A/N: I love nuts. Especially almonds and pistachios. XD (My Aya notes are getting more random than ever.)

Chapter 18

Fang POV

Day 3

Jealousy is a new emotion to me.

I didn't like the fact that Max was flirting with Nick. The guy who deserves the name Nicholas more than I do.

Since Nick has been working with us for almost two years, I happen to know his secret.

Max sure is gonna be surprised if she learns about it.

Awkwardly.

Day 3 (continued. . .)

Angel decided to go to the beach since we're in Hawaii.

You know the first thing that popped in my head?

What would Max look like in a two-piece swimsuit? (The word "bikini" is making me nervous and think about weird- really weird- stuff regarding Max.)

Angel said she and Max will not be able to go with us since Max was being stubborn about wearing a bi- two-piece swimsuit.

So, Iggy, Gazzy, Nick and I went to the beach without them. I wasn't worried or anything. Just curious at what Max's appearance would be.

Upon arriving at the beach, we were stared at by the locals and tourists.

"What are they staring at?" Iggy whispered to me.

"Probably because we drove the limo?" Nick answered for me. I nodded in agreement.

"I knew we shouldn't have used the limo!" Gazzy stomped his feet.

We all stared at Iggy. "Hey! Why are you looking at me? It's Fang's fault for not stopping me."

"I didn't because I hoped you would realize your mistake."

"Still!"

"Hey, hey!" Gazzy stopped us both. "Are we going swimming or not?"

"Yeah, I agree with Gazzy. Race you to the water!" Nick challenged Gazzy. They removed their flip-flops and ran to the water. As for I, I sat down and watched them swim. Iggy sat next to me.

"You're not going?"

"Nah. That can wait."

I studied Iggy. "Are you forgetting something?"

Iggy put on his shades. "What?"

I shook my head. He'll know in twenty minutes. "Never mind."

"Oh, how do you think Nick's-" Someone pushed Iggy's face to the sand.

I smirked at Angel. "Good one."

"Yeah, I was working on for three months now. Didn't I improve?" Angel flexed her shoulders. You know, even though Angel acts like Confucious sometimes, she's still a ten-year-old girl going through puberty. I studied Angel's figure. Typical ten-year-old swimsuit. Hot-pink two-piece bikini with gray ruffles.

"Where's Max?"

Angel smacked her forehead. "MAX! GET YOUR BUTT HERE!"

Twenty feet away, I heard Max shout back. "NO!"

"CAN YOU PLEASE GET OUT OF THAT PALM TREE?"

"NO!"

"DON'T MAKE ME GET YOU!"

"YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!" She can.

"I WILL!" She will.

Angel ran to Max while I turned back to Iggy who was spewing out sand.

"WHAT THE HELL? Damn that Angel! Shit! I think I have a shell stuck in my throat!" Then Iggy started choking.

"Ew, dude. Gross."

Out in the ocean, Nick and Gazzy waved at us. "Guys! Come on!"

Iggy stood up and ran to them.

I turned back around to see Angel pulling Max from behind a palm tree.

"Max!"

"No!"

"Please?"

"No!"

"I already said please! Please?"

"No!"

"You leave me no choice. Fang!"

"Coming!" I knew this was coming. I stood up and brushed sand off my boardshorts.

"NOOOO!" Max yelled at the top of her lungs.

I was already enjoying it even though I haven't even seen Max in her (ahem) swimsuit.

"Help me pull her out of this thing!" I grabbed Max's arm and hauled her in one pull.

Max emerged from the tree and hid her face on her hair.

I backed up a couple of steps.

"Eh? Eh?" Angel nudged me. "What do you think?"

She looked. . . hot. I mean, she really wore a bikini! (I said the word. Here comes the weird thoughts.) Her bikini was really simple. It's black and two-piece. That's it. (Or not.)

Max looked up and she looked mad. I backed up even farther.

"Say one word and I will break your neck." Max hissed and went passed through me. Angel soon followed her.

