Hello, loyal readers! I just wanna say I am so sorry for taking so long to update. I am ashamed of myself.
But I'm updating now, and you guys should just be excited!
I've been extremely busy, but I know that is no excuse. My ankle is finally getting better, so I might be able to practice tonight. It doesn't help that I play AAU basketball and club soccer, and both are year round.
Anyhoo, right now this story has 289 reviews. If I come home from school and that number is 300, I think I would die of excitement. I mean, my story would have 300 reviews! That is huge! I love every single person that reviews, and I hope you guys love me back! Haha, no. But seriously.
Read and review!
I was awoken later by a blonde head trying to snuggle its way into Fang and my embrace.
"Angel," I spoke, loosening my grip on the boy–man, as I'm sure he'd remind me– "come on in, sweetie."
She smiled that sweet little smile at me, and my heart practically melted. It almost vaporized altogether when I realized that once lost twinkle in her eye had returned. The bounce of her curls had been fading, but I smile and noted that it was back full force. Staying here was amazing for her. I didn't even have to apply her concealer anymore.
Fang awoke with a particularly loud snort. I had to cover my giggle with my hand as he looked around in confusion.
"What?" He murmured out, groggily looking at Angel and me.
He swept my hair out of my eyes with a lazy grab before fully realizing what was going on. "Oh. Max." With that he fell back onto the covers and resumed snoring. If he had one power, it would be sleeping.
"What time is it?" I asked Angel, knowing that I would probably he unable to fall asleep now that I was awake.
"It's ten o'clock at night, Max," Angel informed me. "You and Fang slept through the entire day."
I sighed. "Okay."
Angel finished snuggling her way into our embrace before returning to the conversation. "Vanessa wants us going to school tomorrow," She whispered quietly, looking up at me with a worried face.
I returned a similar face, knowing there would be creases of anxiety lining my forehead. "Are you sure you can?" I asked her, looking into her eyes to make sure she wouldn't be able to lie.
"Yes." She bit her lip. "We need to go back at some point, right?"
I gave her a nod. "I guess so, but is your head okay?"
She smiled a sad smile. "I've had worse." And then she turned and fell asleep, leaving me to ponder the depressing reality of my life.
MAXIMUM RIDE
"Kids!" Vanessa entered the rooms and pulled the shades. That wasn't cliche at all.
I groggily looked about, seeing Angel and Fang do the same.
"Time for school!"
As I rose from the covers, I realized I was still tucked next to Fang. After that realization, I noticed Vanessa didn't care. She took one glance, smiled and left the room. I gave Fang a quizzical glance, but all he did was shrug.
"Fang?" I began. "We're girls," He gave me a look of confusion. "And we need to change..." I let the sentence trail off.
"Oh." His eyes widened as his cheeks reddened with embarrassment. Was the brick wall showing emotion? "Oh!" He exited the room.
Angel giggled before turning to out closet, where we had hung some of our clothes. It was funny, actually. Our entire wardrobe took about one percent of the entire closet. As in, Angel's and my clothes combined.
Pulling on a hoodie and jeans to hide the new wounds, I grabbed the familiar jar of concealer. My best friend.
Dabbing it on, I put a few drops on Angel's practically nonexistent cuts and bruises. She still had a few nasty scars, but those could be covered by her clothes. She has healed tremendously over the past few days.
I, on the other hand, still had bruises scattered all over my torso, a few purpling my legs, and numerous cuts on my stomach and back. Oh, and a slice running down my face. The wounds uncovered by my clothes had to be covered by concealer.
As I dabbed it on, I realized we ere almost out. Back in Jeb and Valencia's house, we could just snatch some from Valencia. Not here. I don't know what I'll do once we run out.
I brushed those thoughts aside and walked out of the room, Angel's hand in mine.
"Breakfast!" Vanessa called, raising her voice to be heard over the blender. "Pancakes and smoothies!"
Angel's face lit up and she almost sprinted downstairs.
The enticing scent of freshly baked pancakes and fruity beverages wafted over. I breathed it in.
