Hey so I'm extremely sorry I haven't updated in about two weeks. To make up for it, I made this chapter incredibly long. Yay!
So I've decided to do this since you reviewers melt my heart like cheese (as well as you subscribers).
Review of the Day (you know who you are): Lol. Stalkers scare me. This is easily one of my favorite AHs. Seriously.
I'm glad you were able to relate your life to this story. Seriously :)
Oh, and before I forget...
Disclaimer.
Okay, onwards!
Mr. Galler quickly folded his paper and tossed it in his desk drawer. He was just barely able to remove his feet from on top of his desk before the daunting off-blonde barged in. He gave her an innocent smile and made a move for his right ear.
"Don't you dare turn off your hearing aid or I swear I will get you fired faster than you can say 'toupee,'" Max threatened, rage rolling off her in waves. Mr. Galler slowly lowered his hand from his ear, defeated.
"It's nice to see and hear you today my dear. What excellent guiding do you need this period?" He mentally frowned at his mocking words. Was he being too harsh? He shook his head. Sometimes you just had to fight fire with fire.
"Switch me out," she snapped, obviously irritated. "If it's about the absence of my social life, I'll join knitting club or anything, just switch me out of Drama." Mr. Galler sighed. Teenagers and their hormones. It was always an emotional rollercoaster with them. He looked up at her intimidating figure standing in front of him.
"I'm sorry dear, I just can't. I placed you in a program aimed towards the passionless and unfeeling student. You have to pass this class in order to graduate," he explained, giving her a sympathetic smile. He knew where she was coming from, but honestly, Max needed to interact with other students on a more personal level.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. Mr. Galler gave a slight smile. Resistance was futile. Besides, this class could just turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to her…besides Sarah Lawrence. Oh right. He had forgotten to congratulate her. Darn old age.
"Oh and Maximum? I would like to take this moment of your silence to congratulate you on your entry to Sarah Lawrence." He smiled up at her, glad he had kept his glasses on to see her ever-changing facial expressions. He flinched when she gave him a murderous glare.
"That's just the thing Dick. I don't need to take this class. I don't even have to remain in school for the next semester. I'm set. I'm passionate and I have direction. And I don't need to deal with this festering, steaming pile of crap."
Earplugs. That's what he needed to use next time. He mentally grinned at the idea, imagining Max in a silent film with everything black, white, and soundless. Ahh, those good old days.
Richard Galler glanced at his watch. Five minutes had passed. He decided to tune back in to Max FM, knowing that at this time, she would typically be throwing random insults and threats at him. He loved hearing this part of her spiel the most.
"If ignorance is bliss, I swear you must be the happiest man on earth," she shot out, still frustrated. Mr. Galler just nodded his head wordlessly. The best defense was the best offence.
After quite some time, he watched the teen storm off, even more irritated than when she had entered. At this, he smiled to himself, knowing Drama would change her life for the better. She just didn't know it yet…right?
Fang unconsciously fingered the item in his jacket pocket. Tic-tac's? Really? He had glared at the duo when they had given him a few "necessities" for Mission 1: Concert. He snorted as he thought of the "alluring" cologne Michael had also handed to him. Like he would even need it? Seriously. There's a reason why cologne rhymes with alone.
Fang took a deep breath and removed his hands from his leather jacket to ruffle his hair. To be honest, he was downright nervous. He instinctively reached towards his back pocket for a smoke before he remembered he was now a non-smoker. Agitated, he stepped into the main room only to be met with deafening music and surging crowds. As he aimlessly searched for Max amongst the multitudes of people, he couldn't help but wince as the band started up another song that had the crowds screaming.
Blow by blow
I didn't see it coming
Blow by blow
Sucker punched
Fang frowned as he heard the beats vibrate throughout the room. He never did like the acoustics of the Aragon Ballroom. Heck, he never even liked Tegan and Sara. That was, until he spotted Max dancing right next to the stage with her friend.
