Chapter 8~ Of Almost Kisses and Awkwardness

PREVIOUSLY, ON BECAUSE OF A FIGHT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT:

Where did he go anyway? All of a sudden he was acting super strange, then he got up and left. And never came back.

Like he actually went to the bathroom. Maybe he's an alien. Or a pirate. Or a hobbit from Middle Earth. Or maybe he was just stupid.

Probably the last one.

So then, a few hours later I was sitting in front of the TV with a bowl of popcorn, watching crime dramas. My hair was in a messy bun, and I was wearing pajamas. Yes, this is what Maximum Martinez does on Sunday nights.

The doorbell rang, and I reluctantly got up to answer it. I opened the door to find the last person I expected to find leaning against the door.

"Surprise?" Fang said.

MAX POV:

"You? What do you want?" Yes, I was honestly surprised to see him. Why? 'Cause usually no one interrupts me during CSI. Oh, and the fact that he ditched me today. Yeah, let's not forget that.

Even though I try.

"My day with you isn't over yet, Martinez. There's still a few hours left, you know." Fang raised an eyebrow.

I laughed bitterly. "My day with you was over when you left me at the diner, Walker. Now get out." I pointed to the door.

He ran his hand through his hair. "Listen, I'm sorry for ditching you there; something came up."

"Something so important that you couldn't even tell me?" I challenged.

"I got a call that my dad fractured his wrist and I had to go see him, Max!" Fang tried to explain.

I blinked. "Good to know. Now get out." And so I motioned to the door once again.

He groaned, "Why can't you just understand that I'm sincerely sorry for leaving?" Fang threw his hands in the air.

"Because all the guys I've gone out with did the same thing you did!" My eyes widened at what I said and I slapped a hand over my mouth. Did I really just blurt that out? Great, he was the last person I wanted to know.

"Wait, what do you-"

"I've said enough, okay?" I snapped. "Now, please, just leave before I get the urge to break something."

He stood in the doorway with his arms folded. "Oh, no, Maxie. I won an entire day with you, and that's what I'm going to get. Now, if you honor bets at all, you'd better let me in."

I just stood there, staring at him, until I reluctantly moved aside. He was right; I lost, so I had to let him in. Fang stepped over into the living room and saw the TV on. "Wow, Max. I never penned you as the girl to watch CSI."

"Yeah, well, I'm an unpredictable girl, okay?" He didn't say anything after that and I sighed, putting my head in my hands. This wasn't going to work at all. I knew that the entire time he'd be here would be awkward.

We sat down on the couch to watch TV; him on one side of the sofa, me scooted all the way on the other. Nothing was said between us as Dr. Langston spoke to a suspect's family on the screen.

"So," Fang began, breaking the silence, "This day didn't go as expected." Not at all, I thought. The stillness in the air began again, until he broke it with his voice. "Max, what happened between you and the other guys?"

I winced. He just hit the sensitive spot. Curse you for bringing that up! I yelled at him in my head. I said nothing, hoping Fang would lay off. But he remained steadfast with an eyebrow raised and his arms crossed. "Max, tell me what happened," he demanded.

I groaned. Stubborn Fang. Oh well, I guess there was no reason not to tell him. "Basically, every time I used to go on dates, the guy would usually leave in the middle, saying that he had something important to finish and that he'd come back. None of them never did, though," I added.

His eyebrows reached the top of his head. "Do you ever wonder why?" he asked quietly.

I looked up at the ceiling. "Usually I think it's because I'm a fighter, you know? I mean, that's not very girly. I guess they think since I fight, I'm not as much as a girl as the others, so I won't mind as much if they leave. I barely even dress like a girl, how am I supposed to act like one?"

"That's not true; you were dressed up for the party and for today!" Fang insisted.

I snickered, "That's only because Nudge and Ella actually bothered to do something about my clothes." I turned to him to see his expression. Would it be good? Bad? Expressionless?

He stared down at his hands. "Well," Fang finally said, "I think you're wonderful, and that if I could've stayed with you for the entire day, I would've loved to."

