I don't own MR
Max
Three hours, twenty minutes, and one stupid black and white film later, I found myself stretched over the couch with my head in Iggy's lap as we stared at the television like a couple of zombies. All I had really wanted to do today was eat some cake and open presents, but because of the whole cheating fiasco I had been condemned to making Iggy feel better and impatiently waiting for Lupo and Fang to get their butts down here so we could open gifts together.
However, I had to sit through a boring movie and convince Iggy to stop crying like a two year old who had just popped their balloon before the two finally made their way downstairs. I sat up at the sound of footsteps and raised my eyebrow when I noticed they were hand in hand as they both made their way downstairs. Fang just winked at me and cautiously slipped his hand away to clap his hands together. "Alright, it's present time," he announced with a beautiful grin on his face as he looked over at me. "And I think you should open yours first, Max,"
"Yes! Finally!" I exclaimed and sprinted over to the pathetic excuse for a christmas tree before digging out three presents addressed to me. Each box was a different color and size, and held a different question as to what could be inside.
"Ari! Get out here!" Fang called and I glanced behind me to watch as Iggy stood and turned to Lupo. She easily walked past him as if he didn't even exist, and sat down on the loveseat while Ari groggily stumbled out of his room.
"You sleep too much," I acknowledged and he scowled at me viciously.
"You know what? Try dealing with you for a day, I'm sure you'll see why," Ari joked, dropping down on the floor in front of the couch and leaning against it.
"I am a perfect angel," I scoffed, and heard everyone in the room snort.
"Yeah right," Fang was the first to respond to my claim. "You're like a re-incarnation of Satan,"
"Does that make you my slave?" I asked, smirking brightly.
"No. That makes me Satan's hot boyfriend," Fang clarified. I rolled my eyes at him as he posed, but still found myself laughing as I grabbed a gift from Iggy out of the pile.
"Hey Igster, what could this be?" I asked, trying to get him to look away from Lupo and focus on something else. He seemed to only just be able to tear his eyes away from the girl he loved to glance at me for a moment, a small smile threatening its way on his face.
"Let's just say you've been missing a few weapons lately and that you should really open up that present before you accidentally detonate it- oh, don't shake it!" Iggy exclaimed right as I lifted it up to do just that.
"Um… I'm kinda scared," Ari admitted quietly, scooting back away from the box in my hands a few feet.
"Yeah, me too," A familiar voice spoke softly and I whipped my head around to see Nudge walking down the steps slowly, sending terrified glances towards Lupo as the older girl literally growled at her.
"Loops, stay cool," Fang muttered sitting next to her. She sighed silently but refused to turn her glare away from Nudge, who was like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Look Lupo, I-"
"You may not realize this, but they won't be able to hold me back next time I attack you, so I suggest you shut up and stop provoking me." Lupo hissed, and if there was a knife that could cut through tension, it definitely was needed in the living room as Nudge deliberately slid down the stairs and stood behind Iggy.
The poor guy went rigid as her hand rested on his shoulder, and Lupo's hands clenched into fist as she began to stand.
"Let's not forget Angelica!" Fang exclaimed, pushing her back down into the couch as she snarled at him.
"Fang, I really don't want you to get in my way. I might end up killing you too," Lupo warned, but my boyfriend stood his ground fearlessly, sending her a look that would have had me broken and bleeding if it was meant for me. They seemed to be having a conversation as they stared each other down, but finally Lupo relaxed and leaned back, looking at me.
"Well, are you going to open it or not?" She asked and I nodded quickly before ripping the red wrapping paper away to see a black piece of cloth rolled up that held something inside of it. Had I not been worried it would explode, I might have been faster to lay it out and unravel the only thing left in between me and my present, but because that worry was in the back of my mind, I cautiously set the piece of cloth on the ground and began to unroll it, one move then a pause, until the first part of my gift was revealed. A knife. Then a dagger. Then a longer blade that could still qualify as a knife, but it was stretching out. As I finished rolling the black cloth out I noticed to more small knives at the end that seemed identical minus the different shades of the hilts.
"Oh my God, Iggy! They're amazing," I whispered, grabbing the dagger up and admiring the silver blade. I hadn't been able to slash through anyone in a while, and once I found good hiding places for these five blades I'd definitely be back in business.
