Fang's Blog

Fang has it all. The looks, the popularity, the money, the only thing he seems to be missing is the girl. His friends find it odd that he hasn't had a girlfriend once, over the course of their senior year they realize how little they really know about Fang.

Yo.

To Mr. Koontz:

I'm not really sure what the point of this assignment is. All I know is that I have to write to you once at the beginning of the semester then once at the end, I got that, but I don't get why. So until you tell us why, I guess I'll just jump to the information that you want to know.

I'm Nicolas Ride, call me Fang. I'm in your 3rd period class; I sit towards the back with my friend James 'Iggy' Griffins. I'm on the football team with him, I get good grades (contrary to popular belief), I'm a senior and just turned 18, and my favorite color is black.

That might help you out if you're ever looking for me in class; I'm the tall guy in all black with black hair and eyes.

Anyway, I live with my dad and my soon to be step-mom, Lily. She's cool, and really chill. My parents divorced when I was little. I see my mom about once a month. She lives in California.

I want to go to college on a football scholarship, and so far all I know is that I want to minor as a mechanic. I'm not too picky about what school I get into, just as long as I get into one.

Fang

"Okay, this assignment is officially going to be the death of me." Iggy groaned. "I mean Mr. K wants us to write about ourselves? Who wants to do that? I took this class for an easy A."

"Dude," Sam said. "You're taking two P.E. classes, HomeEc, some smart person science and math class; I think creative writing is still going to be your easiest grade. You just have to fill up the page, I doubt Mr. K is even going to read it. You could write about your sex life and no one would care."

The two idiots laughed, while everyone on the team ignored them. Iggy and Sam, known by the whole school, were perverts. Though they aren't always, mostly just when girls are around.

Take right now for instance, at lunch, when the football team and the cheerleaders sit together like a cliché high school story. It's the first day back to school, and the cliques are already decided. The freshmen really never stood a chance.

My phone buzzed in my pocket giving me an excuse to tune out my friends. I opened the text message quickly and read it.

Can't come over tonight. Babysitting A&G.

I frowned, typing out a reply. You suck.

My phone buzzed back almost instantly. Love you too.

Tomorrow?

Maybe.

Don't make me kidnap you.

Again.

Yeah again.

Fine. I'll see you tomorrow.

"Fang?" My head snapped up, my hand shoving my phone in my back pocket on instinct. "Who are you texting? Did you meet a girl over the summer?"

I rolled my eyes. "Don't be ridiculous, Ig."

"Well then who was it? You hate texting."

"Doesn't matter."

His eyes narrowed at me. "My goal this year is to get you a girlfriend."

I gave him a blank look, something not too uncommon. "You clearly have no life."

"Mark my words, Fang, mark my words."

The second day of school is pretty much like the first. Chill because you're still catching up with friends you couldn't see over the summer, and the teachers are simply going over their class rules. So basically, it's pointless.

When I pulled into my driveway after school, a red truck with large tires was already there parked off to the side. I stopped in beside it, rushing to the front door barely remembering to lock my car.

I walked towards the kitchen where I heard voices. One was Lily, who waved when she saw me; the other had her back towards me. Her hair was long and in a ponytail, making it less noticeable that you couldn't tell which color it really was. Brown or blonde?

I walked up behind her, kissing her cheek and wrapping my arms around her. "How'd you beat me here?"

She turned in her seat, her brown eyes meeting my black ones. She smiled at me. "Simple. You were surrounded by jocks and the Pompom Posse. And people think you're antisocial." She shook her head in mock disappointment.

"Well I'll let you too catch up." Lily said, walking out. I barely took notice, something that always happened when Max was in front of me. She consumed about 90% of my thoughts.

I leaned down, my mouth lightly touching hers before her fingers curled around my black shirt and mine went to cup her face. I tilted my head to deepen the kiss and I felt her smile against me.

We pulled away a few minutes later and I rested my forehead against hers to smooth my breathing. "Staying the night?"

She rolled her eyes and pushed me away. "I don't know why you even ask."

3rd person POV

"Hi Mr. Ride!" Iggy greeted as soon as the door opened. "Is Fang home? He ditched the team after practice."

Peter Ride opened the door wider and started up the stairs with Iggy following. "I think he's in his room." Mr. Ride opened Fang's door, blocking Iggy's view. He quickly closed it again. "Sorry," He said. "I should have knocked."

Iggy raised my eyebrows wondering what Fang was doing that would make Mr. R close the door. He pushed past Mr. Ride and forced the door open again. The door hit the wall with a loud bang, but his attention was focused on the girl lying on Fang's bed in shorts and just a bra. Fang was sitting up, and silently handed her one of his sweatshirts before he threw a shirt on.

