Chapter 4

Holy Crap!

Max POV

As I sat at the breakfast table with everyone else, it just felt so empty.

Nudge, Iggy, Total, and Angel were sitting in their usual seats.

Gazzy had decided to be a dog for the day.

Don't even ask.

Fang's seat, right next to me was filled by Jeb's butt.

My mom was cooking, which gave Iggy a break for once.

We all sat there in silence as the sound of the frying eggs and pancakes filled the room.

Everyone looked so down, well other than the usual smirky Angel, that nobody even noticed my orange face.

The sweet smell of warm maple syrup filled the air.

AND yes, I did say warm.

Mom had this old delicious tradition of boiling the maple syrup before serving it, and oh it was amazing.

As she brought the food to the table, everyone, but me's, faces lit up.

Even Gazzy ran over and barked.

Yes, barked.

As 8 hands and 2 paws attacked the plates, Dr. M looked over at me and asked "What's wrong, honey? Aren't you gonna eat?"

I gently shook my head no.

"Why? It's your favorite!"

"I know Mom. It's just… last night I was hungry so I had a little snack-as in a full family sized bag of popcorn- and I'm kind of full right now."

"Well, that's odd considering you usually have such a big appetite, but whatever. I'll save some for you for later."

"Thanks Mom."

I honestly was full, but for some reason I had this urge to eat.

"Oh, and sweetie," she picked up the dishes and moved them to the sink."Why is your face orange?"

"Uh…"

Ding Dong!

Thank God for the door bell.

Mom smiled.

I leaped out of my chair.

"Um, I'll get it."

I raced to the front hall.

Don't turn away your future Max for it will hold many misfortunes.

Oh Crap! Now the voice was back!

Ding! Dong!

"I'm coming! I'm coming!"

I opened the door and guess who was standing on the other side?

None other than the bastard himself, Dylan!

"Well this is just great."

"That's a nice greeting, Max. My darling."

He batted his perfect eyes.

My gaze was directly moved to his left hand.

Chocolates.

"I see you brought me something."

He giggled.

"Yes. These are for you."

He handed me the heart shape box and smiled.

"Thanks." I grunted.

"That's no way to treat your boyfriend Maxy Poo."

"Ok, for one you are not my boyfriend. And for two, if you call me Maxy Poo one more time, I will break your neck."

"Max, Max, Max. Now don't be hostile. Now, aren't you going to let me in?"

"Hmmm…No!"

I slammed the door, but apparently a little too late because Dylan had put his hand on the hinge and opened in from the outside in.

The door magically swung open.

"Now, Max. Can we try this again?"

I rolled my eyes.

"Sure, come on in."

"Thank you Maximum."

"You're not welcome, Douchebag."

"Ouch."

"What? You broke a nail?"

"Very funny, sweetheart."

"Don't you sweetheart me!"

"Rawr! I like 'em feisty!"

I pivoted and grabbed him by the collar.

"What. Did. You. Just. Say?"

"Nothing!"

"Good."

I released him and we walked over to the den.

"Hmm, smells delish!" Dylan said.

"Hmm. Sounds like a 13 year old girl."

He rolled his gorgeous blue eyes.

"Now, Dyl, would you like something to eat?"

I tried to post on a fake grin.

"No thank you, Max. I had some breakfast earlier this morn."

"Oh, morn. I didn't get the memo that we were in 18th century England."

"Ha. Ha."

My mom walked in from the other room.

"Hey Dr. Martinez!"

"Hey…Dylan? Is that it?"

"Yes. Thanks for remembering."

"So what brings you here on this fine morning?"

"I've come to speak with your daughter."

"Oh, you want to talk to Max?"

Please say I'm busy! Please say I'm busy!

"Well, she's free all day, so talk away!"

Thanks Mom.

She began to walk away.

"Oh and guys, can I get you anything? You know a snack or something? Maybe chips?"

My stomach growled.

"Yes, please."

"Dylan, you're so polite!"

"Thank you, Dr. Martinez."

She turned around and returned to the kitchen.

"So Max, how have you been?"

"Oh, I've been great. Let's see… First, Fang leaves me, and then you show up! That's just fantastic!"

"Max. You know that I love you."

"Whoa there! Slow down, buddy."

"Ok, anything for you."

Oh my gosh, he's so cute… No. I love Fang not him. I hate Dylan. But, look at his eyes. And that hair. He's gorgeous.

"Thanks."

"Wow. You're being nicer already."

