Max

When I got to school, people gawked. Everyone started whispering. I wished I didn't have to go to school today, but I did.

Fang leaned against my locker, as casually as if it was his own. But when he saw me, the small smile faded to a frown, and concern filled his eyes. This from the almost always emotionless boy.

"Did he do that to you, Max?" I shoved Fang out of the way and traded books around from my locker. Last night had been horrible. My arm was bandaged, so was my forehead. My jaw was bruised pretty bad, and I had to limp in order to keep pain out of my right leg.

"Max, look at me!" Fang spun me around, using that scary tone he only used when he was frustrated. I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath. It hurt the way he squeezed my arm, but I'm not aloud to show people my pain. Then again, Fang's been an exception for all my rules- except the talking.

The bell rang and I tried to push past him, but Fang wasn't gonna let me move anytime soon. After the hallways were empty, I opened my mouth and tried to talk, but I couldn't form the words. It had been so many years, could I even talk if I wanted to?

"I'm sorry." The words were almost inaudible, and raspy. But they were still words. Okay, so now I've broken every rule with Fang.

I slid down against the lockers until I was sitting and looked up at him, tears in my eyes. He was the only person I would cry in front of, he was the only person I could talk to about any of this. And I had no clue why it had to be him of all people.

"I like your voice." Fang whispered, sitting next to me. "And you have nothing to be sorry for Max. It's your dad's fault. Hey, I got an idea. Move in with me. I have a bunch of spare rooms since you know, I live in a mansion."

"I can't. He'll hurt you too." I mumbled.

"Oh Maxie! You care about me! I'm touched." That was Iggy-like. And that's what scared me.

"No I don't." I growled.

"Bet you love me! I bet you love me this much!" He didn't hold his arms out, just smirked.

"I'm not seeing a size here." I muttered.

"That's because your love for me is freeking endless!" Fang said in a sing-song voice.

"I liked you better Emo." I mumbled.

"I still am, see?" He pulled his jacket sleeve up to reveal a bunch of fresh scars. Oh nice.

"I was being sarcastic, Fang."

"Maybe, but you never said you didn't love me!"

"Screw you. Fangels." I snapped.

"Fangles sound likes bangles. Bangles remind me of tigers. Tigers remind me of stripes. Stripes remind me of clown fish. Clown fish are funny." Oh my God.

"Fang, you're giggling. Did somebody hit you on the head with a bat or something?"

"Record-breaking sentence Max! Well done!" I rolled my eyes. Yep, Fang was broken. Then again, he only acted broken around me.

"If I say I have feelings for you, will you shut up?"

"Would you be lying?" Fang asked.

"No. I have feelings for you. The kind that says 'I care about you, so I'm gonna check you into a mental hospital'."

"I love you too, Max." Fang patted my arm. "Now come on, History isn't going to magically pop into our brains, although that would be so awesome if it could. And then you could erase it after the test! If only..." His voice trailed off and as it did and he helped me to my feet, I realized something. I had just talked... to Fang. Of all freeking people. Fang.

In History, Fang did some pretty funny things. While the teacher was on the board, Fang hopped up on the desk and started juggling plastic apples that she had on her desk, while grinding his hips around, while being completely silly. He tossed and apple to random people in the classroom and back flipped off the desk. Everyone was silent so Fang wouldn't get caught. He then proceeded to grab my hand and spin me around like he had done on the stage yesterday. Then pushed me down on a table. I laid flat on my back for a second wondering why the teacher hadn't noticed. Then sat up and glared at Fang, opening my mouth to yell at him.

Fang put his mouth to my ear, and his hot breath sent chills down my spine, quieting me instantly. "Quiet princess. I gotta get rid of teacher so the fun can begin." And with that, Fang expertly tackled the teacher and in minutes he was in a closet, which Fang was sure to lock up tight.

"Alright people! Let's go." Fang said, and then walked up to me. "It's Super Crazy Fun Time!" He whispered into my ear. Yeah, Fang had a few screws loose definitely. He picked me up bridal style and spun around super fast as the last person exited the classroom, they were all eager to leave.

I wrapped my arms tight around Fang's neck, scared he'd let me fall.

"Maximum Ride. I like the way it sounds." Fang decided. I rolled my eyes at him. Again. "Let's go get ice cream!" Fang decided he was gonna carry me to his car that he wasn't supposed to be driving since he didn't even have a permit.

