I laid Max down onto the ground in the forest.
"Nudge, I called, hand me those bandages."
She frowned at me.
*Sigh*"Please?"
She smiled and walked over. I took the bandages from her and unwound them. Then I realized the embarrassing task I was faced with… I had to remove Max's shirt to bandage the wound.
I let out a sigh and told the others to go to sleep. (To my own horror,) they all declined my kind offer. Angel sat beside me innocently, whilst Gazzy and Iggy rested over by the rocks uncaring. Nudge's knees were Max's (awkward) pillows for the moment.
"Angel, I said, would you mind- looking away?"
She looked at me unknowing and then obliged.
I took a deep breath and began pulling her shirt up. I got to about her belly button before realizing Nudge's eyes were locked on me in disbelief.
"It has to be done if I'm going to bandage her." I said coolly trying to sound as though I knew exactly what to do. Nudge looked at me skeptically as if to say, yeah-right.
I felt my face get hot with embarrassment. Its just Max! Get over yourself Fang!
I pulled it up to her ribcage (as I promised myself I would) and saw the wound. Well actually, it looked like it had healed itself, but there was still a large laceration and dry, coppery blood on her shirt.
I pulled her waist off the ground and closer to me only to get more of Nudge's disbelieving stare burned into my skull. I started to wrap the bandages around her waist. I heard Max let out a small whimper as my fingers traced the wound one last time before I set her down. I would never do that again. Never.
I told Angel to go to the pond just outside and wash her shirt (which I had successfully pulled all the way off, revealing a regular tank top.). Of course I had to cut the tank top so that it didn't graze over her wound, so now it was more of a tube top with straps.
I lit a fire and sent everyone off to bed. I sat beside Max for a good two hours by the trees just outside the cave, wondering if she would wake up. For a while, I just sort of watched her breathing. It made me feel calm. And then I heard her voice.
"Fang…" she said calmly.
"Yeah, Max? You see? I told you we'd find a place to sleep."
"Did you take off my shirt?" She asked in disbelief.
"Heh… Sorta- only so I could bandage that pesky wound though."
"Is that so?" she asked me- I saw her starting to blush, despite her best attempts to not show it.
"Is the flock okay?" She asked
I grinned at her. That's my Max.
"Is that all you want to know? You don't want to know how we got here- what we did before? Nothing?"
"You sound disappointed. Did I miss something?"
"Not a thing."
"Liar."
"What?"
She punched me in the arm.
"Ouch!" I said jokingly.
"Oh shut up." She closed her eyes for a moment, and then opened them to the dark night sky again.
"Do they know?"
I moved a little closer to her and reached my hands under her head- and lifted her head onto my lap.
"Do you want to talk?"
"Oh please," She said, "I'd rather give Total a bath."
I ruffled her hair and let her rest her head in my lap, while I leaned against a nice wide tree. The sky had spots of glowing stars- the most beautiful night sky I had ever seen. Plus I had Max with me. Nothing could've made it better.
"Tell me." She said.
I looked down at her and gave her a little grin again.
"Now you want to know?"
"I just want to know you didn't scar the flock for life."
"Alright. This is what happened."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Wow…" Max said, staring speechlessly into the night sky.
"Yeah."
"Angel- said…"
I knew she'd love that part.
"Don't even pretend you weren't there. You told me not to think she was naïve, remember?"
"Yeah well-."
"Max."
She looked up at me with her perfectly auburn eyes. I'd never tell her she was pretty. Mostly because I thought she was the most beautiful girl I had ever set eyes on. Including that stupidly pretty girl, Lissa (though Max had a wonderful nickname for her; The red haired wonder.) Including the pretty Ms. Brigid Dwyer. She was pretty too, though she was kind of 7 years older then I was. Whoops.
"Yeah…Fang?"
I wanted to kiss her again so badly. Just plant my lips on her own- taste the same taste- feel the same soft touch- feel the same rush- but you know me- I'm the quiet mysterious one. I wouldn't be me if I let everyone know how I felt. I'm not that easy of a target.
I smiled softly at her. I couldn't kiss her again- she'd have that pain again. Or at least- that's what I thought.
"Fang- I"
"Max. You don't need to speak. You might want to catch up on your sleep."
"-I wanted to thank you."
I looked at her quizzically.
"You went through a lot of trouble for me. I'm sorry I did that- I mean, I didn't mean to ruin everyone's evening by bleeding all over the place."
We exchanged friendly laughter. I stroked her mane of light brown hair. It resembled that of espresso with a little hint of cream.
"Max, I began softly, you know if you weren't around to cause trouble for me, I'd be bored all the time. You know me. I'd never tell you that you were a hindrance. Ever."
I saw tears well in her eyes. Not the reaction I expected, but I'm glad she got what I meant.
"Fang…" She whispered
"Sleep, Max. It'll be morning soon. You need rest."
She nodded but didn't move from my lap. I let her stay there. To be honest- I kind of hoped she wouldn't move.
I hesitated, but at the moment I knew she was asleep, I kissed her forehead tenderly to relieve the tension I felt. I saw a smile trace her lips. Okay so she wasn't totally asleep- but it worked out. Sort of.
"G'night Fang." She whispered softly.
She reached up and gripped my hand tenderly. I let a hand stroke her mane of dirty blonde hair.
"G'night Max."
