A/N This is probably going to be my last update until next weekend because of school etc. But thank you all sosososso much for all the great reviews! I wouldn't keep writing if it weren't for you guys :) Also, on account of the fact that I reallyy wanted to get this chapter up tonight, I only edited it with spellcheck instead of going over it myself, I'll re-edit it tomorrow so if there are any minor mistakes they'll be fixed don't worry! Anyways, enjoy!

Fang's POV

It'd been a week since I'd realized that I am completely in love with Max. I guess I already knew that before but I thought I'd gotten over it once I tarted dating Lissa.

So far I didn't think Lissa could tell that anything was up and I know it's wrong to keep dating her when I'm in love with Max but I don't know how to break it off.

What if Max doesn't feel the same way? What if Lissa hates me? If I break up with her everyone is going to ask me why and what am I supposed to say? "Oh yeah it turns out I'm in love with my best friend and I was just using Lissa as a distraction the whole time because Max didn't feel the same way" yeah, like that'd go over well.

No matter what I do I'm going to be portrayed as a douche bag. There's no reason I shouldn't love Lissa, she's great and most guys in this school would kill to be with her but for some reason I'm the one she chose.

And I don't even love her.

This would be so much easier if I were a sociopath.

But then again, being a sociopath would bring up other issues.

It was actually snowing this morning, and Max still refused to wear a winter coat.

"I can see you shivering Max" I said chuckling as I put my arm around her shoulders.

"Winter coats are so big and puffy, they make it hard to move..." Max whined.

I rolled my eyes, I don't know what Max was talking about, winter coats are exactly like regular coats.

We continued walking to school in silence, Max's mom made her take her coat with her and even though she was shivering all she did was hold her coat in her arms. I wish she'd just put it on.

I smiled as flakes of snow fell out of the sky and landed in Max's hair. She was beautiful.

The sun shone off of the snow and the light glinted in her eyes, that Max was always complaining were just plain brown but were actually more like a million different shades of coffee.

I thought her eyes were beautiful, along with everything else about her.

God, I really need to end it with Lissa it's not right. All I can think about is Max, all the time and it's not fair to her.

I have to do it, I have to break up with her today.

Max and I make our way through the front doors of the school and I remove my arm from around her shoulders, not wanting Lissa to get upset. Although she's probably going to get upset anyways.

"Are you okay?" Max asked me raising an eyebrow.

"What? yeah I'm fine, just thinking"

"About what?"

If only I could tell her that she was exactly what I was thinking about.

"You know stuff. Listen I've gotta go do something, I'll see you in class" I said as I walked away from Max.

I weaved my way through the hallways, making my way towards Lissa's locker.

Wait. Is breaking up with her right now a good idea? I mean, it's not even first period yet and I can't screw up her entire day just because I'm a selfish dick. Or maybe I'm just stalling... I wish I could talk to Max, at least she'd slap some sense into me.

Okay, I need to man up, I sound like a wuss.

"Morning!" Lissa says cheerfully as I walk up to her, dammit this is going to be hard.

I give her a small smile and she closes her locker shut and takes a hold of my hand. She's wearing a red sweater covered in white snowflakes with dark blue jeans and tall brown boots.

As we make our way to her classroom she begins talking about christmas, "Soo, what do you want for christmas? I mean I know it's only the middle of November but I like to get my christmas shopping done early" she leaned her head on my shoulder.

Jesus Christ. She's making this a lot harder, I wish she weren't such a good person. That sounded bad, I just mean that it would be easier if she weren't so nice.

"What? Oh um, you really don't need to get me anything" I say, scratching the back of my head with my free hand.

"Fang, don't be silly. If you don't tell me I'm going to end up getting you something you hate" Lissa said, playfully rolling her eyes.

How could I tell her that we weren't going to be together by christmas? I feel like such an asshole. It's not like I started dating Lissa with the mindset that she'd be a distraction from Max. Or maybe I did... I don't know.

