NOTE: Thank you to Sierra156.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own MR.
Max
This morning was one of those rare moments where I stood still as Nudge applied make- up on my face. One of those few times where I'd smile and laugh and thank someone whenever they said I looked pretty. After all, this might be one of the last times I'll get to see them.
Everything felt like it was in fast forward. I could still remember every single guitar lesson Fang taught me back in freshman year. Every single dance lesson, and every single line of that one song I had to sing in Aladdin. I could still recall his face when we were about to "kiss" in that one rehearsal for Cyrano de Bergerac. How huge and sandy his back was when he fell on top of me when we played soccer. How weird he was to give me that kiss. Or "kisses" might've been a better term.
There was that one in Aladdin, when I was so nervous before my scene. It was just an honest mistake, but hey, it was still a kiss. Then the one after that, the day after the after party that celebrated the play's success. It was another kiss, but this time intended. The one in junior year, at the tree in the clearing. Magical, in the middle of the night high up. After that, when we talked and he kissed me in the park. During that party, when I was intoxicated, though I kissed him, triggered by the thoughts I always hid. In the beach, in the middle of the pouring rain while all of us were having fun in the water. At the hospital, while he was still recovering from his accident. And then last night, while we pretended to sober up in the diner. I'm pretty sure those are it.
But damn, those are a lot of kisses.
After four years of practically making out with Fang, I still haven't told him what I really feel. I have about a week or two to tell him, and so far there's still no plan. Well, there are a couple of ideas form Nudge and Ella and Angel, but they weren't ones that I would've thought of.
"Hey Max, can I talk to you for a second?" Ella asked. I nodded and we both headed out to our backyard.
"Let me guess," I said. "This is about Fang, right?"
She smiled. "Well, I have to at least make on final convincing speech. It's part of my job."
I sit on our swing set. "You can start now."
"We're already graduating, Max. Do you not like him that much to not tell him how you feel?"
"No. I like him more than everyone knows."
"He'll be leaving too, you know."
"I do know. And I'll miss him more than he expects me too."
"Well, that and vice versa." I started to reason out with her, but she continued. "You know it's true. Look at all the crazy things Fang did for you. I bet he hasn't done half of those for Iggy or for his family."
"I have to admit that yes, he did do a lot of stuff without thinking about it. And vice versa." I said, remembering that one time I snuck out in the middle of the night to help him. "But it's sort of going to be all for nothing, huh?"
She smiled again. "Not really." Before I could ask why, she dug around her purse and pulled out a small piece of paper, typically the size of a post- it, and a pen. "Write it down. I think you already know how to give it to him."
I did know how, so I wrote my message, kept it in a pocket, and hoped that I wouldn't chicken out in the last minute.
Fang
Everyone, as it seemed, was really excited about graduating.
Iggy, Tess and I were one of the few people who were fast enough in preparing to gather around in the school's courtyard. While the other students were hanging out or doing pranks that could've gotten them in detention during the school year, Tess was with her group of friends and the two of us watched everyone else from the school's steps. Or maybe that was only Iggy. I was mainly looking for Max.
For one thing, I still couldn't get over last night. On how awkward we were the whole year, and then one kiss suddenly made up for it. And how she said that it sucked that we were both moving, and that she was going to miss me. She probably meant that as a friend, but I had the feeling there was something missing. She didn't put any positive spin to it, like "but then we'll end up doing this sooner or later". She looked upset and stuff. Not to mention the kiss. It wasn't as great as the one we had on the tree or when I was in the hospital, but I knew it counted, and it was one of the factors that chances are she meant it as more than a friend.
So there was still hope for me.
There was, but not much. We were both leaving. Long distance might work, since it's not like there are other people interested in us or we're interested in other people. Maybe it wouldn't. I mean, I've heard from Max on how hard it is to communicate with her dad. Maybe she'd be too tired at the end of the day that she wouldn't have energy to talk to me. Either I'm pessimistic or realistic. I think pessimistic would work better.
Four years later, after guitar lessons, dance lessons, play rehearsals, soccer games, camp fires, blood donations, and so much more, I still haven't had the nerve to tell her how I really feel.
"So, graduation, huh?" Iggy asked.
"I know. We finally get to leave this hell hole for a much larger, more expensive one."
He laughed. "Very true. But hey, we get to be wilder." When that didn't trigger a reaction from me, he added, "You want to be wild with someone else, huh?"
I shrugged. Then he once again added, "Just like that party last year, I'd be guessing."
