What Comes Next – Chapter One
Full Synopsis: No one has seen Fang ever since he left Max the note ten years ago. Now, he's back, just in time for Max and Dylan's wedding. Fang has been gone for a while: whole, heartfelt uncharacteristically sappy prolonged love note included. He promised to be gone for twenty years. So why is he back only after ten? It's because he receives an invitation to Max and Dylan's wedding from an unknown benefactor. His feelings for Max start to resurface after not seeing her for such a long time and while he knows he has lost her, he can't help but recount his actions, his relationship with Max, how well he's made his decisions and how he will reassemble his life without having her at his side to keep him grounded.
(Max, Iggy, Fang are 25, Nudge is 23, etc)
Max's eyes were shining, simply gleaming as they stared into Dylan's cerulean ones. The eyes of her perfect half. Max was in her cream-colored wedding dress that matched her hair elegantly. I would expect nothing less from a wedding put together by Nudge. Everything is extremely beautiful here but it is very hard for me to be happy.
A long time ago... No, it wasn't that long ago. We were all fifteen years old when Dylan first appeared and Max broke my heart. When he first arrived, he was a nuisance. I mean, he couldn't even fly! Max hated him and we saw him as a break to the tranquility we had just gotten a hold of. With such a loving personality and the fact that he wasn't that hard on the eyes, Max realized that she had no reason to hate Dylan. I, however, hated him more than ever, but when I told her this, I discovered that my opinion suddenly wasn't that important anymore.
As Max's hatred for Dylan dissolved, she began to teach him the ways of our flock—how to fight, to survive in harsh conditions, how to fly... I could feel them growing closer and Max and I growing farther and farther apart, my mood growing uncharacteristically sour. I could feel myself loosing Max and knew that there was nothing that I could do about it. I trusted her and trusted her decisions and that she wouldn't do anything that would hurt me because we were supposed to be in a meaningful relationship. So, I tried to talk it out, be mature and try not to freak out.
One night, when the house was still and the flock was just starting to drift to sleep, I went into Max's room where she was sitting on her bed with her arms wrapped around her knees, most likely thinking. I hoped that it was about me. I tapped her on the shoulder. "We need to talk. Meet me on the roof in a few minutes, okay?"
I left, before I could see her reaction. Climbing off of the roof, I take a seat, covering my face with my hands. I remained that way until Max arrived a minute or two later. She takes a seat next to me and kisses me on the cheek. "What's up, babe?"
I sigh, trying not to sound like I was giving up on us. "How do you feel about me?"
Like I expect, she frowns. "What do you mean?"
"Do you still love me? You know, in that way?"
"What are you even saying, Fang? There's no need to get upset over nothing." Max hugs me from the behind, snuggling against my neck. "Of course I like you. Fang; I love you. You're my favorite person in the whole world."
At that point, I could swear that she stiffened against me, perhaps when she stumbled and said 'like' first instead of love. All those doubtful thoughts that I wasn't the one anymore were planted again in my mind. I turn around to look her in the eyes. "What was that?"
"What was what?"
"A second ago, when you said I'm your favorite person. You hesitated."
"What are you talking about? I didn't hesitate."
"Yes you did."
Max wasn't smiling anymore. "What's this about? What's got you so wound up all of a sudden? Just tell me. I won't get mad."
"Dylan. Max, I don't like you hanging around him."
"Oh," her eyes falter for a second, as if to say, 'that's what this is about.' "That's it? There's nothing between us Fang, I promise. I don't know where you had even gotten the notion. There's no way I could ever love him like I love you. He's like a little kid. You're my man."
Somehow I didn't believe her. Now I realize that at this moment I should have been fighting for Max and for her heart. I should have been shielding her against the blond WonderKid to show her that I was the only one she should love. If I'd really been thinking that night, I would have been forward instead of beating around the bush because it's what she responds best to. We may have ended up having a fight, but at least we would've still been together, been able to work things out maturely. But I backed down like a coward and just gave up. I don't know what made me do it, but that's how it happened. This is the point where I think I truly lost her, at least in my mind.
Fine. Wrapping my arms around her, I let the problem sink further into the dirt where it would be forgotten for some time. "Max. I love you too. Sorry for being so paranoid."
Our relationship began to deteriorate from there. Without realizing it, I was colder to Max. She couldn't get why the idea that she was in love with Dylan was so deeply rooted in my head and in time she began to discover exactly what I saw and even though she never did anything until I left her, I... could see the want in her eyes. I had screwed up big time. Dear God, I remember thinking; she might actually love this boy. And not me.
I was planning to break up with her in a while, because even though I loved her like crazy, I felt like no matter what I did, I couldn't measure up to Golden Boy and would only end up getting hurt. Prior to this, I kept testing the waters to see if I could salvage anything like before. I decided to confront her and ask what she really wanted if she even wanted me anymore. Never did get a chance to though. To think before I could, my whole life was changed before I could by Angel when she came to us with a rather chilling message. "Fang will be the first one to die."
When Angel says this, I admit a little part of me died. This is it? I remember thinking. The white-coats kill me so that Dylan could take my place?
It was then that I decided that I needed to get out of there. I mean, ever since he arrived there was always the looming feeling that I wasn't welcome, but it had become painstakingly apparent after what I had been put through in the past few days. Seriously. Even though Max and I had a good time together, when we were faced with danger, I seemed to forget that. I had been shot at countless times and had seen life in its worst possible form. I had even seen my little sister betray me and drink cutesy strawberry daiquiris while lethal poisons seeped into my veins and while I fought to stay alive. And while the only reason I'm here today might be that Max and her adrenaline, I've realized that with Dylan at her side to amaze her (and inject himself with vials of mysterious liquid), our relationship would always be obsolete to the potential of theirs.
The story from here on out is a little fresher in my memory. I muster what's left of my emotions and write a heartfelt letter to the only girl I truly loved, promising to leave for a stupid long time, if my genes didn't degrade by then. But I know I couldn't stay away from her that long. Every few months, I would come to check on the flock periodically for the next few years, just to see how they were doing. They were doing fine, living the secluded life that I'd always wanted us to.
It's funny how everything worked out immediately after I left. They get their happy life. It hurt me so much to see Max after a few months, laughing with Iggy and Gazzy in the kitchen and when I came back a second time, Dylan kissing her playfully on the nose. After seeing that, I didn't check back again for a long time. Since then, I have been living a miserable life away from every person I ever truly loved, working just to pay the rent and eat. I couldn't move forward knowing that after trying to be the noble one, I only screwed myself in the end. Everyone was happy and I had gotten everything I deserved. I was selfish.
Then, out of the blue, I receive an invitation to Max and Dylan's wedding ceremony. I was shocked. I thought they didn't know where I lived. A slip of paper fell from the envelope and landed in my lap.
Dear Fang,
Enclosed is an invitation to Dylan and Max's wedding. I want you to come and see them. See everyone again. I'm sure you don't like being alone here, waiting on an empty twenty-year promise to run out. Max has moved on. Maybe it's time you do too. You don't have to come if it's too much for you, but know this: your family misses you. With Care,
Jeb Batchelder
P.S. Max still blames herself for your leaving. Try to do good in what I hope will become a permanent visit.
At first I crumpled up the note and threw it across the room, never wanting to lay eyes on the damned thing ever again, then trashed my apartment until my hands were swollen and red, all for being such an idiot. While Max got the man of her dreams, I had done nothing but hope that she would leave Dylan for little ol' second-rate me and my two-decade promise. That dream was dead. I knew that it wasn't happening then, or now, or ever and after arguing with myself for hours, I decided that I would go. At worst I'd drink myself silly. At best, I'd be happier.