Random Quote of the Week: "I believe in you, I'll give up everything just to find you," -Evanescence, from "Taking Over Me"

Fang's POV

Despite my intentions of sleeping n, Max wanted to wake up early so we could get back to Los Angeles quicker. It seemed like she always had an opinion nowadays.

We ate breakfast and took one last sip of water. We were a bit low on water, so that was just one more reason we needed to get back to Los Angeles sooner rather than later. But before we went, Max insisted that we sing our duet on the spot. Knowing I couldn't say no for many reasons, I went with it without complaining. We quickly conducted our vocal warm-ups as I took out my laptop.

"Do you have Just Give Me a Reason?" Max asked me.

"Nah. I don't listen to Pink."

"What, is she too badass for you?"

"Something like that. What about Broken by Seether featuring Amy Lee?" I suggested. I personally adored that song through and through, with its amazing lyrics, catchy tune, and wonderfully precise guitar parts.

Max shrugged. "Why not?"

I took out my laptop and opened up the karaoke version of Broken.

"Ready?" I asked Max.

"Yup!"

I pressed play, sending the soothing guitar intro into the air. Max closed her eyes and smiled. As the intro came to a close, I took a deep breath and began to sing.

I slowly sang the first verse, deliberately hitting every note.

Max was beaming at me and gently holding my hand, as I gently swayed my head to the music. I took a breath and softly sang the song's beautiful chorus.

I moved my hand around Max's waist, like how the professional slow dancers on TV did it. Why was I doing this, anyways? I wasn't sure. But it felt natural, and I was long since caught up in the music. But my hypnotism was nothing compared to what I felt like when Max sang her verse.

Max's voice was literally angelic. There was no other word to describe its beauty. It was so soft, so warming, while slightly haunting at the same time. Max was smiling up at me as she sang, giving me a warm feeling that started with my heart but spread throughout my body instantly. We both took deep breaths to prepare for the duet choruses.

We slow danced as we sang the chorus, with me spinning Max around several times. The final spin and release of hands capped off the most magical four minutes of my life.

"That was-" Max began, as she not-so-gracefully stepped away. She tripped over a root and stumbled backwards. Guess her moment of dignity was over.

"-freaking amazing!" I finished. We sat in the grass and took deep breaths to recover the breath we lost while singing. We couldn't run twenty miles directly after singing a song. "Where'd you learn to sing?" I asked Max, after we got situated after our performance (with nobody watching, of course).

"I did some singing on the side. I'm not sure how I knew Broken, actually. I knew mostly Kelly Clarkson stuff, with some Avril Lavigne."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier? Why did you deny it in the first place?"

Max shrugged. "I wasn't sure what you'd think of it."

"I'm sure now. You're an awesome singer. Why would you doubt yourself?"

"I guess after hearing you sing Castle of Glass, I thought you'd think my voice sucks or something."

"No way. I thought the same thing after you sang the second verse."

"You really think so?"

"Hell yeah. The flock will be the judge of that someday."

"It's on."

"It is," I said, standing up. "Ready to hit the road?"

Five hours later, Max and I were back at our sleeping spot outside of Los Angeles. Both of us momentarily forgot where it was, so we had to look around a bit, but after seeing some landmarks, we made it back relatively quickly.

"Since we have the luxury of civilization," Max said, "care to spend a little time washing up?"

"Sure," I said, "Let's wait a little, though, so we don't sweat too much again after washing up."

"Okay. Got an idea for what to do until then?"

"How about we go back to the café and just chillax there? It's air-conditioned, and it has Wi-Fi."

"You lived for two weeks without either," Max pointed out, "but let's go."

We jogged lightly into the city and went to the second Starbucks we saw, since the owner of the first one probably would've recognized us and kicked us out again. Or even worse, he might've recognized Max and turned her in to the police.

I pulled out my laptop and turned it on. After logging on to my account, I opened my email account and was greeted by a flurry of random emails. I sifted through them, looking to see if anything was important. Unfortunately, most of them were advertisements. I scrolled down, just in case anything important was in my inbox. Near the bottom, I saw an email from Dr. Martinez, so I clicked on it.

