Chapter ten.
Fang's POV
"She said she loved me?" I back tracked, half hoping Angel was just playing some sick joke to get back at me for leaving Max.
"Yes, she said she loved you! And you just flew away because you couldn't stand a little more heart ache!" Angel screamed.
"A little? Ang, you know as well as I do that it was more than just a little!" Angel looked down to the floor.
"She's distraught Fang, you've destroyed her." She stated, a tear rolling out of her eye, glistening in the early dawn.
"Where is she?" I said solemnly, knowing I'd have to go and get her, fix this all, I'd ruined it and now, because of what I'd done, she'll never forgive me. My heart will stay in tatters once more.
"She's still in the forest"
I leapt out the window, telling everyone I'd be back soon and leaving Iggy in charge. I hated myself, I was so selfish! All this time she's been pushing me away, she's been as broken as I have. I cursed again. How could I keep doing this? It always seems to go wrong!
In due course I saw the familiar view of the forest I had been in not so long ago. It took longer to get here this time as I was stalling, trying to think of a way to fix it all, dreading what I'd find. The tree's opened out to a clearing, bathed in sunlight, the air was moist and sparkling from the sunlight's reflection. Droplets of glitter sparkled on the leaves surrounding every tree.
Silence engulfed me, deafening me. I glanced around, scanning the area in search of Max. After a few minuets of no avail I started to panic, worriedly searching behind trees. I heard a muffled noise come from above. I looked up.
A figure curled up on top of the branch. Leaning against the main trunk, curled up in a ball, was Max. I heaved a sigh of relieve, silently leaping up to Max's branch. As the limb was sturdy it didn't even shake when I settled down on it, meaning Max was still unaware of my presence. Her hands covered her eyes and the sleeves of her t-shirt were wet, presumably with tears. I scolded myself. This is what I'd done.
Slowly I reached forward, taking Max's hands in mine and gently pulling them from her face. Her eyes were red and swollen, I frowned. Moving her hands and resting them on her lap, I leant forward. Soft and soothingly, I traced her eyes with my hands, running my fingers across the outlines, wiping away all her tears. She closed her eyes and tilted her head up, smiling slightly. I leant down, kissing both her eyes tenderly. Leaning away I put my hand back to her face, rubbing her cheek lovingly.
"I'm sorry" I whispered, pulling my hands away.
"For what?" Max replied, "Everything?" A smile lit up her face. I grinned too.
"For leaving" I muttered. My head looked downwards, too embarrassed to meet her eyes. She moved her hands from her lap to take mine. Her fingers entwined mine slowly, magically. I closed my eyes, feeling like heaven. When I opened them again I caught Max's eyes. She stopped moving her fingers and went to pull away. I grasped her hand tighter within mine, lacing my fingers around hers once more. "Don't" I pleaded. Blushing, she left hers there. "Thank you" I smiled.
We sat on the branch for what seemed like an eternity. Our fingers laced together, silence drew in and neither of us wanted to break the magic. "We have to go back" Max sighed, sounding disappointed. I groaned.
"They'll be fine on their own, Iggy's in charge" I smiled.
"Is that what you had to put up with?" Max sighed, referring back to the state she was in not so long ago, I'd been wondering why she was so quick to forgive.
"Pretty much," I said. Max caught my eye again.
"Then it's my turn to be sorry, I had no idea, I just though you were stubborn" her eyes glistened. I smiled softly.
Reaching across towards her in one swift movement I planted my lips upon hers. Taking her by surprise. She jumped slightly, I entwined my arms around her waist, pulling her closer towards me so her body was pressed up right onto mine. My eyes closed, I tilted my head to the left, meaning I could make the kiss deeper. Max shivered. I grinned, pressurising my lips slightly, trembling myself at the pure bliss this kiss brought.
Her hands, rested around my neck, loosened and sifted through my hair. I moved my hand slightly, lifting it up underneath her shirt slightly to trace circles onto the skin of her back. She moaned, rippling in pleasure. I smiled, tilting my head once more to intensify the kiss. Slowly I traced her spine upwards, leading me very shortly, to her bra.
