A/N: My brain is clearly not working right. Why do I keep thinking about dark-haired guys? I'm supposed to be thinking about ensaymadas, not dark-haired guys! Stupid Fired Up! movie! It's all your fault, Nicholas D' Agosto! Even though you're already 30 years old!

Day 12: July 13, 2010

Fang POV

Woo.

This pretend relationship is getting way interesting and way awkward.

Since my last encounter with Max, I learned more about her.

She works at this cafe called Effervescence and I've heard that they make the best cheescake in the whole world. And she's a waitress. Her uniform consists of a black two-pocket waist apron, a navy-blue polo shirt and a white mid-thigh ruffle skirt. It totally shows off her curves. Especially the skirt. It shows off her long tan legs. Damn.

Before that, I never knew what her part-time job was. Now I know. I should go there more often. Also, I didn't plan to go to that cafe. It was an accident.

I was walking around the beach when I felt like I was being followed. Not to make it obvious, I took out my iPhone and pretended to picture myself. I zoomed in on the picture and I saw Lissa's familiar fiery red hair behind a newspaper.

Oh, damn.

I stopped walking and looked around. I noticed that five girls were staring at me. Two blonds and three brunettes. If Iggy were here, he would have grabbed me by now and dragged me to those girls and try to flirt with them.

I stared right back at them and they giggled and hid their faces with their hair. The blond with the curly hair waved her fingers at me. I turned around and continued walking. I looked sideways and saw that the blond girl stood up and started following.

Dude, I was freaking out.

I quickened my pace and frantically looked for some place to hide. I saw Effervescence cafe because at first I thought no one would come in here because of it's plain decorations. I looked back. The blond was already lost, looking for me. I couldn't find Lissa but I know she's out there. She just couldn't see me with this crowd.

I opened the door and a bell rang. I looked up. A bell was attached to the door.

A girl with long straight black hair greeted me and smiled. She helped onto a seat while she handed me the menu.

I picked a slice of cheesecake and a cup of black coffee. She smiled again and went out back.

I rubbed my forehead and waited for my order. My head started to throbbed when my order arrived.

"Here's your order. Anything else-" said by a very familiar voice.

I looked up with wide eyes. "Max?"

"Fang?"

"What are you doing here?" I asked her as my mind began to race.

"I work here! What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to try the cheesecake." Lie.

She rested the tray on her waist. "Is that all?"

I sighed mentally. I crooked a finger and she leaned closer. I whispered to her ear, "Lissa's stalking me. I have to get rid of her." Kinda true.

"Don't worry. My shift's over, anyway."

She turned around to go back, but I grabbed her wrist. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For interrupting your sleep."

"How did you-"

"July 4? Remember?"

"Oh. Right. Be right back."

Three minutes later, Max came out in her jeans (She should have worn that skirt) and sling bag.

I stood up and wrapped my arm around her waist.

She clenched her jaw and glared at me. I leaned down and whispered to her ear again. "I lied."

"About what?" She whispered back.

"Two girls are following me."

She rose her eyebrows. "Two? Wow. Are you some kind of a magnet or something?"

I rolled my eyes. I felt Max tensed. "What?"

Instead of answering, she just pulled down the collar of my shirt and planted her lips on mine. I pulled her closer to me and I found myself kissing her back. My free fingers twined through her hair.

She wrapped her arms around my neck.

Outside of our intimate bubble, I managed to hear a bell.

My eyes flew open and I pulled back from her. She quickly dropped her arms away from me and we stared at each other. Max blushed red.

I turned to the door. Out in the distance, I saw the familiar red hair running away from here. Meanwhile, the other blond girl who was following me stood outside the door with a shocked face.

Max tugged my sleeve. "Is that her?"

I faintly nodded. The blond girl scurried away from the door when we left. Max was tightly clutching my hand. She glared at the girl.

Whoa. Jealous much?

Max breathed loudly. "Well, since that kiss lasted more than a minute, I'm going to count that as 15 kisses."

I stopped on my tracks. Max stopped too. "15?" She nodded. "7."

Max shook her head. "12."

"9?"

"How about 10? Does that sound good?" I shrugged. "Fine. Ten kisses then."

We started walking again.

