Chapter 11

Disclaimer: Maximum Ride is not my creation.

A/N

Me: Hey guys, thanks for all the reviews and sorry it took me so long to update! I totally jinxed myself last update.

BFF: I told you not to say it.

Me: Sorry! I didn't know last week would be so crazy! Seriously, the teachers gave me a test on Halloween, and two the next day, in all of the hardest subjects, well, at least when it comes to tests, but still!

BFF: That's just screwy. School sucks. Love learning, but school absolutely and utterly sucks.

Me: Well, except for lunch.

BFF: Yeah. *sighs and daydreams* Lunch…

Me: Yeah, that time where you go and steal everybody else's food before you even eat yours.

BFF: Hey!

Me: It's true.

BFF: *huffs and crosses her arms* Is not!

Me: *raised eyebrow* Well, let's get on with the story, shall we? I'll answer reviews at the end.

Max's POV

The day past quickly, Fang never left his room, not even when his mother knocked on his door telling him that dinner was ready. I could tell that he was angry with her. She eventually sighed and went back downstairs to eat her meal alone. I felt a pang of sympathy for her. She was hurting, just like Fang was. Fang was hurting her. Not intentionally, but he was still hurting her. Wounding her and he didn't even know it.

His opposition to therapy was puzzling to me. I didn't understand why it was such a big deal. All you have to do is sit back in a weird looking chair and talk, right?

"Fang?"

"Mhmm?" He replied, staring at the ceiling with his hands tucked behind his head.

"Why do you not want to go to therapy?"

He let out a deep breath and took a moment to respond.

"Maya."

Wow. Great explanation, Fang. Now I'm even more confused. I couldn't help but find the one word answer slightly irritating.

"Care to elaborate?"

I saw his jaw tighten slightly.

"A therapist's job is to get you past events, past people. Make you forget so you can move on." He said bitterly. "I don't want to forget about Maya, Max." (This is Fang's opinion, not mine)

I watched him for a moment. He continued to stare up at the ceiling. His eyes were unfocused, as if he was remembering something, reminiscing.

"Then tell me about her." I said quietly. Somebody who had meant so much to Fang, had made him as happy as I'd seen him in that picture, that person must have been somebody simply amazing, somebody beautiful inside and out, somebody kind, somebody worth knowing, somebody worth remembering.

"What?" Fang said, sitting up and looking surprised.

"Tell me about Maya." I said a little more loudly. "They say two minds are better than one, so the same must go for memory as well. The more people that know about her, the harder it is to forget her. I can help you remember her. I'll make sure that she's never forgotten."

"Are—are you sure?" Fang asked, he seemed a bit nervous.

"I am."

"I—I don't know where to begin." He looked down at his hands, his hair fell in front of his face.

My hands twitched as I resisted the urge to reach over and try to touch his hair. I wanted to run my fingers through it, but I didn't give into the temptation, knowing all too well the disappointment I would have to endure when my hands phased right through him.

These feelings, these urges to touch him, they were strange. They confused me, so I tried to ignore them. Keyword: tried.

"How about you start off with how you met?" I offered.

Fang knotted the bed sheets with his hands, twisting them. "Umm, well, we met in first grade. She stole my Legos, so I bit her. After that we became friends."

I gave a small smile. Humans make friends in the strangest of ways.

"We did everything together. We ate lunch together at school, went roller skating. She was such a klutz on skates." The corner of Fang's mouth twitched into a short smile. "We went hiking together, exchanged books, T-peed Iggy's house, dyed all of Ella's clothes black…" He dropped off for a moment, sadness in his eyes. "Ella hated that…" Fang looked out the window. It was pitch black outside. It was slightly unnerving to me. Especially considering that demons were creatures of darkness.

I gave him a couple minutes to continue, but when he didn't, I decided to get the conversation going again myself.

"What was she like?"

Fang closed his eyes.

"She was a lot like you, she cared about everyone and was always looking to keep them out of trouble, but she was different than you too." He said, laying back and looking at the ceiling.

"How so?"

"Well, first of all, she had a sense of humor." He teased.

"Hey! I have a great sense of humor." I shot back, slightly indignant.

"That's what she said."

"Huh? Wait, what is that supposed to mean?" I asked him, clearly confused.

"My point exactly."

"So, that's what 'that's what she said' means?" (Remember Max is very naïve, she doesn't get much of human humor)

"No!" Fang quickly replied, laughing. His laugh…it was just so—just so—intoxicating. I loved it. I mentally shook my head. What the heck is up with me? "It's a sex joke."