Rushes in
Here to stay
Rushes in
You are here to stay
What rushes into my heart and my skull
I can't control
Think about it
Feel it in my bones
What rushes into my heart and my skull
I can't control
I feel you in my bones
You're knocking at my windows
You're slow to letting me go
And I know this feeling also
This feeling in my bones
Fang couldn't help but smile as he watched her swaying to the music. He loved the way she danced, with her arms lazily raised above her head, eyes closed, looking so serene. He lightly shook his head. What was wrong with him? He turned around and started towards the bar. He would need something strong to rid the ridiculous thoughts that plagued his mind before he could even think about approaching Max that night.
Left hook
I didn't see it coming
Left hook
You've got dead aim
"I need agua!" I shouted, barely even able to hear myself. J.J. popped an eye open and nodded in agreement. To say we were parched would have been an extreme understatement. I turned around and struggled through the masses of sweaty people. That was always the downside of concerts: other people were there too.
Rushes out
Run away
Rushes out
You always run away
What rushes into my heart and my skull
I can't control
Think about it
Feel it in my bones
What rushes into my heart and my skull
I can't control
I feel you in my bones
You're knocking at my windows
You're slow to letting me go
And I know this feeling also
This feeling in my bones
I feel you in my bones
"Two waters," I shouted towards the bartender, putting up two fingers in case he didn't hear me. He nodded in understanding and reached down to retrieve two water bottles.
I feel it in my bones
And then my skull feels (pressure)
I feel it in my bones (pressure)
I feel it in my skull
I looked to my left and spotted a familiar mess of raven hair looking extremely sketchy. I rolled my eyes in recognition. Was this guy following me? The creep stared straight ahead, pretending he didn't notice me. Really now? As the bartender handed me the water, I clenched my jaw and made my way over to the loser.
"Should I be flattered or utterly creeped-"
"Do you mind? You're kind of ruining this musical experience for me," Fang interjected, glancing up at me with his drink in hand. I scoffed as he lifted his glass to his lips. Fang liked Tegan and Sara? Uh-uh yeah. And the moon is a block of cheese.
"Not surrounded by your typical cloud of smoke," I stated, giving him a once-over. Besides the absence of cigarettes, he still had on the same black combat boots and black leather jacket. This guy really knew how to mix it up.
"I know, I quit. Apparently it's bad for you."
I rolled my eyes. "You think?" Fang glanced back up and me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. I swear if he's going to ask me out again…
"You know. These chicks aren't too bad compared to Yeasayer or The Dears," Fang shouted above the noise, ditching his drink at the bar and leaving me speechless from shock.
I take a breath
Take a breath
With me blow by blow
Take a break
Take a break From you
You are here to stay
I take my heart out of my chest
I just don't need it anymore,
Take my head out of the game
I just don't need it anymore
Not wanting to catch flies, I quickly closed my mouth and followed him through the hordes of people.
"You know who The Dears are?" I asked incredulously. Alternative music just didn't seem like it suited him.
"Why, don't you?" he asked, stopping to give me a look. I snorted. Just because he knew my music taste didn't suddenly make him know everything about me. But still, he just never seemed to stop surprising me.
I silently scowled as I heard the song coming to a close. It was one of my favorites and I had just missed the majority of the live performance because of this guy.
"I was watching you out there before," Fang said, nodding towards the front of the stage where I should have been dancing. "I've never seen you look so sexy."
Talk about bad timing. The music ended just as he had said that last part, and everyone in the concert hall turned to look towards Fang and I. As the crowd giggled and cooed, he looked into my eyes and gave a slight smile which I returned after rolling my eyes playfully. Surprises, surprises. Maybe he wasn't as craptastic as I thought he was.
"Come to Bogey's party with me Friday," he prompted, staring at me as a new song began. I couldn't help but laugh at his determination.
"You never give up do you?" I responded, feeling the sweat beads of the cold water bottles running down my hands. Or, at least I hoped it was the water bottles that were making my hands all clammy and nervous.
