"I'm sorry."

I looked up so fast I'm surprised I didn't get whiplash. Fang? Apologizing? I mean, don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with it, it's just odd. Fang never apologizes. The last time he apologized to me was... actually, I don't think he's ever apologized. He's never done anything bad enough to merit an apology.

I realized I was staring at Fang and quickly looked down at my lap, willing myself not to blush.

"Apology accepted." I said, then moved to get up, only to get blocked by Fang. He had one hand on each arm of the chair and bent down to where he was within inches of my face. His eyes flicked between my eyes. It looked like he was searching for something.

I lost myself in his eyes. They seemed to change colors. First they were black, then midnight blue, then a dark, dark, brown. There were also these little flecks of gold that were just swimming around in there.

"Max." He just barely breathed my name, but it was enough for me to have goosebumps all up and down my arms and shivers run up my spine. It was not unpleasant.

Whatever he had been searching for, he seemed to find it, because he leaned forward and searched my eyes one last time before pressing his lips to mine. It was incredible, nothing like Dylan's kisses. Those had been possessive, hard, hot, and almost like he was proving a point. This one was... amazing, incredible, soft, tender, passionate, filled with... feeling.

"Fang!", a voice screeched, and Fang slowly turned. I looked around his head to see Lissa standing on the staircase... grinning? No, wait, I think that was supposed to be a threatening smile, but it almost made me laugh. She was supposed to look threatening in a mini-skirt and hot pink tank top? The heels, however, were kinda scary. I had figured out six different ways you could kill someone with a pair of stilettos last time Nudge made me wear them, so I knew the damage they could create.

"Yes, Lissa?" Fang's voice was patronizing, almost condescending, and Lissa heard it. It was all she could to just splutter out the fact that she was leaving. Fang nodded, then flashed one of his heart-stopping grins. Well, that's what everyone else calls them. I wouldn't know, personally, of course. Lissa nearly swooned, and ran into the door when she tried to walk back out of the basement. As soon as she left, Fang turned back to me.

"Now, where were we." I scrambled back, knocking the chair over.

"Nuh-uh, Fang, I am NOT falling for your lying, playing, tricks. There is no way I'm going to let you kiss me. No way."

The whole time I'd been talking, I had been backing up with Fang calmly stalking me. Now I ended up against the wall with Fang's arms on either side of me and his body pressed up against mine to prevent me from moving.

Those tingles are just nerves. They do NOT come from Fang's body pressed up against yours. You are NOT wondering how his lips would feel against yours, running down your neck, across your shoulders, back up to your lips...

I tore my mind away from the direction my thoughts were heading and focused all my energy into glaring at Fang. He didn't even flinch. Even Dylan flinched when I turned my death glare on him.

Dylan flinching, then turning back with an evil grin. "I'm gonna make you pay for that, sweetie." Shivers running down my spine when I understood what he meant. Walking down the hallway of his house, his lips pressed to mine, No, not a flashback, not now, I thought these were over. Why can't they just leave me alone? Waking up, clothes on the floor, realizing what we did and knowing right then I'm going to regret this for a very long time. The flashback ended and I turned my face away from Fang, hoping against hope that I wouldn't cry and that he hadn't seen the tears already pooled in my eyes. My hopes were dashed, though, when he said,

"Max? I didn't mean to upset you, I can leave if you really want me to."

"No!" I cried out, knowing that I was confusing him, but powerless to do anything but hold back my tears. He couldn't leave, I needed him. I could feel the panic attack coming on, and I hated the fact that I couldn't do anything to stop it.

"Get Iggy."

That was the last thing I said before I blacked out. My last thought was, I hope I don't hurt anyone this time.

-This is a line. Say hi, line.-

Fang POV

She collapsed in my arms and then began to convulse. I picked her up bridal style and ran up the stairs, calling Iggy as I took the stairs to the second floor two at a time.

"James, now!" was all I needed to say and he was there in a flash. He helped me put Max in my bed, then told me to hold her still while he went to get smelling salts. She convulsed again, and I did my best to prevent her from hurting herself. Iggy waved the salts in front of her nose, but all she did was knock them away and scream. Loudly. Very, loudly. I winced, but all Iggy did was pick the salts back up and stick them back under her nose.

All of a sudden she stopped twisting and turning, arched her back, and lay still. I looked worriedly at Iggy, but he merely said,

"She'll sleep 'till tomorrow. Come on." I moved to follow him out the door, but Max grabbed my sleeve.

"Stay here. Please."

I blinked in shock that Max had said please, but I sat down on the bed beside her. It was uncomfortable, as she had grabbed my hand when I sat down. I realized the most comfortable way to do this was to lay down and spoon, so I did. I knew I was totally going to get chewed out by Max in the morning, but hoped she wouldn't get too physical.

As I lay there, I began to think of Max. I truly was sorry I had told Lissa about Max's son, I had ignored the little voice in the back of my mind telling me that Lissa hated Max and would use this against her. I hadn't meant to hurt Max, and wondered why she had totally freaked out after staring into the distance for a few minutes. It was strange, but I pushed it out of my mind and told myself I would ask her in the morning, if she didn't kill me first.

On that happy note, I fell asleep.