OMG! Thank you so much for all the reviews! I really appreciated them!
Also- sorry I didn't post a couple days ago…I was away and I was taken off guard when I saw how many more reviews I got! This chappie is dedicated to all who reviewed chapter 3!
(Gazzy POV)
Flashback:
As I pulled Iggy through the door, I silently but quickly slunk to the barely open slider door. I heard Iggy whisper something to the new girl, Alice, or something, and then he too came to where I was. "Oh, man, you guys gotta see this!" I exclaimed softly.
It was already dark-ish outside, but we could still see Fang and Max clearly under the moonlight. We had to listen carefully because 1) it was dark and, 2) they were on the other end of their balcony, so we couldn't see them anyway.
We leaned in closer to the minuscule opening, hardly daring to breathe. Fang spoke first. "Max, I have something to tell you." I heard him sigh, and then there was a shuffling sound. "Max, listen to me. Max! This is the most importantthing I've ever told you. Will you listen for a minute?"
Then silence. It was just too bad we couldn't see them 'ogling' each other. Eww; I twitched.
"What is it you wanted to tell me, Fang?" That was Max.
"Max," Fang began again. "I know we've been through a lot together, especially since the whole Angel thing." We all, except Alice, exchanged quick glances at each other. None of us have forgotten that day, and we never will. "Max…" he paused.
"Here it comes," Iggy said so low I strained to hear it; an excited smile bloomed across his face, his sightless eyes sparkling.
"Max, I love you." Way to drop a bomb Fang. I looked over at Iggy and his smile slid off his face like Jell-o on a hot car.
Iggy looked astounded and surprised. "Well…that wasn't what I was expecting at all," he whispered. "We all knew he liked her, but he never told me or anyone else that he loved her!" He almost hissed that last sentence, like it wasn't part of a bomb scheme we planned- variables. Grr.
As soon as we looked out the door again, what I saw made my eyes go as wide as saucers- Max and Fang were kissing, making out. Gross.
Iggy grabbed my shirt roughly. "Three seconds. Go."
"Okay, Max and Fang are kissing, a lot, and that's pretty much it."
"Wow, like we've never seen this coming."
In the corner, Nudge was giggling silently, along with Angel, both of whom were doubled over with laughter.
"Okay, I've heard and seen enough," I stated. "That's all I needed and/or wanted to see." I sat up back on the bed. "So, Iggy, who's your girlfriend?"
"She's not my girlfriend, Gaz. She's just a friend I met downstairs. Everyone, this is Alice."
"Hi, Alice," everyone said simultaneously.
"Hi, everyone," she gave them a little wave as she sat down.
I decided to say who everyone is since Iggy didn't know where anyone was positioned. I pointed as I ran off names. "I'm Gazzy, that's Nudge, Angel and of course you know Iggy. Max and Fang are outside." I jerked my thumb in their general direction. "How old are you?"
"Oh, I'm 15 like Iggy, and I'm assuming Fang and Max as well. How old are you three?"
"I'm 9, Nudge is 12 and Angel, who's my real sister, is 7."
"You guys were all 'adopted', right? Like, none of you are blood relatives except for you and Angel?"
"That's right." At least she understood the basics. "We kind of formed our own little group with each other where we used to live a few years ago."
"Where did you guys live?"
We all stiffened. How could we tell our story to her yet?
Iggy saved us, grabbing Alice's hand and leading her to a free space on the floor against the wall. "I'll tell you some other time," he told her.
We basically mingled with Alice for the next 20 minutes, also watching a cat and mouse cartoon on the TV Nudge turned on.
It was nice, until our bubble was popped when Fang called, "Iggy!"
End Flashback
(Alice POV)(After Iggy talked with Fang)
Iggy came back in the room looking calm, but he pulled me to the side a little roughly. "Iggy, what's wrong?" I asked him, concerned.
"Alice, I need you to do me a favor. Take this," he put 30 Euros in my hand, even though he was 'looking' at my face; it was bizarre. "And take the kids to the pool. Get them candy, pop, whatever they want! Please, I'll explain later." He pecked me on the cheek. "Will you do that for me?"
My mouth hung open, but I answered, "Yes, of course. I'll try."
"Oh, thank you so much!" He hugged me and went back into the adjoining room to join Fang.
I turned back to the younger kids. "Okay…who wants to go swimming?" Nudge and Gazzy raised their hands and started jumping up and down saying "Ooh! Me! Me!"
"Okay guys! Go get your suits on!"
A chorus of 'Yeah's and 'whoo hoo's followed my comment. I turned around to Angel on the bed. "Hey Ange, you wanna go down to the pool?"