"Um…hi?" Fang rolled his eyes at me.

"This isn't the way I thought you two would meet." He said and ran a hand through his hair. Behind Iggy, Mr. Ride closes the door awkwardly. "Iggy this is Max. Max, Iggy."

Max smiled, finally sitting up and swinging her legs around to rest them on the ground. She stuck her hand out which Iggy hesitantly, since Fang was watching him closely, reached out to grab. "It's nice to meet you. Fang talks about you all the time."

"Fang talks?" Iggy joked, trying to lighten the mood. He cleared my throat. "Uh, yeah. It's nice to meet you too; I wish I could say that I've heard about you…" Max shrugged like it didn't matter. "So are you two together or just like sleeping together?"

Fang's eyes snapped up. "Iggy." His voice was low, a warning. Max's hand closed around his, and you could see him visibly relax. It was…strange.

"We've been together since freshmen year."

Iggy exploded. And not the good kind of explosion. "What? Four years! Were you ever going to tell me? This is crazy, but it explains everything. Why you don't check out chicks or go on the dates that we set up for you. Why you rarely go to parties, and always leave places early. At lunch, the other day, you were texting Max weren't you? Yeah it's why you blew it off. It all makes sense now. Except for the fact that it's a secret. Why is it a secret?"

They shared a look. "Coach." Was all Fang said.

"Coach? What about him?" Iggy felt my eyebrows squish together.

"You're going to have to tell him eventually, Fang."

He groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Coach is the reason this is a secret."

"Why would he care about your personal life?"

"Freshmen year, I got on the varsity team. 'First freshmen, in a long time, with real talent' is what Coach said. But he made me promise no girls, because he didn't want any distractions in front of me or he would kick me off. I agreed because at the time I wasn't into anyone, and this was varsity and I was a freshman." Fang stopped and made a face from talking so much.

"Fang and I were, are, childhood friends." Max continued. "He didn't start to like me until about a month after the promise. He even tried avoiding me. It didn't work that well and long story short he grew a pair and we decided to keep it a secret and here we are."

Iggy blinked. "Okay, secret relationship, my lips are sealed."

Fang POV

By the time Monday morning rolled around, after Max left for home at an unreasonable hour, I felt like I was going to be sick. I knew Iggy would never intentionally blab, but oh God if Coach found out…I would be worse than dead. I feared more for Max than for me because I if I know Coach like I think I do then I know he'll try and pin full blame on her.

"Max is really cool." Iggy decided in class after he spent the weekend around us. "She's incredible really; I mean how many girls do you know willing to be in a relationship where you can't do PDA? None! She's a one of a kind. Damn, you're lucky."

My eyebrow twitched as Iggy kept talking. He was technically filling the silence the way he always has, by talking about my favorite subject. Of course before he talked about football thinking that was what consumed my mind. And then he met Max.

"So where does she sit at lunch? I bet I can get her to sit with us—"

"Iggy, please." I cut him off. "The more you talk about her, the more I want to see her."

He dropped his head. "Sorry man. I wasn't thinking."

I shrugged. "Sokay"

"But I do have one question, well actually I have lots of questions, but I'll stick to just one. Wait no…two."

"Spit them out, Ig."

"Right. Okay so my first is: how often does she stay over? And my second is: why can't you guys pretend to be friends at school?"

"She stays over about every other night; if she's not at my place then I'm at hers. Unless one of us have something to do. And we can't because Coach questions every girl that I interact with. I can't act normal around her because to be normal would mean to be with her."

"You sound like a girl." He noted.

"Just wait until you find 'the one.'"

He snorted.

At lunch, the first thing I noticed when I sat down that Iggy wasn't there. I wasn't the only one who noticed either. Monique High—or Nudge as she insisted we call her after a long monolog— a sophomore who managed to get onto the cheer squad (or Pompom posse as Max would call it), immediately turned to me questioning his absentness.

"Hiya Fang! Where's Iggy? It's weird seeing you here without him. Is he okay? Is he sick? That would suck, I hate being sick. It's like so…gag. And then—OMG that's Iggy! Who's he with? I didn't know he was dating anyone. Wow she's really pretty. OMG its Max!"

She kept going on, but I narrowed my eyes at Iggy who's dragging Max behind him. She caught my eye and rolled her eyes before acting like she doesn't know me again.