Two plates were set on the table, and a minute later, a third joined them, and so did Fang.
I had eaten three pancakes in less than ten minutes, and Angel wasn't that far behind. I would try to be more civilized, if only this food wasn't so good.
"Good thing you guys are dressed, school starts soon," Vanessa said conversationally.
"Is there a bus?" Angel asked, biting her lip anxiously. Neither of us were used to riding a big, metal, yellow, child filled bus. In fact, I wasn't even used to being around tons of screaming children.
"No," Fang said. "I drive."
Oh yea. People Fang can drive. Considering I drove with him yesterday I should probably remember this.
Swallowing the last bite, I stood and awkwardly said, "We should probably get going now."
Angel nodded and shuffled out the door. I heard the slam of a car door as I walked to join her.
It was a quiet drive, some stupid auto tune song that Angel insisted we keep on was playing in the background. She hummed it under her breath and I silently broke the radio in my imagination several times.
Fang cleared his throat at about the same time I was going to snap. "We're here."
All of our doors opened at the same time, and Angel pecked my cheek, hugged Fang and skipped to the elementary school.
Then the whispers started. As Fang and I walked into the school, all I could see was other students leaning and whispering in each others ears. All I could hear was various rumors of Fang and I 'hooking up' and 'we were now an item.'
Well, I didn't blame these kids for thinking that. I had missed a few days of school at the same time Fang did, and now we showed up together. Kind of suspicious. If it was anybody other than me that had done this, I would have thought the same thing.
It didn't help when Fang gently took my hand, pulled me close, and wrapped and arm around my shoulder. That was practically confirming the lies!
The judgmental looks supplied by my peers were suffocating me. It seemed that everywhere I went, I was being classified as 'one of Fang's girls.'
Lissa's confused stare surprisingly stung as we entered the school. Had I come to think of her as an actual friend?
Nudge and Iggy strode courageously up to Fang and I as we walked past whatever nook they'd been holed up in.
Nudge's look of bewilderment and confusion served as their question, and I quickly answered it. "We were trying to stay away from them." My pronouns didn't need antecedents. The lovebirds knew exactly who I was talking about when I said 'them.' "Fang offered his house, so we took it."
Iggy's eyebrows rose. "So he knows now?" I knew Iggy was slightly offended that I'd told Fang and chosen to stay with him and not given any thought about what anybody else thought. I chose to ignore that.
"How did you know?" Fang butted into the conversation before I could answer the question.
All I could do was pull Fang behind me and give Nudge a look of distress before Iggy lunged at Fang. "How so I know? Because I have been through it!" Iggy screamed as Nudge struggled to hold him off. I knew Fang was strong, but I also knew the cleverness and strength you build up after years of abuse. My money would be on Iggy any day. If I had any money. Let's say Vanessa's money.
Fang and Iggy almost immediately stopped struggling after the words left Iggy's mouth. Iggy obviously regretted it, and Fang had drifted off to some far away place in his mind.
"Could you excuse me?" Fang released his grip on my hand and strode off. It was obvious he wanted to think. It wasn't everyday you learn that child abuse is more common than you thought. Children who are sheltered from it find it hard to believe that child abuse happens at all.
"I'm sorry." Iggy's apologetic face gave me all I needed.
"It's fine, Iggy. It's not your fault you're...going through these things. Just like it isn't Fang's fault for not going through them."
Iggy stared at his feet for a few more minutes before the bell rang and he shuffled to class.
I dragged through the school day, taking notes and writing answers. During lunch I took my usual place next to Nudge and across from Iggy. Lissa was there again, sitting next to Iggy, who looked less than pleased about it.
Then, something surprised me more than Lissa's change to the good side.
Fang sat with us. He left his jocks and bimbos for the losers.
He sat on my other side, and Iggy gave me a glare before getting up and walking away. Nudge hurried after him, leaving me alone with Fang and Lissa. I cannot control my excitement.
