Thank you to everyone who reads my story and an extra thanks to people who review! In fact, give yourself a pat on the back…you know you wanna. I really appreciate it! (WHOA TOO CORNY AND SENTIMENTAL FOR ME! UGH…) Anyways…ENJOY!

Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride

FPOV

"Whoa, Fang! Didn't know your emo clothes took up soo much space," Iggy joked from where he was standing by his car.

Gazzy, Iggy, and I were packing up the cars to head back to Arizona U. I grunted as I tried to get a better grip on the three Louis Vuitton bags that Lissa just had to bring.

"Fuck you," I replied as I set her luggage down and opened the trunk. I hoisted Lissa's crap into the back and wondered how we got her stuff and everyone else's bags to fit on the way down.

I was ruthlessly shoving her bags in when I heard her high-pitched voice yell at me from the front door, "Be careful! That is Louis Vuitton and probably cost more than your stupid car,"

"And it probably cost more than my nose job too," Gazzy screeched in a perfect imitation of Lissa's nasally voice.

Iggy and he slapped high fives and I couldn't help the smirk that crept onto my face. Gazzy looked over to Lissa to see her face as red as her hair. He stopped laughing abruptly and went back to hauling bags into Iggy's car.

After a few grunts and a lot of thinking, I was able to fit Lissa's bag neatly into the back like a puzzle. Now to get Max's bag…

I walked up the stairs and turned into Max's room. I saw her throw all her clothes from her drawers onto her bed and stuff them carelessly into her suitcase and duffel bag.

I silently stepped into her room and shut the door. I've been known to creep around and sneak up behind people undetected. So using my psychedelic (ooo BIG WORD) skills, I walked up behind Max. She was leaning over her suit case when she straightened up, no doubt sensing my presence.

Before she could turn around, I wrapped my arms around her waist and secured her to my chest. "You almost packed?" I asked, burying my face into her hair that smelt like strawberries.

"Does it look like I'm packed, genius?" she replied sarcastically.

"Nope," I said, popping the 'p'. I brushed her hair to one side and started to kiss up and down her neck. She sighed in contempt, which made me smirk.

"Fang," she whispered as she turned in my arms. She placed her hands on my chest to put distance between our torsos, but I kept her hips to mine.

I tried to hide the disappointment from my face, but she must have seen it because she laughed. "You didn't lock the door," she whispered again.

I looked over my shoulder and sure enough, the door was unlocked. I turned to her to see her smiling at me, but before I could say anything she slipped out of my arms. "I'm almost finished, and then you can take my bags," she said over her shoulder.

I sighed, but stood next to her and started shoving clothes into her bags. I really couldn't wait till I could hold Max and not worry if people will see us. Well, that'll all change tonight because after we get back from the trip, I'm going to end things with Lissa.

I am both eager and worried about breaking up with Lissa. Plus side, I can be with Max. Negative side, Lissa gives me permanent brain damage from screaming and repeatedly in the head…I wouldn't put it past Lissa to get physical. Then again, I doubt she'd be able to do damage.

We were packing in silence when I decided to break it, "What are you doing tonight?" I asked abruptly.

Max stopped what she was doing and turned her head to face me. I kept packing her stuff and after a second she did too. Out of the corner of my eye I saw her shrug, "Got a hot date with a guy name Steve,"

"That's too bad because I was hoping you'd have dinner with me tonight," I answered with a shrug.

Once again, Max stopped packing and looked at me, but this time I looked right back. If you were to ask me 'what was the one thing I loved the most about Max?' I would say it'd have be her chocolate brown eyes. I could just stare into them all day and unlock all the secrets she is hiding from the rest of the world.

"You serious?" she asked, shock coloring her voice.

"Yeah," I said in a 'duh' voice.

In the next moment I was on the bed and Max was on top of me. It took me a second to put together the fact that Max actually tackled me. In my defense I was taken by surprise, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to move this impenetrable wall of muscle…I'm referring to myself if you haven't caught on people in the back.

"Jeez, Max. If I didn't know better, I'd say you'd been eating nothing, but bricks," I said looking up to her smiling face. I found myself smiling despite my whole impassive façade.

She rolled her eyes at me, but the smile hadn't left her face. "Like a date?" she asked, ignoring my comment before.

