This is my first chapter of my first story. Basically, it's about if Fang, Iggy, & Gazzy stayed in LA, instead of coming back. I'm on the 3rd book now, so I don't know exactly when/how they come back, but I do know they did! So, enjoy. R/R?

"We need to talk." Fang grabbed my wrist & tugged at me to move along. Pushing through the doors of our beat-up, broke-down building we (& don't forget Gazzy!) called a home.

We walked a brisk walk. It took almost 20 minutes, but his dry, rugged hands never left mine. Once we turned into an alleyway, I leaned my back against a wet brick wall, waiting for Fang to say something.

"Erm, well, uh…" was all the dark boy managed to stutter out. He was usually quiet, but when he did speak, he actually had something to say. I pressed my hand against his forehead, concerned about his health. He was boiling. Did he have a fever?

"Fang, you're warm. Do you feel okay?" I trailed my hands across Fang's face, down his German-shaped nose, brushing the backs of my hands against his high cheekbones. Wait, no. Was he blushing?

"Yes, Iggy, I'm fine. Just fine," he whispered.

"Well, you're sure not acting it," I joked. Apparently he didn't find that funny, judging by the fact I was the only one laughing. "So, what was that you wanted to talk about?"

I could sense his body tighten, eyes locked on me. His normal fast-paced heart was growing even faster, & heat was radiating off him like the Sun.

"Well, there's this person." He paused for what seemed like hours. "That I think I'm in love with."

My heart sank. Fang. My Fang. I want to love him. I want to be with him. I want to comfort him on those nights. The nights when he wakes up shivering, caused by a nightmare. Those nights when he tries to put on his best Poker Face, but fails.

"& you're telling me this… why?" I said bitterly. More bitter than both of us expected.

I had fessed up to him only days before Angel's kidnapping. His words still rang in my ears.

"I'm sorry, Iggy. Not now. I just- I can't. No."

Silence.

Fang drew his body closer to mine. "I'm saying this because… well, because I think I'm in love with you."

I could have fell over with happiness right then & there, if Fang hadn't been pressing me so close to the wall, one hand on my rib cage, the other brushing hair away from my face.

Was this real?

That's when the Hoover Dam broke.

"FANG!" I screamed, tears pouring out of my eyes. The boy let go of me, & I slid down the wall, sitting in a puddle. Breathe in, breathe out.

Finally, I calmed myself. Fang didn't say a word. "Why are you doing this to me?" I whimpered. "I know you don't like me. Please, just tell me this is a joke. Gazzy told you to do it. I know."

"Iggy." Fang started. "I'm not-"

"JUST GO AWAY! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? I HATE YOU!" I grabbed the nearest thing in reach, a stone, & hurled it at him. He was taken by surprise, but quickly moved away to avoid getting hit.

"Igg-"

"No."

"IGG-"

"NO."

"IGGY!"

"NO!"

"IGGY! Calm down!"

I took a few deep breaths, & calmed myself to a semi-acceptable state.

"I know you're upset. About now, about what I said before. I'm upset, too. I'm not just upset. I'm furious. Furious at myself. Let me tell you something." Fang moved closer to me, sitting down. He cupped his hands around my face. "The only reason I didn't respond the way you wished was…uhh… well, because I didn't know how."

I melted right there. More tears escaped my eyes, but these were tears of joy. I pulled him closer to me, grabbing at his lower back. Taking it from there, he planted a light, meaningful kiss on my lips.

So there we sat. I sat in my love's criss-cross-applesauced lap, arms wrapped around his shoulders & face nuzzled into his soft, but now wet, cotton shirt.

"Please, Iggy. Never leave me. Please."