Chapter 3
A/N: Okies, quick thing. I know in this chapter Max's seems to be over reacting about the Dana thing and I'm sorry, I dramatize everything in my fics, perhaps too much. I just think she might have felt really guilty and it confuses her own feelings for Terry. Sorry to slow ya down. Here's
the next chappie. Ja ne!
-Kyoko
…
I had a nightmare. Dana's words echoed through my head, nagging, yelling, screaming at me. I tried to run from it but it bounced around in the darkness. It was choking me, smothering me until…
"Max!"
My eyes shot open. Darkness faded from my vision into the shape of Batman's mask. Terry's hands were on my shoulders. I sat up all the way and shook the images out of my head. "What? What is it?"
"You were having a nightmare."
Even with the mask on, I could see the worry and concern on his face. He reluctantly let go of me as I pulled back the covers.
"Max…"
I didn't answer, distractedly dragging the AP Biology book out from under the sheets.
"Max." I looked at him. He was very worried now. "What's wrong?"
I shook my head. "Nothing. I'm fine." He caught my arms and forced me to look at him. I knew I didn't look fine, frowning with sadness, scared to tell him what was tormenting me.
"Max, look at me. I'm your friend. Tell me what's wrong. Please."
I bit my lip, shaking my head and closing my eyes because I couldn't let him see the pain in them. A tear slid down my cheek and I hated it. His hand brushed my tear away and I found myself cradled against his chest. I buried my face in his shoulder and tried not to cry but the tears wouldn't stop. I cried because I couldn't tell him, I cried because I loved him, I cried because his heart would break, I cried because my heart would break if it didn't have his.
The night wore on in interminable darkness.
…
The next day…
Terry and I rapidly walked through the hallway, trying to avoid…
"Hey! McGinnis!"
…Nelson. Dammit.
Terry and I turned to see Nelson and his usual groupies filling the hallway, which had gone strangely quiet.
"Glad to finally come out of the closet?"
His cronies laughed, but everyone else looked nervously between Terry and the impending moron.
"Oh yeah? Well, what's your job, Nelson? A garbage man? A janitor? That's about all your poor little brain can handle."
Nelson turned purple with embarrassment and a few girls laughed. He balled his fist angrily. "At least I'm not strutting around in pink!" he shot back bitterly.
"For all you know, that jacket you're wearing is pink." Everyone went "Oooh" and laughed as we continued down the hall.
"Tough words, McGinnis. But that ain't what you're girl said last night."
Terry froze and so did the blood in my veins. Crap!
He turned, fury coiling dangerously in his limbs. Nelson grinned triumphantly. Terry took a step forward. I touched his arm. He looked at me and I hissed, "Terry, don't. He's not worth it."
"You should listen to her, McGinnis. It'd be a shame to get your face messed up before you pose for Avon." The idiot continued. Terry's eyes narrowed, a very bad sign.
"That's why your little girlfriend was over my house last night. No one likes a metro-"
The sentence never finished coming out of his mouth because Terry's fist connected with it. He fell back into a couple of people, wincing as blood slid down his chin. (Kyoko: Nobody makes me bleed my own blood! NOBODY! Akimi: (smacks forehead) )
"Nice shot, dreg. Too bad it'll be the only you'll get in."
"Bring it," Terry growled.
I could only watch as Nelson took the beating of his life. Only when Dana stepped between them did Terry lower his fists.
"I'm sorry. I didn't have the guts to tell you." She cried.
"Tell me what?"
'No, no, no, dammit! It wasn't supposed to happen like this!' I screamed in my mind.
"Didn't Max tell you? It's over. I'm going out with Nelson now."
Terry's eyes widened, a slight tremor running down his back. As he turned to me, I shrank back, a tear sliding down my face.
"I'm sorry."
I couldn't take the look in his eyes so I pushed past them, running. I was stupid for waiting this long. He called my name but I kept running.
Kept running like I'd done my whole life.
…
Night. I don't know what time.
I huddled on a park bench by myself, sniffling. I would have gone home but he would be there. I didn't want to see him. Not after what had happened today. I couldn't.
