A/N: I am totally in love with my avatar. To those who haven't seen it, LOOK AT IT! It's my "kind of" version of the scene in Volume 3 (MR Manga) where Fang kisses Max's forehead. I'm not really good at free-hand drawing; I'm more of the kind that uses a "model" to draw something. You may see it at my FB account too! My e-mail can be found in my profile. If you can't find it, it's a_y_a_dc(at)yahoo(.)com. (remove the parentheses.)

Chapter 17

Max POV

Why, of all places, does the Larenston SC decided to celebrate their Thanksgiving in Dev? Of all places! They have their own castle!

"Because they're lonely, Max" was Aya's answer. Screw loneliness! I can't bear to think that the turkey Tess is going to make will be all gone before I can even get a slice of it! And Lissa's pumpkin pie! And Mom's cookies!

Do you know what I'm like when I don't get to eat the food I really want to? Oh, it's even worse than the behavior of a lionness protecting her precious little cub from invaders. It's much, much worse.

THANKSGIVING! I am only thankful that those dudes from Larenston managed not to cross paths with me. I'm still not thankful for Aya for bringing those dudes here in Dev. How could she? Without even telling me! That's so unfair!

Dinner starts in about thirty minutes, and I decide to go to the courtyard. (Did I mention that Dev has a courtyard between the Aquatics Center and Arts Building?)

It's chilly outside, so I grab a gray sweater to put it over my green sweatshirt. I breathe in the cold air and wander around the courtyard. The sun hasn't quite set yet, so I'm grateful for the warm light. Kind of.

"Are you avoiding me?" asks by Fang behind me.

"Yeah."

"You hate me?"

"Yeah."

"You hate cookies."

"Yeah - No, I don't!" I whirl around and glare at him. He's grinning ear to ear. Leaning against the stone pillar, he looks so relaxed and handsome. WHAT?

"That was funny," Fang remarks and crosses his arms across his chest.

I continue to glare. "Well I'm not laughing," I walk past him. "I'm going inside and eat." His right hand shoots out and captures mine. His hand turned and twine with my fingers. I stop and we stand shoulder to shoulder.

I look down at the floor and I feel Fang's eyes on me. I don't look back. "Can you let go?" I ask in a small voice. The sound of his clothes crinkling means that he's now standing right behind me.

He doesn't answer, but squeezes my hand. "Please?" My voice is begging.

"What if I don't want to?" His voice is so close to me, as if his mouth is just hovering inches from my ear. A shiver run up my spine.

I turn around and snap at him. "Why won't you leave me alone!" I clench my jaw and meet his eyes. They are so dark, even as dusk comes. He takes a step forward. I take a step back. We repeat the routine until I feel the cold surface of the stone wall on my back.

His right hand lets go, but then his two hands cage around me. There is a hint of sadness in his eyes. No, Fang wouldn't want anyone to see him give off emotions. But he's right in front of me!

"I won't ever let you go, cherie," he says very softly, the words seep through my brain.

Then, it dawn on me. I suddenly have a sense of déjà vu. Ten years ago, Fang said the same exact words. Even though we were only eight, he was already fluent in French and Spanish.

I close my eyes and turn my head away. Ten years ago, it was the saddest day of my life. I had to leave London and Fang, my only best friend. I gave him a token when we were in the airport. It was a token of our friendship; it was a square piece of wood with an engraving of the angelic symbol of friendship. It was only about the size of my thumbnail.

I told him to take care of it and never let go of it. He promised, "I won't ever let you go, cherie." I thought he was referring to the token. Now it occurred to me that he was looking at me when he said that.

I open my eyes and look at him again. I never noticed it before, but he has a necklace around his neck. A thin piece of black sturdy string. With my token as the pendant. HOW COME I DIDN'T NOTICE IT BEFORE?

"I will kill you if you did," For a moment, he is shocked. Then he grins.

"You remember." A statement. Not a question.

I push him away and tap my forehead. "I'm not that old, you know."

"We have some talking to do,"

I nod in agreement. "Oh, yeah. We do."