"Hi Fang," Lissa's flirty tone started to creep back into her voice, and I noticed her fingers beginning to twirl a lock of hair.
And I was stupid enough to think she'd changed. I am an idiot.
"Hi," Fang said curtly, obviously not in the mood to talk to her. She didn't take this as a bad sign though. She just smiled and leaned forward on her elbows. At least it isn't as bad as it used to be. Making out every second, she'd be on his lap and they'd just suck each others faces off. It was probably one of the most stereotypical teenage things I've ever seen done. That is probably why adults think all teens are getting pregnant and such. Because some of us are.
Lunch trailed on awkwardly, with Lissa giggling and making small talk with Fang, while Fang completely ignored her and talked to me.
I gave mostly one word answers, not really wanting to speak in front of a former popular. Not in front of the girl that has added misery to my already unbearable life.
Finally the bell rang. With a sigh I rose and turned to leave. But again, I was stopped.
My hair was pushed aside and Fang leaned in to whisper in my ear. "See you later, beautiful."
A shiver ran down my spine, causing me to smile at him before continuing to leave the cafeteria.
"Hey!" I turned around abruptly, having yet another reason to be stopped. "What the hell are you doing with Max?"
Why am I involved in this?
"What are you talking about?" Fang took a step away from Dylan, nearly backing into the edge of the crowd that had formed.
"Stay away from my girl!" Dylan took a menacing step forward.
I'd had enough of this already. "I am not your girl!"
Everybody's heads turned to the silent, emo girl that had spoken up. The girl who was being fought over. Everybody wore matching faces of shock.
"Oh, come on." Dylan lumbered towards me. "Stop playing. You know you're mine." He leaned to brush my hair out of my eyes.
"What are you talking about?" I didn't want to use my hands. You know I hate violence. But considering Dylan has tried to rape me on multiple occasions, I am not going to obey my rules anymore.
"Get off of me, creep!" I shoved him, scurrying towards Fang and the safety of his arms. They wrapped comfortingly around me, protecting me.
Gasps were heard throughout the crowd, especially when Fang strengthened his hold around me. He pulled me behind him and stood to face Dylan.
Dylan regained his balance and rushed at Fang. "You made her like this! You told her lies!" He hit Fang square in the jaw.
A few people screamed in the crowd. Others simply leaned forward in anticipation to watch he brawl.
Dylan was merciless, punching Fang again and again, who was blocking a few, but unable to get a punch in himself.
I stood there, trying to get out from behind Fang, but failing, as Fang had literally trapped me between him and the crowd.
Just when Fang hit the ground, a teacher stormed into the room, followed by Lissa.
"Break it up, break it up!"
Dylan slowly backed away. But now before leaning into Fang's ear and whispering, "This isn't over. I will get Max."
As soon as Mr. Mason heard the same story from multiple sources, he dragged Dylan off.
Fang stood, then leaned heavily on a wall, rubbing his jaw. "Damn, that kid can throw a punch."
I hugged him gently, not wanting to hurt him anymore. But he wasn't having any of that. He wrapped his arms tightly around me, burying his face in my hair. In return, I shuddered silently into the crook of his neck.
I knew people would be gossiping madly. I expected it. But honestly, I don't think I can confirm anything. I don't think Fang can confirm anything. We don't know what is happening here ourselves. We've kissed, we've hugged, he's helping me with all of my drama, and Angel was practically saved by him. I was saved by him. But I don't know if we're dating.
With all of these thoughts swirling around in my head, I didn't notice Fang pull away.
"Let's get out of here."
I let him lead me to the front doors of the school, before stopping dead. "Angel." Was all I needed to say.
"My mom will pick her up. Don't worry."
We continued to walk to his car, ignoring the various faces staring out of the school's windows.
As soon as the doors were closed, Fang pulled out. He drove silently, Paramore playing softly in the background.
I hummed along with it, only to be interrupted by an abrupt stop of the car, and Fang pulling me from my seat to his. Once I was seated on his lap, he pulled my face to his and kissed me.
And I loved it.