AN: Hey guys! Sorry I haven't updated in so long. I've been busy. BUT…here's the next chapter! I hope you guys like it.
(Max's POV)
I woke up at 4 p.m. I rolled out of bed and threw on some sweats and a T-shirt. I checked my stitches, then did my normal morning routine. I went downstairs to find everyone down there, including Nudge and Fang. I saw that Fang looked exhausted, but he smiled at me when I walked in and my breath hitched. I couldn't help but grin back at him.
I grabbed some of the breakfast that Iggy made and sat down beside him. My arm brushed his and what felt like an electric shock went through me. What the heck? I shivered at the contact, but tried to cover it up as the cold. Fang saw me shiver and took his jacket off, putting it around my shoulders.
"Awwwww!" Angel and Nudge cooed, making me blush. I shot them a look that said Shut up. Fang just rolled his eyes at them. I wondered why Fang did that. But at least it showed he cared. Which meant he showed emotion.
I sighed and decided to ignore all of them, eating my breakfast. When I was done, I went to sit on the couch. Fang sat down beside me. "You okay?" he asked.
I rolled my eyes. "Tired. Probably from having to stay up all night." I said, giving him a pointed look. "Even though I insisted on the fact that I didn't have a concussion! I just have a foster mom and a best friend who are way too paranoid."
Fang smirked. "Yeah, but you'd be thanking us if you did have a concussion." he said. "But how does your head feel?"
"Fine ." I said, rolling my eyes. "Mother hen." I mumbled under my breath. He elbowed me in the side.
"I heard that. So really what you're saying is that it's kind of sore but feels better?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at me. I rolled my eyes. "I'll take that as a yes."
I sighed and turned the TV on. I started dozing off again. I fought to stay awake, but the next thing I knew, I'd woken up with my head resting on Fang's shoulder. I shot up into a sitting position, my face probably fire-truck red. "Sorry." I mumbled. I looked into Fang's eyes for a second. I saw…disappointment? Which turned into confusion, then realization, then amusement. The last one kind of ticked me off. But I remembered what just happened and looked away, my cheeks heating up again.
"It's fine." he said. I saw him smirk out of the corner of my eye and elbowed him in the ribs. "So, do you feel as tired?" he asked.
"Yes." I said, still made at him. I glared at him and looked at the clock. 6:30. I went to rub my head with one hand, but winced when I touched my stitches. Apparently, Mr. Overprotective noticed.
He grabbed my chin and made me look at him. "Max? Are you okay?" he asked worriedly.
I rolled my eyes. "I'm fine. Just accidently touched my stitches." I told him. I looked him right in the eyes, so he would know I wasn't lying. But then, I got lost in his eyes. I felt that…feeling that I'd been having lately. It was this butterfly feeling in my stomach. It felt like my stomach was doing back flips, my throat got dry. My breathing and heart rate sped up and my skin tingled where he touched me.
I was about to move away, when all of a sudden he closed the distance between us and I felt his lips on mine. They were surprisingly soft and gentle, but firm. He put his hand behind my neck so I couldn't pull away. My brain shorted out and I felt myself kissing him back. I started to get lightheaded, then remembered that I kind of needed to breathe so I could live. As if sensing that I was running out of breath, Fang pulled away.
And that's when I freaked. I'd just kissed Fang. My best friend, my right-hand-man. And I'd liked it. It'd been great, amazing. There were so many feelings coursing through me. And that's what scared me. I hated emotions, and it was even worse that I didn't know what these feelings were.
"Uh, I, um…" I stuttered. This is me! Maximum Ride! I never stutter. I jumped up and said a quick "Gotta go." before scrambling upstairs and to my room. I shut and locked my door, then sat on my bed. I grabbed my guitar and started playing. Playing helped me think. And I had to try and figure this out.
(Fang's POV)
I smacked myself in the head. Why did I do that?! What was I thinking?! I didn't even know if she liked me the same way or now and then I go and kiss her! Now I've probably ruined everything. She ran away from me like the Hounds of Hell were chasing after her. I leaned my elbows against my knees and put my head in my hands. I can't believe this. I can't believe I just did that.