I felt butterflies in my stomach.

You don't like him, Max. Pull it together!

"No, I'm not."

Great diss.

"Maximum, I'm here for a rather important reason."

"Oh, great. Now you sound like my dad."

Dylan giggled.

"So, Max. I'm here because of Fang."

"What about Fang?"

"Um… well, I'm not sure how you're gonna take this…"

"Spit it out!"

"Fang's dead."

"WHAT?"

"I got an email from him a couple of days ago saying that he couldn't live without you and that he couldn't come back to you, so he was kind of going to jump off a cliff."

"But, you don't know that he did it!"

"Um, well… I called Angel yesterday, so she could send him a message, you know, not to. I would have flown over and stopped him, but of course I didn't know where he was. So she tried to contact him, but she got no response or sign of life which could only mean he was dead."

"Well, can I see the email?"

"Where's your computer?"

"Nudge is on aim on the downstairs one, but I have one in my bedroom."

"Why don't you bring it down here?"

"I can't. It's not a laptop."

"Oh, then I'll come up to your room with you."

He followed me to the girls' room.

"Walla!"

He logged onto his email using my dinosaur of a computer.

Fang had taken the one we stole from The Institute before.

He opened up the message and I burst into tears…very un-Max-like.

Dear Dylan,

As Much as it pains me to say this, you can have Max. She's an amazing girl and all, but I can't take it any longer. I need to go away. I need to end my suffering. I need to end it all. I'm gonna jump. From this mountain cliff. I'm not using wings to save myself or anything. I'm killing myself. Tell Max to let Angel rule the flock. To run away with you or something. Angel should rule. No offense to Max, but she's just a better ruler. She won't want to be with you at first, but she should. You guys are soul mates. Let's face it, Max and I couldn't be together no matter how hard we tried. You two will run away from the flock and raise a family. It's meant to be. You can't argue with fate as I've learned in life. Max is beautiful and I give you permission to do whatever you want with her. No matter what. I mean, I have no control. Eventually she would have fallen for you anyway. I'm just speeding up the process. For here on out, I have no say. You are in complete control of her, and I no longer hate you. All I ask is don't hurt her. Protect her from everything. You can show her this letter if you must. Send my love.

-Fang

Oh my Freaking Gosh.

"That doesn't sound like Fang!"

I wailed. I hardly ever got this emotional in front of someone else.

Dylan came and sat next to me.

"I know… I know, but it is, and we can't change that. All we can do is do what he asks for in the letter."

"No way, Dylan! That isn't Fang talking! He wouldn't say those things. Fang just isn't like that."

"Come on, Max. I know how hard it is, but still…"

"Still what, Dylan? Still what?"

"Still… We should try to do what he asked. You give the flock over to Angel, and we'll run away together!"

"No freaking way!"

"Max, come on! It's meant to be!"

"No, Dylan. It isn't meant to be. What's meant to be is that you shut your little mouth and quit spinning all this crap."

"Max. I know you need some time to decide, but eventually, you'll see that this was and is for the best."

"Oh yeah. Fang committing suicide and jumping off a cliff is totally for the best."

"Max, all I ask is that you give me a chance."

"Give you a chance? Give you a chance? A chance to what, Dylan? A chance to ruin my life? Oops, you've already done that!"

"Max-"

"Face it, Dylan. My life is over. Fang was the only thing that mattered to me. And now he's gone forever. At least before I looked forwards to that time in twenty years from now when I got to see him again, but no. Not anymore. Now he's really gone."

I shoved my face in my pillow and screamed.

As the tears streamed down my face, I realized the enormity of the situation. It wasn't just a dream. Fang was really dead.

I felt the worst I've ever felt in my entire life.

My whole body was aching and I really wanted to punch someone.

"Max, now…"

Dylan put his hand on my shoulder.

I shoved it off.

"I have to go to the bathroom."

I got off the bed, ran to the bathroom, and locked the door.

POV CHANGE

Dylan POV

I sat on the bed as Max shut the bathroom door.

When I was sure it was really closed, I took out my phone.

Text Message:

To: Angel Cell From: Dylan Cell

Told Max the story. Showed email.

Nice job writing that, btw.

Very Realistic… Idk if she bought it, but it looks like it.

She won't fall 4 me though.

The plans working.

The door swung open and Max stepped out.

My God, she was beautiful…

Her skin was a little orange though.

That Fang was finally out of the picture.

Soon she would be mine.

Making that deal with Angel was the best thing I ever did.