There is no way that I could possibly have the honor to be forgiven for this. It's been months since I updated and you have no idea how bad I feel for it. I hope you can forgive me and I won't give you any excuses like: my life's changing, I'm about to move to another country, I'm about to break down because I fucking kissed this guy when I was a bit... tipsy, my mind's in turmoil because of that, etcetera etcetera…

They're all true but they're all excuses. I am begging for your forgiveness even though I probably don't deserve it.

After the long wait, my brothers, here is chapter 10… ENJOY!

Chapter Ten: My Family

The car ride home was rather awkward, in other circumstances it would've been joyful and relaxed. It got even worse when we got home and my lovely mother went berserk after the school called her, telling her what I had done at school.

"They should have expelled you! You deserved getting expelled, not just suspended! How could you do something as ridiculous as punchingone of your classmates?!..."

It went on and on, at least I wasn't alone, Fang was getting some of it too for ditching. After a lifetime of harassment from my mother I went over to Iggy's room. He stood beside his bed unpacking. Iggy smiled as he saw me and went back to unpacking.

"Where's your girlfriend?" I asked, walking over to his window.

I heard him chuckling, idiot…

"She's outside calling her parents, telling them she arrived safely to the Ride's manor."

I turned around, facing him, "Is it that serious?"

He raised his eyebrow and cocked his head wanting for me to elaborate.

"So serious that she's already meeting your family, so serious that she's staying at your house. Is it that serious?"

"Do I hear jealousy in your question?" He smirked.

"Don't be an a-hole, just answer." I turned back, trying to keep my face indifferent.

"Well we are pretty serious I suppose. Not as serious as you think." He considered it for a moment and continued, "I do like her a lot. I love her even, like really love her."

"So you're not just fooling around? It's not like all those other twats you used to date?"

"Oh no, those were stupid flings, this is nothing like that. She's actually different from all those other girls, she actually has integrity and she's smart. She's way prettier than any other girl I've ever dated too." He had a dreamy expression, worrying me further.

Was I losing my brother to some girl? He appears to have changed, as if he has matured or something. Is this really the Iggy I know?

"Okay." Was all I managed, I walked out of the room, not able to handle it any further.

"Oh, Max?" He said before I was completely out of his room.

I slightly turned and saw his shy smile. Who is this guy?!

"Would you mind not bringing up all that about me dating a bunch of other girls, I don't think it would… help the cause, if you know what I'm saying. Please?"

Oh Iggy… I'll miss you.

"Sure."

…

"I love you, I don't know if I've said it enough times but if this doesn't go well just know that I always loved you." Iggy looked at her in the eyes and kissed her.

"Iggy I'm..." her eyes watered, "I'm scared."

Iggy sighed and looked at her reassuringly, "It'll all be okay. I'll protect you."

Iggy knew that they couldn't stay there any longer, they were surely going to find them if they stopped moving.

"Let's go." He said, grabbing his gun and moving cautiously through the trees surrounding them, making sure there wasn't any space between them. He wouldn't let her get hit, he'd never allow that.

The sound of a rustling bush behind them got them on edge.

"Get behind me!" Iggy whispered urgently, she complied.

Iggy looked through his gun's sight aiming at the bush, knowing danger lurked everywhere and that they weren't safe. Out of the opposite bush, behind them, came a wicked laugh.

"We've got you now!" the voice said.

Three quick shots were heard and Iggy turned around, eyes wide, only to find that his girlfriend had shot their enemy.

"Nice shot." Iggy said as he grabbed her hand and started to run away from the moaning figure on the floor. They moved for a few minutes, not stopping, Iggy's internal compass guiding them, hopefully, away from danger…

"Ah!" Iggy yelled as he felt the pain in his leg.

"Iggy no!" She yelled.

"I've been hit," Iggy panted, "Go on without me, I'm no use anymore."

"No, I'll never leave you!" She said cradling him in her arms.

"Go… go. I have… faith in you."

She nodded, grabbed her gun, and ran away from Iggy. She wanted to end it, this couldn't go on any longer, she felt the need to end it, the physical and mental stress that all of this added to her body and soul was just too unbearable.

Crack!

She stopped immediately, not making a single sound.

Where? She thought looking around, her gun ready.

"Where do you think they're hiding?" A female voice said, just a few feet away from her.

"I don't know but I think we got one of them." A deep male voice flowed into her ears, he was closer.

"Yeah, they must be close. Stay on guard." The woman said.

She inhaled a shaking breath and aimed. She looked through the scope and held her breath.

