Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Maximum Ride characters, all of that is owned by the wonderful James Patterson

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Chapter 7

I sat on my bed awhile thinking about Fang. I had forgiven Dylan, so shouldn't I forgive him too? I mean sure he was the one who threw the punch that hit me but it wasn't his fault, I had gotten in the way, it was my fault.

And what was I going to do about Dylan? I wasn't sure I loved him, I mean sure I was attracted to him but that was lust, not love. I just got so caught up in the moment and responded, and I think maybe it was a mistake. I mean just a couple days ago I wanted to kiss Fang, but then I end up kissing Dylan. What is wrong with me?

I made my decision quickly, I would forgive Fang, and I wanted to tell him in person. I decided that tomorrow I would go over to his house and make him speak to me, whether he liked it or not.


When my family came home they were still talking excitedly about the movie they had seen. Something about a girl and a quest, I think Angel kept mentioning magic. I stood there and listened to them and offered all the right comments and observations, but my heart wasn't in it. Jeb seemed to notice my mood and told the others to leave me alone for the night. They complied, but not without several grumbles under their breath.

"Thanks Jeb" I called out. He nodded at me and continued walking to his room.

"Goodnight Max." he whispered shutting his door for the night.


"Morning everyone!" I said brightly as I walked into the kitchen the next morning. A chorus of good mornings echoed back to me.

"Well you seem awfully chipper today." Nudge said eyeing me suspiciously.

"What can I say, for once I'm a morning person." I told her, shrugging my shoulders.

"Yeah, for once." Gazzy mumbled under his breath. I narrowed my eyes at him but he just smiled at me, acting all innocent.

"Okay, I can see I'm not welcomed here so I'm leaving, I'll see you all later." I said, trying halfheartedly to walk out of the kitchen without anyone stopping me.

"Not so fast Max." Jeb called out. I groaned and rolled my eyes, turning around to face him.

"Where are you going? Who are you going to see?" he asked me seriously.

"Oh relax Jeb, I'm just going to see my friend Iggy, we have a science project to finish." I reassured him. I hoped he wouldn't notice the fact my voice cracked a little during my flat out lie.

"I guess that's okay. Just don't do anything stupid okay Max?" he begged me. I looked at him for a second; he really seemed worried about me.

"I won't" I promised seriously. He went back to cooking breakfast and I used that opportunity to make my escape.


Fangs house wasn't very far from mine, only about a thirty minute walk. Luckily it was a nice day so I didn't mind the walk.

And if you're wondering how I know where Fang lives, let's just say Ella isn't very quiet about her personal life with Iggy.

I arrived there around eleven, walking right up to the front door and pausing. I didn't know what would happen after I knocked, but I knew I had to try. So I sucked in a breath, closed my eyes, and knocked hard.

I waited for what seemed like a millennium but soon I heard someone coming down the stairs towards the door. I took a step back and tried to look presentable. The door opened.

"Whoever it is, just know I have a bat hidden somewhere in this house and I'm not afraid to use it." yelled someone from behind the door.

"Hey Iggy, it's me, Max." I told him stifling a laugh at his outrageous door opening response.

"Oh hey Max, what are you doing here?" he asked me, finally stepping out from behind the door and motioning for me to come into the house.

"I actually came to see Fang, is he here?" I inquired. Iggy paused, I could tell he didn't want to respond, he finished shutting the door and then he spoke.

"He's here, but he's not really up for visitors." he told me, choosing his words carefully.

"It will only take a second, you can just tell him I snuck past you." I offered. Iggy grimaced at me, thinking hard about what to do.

"Come on Iggy, pleeeeaaase, I have to make things right." I begged him. I shook his head.

"Fine, but tell him I at least put up a fight." he told me, walking away from me.

"You have yourself a deal." I called out behind him. When he was out of sight I turned towards the stairs and started taking them two at a time.

I got to the top of the hallway and swung a right, three rooms down I finally came to a door painted completely black, immediately I knew it was Fang's.

I knocked loudly twice.

There was no answer.

I knocked again.

Still no answer.

Finally I got so irritated that without thinking I just grabbed the door handle and walked in.

The first thing I thought upon walking in was, dark. The shades were closed and the curtains were drawn tight, blocking out all sunlight. The walls were painted a dark grey, giving the room and even more depressed feel. My eyes skirted over the bed and noticed the black covers and black sheets. After looking a little closer I realized there was a person still wrapped up in those sheets.

"Go away Iggy, I don't want anything." a voice mumbled.

"It's not Iggy." I told the body.

The person sat up and turned around to look at me, eyes widening in shock.

"Where's Iggy?" he asked me, slightly anxious.

"He tried to stop me but I managed to get past him." I explained, quickly remembering my deal with Iggy.

Fang just stared at me in shock; it was almost like he thought I wasn't really there, just a crazy dream, or maybe a nightmare.

"We need to talk Fang." I whispered coming to sit beside him on the bed. He shook his head fast scooting away from me, pressing up against the wall. I looked at him, really looked at him and truly noticed how bad he looked. His hair was greasy and limp, his eyes looked dead, and he had dark circles under his eyes.

"Are you okay?" I whispered, reaching out to place my hand on his knee. He flinched from my touch.

"Max, I need you to leave." Fang told me, trying hard not to look at me.

"Fang, I just want you to know I forgive you, it was an accident what happened and I don't blame you, it's not your fault." I explained to him, willing him to look at me.

"Max, I hurt you, I literally punched you, and how can I live with myself knowing I did that?" he spoke softly.

"I'm okay Fang, there's a bruise but it will heal, I don't want you to beat yourself up like this, I forgive you." I told him.

"How can you forgive me!" he suddenly yelled, rising from the bed and pacing the floor of his bedroom.

"Because you're a good person Fang! And I know you didn't mean to!" I yelled back standing up as well.

He didn't speak for a while, just kept pacing the floor, finally I just grabbed his arm with both of my hands and forced him to stop pacing and just look at me.

"I forgive you. Now you need to forgive yourself." I said softly. He looked into my eyes, his dark grey ones filled with such guilt and sadness.

"You're everything to me Max." he whispered placing his hand gently on my cheek.

"And I'm okay Fang. I need for you to forgive yourself." I said reaching up to hold his hand against my cheek. He stared into my eyes a little longer and then nodded.

"Good." I told him gently. He slowly removed his hand from my cheek and sat back down on his bed, I sat next to him. Neither one of us moved for the longest time, without thinking I laid my head on his shoulder. Fang inhaled sharply but didn't move away. Quietly he reached over and grabbed both of my hands, intertwining them with his. We both breathed softly, trying not to disturb the moment, neither one of us talking.

And that's how we stayed for a long, long time.