~∞ ROSES ∞~

Chapter Thirteen: Her Father's Roses

One Week Later

Nudge was missing from Max's dorm and Fang was using it to his advantage.

His hands were clasped with Max's, as they sat on the couch, the television blaring in the background. But neither student noticed; they were too busy about what was going on by the face, up.

To put it simply, Max and Fang were kissing; yes, actually kissing, not making-out or anything. Max wouldn't let him go that far, quite yet. She was still in the process of warming up to him — the kissing addition was new.

But Max had to admit, if all the girls Fang dated got to kiss him like that, no wonder they got so upset when he dumped them. Which reminded her back to the main idea why she was kissing Fang in the first place.

So she could play him and show him how it feels to be toyed around with.

She hated herself for constantly forgetting that fact, but she couldn't help but melt into Fang's kiss. It was just too inviting, warm, comforting, and most of all, intense, but not overly.

And the best part, was the faces of everyone when Max and Fang walked into the halls of West High holding hands. Well, that is, besides Nudge and Iggy, who Max learned was Fang's roommate, James. They had already been told beforehand, much to Nudge's excite.

Well, maybe that was the second best. The ultimate 'win' of this, was that it had been a week, and Fang hadn't broken up with her yet. But for some reason, it also made her feel guilty; maybe Fang actually liked her!

She shook her head and Fang pulled back from the kiss, confused. He can't like me; this is FANG WALKER!

"Max?" Fang asked, worry laced in his voice. Who wouldn't be? One moment, you're sharing a nice moment with your girlfriend, Maximum Ride, kissing, and then the next she begins shaking her head, as if regretting it.

While Max was thinking — simultaneously kissing Fang — Fang was slowly beginning to deepen this kiss, moving his hands from where they were interlocked with hers, to her waist, bringing her even closer. Max had unconsciously laced her arms up around his neck, as well.

"Max?" he repeated, his dark eyebrows furrowing.

Her blank gaze at the carpeted ground broke and she shifted to look back up at Fang, who had gotten much more close than she last remembered.

Max's face heated up as she realized their position. If the headmaster were to walk in on them at that very moment, the end result wouldn't be all that great; expulsion, suspension if they were lucky. He was quite strict about these rules, yet no one abided to them.

"Hmm?" she wondered, finally responding to Fang's unanswered question.

Fang looked at her. "Are you… okay? You seem… out of… it."

She blushed, noticing that she had stopped kissing Fang. "I'm fine. Just —," she stopped herself. "Just thinking."

"I can leave if you want me to," Fang offered, not wanting to push her.

Max was quick to respond. "No!" she shouted, before catching herself. "I mean, I don't want you to…" What is up with me and all this blushing? She thought furiously. I don't normally do this!

He looked at her pointedly. "You missed the chance to kiss this," he gestured to himself cockily, trying to make her laugh. Max's face looked too opaque — more than usual, at least — and he wanted her to feel better, without making Max feel bad.

She laughed at his lame attempt to make her feel better, — or did he really think that much of himself? — although it did. It was a feeble laugh though.

"Hey, I'm going to leave then, okay?" Fang asked, looking sincerely at Max. She glanced at him through her long eyelashes, her brown eyes blinking at him. Max shrugged, feigning nonchalance.

"Okay." She nodded, and Fang got up, pulling Max's head to his chest, kissing her forehead.

Fang didn't know why he did what he just did, but it felt right, almost instinctive. "Bye," he whispered, giving her one last peck on the cheek.

Max nodded at him as he left her dormitory, and when he did, she collapsed backward onto the couch.

Being with Fang felt so wrong. But it felt so right at the same time.

She just couldn't decided whether she liked it or not.

…

Fang shoved his hands in his pockets when he exited Max's room. She was just so different — quite refreshing from all the other girls in the school. Maybe it was because of her past. But as much as Fang dreaded it to be, there was a possibility Max knew something she wasn't telling him. Not something about her dad, or her past, or anything, but something concerning the two of them.

He thought back to the previous week, after Max had told him the truth.

[Flashback]

He felt numb as Fang let Max's words soak in. It's Max's… Dad's house. These are Max's Dad's… Roses. It is all bringing back memories of her past, Fang thought worriedly. He didn't want Max to freak out or anything, and most certainly because of him.

All he could bring himself to say, was, "Your dad was really something."

She bit her lip, and looked down at the old planks of the gazebo. Max wasn't sure whether to let her almost-tears fall, or smile. "Yeah. He was…" She trailed off, eyes looking at the pond once more.

"I'm sorry," Fang said, inhaling deeply. "For being such a jerk to you before, for teasing you so much, for everything really. You didn't deserve it and —," He was cut off mid sentence.

Max had lightly pressed her finger to his, closing his mouth. She shook her head, and leaned into Fang.

His arms wrapped around her securely, protectively, and she buried her head into his neck, letting her tears fall. All the memories of her father came flooding back, breaking through the wall she carefully built over the years.

It was embarrassing, to be crying her eyes out in front of Fang, but her grief overpowered it.

Especially because of the words Fang whispered to her in his husky yet soothing voice. "I'll help you. Together, step by step, you'll get through it and be strong."

[End Flashback]