Max yanked her arm away, pushing the sleeve down again. "What the hell was that about?" Max snarled at him, her old spark making a sudden appearance. "What the hell were those about?" Fang countered expertly. He had learned well. "Look, Fang." Max muttered, the spark suddenly dying, "Im not the same anymore. Im not a leader, hell, im not even part of the Flock anymore. So it really doesn't matter what I do to myself at this point." Fang refused to accept this. "It matters to me." he said firmly. "And it matters to everyone else too, whether you believe it or not. Nudge and Gazzy wanted to see you more than anything they've wanted in the past 4 years."
Max blinked. She wasn't used to him talking this much. "And you wanna know the truth? Angel is nowhere near the leader you were." He added. Max just looked at him with empty, dead eyes. "Then why did they all turn on me?" she whispered. Fang sighed. "I think only they could answer that." He said sadly. "Do you always talk this much nowadays?" Max asked with a half hearted chuckle. Fang cracked a tiny smile. "Actually, no. I usually talk less than when you were there." He said. Max faked surprise. "Is that even possible?" she asked dramatically. "I know, kinda mindblowing huh?" he said, playing along. They laughed for a few minutes, then Fang broke it. "Why do you hurt yourself, Max?" he asked.
Max immediately tensed. Just tell him, Max. He can help you. The voice chimed in. Max sighed and looked down. "The memories hurt." She said, almost too quietly for Fang to hear. "Of the Flock, Mom and Ella, living on the run…" she trailed off and forced herself to look up. "Memories of you." She whispered. Fang reached out one hand and gently stroked her cheek. "I want to help, Max." he murmured. "But I can only help you if you can help yourself." She met his eyes, and didn't see what she expected. She expected disgust, anger, scorn. But instead she was met with soft concern and love.
"I wish I could…" she whispered. "But, I cant. Without this, I cant function. I cant cope, I cant do anything. It hurts too much." Fang opened his mouth… just as there was a knock on the door. Frowning, Max went to open it. As soon as she did, she was hit by a flying ball of brown. She fell onto her back, squishing her wings. "Nudge?" she gasped out in shock. "Max! MaxMaxMaxMaxMaxMaxMaxMax!" Nudge squealed, clinging even tighter to her skinny frame. "Nudge… Cant… breathe…." Max gasped out. Nudge sat bolt upright and quickly scooted off of her. "Sorry." She said with a sheepish grin. Max struggled to a sitting position, in time to be hit by Gazzy and hit the floor wings first again with another 'OOf!' "Max! I missed you soooooo much!" Gazzy yelled. "Gazzy… again with the…. Not being able… to breath…." "Oops!" He exclaimed as he got off. "Sorry, Max!" Max gave him a soft smile as she got shakily to her feet.
Iggy came in next. He didn't tackle her, but they did hug. "Missed you Max." he whispered. "Missed you too Igs." Last but not least, Angel. She walked in primly, like she owned the world, even though she'd recently heard her only mother figure cutting into her own arm. Her attitude annoyed Fang. "Hello Angel." Max said, sounding sad and tired. "Hello Max." Angel said coldly. "What are you doing here?" Surprisingly, this question came from Angel. Max raised her eyebrows. "Um, not to burst your little bubble Ange, but this is my apartment." Angel just waved a careless hand. "We told you to stay as far away from us as possible." She said. Fang couldn't believe it. Angel had gone from sweet girl worried about her family to a cold, heartless dictator.
"Angel, maybe you didn't notice," Max said harshly, "But im in fucking Seattle. Last I checked, you were in Colorado. You cant say its my fault for just going about my business when you just happened to be flying overhead." Suddenly, Angels face crumpled, and she ran and threw her arms around Maxs thin waist, crying. "Im sorry." She sobbed. "Im so, so sorry. Ive been so mean to everyone, and I know what this did to you, Max, and Im so sorry." Maxs eyes flicked to her wrist as her mind went into overdrive. "M- maybe you guys should go." Max said.
Everyone stopped dead. Angel pulled away, wiping her cheeks. "What?" Nudge demanded shrilly. "Look," Max said, back in her hopeless tone. "You guys don't need me anymore. Im already in enough pain, I don't need you to mock me too." "Max-" Fang started, but Angel interrupted. "No, shes right." Angel said sadly. "We've hurt Max enough." One by one, they sadly filed out. Just as Fang was out the door, he spun around and crushed Maxs lips against his.
They stood like that for a full minute before Fang pulled away, whispering, "I love you. And ill come back." Then he was gone. Just like that. Max stood, stunned, for a moment, then collapsed on the sofa and burst into tears.
(A/N, Ok, done. Review.
UNF-
Silence)