"Is that a yes?" Fang asked, glancing at the huge speakers. He winced as the music blared, meshing all the notes and sounds to make a tangle of noises. He was probably annoyed by the crappy acoustics of the room. I know I was.
I snorted, and turned around in an effort to return to J.J. "No," I replied, forcing myself not to look back at him. I didn't want to look too interested. Because I totally wasn't.
"Well then, was that a no?" he called out from behind me. I grinned, thankful that he couldn't see my face.
"No," I repeated, laughing out loud at my own inconsistency and the grin that I swear I saw on his face from the corner of my eye. Why not keep him hopeful? Especially when I was too?
Friday had come all too soon, and Nudge was feeling rather nervous. She really hoped Iggy had done his part and that Max would attend the party. Nudge took a deep breath and peeked into the kitchen. Her frown worsened as she found Max wearing loose black yoga pants and an old ratty t-shirt. So Max wasn't coming? Oh whatever. She'd just have to sneak out.
"No!" Jeb Ride shouted, causing Nudge to nearly jump out of her skin. Did he know what she was planning to do? "If child services finds out about this, they will take you away."
Just the tone of her father's voice sent her on a massive guilt trip. He knew. He knew that she was going to defy, lie, and sin against him and God. Just as Nudge was about the burst into the room and apologize to her father with tears of remorse, she heard another voice.
"Well, that's a risk I'm willing to take." Max. It was Max's voice. He was talking to Max.
Confused, Nudge peeked into the kitchen again to find her father and sister sitting side-by-side on the counter with sundaes before them. However, Max was the only one enthusiastically slathering caramel sauce on her ice-cream.
"Honey, shouldn't we try something at the base of the food pyramid for dinner? You know; fruits and vegetables?" Jeb asked, scratching his head.
Max gasped in fake surprise. "What's this?" she asked, pulling something out from her sundae. "A maraschino cherry."
Nudge rolled her eyes as the two laughed and dug into their "dinner." Those two were always like that, cracking jokes and doing crazy stuff like "dessert for dinner night" and so on. They were so embarrassing. Shaking off this thought, Nudge quickly got down on her stomach and commenced towards the front door in an army crawl. Perhaps wearing a red dress and heels was not the smartest choice in clothing for this means of escape.
"So, you have any plans for tonight other than pigging out on dairy products with your old man?" Jeb asked, directing this towards Max. Nudge paused, already halfway to the door. Please, please, please say you're going to Bogey Lowenstein's party, Nudge mentally pleaded, wishing Max could hear her desperate attempts at telepathy.
As Max laughed, Nudge imagined her lightly elbowing their father's side. "You know I have Terminator 1, 2 and 3 just waiting to be watched. You up for it?" After hearing Max's plans, Nudge let out a sigh of frustration. Sneaking out was thus her only option.
"Okay honey. Just don't forget: you're a high school girl. Do some high school girl things now and then," Jeb encouraged. Nudge furrowed her eyebrows. Jeb always told her the exact opposite and here he was cheering Max on? Life was so unfair.
"Relax, Dad. I'm cutting pictures of Ashton out of Teen People as we speak," Max replied. At that, Nudge couldn't help but giggle. The thought of her sister doing something that out of character was just too much for her too handle.
"You should've used the window," a voiced said from above her. Oh crap.
Nudge hesitantly looked up to see her father's amused face. When did he get there? Defeated, she lifted herself from the ground, trying to ignore her father's glances towards her clothes and makeup. She'd just have to revert to Plan B: beg and plead like there's no tomorrow.
"Relax daddy. It's just a party," Nudge desperately said, giving puppy eyes a whole new meaning.
"Unless Max goes, you won't," Jeb answered, feeling slightly remorseful when Nudge's eyes turned downcast. It wasn't that he didn't trust Nudge. He just didn't trust the hormonal teenage boys of today's society.
Nudge scoffed. "People expect me to be there." Uh-uh.
