Thanks for all the reviews! I'm really close to having 700! You guys are amazing… so I know last chapter was a bit of a filler. Sorry. I'm trying to slow things down so the story doesn't seem rushed.
Enjoy!
Nightwings93
PS: thanks to Rose and Elli for giving me the ideas for the songs Fang and Max will sing for the concert!
NOTE: when Max and Fang are singing a duet…BOLD is Fang, Italics is Max, and Bold Italics is both of them
Max POV: Chapter 25
It had been three days a peaceful bliss at Fang's house. Today, however, things were about to get a lot louder. The band was coming over so we could practice our songs for the Christmas Eve gig.
I was pacing back and forth in my room trying to think of a gift I could get for the guys in the band and for Nudge and Angel. This was going to be tough. I had thought of some good gifts, but the problem was getting them without the others knowing.
The front doorbell rang. I jetted out of my room. I was excited to see the guys. I dashed down the hall to the foyer. I was in socks and the hall was hard wood. Not a good idea. I tried to stop when I saw Fang at the door.
Fang had just opened the door when he turned and saw me sliding forward at an alarming speed. I collided with Fang and we toppled to the ground. I burst out laughing and Fang started to do the same. His deep, rumbling laughed buzzed through my body.
"Wow, that's some welcome," Iggy muttered.
Fang hopped up and offered his hand to me. I took it and he hoisted me up. "Hey, guys!" I said in a chipper voice. Fang's laugh had kinda of affected my brain. "Long time no see."
"Sup," Gazzy muttered doing a weird gangster nod.
"Um…the sky?" Iggy suggested.
We call rolled our eyes and Kyle smacked Iggy over the head.
"Can we come in? This stuff is heavy," Gazzy asked motioning to his case.
"Sure, c'mon guys. We can use the music room. It's sound proof," Fang said moving out of the way.
"There's a music room?" I asked.
Fang nodded, "Yeah."
"Jeez, your house is huge," I mumbled.
Fang shrugged, "Kinda."
I rolled my eyes and followed everyone to the music room. I absently heard the sound of feet pounding on the stairs. As we were about to enter the music room, Nudge came running down that last few steps.
"Hey, everyone!" Nudge called excitedly. She cut a quick glance at Gazzy then looked away. Gazzy stopped what he was doing and stared at Nudge. "It's so great to see you guys! ZOMG! Kyle, you've gotten so tall! Man, I miss college. Guess what, guess what!? I'm coming back to school after Winter Break is done! Isn't that great!? I'm so excited! I'll be staying in the co-ed dorm right next door to yours. I can be your band stylist again! In fact, I should choose your out-fits for your Christmas Eve gig, okay? Okay! I'll catch you guys later!"
Nudge looked at Gazzy one last time and a shadow of sadness ran across her face.
Iggy balled his hands into fists and put one on top of the other. He opened and closed it like a clam of some sorts. "Sexual tension clam!" Iggy exclaimed. His voice was hushed so only we could hear him. Nudge kept walking without hearing.
Gazzy turned bright red and smacked his brother upside the head.
"Kay, guys, let's get started," Fang muttered ushering a steaming Gazzy into the music room.
The was a piano, a drum set, a violin, Fang's acoustic guitar, and his electric guitar. Gazzy put down his case and amp opposite Fang's. Gazzy started to get his bass guitar ready. He looked like a robot just going through the motions.
"What's the play list?" Iggy asked sitting down at the piano.
"Okay, so there are some for me to sing solo, some for Max to solo, and I think one or two for us to duet," Fang said as he went over to his laptop that was on a desk. He pulled a piece of paper out from under the laptop. "Ok, we're opening with Comatose by Skillet…I'll be playing violin on that one and Max will do guitar, then Those Nights by Skillet, next is Five Minutes to Midnight and Dance Hall Drug by Boys Like Girls, then Dance Dance by Fall Out Boy. Then we'll have Max come up and she'll open with Maybe This Time from Cabaret, next she'll sing Misery Business by Paramore. I'll do a violin intro on this and Max will do acoustic guitar and I'll do electric. Then Max will sing Everybody's Fool and My Immortal by Evanescence. To close Max and I will do two duets. Bring Me to Life by Evanescence and Awake and Alive by Skillet."