"It gets better, see the handle is hollow on all of them, and each one holds three to four small bombs in it. You have to hold it just right to get it to open up, but after that you're five seconds away from an explosion." Iggy explained, reaching down to show me and effectively leaning forward away from Nudge, who frowned. I watched as his eyes lit up in a special way for the first time in a long time, if only for a brief moment before returning to their dull blue color.
"Awesome. I can't wait to try these out," I exclaimed, slipping the dagger back into its holder and re-rolling the cloth up to hold them all out of danger of exploding on me. Gently, I rested the gift back into the box before pulling out another small one addressed to Lupo from the pile under the tree. I tossed it to her without warning, and she easily caught it before raising an eyebrow at me. "I think we should all take turns opening gifts. That one's from me," I explained and Lupo nodded once before pulling the clumsily tied ribbon away and popping the lid off of the creamed colored box in her hands. I watched as her eyes widened slightly, and she glanced at me in disbelief.
"I know it's kind of stupid, but I wasn't really sure what to get you and we've been friends for so long and we don't have anything that-"
"Max, shut up. It's perfect," Lupo sent me a small smile as she pulled the chain bracelet out of the box and slipped it onto her wrist. It had a small charm on it. A silhouette of a wolf. howling. I hoped she wasn't lying to me. The last thing I wanted was to get her something she'd throw out, though at the same time I don't know if I'd wear a charm bracelet. Maybe it was from my best friend. If Lupo even considered us best friends anymore…
"Alright, I think… Ari should go next," I decided, grabbing one of his gifts and tossing it to him. All too late I noticed it was from Nudge. I watched cautiously as he stared at the name and glanced at his ex girlfriend before ripping the newspaper harshly taped together away to show off a shiny new tablet.
"Whoa," Ari whistled in approval as he turned it on and immediately began messing around with the device, already adding programs and downloading applications within seconds of its screen beginning to glow with power.
"It's um… solar powered, so you don't need any cords to-"
"God, even your voice makes me want to kill you," Lupo growled out, cutting Nudge off as her eyes widened to the size of quarters. She glanced at Lupo before taking a step back to further the distance between them. I almost laughed at how Nudge thought a little extra distance could keep her alive if Lupo went on the hunt. It wouldn't even slow her down.
"Moving on," I cleared my throat and glanced at Lupo, who was getting another look from Fang that instantly tamed the beast. I don't know what he said to her, or how she managed to listen to him, but he was keeping her in check which was a good thing because I don't think any of us could stand anymore emotional or physical pain for that matter. "Alright Igster, this one's from your main man," I joked lightly, gesturing to Ari after tossing the gift into his lap.
Iggy looked over at Ari, who was too involved in his tablet to bother looking up, but he did mutter out a, "Better spend it wisely," which got Iggy's eyebrows to shoot up in wonder as he shredded the envelope and pulled out the small card that held a thousand dollars on it. I remembered watching Ari scribble out a few words by the card that said; Use it on fireworks, or whatever, giving off the idea he didn't really care, but the way Ari glanced over once, then twice told me he was hoping the gift card would cheer Iggy up. I guess even when he was downright furious with one of his friends, he couldn't help but be there for them.
Although I guess Ari and I were being there for the wrong person in this situation, but maybe it was because we knew him longer. I glanced over at Lupo, who refused to look over at the small smile on Iggy's face.
"Thanks Ari." He spoke up and my brother found it himself to take one hand off of the tablet to wave Iggy off.
"No problem. It was easy. I could get a million of those if I wanted," He mumbled before going back to drooling over his new technology.
"Okay Nudge, this is from Fang and I," I said, tossing her a package. She attempted to catch it, but ended up losing her grip and juggling it before it fell to the floor with a thud, causing Lupo to snort and mumble something under her breath. Fang burst out laughing at whatever she said before instantly quieting at the look I gave him.
"Wow, I can't believe it," Nudge whispered as she opened the present after picking it up and resting it on the back of the couch.
"Well you better because I spent an hour on the phone with Lissa trying to figure out what mascara brand you would like the best. Just. On. Mascara." I drawled out, looking over at her and pretending to faint over dramatically.
