Winter Break is the best thing ever invented. The holidays, the time off from school, the time away from those people. Are any of you doing anything super cool?

Reviewer(s) of the Week:

Dot Ride and spiritofthedragon15

Thank you to everybody supporting this story as well. And Happy Holidays!


Fang POV

The Martinez's seemed to be nice, but one person particularly caught my attention. Max. Her name suited her so well, I determined, trying to be conspicuous as I stared at her while Nudge casually chatted to her and her siblings. There was something different about this girl, I could tell, but it only drew me to her more. It might have been the way her dirty blond hair draped over her tanned shoulders, or the way her eyes bumped paths with mine, if only for a second, when she was introducing herself. Her eyes were such a beautiful brown, and I decided it was my new favorite color.

Creeper level: one thousand.

Her voice too, was just... perfect. That pretty much sums everything up. Max was perfect, and she'd only been in my life for a matter of minutes.

My heart half jumped when she agreed to go to explore the beach with the three of us, well her and her siblings agreed, but all that mattered was that she was going, and that I'd get to spend time with her. If I believed in love at first sight, which maybe I do now, she'd be it.

I only knew this girl's name and I'd be happy to drop to the floor and act like an elephant if it made her happy. What the Hell was wrong with me?

"If you kids want to head on out, Val and I were going to see if the Wilson's are home." Jeb stated, and I figured that he was talking about the old couple at the end of the street.

"Okay!" Nudge replied, striding across the Martinez's house and exiting through their back door, the one that literally dropped you onto the beach.

The two younger Martinez children followed her idly, tailed loosely by Max and Ella. Iggy and I hung back, and he followed me by the sound of my footsteps. This kid, with his scary good hearing, has become wickedly accurate at tracing your path behind you as you walk.

"So," Iggy whispered lightly enough for me to be the only one to hear it. "Any of the girls hot? Ella and Max sound our age, right?"

"Yeah, I think Max is older, though. Both of them are attractive, I guess." I down-played. Max was mine, and she was beyond merely attractive. She was beautiful.

"Sweet!" Iggy high-fived me with piercing accuracy. It really was scary how good he was at being blind.

The younger kids ran around, splashing their ankles in the water and climbing on rocks while Iggy, Ella, Max, and I strolled behind, making small talk.

"You guys are from the east coast, right? Where from?" Ella asked, closely walking by Max's side.

"Baltimore. Jeb did research at Hopkins, but he was transferred here. You?" Iggy replied, keeping up with us perfectly. I could tell Ella and Max were puzzled.

"Mesa." Max gave a one worded answer.

"Cool." I replied awkwardly with way too much pep in my tone. Smooth, Fang, smooth.

"I guess." Ella mumbled, but Max remained rather silent. Way to scare off the pretty girl, moron.

"I hear it never gets cold here, can you imagine?" Iggy broke the silence, bringing up the freaking weather. Mental face palm.

"Yeah, it didn't really get too cold in Mesa either, but Baltimore got cold, right?" Max asked, now focusing on my brother.

"The winter's were pretty harsh, but the summers were warm. It was nice to have seasons." I replied, stealing Iggy's opportunity. Sure, it was slightly an asshole move, but he'd understand. The girls didn't seem to notice.

"Crap, hold on." Max said before sprinting up the beach. "Gazzy, get the Hell off that rock! If you slip and crack your head open I'm throwing you to the sharks!" She hollered, ushering her younger brother off the huge rock that the waves mercilessly crashed against. Gazzy jumped off, splashing himself in water and drenching his clothing from waist down, then sprinted away from her playfully. Nudge and Angel followed, and the three of them played like little children. It's been a while since I'd seen Nudge so... care free. It reminded me that she was in fact a child.

Max came jogging back, panting lightly. A gleam of sweat glistened across her face, and with the setting sun hitting her, she looked like she was glowing. Her shorts had gotten splashed in the process as well, and they clung tightly to her body in just the right way... Shit, no! I couldn't think like that about some girl that I had just met, even if she was my future soulmate. It was just... wrong. I wasn't going to turn into that guy.

"Sorry about that, Gazzy is an idiot." She directed this to Iggy and me, and Ella agreed with a laugh.

"Don't worry, so is Fang." Iggy teased, and Max giggled. God, could she get any cuter? Her body vibrated with her giggle, and her breasts bounced just slightly... and again my mind was in the gutter. It was a good thing nobody around here was psychic.

"So Iggy, how are you so good without your eyesight?" Ella flirted, reading his face and quickly correcting herself. "No offense, I mean. You don't have to answer that... it was stupid. Sorry." She mumbled, her smile dropping.

"No, no, no, it's okay really." Iggy reassured, and Ella's face completely lit up. She definitely had a thing going on for him, but Iggy was too blind to see it. Pun intended.

"My other senses are heightened, especially my hearing, so it makes up for not being able to see. Mostly, at least." Iggy answered.

They kept flirting back and forth with each other, and it became awkward to be around. Max seemed to be feeling the same way, and using every ounce of confidence that I had, I broke my silence.

"Max, maybe we should leave those two alone for a bit." I whispered, knowing Iggy could hear it anyways.

