~∞ ROSES ∞~

Chapter Six: Red as a Rose

She gaped down at him, horrifically appalled. "Whaaa —?" Max began to slur, before she mentally poked herself to normal. "Psh, what honor? Dating the biggest player in the school? Being the first girl Fang Walker's asked out, only to be dumped? Getting dumped in ten minutes — your new record?" And Max proceeded to point out all the things that would take away her honor, if she became his girlfriend. That is, if she even considered going out with him.

Fang internally gaped up at Max, also humiliatingly appalled. Of course she wouldn't want to go out with him, and he knew that, yet he asks her in the middle of the lunch room. How much more of an idiot can you get? He was utterly humiliated, another first for Fang. He hated it.

And so, Fang Walker took another risk. He kissed her. As in Fang Walker, kissed Maximum Ride. She melted into his arms, as the whole cafeteria witnessed it.

Why? Max didn't know. All she could see, hear, touch, smell, and even taste was Fang. Fang. Fang. Fang. Fang. Fang. Fang. Fang. Fang. Fang. Fang. Fang. Fang. Was all that chanted through Max's head. He was honestly — and admittedly — intoxicating to be around. She couldn't get enough of it, as Fang pulled her even closer to his body.

He didn't expect Max to kiss him back, but he didn't regret her doing so. Her lips were smooth and gentle, yet passionate. Whoever got to kiss her like this was sure as hell one lucky man. Fang grabbed at Max's waist, pulling him closer.

As he did so, he let out a quiet moan only meant to be heard by Max, but the small noise was magnified in the silent room. Not only did it make people scrunch their noses at Max and Fang, (or glare at Max, in the girls' cases), but it made Max abruptly pull away from Fang. The immediate retraction of body heat was enough to make Fang want to swear, but he refrained from doing so, and took his position of smirking at Max.

She glared at him, but he was immune to it already. "Change your mind?" he asked smugly. Max glared at him for a moment longer, wanting to get the taste of other girl's mouths out of her own. She stalked up to him, so their noses were mere inches apart.

"She's coming back for more!" someone in the crowd whooped, causing Max to jerk her head and glare at them. Fang could hear a sharp intake of breath from the dude that shouted that, but his focus was solely on Max. Was she coming back for more? He couldn't help but wonder.

His question quickly became answered, as she brought her hand back, and snapped it across his face, for the second time, although on the other cheek. The cheek she had slapped previously was still red — Max has a mean slap. Bending down to the ground, Max picked up the fallen rose. "Here," Max said, bending close to Fang again. "You can have your rose back. I think you should keep it. It compliments your face color; as red as a rose. But it's completelyunattractive, just so you know."

"Yes, but I do know someone who the color's attractive on. She even looks hot when she's red," Fang replied without missing a beat. Plan back-fired. He's embarrassed as crap again, but he'd do anything to get Max to kiss him.

"Oh really? Name someone besides me!" Max challenged, turning on her heel and walking out of the cafeteria's double doors. There wasn't an answer, and Max felt her stupid cheeks heat up when she realized what he meant.

"Max!" she heard Fang's husky voice call. Almost regretfully, she turned back to face him, and saw that the large crowd had dispersed. "I told you so," he winked, and headed out in the opposite direction.

…

"OH MY GOD MAX! Do you realize you made out with Fang –freaking- Walker for —," Nudge checked her phone timer. "— four minutes and thirty-three seconds? Are you crazy or what, girl! We hate Fang! Say it with me: WE! HATE! FANG! WE! HAT—,"

"SURE! WE HATE FANG! But he's a freaking good kisser…" Max added quietly. Nudge stared at her, mouth hanging open.

"Who are you and what have you done to Max?" she whimpered.

"Why are you looking at me funny!" Max exclaimed! "Weren't you the one who pushed me towards Fang? Weren't you the one that started the chain of events, ending when I kissed Fang?"

"So you kissed Fang first?" Nudge wondered, confuzzlement spread wide across her face.

"NO! He kissed me, okay? The point I'm trying to make, is why did you push me towards Fang, when I could've safely ran away, thus none of this crap would've happened!"

"That didn't even make sense, Max…."

"NOT THE POINT."

"Anyways, I had a light bulb! Because it was utterly obvious that Fang was coming over there to ask you out — after you sat on his lap and all —" she added, with Max's protest, "— and so I thought for a lickity-split second, and I went 'HAH! LIGHT BULB!'. I came up with this brilliant plan that'll put Fang-dear back into his rightful place as not a player."

"But that'd be just weird, because Fang's 'rightful place' is a player… Whatever, just tell me the freaking plan!" Max burst. All she had heard was brilliant plan, and rightful place.

"Okay, so you know how Fang's a player?"

Max nodded tiredly. "Yes Nudge, it's practically engraved into the curriculum, here at West High," she replied sardonically.

Nudge glared at Max, but she waved them off. "What if you said yes —,"

"NO FREAKING WAY." Max intervened, even before Nudge finished.

"Just listen Max! So if you said yes, you guys could totally go out! I mean, if Fang asks you out — no offense — one, he's lowered his standards, two, he feels pity for you, or three, he likes you! Let's hope for the latter!" she squealed, barely able to contain her excitement.

"We're hoping he likes me?" Max questioned, and Nudge nodded.

"Uh-huh. Here's the best part: dump him first, before he dumps you." Max's head tilted to the side, as she thought it all out. She'd have to date Fang… But he'd be completely humiliated for getting dumped. And Max always liked a challenge.

"Nudge, you're a genius," Max complimented.

She bobbed up and down. "So you agree, you agree?"

"Yeah. I'm in."

…

It was final. Fang would do anything to go out with Max. She could actually be the one. Max was pretty, sarcastic, easy to talk to, sneaky, sly, spontaneous, and mysterious. Not to mention one of the best kissers he's ever met.

And so, Fang decided he was going to make Max his girlfriend. Whether she liked it or not.

He hoped she'd like it.