"And I expect you to stay home. But we can never get what we want can we?" Jeb answered, standing firm as Nudge gave out an agitated groan. They both then turned towards the stairs as Max came down with a few DVDs in hand. "Hey, you know anything about a party?" Jeb asked, directing his question to his first daughter. Max shrugged without a word and continued on to the living room. Nudge quickly followed her and latched onto her arm.
"Max please. Can you for just one night forget that you're completely wretched and just be my sister? Please? Go to Bogey's party with me? Please?" Nudge pleaded earnestly. "Please? Do this for me?"
Jeb never thought he would want to watch the Terminator with Max any more than he did that at that moment. Do more high school girl things? Did he really just say that to her five minutes earlier?
Jeb watched Max's contemplating eyes, and looked disheartened when she finally rolled her eyes at Nudge and agreed to go. As Nudge squeezed Max from pure joy, Jeb knew it had begun.
"Just be back by midnight," he quietly said, staring at his polished wooden floorboards. Nudge surprised him by giving him a full-blown hug, and he gladly returned it. He just hoped his girls would be safe.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, pleasantly surprised to find a certain someone on my doorstep. I had just slapped on my windbreaker and had grabbed my keys before I flung the door open to find yours truly.
He gave me a slight smile. "9:30 right? I was going to pick you up but I guess I'm early," Fang answered. Who said ever said chivalry was dead? Oh right, me. Whoops.
"It doesn't matter, I'm driving anyways," I answered, moving past him towards my red '97 Toyota Corolla. Nudge had left earlier with her friend Ashley probably to spare herself from the embarrassment of driving in my jank car. Way to conserve gas eh?
As Fang wordlessly sat in the passenger's seat beside me, I took a deep breath to prepare myself for both the awkward ride and the party ahead. God help me.
Michael wandered throughout Bogey Lowenstein's mansion in search of both Ig and Fang. He felt a bit more than claustrophobic in the packed residence, and every which corner he turned, there were full-blown make-out sessions occurring. Literally everyone had shown up to the party. Social standings did not hold any constraints that night, and Michael was very thankful for that.
Walking through the third floor, he spotted the backside of a lone brunette standing by the stairs. Although he couldn't even see her fully, Michael had faith that she'd be ridiculously attractive and somehow magically fall in love with him. What could he say? All these plans of love were rubbing off on him. He straightened his collar shirt and pulled on his confident look. Now was his chance to make a move.
"Hey there. You know, I'm thinking of buying a Prius. That's right, it's a hybrid," he said, smugly. Girls loved rich guys. He just had to pretend he was one.
Michael jumped back when the girl turned around to face him. It wasn't that she was hideous; in fact, she was far from it. She was just too familiar.
"Asses are made to bear, and so are you," she replied distastefully examining him up and down. Of course. The Shakespeare-obsessed girl. This was…Jill…Jan…Jen…Jennifer Joy! Max's BFF. Michael wanted to slap himself. If she was somehow associated with the Maximum Ride, what was he getting himself into? He decided to take a little leap of faith.
"My acquaintance is coincidently at this homely gathering with your companion. I therefore should say you are 'a little more than kin and less than kind!'" Michael smiled to himself as he saw the girl's expression soften. Her face then lit up into a playful grin.
"How is it that the clouds still hang on you?" J.J. asked, looking at Michael with enthusiastic expectations.
"Not so, my lady; I am too much in the sun," Michael asserted, smiling at the girl before him. She returned the gesture and spoke again.
"Hamlet, Act I, Scene-"
"Scene II, lines 64-67," he finished. He mentally gave himself a pat on the back. She was obviously impressed.
"The name's J.J.," she said, giving him a small curtsey. Michael stared at the girl, obviously smitten.
"And I, Michael," he answered, bowing to her. She gave a little laugh and returned to her original state of leaning against the railing overlooking the two floors. Michael followed suit and watched the drunken dancing below, occasionally glancing at the girl.