Max giggled again, nodding quickly. If I didn't know any better I'd say she was relieved to have an out.

"We can go catch up to the younger ones if you'd like." I offered, unsure if she'd be comfortable being alone with a strange city boy she just met.

"Oh God, no. I'm just thrilled Angel and Gazzy found another playmate instead of me." She replied, making my heart flip. She was choosing to stay alone with me, even if it was only because I was her best alternative. I was perfectly okay with that if it were the case.

"Why'd you move out here?" I asked, walking idly beside her. She froze for a second, causing me to panic. Was that not the right thing to bring up?

"My family just needed to get away from Arizona, that's all." She replied, giving me a look that told me not to push her answer any further. Maybe this girl had more to her than just looks and charm.

"It is scenic out here. It's so cool that this is our backyard." Max observed, quickly changing the subject.

"It is." I swiftly agreed, and Max decided to sit, tracing patterns in the sand. I dropped down next to her, watching her fingers swirl casually.

"If it's nice out tomorrow, I know Nudge wanted to swim in the ocean, if your family wanted to join us." I offered, lying about Nudge previously mentioning anything about swimming. I knew that the water was ice cold, but I'd suffer through to get the chance to see Max in a swimsuit.

"That sounds nice, I'll ask my siblings later. I'm sure Angel and Gazzy are already down though." Max chimed, looking up from her series of circles.

Our eyes caught each other's for another moment, and it took all my will power not to lean in and kiss her. That would be so, so inappropriate.

But the two warm circles just seemed to speak to me, and I had to break away before I did something I'd regret.

But man, I could gaze into her eyes for the rest of my life and die happy.


Max POV

I secretly jumped out of my skin when Fang asked me to ditch my flirtatious sister and his brother. After walking and talking, and very vaguely answering his question as to why we moved here, I rested on the sand, watching through my peripheral vision as Fang sat down next to me.

When he brought up swimming, however, I had to struggle to catch my breath. Swimming meant swimsuits, which meant showing more skin than normal clothing permitted. He couldn't... nobody could... see what I had done to myself. I was ashamed, and couldn't let my secret be known. Swimming wasn't my cup of tea anymore.

It had been, years ago. I was state-ranked in most of my strokes, and could line the walls with trophies and ribbons. Any body of water could occupy my time for hours, even the bath tub. Now, swimming was a reminder that I was a failure, and was too weak to even get passed the days.

Fang didn't seem to notice my hesitation, as he was watching me trace patterns by my leg, but I quickly replied. "That sounds nice, I'll ask my siblings later. I'm sure Angel and Gazzy are already down though." I stuttered, hoping I could come up with an excuse as to why I couldn't participate with them.

I looked up to see if he had bought my answer, and our eyes locked for the second time. His pupils were still as they studied mine, and I could see my reflection in his eyes. Those eyes. Those beautiful, beautiful, eyes.

He looked away, and I admit I was slightly disappointed. We were silent again for a portion of a minute, but Gazzy interrupted us, panting, and claimed that they wanted to show each other their houses. I nodded, telling him that we'd walk them back, and Fang went over to tap Iggy on the shoulder.

Ella was practically glowing as she skipped over to me, promising flirty details when we got back inside. We and the boys said our good byes, as we all needed to get settled and such, and promised to meet outside at eleven tomorrow morning. I warned Gazzy and Angel that if they weren't back inside in an hour I'd throw their stuff into the ocean, and they assured me they'd be back in half that.

Ella and I watched as the two boys walked into their respective house, and we turned to do the same.

"Did you see how cute they were?" Ella squealed, more excited over a boy than I'd seen since her freshmen sweetheart, Benny. I smiled and nodded, only considering Fang. I mentally shook my head, he would never be into such a worthless piece of shit like me.

"Tell me more later, Elles, I need some Max-time." I stated, worrying her instantly.

"Are you okay? Do we need to talk?" She asked. I shook my head; I just needed some time to myself. A lot had happened in a day.

"I'll be unpacking in my room if you need me, really." Ella mentioned, grabbing one of her boxes off the counter. I shuffled up the stairs and locked my door behind me, looking for the box with my cosmetics. One little cut, it didn't even have to be deep, was all I needed to soothe my anxiety. I was falling for a boy that probably had no interest in me. Ella was the prettier sister, anyways.

I panicked when I saw the box wasn't in my room, but I couldn't bring myself to sort through all the other boxes downstairs to find it. I stepped out onto my balcony instead, relying on the fresh air to calm my nerves.

But when I stepped out onto the cast iron platform, my nerves only rose. There was a person standing on the balcony, staring at me with hawk eyes.

Fang.

I didn't want to be rude and go back inside merely because of his presence thirty-some feet away, and I figured he wouldn't be much of a bother, so I reclined in the cushy lounger and dreamed of the life I lived one year ago.

I had friends, actual friends, and not just Ella. I was a good student, a good daughter, and I had a future.

My thoughts of the past went black as I dosed off in a nap, but was awoken minutes later by the point of a... paper airplane?

I unfolded it, seeing handwriting neatly scribbled across the paper in thick, black ink.