This will finish it, once and for all. If I miss… everything we've worked for will be for nothing. I can't miss!

Iggy heard bullets being fired.

"Oh no." He said getting up and running towards the noise.

Ella, I'm coming!

…

"I can't believe she single handedly beat you two!" Gazzy laughed.

"It was even a headshot!" Angel said joining Gazzy.

"You should be embarrassed, it was her first time!" Nudge added.

"You know what!" I yelled as I pointed my gun at them.

"No! We're not wearing gear!" Gazzy said as Nudge and Angel screamed.

"Max, let them be." Fang said as he stuffed his paintball things into his bag, "It was just a game, don't be a sore loser."

"I'm not being a sore loser!" I yelled, frustrated, "They're just shoving it into my face and it's annoying."

Fang gave me a look saying 'let it go' and cocked his head towards the door. 'Let's go.'

I sighed and nodded, putting my gun in Fang's bag.

"See ya twerps." I said.

"See ya losers." Gazzy said and they all laughed as I closed the door behind me.

"It was just a game… you're right." I said nodding, trying to make sense of Fang's words.

"No, we sucked out there. It was borderline humiliating, I mean we're much better than that. How could we even lose against Iggy's new girlfriend? Do you remember a few years ago when we left Iggy's ex trashed after we bashed her with nearly all of our bullets?" Fang said, a completely new attitude shown when we alone.

"Mr. Sore Loser, what is this attitude?" I asked incredulous.

"Well, we couldn't show our weak side to the minions, could we?" Fang said smirking.

"I knew something was up!" I laughed, "And yes, I remember, she broke up with him after that."

As we walked through the door, the freezing air hit our faces and I felt it burn my cheeks, we were met with a peculiar image. Not peculiar maybe, but annoying or, for a lack of a better word, nauseating. Iggy was all over his girlfriend and the moment they saw us he pulled back and she tried to get as far away from him as physically possible. The only difference between them was that Iggy was wearing a smirk on his stupid face and Ella Martinez's cheeks were ablaze.

Trying to break the sustained silence I cleared my through and said, "You did a good job Ella. It was fun."

I smiled at her and then flipped Iggy off. He rolled his eyes and we both laughed.

"See you around." Fang nodded, "We're still going right? At seven?"

"Yeah." Iggy smirked and turned to me, "She did do a good job, didn't she Max?"

"Wonderful." I mustered and faked a smile.

"The kids are going with you." Fang said dismissively before pulling me away from the new couple.

"With us- What?!" Iggy yelled annoyed after us but we were already too far away.

Fang and I laughed as we walked to the car and when he knew we were alone he wrapped his arms around my waist and brought me closer.

He looked into my eyes and said, "We'll beat those idiots next time, for sure."

"We better. After all we are the undefeated champions." I smiled mesmerized by his playful stare.

"Were." He corrected and his grin grew larger.

"Shut up." I said not holding myself any longer and reaching up to kiss him.

As always, my heart started to beat faster and a whole new adrenaline rush made my body feel light as if I were about to take off.

…

"Ugh, do we have to go?" I asked as I put on my favorite boots over my socks.

"Yes, Max." Fang said from behind me, where he was lying on my bed, "If I remember correctly it was you who wanted to do this. You wanted to get to know Ella better."

"Why do you refer to her like that?" I asked annoyed.

"Like what? That is her name, isn't it?"

"Well we should be calling her satan's spawn or devil's child or creepy ass demon. You know, something along those lines."

Fang sighed behind me, "Just give her a chance, will you? I talked to Iggy a while ago, he was telling me just how amazing she was and that he thought that maybe she was the girl."

My eye twitched as I heard the last part, "Are you kidding me?" I stood up, "The girl? He knows nothing about that! He's just an ignorant, little-"

"Max." Fang said in a measured tone, "We don't even know her that well and don't talk about you brother like that. You're letting your emotions influence the way you think."

"What emotions?!" I yelled, my cheeks turned red and I felt waves of heat rolling off my body.

"Do I really have to name them?" Fang raised an eyebrow, "Settle down, you know better."

I looked at him wide-eyed, my mouth agape. Because I couldn't find any words I let out a shaky breath and walked out of my room, slamming the door behind me.

Left alone, Fang sighed. Maybe he had been too hard on her, but he knew he was right. She was letting her emotions control her. Max wasn't usually this… aggressive, at least not so straight forward. She had all the right to be a little jealous, she did, but she was crossing the line and Fang knew that if he didn't help her come to her senses something bad could happen. He'd help Iggy, even though it was at his own expense.