"Thanks guys, thanks so much!" Nudge exclaimed and took a few steps toward Fang to hug him until she remembered Lupo was sitting right next to him. "Um, I'm going to go… try some of this on!" She stumbled out before practically sprinting up the stairs in fear. I snickered and turned to Lupo, who had a smirk on her face.
"I hope you give her hell," I told her and she turned to me with that smirk still there.
"Oh don't worry, I will,"
"Well, I guess that's everyone," I said jokingly, standing up to stretch as a frown fell over Fang's face. I had only left for a couple minutes to get drinks for everyone out of the fridge and decided while taking a sip of my can of coke that I'd mess around with Fang a little.
"But, but I-"
"Oh don't worry, Iggy made more pie," I added as an afterthought, but Fang shook his head and jutted his lower lip out in a pout.
"No! I wanna open a present!" He whined, getting to his feet.
"Didn't you already…" I began to joke, before my voice faltered. Oh no. He had grabbed onto the present I was going to give him, and was already tearing it open. In front of everyone. I watched in horror as the green wrapping paper faded into the distance, leaving only a white box in its place.
"Fang! Don't!" I cried out, but it was too late. He had already tossed the cardboard top off, leaving me to cry myself dead in embarrassment as he lifted the skimpy lingerie I had gotten up and out of the box. It was easily noticeable in the trademark red and green Christmas colors, and I watched as Ari's face went paper white while Lupo struggled to hold in her laughter. Iggy, however, couldn't hold it in. He was clutching onto his gut as his obnoxious laughing reached my ears, but that wasn't the worst part of all of this.
No, the worst part was Fang's slightly confused face slipping into a devious grin as he looked up at me. "So does this mean I'm getting laid tonight?" He asked, but all I could do was stand there frozen in place with my face as red as a tomato. Why had I put that under the tree? Well I had thought later tonight I would lead him back down here to open his last present, which he wasn't supposed to see, but no. He had to open it right now. In front of everyone. Including my brother.
"It better not, you just lost a kid! You can't go around making another one!" Ari exclaimed.
"Oh right, of course, Max's new pity story," Lupo's voice muttered, and I turned to look at her.
"Um, excuse me?" I asked, although the sting of the words had reached me head on.
"Oh like you don't know. Maximum Ride always gets the short end of the stick, doesn't she?" Lupo asked, and Fang dropped the outfit back into the box to turn to Lupo. He opened his mouth to speak, but I was two steps ahead of him.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest. Where was this coming from? Hadn't we smiled at each other? Hadn't we been friends just moments ago?
"It never fails does it? You always have to be the center of attention." Lupo growled, getting to her feet.
"Look, I get that your boyfriend is a slut and that hurts, but you don't have to take it out on me!" I yelled, clenching my hands into fists in anger.
"Oh please! You can't stand to be out of the spotlight! You always one-up everybody who's feeling some kind of pain! Her boyfriend cheated on her? Let me just let everyone know my baby's dead so I can get the pity points," Lupo snarled, attempting to mimic me.
"Lupo, that's enough." Iggy spoke sternly, and she turned to him, a howl of rage just beyond her vocal cords.
"You have no right to tell me when 'enough' is James! You don't even know when 'enough' is!" Lupo shouted, and I could feel the raw fury pouring out of her like lava. It came out fast and destructive, ready to take a whole city down if need be.
"Lupo-" Fang started, but she turned on him so quickly I felt the whiplash of it. She reached her hand back and I knew she was going to do her signature backhand on him before she even came forward.
"Don't you dare do that," I warned, pouncing on her. My body weight knocked into her and we both fell to the floor in a heap of rage. Maybe we would have torn each other part right there in my old living room while my boyfriend, brother, and best friend helplessly tried to pull us apart. Maybe we would have hated each other for the rest of our lives. Maybe we would have turned into those girls who fight every time they were in the same room as one another.
I guess we'll never though, because right before either of us could land in a good punch the wall exploded.
Welp, I guess their Christmas vacation is over.
You guys have been awesome recently giving me 10 reviews each chapter so can we please keep it up?
Soar on
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