Heat-Haze Days Chapter 13, a maximum ride fanfic

So I got this chapter up pretty fast, I hope you like it.

Three years ago (12 years old)

"Max, haven't you grown out of this yet?"

I snort. "Me? No way, I always get my revenge." I turn slightly to my best friend. "Shouldn't you know this by now?"

He sighs. "Considering that I'm usually the source of your vengeance, I can sadly say that I do. I can still dream that you would be the bigger person and let it go though."

"Yeah, well keep dreaming. You and I both know that I'm never going to grow up. Getting back at someone is just to much fun. Plus, I like to see them squirm as they wait for me to strike."

I receive another sigh from him in return. "Isn't it a little much?"

I give him my wide-eyed look the one that says 'Seriously? Did you really just say that?' "He blew up my radio! My new radio! And it wasn't exactly and accident. Now shush, he's coming. I want to laugh at him."

Fang just shakes his head with a slight smirk.

And coming up the school steps with a scowl in place is the object of revenge, with bright pink hair flashing in the yellow light.

I break out in a gleeful cackle. Iggy makes a b-line straight for my giddy self.

"Look what you did!"

"Yeah, I know. It turned out so much better than I could have hoped!"

"Everyone is laughing at me!"

"I know, isn't it great? You finally got the girls' attention!" I break down in another fit of giggles, using Fang as a support beam.

Now

Dragging myself home was difficult. My blood was replaced by ice, my limbs tied down by weights, and tiny nuclear explosives embedded and set off in my brain.

I'm drenched, like I jumped into a pool with my cloths on. Walking into my house after quietly shutting the door in defeat, puddles immediately form under my feet. My wet shoes squeak on the tile. Before I have chance to make a break for the stairs, Ella appears in the door way with crossed arms and a stern look.

"What happened to you? You know how pissed mom would be if she saw you creating the new great lakes in her house."

I turn a glare to my unsuspecting sister. "Language." I snap. "And it's not my fault, I got caught in the rain."

"Caught in it, it looks like you went for a swim in it."

I know I probably look like a drowned rat, but I can't bring myself to care. I didn't even wait to see if Nudge would show up to meet me before just trudging home in the rain alone.

I shrug before tripping up the stairs and into my room. I flop onto the bed without changing and instantly fall into an uneasy sleep. There was no question that Fang would not becoming over tonight.

I wake up with a sneeze tearing through my body and break into a fit of coughs. My cloths are still damp from the previous night and a puddle has formed under me. My skin is cold with goose bumps going up and down them. As I expected, my room is untouched by another person.

I sniff and sit up, strip the bed of its soaked sheets and toss them outside the door.

I walk into my bathroom bleary-eyed. I turn the shower all the way hot and peal off my cloths that are plastered to my body.

I sneeze again as I step into the steaming pellets of water. Great, I got a cold.

The hot water stings my chilly skin, sending prickles of pain along my arms and making the water feel almost icy. My back slowly arches until I can't take it anymore and jerk out of the steaming jets.

Slower this time, I sink back into the water and force my muscles to relax when the seize up. I wince as the merciless water washes over the gashes in my palms and I pick out the gravel and clumps of dirty blood. I wash myself thoroughly, taking off the grime and probably three layers of skin. I want to make myself hurt because I seem to be numb. I can't seem to pull out any emotions except annoyance when I sneeze yet again.

Going out side an hour later, it's sprinkling so I pull my hood up and over my ears.

Not caring about who I get sick, I walk to the diner, wiping my nose on my sleeve every minute or so to keep the snot from dripping down my face. My nose crinkles in disgust at the thought.

A take a seat at the bar and lazily order a coffee. I sniffle a little as I sip my warm drink groggily. The mug is awkward in my bandaged hands.

The bell rings as the doors swing open and familiar voices enter my ears. My back stiffens.

"Why don't you find us a table." He mumbles lowly to Lisa to which she complies.

I hear is light treading as he makes his way over to the bar to place a drink order.

"Hey." He mumbles. The grip on my mug tightens. This is our place, why is he bringing her here?

"What?" I sigh turning my head slightly in his direction.

"Hey, are you sick."

"No." I snap, but it's not very convincing as I have to turn away as I go into a coughing fit.

"Don't lie to me Max."

"What do you care, it's not like you would listen anyway." I stand up abruptly sloshing some of the hot drink on the counter and my bandages. "Shit." I curse and grab a couple of napkins to mop it up. I angrily peel the cloth from my palm, a little stained with blood and toss the mess into the trashcan over the counter.

"Bye." I start to walk in the direction of the door when he catches my hand to inspect it better. I snatch it back before her can get a good look.

He looks at me in shocked surprise. "Did I...?"

