A/N: Finally, the chapters get longer! Well, they're really not that long, but compared to the chapters before this one, chapter six is a novel! This is one of my favorite chapters, mostly because I'm such a sap. But yeah, read it, love it, REVIEW IT. Or read it, hate it, and FLAME IT. I really don't care as long as I get the review. REMEMBER TO VOTE!
Chapter Six:
Later that night, when we'd finished setting up camp and everyone else was down and out, I stayed up and watched the dying fire, just thinking. I mean, I really didn't know what to do. Okay, I knew I had to tell Fang. I'd found his mom after all. But I didn't want to lose Fang. I couldn't lose Fang.
In the weak light, I stared down at my arm, rubbing the still fresh scars from when I'd, out of desperation, starting slicing it open to get the chip out. I'd totally lost it, and who had been there to yell at me and stopme and bandage me up? Fang. And when I'd burst into tears, to tired and sore to hide, who had been first to hold me and let me soak up their shirt? Fang. Fang had always been there.
Speaking of which…
"Hey."
I jumped up a little, startled, as Fang crouched down beside me, looking concerned. Guess I wasn't the only one awake.
"What's wrong?" he asked, watching me closely.
I sucked in a shuddering breath. "Nothing."
Of course, Fang knows me to well for that, right?
"Max, I'm not an idiot. You've been acting weird all day. You've barely said a word and you declared this town Happy Place, U.S.A. and made us stay. So what's wrong?"
I picked up a stick and jabbed the fire, sighing. Sometimes I so wished Fang didn't know me so well. It would make lying a whole lot easier. "I didn't want to tell you…"
Fang's dark eyes narrowed. "You didn't morph into Eraser Max, did you?"
I laughed hollowly. I wish. "No, nothing like that."
"So what?"
I turned away from him. "I think I may have found your mother."
Fang blinked. "What?"
I sniffed a little. "I think I found your mom."
Fang didn't say a thing.
The wind whistled into the cave ominously, making me shiver. Fang slowly spread his wings across us to block the wind. I sneaked a glance at him. Instead of his normal blank-slate expression, he looked tired but excited. And maybe just a little frightened. Here goes…
"At the post office," I began, threading my fingers worriedly. "I saw this woman. And she looked just- a lot like you. Dark hair, dark eyes, everything. And… on one of the packages. I saw her name. Allison Raines. Raines. Like, the files said your last name was. And I got her address… I really think she's your mother."
I looked up at Fang and he just stared at me, looking me straight in the eyes for the longest time. It was frightening and exhilarating at the same time, like diving headfirst, plunging to the ground at 200 miles per hour. My stomach fluttered.
Finally, Fang broke the contact, examining the rocky cave floor. I reached out and placed my hand on his shoulder, so scared that he would be mad at me for withholding life changing information.
Still not looking at me, Fang said "Why didn't you want to tell me?"
Only Fang knows what's bothering me most, only Fang will dare ask about it.
"Why do you think?" I choked. Suddenly, horribly, I felt tears rushing to my eyes. Oh no.
Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry, don't- too late.
Fang pulled me into a gentle embrace, pressing me into his wiry shoulder, chin resting lightly on my head. His dark wings angled around us as I hugged him back. It just felt so… right. Warm. Safe.
Why does it make me feel like this? It wasn't like this when Iggy left. I was sad then, sure, but not like this.
Finally, I pulled back and Fang folded his wings in, looking embarrassed.
I knew exactly how he felt.
"So…" I said, rubbing my face with the back of my hand. "Do you want to check it out?"
"Of course. How could I not go?" Fang said.
I nodded, feeling so empty, so… old. "Okay. We'll go take a look tomorrow. I just hope this works out better than Iggy's did."
Fang stomped out what was left of the fire. "Yeah."
The understatement of the decade.
I laid down next to Angel and held out my fist. He stacked his and then we tapped. Like always. I tried not to think that by tomorrow, it could be Iggy's fist on top of mine, not Fang's.
Don't think about it.
"Goodnight Fang," I murmured, closing my eyes.
"Goodnight Max."
A/N again: Well, if you were paying attention, you now know where chapter five's title came from. I didn't make the titles until I'd written about half of chapter seven, so when I couldn't think of anything for chapter five, I just stole that. If you have no idea what the he-eck I'm talking about, then you aren't very observant.
The poll continues! Should Fang's real name be Hunter or Nick? I'm taking out Blake because everyone says that name sucks. I couldn't agree more. Submit a review and VOTE! Write-ins are, as always, appreciated.