I caught a loose lock of her sun streaked brown hair between my fingers and tucked it behind her ear before confirming, "Like a date,"

"I guess I can cancel on Steve, although he'll be heartbroken." She said thoughtfully.

I rolled us over so she was under me and kissed her softly on the lips. "Mmmm, I guess it's his loss," I mumbled against her lips.

"We should finish packing," she said with a kiss between each word.

I groaned, but pushed off the bed. I was almost in a sitting position when Max grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled me down to her. "I said we should, not that we have to," she said and kissed me fiercely on the lips.

"My house? At six?" I asked, only momentarily breaking our kiss.

Max bit her lip in deep thought, "Do you think that is a good idea?"

I looked at her questioningly, "I mean," she clarified, "I don't want to get you in trouble."

Realization flooded me; she meant Lissa. I also noticed how she avoided her name or even the mention of a person. "Ok, how about I meet you at your apartment at six?"

"That sounds good," she said as I kissed her softly on the lips again.

I reluctantly got off the bed to finish packing Max's bags so no one would be suspicious. I looked at Max to see her slowly sit up with a pouting face directed towards me.

I finished stuffing the rest of her clothes into her bags and zipped them up. Max crossed her legs Indian style and just watched me. Chuckling to myself, I leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Tonight," I whispered before leaving the room.

Deep breath. Deep breath. Deep breath. I repeated in my head. Lissa and I had just pulled up to the apartment and I had decided to break it off in the car so she can't throw anything at me. She also doesn't have her key to the apartment so she couldn't break any of my stuff…yeah, I already thought this through.

We came to a stop in front of our apartment buildings. Slowly, I turned to Lissa and opened my mouth to practically dive head first into the fires of hell, a.k.a LISSA. Cue the evil music.

I was about to start the lengthy speech I have prepared when Lissa blurted out, "Why are your parents here?" she said, pointing to their car parked across the street.

I followed her finger and sure enough, there are my parents getting out of their car and making their way over to us.

I shrugged and opened the door to wait for my parent's to cross the street. I guess I'll have to break it to Lissa later; I don't want my parents to see Lissa totally lose it in front of them.

My mom rushed up to me and enveloped me into a hug. "Oh, honey. I've missed you so much," she said as she pulled away and smiled up and me.

My dad came and stood next to my mom, emotionless as ever. "Fang," he greeted.

"Dad," I replied back. My dad and I have never been close. The older I got, I felt like the more he tried to control my life.

My mom, oblivious to our stare off, removed her hands from my arms and smiled up at me, "How about some lunch? I'm starving."

I shrug and led them over to the car. Lissa was out already and surprisingly got her bags out of the car by herself. Lissa came over and hugged my mom and greeted my father; he was not really one who got all touchy feely.

"Are you coming too?" I asked Lissa more out of curtsy than actually wanting her to be there.

"No, you three go ahead. I have some unpacking to do," she said pointing to her suitcases.

Good luck carrying those by yourself I thought sourly to myself.

We walked to a nearby pizza parlor in mostly silence with the occasional chatter from my mother. We arrived at the restaurant and were seated in a booth.

We just finished off our pizza and just sat in silence till my father, of all people, decided to break it. "I got a job,"

My eyes immediately snapped up to his in shock. My father has been jobless for almost two years now; my mom had to support them with her designing company. "Congratulations, dad," I said genuinely happy, but not showing it on my face.

"Yeah, I work for Lissa's father now," he said.

I froze and all happiness just melted away. No way in hell will Lissa's dad let him stay when he finds out we are no longer going out. "Dad, I…" I began, but was interrupted by a very excited squeal.

"That's actually why we're here," my mom said, bouncing slightly in her seat, "A few days ago, your father and I were having brunch with Lissa's parents and…" she continued to tell me the story of their morning/afternoon with Lissa's parents.

"And then Luke showed us the ring and we Laura and I had already started planning the wedding. We were thinking…" my mom rambled before I cut her off.

"Whoa! What?" I said, surprise and anger leaking through my emotionless wall.

"Luke gave us the ring for you to propose to Lissa; after graduation, of course," my mom clarified.

"I'm not marrying Lissa," I replied deadly calm, but deadly serious voice.

My mom flinched at my tone and I felt bad, but right now I felt betrayed. Why would they go behind my back and make decisions for me? I'm twenty-two; I think I can make decisions for myself.