"Ew! Gross!" I replied, disgusted, the addictive sound of his laughter forgotten for the moment. A sex joke? How revolting! (When it comes to sex and stuff, Max has the mental age of an eight year old because as an angel she is pretty sheltered from such things, even though she knows how all that works)

"I agree, but somehow, it's funny." Fang said, adjusting his pillow slightly.

How? I was confused. How could something like that be funny? Humans are strange.

"Since you are so adverse to sex jokes, I suggest you avoid Iggy as much as possible, he is the king of pervertedness." Fang advised, a small smirk in the corner of his mouth.

I nodded. I would definitely keep that in mind, but I really wanted to get off this topic.

"So, how else was she different than me?" I asked.

"Well, Maya was reckless, whereas you are more cautious. She wasn't afraid of anything," He paused. "But you are. What are you afraid of, Max?" He ventured. Staring in my direction, it made me uneasy, even though I knew he couldn't see me.

I'm an angel, and angels aren't supposed to fear anything, but I fear many things. Chief among those fears was Fang dead, dead because of me.

I bit my lip. I couldn't voice my fears. That would be the final nail in the coffin. A final testament of just how lousy of an angel I am.

"Max, please, just tell me." He begged, his voice nearly melted my resolve.

I can't. I can't. I repeated to myself in her mind. Forcibly keeping myself from caving into him. I found the task extremely hard to accomplish.

His dark eyes were full of care and concern. They were so deep that I nearly lost myself in them. I felt myself starting to cave.

Why does he have this effect on me?

"Max?" Fang said worriedly.

And that's all it took. My walls crashed down, and I caved into him.

I'm so pathetic, I can't even resist him.

"I'm afraid that you are going to die." I whispered, looking away from him and pulling my legs up into my seat, hugging them to me. I imagined my fear taking place in my mind. Fang sprawled out on the ground. Fang's eyes open and sightless. A pool of blood surrounding him. Sam standing over him, laughing.

Silent tears ran down my face, I quickly wiped them away. Not letting Fang see them, not that he could anyway.

"Why are you afraid of that? I don't do drugs or anything like that—well, I drink, but my mom took away my car keys, so I can't go get myself killed in a drunk driving accident. Not that I'd be that stupid but—" Fang rambled, trying to understand why I was afraid of that. He thought I was afraid that he'd get himself killed, and after what happened earlier, I could understand why he would think that, but that wasn't what I was afraid of.

I cut him off mid-ramble. "That's not it. I'm afraid that you're going to die—" I choked a bit on the words. "Because of me."

Fang smiled. He actually smiled. Stupid boy, you don't even realize how much danger you are in because of me.

"What? Are you plotting my demise or something?" He joked. "Because that's the only way I can see me dying because of you."

I looked up at him, holding my legs tightly against my chest.

"It's my job to protect you, not kill you." I said to him.

"Well that's a relief." He smirked. I ignored it. He doesn't get it. He doesn't understand how serious this is.

"But because I am protecting you, you're in danger."

"What kind of trouble has the little angel gotten into to make that so?" He teased. I froze at the word 'angel'. He didn't know, did he? Of course not, he was just teasing me, right?

I didn't answer and Fang's eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion.

"Max, what is it?" He questioned me, concern laced his voice. "What is making you so afraid?"

I bit my lip, trying to come up with the right way to answer his question.

"Max?" He asked, not a moment later. He's really impatient.

"Fang, do you remember about the de— dude, that I told you about earlier?" I asked him, nervous. For what reason, I wasn't quite sure why.

"The one who wants me dead?" He answered in an inquiring voice before it changed to something a bit more firm and…angry? His fists clenched. "Max, is he scaring you? Is he threatening you? He is, isn't he? That bastard. Tell me where he lives, and I'll make him the frightened one."

"No!" I cried. No way in hell was I going to lead Fang right to the guy who wanted him dead. No. Way. In. Hell.

"Max." Fang said, his voice gentle. I heard movement. Fang was standing up from his bed. "Please, let me help you—"

"No." I said firmly. My face was flush with tears. The image of Fang dead played over and over again in my head. Burning up in a house, just like Zeph did. "I'm not going to let you be my fault too."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

It means I failed. Someone died, and it was my fault.

I stood up from my chair and flung the window open. I couldn't—I couldn't be here right now. I had to get away. Even if it was just for an hour or so. The memories. They were hurting me.

"Max, what the hell are you doing?" Fang stared wide-eyed at the open window. Fear in his voice.

"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I just—I need to get away for a bit. I promise I'll be back by morning, get some sleep and don't you dare leave this house." I told him, before jumping out the window.