All I know is that for a while I really did believe that I was in love with her but I guess that maybe I was just convinced that I loved her so that I could deny how I felt about Max.

As we arrived at her first period class room I stopped us and pulled her aside, "Listen Lissa I really need to talk to you about somethi-" the bell suddenly rang, incredibly loud may I add which ruined my chances of breaking up with her.

"We'll talk later okay? I wouldn't want either of us to be late for class" Lissa smiled and kissed my cheek as she walked into her classroom.

I sighed as I walked down the hall towards my first period math class and took my seat beside Max, I dropped my head onto my desk and groaned. How the hell do people break up with other people?

"Woah there, why so glum chum?" Max laughed at my public display of frustration.

"I'm just tired" I said as I lifted my head off of my desk and took out last night's homework, which was probably all wrong anyways because I was unable to think straight.

"Oh my god! The great Fang, master of the perfect sleep schedule is tired?!" Max put a hand over her heart in fake shock.

"Yeah yeah laugh it up Max, at least I'm always ready on time wheres as you're usually still in your pyjamas when I get to your house in the morning" I smirked at the memory of Max opening her front door while wearing her rubber ducky panama pants as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

"Hey! don't pretend like you don't loooveee my ducky pj's, I know you're jealous of me but you don't need to give me sass" Max winked as she pulled out her own homework which she had surprisingly actually done.

I was about to say something about her comment on me being jealous of her pyjama pants when our teacher raised his voice and told us to settle down.

Needless to say math class was turning out to be as uneventful as usual.

This is going to be a long day.

When the bell rang signalling the end of last period and the start to the weekend, I was relieved. I'd manadged to avoid Lissa all day, and yes I know that's not the way to handle the situation but I'm a coward alright?

"Wanna hang out tonight?" I asked Max as we walked down the sidewalk towards our houses, "I have plans with Dylan..." Max trailed off regretfully.

"Tomorrow then?" I asked hopefully, "As long as it's after 12PM, I need my beauty sleep" Max said, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

I chuckled, she still looked gorgeous even though she was trying to joke around, I'm so screwed.

Even after I do break up with Lissa, what am I supposed to do then? I can't just break up with her and then ask Max out five seconds later, like Max would even say yes.

She made it very clear this summer that she didn't feel the same way as I did, but I wasn't ready to give up, at least not yet.

But whether Max felt the same way or not, it wasn't right for me to lead Lissa on like I've been doing this past week, I'm only hurting her and I don't want to do that.

It had stopped snowing sometime during school and now the ground was covered with a thin sheet of clean white snow, enough that we left footprints as we walked along the sidewalk.

"Excited for our annual tree chopping road trip next weekend?" Max asked as she wrapped her arms around herself, still refusing to wear her jacket.

Near the end of November every year, our families would take a road trip down to this huge Christmas tree lot where we got to take a ride on a horse carriage and then hike out and cut down our own christmas tree.

It was a three hour drive but it was tradition and we always had to get up super early because our mom's wanted extra time to go christmas shopping at some huge outlet mall. To be honest I don't even know what the difference between an outlet mall and a regular mall are but it was still loads of fun.

"You mean am I excited to do all the work again?" I raised an eyebrow at Max, Iggy and I usually got stuck chopping the christmas tree's down since neither my father nor Max's is in the picture.

"Hey! I would help but you and Iggy have so some of manly pride when it comes to tree chopping, it's not my fault that you two insist on doing all the work" Max exclaimed as she hit my shoulder.

"It's our duty, what can I say? Were extreme gentlemen" I replied as I noticed Max rolling her eyes.

Max just burst out laughing and continued until we got home, "Oh god, you're really funny Fangles" Max said as she wiped a tear out of the corner of her eye as I walked her up to her front door.

"What's so funny?" I asked her as we stopped in front of her front door, I took a step closer.

Max moved her hair out of her face and coughed "The idea of you and Iggy being gentlemanly is what's so funny" Max trailed off, her expression suddenly becoming serious.