"Fang, I can walk." I snarled.

"You're so hot when you're mad. Be mad more often, just not at me. Oh and, I'm not letting you walk on your hurt ankle." Fang said matter-o-fact.

"I'm hot when I'm angry? Where the heck did that come from?" I asked.

"I don't know. You just look freeking hot when you're mad at someone. Be mad at that guy." Fang suggested, nodding towards a really cute guy.

"He's too cute." Fang scoffed.

"You're my girlfriend and you think he's cute? I'm offended."

"Girlfriend? When did I become your girlfriend?" I asked, annoyed, bewildered, and amused all at once.

"When I kissed you and you liked it." Fang said simply, shrugging.

"You haven't kis-" Fang cut me off by shoving me against his car and crashing his lips against mine. It was only for about a minute or so and then Fang pulled back while I just twisted my fingers through his hair some more.

"You were saying?" He asked, panting for air.

"Uh..."

"That's what I thought. Get in, Princess!" Fang opened the passenger door for me and I reluctantly let him set me in the car. He slid over the hood and through the window into the driver's side turned the keys in the ignition, and floored it. And all I could think was You lived a sucky life, Max, minus the idiot that's gonna be the death of you soon enough

When we got to the ice cream shop, Fang ordered for me while I waited in the car, and to my horror, I saw Jeb here. I sunk low in my chair. Even though it was past three now, and he didn't much care what I did as long as the place was clean, it wasn't clean yet. He saw the car and looked at it. Oh nice, a guy's head turner. A Ferrari. That's right folks, Fang had a black Ferrari. (go figure on the color)

luckily, Jeb didn't see me, unluckily, Fang walked out just then with the ice cream cones and lightly licked each one. He talked to Jeb while I threw on his shades and hat that was in the car. He didn't know that was Jeb.

Then Fang looked at me and smiled, and then frowned at the scared expression he could probably tell I had since Fang reads me like a children's book. I pressed a button by accident and the window rolled down slightly.

"That is quite the car you have there uh..."

"Nicolas." fang said, shaking Jeb's hand. "Yeah, it is. I wash her everyday. Wax her three times a week. Four if I get bored. My Ferrari is my life."

"What about that girl in the passenger's seat?" Jeb asked, not realizing it was me thank god!

"Yeah, she's my life too. You got any girls?"

"Just my daughter. Maximum Batchelder. I believe you guys go to the same school. You know her?"

"Maximum Batchelder? Hmmm, yeah. She flies under the radar, no one pays her much attention. She's beautiful you know? I've been trying to work up the courage to say something to her. I bet she'd be a good friend.." Wow, Fang was a good actor.

"Oh? Max isn't much interested in boys. She's more focused on school." Jeb lied.

"Awe, what a letdown. Maybe one day then huh?" Fang asked.

"Maybe." Jeb muttered, though he was lying. Fang looked over at me, and for a nanosecond, I could see the hate in his eyes.

"You know, she came to school today with some bandages on her arm. Maybe a doctor should check it out." Fang continued.

"Oh nah, she's such a klutz sometimes." Jeb chuckled as if my pain was funny to him. It probably was. "She fell on her way down the stairs and hurt herself. There was glass vase she broke that cut her wrist and forehead. Not deep or anything. I checked myself. She's fine." Fang nodded.

"Better get going. Nice talking to you." Fang expertly tossed his ice cream cone up, got in the car and caught it. He handed me mine and then shut his door. But before he could leave, Jeb knocked on the window. Fang reluctantly unrolled it.

"Your girlfriend there looks familiar, do I know you from somewhere, miss?" Jeb asked.

"Uh..." I said in a Spanish accent. But before anything else could be said, Fang shoved me against the car door and started making out with me. Fun. No sarcasm this time. Jeb stood there for a moment, shocked, then walked off mumbling something about kids and their hormones.

"He's gone, Fang." I mumbled into his lips.

"alright." He kissed my neck gently and then sat up, turning the key in the ignition and flooring it once more.

I got home at seven and started cleaning immediately. "How stupid do you think I am? Was suddenly pushed against a wall, hand around my throat. "I know that was you Maximum. And I bet money that boy is too young to drive. You're going to stop hanging around with him, or I'll kill Nicolas. And I'll make you watch." And with that being said, my torture began.