"What were you saying about my friend and yours?" she shouted, trying to be heard above the music and chatter that was being emitted from the dance floor.
"Watch," Michael replied, pointing down to the second floor where he spotted Max making her way up through the crowds of people. So Fang had succeeded in bringing the shrew to the party. The only question was: Where was Fang?
Sam grinned when he saw Nudge walking towards him. Tonight was definitely going to be memorable. He quickly took another shot of tequila offered to him and downed it in a matter of seconds. Wrapping his arm around Nudge, they then headed down the stairs to the dance pit.
"Hey Max, look who found me," he called out to the said girl when he spotted her. Max's brown eyes pierced his and then shifted towards her own sister. As Nudge avoided eye contact with her sibling, Sam took pleasure in seeing Max's fist clench and unclench repeatedly.
As they walked right past her, Max reached for her sister, "Wait Nudge, I have to tell you something."
Sam smiled smugly when Nudge retorted. "Look Max. I'm busy trying to enjoy my adolescence. How about you do that same?"
And with that, Sam took Nudge's hand and they left the irritated girl to go dance. With a victorious smile plastered on his face, Sam briefly looked behind him just in time to see Max grab a shot of tequila and down it in one gulp. Good for her. He always thought she needed to loosen up at bit.
Fang reached Max just in time to see her down a couple shots. Wow.
"What's this?" he asked, taking the glass out of her hand as she reached for another. He gave an aggravated sigh. If this girl puked, he was not going to hold her hair back. "I've been looking all over for you," he shouted, trying to be heard above the music.
Max just rolled her eyes. "I'm getting trashed, man. Isn't that what you're supposed to do at a party?" She made another move for the tray of glass shots before Fang grabbed her hand.
"I don't know, I say do what you want to do. And somehow I have a feeling you don't want to drown your sorrows here at Bogey's party," Fang reasoned, staring down into her eyes.
She scoffed in defiance. "You're right. What's the point in drinking? I'm going to talk to some food about this," she said as she removed her hand out of his grasp and headed downstairs towards the kitchen. Fang made no effort to follow her.
Or you could talk to me, he thought, quickly ridding the notion from his head as quickly as it had appeared. Fang looked up, feeling nervous. Someone was definitely watching him. On the third floor stair railing was a random girl standing next to Michael. Huh. Good for him. The girl gave Fang a wave as Michael gave him a thumbs up. Fang just nodded and turned around, ruffling his hair.
He needed a drink - no - a smoke. Then he'd be just fine. But then who would take care of Max? He growled in annoyance as he stalked off to find the crazy girl again.
Ig's plan was working perfectly…except for the fact that he couldn't find Nudge anywhere. He had been searching for her since the first moment he and Michael had arrived to Bogey's mansion. But that was over an hour ago. He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. Where was she?
As if God was answering his prayer, Ig spotted Nudge coming down the stairs. He smiled shyly as he walked forward, feeling slightly nervous. She looked so beautiful and pure right then…like an angel.
But before Ig could even take a step towards her, he saw that wiener Sam pull his arm around Nudge. As if on cue, Nudge's eyes met with Ig's for a brief second before diverting her gaze back to Sam. It was then, as he watched Sam whisper in Nudge's ear that Iggy knew: she never liked him; never even wanted him. She didn't care about the precious 40 minutes they spent everyday together in Computer Science. She didn't curse the days off of school like Iggy did, knowing it was just another day he wouldn't be able to see his lab partner. She probably didn't even remember that they were supposed to meet that Sunday to work on their project.
Ig took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He felt dumb and uncomfortable just standing in the middle of the dancing pit, staring at Nudge and Sam. But he couldn't help it. It was almost as if his heart was being wrenched out from his body and then butchered into a thousand pieces.
Disappointed, Iggy trudged up the stairs away from the couple and stopped when he reached a small table with drinks laid out. He tentatively grabbed a shot glass and stared down at its contents only to see thee image of Nudge's smiling face. Ig took a deep breath. She was happy right? Wasn't that was all that mattered? With that thought in his mind, Ig poured the contents of the shot glass out into the small trash bin beside the table and walked away. He had to find Fang and Michael. The plan had to be called off.
