A/N: Please review. Your feedback helps me to know what I need to work on.
"Can I help you ma'am?" I nodded. "Oh yeah. I'm here to see Elton." The secretary narrowed her eyes. "Oh, you mean ?" I checked my diamond-studded watch. "Yes. Mr. McAllister." She studied me obviously staring at my mini-dress and heals. "Hmm…consultation?"
"Yeah, he should be expecting me. We're going out to discuss this over a nice dinner." The secretary looked down. "You may be trying to win him over but don't bother. He's more into real relationships. With smart, hardworking women so don't even bother." Ooh. Did she see me as a threat or perhaps a challenge?
"Ah Nancy, thank you very much for waiting with Miss Max." Elton was dressed in a fashionable, tight-fitting suit. His hair was combed back and he wore a thin red tie.
"Nancy, I trust you can close up here?" Nancy muttered something under her breath. "But sir, I scheduled a meeting with the McIntires."
"I trust you didn't receive my memo about this earlier? Well then I'd appreciate it if you would reschedule. Now if you don't mind, I have a reservation."
Elton opened the door for me as I headed into his Lexus. The seats were leather-finished and windows were slightly tinted. "Now, I know how hard this must be for you, all of this but I'm hoping that you won't be too tense this evening." I buckled my seatbelt. "I'll try my best." Elton put on some background jazz music.
"Kenny G." Elton said. "Hmm…" Neither of us said a word until we got to the restaurant. Elton pulled up to the valet parking and helped me out of the car.
He then confirmed our reservation with the hostess.
A waiter brought us water with lemon, another folded our napkins, and another gave us a basket of bread and lit a candle. This reminded me of restaurant that Randall had once taken me to. "Bread?"
"No thank you, I'm on a no carb- oh what the heck?" I grabbed a plate and tried a slice of bread. Oh my goodness, it was outstanding considering the fact that
I hadn't eaten bread in months. I grabbed another slice then a third. Whoa slow down Max!
"So I have the case files. Perhaps you would like to look at them?" I pushed my plate away and scraped the crumbs from my chin.
"Good job." I was reading all of the evidence Elton had uncovered. "Nice statement."
"What can I get you for tonight?" The waiter asked. "I would like steak, medium rare, medium-size and a glass of Burgundy." I looked up. "And for the lady?"
"Um just a salad please hold the dressing, oh fine keep the dressing but make it with less fat, you know not so creamy." The waiter paused. "I'll try my best madam."
"So, what do you think?" Elton asked. "I think if you shoved a lump of coal up his a** you'd end up with a diamond in three weeks." Elton politely laughed. "No, not bout the waiter, about the case files. Hmm?"
"Oh amazing, you're wonderful." I felt my face turn slightly pink. "So, any questions?" I shook my head. "Seems pretty good to me." Elton placed his hand on my arm. "Then let's relax, put them away, and enjoy the rest of the night."
Our dinner came soon after. Luckily, the portions were small so I could feel less guilty about pigging out on the dinner.
The waiter poured us our wine and I sipped in the most lady-like way I could. "So the lady in the red dress said, 'I don't know about you but I could sure use a good champagne!" I burst out laughing and the wine trickled down my cheek and onto the dress. Luckily, Elton appeared not to notice.
After dinner, Elton dropped my off back at the apartment. He walked me to the door as I grabbed my keys. "Thank you Elton for the wonderful night." I leaned forward and Elton tilted his head. "No. Thank you."
He kissed my slowly on the lips and then softly on the nose. I ran my fingers through his hands as we picked up speed. He is so much better than Randall at this. I thought. Randall used to bite me. Once, he bit me so hard I bled, but Elton, oh goodness!
I pulled back a little but then Elton hugged me and leaned forward as our tongues linked. I had no idea how long I was out there but man, however long it was, it was a piece of heaven.
"I have to go. My car is in a 15-minute parking zone." I violently sucked on his lips. "What the h*** I'll just pay the 350 dollar fee."
As I leaned back in for more, I heard the door open and something drop. "What the f***?!" Fang picked up the garbage bag.
"What are you doing out so late, Fang?" I asked. "I'm taking out the trash and by the way it's only 10:30!" I turned my shoulder and tried to kiss him again, but Elton simply pecked me in the cheek. "Appointment first thing tomorrow, at 7:00." I waved goodbye as Fang escorted me inside.