The whole table watches as Iggy drags her over. It's silent as they guy look at Max in ways I do not like. Iggy puts his hands on Max's shoulder and smiles at us. He quickly glances at me guiltily.

"Guys this is Max Martinez. She's in my math class, and despite the annoyed look on her face, I know she was just dying to sit with us."

Iggy grinned and Max crossed her arms.

I tune back in, after staring at Max longer than I probably should have, as Iggy finished introducing the team and cheerleaders. "—Sam, and then Fang."

Iggy pushed Max in the seat next to me and then squished in on her other side so she's sandwiched between the two of us. I put my hands on top of the table so I don't do anything stupid.

"So Max," Iggy says once people got used to her being there. "You and Fang have lots in common. Fang's single, I'm sure the two if you would get along perfectly."

Iggy doesn't know the first thing about Max. He knows we've been together for almost four years, but he doesn't understand the precautions and how hard we've planned everything out. Iggy doesn't know what an amazing actress Max is either.

"I'm not into cocky jocks." She says, watching me in fake disgust. "Besides that, and the fact that Fang here isn't my type, I have a boyfriend."

I almost laugh at Iggy's shocked face. Behind me, Sam and a few others start laughing at the thought that Max turned me down. They don't know shit.

"Yeah?" I say. "Well I'm not into bitches who think they're all that."

Max's eyes narrow at me, but I'm the only one who can see the playfulness in them. "Yet you surround yourself with jocks who worry more about getting into girls pants than their grades, and girls who look like clowns and have no moral values."

Nudge is the only one who doesn't take it personally. She knows Max because she's best friends with Max's half-sister Ella. Ella knows about us, but Nudge doesn't. Which is why I usually avoid going to Max's when Ella has people over.

Max didn't wait for a reply, instead turned to Iggy. "Can I go now?" He nods slowly, unsure about what else to do. "Awesome. Bye."

We all watch as she gets up and walk away without a glance back. Sam lets out a low whistle. "Damn, I'd tap that."

"I'd tap that twice." Someone else yells.

I clench my teeth and tried not to slug them.

"Max is now officially my hero." Iggy says as I lean against my car in my driveway. "She's not going to be pissed because you called her a bitch, is she?"

I shrugged and nodded my head towards the road. "Let's find out."

She parked behind my car, since Iggy was in her usual spot. Max circled her car and crossed her arms as she stood in front of me.

"Bitch?" She asked.

"Cocky jock?" I placed my hands on her hips.

She shrugged and grinned up at me. "Eh. I call it how I see it."

I pulled her closer and smiled. "Yeah?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold the phone! Did Fang just smile? What kind of twisted reality is this?" Iggy shouted, reminding me that he was there. "Max Martinez you are a miracle worker. You made Fang smile!"

Max looked she was about to question his sanity. "What are you talking about? Fang always smiles."

Iggy's jaw drops and he yanks Max out of my arms, and gives her a bear hug. "Screw Coach. Max you should never leave his side."

"You're the one who just took her away from me." Iggy immediately released her and pushed her towards me.

"My bad. Won't happen again."

The team could tell something big was on my mind before we even made it into my basement. By the time the videogames were pulled out, they had silently agreed to leave me alone. And for once that wasn't what I wanted. But they didn't know how to comfort me. Only Max did.

Max.

"Just for once I don't want all this goddamn pressure on my shoulders! I want to be able to play football my damn way."

Max looked at me. "Fang, calm down."

I rounded on her. "Don't fucking tell me to calm down. This is all your fault! You fucking seduced me and completely screwed with my head!"

"But—"

"My life would be so much easier if you would just fuck off! You've ruined me! Don't you understand that?" I yelled. Max recoiled, either from the yelling or from my words. Or both.

"Fang—"

"Just get the hell out!"

God. I'm so stupid. Picking a fight with her when she's the only the only constant good thing in my life, the only one who tried to help. The only one who knows the real me and can see through all my bullshit.

Upstairs there was yelling. I frowned as I listened. Lily and Dad never fight. Neither did Max and I, I thought as the guys paused their game so we could hear. I couldn't make out what they were saying, but it sounded like panic. I dashed up the stairs, with Iggy and the team on my heels. The door burst open and I froze.

"Max?"

She looked up before quickly darting her eyes away from mine. Ouch, I totally deserved that. But for now, I was more worried about why she was leaning against Dad like a crutch and why she was bruised and bloody.

I ran to her side, forgetting everyone in the room. My sole focus was, and always will be, Max. Dad watched me carefully as I gently picked Max up bridal style. I wonder how much he knew; judging by the flinch Max gave when I touched her I would assume a lot.