"Yeah, I'd like that."
"Do you want me to help you get your suit on?"
"Sure."
"Okay."
Five minutes later, we were all ready, towels and all. I grabbed a room card and we headed to the stairs. I was wearing my suit under my clothes already so I could go in later after watching our stuff. I held Angel's hand while Gazzy had his arm strung through my other one as we descended. Iggy was on Gazzy's other side.
We hit the bottom floor and turned down a short hall that led to the pool. It was later at night, so there weren't too many people in the pool. We put our stuff on four chairs all in a row and Gaz and Nudge rocketed off to jump into the pool. Angel went in a little more slowly, but just as enthusiastically.
I watched them splash and play around with each other- Angel could hold her breath underwater for a long time. I was impressed.
They all played like a family- they were having so much fun. I watched with green eyes. (A/N: like a green-eyed monster of jealousy)
"Hey Alice!" Angel called to me, "Are you coming in, or what?!"
"Yeah, hold on!" I got up out of my chair and took off my tank and shorts, revealing my green and blue polka-dot bikini. I took a running start and yelled "Whoo!!" as I did a cannonball, dousing the kids around me.
(Fang POV)(Present)
As Iggy helped me up, I took deep breaths, readying myself for what was in the bathroom.
I looked at Iggy. "Be ready to get towels." He nodded once.
I gripped the door handle firmly and pushed the door open. I almost collapsed again from the sight of Max:
The bathtub was overflowing with water, Max's body submerged under the water. The worst part was that the water was a deep, crimson red, telling me that Max was bleeding- bad.
I rushed over to the tub and shut the faucet off. I then plunged my arms into the blood-red water to puck up Max out of the water bridal-style, adrenaline pouring out of my system. I couldn't look at her face because I feared she was dead.
Here I stand, empty hands
Iggy already had towels laid out on the floor near the foot of one of the beds. I delicately, but with speed, laid Max down on the towels; Iggy immediately started fluttering his hands over her body, cataloguing any injuries I prayed weren't there. He stopped at her left wrist- I looked down at them. There were large, deep slits on each of Max's wrists that were still bleeding.
Wishing my wrists were bleeding
To stop the pain from the beatings
I checked her breathing while Iggy tended to her cuts. She had no pulse and wasn't breathing. I was on the verge of tears- yes, the almighty 'rock', Fang, crying over Maximum Ride.
I had to start CPR.
"Iggy," he looked up. "I've got to start CPR. Do what you've got to do."
He patted my shoulder with one hand. "You, too."
I folded my hands to start compressions on Max's chest.
There you stood, holding me
Waiting for me to notice you
One…two…three…four….five….six….All the while, all I could think was, Not Max, not Max, no, no, no, no, no! My heart was pounding through my ribcage at five times its normal pace as if trying to go through a lifetime of beats if I had to eventually join Max (If she was dead, which I knew she couldn't be).
28…29…30. I stopped and gave Max two long breaths- she needed them more that me.
But who are you
As I started the next cycle, I looked at Iggy; his face was in deep concentration. He was bandaging Max's left wrist; blood was still oozing through the gauze, but at least it was slowing.
You are the truth
Outscreaming these lies
"Fang, it's all I can do with that one. I need to do her right wrist."
I understood what he meant and moved myself over Max in the time of a compression. 22…23…24…25… It was a little more difficult from the left, but all I was focused on was saving Max. I leaned down for two more breaths, but I held my lips, briefly, to her cold ones, giving her a kiss after each breath.
You are the truth
Saving my life
Iggy was still tuned out to the beginning of my meltdown, gently and with determination, holding Max's wrist as he wrapped rolls of gauze around it, blood flowing freely, making me a tad bit queasy. His sightless, foggy blue eyes were looking down; He was handling Max like a delicate China doll, afraid she would shatter even more in her condition. His care and compassion made me thankful that he was my bro.
17…18…19…20… This was the third cycle; I was terrified to continue because it would be harder to accept if she were dead.
Fifteen minutes later, Iggy was doing compressions while I did breaths. I stoked Max's cheeks in between cycles and begged her to wake up, or at least breathe. Her heart hadn't ticked one beat and both me and Iggy feared she had lost too much blood.
The warmth of your embrace
Melts my frostbitten spirit
Finally, Iggy broke our string of no-conversation. "Fang, it's been a half hour. You and me are both exhausted and a person can't survive this long in Max's condition." I knew where he was going with this. "Fang," Iggy continued. Then he took a deep breath and sighed. "I'm going for one more shot. One. More." He held up one finger. "One more and that's it. I'm praying for her, Fang. I'm praying for her to pull through. I love her too, but as a sister…Let's go," and he started the last, monumental cycle.