"Max!" He yelled, panic in his voice. I landed gracefully and looked up. Fang was in the window, pale as a sheet.

"I'm okay, just stay in the house, please." I called up to him quickly before running away.

"Max!" I heard him call out again, but I didn't stop, I didn't slow down, if anything, I ran faster. His voice pulled painfully at the strings in my heart. The air was cold on my wet cheeks, but I kept on running.

I ran.

And ran.

And ran.

Eventually I stopped. I was in the park. Only a few street lights lit up the place. I climbed into a tree closest to the brightest of the lights. Demons don't like the light. Here would be the safest place for me to rest.

But no where was safe. Not really.

Me: It's a cliffy! Muhahahahahaha! What will happen next? Will Fang venture outside of the protection of the house? Will Sam find him if he does? What about Max? What if Sam comes in the middle of the night and kidnaps her? Perhaps he will find her and she'll get hurt and somebody will come to her rescue? Guess you'll have to wait till the next update to find out!

BFF: That was just cruel.

Me: Yeah, I know. Sorry guys, I really can't help it.

BFF: There better be some Fax-freaking-kissing soon.

Me: BFF, we went over this, how can they kiss if they can't touch, and Fang can't see her? *evil smile*

BFF: Don't make me hurt you.

Me: *smiles*

BFF: What demon possessed my friend?

Me: *SARCASM* I don't know, I think his name was Satan.

BFF: We are calling the exorcist right now.

Me: I'm just kidding! *laughs* I could just really use some death threats from my followers right now, they always make me smile. Really guys, they are just charming.

BFF: *raised eyebrow* I am seriously worried about your mental health child.

Me: You're in my head, what does that say about you? *sticks tongue out*

BFF: That I'm the only sane part of it at the moment.

Me: *laughs* Okay, BFF, whatever you say. Onto the reviews.

Guest, that's really sad that you haven't been to a Shinedown concert ;_( You must go to one someday, it truly is amazing.

Everiss K, I'm glad you are liking the story so far, and as for publishing, I'm actually working on a story right now that I'm planning on publishing. Actually I've got it all written out, it just needs some major revisions and to be typed up. I'm going to work on it again after I am done writing this story, so after I am, I probably won't be writing fanfiction for a couple months :/ I'm glad that you think so highly of my writing, it really gives me hope for the book. The book means a lot to me, and I plan on posting its name on my profile when it finally does hit the shelves. I'm hoping that maybe it can help me get into college for creative writing. It's really cool that you are trying to publish a book, a word of advice that I got from an author, there may be publishers that turn you down and say nasty things about your story that aren't true, and I hope they don't, but if they do, don't let the rejection get to you, keep on trying, get that book published, because somebody out there will see how amazing it is, and books change lives. Just look at J.K. Rowling, can you imagine how stupid those publishers who rejected her book must feel right now? And when you do get it published, send me the name of your book, I want to read it! I hoped you liked the bit of Fax in this chapter, I won't deny, I love how Fang is so protective of Max. I don't know whether or not to be proud or concerned that you stopped in the middle of a test to read my story, but I'm glad that you passed! And that's so cool that "Second Chance" by Shinedown came on just as you were reading the part about Shinedown in the last chapter! Okay, now I have been as you said "straining your eyes with my rambling mouth", which by the way, I have no problem with long reviews, in fact I love them, so thank you for your incredibly wonderful, amazing review!

Sapphira Volkov, I write on myself too, apparently it's against the rules at my school because its "improper" or something stupid like that, but I wear a hoodie all the time so I don't get in trouble. Hehehe. But seriously, I'm so forgetful that I used to lose the papers I wrote what my homework assignments were on, I had to write it on something I couldn't forget, and well, I can't really forget my arm. I look forward to your update! Sorry it's taking me so long to read it…

Sydney (Guest), I hope you liked the chapter, and don't worry there will be many chapters to come, I'm not anywhere close to the end of this story, in fact, I've been tossing around the idea of making it into a fanfic series, what do you think?

DntlessAnnabeth, sorry, I can't tell you yay or nay at this point, there's still the possibility that another angel picked her up, somebody else from Max's past maybe, and I want to keep up the suspense.

No One Important (Guest), I'll tell you soon enough, just be patient.

Guest, this chapter was kind of a start of an integration of Fang into Max's life, so I hope you liked it, I plan for him to slowly get more involved in Max's life as the story unfolds, and vice versa. Yes, I agree, their relationship is gonna be weird, but I'm sure it'll work out *wink wink*

Okay, now I've written like 2 pages of A/N's, so I better get going so I can go to bed, I've got school tomorrow :/

BFF: Bye everybody! See you next chapter!