I carried Max to the couch, laying her down and never taking my eyes off of her. She wouldn't meet my gaze, instead settled on fiddling with the blanket as I kneeled down next to her.

Iggy silently handed me a wet washcloth. I was hesitant before I gently turned Max's face towards me. She kept her eyes focused above my head.

What the hell have I done? For as long as I can remember, Max is the only one who dared stand up to me. And now she can't even look at me.

I took the washcloth and began wiping the blood off of her face. I swiped my thumb across her lips and paused, startling her. She finally met my eyes.

"Are you still mad at me?" I shook my head slowly at her small voice.

"I'm sorry I yelled."

"Yeah. Don't do that again."

"Yes ma'am."

I leaned in closer, but stopped suddenly well-aware of everyone watching us. Did I want this secret to finally come out? All our hard work and careful planning gone with such a simple kiss? Max's hand loosely gripped my shirt, waiting. Was I willing to give up football for Max?

I closed the small gap between us.

Usually I like silence. But now I wish someone would speak up, speak their mind. I don't care. Just break the awkward silence. They wouldn't all keep their mouths shut. There was no way. How quickly would the news spread to Coach? I'd probably be off the team by Monday.

As long as I had Max, I'd be okay.

I met Iggy's eyes, wondering what I should do. The idiot was grinning, but clapped his hand and turned towards the team. I stoop up so I could pick Max up again. Her arms roped around my neck while mine went to her knees and under her shoulder. I pulled her up and started up the stairs, letting Iggy deal with everything.

"You okay?" Max asked as I her on my bed.

"I should be asking you that." She simply blinked at me, waiting for me to continue. "You're worth it."

She smiled and grabbed the back of my neck to bring me closer. She kissed me gently. "I definitely cracked a rib or two. Or three."

I unzipped her jacket and slipped it off, and then I went into the bathroom to grab the gauze and tape before sitting back down next to Max. I rolled her shirt up until it bunched around her bra. I started un-wrapping the tape.

"So what happened?"

"You yelled at me, so I went to go fight. Kicked ass too."

"You know I don't tell you this enough," I said focusing on the task at hand. "But I do love you."

She stilled my hands and made me look at her."No worries." She kissed my cheek. "I love you too."

3rd Person POV

Iggy paced back and forth in the school parking lot for either Fang's black sports car or Max's big ass four-wheel truck. Finally—finally— Fang's car speeds into the parking lot with only five minutes until the bell.

Everyone watches. Everyone already knows.

Iggy jogs towards the car, watching as Fang slowly opens his door. Max does the same on the passenger side. She smiles at Iggy, but it isn't quite as warm and carefree as usual. Iggy notices the bruises covering Max's right cheek, the only thing she couldn't hide besides her pained walk.

Fang takes her hand.

"So everyone knows," Iggy said. "They knew the second the team left your house."

"Yeah, my phone was blowing up." Fang replied. "I had to switch it off."

"O.M.G. Fang Ride and Max Martinez. This is unbelievable!"

"I heard they've been together since freshmen year."

"Why would they keep it a secret?"

"He can do so much better."

"Aw, I think they're cute together. Totally the new 'It' couple."

"How have I never noticed her before?"

Fang's hand tightened around Max's as Iggy hurriedly pushed open the front door, and shoved the two inside after him. The door closed, cutting them off from the growing gossip.

"Where are we going?" Iggy asked as Fang led them down a hallway towards the wrong side of the school.

"To see Coach." Fang turned left.

Max was uncharacteristically quiet, as if she traded places with Fang. Iggy was about to ask what was wrong, but they stopped in front of the doors to the field.

Max shook off Fang's hand and stepped back. "Be cool." She said and smiled.

Fang closed the distance between them and took her face in his hands. He bent his head and kissed her slowly, gently. He pulled back. "Because now I can."

Max rolled her eyes. "God, I've turned you into such a sap. Shame on me." She handed him his backpack and pushed him towards the door. "See ya later, hotshot."

The whole team was out there, confused. And a furious Coach.

"I'm disappointed in you, son." Coach said. "You're throwing your life away…for some girl."

Fang silently handed over his jersey and helmet.

"Just tell me the truth Nick, what blackmail does she have on you?"

Fang frowned. "No blackmail."

"Are you thinking about how disappointed your family will be once they hear you're off the team? Because of Marcie?"

"Her name is Max. And they love her."

"You'll lose all of your scholarships? Are you thinking about your future?"

Fang paused, zipping his bag up. "Max is my future." Then he turned and walked away.

He didn't look back.