Okay, so I'm not pleased with how this chapter came out. I just don't like it. Whether you like it remains to be seen. Thanks for reviewing! I like the numbers! Seven! That's a lucky number! Can we beat that? Thank you: Phoenix, Iggyreader, Chocogirl, ArtemisandApollorock26 (They do rock! Artemis is my fave goddess!), PurpleTea88, storyteller1425, and WizardNinjaOfEpicAwesomeness!

Chapter Two

Lost and Found

The sky turned a brilliant shade of orange, filled with streaks of pink and purple. Off on the eastern horizon, the sky was a dark blue, stars peeking out from behind the gray clouds. Fang squinted again to see the address Dr. Martinez had given him, and hoped desperately that Max would be home.

He dropped down, landing smoothly, much better than he'd done near Dr. Martinez's house.

He looked up at the tall apartment building than now stood before him, and glanced down at the address again. It was the right building.

Fang walked up to it, and entered, becoming more and more tense. He ran up the flight of stairs and stopped at the top floor, where Max's apartment was. He stared at her door for probably about five minutes, wondering if he should even knock. Maybe he should wait until tomorrow.

No, thought Fang, angry at himself for this procrastination. He was going to die in less than two weeks, and here he was, putting the sight of Max off until the next day. How stupid was he? It's now or never. And I'm choosing now.

He knocked on the door firmly. There was no answer. He knocked again, wondering if she was in the shower.

This time, someone answered. And it was Max.

In many ways, Max looked the same way she had before Fang had left her. She was dressed in a long t-shirt and blue jeans, her brown sun-streaked hair let down, cascading down over her shoulders. Her beautiful chocolate-brown eyes sparkled.

But things were different about her too. Max looked older. She'd blossomed into an even more beautiful young lady, if it were even possible. Fang was stunned speechless at seeing her for the first time in six years, but he could still breathe out, "Max,"

Fang could hear the almost inaudible gasp that came from Max's mouth.

"Fang," she whispered softly, so quiet it was almost as if she were mouthing his name. Then she hardened. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you," he began, wondering if this was the time to tell Max that he had an expiration date.

"Oh, you came to see me, is that it? How long, exactly did it take you to find me? Did you have to make a pit-stop in a deserted island, you idiot?"

Now, Fang had known after the initial shock of their reunion ended, he'd be in big trouble and would probably get an earful of stinging insults by her acidic words and maybe a kick or two, but he wanted to avoid that if possible.

He sighed. "No."

Max snorted and continued. "I can't believe you. You leave without a goodbye- aside from that stupid letter you wrote me- and six years later you come back thinking I'll happily throw myself to you again. I've moved on, Fang. You really think I'm that desperate?"

"N-no," he said, wondering where she was going with this, "But-"

"I've moved on! I don't need you anymore, Fang. We're done, okay? I'm with Dylan now." She sneered.

The mention of Dylan blinded Fang with fury. Max was with wonder-boy now? What's so hot about Dylan? He was a stupid clone, whereas Fang was the original version. Didn't Max love him anymore? He might've gone to kick Dylan's butt had he not remembered to calm down.

There wasn't anything he could do now if Max was with Dylan. He had to respect Max's decisions; even if it hurt his heart like a tow-truck was running over it.

But before he could think about it, he said, "We're not done, Max. We never were. And we never will be."

As he said those words, he leaned in and kissed her. The feeling that came from it was amazing. He hadn't kissed her for such a long time, and yet for those six years, not one day passed when he didn't think of her or yearn for her.

Max kissed back. She'd thrown her arms around his neck and kissed back. The happiness made Fang's head spin, but once they broke apart, Max widened her eyes and stepped back, anger flaring up in her again.

"I can't believe this," she muttered, looking down at her shoes and then raising her head to glare at Fang. "I can't believe it. Go away, Fang."

He knew it wasn't time to say: Don't pretend you didn't love it, so he nodded, though cold hands of pain gripped his heart.

"Okay, Max. Later." He turned, and Max slammed the door behind him.

Fang skimmed the air, not looking back. He pretended that Max's words hadn't hurt him, but in truth they'd stabbed him multiple times in the gut, and he knew that it was useless now. Max hadn't even let him explain why he was there, though he probably wouldn't have known how to say that he had an expiration date to her anyway.

He wondered what he should do now. He didn't want to leave Max and disappear off the face of the earth. He needed to find another Flock member… Iggy or Nudge maybe.

Lights glared up at him from below, and he saw a hotel. He landed there, wondering if he should stay the night.

He looked at the darkened blue sky, dotted with lit stars and sighed. Max wasn't coming after him.

Fang wanted to punch whoever first said: Tis better to have loved and lost than never loved at all, because that guy had absolutely no freaking idea as to what he was talking about.

Then he remembered another quote: If you love someone, let them go. If they come back, they're yours.

On his check-off list:

1: Let loved one go- CHECK

2: Somehow get loved one to come back- IN THE PROCESS OF DOING SO

He was just about to set foot in the hotel and- "Fang."

Fang whirled around in surprise to find Max standing behind him, arms crossed.

"Why'd you follow me? I thought you were with Dylan now." He couldn't stop the scorn in his voice as he said Dylan's name.

Max sighed. "I'm not. I just said that."

"But you were with him?"

"I was," she agreed, "Not anymore. I've been single for a couple years now."

"Why did you chase me off then?"

"I was mad," she admitted, "But I realized you came back, even when you said you wouldn't. So it must mean the world's safely in one piece. And-" she came closer and smiled for the first time since he'd seen her. "You kinda looked lonely."

He smirked. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," she agreed with herself, and looked at the hotel in front of them. "So a hotel? What happened to your survival skills, Fang?"

"They're still here. I'm an adult." He shrugged. "I figured, What the heck, right?"

She nodded slowly. "Well, let's get outta here. You can stay at my apartment. I'm sure you want to catch up somewhere else."

He flashed a rare grin. "Okay."

Max ran off and snapped out her wings, making Fang's head spin. Her beautiful wings could still take his breath away, that was for sure. He flew off after her.

It seemed he lost something and found it in less than an hour. And that something… it had a name… what was it… Oh, yes… love.

Okay, guys! PLEASE REVIEW!

~Coqui's Song