Deceptions

Third Person's POV

"I'm so confused…what are you doing? Are you getting Fang and Max back together or not?" Nudge asked with a sigh.

Iggy gave a confident grin and took a quick look at her before turning his eyes back on the road. He was driving her home from the café after the whole Fang punching him in the face and what not.

"And now you're smiling? What is going on? Seriously Iggy, what is your plan?" She crossed her arms and huffed, hating being left out of the loop.

"Simple really," he told her.

"Not really," she complained.

"All right, well," Iggy thought about it for a moment just to make sure he used the right words. "Ever see that show Friends? Great show by the way."

"Nope," Nudge said with a sigh.

"Well, this will be harder to explain. In the show, there are these two characters—meant to be together for the rest of their lives like Fang and Max—so, to prove that, two of their friends hook them up with terrible people. In going through the terrible dates, the two who are meant to be together realize how the only person perfect for them is the other. Did you get that?"

"No, you said more than me and I've never seen the show so it's a bit complicated."

"Love is complicated Nudge, you just need to understand that. Pretty much, I'm letting Fang and Max see that no matter who they date, what they say, or what they do, the only person they can ever truly be happy and in love with is each other."

"So Fang kissing Ella…he doesn't mean it." Nudge asked.

"Nope, although, I'm pretty sure he should've stopped her but Fang's a complete mess. His logic is pretty screwy right now."

"Max and Sam…who is a jerk by the way. Sam, I mean."

"Yeah, Sam's a jerk but something tells me, it will bring Max to the realization that Fang is the only person she needs." Iggy said with a smirk.

"But, Fang and Max both seem to know they need each other, they just aren't together." Nudge reasoned.

Iggy sighed, "Maybe they know, maybe they think they have it figured out, but the truth of the matter is, how can they be sure? Max and Fang have only been together. They need to be apart to realize how much they need to have each other. I'm sure once they get back together, they'll never be apart."

"How long will it take?" Nudge asked, "Seeing as how you seem to have it all figured out."

"As long as it needs to take," Iggy replied with a smile. He pulled into Nudge's driveway and put the car in park. "I'm a genius, aren't I?"

Nudge laughed.

"Ow, that hurt," Iggy held up a hand to pretend his heart was wounded. "You sure know how to hit a man's ego and tear it to shreds." Nudge shrugged as if it was nothing.

"Well, I guess we can say you're a genius once Fang and Max get back together. This better work Igs, I'm warning you." Nudge poked him in the chest.

"I'm more confident in Fang and Max getting back together than the chance of me gathering up the courage to ask you on a date." Iggy gave his confident grin to go along with it.

"But," Nudge said slowly, "You already asked me out on a date."

"That's how confident I am," Iggy replied before leaning in to give her a quick kiss.

Fang's POV

Having to take four years of gym is about as annoying as having to sing that stupid song to win Max but only getting Ella instead. We were all in the locker rooms getting changed back into our regular clothes when I realized why I found gym class so annoying.

SAM.

I heard him, he was a cocky jerk with a loud voice that easily echoed through the walls. "I think within the week, I can get in her pants." That was followed by a round of laughs from Sam's mates.

Two years before, in our freshman year, Sam had been a quiet little guy who was as nice as could be. I, of course, never liked him just because he went on that date with Max and I was madly, uncontrollably in love with her.

Now, after countless girlfriends and starting on the basketball team, he had almost outranked Iggy in popularity since Iggy became friends with Max and I again. Iggy, who was also in my gym class, gave me this look that was like Don't do anything stupid or Max will kill you. But come on, this crap had been going on for years. Maybe I should teach him a lesson. This had nothing to do with the fact that he was talking about Max, in fact, he could be talking about another girl. The guy just needed to learn not to talk trash about girls.

"Don't think about it man," Iggy whispered just as I heard Sam say,

"Maximum Ride is a challenge, I got to say, but I'll get my way with her like the rest of them."

As you probably already know, I don't handle my anger well.

But I wasn't angry actually.

I was whatever words you can come up with for extremely pissed off. I ran through the locker rooms to where I heard him and his goonies laughing hysterically. Sam's face dropped from its smile though when he saw me. "Oh hey Fang." How could he be chill like that after the crap he just said about Max? "I was just kidding man. I care about Max a lot," he lifted his hands up in defense.

With one step, I was in front of him. My hand wound up into a fist that was hurtling towards Sam's face. Honestly, I didn't have any control over myself as I punched Sam until he fell to the ground with blood pouring out of his nose. But even though I didn't have control, it didn't mean I didn't enjoy teaching the ass a lesson.

