Right…so I have nothing to say to let's just get on with the story.
Enjoy,
Nightwings93
PS: just read a review that I have to comment on. To the person who signed the review "James Patterson" ok…you seriously aren't James Patterson, right? 'Cause if you are…that'd kinda be insane (in an awesome way). And, um, I didn't really learn to write stories…I kinda just write whatever pops into my head…
Max POV: Chapter 34
I fished around in my empty pockets hoping eighty bucks would somehow materialize. I needed eighty bucks for the bus ticket to Nebraska. That was the farthest east any bus was going, and it was leaving in like ten minutes.
I sighed as only lint came from my pocket search. This was turning out to be a bust. I searched around my duffle bag as a last resort. I had to have some cash. My hand blindly hunted for a few spare dollars. I was about to give up hope when I heard the familiar crinkle of cash.
I quickly gripped the money and pulled it out of the bag. I counted the wad in front of me. Fifty, fifty-five, sixty, seventy, seventy-five…crap, I was fiver dollars short. I went up to the ticket booth anyway.
"I need a one way ticket to the bus leaving for Nebraska in ten minutes, please," I urgently asked the lady behind the glass.
"That'll be eighty dollars," she replied in a nasally voice as she popped her chewing gum.
"Here," I muttered handing her the wrinkled wad of cash. "I've only got 75."
"Then I can't give you the ticket," the woman snapped. "It's eighty not seventy-five."
"Listen, I need to get out of here. Five bucks difference isn't that much. Give me the ticket," I ordered.
"Nope," the woman said popping her 'p.'
"I'll pay the last five on the ticket," and old voice said behind me.
I whipped around. "You will?"
"Sure, sweetheart," she replied, winking at me, as she got out her purse. "I remember what it was like growing up in a town I hated. The second I got old enough, I moved out. I wouldn't want to pass up the opportunity of helping a girl achieve the same goal I had when I was young."
The old lady put down a five dollar bill and the lady behind the desk reluctantly printed a ticket out for me.
I took the ticket and turned to the old lady. "Thank you so much."
She patted my arm. "Sure, honey, no problem. But, even if running away feels like the right choice right now, sometimes it's better to face your problems head on. And, once you step back and look at a situation, sometimes it's not as bad as you thought and the solutions becomes clear." She winked again and hobbled off.
I just stared after her in a sort of daze. Maybe I could go back…no, what the hell was I thinking? Fang probably never wanted to see me again. I totally just left him without any explanation. I couldn't even say goodbye to his face.
I shook my head and picked my duffle bag up. It was time to stop pretending. I can't live in a picture perfect life. So, I shouldn't even try to live in one. I turned my back on the highway that led to the small town by Fang's house, headed for the Grey Hound Bus, and didn't look back.
I boarded the bus and handed the bus driver my ticket.
"That's an awful long way to travel along, young lady," the elderly bus driver commented as he punched a hole in the ticket.
"I can manage," I muttered as I took my ticket back.
The bus driver just shrugged and turned to the next person. I stuffed my ticket in my pocket and shuffled down the aisle to the back of the bus. I plopped down and put my duffle bag next to me. I didn't some chatty Cathy sitting next to me and talking the whole way to Nebraska.
"Alright, folks," The bus driver called after a few minutes. "This is your last call for boarding or getting off. This bus is going to Nebraska. We will make about 4 pit-stops a day and we will be sleeping in the bus. There is a bathroom at the back of the bus. I look forward to traveling with you guys. Again, this is the last call for getting on or getting off. This bus is leaving in about 2 minutes!"
I closed my eyes and rested my head against the seat. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes as I fully realized what I was doing. I was never going to see Fang ever again. The wheels starting turning and the bus ever so slowly started to creep forward.
"Wait! Stop this bus!" Someone shouted from the outside. Even though the voice was muffled, it was very familiar. Too familiar.
I kept my eyes closed. I was just imagining it. I wanted the voice to sound like his. I wanted him to come after and stop this bus and tell me everything was alright. It was probably someone who had gotten here late and needed to get on the bus. It couldn't possibly be him. It was my imagination.
The bus slowly ground to a halt. The air swooshed as the bus doors opened. "You got a ticket, son?" the bus driver asked.
I heard footsteps on the stairway that led up to the bus. "No." a deep voice answered. A deep voice that I knew inside out. A deep voice that belonged to the only person I've ever really loved.
I squeezed my eyes tighter and flipped the hood of my hoodie over my face. He couldn't find me.
