So the response for the last chapter was GREAT! I was so happy :). So here is the next chapter I hope you like it.
I walk into the lounge room to find Fang sitting on the arm of the chair, he stands up when I come in and he walks straight over and puts his arms around me, and I just lost it. I start crying into him and he just holds me. He strokes my hair trying to soothe me as sobs continue to rack through my body. Now I'm not talking about a few tears falling, I'm talking gross sobbing, tears, snot… you get the picture right?
"It's okay. He's okay, we're okay. It's going to be fine." He kisses my forehead and pulls back from me, holding me at arms-length. "He's safe Max." I nod and wipe a hand over my face. I feel so embarrassed for crying in front of Fang, but so relieved that Sam is okay. I just felt like we'd come too close, too close to something unspeakable happening.
Fang guides me to the couch and sits me down. I then hear him hunting around in Drake's cupboards, moments later he's back and he's draped a blanket around me. I just sit there hiccupping slightly, trying to get my emotions under control as a few more tears trail down my cheeks. Sam is fine, there is no reason to be upset. You can be angry Max, angry at the guys who did that to Sam. But Sam is fine now, you can stop crying.
Slowly my hiccups stopped and the tears stopped coming. I started to wonder where Fang was, I could hear some rustling around in the kitchen behind me; I assumed he was getting some food for Sam or something.
I'm so thankful for Fang, he's been so good. A lot of other guys would've maybe helped with the guys tormenting Sam but then left Drake and me to deal with it. Some might not have even done that much. He really was a fantastic guy, how did I get so lucky to have a best friend like him? And then I remembered the moments before finding Sam. Lying on the ground. Laughing. He told me I was beautiful. We almost kissed. Oh my god we almost kissed! What does this mean? Was it a drunken spur of the moment thing? Does he really want to kiss me? Do I really want to kiss him? Yes. Oh god. Okay so, I want to kiss him, but does that mean I want anything to happen, I'm probably just physically attracted to him, I mean he is very good-looking. You know it's more than that. Okay, that's it, stop talking to yourself, this is a discussion for a sober and non-emotional mind. Besides, you should be worrying about Sam, Max! I groan quietly and put my head in my hands.
I almost jumped out of my chair as Fang tapped my shoulder and handed me a cup of tea and a plate of cookies. I smile at him and take a drink of the tea and a bite of a cookie.
"You're wonderful, you know that?" I said around a mouthful of cookie.
"I've been told." He chuckled while he went to find a movie to put on, he decided on a kid's movie, Monsters Inc. I think it was so we wouldn't really have to pay close attention, plus safe bet, nothing tormenting or emotional in a kid's movie… Well most of them.
"No really," I continue as he sits down next to me and I move the blanket to cover both of us. "I don't know how I would've coped tonight if you hadn't been here. For starters I probably wouldn't have even been able to get those guys to leave Sam alone, and I probably would've been…" I left the sentence there. I didn't want to say raped, or abused but the look in that guys eyes as he looked me over and said I'd get what I "deserve" didn't leave much to the imagination. I think Fang picked up on it too, he draped an arm over me and pulled me closer so my feet were tucked in under me and I was sitting with my head leaning into his chest.
"But I was there. I was able to help you. I'll always be there to help you. Now get some sleep, it's been an… eventful night." I didn't fight him, I settled into him, hoping I wasn't making him uncomfortable. Maybe he didn't want me so close to him? But he pulled me towards him right? Fang could always push me away, or move off the couch or something. But he adjusted himself so he was lying on the couch and I was pulled closer to him and we just lay there in silence, I listened to his breathing and the beating of his heart (it sounded slightly faster than a normal heartbeat, but I'm probably imagining it) and slowly fell asleep.
"Max? Hey Max?" Someone was shaking my shoulder and whispering to me, it was far too early for this, I groaned and rolled over in my bed. Except I'm not in my bed. I'm on Drake's couch. And I just rolled into Fang. My eyes flew open and I turned back to face Drew who was standing in front of me, a smile on his face.
"Sorry," I mumble sitting up, trying not to wake up Fang. "What's up?"
"Sam has just gone to sleep, I've set an alarm for every 2 hours and I figure we can take it in turns making sure he can wake up until the doctor's office opens." I check the time, it's 1am. Only 1! It feels much later. I nod at Drake.
