Chapter Twenty-Nine

It felt as if I was going on my very first date when I went out with Dylan for the first time. I was so utterly comfortable with Fang that I never really had those first date nerves. But I experienced it with Dylan.

I agreed to go out with Dylan. I thought it would help me get over Fang. Stupid, selfish reason to go out with someone, I knew, but I grew to really like him, admire him and eventually love him. It was a different love then my love for Fang. But love nevertheless.

I turned nineteen in the week after Fang and I broke up. I was still kind of numb from the whole thing and didn't really feel anything. Dylan had text me a couple of times to see if I was okay. I didn't text back at first. He sent me the first message then when I didn't reply, waited a couple days before he sent the next. And when I didn't reply to that he left it for another week then rang me. I answered. I think what I liked was that he wasn't rushing me. I liked that he didn't give up, but he still didn't smother me. I started going out with him a month after Fang and I broke up.

We did the normal first date kind of thing. We went to an earlier movie then had dinner at a nice local restaurant. And it went well. Though, man was I nervous. But we talked like the time when I was seventeen and decided that I had been wrong about him and that he was actually a nice guy.

I had known Fang wouldn't be happy. I knew it would hurt him. But I also knew I had to make myself happy. I thought long and hard about agreeing to go out with Dylan. Of course my major concern was Fang and his feelings, but what if Dylan was my soul mate? You do not, not get together with your soul mate because your first love might not like it. Right?

Age Nineteen

"Nine o'clock. Sweetheart." Dylan yelled from the living room. I'm in my room getting ready to go to school. I start at nine thirty today. Dylan and I are going to go to the school cafeteria and meet some people from our classes.

Nudge when Dylan got to our place. She started school at nine today. She gave Dylan a weary look as she left, giving me one last meaningful look as well. What did it mean? I don't know. She said she was happy for me, being with Dylan, but I knew she didn't really like it. Fangs her cousin, I'm one of her best friends; I know it's hard for her.

"Two past nine." He yells again. I roll my eyes, but smile. The boy hates to be late. Punctuality is one of his biggest traits.

I pull my black blouse on over my red lace bra that took me ten minutes to find this morning. I don't know why I insisted on wearing it today. It's not like Dylan will see it. I want to take things slow with him, really slow.

I walk over to my closet and pull out a jacket and put it on. Its cold out now its getting to the end of May, winter is almost here.

I sit down as I put my shoes on.

"Three past."

"Okay, I'm coming." I call back. I finish pulling my ankle boots on and fix my jeans so they're tucked into the boots. I stand up off my bed and walk over to my desk and stuff the books I need for classes today into my bag on the desk chair.

"Sweets?" He sticks his head into my room and smiles at me. "Ready?"

"Yep."

"Fantastic. Shall we?" He holds his arm out for me. I laugh and loop my arm threw his.

We decided to walk to the school. I left my car in the underground parking lot of our apartment, next to Nudges car. Dylan left his car back home in the hills and caught the train here. It's to hard trying to fight the traffic and finding a car park in the city.

"Max. I was thinking that I'd like you to come with me to see my family this weekend. They're all dying to meet you."

I stop walking and look up at Dylan startled. He stops walking as well and stands in front of me. He smiles and briefly presses his lips to mine.

"I- I don't know." I stutter.

"They'll love you Max. My mum's been asking me to bring you over for a month. We'll drive up there Friday after school then come back on Sunday night. You don't have to answer now, just- think about it. Okay?" He lifts his hand cupping my cheek. "Okay?"

I nod my head. He moves to my side again and takes my hand in his. I look to my right on the other side of the road noticing- from the corner of my eye- a dark figure standing there watching us.

Fang.

We watch each other for minute, eyes locked. I can't read Fang, his expression is blank. That wall is up, the wall that protects him from the world, the wall that protects him from heart break. And now the wall that protects him from me.

Fang looks from me to Dylan then back at me. Dylan's an inch or two taller then Fang, and somewhat heavier built, but they both have that long and lean thing going on. I worry there's going to be a stand off. But Fang is too proud for that and Dylan to, oh I don't know… to noble? No, if I wanted to run to Fang now Dylan would let me, he'd be upset, heart broken, he's valiant.

I'm to far away to see into Fangs eyes. I want to walk across the road and see what's in his eyes, to see what he's thinking. But I don't. I squeeze Dylan's hand and continue walking.

What's done is done.

"You okay?" Dylan asks when we get around the corner and are out of sight from Fang.

I feel his warm lips against my temple.

"Have you talked to Fang?"

"What? No." I look up into his face. He's looks down at me as well, looking a little troubled, but then smiles.

"You know you can. I mean, you two have been best friends for as long as I've known the two of you. You should still be friends." He looks behind him, as if he's expecting to see Fang following us. "Doesn't it mess up your friendship group?" He asks.

"Well, I guess it makes things awkward. But Fang doesn't want to be friends. It's better off this way anyway."

"I just don't want you to not be friends with him because of me." He says earnestly. He really is a great guy. I put my other hand on his arm that has our hands entwined, and lean into him.

"It has nothing to do with you." I say gently. "Fang and I are- well it's complicated. It was that, he and I were always friends, but on the insistence of our parents. And I don't know what was real any more."

Dylan nods his head. "Did you know I always liked you?" He asks.

I laugh. "What?"

"All through school I had the biggest crush on you. The thing is Maximum- do you remember that nick name you insisted on being called in grade one- I love you." Dylan's facing me again, hands on my shoulders. *"I can't help but be focused on you when we're together. If you're in the room, I want to be next to you. If you're gone, I think of you. You're who I want to talk to. In a fight, I want you at my back. When we're together, the sun is shining. When we're apart, everything is in shades of grey. Gees I know that sounds corny, but it's the truth."

"It's not corny. It's perfect. You're perfect." I lean forward and kiss him. I feel him smiling, and moving his hands from my shoulders to my waist.

Please don't hate me. Just trust me!

Next chapter up- if all goes well- later today.

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