Heyyy guyyys :D *avoids pelting of rocks and sticks* Sooooooooo I could go on this huge rant on how sorry I am for not updating in likeeeeee…..a longgg time. I'M SO SORRY! :( There's been a lot of work lately and I was supremely swamped with all my stupid homework. Sooooo to make up for it (if it's possible) I wrote a kind of extra-ish long chapter? :D Also, a benefit is that I've just started my March break (YESS!) and I'll get more time to update! YAY! :D

Soooo, enjoy and tell me what you think!

January 18
2:38pm

Snow swirled from the pewter coloured skies and added to the knee high pile of snow that blanketed the Martinez house, driveway and surrounding houses. A gusty wind blew furiously, whistling through the chimney and causing the fire to flicker before resuming its merry blaze.

In front of the fireplace on the carpet lay two people, the girl tucked neatly between the boy's legs, resting against his chest. They were both holding mugs of hot chocolate and handfuls of marshmallows bobbed on the top. The boy had a lock of her dirty blonde hair in his grasp, twirling it and watching as the fire light caught the strands, turning them a shimmery gold.

He bent his head, pressing his lips to her the crown of her head as she snuggled deeper into his warm embrace around her. A sigh was exhaled as his lips trailed small pecks down her jaw line. He grinned as she pouted when he drew back.

"Fang!" she whined, squirming in his unbreakable hold on her. He smirked, and Max's heart skipped a beat. His smirk always made her do that.

Not to mention whenever he looked at her. Didn't matter if it was a quick look passed between them on their way to another class at school or if it was a full eyes burning into hers when they were alone.

Deep down, she felt silly about the effect he had on her. When had she become such a wimp? She never expressed mushy emotions…but that all changed when she was with him. All she wanted to do was blurt out all of her wishes and dreams about their future; of her feelings for him and her hope that he felt the same.

Of course, she hid that all from him; pushed deep and far into the back of her brain; ignored the little voice telling her, "You love him! Tell him you love him!" No, instead, she was the same indestructible Max that liked to be boss and didn't mind spending time with Fang, her best friend and ish-boyfriend….? That worried her.

Despite their many kisses and fond touches; a brush across her cheek, hand holding; an arm around her waist…they had never discussed what they were.

Were they boyfriend and girlfriend? Or was this just a fling? She hoped it wasn't. She hoped to God it wasn't. She loved him and she knew it. She just couldn't say it out loud.

A nudge from said boyfriend-ish brought her back from her whirling thoughts, as she turned around and looked into his handsome face that was graced by a small smile as he asked her what she was thinking about. The words crossed through her mind and were out her mouth before she even realized what she had said.

"I love you."

A shocked silence quickly ensued. Immediately, her face turned plum red and she scrambled out of his lap, tears stinging her eyes as she replayed the embarrassing moment in her head, over and over. But it was hurt that overwhelmed all other emotions, as she dashed away from the room. He hadn't said anything back, was all that echoed in her mind. She was on the third step of the staircase when a firm grip on her arm stopped her.

"Let go of me," she squeezed out through gritted teeth, willing the tears that stung her eyes to not drip down her cheeks. He didn't let go, but instead drew her toward him until she was once again, firmly pressed against his chest. She looked away from him and was mortified to find fat salty tears rolling down her cheeks. "Look at me." His voice was low but gentle.

When she didn't, he tilted her chin up with strong fingers, forcing her to look into his dark eyes. She closed her eyes, unwilling to look at him. He kissed her eyelids, feather light touches, before smoothing them open and gripping the sides of her face, so she was looking directly at him.

His eyes were not filled with disgust nor pity…it was filled with something that was much stronger. Love. And a hint of hurt. With cool fingers, he wiped away the last remnants of her tears. What he said next was loud and carefully spoken, emphasizing every word clearly. "Max, I love you." And instantly, her heart shattered and re-mended itself.

She wrenched away from his tight grip on her, getting a few paces away from him. She swallowed thickly, before harshly saying, "If you mean it as a joke, it's not funny." Fang's mouth dropped open in surprise. He strode toward with long strides and was there before she could move.

He gripped her shoulders, his eyes burning deep into hers. "Maximum Ride. I love you. You can either deny it but you know it. I know it. I've known it ever since we turned 14 and you had that Valium accident when you told me you loved me. I love you, you stubborn idiot. I love you…" His voice broke off, as he neared the end of his sentence. Max flushed at the mention of the Valium incident.

She had broken her wrist and had a dose of Valium to ease the pain. No one had ever mentioned that it made you spill your feelings! She had blurted out that she loved Fang and according to what Fang relayed back to her the next day with a shit-eating grin on his face, she had spread her arms out as wide as they could go said she loved him much.

"Do you mean it?" Fang rolled his eyes, before bending down and covering his lips with her as if daring her to contradict him. When they broke apart, she bit her lip before looking back at him. He was grinning, the widest smile she had ever seen on his face. It was contagious. Before long, she broke out into a full blown out smile.

"I'm such an idiot," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around him. He simply shook his head before tugging her back to the fireplace. He knew how much pride and dignity it took her to admit that. When they were settled, he whispered into her ear.

