Me: Now, it's time for the big question...

Nudge: Fang asking Max to marry her?!

Max: What?!

Me: No, the real question is...

Iggy: Wait, so Max proposes instead?

Me: No! Now wait for me to finish!

Gazzy: Waiting...

Me: What will Max do about the note? Will the handcuffs finally come off?

Max: Come ON, Fighter. Don't be so dramatic!

Me: Sorry, can't help it. It's just so much FUN!

...

Max POV (of course)

There was a crumpled piece of paper in the pocket of a pair of jeans. No big deal. Quite common actually. I would have shrugged and thrown it into the trash bin with no second thoughts, but Fang obviously didn't want me to see what was on the paper. He might appear calm to anyone else, but I know him too well for that. Plus, I admit, the reaction that I saw from Fang, the sudden, yet subtle tensing of his shoulders, the barely noticeable quickening of his heartbeat, is what made me so curious. Keeping an eye on Fang, I started to open it up.

"Max, wait. Don't open that," Fang sounded nervous. He, of all people, should know that telling me not to do something will only make me want to do it more. He must have realized it too, because the next thing he said was, "I mean, it's just a scrap of paper that I found on the floor a few days ago and shoved into my pocket. It's nothing." Too late. He'd already piqued my interest. I opened it up a bit more. By now, Fang was lunging in slow motion to snatch the paper from my grasp. Laughing at him as I dodged, I got my first peek at the words. The laughter died in my throat as it registered in my brain what the message meant. Angel has the key. Many things ran through my mind: It would make sense for Angel to send us on a wild goose chase, but that doesn't explain the note. For it to be crumpled up means that someone had already read it. For it to be in a pair of Fang's pants suggests that it was him. But he would have told me. Right? If Fang knew where the key was, he would have told me. But he didn't. Fang...didn't tell me. How could he? I never thought I'd live to see the day that Fang kept such a huge secret from me. How long has he known? How long has he been lying?

"You knew?" I asked. "You knew and you didn't tell me."

"Max," he started. "I can explain." Then thoughts even worse filled my head. He's been lying to me. To me, keeping secrets is just as bad as lying, lying, and lying is a form of betrayal. Fang betrayed me. My eyes burn with held back tears. He betrayed my trust. I need to think. I want to be alone. I wish he'd get out of my room. I want him gone right now. I need to get rid of the handcuffs first.

Angel, bring the key to my room. I told her mentally. Sitting in silence, I waited. She didn't respond, but I knew that she'd heard me. Wordlessly, Angel enters the room. She take off a delicate chain around her neck that I never even knew was there. A small key dangled from it.

"You found it," she murmured as she handed over the key. Knowing that all hell was about to break loose, Angel bolted as soon as I had the key in my grasp. I shoved the key into the keyhole on my handcuff and twisted. There was a small click and the cuff popped open. I want him away from me.

"Max, I can explain," Fang said urgently.

I don't want to talk to him right now.

"You see, I-"

I need to be alone.

He needs to get

"...out." I whispered aloud.

"Max?" He asked.

"Get out," I whispered.

"What?" he asked.

"Get out," I said more forcefully. "Get out of my room." I was practically yelling at this point. I some place in the corner of my jumbled mind, I knew that I was overreacting. But at this exact moment, I didn't care.

"Max," Fang pleaded.

"Just go," I said dejectedly. I waited for the door to close behind him before I let the tears start. Slowly and silently they trailed down my cheeks as I stared at the ceiling, and, for the first time in a long time, let myself feel.

...

Iggy POV

Leaving the bathroom, I heard crying. It was soft, but just loud enough to be audible to my ears, because being blind heightens my other senses. I hadn't heard Max cry in... I don't even remember the last time I heard her cry. Somehow though, I knew it was her. So I set off to see what was wrong. Well, to hear what was wrong. Then I bumped into Fang. He was without Max attached to his wrist, so I knew something was up. Time to play detective.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"I made a mistake," Fang said.

:Pause as Fang explains what happened in many more words than he normally speaks at any given time. Please enjoy the intermission as a break to eat a doughnut or something. Ok, now continue:

I sat back and leaned on the wall in shock, tucking my wings in comfortably.

"Well. That escalated quickly," I said. "Dude, in all honesty, you're screwed."

Fang groaned. "That's what I didn't want to hear. Advice?" I guess it's now time to switch and play counselor. I thought for a second.

"Ehem," I cleared my throat. "Keep in mind, this is from a guys view, want better advice, then talk to a girl. Girls know girls better than anyone. The way I see it, she's overreacting and it might be that time of the month. Gotta watch out, girls are vicious during that time, so it's best to avoid all contact. Wait for five to seven days, then check in with her again."

"That did not help at all. You would make a crappy counselor." With that, he got up and walked away.

Well," I grumbled as I stood up and dusted off my pants. "He asked for my advise, and I gave it. Not my problem if he didn't like it." I walked back to my room, hesitating briefly as I passed Max's room. But I had to follow my own advice and leave her be for now.

...

Fang POV

I wandered around the house aimlessly for what seemed like hours before I found myself in the kitchen. Dr. Martinez was making dinner. I guess it was Iggy's night off. She glanced back at me. She took in the fact that Max wasn't with me, and her motherly-instincts-radar must have picked up an I-need-some-help-signal or something because she motioned for me to start chopping stuff for a salad.