"What the h*** were you thinking? Are you f****** insane? You said you wouldn't do this!" I shrugged. "Changed my mind."
"You are unbelievable!" I closed the door. "He's paying more attention to me and thus he's putting more time into the case." Fang shut his eyes. "Did you do anything productive- oh god no…"
"Well I looked at the case files if that's what you mean. I could've been more productive in other ways had you taken out the garbage on time." Fang sighed as he sat down at the table next to Nudge. "What's up with her?" Her head lay down on the kitchen table.
"She had a little too much to drink." He explained. "Yeah, that f****** bitch is insanely selfish!" I heard Gazzy exclaim from the hallway. "She didn't actually make it to see Angel and the bartender had to confiscate her keys and call her a cab."
"Hey Max." She lifted her head up. "Is that my dress?" I nodded. "My-my chanel- dress?" Uh oh. "Um well you see-"
"Don't sweat it, I mean in it. I love- love that dress." She rubbed her eyes. "Hey you spilled wine on it! You bitch!"
She tried to stand up, but Fang grabbed on to her. "Let's get you to bed now." When he returned Fang sat me down.
"And you…Elton. End it now." I stared at him in disbelief. "Are you telling me what to do?" He bobbled his head up and down. "Yeah I guess I am."
"Well stay out of it!" I rose up from my seat but Fang sat me down again. "You can date any guy you chose. Why him? You attracted to the forbidden? The rich? The arrogant?" How dare he say those things about Elton!
"Elton is none of those things!" Fang paced back and forth before suddenly stopping. "I don't care about Elton. I don't give a s*** about him! But seriously dump him." That controlling bastard! "There are better guys. Ah who cares you'll end up dumping him anyway, commitment phobic."
"No. He's different." Fang shrugged. "Whatever. Why do you like him? He doesn't really care about you!" I swear I wanted to sock him right there. "Is that right?"
"Plenty of other guys do!" I threw down my purse. "Oh yeah like who?" Fang took a deep breath. "Like me."
I think when he said that my heart stopped beating for two seconds. "You know what forget it." This was getting good. "No, continue."
"Just tell me what is better about Elton than me." Was he for real? "Well he's kind to me, he would do anything for me, he's handsome, he's a great kisser, and well he's British so he scores a little extra there, sorry."
"I'm all of that, minus the British thing." I smiled. "And the handsome, and the good kisser-" Fang blurted out, "Hey!"
"And that he would do anything for me." Fang took a minute. "I would do anything for you." I rolled my eyes. "I would, Max."
"Oh, also he's quiet! I can actually say a few words in edgewise!" Fang stared at me quizzically. "I'm quiet!" I shook my head. "You used to be quiet. Now you're loud and obnoxious." Fang murmured something under his breath.
"What's so good about quiet, anyway. Quiet is boring. Like when he's quiet I bet he's thinking things, being all sneaky. It's bad you can feel it!" Okay then. "But back to your little list thingy. I'm scoring well there so far."
"Fine, but what about the kind part, you aren't that nice to me so you don't really love me." Fang rubbed his eye. "Well you're not that nice to me either." Fang sat down. "Look, breaking up with you was the hardest thing I ever did. I knew you didn't like me and I wantd to pretend that I didn't care so I was a little rough around the edges."
"But I knew you still we upset about our breakup." Fang looked toward the floor. "I wasn't pretending for you or Nudge or anybody. I was pretending for myself. I thought if I acknowledged my feelings I would never be able to cope."
"Well I guess we're even on the kindness one. But I'm sorry, Elton still wins." Fang tossled his hair. "Why? What else do I need to do?"
"You need to be him. You're an alright person, but let's face it we aren't meant for each other. We had our going and we blew it."
"We can try again!" I shook my head. "Maybe we could've tried again after a few months or so passed but now it's too late. We aren't meant for each other."
"I can change! Please I've been waiting so long to tell you that I loved you! I can be perfect." I looked down. You ca't change. The only way you could be perfect was if you were Elton. That's that. Goodnight."
"Whatever. The same to you. Hope you have sweet dreams." I grinned. "I will." Fang blinked his eyes as to hold back tears. He put on a T-shirt over his polo and headed ot his room.
