~∞ ROSES ∞~

Chapter Twenty-One: Fallen Rose

"You've got to be kidding me, Sam," Fang replied with a scoff. Well… That was random… he couldn't help but add, in his head.

Sam stared Fang down, a smug smile growing on his face. "You're going to break up with Max."

"What the hell? Why the f*ck would I do that?" Fang asked, rage seeping into his incredulous tone. "Are you high?"

Sam shook his head, his hazel eyes gleaming. "It's not would. You are going to."

Fang glared at his so-called friend. "I'm not breaking up with her, no matter what you say, Sam. You can't just make me break up with the girl I love. I freaking love her!"

Dryly chuckling, Sam gave Fang a bittersweet smirk. "You really think she loves you back? Especially after this gets out around school?" He pulled his phone out from his pocket, where Dylan had recorded their conversation. Wiggling it a bit in the air, he pressed play, a section of a conversation coming out from the speakers.

"You're not a brat. You're Max. The Max I love."

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For listening. For being there. For keeping your promise. For everything."

"No, thank you. For telling me this."

"You won't tell anyone? I just don't know... I don't want anyone else to know or pity me or Dad..."

"I promise."

Fang felt his body go numb as he listened to this. He didn't… He followed us? And if it goes out around school… Max is going to assume I broke the promise I made to her!

"And that's only a small portion of it. I have the entire thing," Sam taunted with a maniacal grin. "Having second thoughts?"

A growl emitted from the back of Fang's throat. "Where the f*ck did you get that?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. "Tell me. Now," Fang demanded, his hand coming up to grab Sam's phone and throw it at the wall.

"Uh-uh-uh," Sam grinned, pulling the phone out of Fang's reach. "You aren't coming anywhere near this! Besides, I've got many back-ups of it."

Clenching his fists until they blanched white, Fang struggled to control his breathing. What do I do? He thought desperately. How am I supposed to stay with Max without her — no, our — pasts coming out, that she begged me to keep quiet?

"What do you want," he snarled, his breathing heavy, coming out in large puffs.

With an evil smile, Sam knew he had Fang caught in a corner. "You know what I want."

"Tch. Yeah, sure," Fang said sarcastically. "Then I wouldn't be asking what you wanted."

Sam balled his hands, wanting to throw a punch at Fang. "Max."

Fang had to fight his laughter down, despite the entirety of the situation. "Why would she want you, you good for nothing bastard?" Fang laughed sourly. "Why would Max — of all people — go for a weasel-y, rotten scumbag like you? Especially when they could have me; when she could hold my heart," he added after a moment.

Sam's eyes flashed, and he socked Fang in the gut. "At least I know how to treat a girl properly."

He hissed in pain, bending over, yet Fang managed to glower at Sam. "Oh really? Threatening her loving boyfriend with revealing her past that she doesn't want to be known? That's a sign of a good boyfriend," he jeered sardonically.

"You forgot who has the upper hand in the situation right now," Sam reminded Fang, his finger hovering over the send button of his phone. "One wrong move and this is sent to the biggest gossipers at school, plus everyone on my contact list."

Fang's eyes widened as he bit down his retort, 'What? Just your Mom and Dad?'

"It's solely your move, Fang. Make. Your. Choice."

All the pressure was strained on Fang, as he tried to come up with the best decision. I could never do that to Max. I just can't; I promised. Fang slowly began to straighten his back, and met Sam, eye to eye.

He held his breath for a moment, before uttering the three words that would change his future. "I'll do it."

Sam grinned, clapping Fang on the back. "I knew you'd make the right choice."

Fang could only hope that's what he did — make the right choice.

…

With trembling fingers, Fang quickly sent a text to Max, saying to meet him in the courtyard of the school. He gave himself a quick pep talk, while he was waiting for her. Just… break up with her, and you'll be fine. Sam won't send the voice recording, and you won't break your promise to Max.

Another voice countered in his head, You'll only be breaking both her and your heart.

A voice interrupted his thoughts. "Hi, Fang."

"M —" he began, looking up. However, he didn't see Max. It was just Sydney.

Her curly brown hair was straightened and shiny, her lips a glossy pink. She batted her dark eyelashes, which made her green eyes pop, in a seductive manner. But who was she going to seduce?

His eyes widened as he realized who it was, a second too late. Him.

She plopped herself on his lap, immediately attacking his lips, holding his head tight to his so he couldn't get away.

From the distance, Sam smirked to himself. What a prostitute, he thought. Just a little money, and voila! Plan is perfectly in effect. He watched Sydney straddle Fang on the bench, making out with him, and Max come to the courtyard from the other corner of his eye, a rose in hand.

She looked… shocked at first, before becoming outraged, and then hurt. He watched her stomp up to where Sydney and Fang were, and pull Sydney off Fang. He watched her punch Sydney in the nose, and then just stare at Fang.

"Why?" she asked. "If you wanted to break up with me, you could have just said so, rather than being a douche about it!"

Fang wanted to defend himself, telling her that it wasn't supposed to happen like that. This is exactly what he wanted to happen, huh? Fang thought grimly.

"Honey," he said. "You don't understand. Once a douche, always a douche," Fang said, his voice cold, yet eyes soft, trying to tell her not to believe anything he was saying.

He watched with sad eyes as her glare faltered, revealing her hurt for a second.

His heart fell to the ground.

"Fine," she snapped, slapping him across the face, and dropping the rose that was clenched tightly in her fist.

His heart was stomped on.

Max turned around to walk away, trying not to let the tears come down on her face.

"Max!" Fang couldn't help but call. Max stopped mid-step, and turned around.

"What?!" she all but screeched. "Let me guess, the 'It's not you, it's me', move. Well guess what, Nick? I don't care." But she did.

His heart cracked.

He mustered the final words: "Everything I felt towards you was a lie."

She turned around for the last time, not looking back, a single tear falling down her cheek.

His heart was broken in two.

Just like hers was.

Just like the fallen rose.