Chapter 20

Fang POV

"What exactly do you want to know?" I asked after we kissed. We were both breathless when we pulled away.

Max took a deep breath. "Remember when Ella said she'll fix the both of us on a date?" I nodded. "Well, after I made the dramatic exit, I saw you leave the house."

"You did?"

Max nodded. "Yeah. And I saw that Iggy was telling you something that you don't want to hear."

"You wanna know what he said?"

Max looked at me. "If you want to."

I took a breath. "Iggy was telling me that this is my life. I make the decisions, not my parents."

"I'm guessing it's because of me?"

"Yeah. Well, let's just say, I've made bad decisions before."

"Will you tell me?" Max asked softly.

It's weird. This whole conversation is making me uneasy. I, for once, felt. . . afraid. I'm not the kind of person who always have heart-to-heart conversations with anyone. I don't even talk that much! I can't even express my own emotions.

Now look at me. I'm talking to my sister's maid-slash-nanny. I know I shouldn't, but for some reason, I trust her. I like her than any other girl I've met. She moves me in ways even I couldn't describe.

What had she done to me? Looking back, I realized I have been my parents' lapdog for almost two years. I forgot how to relax, until Max came. She's like the light at the end of the tunnel. She gave me hope and. . .

"Two years ago, I have had enough of my parents coming home every December."

"Weren't you in college?" Max asked.

"I am, still. But during first year, I hung out with this group."

"What's the name?"

"I can't tell you, but all you have to know is that it's the bad kind."

Max nodded. "What happened?"

"I hung out with them and did drugs for the first time."

I know what Max was thinking. I was just so pissed at them; how can they come home once every year and not even bother staying longer than three days? Something ticked inside me. I was, like, done.

I admit, I had second thoughts before doing drugs. My life was so messed-up that I needed something to bring things back to normal. I did it. I did drugs.

"What drugs?" I'm amazed how Max can be so calm and strong. Then again, she's Max.

"Meth. And heroine," I brought the wall down again. The images are coming again. They're too painful to even remember. "Iggy saw what was happening to me; he took me out of college and ordered me to go to rehab. It was hard in rehab and I stayed there for almost two years. I kept longing for the freedom those drugs gave me, even though it was short-termed."

"Your life was so messed-up. I think I know how you feel." Max tightened her hold on my hand.

"Really?"

"How would you feel if you suddenly found out that your birth mother is alive, all this time? That your own father used you in his experiments like a lab rat?" She didn't wait for me to answer.

This is it. I'm learning more about Max. Just like Ari said.

Max continued. "I ran away when I was fourteen. I have had enough of Jeb using me like a toy, and not his own daughter. During that time, I found out my mother was alive. Jeb lied about her getting in a car accident. Jeb had documents about her in his office; I took them with me when I ran away.

"I searched for my mother for nearly a year. It was hard, you know. I was a minor: a fugitive. But as time passed by, my life gradually changed. I was always on the run - from the police, criminals, and other people who saw me suspicious. I didn't trust anyone because I was always thinking that they'll bring me back to Jeb. And I didn't want that. I even said to myself I'd rather die than to go back to that nightmare." Max laughed without humor.

I sighed. "Our lives were similar, in one way. We were both fed up with adults that they made us do unimaginable things." I smiled at her.

She smiled back. Then, she pulled her hand away. I felt a pang deep in my chest. Her smile faded.

"I have to go, Fang."

"You can't leave."

"I have to. Your parents are coming and I'm not going to stick around for that."

"You can't leave." I stubbornly repeated. Max will not leave me - and the others.

"This is like deja vu. Speaking of that, why didn't you want me to leave then?"

I hesitated.

"Tell me, Fang. Since we're already spilling secrets here. Please?"

Note to self: Fang will do anything if Max says "please."

"Please?"

Shit. "Fine. I didn't want you to leave because I couldn't bear the thought of you leaving me."

"You?" Max arched one brow.

This is embarrassing! "Let's just say I wanted you to stay with me and not go anywhere."

"Hmm. . . Am I supposed to say anything here?"

I shrugged and kept the calm-on-the-outside-but-humiliated-on-the-inside look. "Should you?"

"I don't think so."

"OK."

"I should still leave."

"You're really trying my temper." I clenched my jaw.

That brought an evil grin on her face.

"What?"

Max shrugged lightly. "Just wondering what you're like once your temper is unleashed."

"You don't wanna know," I said in a hard voice.

"THEY'RE GONNA BE HERE IN TEN MINUTES!" Iggy yelled from inside the house.

Max's eyes lit up. "Looks like I'm gonna know tonight."

"No, you won't."

"Yeah, I will." Max stood up and ran to the door but I stopped her.

"Please?" It breaks my heart to just say the word.

Max stuck out her tongue at me.

"You're so stubborn. . ."

"And you're so slow."

I shook my head and captured her mouth.

And she captured my heart.

A/N: RnR?