The three boys nodded their heads. "Sounds good," Iggy muttered.
"When are we doing Iris by the Goo-goo dolls and Never Too Late by Three Days Grace?" Kyle asked from behind the drum set.
"The next concert?" Fang offered. "We do have a 12 song limit. Do you want to add one?"
"Let's do Iris," Gazzy offered.
Fang nodded. "Okay. We'll put that song in between Dance Hall Drug and Dance Dance."
"Sounds like a good list," Iggy said nodding while playing a few scales to warm up his fingers.
"Let's start with Iris since we don't know it as well," Kyle suggested.
Fang nodded. "Max, will you take electric on this one?"
"Sure," I replied while picking up the sleek black and grey guitar. I plugged it into the amp.
Gazzy and I were either side of Fang. Iggy was at the back and Kyle was diagonally behind Gazzy.
Gazzy and I looked at each other and nodded. We started off the song and then Iggy came in then Kyle. Then Fang opened his mouth and his voice flowed out. It was the most haunting and beautiful sound I'd ever heard.
And I'd give up forever to touch you And all I can taste is this moment And I don't want the world to see me And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming And I don't want the world to see me And I don't want the world to see me And I don't want the world to see me I just want you to know who I am
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now
And all I can breathe is your life
'Cause sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
We all stopped and stared at each other. It had been perfect. We'd nailed it on the first try. Fang's voice had sent shivers down my spine and it felt like he had been singing it just for me.
We ran through the rest of the songs. We did really well for not having practiced for about a week. The last song, however, was my favorite out of all of them. Fang and I sounded great together.
"Let's run the last one again, Max," Fang said picking up his violin. I nodded picking up the electric again.
"Wait guys," Gazzy said slipping the neck strap of his bass off. "I need some water."
"Oh, ok…we'll wait. We should probably take a break anyway," Fang muttered putting the violin back down.
Gazzy nodded and slipped out of the music room.
"For the last song, it sounds like the violin is hooked up to an amp…at least on the recording. Can you do that with yours?" I asked Fang as I readjusted the strap the electric.
Fang thought for a moment. "I'd need a special violin that hooks up to an amp. I could go to the music shop that's close by and see if they have one. I have some money saved up. I've wanted to get a violin like that. We can go tomorrow, okay?"
I nodded. "Sounds good." I smiled at Fang. His lips twitched at the corners then pulled into a smile. My world brightened and I couldn't help but smile wider.
"Would you guys stop making cow eyes at each other and just make-out already!" Iggy exclaimed in an exasperated voice.
I death glared at Iggy the same time Fang did. "That's just creepy," Iggy muttered. I flipped him the bird.
"Ass monkey," I said. That was the first thing that popped into my head. Don't ask.
"Ass monkey?" Fang asked.
"Yes, ass monkey," I stated defensively. "I'm gonna go get some water, too," I grumbled and walked out.
I looked left and right. Which way is the kitchen? This is pathetic. I thought back and forth until I decided to go right. I had made the right choice. Only, I wish I hadn't.
I walked into the kitchen and froze. Nudge was sitting on the counter. One of her legs was wrapped around Gazzy's hip. Both her arms were slung over his shoulders. Gazzy had one arm around her waist and the other was cupping the back of her head. It was a serious make-out session.
"Eh-hem," I cleared my throat. "Hey, Gazzy. Get your water?"
Gazzy jumped off Nudge like he'd been electrocuted. He wiped at his mouth in attempt to get Nudge's sparkly lip gloss off.
Nudge pulled her top down that had ridden up. "Hey, Max," she croaked. She hopped off the counter and sauntered over to Gazzy. "Max knows. It's okay," she muttered putting her hand on Gazzy shoulder.
Gazzy sighed. "Okay…um, I should get back to practice," he said looking at Nudge sheepishly.
