~∞ ROSES ∞~

Chapter Nine: Not Another Rose

Nudge slipped into their room unnoticed, while Max was still smiling at her phone. She stealthily crept up behind Max — her back was to the door — and stood directly behind her. Max usually had raptor hearing, but Nudge had mastered the skill on sneaking up on Max over the years.

She peered at the phone in Max's hands, reading the message. I apologize. Her first thought was, What the hell is this? Until she read the contact name.

Fang Walker.

Blinking in shock, Nudge smiled. Had Max already put the plan in action? She snatched the phone from Max's hands, surprising her. But by the time Max had reacted to the sudden movement, Nudge had already scrolled through all the messages.

"You thought Fang was gay?" Nudge asked outraged. "This is Fang Walker number one player we're talking about! He LOVES girls, yet you question his sexuality! I thought you were smarter than that, Max…" she grumbled, setting the phone back on the bed.

Max raised her eyebrows. "Are you… defending Fang?" she question incredulously. "Fang Walker?" she mocked. "Besides, I didn't know it was Fang until the end," Max said, defending herself.

Nudge snorted. "Yeah, when Fang goes — and I quote —, 'It's MEE baby!',"

Rolling her eyes, Max flicked Nudge off as she reclined on the bed. "I got him a rose." Nudge gaped down at her.

"You did what?" she exclaimed, mouth dropped open.

"I got him a rose…?" Max repeated in a 'duh' tone. "Didn't you tell me to?" she asked.

She shook her head no, before pausing. "Well, yes! But no! But yes… Oh God, that was too forward Max, way to forward…" she muttered to herself. "What the hell did you do…"

Max raised an eyebrow at Nudge. "What did I do? What did you do?" she yelled. "You told me to get him a rose! Correction, you yelled at me to get him it. And now you're saying I shouldn't of done it? Make up your freaking mind, woman!"

"Oh joy!" Nudge exclaimed sarcastically. "We're having a yelling fest here! Everyone, come join!"

"Sure! Why don't we do just that, Nudge! Invite everyone in the freaking world to barge in on our business! Just what I want! More people to yell at!"

"Well then! Why don't we! Because I'm sure they'd all love to hear about your pathetic love life, Max!" she retorted. Max opened her mouth to respond, but Nudge cut her off. "And YES, Max, it's pathetic! Just. Like. You!" she screamed, putting all of her emotions into it. Today hadn't been a good day for Nudge, and she need to let it all out.

Before she knew what she had done, Max lifted her arms up, and shoved Nudge hard. Nudge toppled back, thankfully only landing on the bed. "Don't you dare tell me about my life! You don't know what it feels like to be alone! You don't know how it feels to lose the only person you love! So just shut up!" she cried. "Just shut up…" Max mumbled, feeling tears about to burst out.

And then a new voice entered their scream-fest. One that Max knew extremely well. "OKAY I GET IT! I'M A MAN-GIRL, JUST STOP SCREAMING!" the voice yelled.

The girls both stopped their shouting, and looked at each other, confused. Huh? Their eyes seemed to be asking. Nudge shifted on the bed, revealing a phone. Max's phone. And it had dialed Fang's number.

Max dived to Nudge's side, and grabbed the phone, putting it to her ear. "Fang?" she asked.

She heard him let out a sigh of relief on the other end of the line. "Thank you! No more chick fights!" he praised sarcastically.

"Did you… Hear our conversation?" Max asked curiously. She had accidentally let Nudge know some of her past, but what would happen if Fang did too?

He sighed again, although it was different. "Aw man, it was about me, wasn't it? I missed it!" he groaned. Fang heard Max laugh lightly on the other side, and he smiled. It was true, all he had heard was raised voices. "So why'd you call?"

There was a silence, before Max continued. "I… uh… pushed Nudge?"

Fang applauded. "Congratulations!" he mocked. "Seriously, why'd you call? I'm a bit busy over here," he said.

Max arched an eyebrow. "Really? Doing what?"

He shook his head, although she couldn't see, smiling. "No Max, doing who would be the right question."

"If you were screwing someone, you wouldn't of picked up the phone," Max scoffed. "It would only be logical," she added sardonically.

"Okay, fine. You win. But why did you call?"

"I told you! I pushed Nudge!" Max said.

Fang paused. "And?" he prodded.

"Nudge butt-dialed you."

"But this is your phone, how could she butt-dial me?"

"She took her butt, and dialed the number," Max dead-panned.

There was an awkward silence. "You have got to be kidding, Max."

"Gosh, take a joke, dude. She landed on my phone," Max said.

"I understood, dude." Fang thought for a moment. Were he and Max friends? They seemed to be getting along… He took another moment, carefully choosing his words. "Hey Max?" he asked.

Max blinked. "Hi Fang."

In his dorm, Fang rolled his eyes. "No, I have a question."

"Shoot."

Taking a breath, Fang wondered why he was nervous. Maybe it was because he didn't have much experience at what he was about to do. Maybe it was because he got slapped the last time he did. But, she's not here to slap you, he reasoned with himself. Inhaling deeply, Fang asked his question. "Will you go out with me?"

Max rolled her eyes, looking at Nudge who was shaking her head no, despite the huge smile on her face. "You have got to be kidding," she said, using Fang's words. "It's only been a few hours since you last asked. And you know what? The answer's still no. Sorry Fang." She paused thoughtfully. "Oh, and don't get me another rose. 'Cause you aren't going to get another one back. Bye Fang," Max added, before hanging up.

When Fang heard the dial line click, he just sat there on the couch. For some reason, that stung more than the slap.