Tyler's POV

It's been a week since Tom got mad at max. Everything is pretty much normal. The only things that's really changed is when we have our nightmares. when I comfort her and ask her if she needs me to sleep with her, she Denys it.

But I know she wants me too.

When I have mine he comforts me but when I fall asleep she moved to her bed. And how I know that, is because I act as if I'm sleeping, because I haven't sleep in forever. I can't go back so sleep when I wake up from my nightmares. Hell, I act go to sleep at all.

It's all because of Thomas.

So I've been trying my best to get him to believe me so max will help em sleep and I can continue to protect her the way I was. So he finally agreed to come over and talk about it.

He walks through the door I had just opened for him and sits on the couch. I go over and sit down beside him. "What do you want Tyler?" He asks, rudely.

Your sister.

No! I did not say that! No, no, no, no! no! Do not think that, Tyler! You don't like max! no!

Damn myself.

"For you and your sister to make up." I tell him. He glares evilly at me. "why? What is us fighting doing to you?"

"Look dude, I've changed since high school. Her ex-boyfriend, Alex, is the one who put me up to it, so don't be mad at me and sure as hell don't get mad at max. She didn't do anything." I mean it. if Thomas does ANYTHING to max, I'll kill him. I don't care if he's her brother.

He stands. "Your something Tyler. But I don't trust you." he walks over to the door and opens it. He stops and looks at the ground. He stays silent for a minute before speaking. "I'll talk to max. But I will Never forgive or forget what you did to her. So whatever thing you have for her, I'd watch your back."

Then he leaves.

I sigh and lean back on the couch. I cover my eyes with my hands and try to clear the stress.

Carter was right. I like max.

I like her a lot.

>

Maxs POV

I cant even believe myself for still talking to Tyler. So it's hard enough when I want him to cuddle with me so I can actually sleep but i still tell him no.

He usually listens to me and backs off. But I can see it in his eyes that he's worried. Or maybe That's just tired.

Anyway, either way, Tom still hasn't talked to me. I've sent him plenty of texts and called him but he never replies to any of them. I'm starting to get real pissed at him for being such a dick. It's getting on my nerves.

So when I drive home today and I get a text from him, I'm VERY surprised and happy.

Tom heart: hey max, I'm sorry for being such an asshole to you. It's Tyler I should be telling off, even though he was the one who told me to talk to you. Anyway, sorry. Please forgive me?

Wait......tyler told him to talk to me?

Man I want to go up to him and give him a big hug right now. I can't believe HE actually got TOM to tall to me.

Max heart: I forgive you, Tom. And just don't take it out on anyone okay? Take it out on a punching bag.

Tom heart: Lol, whatever.

Thank gosh, things are back o normal.

>

I open the front door to the apartment and run in. Tyler sits on the couch and I don't take any time before I jump onto his lap and bear hug him. He flinched and chuckled lightly before wrapping his arms around my back.

"What's the all of a sudden affection for?" He asks. I smile and pull away from him, still having my arms on his neck. "you got my brother to talk to me." It was more of a statement than question.

Either way, his face started to change to a light shade of pink. I laughed at seeing Tyler Colton blush. "Your a little affectionate too, Colton." I teased. He smiled and rolled his eyes. "you want affectionate? Okay." He said. Right as he finished off his last word, he pushed me off him and onto the side of the couch. He was on top of me, propping his arm up beside my head so his full weight wasn't on me.

I froze.

We were really close. And this wasn't like in bed either, where we had to be close to go to sleep. His smirk was kinda scaring me as his face was millimetres from mine. millimetres!

His breath smelt strongly of mint like he had just brushed his teeth. While one of his hands were propping him up beside my head, the other was on my upper arm. He leaned closer before leaning to my ear, thankfully. "I can see my effect on you, princess. And I think I like it." He whispers.

I can't even round up enough courage to push him off me. My hands are glued to his chest and not moving. "I have an effect on you too, Colton." I say. He leans away from my ear and is still smirking. He adds raising an eyebrow with it. "really now? And what would that be?" He asks.

Now, I smirk. I decide to fight fire with fire. "a sexual effect." I whisper. Right then, his smirk drops and is hanging open.

I didn't plan on getting interrupted by my phone ringing. I sigh and push him away to grab my phone. I lean on my side and prop myself up with an elbow. Tyler is right behind me on the couch. He wraps an arm around my waist and I push it away as I answer.

"Hello?" I ask. Tyler puts his hand on my shoulder and starts kissing my neck! I try pushing him away but he doesn't stop. "Hey max! So me and Carter were thinking that we should all go out tomorrow night. You know, me you Carter and Tyler. It'll be fun!" Jules says on the other line.

Tyler won't stop kissing my neck, and I'm honestly getting irritated with it. I Paul him off one more time and whisper "stop." To him but he just laughs and grips my waist. I sigh and just shake my head. "I don't think I'm up for that one jules. I don't want to go anywhere with them two." I tell jules.

"What?! come on, lighten up max!" she said. Before I know what happened, Tyler grabs my phone and holds it to his ear. "We'll be there. Where at?" He asks.

No!

I try getting the phone back, but he has a much stronger grip than me. "okay, tomorrow, movie drive through, six o'clock? Okay, we'll be there. By Julie." he said. He hangs up and smirks as he hands the phone to me. My mouth is wide open and I grab the phone back from him. "you asshole." I mumble.

He just laughs and smirks back at me. "It's for saying that your effect on me was sexual. What can I say, I'm a smart guy." he says, shrugging. I roll my eyes. "your about as smart as Patrick the star."

"Damn princess, you got some comebacks don't ya?" He asks.

"I learned from the best.."

"Who, me?"

"Nope...... my brother."

>

The same dream. The same nightmare. The same, waking up to screaming, scene. Except it's really bad tonight. I can't catch my breath anywhere. I'm not hearing anything Tyler is saying and I'm sure he's screaming it. My head is throbbing so hard and I can't stand it's killing me slowly.

I'm crying my eyes out and I can't stop. I can't really feel anything other than the pain in m head and stomach. I feel as sick as a dog. And its a Sunday so I have I go to class tomorrow. great.

I can feel Tyler's arms around me, as they try to calm me down. I just push him away. But tonight's very different, so he isn't listing to anything I do or say. He's going his own way and keeps comforting me any way he can and keeps me in his arms tightly.

I sniffle and am so tired, I feel like if you paid me a million bucks to walk for half a minute, I'd say no. So I fall into Tyler's arms and he sighs, squeezing me tightly like I'm a the most valuable thing in the world. I cry and slowly (and weakly) wrap my arms low on him. It's almost to his chest.

He moves one hand up to the back of m head and softly pets it. "sh...sh.. is okay, princess. They won't hurt you." He whispers.

Funny the main one hurting me in my nightmare was you.

Without asking, he lays us down on my bed, pushing the side of my head against his chest as he lays on his back. I try pushing him away, but one again, he doesn't listen. He pressed a hand down on my head and makes sure I can't move it. "stop, maxy. We both need to sleep."

Does that mean he hasn't been able to sleep either?

If it does, then I don't feel like a complete loner anymore. if it doesn't, then fuck it, I need to sleep.

I sighed and let myself relax, which was very hard to do right now. I let my head rest lightly on his chest and pull up one of my legs slightly onto his. Which made his stiffen. I smile in my mind but force it not to come out.

"Goodnight Colton."

"Night, princess."