A/N: Sorry for the wait, guys! Computer problems... but here it is! Chapter 3, and... it's Max's Point of view! RnR?
I do not own Maximum Ride. I'm not cool enough. :P
Max POV
I woke up from my less-than-stellar snooze at 2:00 am. Wow, two hours of light doze after what's just happened. I tip-toe to the window in the room that Nudge and I are sharing, smiling at her sleeping form. At least someone would get some sleep tonight.
I looked out over the Paris skyline. Yeah, I said Paris. For those of you who haven't caught up with the whole "Angel is gone" problem and the "Paris almost blew up" thing, well, too bad.
Looking out the window, I saw citizens working together, picking up rubble, calling out. They were searching to see if anyone had gotten stuck in the debris. They didn't need to. Everyone had gotten away safely except for… my baby.
Wiping away a tear, I opened the door to the boy's adjoining room. Iggy was stretched out on his bed, long arms and legs flopping everywhere. Dylan was laying with his arms crossed beneath his head, and I had to do a double-take to make sure he was still sleeping. Yup, he was, although there was a weird test-tubey thing sitting on his nightstand. A nerve-relaxer, maybe? I'd rather not guess.
I was about to leave when I spotted Gazzy. My brave little warrior was sitting cross-legged on the floor, staring blankly at a wall.
"Gaz, are you okay?" I asked. Wow, Max. Smooth. Ask the kid who just lost his sister is he's okay. That'll help.
I gently pull Gazzy into my arms, rocking him. He might act like a tough guy, but he was hurting, I could tell. I watched as a silent tear traced its way down his face, framed with floppy blond strands.
Gazzy let out a muffled sob, burying his head in my chest. He clung to me like he was the dying one.
"Max…" he snuffled. "Don't leave me."
I looked at him, and hugged him to me. "I won't Gazzy, not ever." Those words drudged up a promise made to me by someone who I thought would never leave me either, someone who promised he'd always be there for me. He wasn't here now, though. He'd never comfort me again. It was my turn to tear up.
Oh God… I wish he was here, now. He would know how to cheer Gazzy up. Just having him with us again would make everyone happier, I thought, sniffing a little as Gazzy's breath grew deeper, and his head sagged against me.
I let out a dry sob as I plopped Gazzy onto the pull-out bed. I had barely walked a step before I crumpled to the floor in a heap. Images were threatening to pull me under. I watched black wings, so dark they were almost purple, unfurl in my mind. I saw the smile that could make the world a better place, but that was so rarely shown. I saw a boy whom I had loved with all of my heart, with all of my being. I saw heartbreak, and I was breaking inside again.
Suddenly, a warm hand was on my shoulder, comforting. I looked up into the eyes of Dylan, and leaned against him for a moment.
"Thanks," I whispered, my voice cracking. I edged off of him and brushed off my jeans, looking at his wide, innocent eyes. He was hurting too.
I leaned back down and kissed him on the cheek, remembering how he'd kissed me twice, somehow comforting me with each. But it hadn't been enough. I would always love… Fang. Fang, who could never be replaced in my heart, as he had replaced me in his.
"Night, Dylan," I whispered, heading back to my room. I silently closed the door, and leaned my forehead against it.
"I'm sorry," I whispered against the cold wood, taking a steadying breath, wondering if Dylan could hear me. "You'll never be Fang."