But, God, I wish I could do it again. Her lips were so soft. They felt so good moving against mine. Her breath mixing with mine was intoxicating, and she tasted good. I didn't regret it, but at the same time I did.
"Dude, what's wrong?" Iggy asked, walking into the room and seeing me.
"I just ruined any friendship that Max and I had." I replied bitterly.
He stiffened and I saw his overprotective brother side come to the surface. "What did you do?" he asked.
"I kissed her!" I whisper-shouted. His eyes widened. "I kissed her, and as soon as I did, I regretted it because I didn't know if she liked me back or not. And then she started kissing me back, but afterwards she freaked and ran away from me! What am I going to do, Ig? I…I love her." I told him, hating the defeat that entered my voice. I threw back my head, smacking it on the back of the couch. "Why am I so stupid?!"
Iggy sighed and sat next to me. "She kissed you back. That has to mean that she feels something towards you." he said.
"Oh, Max totally loves you." Angel said, coming out from behind a corner. She was spying on us! Nudge, Ella, and Gazzy came out too. They'd all been spying on us!
"Oh yeah? Then why did she run away?" I asked bitterly.
"Because maybe you're the first guy she ever liked? Because she doesn't know what she's feeling, and she doesn't realize that she's in love with you?" Nudge asked in a "duh" tone of voice.
"Yeah. She just hasn't figured it out yet. You probably took her by surprise too. You know how paranoid she is. She doesn't like being surprised, and she doesn't like sappy emotions." Ella added.
"How could you like a girl, Fang? They have cooties!" Gazzy said.
"You won't be thinking that for long." I told him.
"Alright, how about this? Wait here for an hour; let her get her head straight. Then, take her out for a walk. Talk to her. Tell her how you really feel and try to get her to see that she loves you too." Iggy said. "Oh, and I promise none of us will follow you two."
I took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright. But if this doesn't work, I'm killing all of you." I warned them.
One hour later…
I knocked on Max's door. "Go away." she said.
"Max. Please. Just…I need to talk to you." I said, practically begging. And I never beg. Ever. It's one of my rules.
"No."
"Max…please. Come on a walk with me. I won't try anything, I swear." I said, putting my forehead against the door. I was hoping this would get to her. I've never broken a promise to Max. And I never will.
I was quiet. I had to let her think it over. I knew that if I tried to say anything persuasive, tried to push her, she'd say no. "Fine." she finally said, so quietly I almost didn't hear her. I stepped away from the door and she opened it. She wouldn't meet my eyes, just brushed past me, grabbing her jacket on the way out.
"Max and I are heading out for awhile. We'll be back soon." I called, and got a chorus of okay's. We kept walking for awhile, until we reached the park. I stopped. Max was in her own little world, and didn't seem to notice. I reached out and grabbed her wrist, stopping her. She looked back at me. I took a deep breath. They said she loved me too. She just didn't know it. I let my hand slide down until I was holding her hand. Max looked down at our joined hands.
"Max, I'm just going to say this. I don't know how it happened, but I fell in love with you. I'm sorry, but it's true. I can't help it. Max, I love you. I want to be with you. But I want you to want to be with me too. Max, what do you feel for me? Am I really just your best friend? Or am I something more?" I asked her, desperately hoping that it was the latter.
Max looked away from me. "I don't know." she mumbled.
"Max, you kissed me back. That means you have to feel something." I said, copying Iggy's words. This couldn't be happening. It just couldn't.
"I-I wasn't thinking! I just…reacted. I don't know!" she ground out.
"Alright." I said. "That's fine. I just wanted to know. I won't bug you about it anymore." I said. "Thanks for telling me." I turned to walk away, but she didn't let go of my hand, nor did she move. I looked over my shoulder. She was biting her lip and looking at the ground, but I couldn't see her eyes. I looked away again. Why did she have to be so beautiful? So different? Why did I have to love every freaking thing about her?
She pulled her hand away from mine. I took this as a sign to leave. But then I felt her arms around my waist and her head buried into my back. "You had your chance to talk. Now it's my turn. So don't you dare walk away from me Nicholas Marks." she said, using my real name. Only her, Nudge, and Mom knew that Fang wasn't my real name, and she's never used it before, so I'm guessing she's serious. I felt my hope growing again. Stupid hope.
