Second Chances?-Chapter 4
By MyNameIsCAL
---Max's POV---
It was late now. Fang had been knocked out by his sleeping pills already and Mom had gone off to bed hours ago. I now sat in the family room with Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel.
"Where's Ella?" I asked.
Iggy shrugged. "She's tired. I don't think she's really up to staying up late."
I would like to think that Ella wasn't falling apart, but even Iggy showed signs that he was breaking under the pressure. We were all exhausted.
"So, what's up with Fang?" Gazzy finally spoke first.
"I feel like he's a different person now." I leaned back on the couch.
"You left him, Max. What did you expect?" Iggy shot back, his voice was angry a harsh, but bitter at the same time.
"I…I don't know," I stuttered.
There was only silence after that.
"I'm sorry." Iggy's voice was barely audible.
I shook my head.
"What are we going to do with Mom?" Nudge interjected.
That seemed like the more pressing matter. I just didn't have the heart to talk about Fang. It hurt too much.
We really only had a few options. None of us wanted to send Mom off to one of those assisted living places. That was going to be our last choice. Someone needed to keep an eye on her though. It was hard to think of the worst that could happen and it probably wouldn't, but we still needed to be cautious. Mom was ok now, but later, someone needed to be here all the time.
Angel was already out of the race to be one of the people to stay. I wanted her to finish out college. Mom would like that too. Ella had a job and splitting her and Iggy didn't seem like a good idea. Nudge had a job that I knew she couldn't leave for long. Don't get me wrong, I knew every single one of us would drop everything to come look after Mom, but I didn't want to ruin someone's hope and dreams.
That left Gazzy and me. Possibly Fang. Fang, himself, needed looking after too.
"I can move here," I heard myself say.
Gazzy blinked. "I don't have to travel the world. I can do that later."
I shook my head. "I don't have a job and Alex doesn't really enjoy school in New York anyway."
"What about Fang?" Iggy questioned.
"He'll have to move here too," Nudge added. "You two are supposed to have joint custody over Alex."
"He hates the city," Angel said quietly. "He wants nothing more than to get away from it. But you should talk to him first. And don't forget about Roland."
Damnit, Roland. You were more trouble than I thought.
It was Thanksgiving today. We were all dressing up for family photos. Fang stepped out of the bathroom, clean shaven. He reminded me of the Fang that I used to know, the Fang that had faded away into the past.
"Can you help me with my tie," he grumbled.
I looped it a couple of times and pulled it through. It looked nice now. Before I could stop myself, I put my arms around him. I expected him to push me away, but his arms came around me slowly, his chin resting on the top of my head.
"What was that for?" He asked.
I shrugged, smiling.
And he actually sorta smiled back.
"Hey, you're lookin' nice today," Ella said as we entered the kitchen.
"Thanks," Fang muttered.
We took our places, like every Thanksgiving. Ella fussed over Iggy's hair as we waited for Mom to set up the camera. Fang stood at the end, almost removed from the group.
"Move in a little," Mom said to Fang.
He slowly inched closer towards Alex and me.
"C'mon, Fang. We're family. Make it look like it," Mom frowned.
Hesitantly, he put an arm around me.
"Good, good," Mom smiled again.
Fang relaxed a little.
We took several pictures, but Mom always needed more after that. Iggy and Ella took a picture and then Angel and Gazzy. Fang, Alex, and I were next. This picture was easier though. Fang placed his arm around me. I suddenly missed him, even though he was standing right next to me.
"Ah, it'll make a lovely Christmas card," Mom exclaimed.
"It will," I agreed.
The smell of food filled the house as the day carried on. Iggy and Mom were hard at work cooking. Alex was in there, fascinated because I couldn't cook. The rest of us sat in the family room, watching old movies and talking pretty much about nothing of importance. It was better that way.
I watched Fang as he sat in the corner of the room in a chair. He was in a room filled with the people who knew him best yet he looked lonely. Unconsciously, he was digging his fingers into the sides of his arms. After a while, and without warning, he stood and disappeared out the door. Angel exchanged looks with me.
"I don't know," she answered. "I'm not listening to his thoughts. Maybe you should go talk to him."
I stood and exited the way he had gone.
"He went outside," Iggy said without even turning to me.
I opened the door and looked around. He was leaning against the side of the house, his sleeves rolled up now.
"I'm fine." He answered too quickly to be telling the truth.
The scars were still there, running up his arms. He sucked in a deep breath as I came closer to him. His gaze went from me, to his arms, and back to me.
"They say," Fang said, his voice cracking, "that the hardest thing to do is forget. And now I finally know why."
"Fang…"
"That tingle is still there. I still have that want to feel the pain, to watch the blood drip down my arms," Fang breathed out.
I grabbed him by the wrist before he could start scratch his arm.
"You're gonna be ok," I whispered.
He took a step closer to me. "That's about the hundredth time I've heard that."
I let go of him. "But I actually believe it."
And there was a moment where we were both standing there, staring at each other. His eyes met mine and then he pushed me against the side of the house and kissed me.
And I kissed him back.