"So I uh... I guess I'll see you later then" Max said awkwardly as she turned to unlock her front door.

Just as she'd turned her key in the lock I decided to do something totally on impulse.

"Max" I said, she turned around but before she could answer my I put my hands on either side of her face and crashed my lips against hers.

She didn't react at first but just as I was about to pull away she wrapped her arms around my neck and tangled her fingers in my hair.

I pulled her as close to me as I possibly could, like I'd lose her forever if I let go, we stayed like that, standing on her front porch making out for what felt like an eternity before we ran out of breath.

Our lips parted but we stayed there with our arms wrapped around each other. Max closed her eyes and sighed and then put a hand on my chest as if she were going to push me away but couldn't find the strength to.

"Fang we can't do this, I-I can't do this and you should't be doing this, it's wrong on so many levels and I-" I cut Max off, "I know what it seems like but-" this time Max was the one cutting me off.

"No Fang" Max pushed me away and opened her front door. "You're with Lissa and I... I can't do this okay. I just can't" and with that she walked inside and slammed the door behind her.

I was left standing there, the image of Max walking away from me left in my head. After staring at her door for a couple seconds I shook my head to clear my thoughts, which didn't work and walked down the porch steps and over to my house.

I don't know why I'd kissed Max, I mean I knew why but I wish I'd waited until after I'd broken up with Lissa but I couldn't wait. Looking at Max, her cheeks pink from the cold and her lips chapped I just couldn't stop myself.

I sound like a horny teenage boy.

Well, I am a horny teenage boy but that's besides the point. I jut screwed everything up with Max and with Lissa.

What am I supposed to do now?

Max's POV

Holy freaking crap.

I just made out with my best friend, again. Except last time he didn't have a girlfriend. What did I do? The second his lips touched mine I should've pushed him away.

We just got back to normal and this is going to screw everything up, I thought about pushing him away but my heart kind of overpowered my head and I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back like there was no tomorrow.

I don't know why he kissed me in the first place, he was totally in love with Lissa, it was obvious. It was clearly a huge mistake.

After I practically slammed my door in Fang's face I put my back against it and slid down to the floor, laying my head in on my knees as I curled them up towards my chest.

I felt the tears start to roll down my cheeks just as my phone started dinging. It was a text from Dylan saying he'd be over in ten minutes, I need to get myself together.

I stood up and kicked my shoes off into the hall closet then went upstairs and threw my backpack on the floor and collapsed on my bed while I stared at the ceiling.

Dylan would be here soon and if I keep staring at my ceiling I'll fall asleep so I get up and head downstairs. As I walk past my kitchen my eyes fall on one of the cabinets in the far corner of the kitchen. My mom was never really a bid drinker so whenever we had house parties or something people would always give her wine or something of the sort which she then put in that one cupboard.

I walk towards it and slowly open it, I was never much of a drinker myself. I rarely went to parties and whenever I did I was never one to get wasted although I have been drunk a few times throughout high school.

I grabbed a bottle of vodka from the very back of the cupboard, knowing my mom would't even notice that it was missing and unscrewed the cap.

Ella was sleeping and Nudge's tonight and my mom was working late hours again so I didn't have much to worry about, besides Dylan who wouldn't really care that I was drinking since he was known to party a lot himself.

I don't know what possessed me to drink but I unscrewed the cap and grabbed a glass and filled it halfway, filling the other half with some lemonade from the fridge. Vodka was really gross on it's own so there was no way I was going to drink it straight.

As I choked down a few sips I heard a knock at the door. I made my way out of the kitchen and across the hardwood floor of my living room to the front door where I would see Dylan standing.

I opened the door and smiled, "Come on in" I said, Dylan gave me a strange look and came inside.

"Max, are you drinking?" he asked me, raising and eyebrow, "Yup" I said popping the 'p' as I took another sip.

