Merry Christmas to all!
MAX
Sam left on his own after helping me clean up. I turned the kids loose and went to find Fang. He was huddled on his bed. He looked dizzy. "Hey, are you sick?" I asked, crouching by him. He didn't answer, but bit his lip.
I stood and walked to the bathroom, wetting a washcloth with cool water. I draped it on his forehead. "Close your eyes. Just rest for a minute, maybe it'll pass."
FANG
"Close your eyes. Just rest for a minute, maybe it'll pass."
I didn't think so, but I did as she told me. I forced myself not to flinch as I felt her hesitant fingers hold my hand. "Shh, shh," she sat next to me for a while.
My memories that had been circling in my head started to blur together and finally, disappear. I opened my eyes and heard Valencia's voice downstairs. I pulled the now dry washcloth away from my head and went downstairs. Max grinned at me from the living room door. "Feeling better?"
I nodded almost imperceptibly. Valencia smiled at me. "Hey Fang. I heard you were sick."
I shrugged.
"Well, I'm glad you're feeling better."
I glanced at her bandaged hand. "Oh, this?" she blushed. "Slipped with a glass I was putting away. It's no big deal."
I forced a small smile.
MAX (Monday)
"You ready" I asked, as we stepped out of Mom's car.
Fang shrugged and followed me up the steps to the school. "It'll be okay. Just get through to Friday and we're off of school."
His locker was close to mine, and he was in all of my classes, but that didn't make it easier to protect him. "Fang, do you know the answer?" my geography teacher asked.
Fang shifted uncomfortably.
"Fang, we're waiting," she said again.
"Uh…Mrs. Practer? He uh…" I stood and went to whisper in her ear. "He doesn't talk. Like, at all. Trying to get him to answer won't work."
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry dear," she clucked. She spun on Sam. "Do you know the answer Mr. Montgomery?"
"Paraguay," he answered, still snickering at something.
"I suggest you withhold your conversation until the end of class," she said tightly. Then the bell rang.
"You got it Mrs. P," he smiled. He followed Fang and I to lunch, where we promptly met up with Iggy, Lissa, Kayley, and Claire in the lunch line.
"Hey cutie," Claire put an arm around Iggy.
"Hey Claire," he grinned and wrapped an arm around her waist. "How's the greatest girlfriend every doing?"
"Fabulous," she answered. "And her boyfriend?"
"Even better now that his girl is here."
Kayley and I gagged. Lissa sighed and rolled her eyes. Fang stared at the floor. Arms wrapped around my waist. "Babe," Sam murmured in my ear.
"What's up?" I asked casually.
"Not much," he answered. "You?"
"The sky. The clouds." I smiled. "So, what was so funny in class."
"Nothing. It was just a joke that one of the guys made. So, are you coming to the party?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"No."
"Then I'll be there," I grabbed my tray. He grabbed one for himself and we worked down the line. Iggy gave the lunch lady money for himself, Fang, and I and went to our usual table. The rest of us followed quickly and the conversation turned to a movie that had recently come out.
At the end of the day, we rode the bus home in silence. Well, for a while. "So," I started. "There's this party coming up. Rico's major Christmas bash. Rico's a friend of my group, and so we're all invited. You should come."
Fang stared at the floor.
"No interest?"
He shook his head.
"Okay, you don't have to. But I wish you would."