I'm glad you're the one occupying the balcony :) -Fang

I smiled, waving to acknowledge him. I stood up to fetch a pen, flashing him my extended pointer finger to let him know I was coming back momentarily. I raced inside and fished through the backpack splayed across my bed until I felt the pen under my fingers. Six or so failed airplanes littered the beach below us, I noticed as I walked back outside, and something about the amount of tries it took Fang to get his message across made me warm and fuzzy inside.

Hormones are a bitch.

I wrote to the side of his writing in sloppier, barely legible red letters, and refolded his aircraft following the creases as a guide. I had no trouble releasing the paper plane back to his balcony, hitting the door with piercing accuracy. Paper airplanes are my forte.

Ditto

I had written. I saw that Fang was smiling, and realized that he had the most gorgeous smile. It was so natural on his face, and yet, I'd only seen him wear it half-full. Maybe he had inner turmoil as well. That would be convenient, two broken souls finding each other. I better call Hollywood, they would eat that plot up alive.

The plane soared to my side again, and I moved quickly to see his message.

Packing not suiting your fancy?

I laughed internally at his written tongue. It was so old-fashioned and proper, which fitted him in an odd way. That, and it was kind of adorable.

I think I'll build a fort with the boxes instead.

I sent the message soaring through the sky, but a gust of wind seemed to knock it off track. I had no other paper to replace it with, but Fang seemed one step ahead of me. Another plane came gliding towards me in a matter of seconds.

Nice aim, here's a spare ;). I have you covered.

I scribbled away, writing faster than I think I've ever written before, even when copying down homework as the teacher was walking around to check it.

The answer to your last question was no. Fort building seemed more appealing.

This time, to my leisure, the plane landed exactly where it was supposed to. No inconvenient weather bursts streaked my track record.

Send over your boxes on a cargo plane, we can double team.

Fang replied.

Sure thing, but we'll need to go butcher some more trees first.

I joked through the ink. Being playful, flirty even, with him was so natural, so easy. I felt oddly comfortable with him, not in the same way as I did with Ella, of course, but I felt like there was a point in trying to connect with him, as friends at the very least.

Let me go grab my axe. Which box was it in again?

He was walking right into my response.

Please, find it. Apply generously. I can smell your BO from here.

Fang faked a hurt as he read it, sniffing his underarms and shrugging. I could not stop giggling, which was completely uncharacteristic of me.

Touché. I thought you were nicer than that.

I squinted to see him wink at me, making me blush. I hoped that he couldn't see it.

Maybe you were wrong about me.

I didn't catch the deeper meaning that could be interpreted in my message until it was almost in his grasp, but I don't think he read into it anymore than it was meant to be.

Maybe I just need to get to know you a little better :)

The words stood alone on a fresh sheet of paper, as the other one had grown full. My stomach dropped; Fang wanted to get to know me? I was skeptical, I'll admit, but the proposition intrigued me. I hadn't even considered being with somebody romantically since well, that, but no harm no foul, right?

Maybe so ;).

I bit my lip, eagerly awaiting his reply. Maybe I had interpreted his message incorrectly. Oh God, I'm such a fool.

Tomorrow?

My stomach must think it made the women's Olympic gymnastics teams by the number of somersaults it was doing. So I had read his note correctly after all.

I'll get rid of the kiddies.

Flirting via paper airplane was officially my new favorite way to flirt. I didn't have to worry about hesitation and awkward body language. It was perfectly impersonal and personal at the same time, a recipe for success.

May I have your digits?

Fang requested, and I could literally hear the words snidely leaving his throat in his velvet tone. I complied to his appeal.

555-851-1004. Text me.

Surely enough, a moment later, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I had forgotten that it was still in there.

Hello there, neighbor.

I read in Helvetica on my screen. I quickly saved the number as a new contact.

I like the airplanes better. Phone is going bye-bye for now.

I texted, waiting for the airplane to arrive on my balcony again. It did, and I almost tore it in the unfolding process.

There's a bug in Nudge's room, my services are needed before I end up breaking out the defibrillator. Be back in a jiffy.

Fang was already inside the house by the time I finished reading his message. I wondered what Ella would say when I told her about the note exchange Fang and I had going on. She'd probably shriek and start picking out a wedding dress for me, but I'd only love her more for it.

I wasn't even looking up when the next plane landed by my feet, shaking me from my imagination.

Jeb needs help finding silverware for dinner. Text you later?

I noticed how Fang wrote "Jeb" and not "Dad", yet Fang respected him as a father and vice versa.

I should probably make myself useful as well. Forts and all, the likes. Still on for tomorrow?

My heart was pumping magma.

Hell yeah.

Was his only reply. We waved good bye as we stepped back into our bedrooms, watching each other until the very last moment. I held the two airplanes that ended on my side in my arms, reading over them again. I made a mental note to collect the ones that had failed landings.

The best part? Razor blades never even crossed my mind once.


Thanks for reading! Have a wonderful holiday (whatever you celebrate) and cherish all of the fortunes that you have. Take the time to do something meaningful for somebody else, it may make a bigger impact than you would think. And, as always, fly on!