The Way She Makes Me Feel-Elmax [UNDER EDITING]

Chapter 19-How Are You Feeling?

-TW: Rape, homophobic slurs, slight self harm, and breakdown. But if you get triggered easily at all I would skip this chapter-

-El's POV-

          "El!", Max calls from the bathroom. "Can you help me?". I look to Will for approval since I was helping him wash the dishes and I didn't want to just leave him. He gave me a small nod and I dry my hands and walk to the bathroom. Max was standing shirtless in front of the mirror, with her medical wrapping in her hand. Ever since the fire she had to apply ointment to her burns and wrap it back up. Most times she'll ask me to help her. I washed my hands before washing her burn that covered her upper torso. I take the ointment and rub it on her wounds with a cotton swab I had found under the sink. She winces and tries to yank away from me but I use other hand to hold her in place. Even though it had been almost two weeks since the fire she was still sensitive. The pain of touching the burns was why I would normally do it instead of her. "Max", I started. "I need you to take off your bra so I can get the rest". Normally I wouldn't ask something like that but Max's sport's bra went down super far and covered a bit of her burn (which the doctors had told her to not let any clothing touch the burns but of course she did it anyways). The redhead turned beet red before removing her sports bra. I feel my own cheeks heat up as I try not to look anywhere that I shouldn't (although my eyes betray me). I apply the ointment where I needed too before I notice the indents in Max's skin.

          I trace my finger over the line in her back. "Max that bra is too small", I tell her. The normally snarky redhead that always has something to say on the tip of her tongue just shrugs. 

"I know", she whispers.

"Why are you wearing a bra that's too small?", I ask.

"It doesn't matter I'll just grab one of my normal fitting bras".

"No, you need to give your chest room to breath. You're already wearing a big loose shirt just take one of my tank tops".

         Max stares at herself in the mirror before nodding. I rush across the hall to Will's room and reach in my bag before taking out a black spaghetti strap shirt and giving it to Max. She puts it on the counter and hands me the wrapping. I wrap the bandages around her torso before she puts on the tank top I gave her and heads out of the room to get dressed. 

-Time Skip to Later Because I'm Lazy-

-Max's POV-

          I've been feeling incredibly off since yesterday. I haven't ate anything and only drank a bit of water. I feel like I'm seven or eight again. Me and Billy had a "little game" as long as I can remember but after I caused him and Hannah to break up he did other things, worse things. After that I wouldn't eat, I wouldn't drink, I barely did anything for the next couple of days. Now was the same. When I was in danger I had enough energy to scream or cry, and this time I ran away. But after, I got drained.

          Spending time with El wasn't even making me feel better. Speaking of which she suddenly pokes her head in the door. "Max", she says softly. My eyes move from the wall in front of me to El. "The party is here". I give her a small nod and she gives me a smile before heading back out. Currently I was spooning a pillow while laying on Will's bed so I get up. I still only had the wrapping and tank top on that El had given me so I grab a tee shirt from my bag before throwing it on and heading out to the living room. 

          Mike and Will were sitting cross-legged on the floor showing zero romantic affection. Julie and Lucas were sitting on the couch with their hands twined and Dustin was sitting on the chair. Julie gets up to hug me and I wince from her touching me. "My burns", I whisper. "Oh my God, Max I forgot I'm so sorry. Are you okay?", she asks. It was weird seeing her so worried. Julie was normally very calm and collected. I tell her I'm okay before sitting on the floor. To be honest I wasn't okay. Not in the slightest. I wasn't about to say that though.