"Wow." Iggy commented. "I know. He's crazy but I know he doesn't really like me. He can be flighty sometimes."
"That's where you're wrong. He loves you. He never stopped thinking of you. I tried to hook him up with other girls. All kinds. Many were hotter than you, no offense, but he only wanted you." I turned away. "He'll get over it."
"Max, he poured his heart out to you, he admitted that he loved you after so much building himself up and you tore him down!" So Iggy was some love doctor now, I see.
"Well what do you expect me to do, I don't like him?"
"Well at least be a little more sensitive towards him, seriously." Yeah whatever. "For real, Max. He's been upset about this for two years now. He really loves you. He's happier when he's around you." Iggy's eyes were open with emotion. "Yeah right. He's not happier around me. He's all depressed. I bet around you he's fine"
"Of course you wouldn't know that being since you never came back around to see him or check up on him or even call him! You know, you are terrible. But hey, stay with Elton, why should I care? You don't deserve Fang but just guarantee me one thing: don't do this without fully recognizing what you're turning down and what you're missing." I shrugged. "Good night Iggy."
I grabbed a blanket and fell right asleep. I woke up at around 5:00 and couldn't get back to sleep. I tried to have a clear focused mind. After all, Angel's trial would be only in a few hours or so, but all I could think about was last night and Elton's kiss.
At 8:00, I got up and got ready for the big day. Iggy served breakfast, but nobody was really hungry. Kevakus looked sick to his stomach, Gazzy could barely lift his spoon, Fang was in his own closed up world, and Nudge looked weak and pale from her hangoever.
As Gazzy, Kevakus, Iggy, and Fang headed to the courtroom, Nudge and I stayed behind to lock up.
"Max, I have to tell you something. I'm feeling guilty about Angel." She hung her head low. I could see her hair was less spiky and dark roots were beginning to show. "I feel so bad about chickening out last night on her. I mean what if they decide to kill her? I could not live with myself knowing that I could've made her happy before she died or at least been there for her, but instead I stayed out drinking because of my own stupidity!"
"They won't kill her, Elton has a good case made. I fully trust him. I feel like I know him well enough. We're definitely on a first-name basis." Nudge smiled weakly. "So I've heard."
We hovered to the city court together in solemn silence.
At court we sat down until the judge spoke. I zoned out until the part where they brought in the defendant. I almost cried as I saw Angel out in her orange jumpsuit and handcuffs. She looked as though she hadn't slept in days and honestly, I didn't blame her.
I sat nervously as both the prosecutor and Elton made their claims. After they both spoke, they brought out a few people. A toxicologist and policeman. Wait a minute. Both of them had the same thin nose and defined cheekbones Randall had. They must've been his sister and brother who I had never met. They both spoke.
The entire time all I could do was restrain myself from exclaiming, "Liar!" or "You must be f****** insane!" The judge took a brief recess. In that time, Nudge, Iggy, Gazzy, Kevakus, and I said nothing. We didn't need to. We all knew what the other was feeling.
When the judge returned, she brought in another person.
"Oh my lord it's Randall!" Nudge shushed me and other people turned their heads to face me. Oops.
At one point in Randall's appeal, he looked into the audience and stared upon me. He gave me a look that said it all. I've got you bitch, I win.
After about an hour, the judge had made her decision. I crossed my fingers as she said, "I have made my decision. Angel will be sentenced to death on the date of January the second."
Nudge and I couldn't believe our ears. No. Now way. But how?
"Max. I have to have a word." Elton picked up his briefcase. "Forget it! This is all your fault. Angel's going to die. You said you had it covered. You promised! You son of a bitch! I hate you!" I slapped Elton across the face.
"Please Max, I'm sorry. Truly I am. I did my best." I felt the anger swelling up towards my chest. "No you didn't. Get out of here! Out! I hate you! You're fee will be mailed to you. Now leave. Be gone!"
"I'm not going to charge you a fee. I failed you. You are not going to pay me for failing you but let me just say one thing. I had no idea what they would come up with. The lies…the trickery." I could not believe that guy had a 96 percent success rate.
Elton tilted his head down and left.
I wanted to shoot him, but not just him. I wanted to get Randall too and his dirtya** siblings. At that moment I hated everybody. Even hated Angel for dying. Life sucked.