I'm back once again. The details of this chapter have been swirling around my head for a while now, so we'll just have to see how it all turns out in the end. Cross your fingers!

One last thing before we begin the chapter: I've gone back and edited the last 4 chapters. They still contain the same words and what not; I've just rearranged the order of sentences and phrases… all that good stuff. If you want to go back and check it out, feel free to do so… if not, then read on.

From the top with Ash's POV

As I see Max and Fang enter "Hop and Drop 50's diner" I can't help but smirk. Their hands are intertwined and they look content. The love and forgiveness between them is almost… touching. It's hard to picture Max attacking Fang just hours ago. I shudder. Achieving such intense love and forgiveness is not as easy as they make it seem.

They make their way over to the booth I choose and it's obvious that they are trying to suppress grins of their own. A picture flashes in my mind of a happy family, cheery like this all of the time. Not any family I'll ever be a part of.

"I ordered for you guys, if that's alright."

"That's fine. We're not picky." Max says, settling into her spot next to Fang. Out of habit, he pulls his arm around her shoulder, which she doesn't appear to mind.

The uneasy silence that follows is broken by our waitress half walking half waddling over to our secluded booth.

Her head is down at first, her brown hair acting as a curtain between waitress and customer. She places a plate in front of Max and her icy blue eyes happen to glance up. She does a double take, and steps back.

"Max? Max Ride?" The hand that sits on her bulging stomach boasts a wedding ring, and her face is glowing. She's surprised to see my mom, but joyous all the same.

Max, on the other hand, is confused. She is staring at the waitress, figuring out how the two have made acquaintances in the past. Finally, realization dawns.

"Karrie? Karrie Portly?!" Max suddenly shouts, standing from the booth. The girls laugh and smile and make just about every girly sound imaginable before they embraced each other. Well, embraced around Karrie's baby bump.

I can't make out the next sentences they share, the words fly so quickly. I catch the number 7 and sometime after that, the word years.

"Who is she?" I ask Fang when I know the other 2 aren't listening.

"Not sure, but these fries are delicious." He looks up at me, "Go ahead and try some."

"I probably shouldn't…" My argument is quickly lost when my stomach growls, "Pass the ketchup."

I bow my head and begin to pray, "God is good, God is great,"

"You believe in God?" I look to see my father watching me.

"Don't you?"

He shifts uncomfortably, "Me? No. I've heard people talk to him, but it doesn't seem like he's ever there for me."

"Come to church with me." I offer out of the blue, "This Sunday is Easter Sunday. It'll be the perfect time to see what all of the talk is about."

"No. No. Church is out of the question."

"Not even for your son?" Subconsciously, I push up my shirt sleeves, "My life was Hell, and I still have faith that God was there with me every step of the way."

"I'll be right back." I feel that I have put him in an awkward position as he scoots past the gabbing girls. Slumping back into my seat, I finish my prayer uninterrupted and reach for the ketchup pushed in front of me.

I don't notice Max and Karrie again until I hear, "So that's the infamous Fang." Karrie's tone is low and she appears livid.

"Yes, that's Fang."

Karrie shakes her head violently, "You should have married Dylan when you had the chance. He was right under your nose and you dumped him at the altar. For who? This screw up who doesn't know what he's leaving behind?"

"He's not like that." Max's response is weak, tired almost.

Suddenly, both girls turn to see a tall, thin gentleman making his way over. Karrie smiles and waves, all the while whispering, "This conversation isn't over."

I didn't think I would be so happy to see Fang immerge from the restroom. So much has happened in his absence.

He makes his way back to the booth and is stopped by Max.

"And, James, I'd like you to meet Fang."

"Fang. What a peculiar name."

He retreats back to his old self and simply shrugs.

"I've heard a ton about you from my sister here." James shoots a venomous look to Karrie and turns back to Fang.

"And may I just say," He continues after a moment, "that you are not at all who she describes you as."

"Thanks?"

"You are in fact, much handsomer in person." In the next instant, James' hand is knotted in Fang's shirt, pulling my father closer.

I am so disgusted that I have to close my eyes and hope the scene is over. When I slowly open my eyes again, Fang is stumbling back into the booth as if he cannot get far enough away.

"James, I've told you a thousand times. Ask if someone is into you before you kiss them."

"I am so sorry! I figured, well I had hoped, that with your perfect hair and those gorgeous eyes… Oh, why can't you be gay??"

Max struggles not to laugh as Karrie ushers James away. Fang is mortified.

"I could have told you that was coming." I announce with a wide grin planted on my face.

"Whoa, how could you have known? I've been friends with Karrie for what, 11 years? I didn't realize that James was gay until just now." Both of my parents are staring at me in disbelief.

I try, "It was obvious?" and, "How could you not have known." But even I know the excuses are weak. With a sigh, I tell them the secret that I've tried so hard to keep.

"I can sense emotions."

"What does that have to do with someone being gay?" Max questioned, starting on her food.

"He was… turned on… by Fang. I felt it half an hour back."

"So how does this sensing emotions stuff work?" Fang asks.

"I'm not sure…" I hope my lie somewhat convincing.

"So you can't tell what the guy behind us is feeling."

"Pleasure." I answer automatically and mentally slap myself.

"How do you know?"

I counter, "His hand is hidden under the table, for one."

"You didn't even have to look at him. How can you know?" Max reached out to touch my hand. Her confusion was almost overwhelming.

Sighing again, I explain, "I think of a face and I can tell what they are feeling, no matter where they are. If anyone is within a 2 mile radius, I can feel their emotions too. The stronger the feeling, the easier it is to read their emotion. That's all I know."

"What was I feeling when we met up with Fang?" Now both of Max's hands grip mine.

I smile, "Anger, joy, love, hate, even a little tension. Are you usually that moody?"

"No, not usually."

"What was I feeling?" Fang cuts in. I was close to forgetting he was there. Opps.

"You, you were confused and hurt. And yes, I felt that wave of jealousy towards me when I entered the cave."

"Jealousy Fang? What were you thinking?" Max now turns to him.

"I'll tell you what I am thinking," He offers, "I'm thinking that we're going to church with Ash on Sunday."

The ending is actually really important. Can anyone tell me why? Come on, you know you have an idea.

Oh, and REVIEW, even if you don't have a clue as to why the end is so important.

Until the next time,

~Faxisthegreatest123~