"Well, then why are you on the bus?" the bus driver muttered in an annoyed voice.
"There's someone very important to me on this bus," the voice replied. I refused to acknowledge it as Fang's voice.
"Well, that's nice. But, I'm on a schedule. I can't keep the bus stopped," the driver answered and the bus engine revved.
"Look, I'll give you 300 hundred dollars if you keep this bus stopped," the voice said urgently.
I popped my eyes open. Three hundred dollars? Was he insane? I wasn't worth the trouble. He should just go home. He can move on. There's someone out there who is better for him than I am.
"Well, how could I say no?" the bus driver chuckled. Fang handed him a wad of cash. I quickly looked out the window. I didn't need this to happen. So, why am I so happy right now?
I heard Fang's sure, even footsteps come down the aisle. The footsteps stopped and I knew Fang was standing right next to my seat. I didn't turn my head.
"Max?" Fang's voice was soft and gentle. Tears sprung into my eyes. Why wasn't he yelling at me? "Max, please, come back. We can work this out." Fang's voice sounded broken and tired. My heart ripped at the seams. I resisted the urge to jump out of my seat and into his arms. "Look, I don't know what's going on and that's okay. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. But, whatever it is, we can work it out together." There was a creak from my chair, and my eyes flickered over in Fang's direction. He was kneeling down in the aisle way looking right at me with his penetrating eyes. "Max, I'm always going to be here for you. That's what it means to love someone.
"And guess what? You can't protect me from everything. Life's like that. Whatever comes our way, we'll work it out together. You don't have to try and do everything and protect everyone by yourself. We're in a relationship. Relationships are 50-50. Let me help you carry your load. Don't try and fight all your battles alone." Fang paused and waited for me to do something. I didn't. I couldn't move. I was paralyzed by his words. "And all that shit about you not being able to give me anything? That is not true. My life had no color, no meaning before I met you. You make life exciting for me. You make me feel like I have purpose. And, you're real. You're not afraid to be who you are. I love that about you. I love everything about you. I don't care what you did in the past. Your past doesn't define you. So, please, come back. You know I'll love you no matter what."
Fang stopped again, and I turned to face him. I couldn't say anything. I had nothing to say. What could I say? I had been so stupid. Tears were running down my cheeks, but I felt so much better just being able to see Fang.
Fang smiled at me and pulled out a small set of speakers and his ipod. I pushed play and the accompaniment for Hero/Heroine by Boys Like Girls started to play. I blushed and looked away from the watching eyes of the other people on the bus.
It's too late baby, there's no turning around
I've got my hands in my pocket and my head in a clouds
This is how I do
When I think about you
I never thought that you could break me apart Cause you caught me off guard
I keep a sinister smile and a hold on my heart
You want to get inside
Then you can get in line
But not this time
Now I'm running and screaming
I feel like a hero and you are my heroine I won't try to philosophize
I'll just take a deep breath and I'll look in your eyes
This is how I feel
And its so surreal
I got a closet filled up to the brim You caught me off guard
With the ghosts of my past and the skeletons
And I don't know why
You'd even try
But I won't lie
Now I'm running and screaming
I feel like a hero and you are my heroine And I feel a weakness coming on
Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?
Never felt so good to be so wrong
Had my heart on lockdown
And then you turned me around
I feel like a newborn child And you caught me off guard I feel like a hero and you are my heroine
Every time I get a chance to see you smile
It's not complicated
I was so jaded
Now I'm running and screaming
Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?
I feel like a hero and you are my heroine
Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?
"Max, please?" Fang whispered. The entire bus was silent as everyone waited for my answer.
I looked down and wiped the tears of my face. I looked back up at Fang. I really am the luckiest girl in the world to have found a guy like him.
I couldn't take it anymore. I rocketed out of my seat and collided into Fang. I wrapped both my arms around his neck and didn't let go.
There was a loud cheering from the bus. People really got into love stories.
"I'm sorry I was such a dick," I whispered in Fang's ear.
Fang chuckled and brought his face close to mine. "It's fine. I'm just glad to have you back."
Then, in front of a bus full of strangers, Fang leaned closer and kissed me.
OK! That's another chapter down. Awww…they are back together! Yay. Ok, so I start school again tomorrow(not yay) and I probably won't get to update everyday… and I will definitely not post more than two chapters a day… unless I somehow get terribly worse tomorrow and can't go to school…wink wink, nudge nudge!
Review!
Nightwings93