Nudge was not having a good time. She felt like if she looked up the word egotistical and annoying right then in the dictionary, Sam's picture would show up underneath both of them. Did he really think she was interested in hearing about how great he was at sports, or did he just love to hear himself talk? Nudge was putting her money on the second one.
The night had only gotten worse when Sam got incredibly drunk:
Sam slung his arm around Nudge's neck for the twentieth time that night, his breath reeking with alcohol. Did he think she was his personal arm rest? Nudge wanted more than anything to escape.
"Heyyyy babe. I got four words for youuu: Hol-i-day Inn!" Nudge rolled her eyes and squirmed out of his embrace. That was just about the worst pick-up line she had ever heard. What was this, Jerry Springer? She had to find Ashley and leave ASAP.
Nudge left Sam and his friends and headed upstairs. She'd start with the bedrooms and then look down from the third floor staircase railing. A bird's eye view of the party would easily help her find Ash.
Nudge surveyed the mosh pit, only to link eyes with Ig. He was standing right in the center of the dance floor, staring up at her with a look of…regret? Misery? Nudge couldn't tell. She quickly looked away, too ashamed to even think about him. Just then, Nudge spotted Ashley coming out of one of the bathrooms, wiping away a few lipstick smudges.
"Is it just me, or is does this party all of a sudden suck?" Nudge asked, taking Ashley's arm and heading for the stairs.
"Nudge, it's only 11:15. Did you expect a ride back this early?" Ashley asked in disbelief. Before Nudge could answer, a voice yelled from behind them.
"Ash, where you going?"
Nudge glanced behind her friend to see Ty, a friend of Sam's, coming out of the same bathroom Ashley had also exited from. Woah.
Ashley looked over her shoulder and gave a little smile. "I'll be right there!" She then turned to Nudge, "Sorry hun, but I think you're going to have to find your own ride back. I might not leave for sometime," she added suggestively, smiling a bit before squeezing Nudge's hand and returning to Ty.
Nudge scoffed in disbelief. Bitch. What ever happened to Sisters before Misters or Chicks before Dicks? She shook her head in annoyance and decided to return down the stairs.
So here Nudge was, roaming the party in search of Max because everyone else in her life seemed to have let her down. Hearing excited shouts and howls, Nudge looked back into the room where she had left Sam only to find him shirtless and stripping in front of a large crowd. She rolled her eyes. Who cared about abs when he had the personality equivalent to a piece of cardboard? Nudge moved onto the next room only to see Max completely intoxicated and being carried out by Iggy's guy. Well, there went her ride.
Iggy found Fang on the second floor, making his way down the stairs. He took a deep breath and pulled Fang aside towards the railing, ready to just bluntly tell him the truth.
"Fang, the deals off. Forget it," he said, trying to hide his disappointment. Fang searched through the mosh pit below, not even looking as Ig spoke. Was he even listening to him?
"What are you talking about?" he finally shouted back, glancing at Ig for a brief second before returning his gaze below.
"She never wanted me. She wanted Sam the whole time," Ig replied, feeling like a total idiot. Maybe he should've taken that shot of tequila…
"Iggy," Fang said, taking him by the shoulders and finally giving him his full attention. "Do you like the girl?" he asked, staring him dead in the eye. The terrible rap music roared throughout the whole house so that Ig barely heard the question.
"Well, yes." Ig shouted, trying to be heard above the music. The only problem was that Nudge didn't like him.
"And is she worth going through all this trouble?" Fang added, making Iggy second-guess himself.
"Well, I thought she was," he replied in frustration. Fang wasn't paying him any of his attention anymore.
"Look Ig. She either is or she isn't. Firstly, Sam isn't half the man you are. Secondly, don't let anyone make you feel that you don't deserve what you want. Go for her!" Fang shouted, leaving Ig with that thought as he raced down the steps.
