You Don't Need Me Anymore
Summary: What would have happened if Max caught Fang right as he was about to leave at the end of book 6?
"Fang? Fang, where are you?"
I peered into his room. There he is. I took several steps into the room before registering that something was off. He was back in his old tattered jeans and leather jacket. A full backpack laid on the bed next to him, and he was staring out the window with a piece of folded paper clenched in his hand.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Go back to the party." I was a little confused why his voice sounded so emotionless and flat, why he wouldn't turn around and look at me.
"Total's calling a toast." I said slowly. "He insists everyone be there, including you."
He didn't move.
"Come on Fang. Whats bugging you all of a sudden?" I asked, walking up to stand next to him. He looked down, and I followed his gaze to the piece of paper. It was folded in half, with my name scrawled across it in his spidery handwriting.
"Whats this?" I asked, plucking it from his fingers.
"No, wait-" I turned my back to him and blocked his attempts to grab it while beginning to read.
I stiffened as soon as I began, and I got halfway through before my control snapped.
Spinning around, I gave him a good smart clip to the face, making his head snap around to the side. He put his hand on his red cheek and stared at me.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" I hissed, my face starting to flush with anger. "How dare you make decisions about us, about my life, without asking me. Who gave you the right to play God? Who gave you the right to decide what's 'best' for me?"
"Max, I-"
"No, shut up!" I yelled at him. "Why are you doing this to us again Fang? Don't you know what that will do to us, what that will do to me?"
Fang reached out to touch me, but I smacked his hand away. I was furious. How could he just up and leave again? Was he trying to hurt me?
"I'm just trying to protect you." he tried. The look in his eyes was sincere, but that reason was crap and he knew it.
"Bullshit!" I screamed, placing my hands on his chest and giving him a good shove. He stumbled back and looked surprised, but if he knew me at all he should be grateful I hadn't decked him by now.
"That's shit and you know it! So why don't you tell me the real reason? What, did I do something wrong? Did I piss you off somehow?"
He opened his mouth, but the light bulb had already gone off. And I was so going to kick his ass for this.
"Dylan. This is about Dylan, isn't it? You're scared and jealous of the fucking robot Ken doll!"
"No, Max, that's not it!" Fang yelled back at me.
"Then what is it?!"
"You don't need me anymore!"
A stunned silence descended upon the room.
"What?" I asked softly, shocked.
"You don't need me anymore, Max. You have Dylan."
"Wait… so were you just staying because you thought I needed you? So now that I supposedly have someone else you can just get rid of me like a piece of trash?" I could hear the hurt in my own voice and I hated being so weak, but damn.
"No, that's not what I meant." He stepped forward and grasped my shoulders. I tugged away.
"Then what did you mean?"
"I meant that we both know what will happen eventually. You'll fall for Dylan and I'll be a memory."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Fall for Dylan? No way! Not in a million years!
"Come on, Max, he's genetically engineered to be perfect for you. It's inevitable." I just stared at him.
"So… you're willing… to break my heart… just because you're a little self-conscious about someone I hardly know?"
Fangs jaw clenched. Red hot rage flashed through me. How could he do this? How could he be so fucking idiotic?
"You stupid-" I shoved him and he fell back a little, looking surprised.
"Idiotic-"
I shoved again.
"Narcissistic-"
Again.
"Pathetic-"
Again.
"Asshole!"
I shoved him one final time and pinned him hard against the wall.
"Don't you remember a few weeks ago?" I screamed, right in his face. "When you were lying dead on a fucking hospital table? And don't you remember who cried and begged you to come back and took a huge risk to save your dumbass? Me! So don't you tell me I'll fall for Dylan when he doesn't mean jack shit to me!"
"How can you be so sure?" he snapped right back.
"Because I love you damnit!" I yelled. His eyes widened and mine closed. I took several steps back and crossed my arms, taking a few deep breaths.
"There." I said flatly. "I said it." I looked up and looked straight into his stunned black eyes. "I guess we'll find out if you feel the same."
Then I turned and ran out of the room. I could hear him calling after me, but I ran into my room and locked the door. Then I quickly changed out of that stupid party dress and back into my jeans and t-shirt. Then I took to the sky, flying hard and feeling tears slip down my cheeks.
Time Skip
I got back to the house at about 4 am. I changed into pajamas, unlocked my door, and wearily climbed into my bed. I didn't have the heart to go and see if Fang was still here. Getting my heart broken could wait until morning.
Dimly, I heard the hinges of my door squeak as it opened and shut. Almost silent footsteps padded across the floor and the bed sank down on one side. I closed my eyes as familiar arms slipped around my waist and held me.
"I didn't think you'd still be here." I said in a voice that was as devoid of emotion as I could manage.
There was a short pause before he whispered into my ear, "I'm sorry, Max."
"Sorry?" I said tiredly, with a weary chuckle. "You think sorry can fix this?"
"I know it won't. But you had to hear it. Max, I'm so sorry."
I sat up and faced him, forcing his arms to move away from me.
"How am I supposed to trust you, Fang?" I asked. His eyes flashed with pain and self loathing and guilt. He slowly sat up and gripped my hands ever so lightly in his own. And he shook his head.
"I don't know." he whispered.
"I don't either." I said simply, pulling my hands away from his. I watched as he lowered his head and ran his hands through his hair, gripping it at the back of his head tightly.
"You made a promise." I said, and he jolted, but didn't look up. "You promised you would never leave us again. And you were willing to break that promise, and me, just because you felt threatened by Dylan."
He looked up at me, and I was surprised to see his eyes were red-rimmed. I hadn't seen him anywhere near crying since he was seven years old, and yet here he was, looking at me with bloodshot eyes.
But he didn't argue. There was no more bullshit excuses. He just lowered his head and waited for me to tell him whatever I was gonna tell him. Whether it was just to get it over with and leave or just never to speak to me again. He knew he had fucked up.
Instead, I placed my hand under his chin and lifted it until he was looking straight at me.
"Do you love me, Fang?" I asked.
"Yes." he answered, with no hesitation.
"Then prove it."
With that I turned around and lay down again, closing my eyes. A moment later, I felt his arms surrounding me and his lips pressing against my neck, trying to tell me how sorry he was.