My dad must have interpreted that wrong because he said, "I know you think you're too young, but your mother and I got married right after college too. Hell, Lissa's parents got married during college,"

"I don't love Lissa anymore," I said in the same deadly tone. I was glaring at my father because he, of all people, should know I hate it when people try to control my life.

"You two are probably just going through a rough patch. Everything will work itself out," he reasoned, but returned the glare to me.

"No, I was going to break up with her today," I snapped, not feeling the least bit remorseful when he flinched a little.

"Now, Fang," he addresses me in a business manner, "think this through. If you break up with Lissa, then I lose my job…again. You know how hard it is to find a decent job and this is our chance to get back on our feet and be happy," he finished as he grabbed my mom's hand and squeezed it once.

There was no way they were going to listen to my feelings, so I tried a different approach, "Dad, you are way too smart to just be working for someone. You should try starting your own company where you can be the boss," I reasoned.

He thought about for a second before shaking his head, "It's not that simple," he whispered, staring at the table cloth.

"I'm not marrying Lissa," I repeated again.

My dad rose from his seat, "People fall out of love sometimes, but with time, you'll find that love will find its way,"

Wow! Very poetic, dad. I thought snidely. Then he turned to my mom who was still seated, "We should probably get going,"

My dad made for the door while my mom walked around the table to give me a farewell hug. I stood up and she, being a good foot shorter than me, stood up on her tippy toes as I bent my head down, "You'll make the right decision. I just know you will,"

Just, you know, no pressure. Greeeeat! She smiled at me as she pulled away and headed after my dad.

As much as I'd hate to admit it, I was really reconsidering breaking up with Lissa. I really could care less at what happens to my dad, but there was also my mom. Just the way her eyes lit up when she told me about the engagement and she won't have to work ridiculous hours anymore.

There was also that one pesky factor: I REFUSE TO MARRY LISSA!

I stared at my retreating parents as I went over different plans that could possibly get me out of this engagement. So far, I have nothing and this is really worrying me.

I was still a little shook up from lunch as I stood in front of Max's door. I have been standing here for almost ten minutes, just thinking of what I should say and what she'd do. Will she give up on me? On us? Well, only one way to find out…

I knocked on the door and two seconds later, the door opened to reveal the very thing that will one day kill me. Max stood there in a black dress that came above her knees and gold earrings. Her hair was in a sexy pony tail and her face held no trace of makeup.

Just looking at her sparked even more fear into my heart. I don't think I could stand to leave her…well, this presents a problem…

"Hey, you're late," she said teasingly, but it was true.

I shrug and ducked inside. I could see the disappointment on her face when I avoided any contact with her. I know it was a total jerk move, but I can't stand to kiss her only to find out that she doesn't want anything to do with me. It'd be better for the both of us.

I rubbed the back of my neck in discomfort. Max seemed to sense this because she asked, "What's wrong?"

"I didn't break up with Lissa," I stated as I turned to look at her reaction.

Anger flashed across Max's face which turned into a full out glare. "Get out," she whispered in the most icy voice I've heard from, well, anyone.

"No, Max," I tried to explain as I tried to close the distance between us. I reached out to her to just touch her, but she took a step back.

"Don't touch me," she said with a look of betrayal on her face. Her voice was nothing, but a whisper now. All the anger had evaporated and now all that was left was hurt and confusion. "You lied to me."

"I can explain…" Very cliché, I thought snidely to myself. "It's just…" I said, struggling for the right words.

"What? It's just what?" Max said, her voice starting to rise. "It was just one big lie? Come on, Fang. Just tell me,"

"I can't," I yelled, frustrated. My hands flew to my hair as I stared at her emotionless face. Anger started to flood into me. I'm not angry at Max, far from it actually. I was mad at my dad, at Lissa, at myself for giving up on Max so easily.

"You can tell me, Fang," she calmly said. When I didn't answer, because, frankly, I was at a loss for words, she let out a frustrate sigh, "God dammit, Fang. Why didn't you break up with Lissa?" she said, her voice a little louder, but not as loud as before.

"Because she's my fiancé," I whispered, afraid to say it out loud because that would make it all too real.

MPOV

I can't do this anymore…

Ok, so give me your thoughts and REVIEW! REVIEWS=Faster Updates! FYI: My field hockey season is officially over so, hopefully, I'll be able to update more, but no promises. :)