Iggy's eyes followed Fang's movement until he saw him reach an intoxicated Max who was making her way through the crowds. As he rubbed his temples, he took a deep breath. Was Nudge worth it?
Fang tried to grab the shot glass from Max's hand when he finally found her. He didn't know how many she had had, but judging from her lack of coordination and her drunken stumbling, he guessed it was quite a few. Was this girl psycho? She pushed him out of her way when he tried to reach for her glass again.
"Get your own," she slurred in annoyance before continuing past him. Fang clenched his jaw. He was not in the mood for babysitting. He quickly turned around and caught Max's shoulder just before she could walk into a wall. Before she could protest anymore, he then lifted her up and slung her over his shoulder. Oof. What did this girl eat? Rocks?
Fang retained a stoic façade as he headed for the front door as crowds throughout the entire house cheered him on and wolf whistled.
"You know, contrary to common belief, this is just about the worst and most vexatious means to carry someone," Max lazily drawled when Fang exited the house. He huffed as he dumped her on some lawn across from Bogey's house. Wasn't she ever the complainer?
"Leave it to you to use big words when you're smashed," he mumbled, throwing himself down next to her. He felt exhausted and terribly responsible for Max's drunken state.
He heard Max hiccup and turned his head towards her. "Why are you even doing this?" she asked, looking up at him drowsily. Fang scratched his head in reply, not even sure of his own intentions. Money. Yeah, that was it.
"Well, you did drink a lakes worth of tequila," he answered as Max hoisted herself up to a sitting position and leaned against her palms.
She scoffed. "Like you care?"
"Sure I do," he answered absently, staring at Bogey's party from across the street. He briefly wondered how Ig was doing with Nudge before Max brought him back to reality.
"Why?" she demanded, staring at him. Fang refused to feel uncomfortable by all the questions she was shooting out at him.
"Because then I'd have to start taking out girls who actually like me," he joked, prodding her forehead with his index finger. She snorted in response.
"Like you could find any?" she quipped, rubbing her temple and giving him a dirty look.
"Oh, see that there. Who needs affection when I have blind hatred? I mean, ever thought that maybe I was completely and irrevocably in love with you?" he teased, anticipating her reaction. Maybe going to this party wasn't completely a bad idea.
"Oh…um, okay," Max answered quietly, staring at the grass before her with such interest, refusing to look at him.
What? She was actually going to accept what he said without a fight? He was sure there would be some epic battle, massive bloodshed, and tears of mayhem. This was a certainly a new alternative.
"You believe me?" Fang asked in surprise.
Max laughed and turned to look at him. "How could I not when you're batting those Maybelline lashes at me?" Oh. So she was just joking. Never mind. Same old Max.
Fang chuckled to himself and met eyes with the girl beside him. She tilted her head sideways as she absentmindedly stared at him.
"Hey. Your eyes have a little green in them," she said softly, giving him a little smile. Fang returned the gesture and chuckled to himself. This girl…
As Max took a few deep breaths, Fang glance up at the night sky. Tonight wasn't too bad. Plus, Sam had offered him an extra 30 dollars for all his troubles. Content, he turned to find Max leaning towards him, her face looking a bit strangled. What was up with her?
Fang didn't fully register what was happening until Max heaved her all dinner out onto his lap. Smelling the rancid vomit that reminded him of vanilla and rotten cherries, Fang pursed his lips. Great. Just great.
"Some party huh?" Ig asked miserably as he passed Nudge beside the front door. He couldn't stand being here anymore. What a complete waste of his time.
As he exited the house, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Nudge bite the bottom of her lip nervously. Please say my name. Please remember my name. Please say my name, he chanted, hoping his thoughts would magically be acted upon.
"Hey Ig?" Nudge called out nervously. Iggy closed his eyes for a brief second and thanked the heavens for answering his prayer. He turned around nonchalantly, trying to look casual and unaffected.