I am officially changing religions. I now worship the God of Roasted Turkeys with all my devotion.

"Amen to that!" Iggy agrees.

"I thought you worship the God of Bacon," Aya notes.

"That too." Then he burps. We don't care. It's Thanksgiving! We aren't eating in a fancy-schmancy restaurant. Food etiquette does not currently exist in this period of time, at least here in Dev.

I pat my full stomach and sigh in satisfaction. God, I don't think I can ever look at a pumpkin pie ever again. In coincidence, Tess comes in and shows us another pumpkin pie.

"NO!" We all groan. Tess giggles and puts in on the table.

"That was a nice Thanksgiving dinner. Oops, sorry about that." Gazzy says.

"Sorry about - GAZZY!" Sam shouts and faints. We sniff the air and almost gag.

"Shit!" Fang curses and curls in a ball.

"I'm dying!" J.J. shouts.

"Crack open a window!" Dylan commands.

"The windows are sealed, idiot!" Lissa smacks the head of Dylan.

"I can't breathe!" Brigid gasps.

"My lungs are actually shrinking!" Tess points out.

"I can not believe I will die this way! During Thanksgiving!" Iggy yells.

I clutch my throat, as if dying. "GAZZY!" I give him my murderous sneer.

Aya does not look at all affected. We all stare at her in horror. How can she not be affected? Is she immune? Who is she?

"AYA!"

"What?"

I walk over to her - breathing through my mouth - and look incredulous. What, does she have some kind of super lungs? "Can you smell anything?" I ask stupidly.

Aya looks at me in a DUH way. "Of course. Why do you think I have this piece of cartilage surrounded by skin jutting out in the middle of my face which makes me capable of breathing air?"

I blink. "Oh," I still feel like shaking her. So I do. "WHY AREN'T YOU CHOKING WITH US? YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO! IT'S LIKE A REFLEX! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?"

She just laughs and flicks my hands away. "Of course I know that the smell is now tainted. I just don't overreact over something like farting. Y'know?" She turns serious again. God, she's so logical.

I point a finger at her. "You seriously need a life." I walk away and push open the door leading to the rotunda.

I take several breaths, to cleanse my lungs, and I lean back on a wall. I hear footsteps coming toward me.

"Can we talk now?"

I stare at Fang for a minute. "Sure, Fang."

"You just said my name."

"You make it sound like I just discovered the cure for AIDS."

He chuckles softly and sits next to me. "That's a good interpretation."

I turned myself fully at him. "No, seriously. What was your reaction?"

He shrugs. "It's about time. Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why can't you say my name before?"

I stare at him. God, he looks so different now! How did I actually forget about him? How the heck did that happen?

"You aren't gonna answer." His eyes are dark and serious.

"Yep."

"Am I going to know some time?"

I nod. "Yes, some other time. It's your turn to wait."

"I have been waiting," His breath is so near my neck! I scoot over away from him. He smiles and moves closer. "Am I repulsive?" His voice is mocking.

Yes. Yes. "No. You just annoy me. Besides, you were sitting too close." I hide my head behind my hair because I can feel my face heating up. Oh, geez. What is happening to the world?

"Are you scared?"

My head snap up and I glare at him. "I am not!"

His finger raises and points at my face. "You're blushing. Jackpot."

That only cause my head to drop again. "I am not," I say in a small voice.

"Tch. Always in denial."

I glare with my murderous glare and I'm actually shaking in anger. "I am not in denial; I am not blushing."

His brow shoots up. "Oh, yeah?" He's taunting me.

"Yeah."

"Prove it."

"How?"

Here comes the challenge. He knows I can't resist taking challenges.

"Tell me you don't want me to kiss you."

Oh, shit. His dark, dark eyes are now really black, almost opaque. What is going on in his head?

"Is that a yes?" His voice low and husky.

"You know the answer, Fang," I don't trust myself if I say the answer. I might do something I might regret!

A/N: Guys, just to let you know, I'm actually ending this story and the other MR story somewhere around winter break. Yeah, I know. But don't worry! It's still a long time from now! Sorry about last week, BTW! RnR?