What party? Memories of that one night suddenly went back. The dancing, which I was not very fond of. The counter and me being forced against it by a very intoxicated Max brought to you by Dylan. I specifically remember that I told Iggy to get her a glass of water, which by some miracle was not found in the kitchen.
"You know about that?" I asked.
"I'm your best friend; I know a lot of things. But really, what's holding you back? Are you suddenly starting to regret everything now?"
"Well, no. Yes. I don't know."
"What? Rephrase that."
"It's just that I don't regret doing all of it." Even if some of those things I've done would offend you, I add mentally. "The only thing I regret was not doing it sooner. Or maybe not doing it in a better way."
"I don't believe in that. You've been with her since the beginning of freshman year. I'd say that's four years well spent."
"No, not four years. I'd say three and a half, give or take a month or two. Our friendship had gaps. But this is going to be the largest one yet. And I'm sure this'll end it."
Someone called his name and he stood up and brushed the dirt of his pants. "Well, first of all, you're scaring me with the lengths of your speeches." He laughed when I made a face, and then went on. "Don't worry, dude. I know you'll find a way. You always found a way to be with her, whether you liked it or not."
"Hey, Ig." I said as he started to walk a way.
"Yeah?"
"I always liked it."
Max
The whole thing went by with a blur.
When we got there, names were called and we were immediately separated from each other and herded to our places in line. Then the part where all graduates head to the hall, the very same one where our Prom took place and take their seats. I don't remember a thing about what our class valedictorian said. And I can't recall if I smiled when they got my picture taken after I received my diploma. The only parts worth reminiscing were after graduation. That part where groups of friends gather around and either say goodbyes or say that they'll meet each other at someone's after party.
The first person who tackled me was of course, Nudge.
"Finally, Max! We're free!" She squealed. If I wasn't heavier than her than she would've lifted me up and twirled me around.
"Yeah. And we get to do stupid stuff that we never could during the school year." Angel added as she and Ella made their way to us.
"Eh, that'll just go on our permanent record." Ella said, making a face.
We're not actually going to say our goodbyes yet, since none of us got into any early acceptance program and we all swore to spend any waking moment together until I leave for France. As for the others, say Tess, Iggy, and Fang, we'll never know when we have to.
"Hey, Max!" Iggy called out, the three of them heading towards the fours of us, with him in the lead. Even if he's tall and thin, he still managed to crush me with his hug.
"Congratulations guys," Tess said, giving all of us a hug.
Fang sort of stood there, and I was the first to approach him. At first I was expecting a hand shake or a high- five. But there I was, hugging him and me hugging him back. Like that one time in sophomore year, when we went stargazing and he walked me to my cousin's house. Then he hugged me, and I felt really weird, only in a good way.
After the hug, we looked at each other, with me grinning like crazy and him giving the biggest smile I've seen on him. But then the two smiles faltered with the reminder that we're going to be really far from each other taking place in our minds.
"So," he started. "You still have three weeks left, right?"
"Yeah. Well, at least you get to spend the whole summer here."
He shrugged and looked down at his feet. "Not really. I have some time between next week and the week after that. I sort of signed up for a summer program thing."
"I guess we'll have to spend it more wisely, huh?"
His smile went back. "Yeah, I guess."
For a few minutes we just stood there, looking and waving and thanking others that greet us while sneaking glances of each other in between. Then the dreaded moment came: my mother and brother called me, saying that we should leave early before other places become packed. I gave him one last hug and waved good- bye.
Before we completely left the building, Ella caught sight of me and made a box in the air with her index finger. It was, without doubt, about the note. She started to make her way to me but got pushed back by other people heading the opposite way.
"Don't worry, I did." I called out before we went through the doors.
Now the only thing that's left is for him to actually read it.
Fang
I may be not that good at socializing, but my parents are. Whenever there are major events going on, say, my graduation, they overdo it with the celebrations. They invite our relatives and neighbors and their co- workers and other people I don't know. There's always food, and either or both of them manage to get drunk by midnight. And if they had it their way, they would've brought down the old karaoke machine and persuade everyone, including me, to sing at least one song.
Yeah, my parents are crazy.
Usually during these kinds of events I would lock myself in my room and do something more entertaining that doesn't include anyone. If it does, none of us would talk. But that time, since I was the "star of the event", I had to stay downstairs in the same itchy outfit they made me wear earlier and shake everyone's hand and thank them when they congratulate me. Which I had done for more than a trillion times. Some were even done twice, mainly by the drunk or about- to- be- drunk.
