Crash! "Iggy, Gazzy…you do it again and I take bombs for a month!" I screamed as they, yet again, threw a bottle into the fire. It was filled with…a gross substance, to cause the fire to explode. Fang was sitting next to me and I caught glimpse of a spark in his hair…crap. I snapped my hand out and began to brush it off…not realizing what I was doing. "Max…what're you doing?" I finally just picked it out, burning my fingers. "You had a, um, spark in your hair." Your shiny and totally amazing hair. "Thanks." He smirked. The voice made a chuckling sound, you're crazy about that boy Max…it's getting too obvious. He trailed off.
"Shut up!" I screamed. The entire flock stared at me. "Um…the voice is-I'll be right back!" I shot up and took off running through the trees. When I stopped at a really big one I flew to the highest branch. "What are you talking about?!" I was yelling in hushed whispers. Max, Max, you know you love Fang! Just don't pick the him over the flock in an emergency… He did that trailing off thing again…I really hate that. "What are you-." I stopped. He was right…in a certain emergency I would actually have to choose a flock member over another someday. Meaning…one would die.
Well…let me think, Iggy and Fang, Fang, Nudge and Fang, Fang, Gazzy and Fang, Fang, Angel and Fang…Fang. I would pick Fang and I knew it. I screamed a really loud, girly, Damsel-in-Distress-sounding, scream. When I hit my head on the branch I went falling down, down, and down. I hit the ground, and just lay there…thinking about the pain, mental and physical. A tear rolled down my cheek and onto the ground…mostly from frustration, not pain…I swear.
"Max? Max!" Fang ran up to me and leaned over me. "What happened?" He demanded worriedly. I groaned and rolled on my side. "Would you tell me if I kissed you?" I groaned again and rolled toward him. He was leaning forward, and almost kissed me…until I pushed him away. "Fang this won't work. I know…I know- I know that you know how I feel…and I really will never know how you feel…but-." I couldn't go on…I mean…why couldn't I go on? "But…" He urged. "It's just that…what if there was an emergency? And-and, it was you and some other flock member? I wouldn't want to choose you to save just because you're my…my…" I couldn't say it. I just wasn't strong enough to say it. I was so weak…and I hated it. "Your boyfriend?" I nodded, another tear making it's way down my cheek.
He didn't know what to say, and neither did I. So I made something up, "I'm sorry. The voice just…he told me to be careful and I figured I'd have to do something about it…Fang I…I just don't know anymore." He caught the tear with his finger. "Max…I know you. You'll make the right choice, and I'm not talking about then. I'm talking about now. You know me, and you know that I'll always be your best friend, no matter what you choose. I can tell you how I feel about you, right here, right now. Just say the word." I looked down. I ddin't want to know, but I did so badly. "Okay." Biggest mistake of my life…and that's bold, judging by how many I've made.
"Maximum Ride, I love you…I love you more than anything I've ever loved. I've never loved a different girl…not the slightest bit, especially with you still around. And I want to be your boyfriend…I have wanted this since we turned twelve and I realized how amazing you were in every way. It hurts to think that stupid voice in your head is ruining it for me after just a couple weeks, but I will go along with whatever you do…only because I love you and I want you to love me back." I stared at him, mouth slightly agape, words forming in my shortened mind.
"Now that you know how I feel…I'm not quite sure how you feel." I stared at him. "Well, the first time I kissed you it was an accident, and it made things weird. The second time we kissed I got scared…I loved it, but I was scared…just like I am now. Honestly, I flew to a nearby landing and cried for the rest of the night. The third time we kissed I admitted I loved it to myself, like I never had before, but I got scared again. I flew home and got no sleep. The fourth time we kissed I got scared, but I buried it deep inside and just…went with it. That was the day things changed the most between us. The day Brigid wanted you to go eat with her…I was just mad and I didn't know why. Almost…jealous. And when you…dissed her and dismissed her…it felt good. And we kissed that day too, it was great…then the flyboys ruined it. And in the sub…the sixth time we kissed, I admitted to myself I loved you…more than anything. After everything, we kissed in the air above the ocean…that was one of the most perfect times yet. And I know I love you…like I never did before. But Fang…I'm scared. I feel like…I have to stop loving you…but I can't, and I don't think I ever will." I let a few more tears fall, then I felt two strong arms wrap around my back and pull me into a soft and dark surface…Fang's chest.
I just leaned into him and cried, not heavily or loudly…but gently and silently. "Max…the world is almost saved. I have a feeling it's getting closer. You can do it…and I'll be there right along with you…you can count on it." I sniffled and looked up. His shirt was wet, his eyes were gleaming, and his hair was shining in the moonlight. Don't listen to him Max…he's just trying to win you over. "Shut up!" Listen to me Max! You can't go out with him! "Excuse me…Max?" I looked down at Fang…I must've hopped up. "Er…give me a second." I smashed my fist against a tree and watched in pleasure as it fell to the ground. Adrenaline rushes…gotta love 'em. The voice shut up…so I was happier.
"Do you want me to talk to it?" I didn't notice Fang standing next to me. "Um…sure." He lowered his lips to my ear…and I shuddered. "Voice…leave Max alone. She's going through enough as it is. I love Max…and you can't take that away."
