"Fang... ALATOR?" I snickered.

I couldn't believe he'd written a whole blog entry about Dr. Stupendous and her Queshst to Save the World. Excuse me, but I'd been trying to save the world for several months now. But do I get a blog entry. And who was it that beat up that block-head Omega? Dr. Stupendous? No, wait, that was me!

"You're just jealous because I wrote about Brigid," he accused.

"No, I'm not!" I lied. "You know I don't read your blog. You can write about whatever you want!"

He looked at me. "You can't have it both ways, Max. You can't blow me off every chance you get and then get mad whenever I look at someone else."

"I do n-" I began hotly before I realized that was exactly what I did. "You say that like it's a bad thing," I blustered, but he didn't crack a smile.

"Max," he sighed, "I thought it would be different. I thought you'd made up your mind. But clearly, you are still making this as painful for me as you possibly can!"

"Why don't you go tell Brigid about your problems?" I said coldly, "Because I really don't care!"

He looked angry. He didn't even try to hide it. He opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but then shut it again. He glared at me for a second, then scowled "I'm going to bed."

The moment he left I felt terrible. I dragged myself to the kitchen for some cookies.

I'd gone to far. Even I realized it. I couldn't believe I'd told him I didn't care. He was my best friend. Of course I cared.

I'd just been so angry! But why? What had he really said to make me that angry? He only told the truth, which was more than could be said about me.

No, I hadn't been mad at him. I'd been mad at myself.

Sighing, I stood up and brushed the cookie crumbs off my shirt. I gathered my courage and walked down the hallway, stopping at the door to our room. (A/N: The book says the flock shares a bedroom full of bunkbeds.) I licked my lips nervously and took a deep breath before pushing it open.

Fang was the only one there. He lay on his back on his small bunk, his hands behind his head.

"Fang?" I asked quietly.

He ignored me.

I walked over and laid down next to him, on my side so that I was facing him. He moved over a little but did not acknowledge my presense in any way otherwise.

"Fang- what I said- I didn't mean it. Any of it," I said, barely above a whisper.

He didn't move.

"Please say something. I'm really sorry about what I said. I was way out of line. Will you forgive me?"

"The thing is, Max, it isn't just what you said. It's what you do. You act like we're still just best friends, but you also want me all to yourself. What am I supposed to do? If you wanted to be mine, that would be the best day of my life, but if you don't, why can't you just tell me so I can try to get over you and find someone out there whose almost as perfect as you are? Why can't you understand? You get mad at me when I talk to Brigid, but it's your own fault. If you didn't keep denying the problem, either you'd be alright with me talking to her, or I wouldn't be talking to her because I'd already have a girlfriend. You're just making it worse for both of us!"

I wanted to apologize. To tell him he had every right to be furious with me, that I was a terrible person who didn't deserve him anyway. But all I managed to choke out was "I know". Then, guess what? I started to cry.

I, Maximum Ride, the tough, butt-kicking warrior, was crying.

Fang suprised me by moving closer and pulling me to him, putting my head on his chest. His arms came around me, one hand tracing circles on my back, right between my wings.

This is why I didn't deserve him one little bit. He should be off chasing some girl who was smart, and pretty, and who would always let him know how special he was. "I don't deserve you," I sniffled.

"WHAT?!?!" How could someone as perfect as Fang not think that he deserves a loser like me?

"You're so perfect. I mean do you see Brigid flying around, trying to save the world, handling all the crap life throws her way, and all while taking care of a bunch of kids, even though she's only fourteen? No. Just you."

I blushed. Jeez, first crying, now blushing, what next?

"Fang? Is it too late for me to say that I love you?"

"Not unless it's too late for me to say that I love you, too." he whispered.

"Nope. Never too late for that," I murmured, and then I kissed him.

The kiss grew deeper. I really did love him. I don't know how I had missed it before.

When we finally broke apart, Fang teased, "You know, this time you'll have to bundle up before you run away."

"I'm really sorry about that, too," I said seriously. "I shouldn't have done it."

"That's okay. I know why you did."

"So... now what?"

"I believe that now is the part where I ask you to be my girlfriend," he said.

"Of course I will be."

And when we kissed again, I knew that we really were meant to be together.