"Yeah?" he answered coolly, not wanting to seem too hopeful. He was going for a Oh. You. Lab partner. Hey, what's up? kind of look but instead felt like a complete idiot.
"Um, do you think you can give me a lift home?" she asked nervously. Ig wasn't sure if he should shoot her down or accept gladly. Was this a sign? He sure hoped so.
"So why'd you let him get to you?" Fang asked, driving behind the wheel of Max's car. Would he let her intoxicated self drive home? Not a chance.
"Who, Sam?" Max asked, exhausted. When Fang nodded, she took a deep breath and continued. "I hate him."
Fang couldn't help but agree. Not only was Sam a total tool, but he had also compelled Max to drink the whole house dry. She was just so stubborn and dumb sometimes.
After a moment of silence, Max turned on her car stereo to some mix CD she had. "I should do this," she said, nodding her head as if agreeing to her own idea.
"What, start a band?" he asked. Yeah, he could see that. Max could be the lead singer of a screamo band.
"No install car stereos," she answered sarcastically. "Yeah, start a band. My father would just loooove that." Fang furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"Why, what's up with your father?" Fang asked. He knew Max's dad was a missionary, but he didn't know much else about him.
"Jeb just…" Max started, a bit hesitant. "He just doesn't know what he wants. He wants to be at home with me and Nudge but he wants to go out a save the world one lost soul at a time. He wishes my mother didn't die, but he knows it was all part of God's plan. He wants me to be more like Nudge, but he doesn't want me to completely lead a teenage life." Max answered, her face flushed from her little speech. Fang nodded in understanding. He then pulled up to her house and cut the engine, silence blanketing their surroundings.
"Maybe he's just scared. Like, he's afraid he'll completely loose all the people and things that are important in his life." Wow. Who knew he was so philosophical? Feeling accomplished, Fang searched Max's face to see her reaction.
She snorted and furrowed her eyebrows. Uh-oh. "What, so now you think you know me?"
"No, but I'm getting there," he replied. At this, Max's expression softened and she stared into his "greenish" dark eyes. What did he know about her? He knew she drooled in her sleep, was a fierce sarcastic fighter (possibly due to when her mother died), played soccer and the guitar, loved cheese as well as alternative music, and hated conformists. Some list right?
"Look," he added, trying to break the strange yet comfortable silence that had ensued. "I know everyone 'digs' your sister, but…she's without." Did he seriously just say that? Oh God. Had he just indirectly complimented her? Why was he fighting this anyways? Afterall, didn't he think it was true? Max was different compared to Nudge. In fact, she was different from all the girls he met. And different was always better.
Max gave him a little smile. "You know, you aren't as vile as I thought you were." Fang chuckled in return. What was that supposed to mean?
This last functioning thought soon fled from his mind when Max closed her eyes and slowly leaned towards him. Was she going to puke on him again? But wait. This seemed way too familiar. Different girls flashed through his mind as he stared at Max's lips. Did she actually want to kiss him? With a girl like Max, he kind of expected her to not even think of guys as romantic figures; rather as…rocks and mountains. Oh, god. Did he just make a Jane Austen reference?
Fang shook his head, trying to stop all the questions and doubts that reeled through his mind. He focused back on Max and was surprised to find himself gently gazing at her face. He wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or the dark "moody" lighting, but at that moment, Max looked like…a girl. Without her tough armor on, Max was indeed beautiful. This scared Fang the most. His revelation seemed to humanize her and thoughts of her no longer evoked money signs. Fang took a silent deep breath, feeling a bit nervous. Riding on that fear, he took Max's shoulders in his hands and leaned in.
Hi there. So as weird as it seems, I have a little character-crush on Michael and I think he deserves to be happy (not that being happy requires a "soul mate"). But would it be overkill if I set him an J.J. up? Just a little food for thought. Hope yal enjoyed.
FEATURED MUSIC: Tegan and Sara - Feel it in My Bones