As Sam stared up at me with pathetic tears in his eyes, I guess the normal person would've yelled out some threat but I couldn't muster up any words. I was so angry with him and as it was, I had spoken so much last Saturday I was worn out.

But being my stupid self, I got lost into thinking about Max and how she might be hurt because of this jerk for the things he said. She might get pissed that I ever interfered because she was clear that I was no longer part of her life, no matter how much I wanted to be.

Lost in my thoughts, Sam got up and punched me in the eye and once in the ribs. Before I could get another hit, Iggy had grabbed my arm was pulling me back while one of Sam's ugly cronies grabbed him. In a few seconds, the teacher was in and yelling at us. Then, we were sentenced to the office, but first, to the nurse to deal with Sam's nose bleed and some ice for my eye.

Iggy helped me there, "You're an idiot."

I shook my head.

"Do you think Max is going to like you being some knight in shining armor?" Iggy shook his head, "Come on man, what do you think you're doing?" Iggy seemed anxious for an answer.

What was I doing?

Max didn't want me around, she didn't want me a part of her life. Why should I defend her?

Well, I still loved her, loved her more than it should ever be possible for a human being.

But this wasn't about me, it never was.

If we were some characters in a book, it'd be all about Max.

And what did Max want?

Not me.

"Seriously man, what are you doing?" Iggy asked.

"Nothing," I replied, "Now, I'm going to do nothing." Iggy seemed a bit shocked and disappointed.

Max's POV

"Max, how are things with Sam?" Nudge asked.

I shrugged, "I guess it's all right." But was it honestly? Not as well as with Fang, nowhere near as well.

"Oh my god, what happened?" I raised an eyebrow to Nudge's question only to her large brown eyes fixed on something behind my shoulder. I turned around to see the three people I least expected to see walking together. But once I got a closer look to see that two of them were injured, I connected the pieces.

Sam had a pile of bloody napkins around his nose. His eyes connected with mine but then hastily darted away. Next to him was Iggy who was whispering something to Fang. He looked completely okay, he was simply the barrier between the two. Fang held up ice to his eye and was talking to Fang.

They got in a fight…and the only thing Fang and Sam had in common was me…so it was a fight over me. I felt myself rushing through the crowd and stood in front of them, mostly Fang because it was him I wanted the answers from.

"What happened?" I demanded.

Sam wouldn't even look at me. Iggy was casually checking out the ceiling. Only Fang stared me right in the eyes, which I had to admit killed me the most.

"What's going on?" I asked. "I'm serious, you guys."

"Max, maybe now isn't the best time," Iggy suggested.

"THEN WHEN IS THE BEST TIME!" I yelled. Eyes darted over to me but I could care less. This was a situation that I wanted figured out and ended with now. "Is it when Fang and my boyfriend get in a fight? Oh wait, that's already happened!" I felt my heart slowly tearing.

"Max," Iggy whispered.

"I'm dumping you," Sam suddenly announced with his eyes on his feet. "We're over Max." Then, Sam was walking away without another word. All right, I thought, maybe I can look at this as one complication in my life gone.

Now I just had to get rid of this one. My eyes turned to Fang.

"He was saying bad things Max, about you being easy," Iggy whispered.

"Doesn't mean that's Fang's problem." I reasoned. "That's mine to deal with, alone. We're over with, right?"

"Max," Iggy whispered, "Come on, cut him some slack. Just because he broke up with you didn't mean he stopped loving you. He-," Fang lifted his arm to Iggy's chest to stop him.

"She's right," Fang whispered. "It's none of my business, I'm sorry." Then, Fang was heading into the crowd away from us in the opposite direction that Sam had gone.

Iggy stared at me and I glared back, "What?" Iggy's mouth dropped open for a second and he truly looked upset.

"This wasn't how it was suppose to happen," he whispered while shaking his head in disbelief.

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Another sad ending. Sorry guys, I didn't even know how this was going to end until I wrote it.

To clear it up, I hope you understand that Iggy's trying to get Max and Fang to understand that their love is the real deal. He's letting them realize that the only people they could ever be with forever is each other. And sorry for those who thought Sam was suppose to be a nice guy, but I think he plays a better enemy.

I've figured out the rest of the story.

For this section there are three more chapters.

But there are FOURTEEN chapters for Part III: College, Life, and All That.

(So this story will be 42 chapters total)

I promise Fax, but when it comes, it comes. You'll have to read to see when.

It's snowing where I am right now,

Flyerac1029