A/N I do not own Max Ride or any characters therein. R&R

Chapter 10

"Listen, Nudge, I'm sorry about all this. I shouldn't have ever left." Fang said as he hung his head.

"Who are you and what have you done with Fang?" Nudge said in monotone. Fang looked at her with pain in his eyes. "The Fang I know wouldn't be doing all this moping around and sulking. You've got a great guy now. And Max...," Fang flinched at Max's name, "Max'll just have to deal with it. She'll get through this; we all will, together." Nudge stared into Fang's eyes and she saw them soften.

"Thanks, Nudge. I knew there was a reason I still keep you around." Fang softly laughed and Nudge playfully punched him in the arm.

"Go sit with your boyfriend." She teased. Fang blushed and she almost lost it. "Awwwww!"

"Oh shut it!" Fang yelled at her while he started for the stairs. He heard Gazzy and Iggy discussing rather loudly what there next bomb should be.

"Knock knock." Fang said.

"Oh hey, Fang." Gazzy said with out looking up from his work. Fang was glad Gazzy could semi-multitask or else they'd have all died long ago. Right now Gazzy's head was buried in what looked like a birds nest of wires.

"Hey...babe." Iggy said and blushed violently. Fang just smiled brightly in response as Gazzy started making fake gagging noises. Fang thumped him on the back of the head with one of his knuckles.

"Ow! Hey do not mess with a guy who's constructing a BOMB!" he yelled from the depths of his creation.

Fang moved closer to Iggy and shot several nervous glances at Gazzy before leaning in to kiss Iggy. Iggy instantly latched on to the back of Fang's neck and pulled him close. Fang pulled away and put a finger to his lips in the "quiet" gesture before going back for more. They kissed for what seemed like hours, they were exceptionally quiet despite Fang playfully biting Iggy on the neck which seemed to make him go completely numb. At some point Gazzy either finished what he was doing or needed to come up for air but they heard him say "Oh, God! Guys come on! Really?"

"Yes, really," Iggy said around Fang's lips then broke off the kiss. Fang pouted even tho Iggy couldn't see.

"Hey guy's um... could you at least...warn me or something next time? I mean I don't wanna sound...you know."

"Oh...yeah, Gazzy. No problem." Fang said.

"And, Ig? I'm sorry about earlier I didn't mean it I just...I don't know."

"Don't worry about it, dude."

"You sure?"

"100% Gaz."

"Okay. So...?"

Fang stepped in to break the silence. "What you guys building? Besides a bomb of course."

Gazzy looked relived as did Iggy that the awkwardness had passed with minimal pain. "Well basically it's another perimeter mine. Proxy sensor, Bouncing Betty style detonation, frag shell, plus a 30 foot fireball."

Fang just nodded. Iggy's sixth sense kicked in telling him Fang was lost. "It keeps people out, goes off when something gets close, flies up in the air before detonation, sends out deadly shards of metal and I think even you can get '30 foot fireball'"

"Thanks for clarifying, Ig" Fang laughed

"Your welcome," Iggy replied and stood up face to face with Fang somehow "looking" right into Fang's eye's. Gazzy cleared his throat.

"Sorry, Gaz," They both said.

"I should probably go talk to Max." Fang said sadly to Iggy.

"Be careful there, dude." Gazzy suggested.

"He's right."

"Okay. I'll leave you guys to it." Fang said and started walking upstairs on the way he passed Angel and Dylan. Angel nodded at him. She knew he was coming and got out while she could. When Fang got to Max's room he hesitated. Should he really talk to her? Or would it cause more trouble? No, he had to at least try to explain to her what happened. If she didn't want to listen to him then that was her fault. He raised his hand and... the door flew open. There stood Max, eyes red from crying, fists clenched, and tight lipped.

"What do YOU want?" she said venomously

"I just want to talk. That's it."

"I don't wanna hear it."

"You may not want to but you need too."

"Don't you get it? I HATE YOU! You have destroyed me inside. Nothing can ever replace you. Nothing!"

"I know. I don't want you to 'replace' me I..."

"You want me to keep loving you don't you?" she interrupted, "That's really messed up don't you think?"

"No, I want you to let someone else in. And move me somewhere else that's not your heart. Do it for me, for the flock." A single tear slid down her cheek which she angrily wiped away. "Max I still love you just not the same way anymore. I know that's hard to hear but its the truth. I don't know what you want to hear from me but I'm not gonna lie to you now and say that I'll come back cause I won't."

Max broke down and cried. It was the first time Fang had ever seen Max cry for something other than an injury or when one of them was hurt. Fang felt horrible for doing this but he knew it had to be done. If he didn't explain his feelings he knew it would haunt him for ever.

"What can I do to make you stay?" Max was pleading with him.

"I'm not leaving. Not again."

"No, I mean with me." Max looked at him with agony because she already knew the answer before she even asked.

"Nothing." Fang said

Max froze and then collapsed on the floor in a vision of pure agony. Fang knelt beside her and reached out. Max grabbed him, buried her head in his shoulder, and cried...and cried...and cried.

(Hey guys. Sorry I fell off the face of the planet but I've been busy with my job and school and GAHHH! I am trying to write and I should have chapter 11 up in a week or two. SORRY! **cowers** don't hate me!)