Solace: Chapter Ten - A Single Gesture

Shopping with Nudge was one of those things that scared me more than coming face to face with Erasers and Flyboys.

I was awake, but still in bed, not wanting to go to the other rooms and wake the other kids up just yet. The sooner they were up, the sooner I would be subjected to this 'adventure,' as Angel called it.

I turned my head to see if Fang was still asleep. He had his eyes closed, but his breaths weren't as slow and deep as they are when he sleeps, so I assumed he was awake.

I watched him for a few minutes and wondered if he was just as apprehensive about a shopping trip as I was.

No, of course he wouldn't be. It didn't bother him because he wasn't going to be attacked with piles of clothes to try on. He would probably find himself some random pair of black pants and a black shirt, then run off to the arcade or something with Gazzy and Iggy. He always gets it easy…

Unless…

"Fang?"

"What?" He opened his eyes and was looking at me now.

"Could you do me a favor?" I was hoping my face didn't show how much I was hoping he'd agree to this.

"Depends…" he said, looking at me questioningly.

"Do you want to… um… hang out with me today?" I asked carefully.

He stared at me for a moment. "And have Nudge beg me to try on a purple shirt or something? No way," he said with a smirk.

"No, no. I don't want to be subjected to that either, but I also don't want to walk around by myself. So I was thinking maybe you and I could just pick out a few things and then find somewhere to wait for the others. How does that sound?"

"There's four other people and a dog you could ask, but you want me to wait with you because…" He raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to finish the sentence.

I wasn't going to give Fang the satisfaction of hearing me say I'd rather spend the day with him than with the others, so I promptly thought of an excellent reason.

"… because Angel said they wanted to take me, so if for some reason the Voice lied about them being commanded to not try anything in public, then I may need some backup and you know you would be the best candidate for that," I said, which was also true, of course. I quickly added, "But if you don't want to, that's fine." I shrugged, as if it didn't matter to me in the slightest.

"Whatever," he said quietly. Anyone else would have replied to that with something along the lines of, "Jeez, what's with the attitude?" However, this is Fang, and I'm pretty sure his tone suggested that he just agreed to spend the day with me.

I smiled inwardly and got out of bed, ready to tackle the day ahead of me. I pulled on my hooded sweatshirt, grabbed my Maximum Ride card out of my pack, and went for the door. Before I left the room, I called over my shoulder, "Be ready in ten."

By the time I got the others up and out of their rooms, Fang was waiting in the hallway. It had taken a while to convince Angel and Total that it would be best to leave the dog in the hotel room because we probably wouldn't be allowed to bring him into a clothing store.

After the six of us took advantage of the complimentary breakfast table, which basically consisted of muffins and orange juice, I approached the woman at the front desk.

"Excuse me. Could you tell me if there's a store around here where we could buy some clothes?" I asked, politely. Yes, I can be polite when I try.

"You're kidding, right?" she asked, looking at me incredulously.

"Um… no?" I didn't know what this woman was getting at.

She smiled apologetically at me. "Sorry, it's just that most people who stay here have come just for the mall. You don't know about the Harkrow Mall?"

"No. We're not really from around here," I replied, shaking my head.

"Oh! You should definitely check it out. It's only around the corner, about two blocks away. There are four floors of every kind of store you can imagine. There's even a bowling alley, a big game room, a movie theater, and an ice rink," she said, excitedly.

"Sounds great… Thanks!" It did sound pretty sweet. So I rounded up the troops and we headed out.

It was a short walk, just like the receptionist had said, but we were still looking over our shoulders and up at the sky above us because we had no idea if we really were safe. Then as we rounded the corner, it only took a second for the chorus of glee to begin…

"Wow!"

"This is going to be so much fun!"

"Awesome!"

"What? What does it look like, guys?" Iggy asked.

"This place is huge!" Gazzy shouted, tugging at Iggy's arm, pulling him toward the mall.

'Huge' was a huge understatement. This building was absolutely massive. The sign that said 'Harkrow Mall' must have been 25 feet tall by itself! It's hard to believe we didn't see it when we landed last night.

Once we were inside, I stopped at the ATM machine and withdrew as much as it would let me. Then I got the group's attention and we gathered in a small circle.

"Okay, I have a plan for today that I think everyone will be happy with it. You just have to promise me you'll all be on your best behavior…" I started.

"I promise, Max. I think it's an excellent plan," Angel said with a big smile. Of course, since she already read my mind, she knew what I was about to tell everyone.

"Angel, please stay out of my head. Now, Nudge, you're going to take Angel and find both of yourselves some clothes. Make sure whatever you find isn't too impractical to fight in or I'll make you return it. When you've found everything you need, there's plenty to do here. Maybe there's a movie you want to see or something? And you can get something to eat for lunch, too. You decide, but make sure to stay inside the mall at all times." I tried to say that last part with a stern tone to make it clear that they were not allowed to leave for any reason.