After I got tired of walking around and getting stopped every five minutes by greetings, I parked myself on the couch in between two couples making out. Iggy, unfortunately, had his own kind of celebration no matter how wild this party would get. And Tess, even if she was my half- sister, was not someone my parents casually introduced to others. It was the same with me on her family, anyway. But with all my cousins busy getting drunk or high or making out, I was pretty much alone.
"Fang, there you are!" My surprisingly sober mother said, as she towed my also sober father in my direction. She kicked out the sloppy teenagers eating each other's faces and sat down with him. One of my cousins sat down across us.
"You remember your cousin Daniel, right?" My mom asked, motioning a hand to him. I nodded. He was just one year older and went to Belmont, the university I got accepted to. He was actually the one who recommended the school to me.
"Well, if I recall correctly your program thing starts in a week or two." She continued. "Luckily, he got a room in one of the new dorms. And he needs a roommate."
"Cool." I said, sending a small smile in his direction. "So, when should I move in?"
He cleared his throat. "Since you already have a lot of your stuff with my mom, well, I'm leaving early tomorrow morning. You want to come with me?"
I thought about it. But really, I didn't have much of a decision. Even if it meant leaving Max early, it wasn't like we were together or anything. Plus, I heard that she and her friends were planning to spend every waking moment together. So I nodded in a manner which I hoped looked eager.
"Great. You can start packing up the rest of your things now, if you want."
With the promise of an excuse not to socialize with any more people, I ran up the stairs and grabbed a bag. Before I started putting in stuff, I planned to change into more normal clothes, so I started taking random things out of my pockets.
And that was when I saw the note.
It was short and simple: I love you -Max. Those three words were pretty much the only thing that took me to get the box that had been sitting in my room for four years, grab some change, and run outside without explanation, at least for the others.
It was the only thing that took for me to get to Max's as fast as I could.
Max
The morning after graduation somehow felt like the morning after that wild party the year before. There were unavoidable coincidences, like the fact that I woke up in the clothes that I wore the night before, and that I had a feeling that there was something going on. After getting up and changing clothes, I looked around. Nothing was wrong.
Except for my desk by the window.
Actually, I never used that desk except to have some place to pile up my stuff. It was my mother's idea to place it by the window, in hopes that that would encourage me more. But no, it didn't. Over the years a lot of junk had been piled up on it, and it was my duty to sort it out annually so I could stock up again the next year.
Amidst the trash I managed to accumulate over the past school year, a small box about the size of a hand bag was settled on top. That was definitely not mine. The main idea was that someone had put it there last night. Maybe it was mom or Ella. But I knew that whenever they wanted me to see something, they usually put it on the small table beside my bed. They rarely touched my desk.
Then I saw the window next. I always had a hard time opening and closing it, so I kept it somewhere in the middle. Now the window was an inch or two from being shut. That would've meant that whoever gave me the box used the window. I started to think that someone broke in to my room that night, but then I remembered that even before I crashed I felt that the room was stuffier. I slowly approached the box, in any case that something was going to jump out.
As it turned out, the only thing that jumped at me were the words For Max in the world's most familiar and messed- up- in- a- good- way handwriting. Or more specifically, Fang's handwriting. I took off the cover and found four CD's and a piece of paper.
Maybe that was it. Maybe it was a message for me. I didn't want to read the letter just yet, so I put the stuff back and covered it again. I thought about listening to it at that moment, but then there were other people in the house. I looked for my old laptop, the one that still had a CD drive and put it in my bag along with the box.
First, I had to call Fang. It rang forever and no one answered.
The only way that I could find out what was really in the box was to listen to them. So I grabbed my stuff and ran out of the house before anyone could ask me anything.
"Good morning Max, you're up quite early."
"Good morning Mrs. Carlton." I greeted our elderly neighbor. "Did you see anyone go here last night? Before we arrived?"
She thought of it for second before nodding. "I think he was a young boy about your age."
"Did he, by any chance, wear a lot of black?"
"Well, yes he did." She replied, and then let out a small gasp. "Oh I'm so sorry Maxine, I should've known he was a burglar."
"Oh, no Mrs. Carlton, he's a friend of mine, he just likes black. I'll see you around."
She waved back and I started heading for the one place I could listen to everything in peace: the clearing.
And I was seriously hoping that he was there.
Sorry for the slightly confusing POV's. That'll be the last time you'll see things in Fang's eye.
Also, it suddenly occurred to me that for the whole story, I never even gave him a last name.
Even though it's summer already, I'm pretty slow in updating. Still, anything to tell me in your reviews?
See you in a week (or two) =D.