Fang and I stared at each other icily.
"so as soon as i'm not there you cuddle up next to him?" fang said that last word with harsh emphasis shooting dagger glared at Dylan.
"I was not cuddling up next to him!" I cried outraged.
"um, Max? When I found you, you kinda were." angel put in.
"it was freezing and he was the only hot-I mean warm thing around for miles."
Not helping, I thought at angel.
You need to learn to hold you own against fang, she thought back, surprise him.
Suddenly I knew just what to do.
"why do you care anyway? You don't decide my life for me. I do. And if I want to cuddle up against Dylan, I will and there is nothing you can do about it!"
"I'm not trying to control your life, Max. I'm only trying to help you make the right decision."
"Oh please," I said, "you sound like some creepy mad scientist trying to program my life."
Before Fan or I could say anything else, Max II mumbled, "I told you she'd be trouble."
"SHUT UP!" Dylan and fang said at the same time they looked surprised for a second and then went back glaring at each other.
"why should she listen to you? She has the right to do what ever she wants including insult me." everyone started, including me and Maya. I didnt plan on saying that. But Maya smiled at me and I knew I said the right thing.
Then I went for the bomb, so to speak. When I spoke, though I sounded calm, the air in the room turned decidedly somber. My voice was soft: " You know, Fang, you can count the people I care about on your fingers. It's sad really. Wanna try?"
Nothing. Not a sound in the room. "Does anybody want to try?"
More silence. "Alright then I'll do it. We'll start with the first person I have ever cared about. Number one is fang." I put up one finger and as I continued counting I would tick them off with my fingers. "Before we were romantically involved, you had always been my right hand/wing man. you were always here trying to cheer me up from the next dog crate or and helping me when the kids got tough. You were always there. The first person I ever cared about is you."
Dead silence. I couldn't even hear anyone breathe. My eyes were locked on Fang.
"then Iggy came yonder and he was the second. Tall Iggy, a kid at heart in a big body. Nudge was third, steadfast little Nudge. Then explosive Gazzy, and adorable Angel. Angel my little baby; my little girl who I practically raised from an infant."
I love you too, Max angel thought toward me I continued: "Then Total came along and he and Akila joined my group of care bears. And so did my Mom and Ella. Then when we found Dylan, I didn't let him near me. At first I was repulsed. Horrified. Not because of what he looked like (I dont think anyone could) but scared of the idea he represented. That someone had deigned my true love for me when I thought I already had my perfect other half. The mere suggestion that I would ever be with anyone but you terrified me half to death. But somehow, someway, Dylan joined the flock and my list of people I cared for and about. An the idea of being with him didn't scare me anymore. You want to know why?"
Fang just stared knowing that he would hate what was coming next. He didn't ask why so Maya did instead. I shot her a thankful look.
My eyes looked with Fang's again. "of the ten people that I care about, all of them have left me at some point." I turned to the flock and said, "I'm sorry guys, you know i love you all,but it's true." and I turned back to fang. "Angel has left me many times but she's finally fully come back. Gazzy: when you and I had that disagreement about Ari and then again when the flock kicked me out. Nudge was when the flock voted me out too. They weren't leaving me, but that they were making me leave was snowing me that they had left their faith in me which hurt more than any actually leaving from them. Then Iggy and total were the same. Akila... Well, we'll count Akila out of this for now. My mom and Ella, well they sort of left too. And you fang." i paused for dramatic effect. Despite what you may think, however, i was not enjoying this.
"When you left all those times, it was the worst of all. I thought I couldn't go on living without you. I didn't know who I was without you. But you know what shone through all that like a beacon of sunshine through dark clouds? The realization that Dylan has been the only person in my entire freaking life that hasn't left. Not once since have I known him has he shown any doubts about me or his loving me. And how could I give that up?"
Even more silence. this was getting boring. I stepped over to Dylan and grabbed his hand. "our gangs need to work together but you have no say in my life anymore fang. If you wanted any, you should have stayed every time. I choose Dylan."
There I said it. Everyone looked surprised and the one with the most shock on her face was me.
Dylan got over his shock first. He reached over and slammed his lips down on mine. Slowly, i felt everyone else trickle out of the room. Dylan lay me down on the bed as the door was close with a soft thud.
The best night if my entire freaking bird kid existence followed.