"I know that you don't like sharing all this mushy stuff…but with me, Max…you can share anything with me." "…That was such a cheesy line," she said, grinning. Fang grimaced. "I know." She laughed before cozying up to him, his arms wrapping around her and he tugged a blanket from a nearby armchair, covering them both up as they fell asleep in each other's arms.

January 31
3:19pm

Fang tried not to smirk as he watched a flailing Iggy being rapidly buried under a pile of wet snow by the too-willing Gazzy and Nudge. Angel was nearby, bundled in a neon pink coat and a thick white scarf with matching mitts and hat. She was busy rolling the head of her mini snowman, having already asked Max to roll two larger snowballs for her.

She caught his glance and smiled sweetly, her blond curls wet from the fluttering snowflakes that drifted down slowly from the pewter coloured sky. Fang himself was not doing any of those snow activities but instead was perched on one of the alternating levels of branches of a massive old chestnut tree.

He was wearing—let's all guess!—all black; black jacket, jeans, shoes, black scarf and gloves. He stood out like a polar bear among fat pigs. Like a zebra among dark coloured horses. Like a—okay, you get the point. He idly let his gaze wander away from the frolicking Flock and toward the rest of the snow covered acres that made up Dr. M's backyard.

"Hey." A familiar voice called from behind him. He stiffened before recognizing the voice and answered without turning around. "Hey." There were the scratchy sounds of rubber against the rough bark before the figure of Max plopped down beside him, swinging her legs from the branch.

He turned to look at his girlfriend—God, he felt a warm feeling spread through him when he called or thought of her as his girlfriend—and appraised her winter wear.

A thin jacket and grey skinny jeans tucked into knee high boots. No sight of a scarf or gloves. She shivered slightly but hunched her shoulders and looked out over the yard at the rest of the Flock. "Aren't you cold?" he asked. Max shrugged. "Gaz couldn't find his scarf so I lent him mine." Without a word, Fang unraveled the long scarf around his neck and gently reached over to wrap it around Max, her hair shining gold against the dark fabric.

She looked at him with surprise before a faint blush settled over her cheeks. "Thanks," she murmured as she tightened it around her. Fang smirked. "Anything for my girlfriend who loves me much."

Max was felt a warm tingling sensation wash over her at the word "girlfriend" directed at her. Then she realized what he'd said after girlfriend. In an instant, Max had tackled him out of the tree and to the ground. Good thing the snow's pretty thick, thought Fang as he groaned underneath the weight of Max falling onto him.

"I didn't mean that!" She said her cheeks red and eyes blazing. Fang grinned. "Sure, whatever you say. You sure seemed to mean it twice, once during the Valium thing and second, a few weeks ago."

Max gave an infuriated screech before proceeding to shove a mound of wet snow into his face, making sure that no part of his face escaped from the frosty wetness. She got up and stomped off.

Fang lay still for a moment, the feel of icy rivulets of water dripping down the collar of his jacket before springing back up and catching her arm and whirling her around to face him. "Don't be mad. You know I love you." His declaration was bold and she flushed again, fidgeting.

They had swapped "I love you's" in the most awkwardest way ever a few weeks ago but things had gotten back to normal…although it always made one of them a little uncomfortable when one of them said "I love you."

As he was about to release her, she let one arm wrap around his neck and bring his head down to hers, connecting their mouths. "I love you too." He relaxed and pulled her closer. Their kiss was unfortunately interrupted by a barrage of large snowballs flung at high speed at them. Raucous laughter from the Flock made them draw apart, though Max noticed with a small smile that Fang still kept one arm wrapped tight against her waist.

Fang groaned mentally. He loved the Flock but they also managed to barge in right when he and Max were having….a moment. God, when had he become such a sap? Iggy taunted them. "Aww, are Max and Fangypoo having a cute little moment?" Fang shot him a discreet finger while Max glared at Iggy.

Angel and Nudge giggled. "We have a special surprise for you guys." Uh oh, thought Fang. This doesn't sound very good. In an instant, the Flock had surrounded the two, a heft wet snowball in each of their hands. "Fire!" shouted Gazzy, a wicked grin on his cherubic face.

Fang spun on his heel, still clutching Max's hand. Max gave a bright laugh before tugging Fang along with her through the snow. They ducked through bushes, weaving through the branches. Behind them, the Flock chased them pelting them with snowballs. Soon both were sopping wet, Fang's hair pasted to his forehead, water trickling down his face. Breathless, Max yanked them both behind a large tree.

"..Hah..that..was..really—that was a close call," panted Max. Fang nodded in agreement, trying not to flinch when he felt a clump of particularly icy snow down his back. Fang peered around the tree trunk. No sign of the Flock anywhere. "Fang…" He turned around and was startled to see Max's rosy face inches away from his own. "Um..Max. I—"

"That was a really close call, don't you think, Fang?" Fang nodded uncertainly, unsure of what Max was getting at. Her eyes sparkled mischievously. "But not as close as this." And before Fang could react, Max had a large snowball in her hand and smashed it directly into Fang's shocked face. "Max!" Fang roared and Max laughed, darting away and reappearing just as quickly with the rest of the Flock each holding more snowballs.

Okay so how was that for an apology? :D Okay, do you think that it was too early for the three words *hint hint hint*? :D REVIEW PLEASE! Anddd I promise that I won't take forever again to update. I swear. :D REVIEW! :)

-goldensunflowers