Max POV
He left. I still can't believe he left. Even after I said it, he still left. It had been a year since Fang left to live with his parents, a year since I've seen those beautiful dark eyes, a year since… I told him I loved him.
God, I can't believe I was so stupid. I shouldn't have said anything, but I had to know. And then he said it, flat out. Those words still ring in my ears every time I hear his name, I don't feel the same. I'm sorry if I hurt you Max. Hurt me? It was funny just thinking about it. He didn't hurt me. He took every single freaking ounce of love that I had for him and squashed it into a million pieces. There with those twelve words, he stabbed my heart, sliced it in two and put it through a shredder. And he was sorry if he hurt me.
Pathetic. That was the word that floated into my head every time I thought of that day. I was completely and utterly pathetic.
Now, at the Martinez's, getting ready for our first day at another school, I couldn't stop thinking about it… about him. I shook my head to clear the thoughts and pulled my windbreaker over my head.
'We hate him for what he did Max. We'll never see him again. He won't ever get another chance to hurt you.' Angels voice sounded through my head, I glanced over at her, her sweet innocence, her golden curls, she really was amazing.
You are too, Max.
I smiled, pulled on the messenger book bag that Ella had let me borrow and stood up from my seat at the kitchen table.
"Okay guys, once we get there, I want to stick together, or at least with someone else. 'Kay?" The flock nodded. "Ig, you're with Ella. Nudge? Stick with Angel, and Gazzy? Stick with me. Everyone clear?" They nodded again. Good to know I was still in control. Somewhat.
I glanced at my watch, 7:55. We needed to be at the school before eight oh five. "All right then," We stacked our fists. "Let's clear out guys."
Time for hell.
Fang POV
I stood in the overcrowded hallway, shoving my books into my locker while my girlfriend Lauren blabbed about some history assignment that was due. Honestly? She reminded a heck of a lot of Nudge, the way she can't stay quiet for over ten seconds. You could start a conversation talking about world war II and you'd end up talking about different flavors of ice cream. That's just how she was. Why was she my girlfriend? No idea, to be honest. She would never really match up to Max. The love of my life. God, why had I been so stupid? How come I didn't just come right out and tell her? She told me. And I-I ruined it…
Flashback
"I love you Fang." She whispered into my ear, her soft blonde hair brushing against my face as she hugged me.
"I-I…" Come on say it! You feel the same! But wouldn't that make it harder on her if I left? Wouldn't she just hurt more If she knew that I loved her and left her?
"I don't feel the same. I'm sorry if I hurt you Max." She sprang back off of me, as though I had electrocuted her. The hurt, the rejection flooded into her eyes, and I just… couldn't bear to watch it. The flock Stared at me. Stared at Max. Nudge's jaw had dropped. Gazzy's hands curled into fists. Angel looked as though she could murder me. And Iggy looked as though he thought I was the biggest a** on earth. Max stared at me, then shrugged.
"Whatever." Did she really not care that much? "It doesn't matter. I was stupid to think you actually cared about me." And with that she snapped open her wings and flew off into the night.
End Flashback.
I sighed. I did what I had to do. I didn't want her to hurt too much, not over me. I could still remember every detail of her beautiful face, Her hair, her eyes, even the tiny scar on the left side of her chin. It had been an entire year, and yet, I was still in love with her. Was there no hope, that I would forget the flock and continue my 'normal' life? I tuned back into what Lauren was saying.
"Oh, and there are few new students starting school today! I heard they're already here, that one girl the oldest? Everyone say she's the most gorgeous girl that's ever been seen." If I hadn't been listening hard enough, I never would have heard the hint of envy in her voice. I slipped my hand in hers, "I bet she's no match for you." She grinned. But even I didn't believe what I just said, I mean, Lauren was cute, but she wasn't hot. Like, you know, Max. Damn. I was still thinking about her.
"Fang!" My head snapped up at the use of my old name. Nobody around here knew me by that name, they all called me Drake. I mean honestly, what was my mother thinking? I glanced around and my eyes fell on a group of five kids. More precisely, on a group of five kids who were freaking staring at me. My eyes locked with a pair of chocolate brown ones. Ones that looked Shocked, angry and hurt all at the same time. Max.
I blinked to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. There they were looking the same way as I left them, Nudge's jaw dropped, I noted that she grew a few inches. She was 13 now. Wow. Gazzy's hands were clenched into fists. He had grown too, now being 10. His blue gaze locked fiercely on me. Angel, her curls had straightened out a bit, but were still there, with that murderous glint in her blue eyes so much like her brothers. Iggy, actually looked kind of confused for the first time in his life, his strawberry blonde hair now long and falling into his eyes. And of course Max. Her brown and blonde hair braided neatly down her back, her arms crossed over her chest, her mouth set into a firm line, she still looked amazing.
"Is it him?" Iggy whispered, looking in my general direction. His voice was low, even for my enhanced hearing. "Is it really him?"
Nobody moved. We just stared at each other until Max sighed, "It doesn't matter Ig. When we leave, to continue running for our lives, he won't be coming with us. He made his choice." Her words were a bit harsh but it was nothing compared to her disgusted tone. She only used that tone when talking to…. Well, The whitecoats. Did she really hate me that much? They turned their backs on me and went to their respective classes. While I was rooted to the spot. They were back, and they hated my guts.