You speak the truth and I hear it
As he compressed Max's chest, I held her face in my hands and begged her to surface. "Max," I told her cold, still form. "I love you," I whispered to her desperately. "I always will love you. Please pull through this! For the flock…for me," I asked so quietly that I barely heard it myself. "Please…please, please! Max, I'm so sorry! I never meant anything bad I said to you. I only meant the good things. Please forgive me!!" Now the tears- yes, tears- spilled from my eyes, blurring my vision of my Max. A few drops landed near her, but didn't touch her.
The words are 'I love you'
And I have to believe in you
"Okay, Fang," Iggy toned in defeat, "Give it your all."
I did. I have Max two long breaths, emptying my lungs into hers, and waited. Thirty seconds…then a whole minute. I snapped. "Max!! NO! You can't leave me!!" My voice had risen and was cracking with desperation. I kissed her frantically, not believing this was happening. I pulled away, but never wanted to leave her side.
Iggy knelt down next to me and put a brotherly arm around my shoulder. "Fang," he pleaded in a whisper. I looked into his eyes. They were filled with tears too; red around the edges. "I'm sorry. We've gotta tell the others." He was right, but I didn't move. I let the tears cascade down my cheeks, tear spots appearing on my jeans where they landed.
My hands are open
And you are feeling them
I pulled Max into a sitting position so I could hug her to my chest, pick her up, and put her on a bed. I bent down, once she was lying down again, and gave her the rest of my being through the last kiss I gave her. As I stood back up, one tear fell and landed on her cheek.
Hands in the air
In the air
I collapsed on the bed opposite hers, shoving my head into the pillows as I heaved with silent sobs. Iggy was at the foot of my bed, for moral support rather than comfort- he looked like he didn't know what to do.
In the air
In the air
Eventually, my sobs became louder, and then I was crying; I kept my eyes closed as incoherent mumblings about Max escaped my lips. My cries of agony reverberated off the walls, which surprised even me because I was practically shouting through 3 or 4 pillows. It made me feel worse to hear my screams magnified in my ears.
You are the truth
As the tears still came, I sat up and went to Iggy and embraced him in a hug. It was a brotherly hug, but I put more meaning into it by telling him, "Thank you, Iggy," however shakily. "Thank you for all your help. Iggy, you're the best brother I could hope for and I truly love you like one. Your determination tonight was…extraordinarily amazing. I'm glad you were here, even though it didn't work ou-" I couldn't go on. I gave Iggy one more squeeze and collapsed into a heap on the bed again, praying for death to overtake me. Death would've been a blessing; at least I would be able to be with Max.
Outscreaming these lies
The tears soon stopped flowing and now I was convulsing with quiet sobs once again, although it was infinitely worse. I felt Iggy get off the end of my bed- probably to go get the kids. I didn't stop him. Even though I wanted to protect them from this kind of incident, it was necessary.
Iggy was just twisting the handle at the front door when I heard a short intake of breath. I assumed it was me. Max hadn't breathed in over three-quarters of an hour. But I opened my eyes to look at Iggy, whose back was rigid as a pole; his eyes, intense with adrenaline, looking at Max. He took his hand off the doorknob and came over to the space in between me and Max's beds. I looked at Max curiously as well.
You are the truth
Four things happened to Max's body in that moment: one- her eyes flew open; two- she started coughing while at the same time coughing up water; three- Max started sobbing hysterically. Coughing while coughing up water and sobbing/screaming at the same time must be difficult. It was a lot harder, yet more believable than when I did the fourth thing on the list: I got to hold Max in my arms again, fully alive, before she could sit up to cough out the water trapped in her lungs.
Saving my life
I really hope you guys didn't think I would kill off Max!! I promise more romance now. I just thought this would make a great plot twist. I hope your wait was worth it!
That little purple 'go' button doesn't bite!! Review…Review!! Quadruple chocolate chip swirl brownies for all my reviewers of this chapter. I'll dedicate the next one to you!
:)
Lyrics: 'Red Sam' by Flyleaf
A/N: TWILIGHT FANS: check out the song 'There for you' by Flyleaf. If you look it up, will you tell me if it reminds you of Bella and Jacob's relationship? That's what I thought when I listened to it. It's a definite favorite.
BTW: there's a link on my profile for Alice's bathing suit!
Until next chapter, TTFN!
