After hitting the main strip of Palm Beach, I left my car in a parking garage and headed toward the shops along Ocean Avenue. Fang's note that I had found when I had rolled over this morning read "Buy something nice. Surprise later. Be ready by eight. Love you." So… with his credit card, which he had graciously left me, I walked straight into the most expensive-looking store. Hey, I'm still a chick.

After sending away the annoying shopping assistants, I headed straight for the evening gowns. There, in front of me, stood racks and racks of prom dresses, wedding dresses, sundresses, party dresses, bridesmaid's dresses, ball gowns, and evening gowns. Whew boy. This was going to be a long day.

As I left and headed across the street, I received a text message from my friend Laurel, saying that there was a huge sale at the mall. And thinking that it was Christmas, I figured I would not want to waste all of Fang's money on just one thing, I turned around and headed back to my car.

I had been doing just dandy (maybe I shouldn't watch all those old Western movies with Gazzy anymore should I?). Actually, I had been doing quite well with my whole shopping experience. Until a skinny, short dude with a goatee strolled up to me, his nametag shining in my eyes. Saucy. No, seriously, his nametag read "Saucy" across it in gold letters.

"Ello, Madame," Saucy spoke with a possibly fake French accent, "Is there anything I can help you wif today?"

I shook my head, smiling even though Saucy could probably tell it was forced, and said, "No, thank you. I'm okay." Saucy nodded curtly once and then was gone, off harassing some other poor innocent victim. I finished going through a rack of dresses and headed to another, spotting a hot fuchsia color poking out from the rest of the dresses. Pulling it out, I checked the size, and headed towards the dressing rooms.

"Having fun?" Saucy popped up and sent me backwards, into a mannequin and knocking it over.

"Yeah. I'm just going to try this on," I motioned to my dress, stepping aside to get away from the creepy guy. What is it with creepy guys and their name's starting with S?

He grabbed my arm, turning me back around and smiling lopsidedly, "Hey, can I tell you a secret?"

"Sure." Oh, hush up. This guy could have killed me with a single stab of his gelled-up goatee. It's not like I had much of a choice: listen and live or get shanked by a beard.

Saucy giggled and leaned in closely, "You see that guy over in the ties?"

My eyes scanned the vicinity of Sears, finding an actually attractive man holding a handful of business suits, "Yeah…"

"Well… I've got the hugest crush on him. His name is Horacio." Hmm… am I sensing an odd connection to crime-scene shows or what?

"Okay. I'm… happy for you?" Seriously, creepy Saucy spicy Mr. Dude, I need to get on with my life so I can find a dress that's sexy enough to make a serious impression on my boyfriend. Saucy let out a giant squeal and kissed me full on the lips, rushing over to the Horacio and jumping onto the poor guy's back and…well… "hugging" him sweetly.

I didn't pay attention to what happened next, because I rushed off towards the dressing room and didn't come out for about thirty minutes.

See, children, that is why you never let the sales associates help you. They end up being super bizarre and humping people randomly in the tie section.

After leaving with my dress, I was on my way to the Sephora store to pick out some makeup. After choosing the correct shade of foundation, powder, blah blah girly stuff blah, I actually asked for help from a sales person and found the perfect shade of eye shadow that matched my dress. Then, after passing through the mall to make sure there would be nothing else I needed, I stopped at Victoria's Secret and bought myself a new bra to fit underneath the dress. A sales associate ushered me towards a new line of skimpy night gowns and I high-tailed it outta there.

This day was going to be perfect. And I actually, for once, felt that overwhelming sense of holiday joy.

Until… I stepped outside and two raindrops plummeted right onto my head and right arm. I sighed, hoping that it better had not rain on my parade.

Later…

FANG POV

I had just gotten to my dorm room when I heard Max hurrying around on the other side of the wall, the sink going off and on, her swearing as something crashed to the floor. I would have ran in and checked to make sure she was okay, but when I tried, she told me to not come in.

So I had to patiently wait until my driver called and informed me that he was waiting outside. And then, just as I had planned, I walked up to Max's door, knocked on it, and was pleased when she immediately opened the do- wow.

She looked beautiful- no, more than beautiful. There were no words to describe how… lovely she looked. Her dress was a pinkish color (maybe a magenta or fuchsia, but hey, I'm a guy), with two straps that went around her neck (a halter… right?), and it cut off around her knees, with two lines of diamonds all the way to her um… chest…area.

"Hey." She greeted, smiling up at me, her brown eyes shining from the sun that was slowly setting behind her.

"Good evening, Miss Ride." I bowed, a smirk on my face, and held out my arm. She linked it around her own and I walked with her down the staircase and out the front doors, where a horse-drawn carriage was waiting.

Her eyes lit up as she turned to me, "You did all this? Fang, oh my God!" I grinned, knowing that I had made the right choice in transportation, and helped her into the carriage.

"Where to, young man?" The driver turned and flashed us a smile.

"The Regas Bistro." The driver nodded once and flicked the horses with his reigns, heading down the driveway and onto the main road.

Max giggled, pointing as the cars drove past, "Do you know how out of place we look? A horse-drawn fairytale carriage in the middle of Palm Beach?"

I leaned in, kissing her softly on the lips, "They're not staring just at the carriage."

"Then what are they staring at?" Max had one eyebrow up, confused as she turned to look at me.

I smiled, knowing how corny it was, but I just couldn't resist, "You."

She sat there for a moment, letting it sink in, and then blushed, "…Thanks."

"You're welcome." I intertwined my fingers into hers and smiled, feeling accomplished. I had made the Maximum Ride blush. We sat like that- side-by-side, hand in hand- for some time, enjoying the scenery at night with the sunset, and listening to the sounds of the horses trotting along. Dear God, I sound like Shakespeare. All this lovey-doveyness has gone straight to my head.

And then I looked over at Max, seeing the way she glowed in the light, and how I felt a strong urge to kiss her, and I knew that it was all right. I could have just one night of this, couldn't I? One night of just pure enchantment, with just me and Max, alone and sharing a special moment together.

Right?