Chapter One
Red Haired Wonder
Fang POV
I slammed to door to my room as hard as I could. I could not believe Max. I heard her crying in the background. I tried to tune it out and just kept going over everything in my head. She had been saying Anne was taking her place. I had already told her that wasn't possible, but she never listens to me. I told her she shouldn't have to be a mom, and what does she do? She attacks me and says she's not as good as Lissa.
I don't even know why she freaking cares that I kissed Lissa. It's not like Max and I were ever together. It's not like she ever wanted us to be together. But of course, even if we never thought of being together, she freaks out if I kiss anyone else.
Looking back on that whole episode, I could have been nicer to her. She was obviously upset. But I hadn't done anything. Max never wanted to be with me. She never cared about me like I… Never mind. It doesn't matter.
I just hoped she didn't hate me. I had brought up the Kiss on the beach. She looked so embarrassed. She looked so hurt, and I didn't even know why. But she deserved it. Didn't she? I picked up the nearest object, a pillow, and threw it across the room. She was so difficult.
I began to wonder why I cared so much. Maybe it wasn't just that I cared about this. Maybe I just cared about… Max. My best friend. My… sister. That's all she was, wasn't it? That's all she is now. Anything we could have had, I had just blown it. It was gone now. I tried to tell myself I didn't care. There was no point in caring about something that was gone forever. Max was just my sister. Max was just my best friend. And she would be forever, unless… No. It was too fantastic. It was the kind of thing that happened in those movies Nudge always watched. It would never happen to me. Not with Max.
Max POV
I just stood there in the hallway for a little while. Finally I went into my bedroom and collapsed on the bed. I began to cry. I'm sure everyone could hear me, but I didn't care. I just went over shat I had said to Fang. He must hate me now. Or worse. He probably thinks I was a jealous little teenage brat.
I didn't mean to. I'm not jealous of my best friend in the world kissing someone else. Whoa, where did the someone else come from?
Well, it usually implies you'd rather he be kissing you, said my Voice.
Get the hell out my head, I thought back.
I wouldn't rather he be kissing me. Fang would never want to kiss me. I couldn't get his mocking face out of my head. I had kissed him once, and he brought it up as a mean comeback. I don't even understand why I cared. We were never together. He could do whatever he wanted. I didn't care. Sure he was my best friend. He was like my brother, but that didn't matter. We were never… I mean, I thought maybe we… Someday… no. That would never happen. It was something that happened to those girls on TV. Not mutant bird freaks like me. Any chance I would've had with Fang was gone. And I had done it to myself. All because of that stupid Red-Haired Wonder.
I'd ruined everything. Fang didn't care about me anymore. He thought I was just some jealous little girl. "Goodnight… Mom." How could he have said that? I didn't mean what he thought I meant. I just was scared. I was scared I was losing the flock. And what did I end up losing instead? I lost Fang, or any at least any chance I'd had… of what? I started to sob even more.