"You are my best friend." she said, and the hope went down some. "But…you're more than that too. You protect me, comfort me, take care of me…even though you know you don't have too. I hate it when you aren't around. I hate it when we fight. I love it when you're sweet and gentle to me. I love it that there's a side of you that you only let me see. I love it that I can always tell what you're feeling, and that no one else knows you well enough to do that. Is that the love you're looking for?" she finally said.
"What about when I kissed you?" I told her, my voice filled with shock at what she was saying.
"I loved that too. I just…I was overrun with so many emotions and senses that I panicked. I didn't understand what was going on, and I'm sorry." she said.
I turned in her embrace and wrapped my arms around her waist. She just buried her head in my chest. "But do you love me? Is this just a temporary thing?" I asked her. I didn't want to get in a relationship with her, just to have my heart broken later. I wouldn't be able to take her walking away.
She shook her head. "It isn't. I love you." she said.
"Look at me and say it. Please." I said, my heart jumping in excitement. This was really happening. She loved me.
Max looked me in the eye and said with conviction, "I love you, Fang."
"I love you too, Max." I said. And then she kissed me for the first time. I kissed her back. Her breath mingled with mine, and it was intoxicating. Almost involuntarily, my tongue snaked out and licked her bottom lip. She stiffened and I pulled back. "Too much?" I asked her quietly.
She swallowed hard. Both of us were panting. She nodded, shifting guiltily. "Max, it's okay." I said gently. "I don't want to do anything you don't feel comfortable with. If I ever go too far, just tell me, okay?" I rested my forehead against hers.
She sighed. "Okay." she said a little breathlessly. The she added in her sarcastic, tough, stubborn tone that I loved. "Good, because if you did, I'd kick your butt."
"We better go back. It's probably time for dinner." I said. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to me. She leaned into me, her head on my shoulder and her arm around my waist. We walked into the house. When the others saw us, the girls let out a big "Awww!", Iggy yelled "Get some, Fang!" (Which caused Max to punch him. Hard.), and Dr. M gave us a knowing smile.
Max rolled her eyes. But she sat next to me during dinner, holding my hand under the table. After dinner, everyone (except Dr. M, who had work to do) went into the living room to watch a movie. Max sat beside me, her head on my shoulder. And, I'll admit it, we did sneak a kiss or two when the kids weren't looking. When it was over, Max said, "Alright, everyone needs to head up to bed. It's getting late."
Everyone nodded sleepily, standing up. I got up too. Nudge went out the door to wait for me and let me have some alone time with Max. Iggy took the kids upstairs. Max turned to me and smiled gently. "Goodnight." she said.
"Goodnight, Max." I replied. "I love you." I said, bending down and pressing my lips against hers. Electric shocks ran through my whole body. She wrapped her arms around my neck and mine went around her waist. I tilted my head one way, and Max tilted her the other way. All too soon, Max pulled away. We were both panting hard.
She looked up at me and smiled. She gave me one more kiss, short and sweet. "Love you too, Fang." she murmured against my lips before pulling away and giving me a light shove towards the door.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" I asked.
She grinned. "Yeah. I don't think Dr. M, or your parents, will let us skip anymore school." she replied.
"Too bad." I said.
"Alright, lover boy, let's go home. I'm tired. See you tomorrow Max!" Nudge called, grabbing my arm and pulling me towards our house.
"See ya, Nudge." Max replied, closing the door.
I stared at the door for a good thirty seconds, until we walked into my house. Nudge looked back at me and grinned. "You've got it bad." she commented.
I nodded stupidly and went upstairs. It took me forever to get to sleep. I just couldn't believe that Max was finally mine.
AN: Yay Fax! Alright guys, I'm sorry if Max and Fang aren't in character, but I tried my best. And don't worry about the band thing, I haven't forgotten. That comes in later. Along with a few other surprises! So, if you want to find out what those surprises are, review! And again, sorry that it took me so long to update.