"I'll get up at 3 if you like, you can sleep."
"Thanks Max. Goodnight." He eyes Fang next to me, whose arm is still loosely around my waist and winks at me before moving to the other couch. I turn to look back at Fang. Well… he was very comfortable and warm, I didn't exactly want to move… I mean what if I woke him by moving? He looked so peaceful. So I snuggled back into him preparing to fall asleep.
"What was that all about?" Fang murmurs against my hair, his arm tightening around me.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." I whisper back.
"It's okay, I was hardly sleeping anyway."
"Drake just came and told me Sam has fallen asleep and I agreed I'd go check on him in 2 hours."
"M'kay." He breathed out and I could hear his breathing become steadier before he fell asleep only a few moments later, and I wasn't far behind.
Once again it seemed all too soon that I was waking up, this time to Drake's alarm going off. I sat up groggily and slowly untangled myself from Fang and the blanket, with Fang only mumbling and rolling over. I walked to the coffee table and turned off the alarm and started moving towards Drake's room, where Sam was sleeping.
I stood in the doorway for a moment, just watching him. Thinking about what almost happened. He looked like a child laying there. I don't know what I would've done if I'd lost him, losing Sam would… Would be a nightmare I never want to think about.
I took a deep breath and started moving towards the bed. I was contemplating waking him softly, but I knew that wouldn't work, even in normal circumstances. So, I jumped on the bed and landed next to him, and the jolting was enough to wake him.
"Wha- What's going on?" He mumbles sleepily.
"Oh nothing, just checking in." I smile down at him.
"Ugh, well I'm awake, can I go back to sleep?"
"Well… I guess." We're silent for a moment. "Don't ever do that to me again…"
"Sorry. I didn't mean to."
I sigh and rest my head on his chest. "I know, and I'm not letting you out of my sight, and if I see those guys I'm going to kick their asses."
"You don't need to protect me."
"Evidently I do." Silence again.
"Thank-you, for being there, and for bringing Fang. Thank him for me as well?"
"You can thank him yourself when you see him you goose, he's out in the lounge room sleeping on the couch."
"He's still here? That's nice of him. So if he's on one couch and you're on the other, are you making Drake sleep on the floor? Or did you guys pull out one of the mattresses?" It was an odd but innocent question, nonetheless I felt myself blush slightly and was very glad it was dark.
"Uhh, no we wouldn't make Drake sleep on the floor. It's his house. He is on one couch, and Fang and I are sharing the other." Silence and then Sam started laughing.
"Well at least one good thing came out of this." He grins down at me.
"What?" I'm confused.
"You and Fang finally getting together"
"We aren't getting together Sam, and what do you mean finally?"
"Bullshit, you guys are as subtle as a jackhammer. Besides I've seen it coming since the start of the year."
"Well, nothing has happened." I said, I mean an almost-kiss isn't something right? I'm not lying.
"Sure Maxie, it's just a matter of time."
"I think I preferred it when you were sleeping." I start to move.
"Oh no you don't!" he grabs my arms and pulls me back onto the bed. "Just until I fall back asleep?"
"Okay, okay."
"Then you can return to your lover." I hit him.
"Shut up."
It didn't take long for Sam to fall back asleep and I got up and left the room. I felt so fatigued and checked my phone as I got back into the lounge room, I had multiple messages from Nudge.
Hey Max where did you and Fang get to ;).
Hey Max, just wondering if you're still at the party?
Hey Max can you please answer me? I can't find Sam either!
MAX! I'm getting worried.
And Ella.
Max, Nudge says you aren't answering her messages, are you with Fang?
Max can you please answer us we are getting worried.
Please Max just call us!
Oh shit. I should probably let them know, I checked the time and saw it was 3.30, I don't know if they are still awake but I'll message them at least they'll know we are okay.
Hi guys, sorry I am with Fang, Sam and Drake. There was a fight at the party, Sam is hurt but okay, we are looking after him. Feel free to call as soon as you get this. Sorry for worrying you.
I sent it to both Nudge and Ella, Ella will probably be sleeping, but Nudge will probably still be awake, only just leaving the party. I go into Drake's kitchen and get myself a glass of water when my phone starts ringing. It's Nudge. I sigh and take a seat at the counter as I answer.