Max pulled away, moving to the further part of the branch. "I..I have to go…" she said, getting up.
"I thought you understood" I whispered. She looked back at me once more.
"I can't, I'm scared" she answered, allowing the terror to flood through her eyes, I stood up, balancing along the tree branch until I was right in front of Max.
"I'm scared too, but I don't want to keep running." She turned away, bending her knee's to take off. I grabbed her hand, pulling her towards me and encasing her in my grip. She gasped. "Sorry, but I'm not letting you leave anymore" I murmured. "I love you"
Immediately Max's face softened, showing a smile once more. She allowed me to pull her into another kiss. A quicker one this time, we broke apart startled.
We both agreed it was time to make our way back to the hotel. Once we got there the flock were sitting down watching TV. Nudge was snuggled up in Iggy's arms on the sofa, whilst Angel and Gazzy lay on their stomachs in front of the TV their feet dangling in the air. Nudge had her head rested upon Iggy's chest as he whispered sweet nothings in her ear, every so often she would smile, reach up and peck his lips. I smiled.
Max coughed and immediately Nudge and Iggy broke apart, startled. "Max, Fang, we didn't know you were back" Iggy smiled mischievously.
"Obviously" Max grunted.
"I left food for you in the fridge" he said, nodding his head towards where his fridge was.
"Iggy, Nudge can I talk to you?" Max asked sternly, making her way towards the kitchen. They both nodded solemnly. I grabbed her hand unnoticeably, making her jump, luckily no one saw this and Iggy and Nudge trudged along to the kitchen.
"Don't make a big deal out of it" I sighed, remembering just days ago the argument I'd started with Iggy, "Their kids" I smiled. Max nodded.
"Kind of reminds me of you two, apart from they actually did something about it" Angel remarked, and Gazzy sneered. Iggy and Nudge turned back to look into the room, expecting an eruption. Max clenched her fists, always a bad sign. I smiled, if they wanted an eruption…
I grabbed Max's waist and crashed my lips down to hers. I entwined my arms around her waist tightly so that she couldn't escape, however, to my surprise, Max didn't protest. She wrapped her arms around my neck and tilted her own head, like I had done in the forest. I smiled.
"Ok, ok, we get the picture" Angel giggled and Max immediately broke apart from me, I chuckled slightly, although disappointed that it ended so quickly.
"Fine, Nudge, Iggy, I'm glad" Max managed to strain, "This why you wanted to share a room?" she winced. Iggy nodded whilst Nudge flushed bright red. "I don't want you getting up to anything! Or I'll make you switch rooms again!" she warned. Nudge nodded, both of them blushing this time, making me wonder if they already had, I made a mental note to ask Iggy later.
"Max?" Angel squeaked. "One last thing"
"Yes sweetie" Max replied softly, looking down towards Angel.
"Can I share a room with Gazzy tonight?" She grinned, Max looked at me, I shrugged.
"Ok Hun, if you want to" Max smiled. "Guess I'm sharing with you" she said to me.
"I don't want you getting up to anything!" Iggy laughed mimicking Max's voice.
"Or I'll make you switch rooms again!" Nudge giggled too. Max's face lit up as she smiled.
I sighed, moving my bag and laptop for the third time in 3 nights. I passed Gazzy in the hall and he winked at me. "Have fun mate" He grinned. I walked on, bumping into Nicola on the way down the corridor.
"Oh, you moving out?" she sounded disappointed.
"No, just switching rooms" I beamed. Nicola chirped up.
"Got bored of the little smelly man?" she smiled, "If you've got no where to stay, feel welcome to crash on my couch." I side stepped her.
"I've got somewhere to stay thanks" I carried on walking towards Max's room as Max stepped out into the door frame, I slipped my free arm around her waist and kissed her cheek, then looked towards Nicola, "I have my own couch to crash on" And with that, gently pushed Max into our room.