She'll probably ignore me for the rest of the evening. …I guess I deserve it.

Fang sighed and went after Max.

…

The tension felt between Max and Fang was palpable as Iggy looked between both of them. They were sitting next to each other, and Iggy and Ella on the opposite side of the table in which they were having their "double date".

So much for double date. Max is such a bitch sometimes… Iggy thought while he sighed.

"Are you guys up for dessert?" He asked with a small smile.

Fang looked away from Max and at Iggy and Ella, and tried to smile, "Yes… uh… dessert sounds nice."

"Yes!" Ella said a bit too loud, "I mean… yes." She said trying to control her voice.

Somehow she knew that Iggy's sister and her boyfriend's fight was related to her. She wanted to try to be liked by Max but whatever she did went unnoticed by her. Fang was another story, he was trying to keep a decent conversation between them all, but Max just didn't participate, simply saying a single word or nodding. Ella felt more self-conscious by the minute, at least Iggy made her feel better. He was just so sure of himself, about everything he said, about everything he did. Ella tried to convince herself that she should be more like him.

Iggy's attitude, Ella, that's what you're aiming for. She thought, but then bit her lip and smiled weakly at Iggy.

…

"We'll go pay." Iggy said, trying to find whichever excuse he could muster so he could get some distance between us.

"Sure." I shrugged, it's not like the waiter could just bring the check here but go, I don't care.

He wanted to leave Fang and me alone, he knew I knew what he was trying to do. I wasn't really mad anymore, but I was going to remain mad, so my pride doesn't get damaged. After the dinner in this fancy restaurant I was planning on talking to Fang about… this. But not now. At least that had been my plan, which is now ruined by Iggy.

Ella wasn't such a bad person, she was okay. She was more than okay but, yet again, my pride will get damaged if I ever said that aloud. Screw my pride… it'll bring me down eventually. I smiled internally, I should be more humble. Fang was right, somehow he's… almost always right. She's a good girl, maybe too good. And she has him behaving, who would've thought Iggy could behave. He's maturing too. This was bound to happen, wasn't it? Maybe I'll be next, maybe I'll be the one who'll mature next. But, honestly, I'd stay immature all my life if I could. Maybe I-

"Max." Fang was looking at me, "So…?"

Explain your fucking attitude now! That's what he just said for those who didn't understand.

"Okay, you win. She's not that bad, I guess." Be humble, be humble! "She's really smart and she comes from a good family. Honestly I think she's enjoying being part of such a big family."

Fang smiled, "So you acknowledge her as being part of the family."

"I-" I sighed, "I acknowledge her as being part of the family, I don't know what you're saying by implying that you are a part of the family."

I looked away from him and I heard him laugh, "She's back!"

"Shut up." I was trying not to laugh too, "We should go."

"Yeah, my family is probably waiting for me." He said as we got up.

"Nope, my family."

Childish I know but it was way better than fighting for real. I don't hold grudges and I'm happy he doesn't either. Whenever we fight, obviously I start it, we get over it quickly… most of the time. Fighting is part of every relationship but we don't let a fight define us or anything, we work it through.

I grabbed his hand and we walked out of the restaurant hand in hand. I came in mad and I came out realizing how stupid I was. Fang didn't rub it in my face, not like Iggy who'll rub it in my face until I feel extremely bad for behaving this way but I'll have to deal with it. I guess I deserve it.

I pulled my jacket closer to my chest as the freezing air hit me once again. I let a breath out and saw it condense before me and smiled.

"It's so fucking cold." My jaw started to shiver.

"I know." Fang said wrapping his arm tightly around me.

"When do you think it'll-" I started but lost my train of thought when I saw a little snow flake fall from the sky.

I laughed, a stupid huge grin on my face, "Fang it's sno-!"

Before I could finish he pulled me to him and pressed his lips against mine. I was surprised at first, my heart fluttering ridiculously but then I felt so warm and I let myself fall in love with him for the millionth time.

Tell me what you thought of it! Thanks for reading!

Here are some hearts to help the cause "Forgive Mari 3"

Take care!

P.S. I feel like an idiot for kissing him, the worst/best part is that I can't remember a single thing from the kiss because when I get nervous and have adrenaline rushes, plus having ingested alcohol, I get black outs. I can't be the only one?!

P.P.S I have a new Harry Potter fic, if any of you are interested... :)

Dying of remorse and guilt,
foreverandalways'7