The wind blew shivers down my spine, drying the tears on my face. I wiped them away and closed my eyes.
"What's wrong, sweet cheeks?"
I opened my eyes to see four Jokerz, all male, coming for me. Shit!
I quickly stood and grimaced as they surrounded me.
"It's none of your business."
"How 'bout we make it our business?" The leader jeered, grabbing my chin. I elbowed him in the throat once he was close enough to touch. He collapsed into a kneel, clutching his throat, and gasped out, "Get her!"
The next Joker charged and I kicked him in the nuts. The other two grabbed my arms. I struggled, screaming, "Let me go!"
The lead Joker recovered and punched me in the stomach. I doubled over, winded. He grabbed a handful of my hair and punched me in the face. I fell, curling into a barely conscious ball. Darkness swallowed my vision but before it did, a red bat flashed in front of my eyes.
…
I didn't even remember the ride home, just opening my eyes and being in Terry's arms. He carried me up to my room wordlessly. I was strong enough to sit up on the bed as he went to the bathroom. I slid my shoes off, trying to stop the world from spinning in front of my eyes. He came back with a small bag of ice and a cold cloth. I winced as the cold cloth touched the back of my neck and as the ice touched my cheek. He let me hold it and moved away, going to the window. Silence folded over us for a handful of moments until I lanced nervously and shamefully at him. I put the ice pack down and rose, going over to him. I stared out the window at the dark horizon, rubbing my arm, lost for words.
"Thanks for saving me, I…I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come."
He didn't answer and I sighed heavily.
"I'm…sorry about Dana. I didn't know how to tell you and…I didn't want to see you hurt."
"Max…if you would have just told me, I would have understood. Dana and I…Dana and I have been breaking up since we got together." He shrugged.
"It's a burden I have to carry, not you. Stop being so damn selfless, I wanna suffer too."
A small smile touched my lips. He started to walk away and I blurted out his name before I knew what I was going to say. He turned back to me and I blushed, faltering.
"N-Never mind…"
"Come on, Max. It took me forever to get anything out of you before." He came closer, which was not an improvement since my hormones were running amok. I shouldn't have said anything but for a second, I was lost in the depth of his eyes, that wondrous blue like the inside of a flame.
"I love you."
"See? That wasn't so hard." He whispered, lips slowly inching for mine. The first kiss was gentle, inviting and intoxicating. He tasted so good. I wanted more.
The kiss grew deeper and my arms wound around his neck while his hands snaked around my waist. Our mouths explored each other's almost involuntarily, I shivered as his hands found their way under my shirt, touching my bare skin, and tracing my side up to the bra. I purred against his mouth, hands buried in his hair, lost in the throes of passion.
This was what I had wanted for so long, longed for it, dreamed of it, of this moment; just being held in his arms, the taste of his mouth, the warmth of his body. It made me happier than I'd ever been in my life.
An annoying ring sounded in Terry's jacket pocket. He pulled away, muttering, "Slaggit…"
Spoke too soon.
He opened his cell phone and checked the number.
"It's Wayne. I'm s'posed to be on duty." I nodded, too breathless to speak. Embarrassment sort of hovered around but didn't settle. Terry kissed me shortly and grabbed his backpack. "I gotta go. I'll catch up later."
With that, he shut the door behind him and left.
I should have been angry, but I wasn't. I touched my lips, licked them, and could still taste his mouth. It had really happened. Numbly, I undressed and took a shower, then crawled in my bed. I hugged my pillow tight and smiled, drifting into the warm embrace of sleep.
…
Kyoko: (hangs head) Ugh, the Nelson-Terry fight sucked, huh? I SUCK at doing confrontations and fights. I can occasionally do a decent one, but that wasn't it. Sorry. Oh, I posted the first chapter to my other BB fic, starring ME as the OC! It's part of a series I've written and I PROMISE it's good so PLEASE read it. I'm about to put the next chapter for it and this. Well, I'm still writing this one so it might be a minute. Thanks for the 2nd chapter reviews everyone! (peace sign)
Next chapter: More modeling and more making out!