"Don't worry, Max. There's tons of stuff to do here. We won't go outside. The first place I want to go is the pet store. I think Chihuahuas have big ears. Do you think they'll have any Chihuahuas there? I want to go look at all the puppies. Hey, maybe we can find a friend for Tota—" I stopped her with a glare. It really bothered me that Nudge actually wanted to look at caged animals…

"Angel, Nudge, do not bring any puppies back with you. We have Total and he's enough. Get him a toy or a little doggie sweater or something, but do not get him a friend. If anyone comes back with any animals… well, just don't."

No one fought me on the issue, so I continued, looking at Iggy and the Gasman. "The same goes for you two. Find some clothes. I assume I don't have to warn you about the impracticalities of skirts, right?" Iggy chuckled at my comment. "And then, I'm sure you can find something to do to keep you occupied for a few hours after you shop and grab a bite to eat."

"Um, Max, why are you letting us stay here all day? Not that I'm complaining, but don't you hate malls?" Gazzy asked.

"Because I'd rather not stay in the hotel all day with nothing to do. And besides, it's not going to be all day." I looked around for a minute and noticed a large fountain, then pointed to it. "We'll meet in front of that fountain at 4pm, got it?"

They nodded fervently, obviously wanting to run off and enjoy themselves. "And, guys? Please don't forget that there are people that are trying to come after us. Just be aware of everything and everyone, okay?"

"Yes, Mom. Can we go now?" Iggy asked, impatiently.

"Yeah, here's some cash…" I handed a lump of cash to Iggy and another to Nudge. I started to say, "Remember… Careful…" but they were already heading off.

I sighed and looked up at Fang, who hadn't said a word the entire time. He was looking at me, grinning. "What?" I asked.

"Iggy's right. You're such a mom," he said, his grin widening. "So, where are we going?"

We ended up in a department store, where we both bought a few pairs of black jeans, some t-shirts, and boxers (hey, what can I say… they're comfy to sleep in). I even decided that shopping wasn't so horrible as long as no one was shoving clothes in my face. Until Fang pointed out a shirt and said I should try it on. I warned him that he sounded like Nudge and he just shrugged. But the shirt was kinda nice, so I did. And I actually liked it, so I bought it. I noticed Fang looking smug about it, so I scowled at him.

The last stop was the lingerie section. I tried to be fast and grab the first few things I saw in my size, figuring Fang would be uncomfortable amongst all of the women's undergarments, but I turned around and found him holding up a lacy black bra. He held it out to me with a smirk on his face. I felt my cheeks turn crimson and snatched it from his hand. I looked at the tag.

"Fang? How did you know my size?" I asked, curiously.

He shrugged. "Lucky guess? Here, these match," he said, holding out his other hand. Of course, lacy black panties, in my size.

I could tell by the look on his face that he was joking around. He obviously didn't think I'd actually get them. So just to see his expression, I added both to the pile of clothes in my arms.

"Are you serious?" he asked, letting out a small chuckle.

"What? Maximum Ride can't wear black lace?" A playful smile pulled at my lips before I had time to realize how flirtatious it seemed. I blushed again and looked away from him.

We paid for our things, left the store, and realized that we still had a few hours, so we started walking around to see what else we could do.

There was a comfortable silence between us as we walked side by side, allowing me to enjoy the whole 'mall experience' more with each passing minute. Even so, my enjoyment was entwined with anxiety because we couldn't know for sure what kind of demonic things could be watching us…

Fang must have noticed me looking over my shoulder every five seconds. He brought his hand lightly to my elbow and guided me to a bench. I sat down while he stood in front of me, his hands on my shoulders.

"We're safe here," he said in a low, calming voice. I looked at him and nodded after a moment.

I heard a loud, obnoxious laugh come from behind me and I turned to see what it was. It was coming from the pet store. There were three young boys, probably around Gazzy's age, poking their fingers into a cage on the ground near the front of the store. I focused my eyes on the cage to see a small, white rat. It was pressed up into one corner looking frightened.

The scene made me sick. I imagined that's probably what we looked like at the school when the Whitecoats were trying to stick needles into us without letting us out of our cages. That's all we were to them – unimportant little lab rats.

I watched in disgust as one of the boys pulled his foot back and then kicked the rat's cage. The little white rat shrieked in terror.

Fang growled beside me and I turned back to face him.

"Wait here. Don't move," he told me. He walked over to the pet store with a fierce look of determination and started talking quietly to the boys, all of whom instantly looked shaken by Fang's expression.

I had always admired him for standing up for himself and others who were treated badly. Now, here he was, standing up for a rat. I smiled. Fang. Defending a rat.

Fang. My best friend. Solace…

Is it so wrong to want your best friend? I remember the time he left me and I remember the shard of ice that formed in my heart because of it. I never want to feel that again. I want Fang in my life, always. I need him.

I think if I told him that right now, he'd just smile and say "I told you so."