Angel turned around and walked backwards. "You know, your reaction was exactly what I imagined it would be. You should have seen your face, Fang!" Angel giggled and walked back to the beach.

What face? I didn't make any face!

I suddenly ran to the beach. I saw Max sitting beneath the umbrella she opened. I sat on the sand, away from Max as much as possible.

I kept my eyes on the horizon. Max's gaze burned through me. If only looks could kill and I'll be dead right this second.

"Why are you sitting there?" Max asked me. I shivered despite the 98 degrees Fahrenheit weather.

"Are you gonna break my neck?"

"No, unless you say one word about what I'm currently wearing."

I nodded and moved closer to her. But I didn't move close enough to touch her.

It was really awkward, let me tell you.

"Oh, look!" Iggy yelled from the ocean. "Max finally came out from her emo corner!" Iggy laughed and so did the others. I bit back the laughter bubbling up my throat.

Max quickly stood up which caused the umbrella to turn upside down. She moved to rip Iggy's neck but I stopped her.

"Stop. Violence is never the answer."

"Like hell I care."

"Look, killing Iggy won't solve your problems."

"You're right," Max stood calmly beisde me. After three seconds, she clutched my arm. "Just one strangle. Please?"

"No."

"A slap?"

"No."

"A punch? Please?"

I pretended to think about it. "Sure."

She shouted in victory and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"I love you so much!"

OK. . .

Day 10

Today, it's souvenir shopping.

At least for Max.

She was so psyched that she forgot her own wallet.

I brought it to Max, who was already a mile away from the villa. When I turned around to go back to the villa, I tripped over a midget rock and cut my knee and elbow.

I thought, Screw this. I'm going with Max.

"Hey," I said to Max when I kept up with her.

"I thought you got back to the villa." She slowed down to a walk. I did too.

"I did, but I tripped and cut my knee and elbow."

"Are you bleeding?"

"No."

"OK, that's good then."

"You look different."

Max narrowed her eyes at me. "No, Fang. I look the same."

I shook me head. "No, you were ecstatic when you left the villa. Now, you're," I pointed at her. "That."

Max sighed annoyingly. "You really wanna know?"

"If you're gonna say it."

"I found out something really. . . weird."

"What?"

Max bit her lower lip. She's nervous and embarrassed.

"You know Nick, right?"

"No. Yes." He's been with us for the last nine days!

"Well, I asked him last night if he wants to go buy souvenirs together. And he. . . told me that he already had plans."

She asked Nick out? "He turned you down."

"That's what I thought. Then he went on why he already had plans."

"And?" Here it comes. . .

"He said that his. . ." Max was having a hard time saying the word.

"Come on, say it." I urged Fang.

"Boyfriend will visit him!" Max blurted and blushed.

I burst out laughing. Max was shocked.

"Why are you laughing?" Her face was even more red than Iggy's sunburnt skin.

"Took you long enough to know that."

"What do you mean? You know he has a. . . you-know-what?"

"Yeah. Told us years ago."

"So, they've been going out for years?"

I nodded. "Oh, my God. I think I'm gonna barf."

I rested my hand on her shoulder. "Exact reaction I had."

"Oh, my God. I can't believe he's. . . OH!"

I couldn't hold it any longer. I laughed as if I've never laughed before in my entire life. My stomach started hurting so I doubled over.

"This isn't funny! I can't believe I flirted with him! SHIT!"

"Honey, you could've done better."

"I know! I'm so stupid!"

"You know what they say, looks can be deceiving."

"I know! What was I thinking?"

"Why don't we buy some souvenirs?"

"I completely forgot about that. Today's our last day here, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah. . ."

"I can't believe it's over."

"Yeah. . ."

"Will you help me buy some souvenirs?"

"Sure."

She pointed at my face. "This will not be a date."

"Who said it is, anyway?"

"Touché."

I seriously wish this is a date.

A/N: RnR?