Nudge nodded. "That's fine. We'll hand out this weekend, okay?"
Gazzy nodded and gave Nudge a quick kiss. Envy boiled in my stomach. Maybe it was time Fang and I did become a couple. What did I have to worry about?
Breaking up with him. He ends up hating you…the list goes on.
The little voice in the back of my head put in. Really helpful. Truly. What would I do without it?
"C'mon, Gazzy. Lets go," I said while grabbing 5 water bottles from the fridge. "Catch!" I flung a water bottle at Gazzy. He caught it with one hand and walked out with Nudge.
I followed after them feeling like a third wheel. Awkward. Oh well, I was happy to see them together.
"Bye, guys," Nudge said as we got to the door. She kissed Gazzy on the cheek and skipped off. "I'm planning your outfits right now!" she called over her shoulder.
"I won't tell. You don't have to worry," I whispered to Gaz.
"Thanks Max," Gazzy mumbled.
We walked into the room. "Yo, catch!" I yelled while flinging water bottles at Iggy, Fang, and Kyle.
"Watch the piano!" Iggy chastised as he caught the water bottle.
I just rolled my eyes and uncapped my bottle. We all took a 5 minute break.
"Ready to do the last song?" Fang asked.
"Yeah," I answered picking up the electric guitar.
Fang picked up his violin and started the intro to Awake and Alive. As soon as it was done, the guitars came in and Fang started to sing. And I soon followed.
I'm at war with the world and they
Try to pull me in the dark
I struggle to find my faith
As I'm slippin' from your arms
It's getting harder to stay awake
And my strength is fading fast
You breathe into me at last
I'm awake! I'm alive!
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it's my time
I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life
Here, right now!
I'll stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I'm awake and I'm alive!
I'm at war with the word 'cause I
Ain't never gonna sell my soul
I've already made up my mind
No matter what I can't be bought or sold
When my faith is getting weak
And I feel like giving in
You breathe into me again
I'm awake! I'm alive!
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it's my time
I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life
Here, right now!
I'll stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I'm awake and I'm alive!
Waking up Waking up, Waking up Waking up
Waking up Waking up, Waking up Waking up
In the dark, I can feel you in my sleep
In your arms I feel you breathe into me
Forever hold this heart that I will give to you
Forever I will live for you!
I'm awake! I'm alive!
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it's my time
I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life
Here, right now!
I'll stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I'm awake and I'm alive!
Waking up Waking up, Waking up Waking up
Waking up Waking up, Waking up Waking up
We all stopped. It sounded really good.
"That sounded great you guys!" Kyle cheered from the drums.
Fang and I grinned at each other.
* * * * *
"Bye guys!" Fang and I called waving to the twins and Kyle as they drove away.
"I'm beat!" I exclaimed.
"I'll walk you to your room," Fang offered.
"Okay. I'd like that," I muttered heading for my room.
"Max, it's to the left," Fang instructed behind me.
"I knew that. I was testing you," I scoffed. Yep, fool-proof cover.
"Sure," Fang chuckled.
We walked to my room. I opened the door and walked in. Fang stopped at the threshold.
"Good night, Max," he said winking and walking away, shutting the door behind him.
My heart ached. I wanted nothing more for him to stay. I bit my lip and quickly changed into my pajamas.
I walked over to the French doors and twitched the curtains aside. I looked out at the rolling green hills that looked like black pools of ink. The moon was high in the cloudless sky surrounded by countless stars.
I looked out at the willow tree grove where I'd first kissed Fang. I grabbed my Hurley hoodie and made a snap decision.
I unhooked the latch to the doors and raced outside. I made a beeline for the willow tree grove praying that Fang would be there.
That's all for tonight. I start school tomorrow. Shoot me. I have to do an independent reading journal and write a 6 paragraph essay on it. It wouldn't be so bad if I liked the book. It's like a drug trip…but not the fun kind :(
Wish me luck! I will try my hardest to get something up tomorrow, but if I don't, don't hate me!