Fang knew there would be an 'us' somewhere down the line. He'd said it himself a long time ago when we were arguing over something…

"Max, if you would just talk to me–"

"About what? You and me? There is no you and me."

"You're wrong Max. There's a you and me, all right. There will always be a you and me."

He's been waiting for years, hasn't he? Thinking back, Lissa was the only girl he ever dated. I mean, sure, he had gotten friendly with Brigid, but nothing ever happened with that… And there's been no one since…

The note… Angel had seen in his mind that he just wanted some time with me. That's all he really wanted. Yet, he was sure he couldn't have it…

"You would never have written this for me."

I understand what the Voice meant now. I felt hot tears prickling at my eyes. He just wanted me to give him a chance…

I remembered then what Nudge had said last night…

"What I meant was that I want to have someone like you have Fang. The way he looks at you is incredible."

Was it so obvious to everyone else? That I was the only one he let in? Through one look, he was able to grant me access to the emotions that he didn't dare reveal to the rest of the world, as if they were so fragile that only the right people could be trusted with them. And he trusted me whole-heartedly…

He would continue to wait for me. I believed that. But why should I choose to make him wait? I finally know exactly how to make him happy…

Just one small gesture. I knew he would accept it, without hesitation, and he'd never look back. There would be no going back, ever. It would be Max and Fang, always.

And I wanted it…

"Let's go," Fang said, pulling me out of my daze. I looked up at him and I noticed a small smile appear.

"I don't want to know what you did in there…" I guessed. I tried to subtly wipe at my face to make sure the tears hadn't escaped. I was relieved when I felt none.

"You're right. You don't," he said, still smiling.

We walked for a few more minutes and ended up in front of the ice rink. Fang kept walking, but I stopped and looked through the glass doors, my eyes catching a glimpse of a family. A small girl was skating around, unsteadily, each hand held by a parent.

"I've never been ice skating…" I said, mostly to myself.

I didn't even realize Fang was standing there until he opened one of the doors and gestured for me to go in.

I shook my head. "I don't even know how."

"Me neither," he said, grinning.

Two hours later, after skidding into walls, falling on top of one another, and almost taking down a few other people, we realized that we had the most success skating side by side, holding each other's hand for support.

Eventually, we realized we had to meet up with Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel soon, so we returned our skates and retrieved our shopping bags from the lockers we had rented outside of the rink.

Heading back to the fountain, something caught Fang's attention and he stopped walking.

"We still have ten minutes. Let's do this…" he said, as he grabbed my arm and started pulling me toward a booth. It was an instant photo booth with a pale green curtain hanging from the entryway for privacy. The others were probably waiting for us already, but I figured this would only take a few minutes, so I let him drag me in.

We stepped into the booth and closed the curtain. There wasn't really enough room on the seat for both of us, so Fang pulled me into his lap with his arms around my stomach. I didn't have to look twice to see that his cheeks turned slightly pink, but we both just laughed. I put the money in and pressed the 'start' button. On a small screen in front of us, a 20-second countdown began before the first picture would be taken. I leaned back and put my arm around his neck.

When the camera flashed the first time, we were still laughing, so it was probably one of the first pictures we would have where we were flashing our pearly whites. Then another 20-second countdown appeared.

"Make a funny face," Fang said quietly. I waited until there was only 5 seconds left, then turned and stuck my tongue out at him. He did the same. The camera flashed again.

I was thinking of what to do for the next picture when something occurred to me. This booth was the definition of claustrophobia, and yet I managed to overlook it. I was sitting on my best friend's lap in a tiny booth in a mall and I was actually having fun, despite the crap hand we've been dealt, the creatures that were created to destroy us, and all of humanity depending on me to save the world. If there was one thing that was absolutely certain in my life, it was Fang.

So I made the decision, right then and there.

I lifted my free hand to his face, skimming my fingers delicately across his cheek, leaving behind a trail of fire, my eyes locked with his. I leaned into him and watched the emotions displayed in his eyes… surprise… relief… joy… his rare happiness…

Eyes fluttering closed, I pressed my lips gently against his, immediately feeling their warmth move softly in acceptance. There was a flash of light that I barely registered. A moment later, another flash. I realized two photos were taken, capturing the beginning of our future, for all it's worth, in those two images.

I had to force myself to pull back and open my eyes. We stared into each other's soul while we waited for the pictures to print. We didn't need to verbalize what just happened. He was mine now, and I, his. And that's how it would always be. It was a silent agreement.

We left the booth, hand in hand, the pictures tucked safely away in my pocket, tangible proof that this wasn't just a dream.

Angel was giggling as we approached the fountain a few minutes later. Fang and I weren't holding hands as we neared the other kids… Neither of us was ready to jump up and shout, "Hey! Guess what we just did!?" But I knew Angel was reading our minds, so I didn't want her to be the one to announce anything, either.

Angel, you won't say anything, will you? I asked her in my head.

I won't say a word, she replied.

I smiled to her in appreciation.

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