Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride.

Max's POV:

Oh.

My.

Gosh.

It wasn't just a kiss. It was one of those kisses. Just like those days, they were rare and far in between, but when it hit you in the face, there was no doubt as to what it was. Fang's lips move against mine in the most familiar pattern ever. I close my eyes and try to let my instincts take over, to see if there was any truth to his ridiculous story.

My hands fly up into his hair. Oh my gosh. So soft. I know his hair. I have felt it before. He puts his hands on my waist, never any lower or higher, the perfect gentleman. His touch is familiar. I move closer to him, his body fits just right against mine. It's perfect. It's recognizable. I've felt it before.

I'm breathing deeply now- not out of desire, or lust, but out of shock. I know his lips. I know their contours, the way his lips taste- like dark chocolate and a thousand other things that shouldn't taste good together but do. He leans his head down to kiss me more deeply.

Oh my gosh.

My head turns as well, automatically. I have never kissed anyone this way before, but with him it feels appropriate. It feels right. As if we have done it countless times before.

It's not a passionate kiss- it is an urgent kiss. Pleading, begging for me to remember.

I know his heartbeat. Ba-dum, Ba-dum, against my own beating chest. I have heard it before. My hand trails down to his heart. It pulses slightly, constantly against my finger tips. I have felt this before.

Oh my gosh.

We pull apart, both breathing heavily. His eyes- oh my gosh. I know his eyes. The same ones that bore into mine with such intensity- how could I have forgotten his eyes? The sparkling black orbs that I can see my reflection in reflect hope. He nods slightly, encouraging.

I nod slightly, accepting. We have come to an agreement. We draw a few centimeters apart. Slowly I lift my hand from his chest and move it to the back of his neck. I gulp. His eyes are still looking into mine. He nods once more, but it's clearer than if he had shouted it. You can do it, he is saying. I bite my lip and let my hand trace down his back.

Nothing.

I let out a shaky breath I hadn't realized I had been holding. Fang looks expectantly at me and I force my face to become devoid of emotion. I squeeze my eyes shut, not wanting to see his hurt expression, and shake my head no.

I squint out through one of my eyes. Fang's blank charade has been dropped. He openly stares at me with hurt. His eyes, oh my gosh. Swirling with sorrow, with anger, with frustration. I want to apologize. What can I say? 'Oh, by the way, I'm sorry I didn't feel wings on your back and that I have no clue who you are when you claim to have known me your whole life and must be speaking some semblance of truth, because you just kissed me and proved that you are utterly familiar to my body, even if my mind can't accept it.'

My pride prevents me from apologizing. It's not my fault, so the words aren't going to come out of my mouth. I'm sorry. Seven letters that rarely escape my mouth. I think the words as hard as I can. Too bad he's not telepathic. He's still looking at me with an expression of utter distress.

I love you. Eight more letters pop into my mind- eight letters that leave my mouth even less frequently than I'm sorry. I shake my head, as if that will clear it.

It has become an infection. My mind is whirling with I'm so sorry I love you I love you I love you so I'm so sorry I'm sorry I love I'm sorry I'm so sorry I love you so I love you I love I'm sorry.

It doesn't make sense.

Nothing makes sense. I look up again, into Fang's eyes.

They are closed off. There is no expression but that of guarded weariness.

It breaks my heart.

Where is the openness we had just heartbeats ago?

Without warning, he turns and opens my window. I don't speak. There is a mood between us, and no matter how somber it may be, I cannot kill it. No words could do justice to my thoughts, so why bother?

He looks at me one last time. I try to pour into my expression everything I can't say- everything I'm not even allowing myself to think.

He nods slightly. In acceptance, or just a reflex, I'll never know. Then, he turns and jumps out the window.

Oh my gosh.

Fang's POV:

I watch her from my perch in the treetop. She doesn't move for a brief second, shocked. Then, she rushes to the window and frantically looks down. She's searching for me.

"Fang?" I hear her yell. Her voice is interlaced with worry, with confusion. It might not be her fault, but I hate her for becoming this. For making me watch her act like she has no idea who I am. For making me see her act normal. For making me watch her be caged down to this Earth.

Max is the most free spirit I know. Without the wings, without the leadership qualities, it's not even her anymore.

But I could never hate her. I hate what she's done to me. What she's reduced me to.

Perched in a tree, watching her search the ground for a boy with wings.

"Fang?" I hear her call out once more.

I want to scream out, let her know I'm right here. I have rarely heard fear in Max's voice before, and to hear it now breaks my heart.

"Max." I whisper, far too softly for her to hear. It's still an indulgence, one I shouldn't allow. "Max."

A/N- Sort of a short chapter, but three in one weekend? :D I didn't want to keep you all waiting any longer.

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