Dear Fang,

Although blood tests are by far the ideal method of genetic analysis, there are several alternatives. Hair is one good option, although Mr. Griffiths would need to be exceedingly careful while pulling Max's hair so as to keep the follicle intact.

Saliva also works, but I think that would be best done in a doctor's office so the DNA is unblemished. Fingernails and toenails also may provide assistance, but it is unlikely that Mr. Griffiths or I could draw valuable information from them.

Mr. Griffiths's email is below, and I wish you the best of luck in finding Max's parents. I am happy to help in any way I can. If you need me to drive out to Los Angeles, I can make time sometime.

Love,

Valencia

I responded promptly.

Dear Valencia,

That sounds wonderful. I'm sure Max would welcome those proposals with far more enthusiasm than a blood test.

I will definitely ask Mr. Griffiths for assistance; hopefully he doesn't mind driving out here.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Fang

After I emailed Dr. Martinez, for probably the last time in a while, Max decided to go ahead and wash up. It would've been difficult to sweat in an air-conditioned Starbucks, and it had been a good hour since our run.

I composed a new message, this time to Mr. Griffiths.

Dear Mr. Griffiths,

How has it been back at home? I hope Iggy, Gazzy, and the girls are doing great. I miss all of you already.

Before you get worried, I'm doing wonderfully right now. As someone probably told you, I met a girl named Max and we're traveling together now. In case anyone's wondering, we're still just friends.

So, cutting to the chase: I'm not sure if Dr. Martinez informed you, but Max and I are trying to find her parents. Dr. M and I have agreed that a DNA sample is the best course of action to take.

Unfortunately, Max is trypanophobic and does not take kindly to getting injected by a needle. Valencia made a few suggestions, such as saliva tests, fingernails, and hair. Since you were a doctor not five years ago, I reckon you still remember your techniques.

I am fully aware this is a major favor to ask for, but I would greatly appreciate it if you could consider my request. Max and I are in Los Angeles right now, a good few hundred miles from Phoenix. It would be a full-day endeavor if you chose to take part in it; I thought I'd just warn you in case you didn't realize what you were potentially getting yourself into.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Fang

After I sent the email, I looked up to see Max walking back from the bathroom. When I saw her, I could've sworn my heart started beating faster. She was naturally a pretty girl, but she was downright beautiful in her loose white top and jeans. Sure, it was a normal outfit, but it looked amazing on Max.

I got up to get washed up as Max sat back down. Looking back on it, I should've logged out of my account. But no, because I was so caught up in Max and her new outfit (was I really that pathetic? It sure felt like it.) I failed to remember my past mistake.

Anyways, after I cleaned up and changed, I walked back to the table to be greeted by Max snooping around on my iTunes once again. Surprise, surprise.

"Fang, you're such a womanizer. You have Do What U Want by Lady Gaga and Womanizer by Britney Spears on heavy rotation." Wait, really? I didn't even know my playlists that well.

"How is Do What U Want womanizing?" I asked, stupidly.

Max rolled her eyes. "I don't think I need to answer that. Anyways, I just thought of something when I was changing. I'm out of spare outfits now, and you're probably running low, too. A quick cycle at a laundromat shouldn't be more than a few bucks, and it would suck to live on dirty clothes forever. We should probably go sooner than later in case I trip and send us both crashing into a puddle of mud, thus ruining our last clean outfit."

"We better go now, then. Hold on, though; let me check my email one more time."

I opened my email account again, and was greeted by two emails: one from Mr. Griffiths and one from Ella. Since it was a higher priority, I opened Mr. Griffiths' email first.

Dear Fang,

Things have been going great around here! Everyone misses you, but hey, it was your call. Don't regret it. It's not like you're dead or anything. I heard the kids had a nice time visiting you. Although, why didn't you guys get a motel room? I know Iggy has enough money. If he cheaps out again, don't hesitate to give him a piece of your mind, Fang. He is my son, and I love him a lot, but he really should've known better than to shaft you and Max.

By the way-how are things going between you and Max? I do realize you just told me you were 'just friends', but Ella tells me otherwise. Since it's kind of my obligation, I trust her opinion more. Especially when it comes to romance. Sorry, but you have no chance against Ella, Fang.

Please don't call me Mister Griffiths anymore. It makes me sound old. I am old, but I like to think I'm younger. James will do.

