So, I got a ton of reviews asking for a two or three shot (Man, you guys are pushy!) Just letting you know that I don't have a song for this chapter, and it's kind of a spur of the moment thing, so…
Fang POV:
I felt fresh as I exited the shower. After all, three entire hours of lacrosse practice can put a toll on you physically and… smell-wise.
After I got dressed, I noticed a new text from Angel. Picking it up, I read it.
Hey, Fang! Wanna come for pizza with Nudge, Max, and I? Maybe you and Max can get over your ridiculous ideas that you don't like each other.
-Angel
I rolled my eyes at Angel's antics. She and Nudge were constantly joking about Max and I getting together, and it got kind of annoying. On the outside when they played the 'Max and Fang are so in love' game, I kept my emotionless mask up. But on the inside? It hurt. If only a little bit, it hurt.
I love Max with all my heart. Even if she does think it's made of stone. I've known it since freshman year, when a little crush bloomed into something else. But then Dylan came into the picture, the bastard. He didn't deserve Max, he never did and I knew it, too. I took Max out more than he did. He didn't even care about her. I was scared, though. Scared she'd never get over him, scared she'd never even notice my… feelings. Well, since my man card was removed with that thought, I guess I can just go on.
Around the time Max had Dylan, I found Brigid. Cute, preppy, and intelligent, she was just the type to make me forget about Max. I would always feel a little happy when she was on my arm, or when her glasses started to slip and I just smirked and pushed them up for her. When I was with her, Max was still present in my mind, but the glowing aura she gave off dulled a little. I convinced myself that if I tried, I could love Brigid.
Summer after sophomore year came, though, and when Brigid came back from her cousin's place in Michigan, she was a completely different person. She had dyed her blond locks to a nasty shade of red (contrary to popular belief, I do not have a thing for redheads), gotten colored contacts to make her eyes the same shade of green to match Lissa Brown's, and joined Lissa's posse. I tried to stay with her, tried to see if there was anything left of her nerdy little soul, but it was gone.
The minute Max was single and I had given Dylan a good enough beating, I broke it off with Brigid. I thought that maybe, just maybe, I had a shot now. I would come up to her and announce the way I had been feeling since freshman year. Didn't quite work out, seeing as she was crying her eyes out when I got to her place. And let's just clear up a fact: Max never cries. She claimed allergies at first, then went on an angry tear-filled rant about love not existing before she finally admitted she had thought Dylan was her 'the one'. Nothing like that to derail your self-confidence.
Snapping out of my pity-party, I slung my backpack containing my laptop over my shoulder and set off to the local pizza place. Who knows? Maybe I'll get some inspiration for a blog post while I'm out with the girls. And though I know how it's sounding so far, I do have male friends too. Ig and Gaz are on house arrest right now, though, meaning they're grounded. They really should've thought before placing a stink bomb in their dad's office.
I arrived to find Max sitting in our regular booth in the corner, already starting to eat what seemed- by the size of the pizza currently- her third piece. I strolled over and sat down across from her.
"Hey." I announced my presence. She dropped her pizza and looked up at me, startled. I hadn't meant to surprise her, but I was excellent at blending in.
She glared in retaliation and began to rant, "Fang! How many times have I told you not to do that? You can't just sneak up people all willy nilly thinking, 'Hey, I'm just gonna go scare the shit out of Max!' and…" She trailed off awkwardly, and looked down, as if guiltily remembering something. It was odd, Max was never awkward around me. We had known each other practically forever.
"Do you know where Ange and Nudge are?" I questioned her, grabbing a slice of cheese.
"Nuh-uh." She glanced at her phone. "It doesn't make sense," Her brow furrowed adorably and a strand of hair fell in her face. I had trouble restricting myself from brushing it back. "They said they were already here and… Oh." Comprehension dawned on the both of us as we figured out Nudge and Angel had tried to set us up for what seemed the millionth time.
"Again?" She sighed. I tried to ignore the hurt. Was I really that bad to be alone with? Did she really think us together was that far-fetched? I already knew the answer. Of course she did.
"Yeah. But whatever, right?" I tried to brighten the mood.
"Sure." She mumbled softly. Her behavior was frightening me. She had taken up my one-word answer scheme, leaving only an awkward silence in the place of her chatter. What could it have been? The almost-kiss? They always happened, but had this one pushed her over the edge? I was tired of all the questions running through my head a mile a minute.
"What's wrong?" I blurted.
"Nothing."
"Come on, Max. I've known you since I was three years old, I can tell that's a lie."
"I just…" She sighed. "I just realized something… about you… about us." She admitted.
"Us?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow and hoping I looked nonchalant.
"Yeah, but it's not important." She looked down again with that same guilty expression.
"No. I want to you to tell me." I remained adamant. When she didn't look me in the eye, I gulped and took fate into my own hands. Without thought, I took my hand and lifted her chin to make her meet my eyes. She looked fazed for a second and I waited for the trademark Max 'angry rant', but didn't receive it. She blushed – which is a thing Maximum Ride does not do – and stared me straight in the eyes.
"Are you gonna tell me?"
"No." She breathed. "I promised myself I wouldn't say it out loud." I maneuvered myself to the other side of the table and next to her. I inched closer to her on pure instinct.
"How about now?"
"No." Came the same response. I stared at her, wanting so badly to close the gap between us, but being so scared of what would happen if I did. I was about to let her go when I saw her eyes drift down. Down to only one thing I know she could've been staring at. My lips. A slow grin took over my features and I let my courageous side take over. I closed the gap. I kissed her. Her lips were soft, and she tasted like pizza, as I was sure I did also.
When we had to catch our breaths, we both just looked at each other, shocked.
"I love you, Max." Slipped out before I could stop it. She bit her lip and reached for my backpack on the table. Pulling out a pen from one of the pockets, she grabbed a napkin and began to write. After a few seconds, she grabbed the napkin, thrust it at me, and looked away.
I love you too, Fang.
"I promised myself I wouldn't say it out loud." She whispered.
But I was fine with that. I captured her in another kiss. She didn't have to say she was in love, because we both knew it.
That's a wrap! I'm sorry for any OOCness, but it was really spur of the moment. Review with opinions because I'd love to hear them. And yes, I know this is just plain ol' fluff, but I was in a fluffy mood. So deal. :P
~Cake.