Well, then. Hot damn. That was definitely good.

But I started to think a little differently when I began to notice the close proximity between us. His arm was slung over the cushion behind me and his other hand was raised up to— to touch my face? When had he gotten closer?

"You never told me what you wanted," he whispered. I mentally frowned. From what? Oh, right- the fight from today.

"I want you to..." And then I broke off. I couldn't think properly with his face inches from mine. Correction, his lips inches from mine.

"Yes?" Fang whispered again.

"K-kiss me."

I opened my locker at school to take out a few books. From the corner of my eye, I saw Nudge talking to people in the hall with pink envelopes in her hand.

You're probably wondering: did Fang kiss me last night?

The answer: no.

Just as he was about to, Iggy entered the house through the front door. Thankfully, he didn't see me or Fang about to share a kiss. Great timing, bro. And then Fang left.

Actually, I was kinda glad Iggy interrupted. With Fang all up in my personal bubble, I couldn't think or speak straight, thus blurting out the nonsensical idea that I wanted HIM to kiss ME.

Us? Kissing?

Nope. Not gonna happen. Ever. 'Cause, as hawt as Fang is, we're better off as friends, and didn't want any complications in our relationship as friends...

... Did I really just call him "hawt?"

"Oh, Maxie!" Nudge sang in my ear when she popped up from like, across the hall.

"Yes, Nudge?" I grumbled. I didn't have a good sleep last night because I was thinking to much about him.

"It's that time of the year again!" She wiggled her eyebrows, holding up an envelope.

"Um, Easter?"

She rolled her eyes. "No, silly, my 16th birthday party is next Friday, and I need your help planning it."

I closed my locker. "Oh, alright then," I told her. "So, I come over after school then?

Nudge nodded. "Yup. And then on Saturday, we go dress shopping." As I was about to say something, she raised up her hand. "And yes, Max, you have to wear a dress. No arguments."

I frowned. "Actually, I was going to ask if Iggy and Ella are coming with us. You know I always agree to wear something fancy on your birthday, Nudge."

"Aw, thanks, Max! And to answer your question, yes, they are coming with us. And so is Fang," she added hastily.

I almost dropped my books. Fang? See me try on dresses? Oh, no thank you. Yeah, we're friends, but I only met this guy, like, what, six days ago? Maybe even five?

"I heard my name called?" said a voice behind me. Speak of the devil.

I slowly turned around to see Fang leaning against the locker with his arms crossed. "Oh, hey Fang!" Nudge piped up. "Max and I were just talking about dress shopping on Saturday for my birthday party. You're coming like you said, right?"

He looked to me. Please say no, please say no, please say no, I silently begged.

"Sure, Nudge," Fang said, slowly peeling his gaze off of me.

"Great!" exclaimed Nudge. The bell rang, and she adjusted her backpack strap. "Alright everyone, see you later!" She walked off, leaving me alone with Fang.

"Um, I gotta go, too," I muttered, not looking at him in the eye. And so I walked off, leaving Fang there.

FANG POV:

When she asked me to kiss her the other night, was I surprised? Oh, yes, definitely. Did I know it would make things awkward between us? Not really.

Of course, at the time I didn't know that Maximum Martinez just loves to run away from personal problems. Especially in ones where her friend almost kisses her.

But you can't blame me; she said that was what she wanted.

So, basically, the result of me almost kissing Max: she avoids me the entire day.

She doesn't talk to me at all. Not during our classes, lunch, or passing period. But I know she'll come around; we are "going shopping together" anyway. Now that I think about it, it might not even be about the almost kiss. However, I didn't regret Iggy coming in; I think we're probably better off as friends.

Was she still mad at me for leaving yesterday during lunch? I couldn't blame her for that. Not after I found out a bunch of guys did the same thing to her.

But unlike them, I had a legit reason to leave. I had a legit reason to lie to her about where I was. Especially after meeting him.

Because in my life, shit just got real.

Well then.

Author's Note:

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Short chappie, but as promised: here you go!

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