"Can I have some?" Dylan asked, setting down his bag on the floor and slipping off his coat.

I just walked into the kitchen and poured him a glass of the same stuff I was drinking and handed it to him.

Our original plan for the night was to study, Dylan, despite having a reputation as a dumb jock was actually pretty smart and a really good tutor.

I guess our plan kind of just flew out the window since we were now sitting on the couch drinking in silence.

"So, why is the great Max getting drunk before the sun goes down?" Dylan asked me.

I noticed his hair had grown out and I could smell the scent of his cologne, we was wearing a white t-shirt under a red flannel with plain blue jeans on. When you compare him and Fang they're polar opposites.

Dylan has bright blue eyes, like the sky on a hot summer day in the middle of July and Fang's eyes were like a dark pool of black, like the night sky with gold flecks in them and if you looked close enough they almost looked like stars.

I was comforted by the idea of having two friends that were complete opposites, I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because I'm starting to feel like Fang might not always be around anymore, at the rate things are currently going with us.

Things like this had never been an issues during freshman and sophomore year so why now?

It's not like girls haven't liked Fang before and it's not like boys haven't liked me either and as far as I could tell Fang had never shown interest in any girl, except for me I guess, which I find hard to believe anyways.

I wish things hadn't changed. Why now? One more year after this and high school would've been over, along with all the unnecessary drama that came with it.

"I'm not getting drunk" I laughed, although I admit that the three drinks I'd already had were starting to make me feel a slight buzz. Dy;an just laughed in respond so mine and filled his cup with some more vodka.

"Max you're totally buzzed" he said nudging my shoulder.

"Okay maybe a little" I said rolling my eyes, I should probably stop drinking but I like the feeling.

When you drink enough it makes you feel kind of numb, like nothing really matters, or at least thats how it makes me feel.

I get this feeling like a million butterflies are rising up in my stomach and suddenly all my worries kind of fade away. I find that when you drink enough nothing really seems to matter.

I closed my eyes and smiled beginning to feel the effects of the alcohol a little more. I suddenly burst out laughing for no reason and looked over at Dylan to find he was doing the same.

"You realllyy wanna know why I'm drinking?" I asked Dylan, chugging some more of my drink and then pouring myself some more once I'd finished.

"I realllyy wanna know" Dylan replied with a smile on his face.

"Because Fang kissed me" I stated simply, I don't get why it mattered know, shouldn't I be happy? The guy I'm in love with made out with me today, that's supposed to be a good thing.

"Poor Max, the person she loves kissed her. That must be awful" Dylan said in a sarcastic tone.

"Don't say it like that" I stressed, "He's still dating Lissa, remember? I don't even know why he kissed me" I told Dylan the same thoughts I'd been thinking to myself earlier.

"You wanna know why he kissed you Max? He kissed you because he loves you" Dylan said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"He doesn't love me, he loves Lissa, DUUHH" I said giggling.

Dylan laughed bitterly, I guess he's not as much of a happy drunk as I am I thought. Wait am I drunk? I can't really remember the last time I got drunk. Maybe it was last summer? I don't know and honestly I don't really care.

"Actually, I love Lissa but Fang. God, Fang loves you max, it's obvious. I think everyone knows it. I think even Lissa knows it" Dylan said a I leaned my head on his shoulder.

"That's silly" I giggled, Fangy would never love me, that's just ridiculous. I'm Max, Fang's best friend, not Fang's girlfriend.

"If only you could see it" Dylan sighed, leaning his head on top of mine.

"Hey Dylan" I said, thinking aloud.

"Yeah?"

"I think I'm drunk" I said as I noticed that the numb feeling had now spread throughout my body.

That's the thing about being drunk, you can't really tell. You say stupid things when you're drunk and in your head you tell yourself that you can stop being stupid whenever you want but in reality you can't.

You can't stop the word vomit from pouring out of your mouth.

Dylan just laughed at me and smiled, "Hey Max, you're still in love with him right? Fang?" he asked me cautiously, as if he might upset me.

