Get your act together

MAX'S POV

Well, do you think there are any leads?"

I waited patiently for my dad to finish eating the food that my mom had prepared. As he swallowed, he looked over at me.

"I don't know Max." He sighed. "You should go console your mother."

And so I did. After all the excitement from earlier, the sight of my mother's tears really hit me hard and I went looking for her immediately. It turned out that she had already taken herself upstairs to her bedroom. She sat on her bed and stared blankly ahead while I stood awkwardly by the door.

"Max," she said quietly, looking at the ground, "what does it mean that they aren't here? Where could they be?" Her eyes filled with fresh tears and I felt myself grow even more worried. I reached out a hand to touch her arm. It wasn't until then that I noticed her trembling.

I pulled my hand away quickly. "Mom?" I whispered, "Mom, you can stop pretending now, I know you hate Accalia."

My mom let out a small laugh and then wiped away the fake tears. "I hop