"Bye, Fangy. I'll see you later." The ginger said in a teasing voice as she released Fang's hand and turned around throwing her hair in the process. The scene was honestly touching but also honestly fake. Lissa's the ginger who's going out with Fang. They've been going out for 9 months, but they have arguments every two weeks. Guess who Fang always complains to? That's right me, Max.
Fang and I have known each other for as long as I can remember. Don't call it childhood friends, more like family. We aren't related, but we are best friends and we live with each other along with the rest of our flock: Angel, Gazzy, Nudge, and Iggy. Ella's my half sister, but she's not like us. By that I mean she doesn't have wings. She's actually the only person in the family who has a normal life. Well, her and my mom Dr. Martinez is the only real humans. The rest of us were born and practically raised at the School. Evil scientists kidnapped us at birth and injected avian DNA which made us 98% human and 2% avian bird, but I'm thankful for my wings. All of us are. Yes. We can fly and it's amazing. For now, I decided it would be best to try to start a normal life and stay at my mom's house, and of course Dr. Martinez welcomes us warmly with cookies and beds. Still, every now and then we'd be off and kicking Eraser butts. Erasers are half dog, half human creatures sent by the school to kill us, so living here puts my mom and Ella at risk which is why we fight.
"Bye Lis, I'll meet you here at your locker again after 9th period as always." Fang replied as he let go of her hand and smiled warmly. My intentions were to just casually stroll by without talking to him. Want to know a little secret? I'm actually in love with Fang, but it's just too obvious that the feeling is NOT mutual, so why get hurt? He doesn't know. No one does and no one needs to. As I walked past with two binders in my hands and a book in my blue bag I carried on my shoulders, Fang caught up to me with his quick reflexes and pulled my shoulder forcing me to turn to him. My light brown eyes met his dark ones. They were so mysterious and full of wonder I couldn't help smiling just a little, but I looked away before he noticed.
"Hey." He said casually as he started walking with me.
"I saw you with Lissa." I said calmly without looking at him.
"Oh, yeah she's pretty amazing."
"Of course you'd say that you've been dating her for the past 9 months."
"Yeah so is there a problem?"
"No of course not. Just got to get to Spanish before I'm late." I turned to him and gave a cheesy, fake smile. He didn't buy it. He read me like book just like how I can read him easier then anyone else even Lissa.
"You don't li…" he was interrupted by a loud explosion that shook the building. It came from the boy's bathroom, and we both knew what it was. Iggy and his bombs. As I turned left, I could see Iggy high fiving one of his buds. The right side of his shirt was drenched. Fang left hoping not to get in trouble as I walked up to Iggy. Getting into the principal's office was an easy task for me, but Fang's more silent and less of a trouble maker.
"Iggy! What the hell was that?!"
"Ricki and I stuffed a bomb down the toilet!" He laughed as Ricki waved to me then left.
"Oh my god Iggy. Why does that not surprise me?"
"Cuz you're Max!" I smirked and he walked over to the sink to get his backpack, but the hallway started clearing as I saw the principal's assistant wearing a hot pink blouse and tight black skirt walking towards us.
"Uh oh. Iggy danger 6 o'clock." I warned as I walked away. Being blind, Iggy didn't see it coming. Well, now he did.
"Everyone get to class before you all get detention! You sir come with me." She wiggled her finger telling Iggy to follow her. Somehow, Iggy knew and followed.
School finally ended with janitors all piled around the boy's bathroom trying to clean up the mess.
"Bye Fang. I'll see you this Saturday… I… love you." Lissa said quietly as she leaned up and kissed his lips, and waited a little while before she turned to walk towards the car.
"Uh yeah. Bye." Fang mumbled and turned around to meet me waiting by the big oak tree with the plaque 'Oak Ridge High School' nailed to it. I rolled my eyes, and Fang noticed because he gave me a look, but he didn't say anything about it. We raced to a couple miles behind the school far enough for no one to see us as we took off with a jump spreading out our wings. I turned my head to make sure Fang was behind me, and to make sure no one saw us. In a couple of minutes, we were in the clouds flying home. Iggy had to stay after school for detention.
The fly home was silent until I noticed something glimmering in the tree somewhere around 70 feet in front of us. At first I thought maybe it was just a bird, but then I noticed a hairy paw holding it. Fang was a little in front of me and below me. It didn't take me long to figure out the hairy paw was holding a gun, and that it was aimed at Fang probably because the School knows that if Fang died I'd kill myself, and that's the easiest way to kill me. If I called out his name, Fang wouldn't be able to avoid the bullet in time. My mind couldn't finish the thought because I heard the gun shot, but I wasn't going to let Fang get hurt because of me. Fang wasn't going to suffer because the school wanted ME. With adrenaline pumping through my veins, I gave my wings and extra push and was able to get in between the bullet and Fang right on time.
Pain radiated through me as it hit me in the center of right above my ribs. I didn't cry out or even scream, but my wings lost all power and strength along with the rest of my body. I was still conscious but in a glaze. Visions appeared in my head and I really wasn't seeing things even though my eyes were still open in slits: Fang fighting by my side, Fang flying next to me, Fang rubbing my back between my wings, Fang comforting me, Fang hugging me, Fang giving me his little half smile. The air was rushing past me and I could hear it. My hair flew around my face. My body is filled with pain. Well, as painful as this was, I was happy to do it. There are no regrets. I just wish I could tell him…
"Max!" Fang yelled for me as he grabbed my hand and pulled me into his arms cradling me as we crashed into trees. He had pulled his wings in to lose altitude as fast as I was, but now he pulled them back out to soften the blow. It didn't matter. I didn't feel a scratch as we landed on grass. My wings were still out, but I had no energy left to pull it in. His arms were still around me, but his shirt was torn and scratched. Fang laid me down on the soft grass with one hand on my shoulder and the other caressing my cheek.
"Max, why would you do that? You're an idiot." Fang whispered barely loud enough for me to hear as he took off his shirt and pressed it against the hole in my chest. I smiled not even feeling the pain anymore. My body had gone numb.
"Because… I love you." My mind started getting foggy, and my eyelids were so heavy. Slowly, I felt myself fading. I felt my heartbeat slow and finally stop,
"Max. No. Don't go. Please." Still I could hear his voice penetrating the darkness that surrounds me. His voice is desperate and sad. This was it. It was my time to go. At least he now knows.
Then, something pressed against my lips… a kiss. A nice and warm kiss filled with love. After that, tears… that landed against my cheek. Finally, I hear what I've been waiting to hear.
"I love you, too, Max. I really do."
That was all I needed. He loved me. He actually loved me. When Lissa said that he didn't reply, but he loves me. My heart pumped with joy once more.
My eyes fluttered open once again as I coughed painfully disturbing my wounds. I could feel my body again, I could feel the pain again. I could see Fang's face again, and there were tears streaking down his face.
The first expression, was shock, but then, he leaned down again and kissed me again. This time I kissed back. I put my hand on his shoulder only to prove it true. I'm alive. He pulled back and intertwined his finger with mine smiling. He picked me up, and took off. Midway home, I started falling asleep again, and I felt him nuzzle his chin in my hair as he whispered to me "I love you, Max."