"Yeeesss" I slurred.

"And, and I'm still in love with Lissa so, do you mind if I try something?" Dylan's voice got quieter as his question ended.

"Dylan, were friends, you can try whatevverr you want" I said with a huge grin on my face, I don't think I felt happy, I was certainly still upset about Fang but I can't top smiling because my insides feel all warm and fuzzy.

"If you want to stop then just say something" and before I knew what was going on, Dylan's lips had crashed down on mine.

They were warm and strangely comforting, I kissed Dylan back and wrapped my arms around his neck.

This wasn't like kissing Fang, Dylan and I were both in love with other people so this didn't mean anything. It couldn't mess up our friendship because there were no romantic feelings involved.

Eventually we separated, breathing is still kind of necessary even when you're making out with someone.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door, "I wonder who that could be" I said as I clumsily got up off of the couch and made my way to the front door.

As I yanked it open I came face to face with none other than Fang himself.

"Oh um" I cleared my throat and stood up straight, trying to act as sober as possible.

"Sup" I said, leaving my elbow against the doorframe and placing my hand behind my head, trying to look as casual as possible.

And then I burst out laughing. Oh god someone please kill me now.

"Max? Fang asked, peering through the doorway and spotting the bottle of vodka on the living room table.

"Are you drunk" Fang asked me incredulously.

"Just a teeeennnyy weensy litttllee bit drunk" I said while I put two fingers together in front of my face to show him how little I'd had to drink, which was a total lie in case you hadn't already caught on.

"Are you drunk to?" Fang asked, stepping inside and glaring at Dylan.

Dylan just laughed, "I'll take that and a yes..." Fang said with a look of disapproval on his face.

"Oh Fangy just take a chill pill and stop being so serious" I said, making my way over to the closet where my car keys were hanging. I wanted to go for a drive and clear my head, I couldn't think straight with Fang here.

"Max I think you should give me your keys" Fang said, slowly stepping towards me. I didn't want to give him my keys, he was the reason I needed to get out of here in the first place.

Dylan got up, stumbling a little bit as he made his way over to Fang and I, I don't think he's as drunk as I am.

"Max I think Fang's right, we've both had a lot to drink" Dylan said.

I saw Fang shoot Dylan a grateful look, how dare they exchange glances about me. They don't even like each other! I'm just going to leave and let them continue they're bormance since they're clearly in love with each other now.

"NO!" I yelled at Fang as I slipped on my shoes and started walking down the front porch steps.

Fang chased after me as I made my way to my mom's car, her co-worker who was also working late had given her a ride to work today.

"Max you can't drive, it's dangerous" Fang said trying to reason with me.

"You know what Fang?!" I spit out his name like it was poison, "You are the reason I'm leaving, okay? I need to get out of here I just need... I need to leave" I said as I unlocked the car and climbed in the front seat behind the wheel.

"Max!" Fang cried out, he tried to open the door but I'd already locked the door, I wish he'd just go away.

"I'm sorry" I said, although I don't know what I was sorry for.

I started up the car and drove away, getting to the end of my street and turning the corner, not really sure where I was headed as long as I was far away from Fang.

I don't think I even remembered to lock my front door, huh. Oh well, Fangy'll do it for me.

I giggled to myself and kept driving, suddenly I stopped laughing, I feel dizzy..

My vision started to blur in and out of focus, maybe Fang was right, maybe I shouldn't be driving.

I want to take a nap, yeah, a nap would be nice, I just have to turn the car around and head home and then I can crawl into the warm fuzzy covers of my bed, that'd be nice.

Not paying attention to where I am or what lane I'm in, I start to turn the car around.

Suddenly I hear a huge crashing sound.

And then, I'm asleep, everything's gone black.

A/N So this chapter ended up being waayyy longer than I planned but I guess that's a good thing! Hopefully it makes up for the cliffhanger! Sorry about that (well not really) :p