"Doesn't matter." I turn and shove my way out the door. I laugh bitterly to myself when he doesn't follow after me, because I was foolish enough to think that he would.

I run into Nudge on her way in. "Oh Max, hey I need to talk to you!"

I put a hand to my forehead because the nuclear explosions were back. "Yeah, sorry for not meeting you last night, it started raining, and I was drenched, and Fang and I got into a fight..." I continue walking without pause. I just want to go home.

"Yeah, I know. I-"

"Oh good, so he told the whole flock that I was beating up on some poor, oh so innocent girl."

"No, actually-"

"I just really want to get some sleep right now. I'm sick, and my head hurts, and I'm probably going to spend my birthday tomorrow alone with a one hundred and two fever, and I'm tired. Bye Nudge."

She gives up on trying to keep pace and just shouts to me. "And you say that I don't let you finish a sentence."

And just that comment makes my day a little better.

I said a little better. I spend the rest of the day curled up on my bed in a bundle of fresh blankets watching movies with both my door and window locked. That's the great thing about having a cold, you get to curl up in warm comforters like a child, even if it's summer in some other reality.

I sit that way, alone, through the night and into the next foreboding day. My birthday. I am now officially sixteen. The same age as Fang again. (He had his birthday a month prior)

I ache for his embrace but every time his face comes to mind, it's imposed on by her face.

Mom leaves all my presents at the door and a steaming bowl of Sofia's soup.

It tastes good.

Looking at the presents that my friends got me make me smile. Except when I come to Fang's wrapped gift, I push it under the bed with a slight frown. I'm not ready to forgive yet, I need revenge, for both of them, and him to gravel at my feet. I just need to come up with something.

I'm better on Friday, submitted again to the hazy heat instead of the chills of fever.

Through the next few days, every time I see them, my hurt turns to anger and my resolve hardens ever so slightly. Sometime he sees me and it looks like he's about to come over, but with one hand on his arm from her, he returns to his spot by her side.

Like a dog, I muse.

Nudge seems to be everywhere, when she's not on a date with Iggy (I really need to figure out what's going on in my other friends' lives) and I have to continuously dodge her. I don't feel like explaining anything to her, or anyone.

Of course, you can never avoid a persistent Nudge for long.

This time, it almost costs me a door. She comes barging into my house sometime Sunday night, the day before school starts up, and bangs on my door until it shakes on its hinges.

In fear of having to replace my door, I reluctantly open it.

Before an excuse passes my lips, a phone is shoved in my face and a video being played.

A lump forms in my throat as it plays and when it's over, I look intently at my friend. "Why didn't you show me this sooner?"

"Oh no, do not give me that Miss. Avoid-anyone-at-all-costs Ride. I've been trying to show you this for days, but no! Your too busy moping around and dodging your friends to let me get a word in-"

I roll my eyes impatiently. "Are you going to shut up and help me with my revenge or what?" I smirk as she sighs.

"I'll call the boys." My face breaks into a full-blown grin. Revenge is goanna be a bitch.

I stand outside the lunchroom doors, decked out in black skinny jeans with chains hanging from the sides, a smoky grey tank, a temporary streak of purple in my blond hair, and a simple pair of black combat boots. First day of school and I already ditched three periods in order to get ready for this. My purple electric is thrown across my back.

With a nod from me, Gazzy bangs the cafeteria doors open and wheels in the pep band's drum set followed my a decked out Igster with his base.

Nudge, who is not needed for this song, wheels in the giant dinosaur of a TV that I sit on with my mike in hand. "Hello people of high school, you've known me forever and been with me all my life so I have a treat for you all." The people who had not been paying attention when the drums rolled in, where now staring intently.

An excited murmur rises among the student body.

I see Fang stand up in confusion from his seat beside the Redhead-wonder.

"Max I-" He steps forward, but I drop from the TV in front of him and he is silenced with a glare.

"See, Fangy boy here has hurt me, and Miss. Innocent over there has got him wrapped around her little finger. I think it's time everyone knew the truth. Fang wants me to be a bitch? Well congratulations, you got it." I turn to Lisa.

"Now go stand in the corner and think about what you did"

Gazzy starts hitting the drums and I pull my guitar in front of me and I start to play as I slowly take a step backwards.

Ha!
Time for a little revenge

I boost myself up to sit on a table top, some jock grinning up at me and I give a flirty smile in return.

The story starts when it was hot and it was summer and...
I had it all, I had him right there where I wanted him
She came along, got him alone and let's hear the applause
She took him faster than you could say "sabotage"

I never saw it coming, wouldn't have suspected it
I underestimated just who I was dealing with
She had to know the pain was beating on me like a drum
She underestimated just who she was stealing from

I launch myself off my butt and walk over to a cluster of kids who were standing up for a better view.