Peace out,

James

I rubbed my eyes, mentally exhausted from reading his speech. I almost forgot Mr. Griffiths was a shameless, immature, and very unprofessional socialite whenever he was out of his office (which was always, now). He literally answered everything but my important question.

I responded to his excuse for an email, sincerely hoping he would give me a straight answer this time.

Dear James,

That all sounds wonderful to me.

But I have an important request of you: I'm not sure if Dr. Martinez informed you, but Max and I are trying to find her parents. Dr. M and I have agreed that a DNA sample is the best course of action to take.

Unfortunately, Max is trypanophobic and does not take kindly to getting injected by a needle. Valencia made a few suggestions, such as saliva tests, fingernails, and hair. Since you were a doctor not five years ago, I reckon you still remember your techniques.

I am fully aware this is a major favor to ask for, but I would greatly appreciate it if you could consider my request. Max and I are in Los Angeles right now, a good few hundred miles from Phoenix. It would be a full-day endeavor if you chose to take part in it; I thought I'd just warn you in case you didn't realize what you were potentially getting yourself into.

Sincerely,

Fang

I copied and pasted the last half of the email. That was how lazy I was. I tabbed over to Ella's email, hoping she would have something interesting to say.

Dear Fang,

Hey! I know it's just been two weeks since I last saw you, but it feels like soooo much longer, since we, like, saw each other every day back in the day.

How are you doing? I hope you're doing awesome, and Max too. I really wanna visit you guys again, but unless you've come closer since last time, it'll probably take too long. I want a refund on growing up! Even summer is busy now.

Mom told me about you guys trying to find Max's parents. I think that's pretty dang awesome. I wish Max was my sister, even though she probably isn't. Based on what I've heard, her luck isn't good enough to have a sister like me.

Anyways, I'm just checking up on you guys. J Have fun at wherever-you-are!

Love,

Ella

Since I wasn't in any rush, I decided, why the hell not reply?

Dear Ella,

I miss you guys too. Max has been awesome though. Turns out she's an amazing singer; even better than I am. No offense, but she's better than you too.

We're doing well. Minor issues, but we made it to Los Angeles. We did have a pretty damn freaky moment though. We lost each other for a day, and I didn't find Max until the next day.

Thank goodness I'm not going to go to college, though. Senior year might be hard to manage as well. I'm not sure if I want to give up my life with Max.

I hope you two are twins, too. That would be ironically amazing.

Thank you! I hope you and Iggy have a good time. Not in bed, though.

Sincerely,

Fang

I looked over at Max, who was resting her head on the table.

"Tired?" I asked her. She looked up and nodded. It was only five in the afternoon, but I was actually tired as well. We ran for the first time in a while, but the slow dance and song probably made me sweat more than the run.

After I packed up my laptop, we left the café and walked back to our sleeping spot. After eating dinner and taking a casual walk, Max and I went to bed. We were both asleep before eight.

Question of the Chapter: Where do you want Fang and Max to go after Los Angeles? They will be at LA for a while, but they can't stay forever.

Note about the song in the chapter: Watch the video for it! Trust me, you won't regret it. Amazing song, amazing video. Amy Lee's voice is beyond amazing. I hate to say it, but Fang's and Max's cannot compare. If anyone has heard anything by Evanescence, you'll know. (:

Not to mention, she has wings in the video. How cool is that?! She looks kinda like a female version of Fang, just with smaller wings.

A few more thank you's:

Thanks to LivvyB for all of your awesome reviews!

Thanks to Carli Runders for the inspiring speech in response to mine! I'm so glad you could relate, Carli, to this story. I think everything's just about not giving up, and that nothing's lost or gone. I didn't know you were reading this all the way back on May 7th! I think you're the only person who's been reading for that long! Actually, I started writing on May 6, so...

By the way, Carli, Leo is yours for the taking. Annabeth and Max won't be happy if you steal their bfs, but nobody (besides Calypso, some nymphs, and a mob of jealous fangirls) will be angry about Leo.

One more thing: I exchanged some words with BiteMeBro552, and it was decided that she should be mentioned for not just reviewing every chapter, but for listening and adding to our rants about Justin Bieber! JB will be Canadian forever, BMB.