I woke up and noticed Fang was not beside me. I sat up and saw him at my desk, sitting in my chair, facing me. He was looking at me. He gave me a small smile before going back to his impassive, stone face.
"You feeling okay?" He asked, quiet as usual.
I nodded. "yeah, why?"
"You were really warm when I woke up."
I shrugged. "I'm fine." I saw the secret entrance open. "You went in?" I pointed to the door.
He nodded. "Yep."
I waited for a longer answer. When I got none, I gave a small laugh. "Well, why?"
"TV." He shrugged as if it were obvious. "Come on, let's watch a movie." He got up and held his hand out for me to take.
I took it. "Why don't you go in and let me get dressed?" I got up.
He shrugged and went in, going straight to the DVD rack. I passed my desk and saw my notebook open to the page about Fang. I paled. Did he read it? I went into my closet and grabbed a tight black tank top and boy shorts. I slipped on my house slippers, my Uggs. I trotted into the secret getaway to see Fang looking at all the pictures. He was smiling at the ones of the two of us. I went over and stood next to him. He pointed to a picture of us holding giant ice cream cones that were melting all over our hands.
"Didn't you finish the entire thing?" He asked with a chuckle.
I nodded. "Yeah. I got sick after that, though." I laughed. I saw the one where we were goofing around and I was on his back, both of us smiling and laughing, looking at one another. "We've had a lot of fun." Even to me my voice sounded sad.
He looked at me carefully. "Max, what's wrong? You know you can tell me…"
I shook my head, my eyes never moving from the pictures. "Nothing's wrong."
"Max," He gave me The Tone. The Tone meaning, I know something's up so just tell me. He sighed. "I didn't think I'd have to resort to this."
He went to move behind me but I dodged. "You better not tickle me." I warned him.
"I'm not. Honest." I raised an eyebrow. "Okay, fine, Boy Scout's Honor."
I laughed, seeing Fang hold up three fingers. I grabbed his hand and put it down. He went behind me quickly, before I could do anything to stop him. He grabbed me around the waist, pulling me against him. "You have fast reflexes."
I'm positive he was smirking. "And you don't." He joked. He knew I was fast- when I was prepared at least…
He buried his nose in my hair, relaxing, breathing in my scent. "Max," He whispered. His lips were near my ear.
I didn't like this; I felt vulnerable. He could do anything and I wouldn't be able to stop him. Fang was trailing his lips along my neck.
"Why does it seem like I'm losing you?" He growled quietly, almost to himself. "Why are you pulling away from me?"
"Fang-" I was at a loss for words. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm right here." I couldn't see his face. I wasn't able to see his eyes; to see what he was feeling.
He spun me around in his arms. His jaw was set and he was staring at me almost angrily. But in his eyes were sorrow. "Are you leaving me? Are you leaving?" His hands were gripping my upper arms.
"Fang, stop it- you're scaring me." I told him honestly. I couldn't look in his eyes.
"Max, answer the question." He stepped forward and I was forced to step back. My back hit the wall. "Are. You. Leaving. Me?"
What do I say? "What do you think the answer is?"
"Why the hell do you think I'm asking you?! Damn it, Max-!"
"Why are you getting so worked up over this?!" I interrupted him. The pain in his eyes was too much- I felt like crying as if I were the one in pain.
"Because whenever you hang out with the group, you don't act like yourself. You're distant…Max, just tell me: are you leaving? Because if you are- well, I don't think I'll be able to handle that." He gave me a sad smile before his face cleared of any emotion besides sorrow. There were unshed tears in his eyes- and Fang never cries. Ever.
"Fang, I'm leaving anyway for college, why does it matter-"
"Max, you're my best friend- my first real friend." He paused. "When are you leaving?"
"After my giant birthday bash." I answered quietly.
Fang's arms rested against the wall as he leaned his head down. He rested his forehead against my shoulder. "Why?" He rasped out. I felt droplets of water on my shoulder and shirt. He was crying. And I don't blame him. His best friend- his Guardian Angel- was leaving him. I felt like crying too. And I did- when I first found out.
"Witness Protection- they… after Tabitha found us again, they decided it be best if we change our identities again and move. They want us as safe as possible."
"Didn't you say no?" His voice was shaking. I felt my heart break even more.
"Yes. But they won't relent." Tears started falling slowly from my own eyes. "I don't want my family in danger again. We have to."
Fang looked up at me. I guess he noticed the cracking in my voice. His hand came to my cheek and he slowly rubbed the tears away with his thumb. His other hand did the same thing to my other cheek. He tilted my head up so he could look at me. My hands were resting on his shoulders.
Fang lowered his lips down to mine gently. As soon as his lips touched mine, I felt a spark. It made me shiver a little bit. I responded to the kiss eagerly.
This wasn't like our last kiss. This held urgency. A passion of not only want but need. We needed each other. I never knew I could be truly happy- not until I met Fang. Throughout our friendship, I could see he was happier and happier.
As I wrapped my arms around his neck, Fang moved his around my waist, pulling me closer. We deepened the kiss and, if this kiss was in a movie, it wouldn't be PG or PG-13...
"Don't go." Fang pleaded in between kisses.
I pulled away for a second. "I wish I had that choice." He kissed me again and we started where we left off before I stopped.
"Run away." He suggested after wrestling his tongue with mine.
He moved his lips to my neck, running hot kisses along it. He nibbled at the spot where my neck met my shoulder. His hand was under my shirt and rubbing soothing circled on my back between my shoulder blades.
"I want to. I really want to. But my family." I was losing- I knew it. I wanted to stay with Fang more than anything. I would even ditch my family in a heartbeat.
Fang chuckled a bit before returning to my mouth. "You know you'll ditch them." He sounded so smug. He should be too. He bent down slightly and lifted me off the floor. I wrapped my legs around his waist, resting them against his hips.
He carried me to the couch. Setting my down carefully, he leaned over me, lips still against mine. I unhooked my legs but kept one against his hip.
I reversed the situation to where I was on top. I sat down, straddling his waist. I leaned down and kissed him. My hands were resting on his neck. Fang's hands came up and held me to him, gripping my hips gently. His thumbs rubbed soothing circles on the skin between my pants and shirt. I had ditched my Uggs a while ago.
I whispered something I never thought I'd tell him. "I love you." It was quiet and sweet, against his lips. His froze, making me freeze. I pulled back to look at him and I saw he lips were slightly parted in shock and his eyes a little wider than usual. He hands weren't massaging my hips anymore but just sitting there limply.
Uh-oh.
So there you go! What will Fang say? Will Max cover it all up? Will she actually move or will she stay with Fang? Who knows? I do! But I won't tell you! I'm going to put a little Family Guy joke in the next chapter- let me know if you find it! Everyone who finds it will get a special mention in the chapter after that! Update time: 2:44 PM, Friday, August 14, 2009.