Fang's POV

One minute I'm sitting at my desk, the next minute some girl is latched on to me like a blood-sucking leech. As most guys my age would do, I kissed back involuntarily. Then I came to my senses and shoved her away. She gave me a hurt look that was totally fake.

"What's wrong, Nicky?" she pouted.

I was taken aback, extremely revolted. "Don't call me Nicky! I don't even know you! Do you think you can just walk up to any guy and kiss him and expect a good reaction?"

I was down the hall and climbing onto the roof within a minute. Anger flooded my veins, making me move smoother, faster. I had a sudden urge to break something. When I clambered onto the roof, I saw someone else had beat me there. It was Max. Figures she would run here. This was where we met.

It was a cold Christmas Eve night. My dad had just come back from a club, drunk and unstable. And with another woman. My mother was out shopping for tomorrow's dinner, thank God. He was so drunk he couldn't remember who I was when I walked in on him. Such a scarring sight for a boy of 8 years old. I remember running out of the house into the cold night, and somehow ending up on the roof of the high school in my footy pajamas. While I lay wrapped up in the fetal position, I thought Well, this is the end. I'm going to die, and I didn't even tell Mommy I loved her this morning.

For some crazy reason, Max was wandering around the school, seeing as her father was a teacher, and somehow ended up on the roof. In my state of partial hypothermia, I remember seeing a girl my age run over to me and put a down jacket on me. Then she ran away and returned with her father. I passed out after that, but when I woke up, I was laying in a hospital bed with a very distraught mother sitting in a chair next to me. When she saw me, she hugged me apologizing through her tears, saying it was all her fault. I never believed her.

Max and her father, Jeb, visited me later, bearing flowers. I never really cared for flowers (all they do is die) but my mother accepted them gratefully and thanked him over and over. While they were talking, Max, in her fluffy down jacket, walked over to my bedside.

"I'm Max." She grinned, showing a gap in her front teeth. "What's your name?"

Even as I child, I wasn't very chummy with other kids. I also hated my name, since it was my father's. So I remembered While Fang, a book my mother had read to me a long time ago that changed my life forever. It was also the main reason I hated other people.

"Fang," I replied. "My name is Fang."

She turned to me, her eyes blazing with anger, her mouth twisted in a mocking smirk

"Look what the cat dragged in," she sneered. "Didn't know you were so popular with the ladies, Fang. Who's your new girlfriend?"

"She's not my girlfriend. Why?" I hissed through clenched teeth.

Max's eyebrows shot up in mock surprise. "Gee, I don't know. Maybe the fact that you two looked good together. Or maybe because you were practically SUCKING HER OFF HER FACE." She tried to brush it off like she was okay with any of this, but I could see the hurt in her eyes. Unfortunately, in my angered state, I took advantage of that weakness.

"What, jealous?" I snarled, fists clenched and eager to fight. "I didn't think you were actually a girl, Max."

She laughed bitterly, turning away. "Didn't think so either." she muttered, almost to herself. "Maybe I am jealous, maybe I'm not. Not like I would tell you anything."

I stepped back, realizing that I had taken it overboard. "I'm sorry," I sputtered out quickly. "I didn't mean it like that-"

She spun around, eyes blazing with fury despite the tears. "Save it, Fang!" She stomped away.

"Wait!" But it was too late. I plopped down on the concrete roof, holding my head in my hands hopelessly.

God, what did I do wrong?

AN: This chapter is kinda short, compared to my last chapters. BTW I've never read White Fang (by Jack London), but it's high on my list of books to read, next to the next book in the MR series! If you're an Avatar: The Last Airbender fan, I'm starting a story soon under that category, so stay tuned. Here's a question: Which is better, ATLA or LoK? Zutarian or Kataanger? Makorra or Borra? Comment, review, follow/favorite, all that good stuff!

-Bobcat