She's not a saint
And she's not what you think
She's an actress, whoa
She's better known
For the things that she does
On the mattress, whoa
Soon she's gonna find
Stealing other people's toys
On the playground won't
Make you many friends
She should keep in mind
She should keep in mind
There is nothing I do better than revenge

She looks at life like it's a party and she's on the list
She looks at me like I'm a trend and she's so over it
I think her ever-present frown is a little troubling
And she thinks I'm psycho 'cause I like to rhyme her name with things

"Bitch." I mutter into the mike as I turn away from the grinning freshmen. I march over to where Lisa had stood up and grabbed onto Fangs arm. He wasn't paying any attention to her though. He eyes were locked on me, staring at me intently as I dance and swing my hips over to them. Despite my anger and hurt, a shiver runs down my spine and makes my heart race.

But sophistication isn't what you wear or who you know
Or pushing people down to get you where you wanna go
They wouldn't teach you that in prep school so it's up to me
But no amount of vintage dresses gives you dignity

I tug on the edge of her skirt hem with a roll of my eyes. Then I turn to Fang and slowly walk him backwards, prodding him in the chest with each step.

He runs into a table and falls into an empty chair. I whirl to face the redhead she devil again and am satisfied to find her face fire engine red.

I'm just another thing for you
To roll your eyes at, honey
You might have him but haven't you heard
I'm just another thing for you
To roll your eyes at, honey
You might have him but I always get the last word
Whoa

Do you still feel like you know what you're doing?
'Cause I don't think you do. Oh.
Do you still feel like you know what you're doing?
I don't think you do
I don't think you do
Let's hear the applause

I turn to the student body and makes a clapping gesture. I hear a few whistles and hoots, before turning back to the object of my hate.

Come on show me how much better you are (so much better, yeah)
So you deserve some applause 'cause you're so much better
She took him faster than you could say "sabotage"

I turn my back on her, much like Fang when he turned his back on me, and strutted back over to the TV.

"So here's the real story Fang..." Nudge presses the play button and Lisa's obnoxious voice rings our through the silent cafeteria.

"You have a lot of accidents don't you? You even got your brother killed didn't you? The same thing would probably happen to poor ignorant Fangy boy."

Then my voice, shaky and uncertain. "Take that back."

"Ooo, did I hit a nerve?"

"Your sick."

"I'm not the one that killed my own flesh and blood. What kind of person does that?" Every one witnesses the sickening smile that crosses her Barbie doll face.

"Take it back!" The sound of her hitting the wall with a soft thud. "Take it back, take it back!" Anyone who was watching knew instantly the her sobs where fake.

Nudge pauses it there, frozen on my face, twisted in confusion.

"So that's that." I turn to face Fang, who had a look of pain on his face that sent both delight, and regret through me.

"Max I-" I hold up my hand to stop him.

"But it's not just about Lisa, she's not the one that really hurt me. Come on Fang, we were best friends! I always get my revenge. Nudge?"

She once again presses play, a slight tinge of guilt in her expression.

The scuffle of me being shoved and falling to the ground is both heard and seen.

"What the hell is going on? Is this what you wanted to show me? You beating someone up? What did she even do?"

"What are you tal-"

"It's my fault." Comes Lisa's fake sniffles. "I must have said something wrong and not realized. I'm sorry Max. I don't know what I said, but I'm sorry." She begins crying into her hands again.

And then the big thing, he shoves me again as I try to get to my feet. My stare bores into Fang as he closes his eyes as reaction to himself on the screen. You can see the slight color of crimson form on my video self's hands.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"She-" I try to explain but her cuts my off.

"Know what, don't answer that. I don't want to hear your excuses."

He turns his back on me, helps her up, and walks away. The recording ends with Lisa flashing a victorious smile over her shoulder and the first beginning drops of rain to fall on the cement.

"Now everyone knows how much of a dick you are." My voice is bitter, I hardly ever curse and mean it, and it's obvious I mean it. Even Fang can now see how bad this looks, but he just stays frozen.

I set the mike down and start to the door but then turn back around. "You know, you really hurt me. Not only did you push me, but you didn't even give me the chance to explain. And then you pushed me again and turned you back on me." I take in a shaky breath, no more anger in my words, just hurt.

"So, screw you. No, I take that back. Go fuck yourself." Then I whirl on my heel and march back towards the door but once again pause when a voice rings out.

"You're just jealous because you're in love with Fang!" My eyes rake over her for a few deadening seconds, my body halfway turned to her.

"He seems to be the only one that didn't see that. Everyone else seemed to know before even I did." Then without sparing a glance at Fang, push my way out the double doors to skip the rest of the school day.

And now Fang know! Please let me know what you think. Reviews are much appreciated.

-Fantasy :3