my head, making me groan as I willed myself to do something, anything..what was wrong with me?!
"It's okay, oh god..Max..it's going to be okay." My dad's friend, Clark came into view, his hands touching me carefully as his eyes widened and tears filled them.
"D..dad..where..where is he?" I mumbled, the words barely audible as sadness filled Clark's expression.
"It's, it's okay..the ambulance is coming now..it will all be okay, I promise Max." He whispered, his lies giving me hope..but no, there was no hope..nothing would ever be okay again. Because he was gone..my dad died that day and I somehow survived. How? no one knows..but I couldn't help but think about if I didn't go to Nicole's that day..or if I would have stayed the night at her house instead..if we had waited for the storm to end it could've all been different..it would all be so freaking different than how it is now. My life would never be the same, and I have to live with the scars to prove it..just not on my arms and stomach but in my heart too..a scar that will never heal. A scar that is so deep that it changed me..after that day, I would never be the same again.