"Ten? That's outrageous!" I mumbled too softly so that Max wouldn't hear it.

I glanced at her. Thank God, she didn't.

That happened five days ago.

Max and I have been "dating" for almost two weeks. Or so that's what I think.

What's happening to my day as of now?

Well, I've been standing in this counter for almost two hours waiting for some costumers. Why did I even pick this part-time job?

Oh, wait. Because Iggy said it's the perfect place to get girls. Yeah, right.

I ruffle my hair for the fifteenth time. I leave the counter and took a cloth. I grab the surf wax and I began waxing the boards.

I heard the door open.

"Yo, Fang. You have some customers."

I didn't turn around. I already know who it is, anyway. "How many?"

"One. And a hottie." I roll my eyes.

I give the wax and cloth to Sam. "Your turn."

"Dude! It's hot out. Like a gazillion degrees. Get rid off that long-sleeved shirt."

Again, I roll my eyes. But I did remove the shirt.

Before I leave, I say to Sam. "Wax every board. Every board."

Sam pouts and sulks.

I take my board and leave the shop. The sun is blinding me, so I squint my eyes to look for my customer.

I smack my forehead. Do I even know what she looks like? I go back to the shop just to see Sam lounging on the couch reading Maxim magazine. I throw it away.

"Describe the girl."

Sam glares daggers at me. I ignore his eyes. "She's sitting behind the black and white striped umbrella. If you can't find it, she has the same board as yours, but with loopy loops and it's light gray."

I leave him reading that stupid magazine.

Again, I squint at the crowd. I saw the black and white striped umbrella. I fix the board on my arm and walk towards the girl.

I stop when I'm directly behind it. I nudge the umbrella with my right foot.

A girl wearing navy blue bikini stand up and grab her board.

"It's about time you're here. Why would you-" The girl turns around and screams.

I just shake my head. I massage my temple because it's starting to throb again. Why does it always have to be this way with Max?

Max points her finger at me. "You. . . You. . . You're the surf instructor?"

I nod. Yeah. Forgot to tell you. I'm also the surf instructor.

"I thought you're a cashier."

"I am."

"Why didn't you tell me you're the surf instructor?"

"You didn't ask."

Max grabs my shoulders and shakes them. "You stupid drop-dead gorgeous idiot!" Did I hear her right?

I turn to Ella. "Did she just call me 'drop-dead gorgeous'?"

Ella shrugs and grins. "I believe she did."

"I did not call him that!" Max shouts. But she's clearly lying. Her face is totally red.

I remove Max's hands on my shoulders. "Whatever. I'm here to instruct a girl how to surf. Who will I teach?"

Ella leaves and runs away. So that leaves Max. "I'm guessing it's you."

She doesn't answer me but just nods.

"First step. Have the right equipment."

"Like?"

"A wetsuit. A board. And a leash, so you won't lose your board when you wipe out."

"OK. I have two out of three. Let's start." She claps her hand.

"Fine. You have to practice-"

"Listen, Fang. I don't do practices. Let's go with the real thing."

"OK. Let's go."

Believe it or not, she's a great surfer. No, not really.

She was getting ready to give up after she first wiped out.

"THIS IS SO STUPID! WHY DID I EVEN AGREE TO THIS?"

I found myself smirking. "Why did you?"

Max slumps her shoulders. "I don't know. . . I was bored, OK? Anyway, I'm done with this."

She removes her leash and shakes out her wet hair. She stands up and carries her board.

I follow her to her car. She opens the trunk and pulls out a towel. She hands me one. I dry up my hair and whole body. I swing the towel around my shoulders. She avoids my eyes and continue drying up her hair.

"Do you really want to know how to surf?" I ask her.

She stops. "Why would you ask that?"

I shrug.

"Well, I live in Los Angeles. And I don't know how to surf. I live near Hermosa Beach! Isn't that contradictory?" She throws her towel inside the trunk. She grabs the towel around my shoulders and throws it in too.

"I'll teach you."

"You what?"

"Why not? I'm not that busy."

"No charge?"

I half-smiled. "You're already paying it."

Max nods. "OK. But not during weekdays, like today. Weekends. My house. Got it?"

I nod. "Now I need a favor."

"What?"

"I need a ride home."

A/N: RnR?