Fang's formal part III

-Fangs POV-

The music exploded through the speakers. Lights flashed and bodies melted into bodies, hips against hips, lips against lips. What was I doing? I was sitting by the refreshments table, eating and drinking anything within reach. Why? Because my name is Fang, I'm hungry and I need a hug from Max...

The sound of high pitched laughter caught my attention and I scanned the crowds of grinding hips. The disco lights danced around the room and a shining flash of flame red hair emerged from the crowd.

I reached for another chip and proceeded to leave the table for a coke. The red head continued to advance. Long shining artificial nails wrapped around my bicep. "Hey there gorgeous."

My blood ran cold and if the lights weren't so bright my face would've been visibly pale. Her arms wrapped around my waist and she gave me a tight hug.

"What are you doing here?" I asked through gritted teeth. I was trying so hard to restrain myself from running. I didn't want to make the same mistake with her twice. Especially now that Max and I were running smoothly for a start.

Lissa ran her vulture like talons across my stomach, "What? Can't a former student visit her old school?"

"Can you let go of me?"

She removed her arms and I turned to face her. She smiled at me, but I didn't feel any of her warmth.

"What's the real reason you came?" I asked keeping my face cold.

She shrugged "There was a guy and now said guy is no longer there. What about you, did you invite anyone?"

I wanted to say I invited Max, just so she could back off. "I was just leaving."

She pouted "Really? So soon?" she took my hand and dragged me towards the table I was just at. "Wanna drink?"

"No thanks"

"Nonsense." She poured two cups of coke and offered me one. I shook my head. "Oh come one. Stop being so tense. You gotta loosen up!"

I pulled away from her and made my way to the exit. It was for one second. One stupid second. Lissa ran after me and pushed the drink into my hand.

"I want to say I'm sorry. For the other day." She looked at me with such...genuine eyes. I should've just turned away. "Please?" She said with tears in her eyes. "Can you forgive me? I don't want to lose you...as a friend, you know?"

And she looked so genuine.

All I did was turn around for one second. One second was all it took for her to build up that face, and I believed her.

"Really? You're sorry?"

She nodded. I smiled. And I drank the damn coke. Like I said, I turned around for just that second. That's all it takes for a person to spike your drink and put on an act. The room started to spin and I saw Lissa smile through the fake liquid crystals dripping from her cheeks. I was about to fall I think because she reached out and grabbed me. I don't know what she said to me; all I know is that one second was the key to the biggest mistake of my life.

I woke up in Max's arms. Her fingers running through my hair and down my chest. I felt her body pressed up against my naked side and the soft feathery fabric tickling my bare skin. I felt the bed bounce as she pushed up onto her elbow and kissed me. She smelt of genetically enhanced roses. Like a big paddock of flowers and honey. Too many flowers for my taste. And then I understood, that's not right, I know Max's scent anywhere. This wasn't hers. "Hey Nick. Someone called for you last night."

Her voice shattered my ears. Not Max. I gritted my teeth and squeezed my eyes shut, begging for this moment to pass, for all this to be a dream. Although I already know it isn't. Maybe last night's dream wasn't a dream either. I dreamt I was holding Max in my arms, kissing her and making sure her first time wasn't so painful. The only problem is that now I know it wasn't Max I was kissing.

I threw off the blankets. The bed suddenly not comfortable.

"Hey, Hey!" Lissa cried, "Where are you going? Don't you want to know who called?"

I ran my hand over my face as I searched for my clothes. My head hurt like hell, what happened last night anyway? "I hate you" I groaned.

Lissa frowned, oblivious to my comment "Some girl, I think it was your sister."

My blood ran cold. It was to be expected, Max said she's call me. Crap. I hit my head against the wall and winced as my head began to throb again. Why do I keep doing this? Why do I keep hurting her?

"What did she say?" I growled at Lissa.

Lissa shrugged. "Just that she wanted to know what time you were coming home."

She smiles, for some reason I don't trust it.

"I told her you were busy and she heard you panting and moaning in the background. I heard her cry and she hung up like a baby."

I wanted to whack her.

I wanted to walk over to her and strangle her until she turned blue.

I wanted to yell at her, to cuss at her, to knock some sense into her puny brain.

I wanted to go home and hold Max in my arms and tell her I'm innocent. Even though it's quite clear I'm as guilty as Lissa.

Hell, I wish this never happened.

I was at Lissa's house, apparently she got someone to drive us here since I was a drunken clueless thing in the backseat and Lissa was too busy searching for various things she wanted to do to me.

It was about one or two in morning and mum was probably at home. But that wasn't my concern. I just wanted to get back to Max. My Max.

I took a taxi and was short on money so I ran the rest of the way home with a grumpy old driver yelling after me. I reached the front door and tested it. Locked. So I searched in my pocket for a spare key and unlocked it. When I opened it however, a sleepy Ella was rubbing her eyes lazily and standing in front of me with a cup of milk.

I put on my best smile and gave her a brotherly hug before running upstairs to check on Max.

"She's not here" Ella called as I tried to silently open the door. "She left a couple of hours ago. Maybe more."

I swallowed nervously and turned to Ella who was looking at me with steel eyes. She shook her head in disappointment. "Go take a shower."

I lowered my head like a beat up puppy. She knew. Of course she knew. Max never cries and when she does, Ella is the first to know why.

After my shower I walked down stairs. Ella was lying down on the couch waiting for me. I sat. She turned to me and we stayed like that in silence.

"Where is she?" I whispered guilty.

"With Dylan"

My heart wrenched, but I knew I couldn't ever feel that kind of anger with her. I was unfaithful and she left to find a guy that cared. I can't blame her.

"Why'd you do it, Fang?"Ella growled at me.

I wanted to tell her I was drugged, that the bitch who did it didn't know anything about me or Max.

"I knew about Lissa before all this."

I flinched at the name.

"You just can stop hurting her can you? She loves you and what do you give her in return? I night with her." She shook her head at me and got up to go back to bed. "You're breaking her heart, Fang"