I Love You, Maybe – Chapter 3

By MyNameIsCAL

-Max's POV-

Fang wasn't in his room when I went to see why he wasn't awake yet and it was already noon. Iggy was starting to cook lunch already.

"He's probably still at Lissa's house," Iggy called after me. "They probably, I mean, you know."

I went back to the kitchen, feeling like there was something off about Fang not being here. "Yeah, I know. I'm gonna go the mail, okay?"

Iggy nodded and I went to the hallway. We lived on the first floor, not really wanting to have to use the elevator because it was claustrophobic.

"Excuse me, Ms. Ride?"

I swerved around to see the security guard standing behind a desk.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Mosh," I said, wondering what he wanted.

He pointed outside to the parking lot. "I believe your friend is out there asleep. It's going to be a hot day today. I think you oughta go out there and wake him before he dies of heat stroke."

Squinting, I could see Fang's car. The only reason he claimed to have a car was so he could blend in without causing too much attention. And he did a good job and making himself seem like everyone else. There wasn't really any other way to describe his car except for the words a piece of shit.

I exited the building, walking to his car slowly. He was asleep, shirtless, in the driver seat. Looking down, I realized the only thing he was wearing was boxers. I slammed my fist against the window and he sat up, hitting his head on the ceiling.

"What the fuck?" He punched the steering wheel, making the car honk.

"Fang!" I shouted. "What the hell are you doing?"

He looked out the window and then down at himself. "Aw, shit."

The door opened, expelling the smell of fast food and sweat.

"I have pants in the trunk…"

I sighed and opened the trunk, tossing them to him and he pulled them on quickly, finding a shirt in the back seat.

"Care to explain?" I asked him.

He slammed his car door. "No."

"Well, you better, or I won't let you into my apartment."

He leaned against his car. "Well, let's just say things didn't go well with Lissa last night."

"And how does this add up to you being in your boxers?"

"Well, I left my clothes there and when I got here, well, I don't know, Max. I was tired."

"You're an idiot."

He frowned.

"Alright, c'mon, you need to shower." I led him inside.

Iggy whiffed the air as soon as Fang stepped in.

"Yeah, yeah I'm going to shower," Fang growled before Iggy could say anything.

"What the hell happened to him?" Iggy asked after Fang disappeared.

"I don't know. Bad night with Lissa. I can't figure out if it happened before or after they did anything."

Iggy sniggered. "He's an idiot, whatever he did."

"That's what I told him."

Over the next few days, Fang's mood just seemed to worsen. At meals, he stared down at his food, pushing it around his plate. Whatever happened between him and Lissa was probably his fault, but it was obvious he was upset about it. I wanted to talk to him, but every time I asked, he just shrugged and walked away.

And then one day, he was standing at the front door, his backpack in hand.

"Where are you going, Fang?"

He turned to face me, talking to me what must have been the first time in days. "I don't know, Max. Somewhere else. I've been here too long."

I shook my head. "No, I want you to stay."

His eyes met mine. "I haven't talked to you for the past five days. Why would you want to keep me around?"

"Because I'm worried about you."

He let out a sigh. "Alright."

I picked up his bag and carried it back to his room. When I came back, he was still standing by the door.

"What's wrong now?"

"Nothing," he muttered, trudging back to his room.

"Remind me why you bother to try to help him?" Iggy asked.

"I'm afraid he'll doing something stupid." I shook my head. "Because I care about him."

"Of course you do, but does he care that you care," Iggy twirled his finger in the air. "That is the question!"

I rolled my eyes and he took my hand.

"You know, I'm being serious, right?" Iggy said. "I mean, he has to learn how to take care of himself."

"I know," I frowned.

He led me into the kitchen, changing the subject. "We have to cook tonight, right?"

"You have to cook and don't you do that every night?"

"I mean for everyone," he replied.

"Yup, entire flock is coming over."

He let go of my hand, opening the fridge. "Then we better get to work."

And for a couple of hours, my worries of Fang were forgotten.