"Talk when you're ready and I'll listen. There's no rush," she said. Awesome Mom skills right there. No pushing, no nagging, just reassurance and a listening ear. exactly what I need. She joined me in chopping, and for five minutes all that could be heard was the smack of knives against the cutting boards.

"I knew where to find the key, but I didn't tell her. I-I knew that it would come back to bite me in the butt, but I didn't tell her. I couldn't," I confessed.

"Why couldn't you?" she asked calmly.

"I knew that if I told her, we would go back to the way things were before. Just friends. I wanted to be more than that."

"So, you wanted so badly to be close to Max, that you risked her hating you for keeping secrets? Fang, as romantic as it sounds, risking it all to be with her, this is not some cheesy romance movie. This is real life. She's too upset for you to explain, and she won't forgive you unless she understands why you did what you did, and accepts your apology. Max may seem tough as nails, but under all that forefront, she is still a teenage girl. You have to treat her delicately sometimes. Wait until she's calmed down, then explain everything. I can't promise the outcome, but it's time to buck up, be a man, and take the consequences for your actions. Giving advice is all I can do, it's up to you now."

I was shocked. That lady's got wisdom. And experience. All I could say was:

"You've been working on that speech haven't you?"

She smiled. "I've been looking for a situation to use it in," she said with a hint of sarcasm. I laughed at that. Someone cleared their throat. I looked back and saw Max standing in the door frame. Not even glancing at me, she told Dr. Martinez that she was going out. I stared at the door mournfully as it closed behind her. I knew that she wasn't going to listen to me anytime soon, and it broke my overly romanticized heart.

...

Max POV

I walked into the kitchen to find Fang laughing with my mom. I don't know why, but it ticked me off. Not to mention it ruined my desire to talk to Mom about what had happened. So, now I fly around the sky with no set destination, just a crying heart and a need to get away from it all. I don't remember flying to iti, but I find myself in the same tree that Fang and I ate lunch in. How could so much change in only a few hours. I didn't want to hear excuses at this point. I just sat in the tree as the raw emotions of earlier came back in full force. Then I got a stereotypical urge to go get ice cream. Sadly, I gave into that urge. I could do with a triple chocolate fudge sundae. Extra large. With sprinkles. Can't forget the sprinkles. I flew and landed in an empty parking lot near the ice cream place. I walked in and Dylan was at the counter. Great, I probably looked like a tear streaked manic killer from some horror film. This has not been a kind day to me. Too late to be self-conscious, if I look like a psychotic killer, then he can deal with it. Not my problem.

"Hey, I remember you," he said. "You were with that Goth-looking guy, right?"

"Yeah," I muttered.

"Did something happen?" he asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

"You could say that," I said before giving him my order.

"Looks like you've been through the wringer. Here, this one's on me, free of charge." Well, that was nice of him.

"Thanks, I owe you one," I said. Then I made my way to the corner table to eat my feeling away. yeah, I know it doesn't work, but a girl's gotta try. Dylan slid into the chair in front of me.

"I'm on my break," he replied to my questioning look. Putting his hand on mine, he looked at my seriously. "If you need to talk, I'm here." He actually looked like he cared about my feeling. Unlike Fang when he-

"I'm just trying to forget everything for a moment. Forget the world, and have a little peace," I murmured.

"I get off work in about fifteen minutes if you want some company while you forget the world," he suggested. Somehow, I had a feeling that I could forget about Fang when I was with Dylan.

"I'd like that," I replied with a small smile. In my effort to forget Fang, I forgot all of his warnings about Dylan and the type of person he is.

:Max eats ice cream while Dylan finishes up work, therefore I shall time skip to when they leave the ice cream shop:

It was about six o'clock when we left the shop. Dylan suggested a movie, so upon mutual agreement we went to a comedy. I think it was Dylan's way to get me to laugh after all the crap that happened today. I was still laughing when we walked out the theatre doors. The sun had already set, so Dylan offered to drive me home.

"No, I'm ok," I insisted. "I can get home myself."

"You don't have a car, do you?"

"Well, no, but-"

"I'm not going to let you walk home in the dark," he said sternly. I couldn't say no now, he didn't know I could fly.

"F-fine," I said, giving up. I gave him instructions, then sat back and listened to the radio. It was on a really good Alternative Rock station. Before I knew it, we were parked in front of Mom's house.

"Thanks for the ride," I said. "Thanks for everything."

"Don't mention it," he replied with a slanted smile. I waved as he pulled away and walked up to the door, not yet ready to face reality, but still wanting to punch it in the face.

...

Me: That was intense to write. Seriously, I think I just lost a few pounds in sweat. I took a big risk in that chapter, either you guys love it, or you hate it. But rest assured, it will not be a Mylan (or a Dax, depending on your view). Or will it? DUN DUN DUN DUUUUN. Just kidding. But seriously, I know Max was the teeniest bit overdramatic, I mean, I'm a girl, and I think she overreacted. But I made a choice as the author and I'm going to stick with it. What good is a story without a PLOT TWIST! Right?

Anyway, who agrees that Max shouldn't have gotten in the car with a strange boy who seems too nice to really be nice? If that makes sense. I think I'm rambling. Am I rambling?

Angel: Yes, you really are.

Me: I'll shut up now.

Max: That'd be the day...

Me: HEY! More to come, so stay tuned for the next chapter!