"Hey Nudge."
"Hey Nudge! HEY NUDGE!" I move the phone away from my ear. "THAT'S ALL YOU CAN SAY AFTER WHAT YOU'VE PUT ME THROUGH! WHAT THE HELL MAXIMUM! AT FIRST I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU AND FANG HAD FINALLY DONE SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR OBVIOUS ATTRACTION TOWARDS EACH OTHER BUT THEN I FIND OUT THAT NOBODY KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE AND I CAN'T FIND YOU AND DRAKE AND SAM ARE MISSING AND NONE OF YOU ARE ANSWERING ME! I WAS GOING OUT OF MY MIND! TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE I GET ANGRY!"
"This isn't you angry now?"
"Max!"
"Right sorry, not the time for jokes." I sigh and run a hand over my face. "Basically, some of the football guys started beating up Sam, badly. Fang and I were in the lounge room when we heard the sounds of the fight. Long story short we broke it up, Sam was unconscious so we've bought him back to Drake's house. We woke him up, rang the hospital and they have told us to monitor him all night and take him there in the morning. So that is what we're doing. I'm sorry I didn't contact you earlier but we were just really very worried about Sam."
I heard her sigh from the other end. "I guess I can't be mad at you, you were just looking after Sam, but honestly Max, I don't like feeling like this."
"Tell me about it."
"So Sam's okay?"
"Yeah, I just woke him up for a bit then to make sure he was okay, and he's fine, tired, bruised and sore, but fine."
"Drake?"
"A wreck. He keeps blaming himself, though it's not his fault in the slightest. He is sleeping currently as well."
"And Fang."
"Asleep. Don't know what I would've done without him, he's been a real lifesaver."
"I'm sure he has." She practically mutters.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Uhh, nothing, sorry mumbling to myself."
"Yea, sure."
"Look we'll talk more in the morning, now that we all know you guys are okay I really want to sleep."
"Okay goodnight. Sorry again." I hung up and rested my head in my hands. How has it only been a few hours since the fight? A few hours since the party. A few hours since I almost kissed Fang? This night is dragging on and I just want it to be over.
"Max?" A voice says from directly behind me and I jump and have to stop myself from screaming out. I turn to see Fang looking at me.
"Goddammit Fang don't do that!"
"What? Breathe?" he smirks.
"You know what, make some noise as you walk, you're like a friggen ghost." He smiles at me slightly, and then it fades and his eyes are searching mine.
"You okay?"
"Tired, but I'll be fine. Sam is good, he's just gone back to sleep." Silence envelopes us as we just stand in the kitchen, Fang staring straight at me, and me avoiding his face.
"I'm glad Sam is doing okay. You should really try and get some sleep though." I shrug. "Seriously Max, you're not going to be much use if you're practically passing out on us all. I can stay up and check on Sam in an hour."
"Really?" I look at him, grateful that he had offered, I thought I might take it again and let Drake get some rest, I mean Fang should rest too… "You don't have to, I don't mind. I need to look after him."
"And I need to make sure you're okay Max. You had an emotional night, whether you'll admit it to anyone or not. It's time someone looked after you, so I want you to lie back on the couch and go to sleep okay?" He looked so serious, I almost laughed. But he was being really sweet and my resolve to look after Sam was wavering. I knew Fang would make sure he was okay, and I was really tired. Slowly I nodded and started moving back towards the lounge room and sat on the couch. Fang placed the blanket around me and just as he was about to move I didn't want him to leave, before I knew what I was doing I had grabbed his hand and he looked at me, surprised.
"Stay with me?" I whisper. "Until I fall asleep?" His face softens and a small smile forms on his lips as he nods and sits next to me, pulling me towards him so my head rests in his lap.
"It's okay Max, I'm here. I'll look after you." I don't want to fall asleep, I want to stay up with him all night, nut he's rubbing circles into my back and it's so relaxing, and eventually I just can't fight it anymore and drift off into the darkness.
I know a lot of you asked (demanded) they kiss in this chapter, but I thought it would be wrong after the night they had just had for them to just go at it you know? But who knows... Fax could be looming in the not too distant future.
Review please guys! You have no idea how happy it makes me and how much motivation it gives me :)