Fang (May 17)
Yesterday was the field trip to Islands of Adventure, and today it was all everyone could talk about. I was tired and about to fall out of my seat, but I was joking with the group anyway.
We were all in the cafeteria that morning before school started, and I kept looking over my shoulder for Max. With the end of the year coming up soon, I kept meaning to tell hear how I felt (since like fourth grade…) but you know things happen. Like in fifth grade, on the way back from the trip to the bowling alley.
"Psst, Fang. Empty seat next to Max," Iggy muttered from behind me as we filed onto the bus.
I frowned and looked over to where Max was sitting alone, looking out the window. The bus driver told us to sit in the same seats as before, and Max had been sitting with Maya.
"That's Maya's seat," I hissed.
"Who cares?" Then as we walked by, Iggy shoved me into the seat harshly. I fell onto Max, and she shoved me away in surprise.
"Geez Fang! A simple 'hello' would be nice!" She yelled at me like she was mad, but her body was completely relaxed, and her brown eyes were teasing. "First you drop a bowling ball on my foot and now this?"
I grinned the sheepishly. The bowling ball was a trick to try to impress her. It was working well, until I dropped it.
"At least I didn't walk into the GIRLS' BATHROOM," I said, yelling the last part so Holden and Gazzy could hear.
Max laughed, and turned to look back out the window. I leaned over her to find what she was looking at. She smelt like vanilla.
"What are you looking at?" I asked.
"Those boys playing air hockey." She pointed to the boys in the bowling alley.
"Why are you watching them?" I asked. She shrugged and we both sat back down.
"Uh, hey Max?" I stuck my hands in my hoodie pocket so she wouldn't notice they were shaking.
"Hmm?" Max was looking right into my eyes, and I started to think about what a pretty color they were.
"You know you're like my best friend, right?"
Max grinned. "Better be. I took that mini corn dog for you in that food fight last week."
Nervous as I was, I grinned back. That food fight had been fun. "Yeah, but I just wanted to ask…"
She was curious now. "What?" I had her undivided attention now. Okay…I can do this.
"Nicholas!" My teacher snapped at me from up at the front of the bus.
I groaned. "What?"
"Did you not hear? Sit with the people you did on the way here." She turned to where Maya and Dylan were sitting. "Hickman! Switch seats with Sanchez!"
Maya stopped mid sentence, her hands freezing in whatever she was gesturing. Both of us shared a look and sighed heavily. We brushed past each other and switched seats. I groaned and let my head hit the back of the seat.
Dylan patted my shoulder. "That's some bad luck man." I glared at him.
That's just one of many times. They're more embarrassing stories, but I won't mention those.
Maya was excitedly telling a story, gesturing largely with her hands. She kept glancing over at Dylan, gauging his reactions to her humor. Then Max sat down next to me, Ella right behind her. Ari sat in between them, his dirty blonde hair falling over his eyes. Ella was wiping away tears from her face.
"Max, what-."
She cut me off. "Our parents are getting a divorce. Me and Ella are moving to Manhattan after the school year with our mom. Ari is staying here with our dad."
Everyone at our table was silent. My heart dropped into my stomach. "Are you-are you sure?"
Max nodded, keeping her face impassive. "They told us to start packing," Ella muttered and rubbed her puffy red eyes. Max swallowed hard. Without thinking, I put my arm around her shoulders. She laid her head on my shoulders, and I resisted the urge to kiss her forehead. The rest of the group came around, and we incased the three of them in one big group hug.
If anyone said anything, I didn't hear them. I was feeling numb, trying to figure out how to tell Max how much I liked her in a week.
~ May 25 ~
Tonight was the sixth grade banquet, and also the last night I'd get to spend with Max. No, I hadn't told her yet. But I will tonight. The guys have been bugging me about it all week, and the girls have been hinting at it whenever I go somewhere alone with Max.
Oh, and I'll miss Ella too. Just not like Max. Ella's like, another sister to me.
After being bombarded be pictures when we walked in, our group was sitting all at the same table. (There was only supposed to be eight at a table, but hell, that's the same thing they say about the lunch tables, and we still manage thirteen.) I hated the way we had to dress at this thing. Before I left, my sister said I looked like 'one of those cute Disney stars'. I don't take that as a compliment.
Max's mom walked by and murmured something in Max's ear. Max sighed as her mom walked away. She turned to me and stood up.
"C'mon Fang. My mom wants me to get her camera out of the car for her."
I stood up, trying not to look earnest. "Yeah, sure."
"Yeah, Fang." Nudge said.
"Go help the pretty little lady," Ratchet grinned. I glared at them both and followed Max out of the large dining hall of the church we were using tonight.
It was cool outside, but I still put my hands in the pockets of my dress pants. It's sort of a nervous habit. Max and I walked in silence to her mom's van.
I looked ridiculous compared to Max. I was in dress pants, a white T-shirt (although my mom found a trick to make it look like a dress shirt), a black jacket that was buttoned up over it, and a black tie. Max was in a pretty spaghetti strap yellow dress that went down to her knees, and it was all scrunched up at the bottom half. Her brown hair was curled, and the color of her dress contrasted her tan skin nicely.
After a silence Max said, "Nice monkey suit."
I hid my embarrassment with a smirk. "Nice sundress Barbie." Max pursed her lips in irritation. We got to the van, and Max opened the passenger's side door and found the camera immediately. She slammed the door shut and glared down at the silver camera in her hands.
"I should just break this thing right now," she snapped.
I blinked in surprise. "You don't mean that."
Max glared at me. "Why shouldn't I? This thing is so stupid. This dress is stupid, the move is stupid, and this whole divorce is so freakin' STUPID!" She raised her hand to throw the camera, but I caught her wrist.
"Max. Calm down." She looked away from me as I spoke. Max pulled away from me, her eyes glistening.
"I don't wanna calm down!" She shrieked. Caught off guard, I stayed silent. I'd never seen Max cry. Ever. She wiped away tears with the back of her hand. I pulled her into my arms and let her cry on my shoulder. I have no idea what to say when a girl cries, let alone Max, so I didn't say a word, just stroked her hair.
After she calmed down, I pulled back and looked her in the eye. "C'mon, Max. We're gonna see each other again." Max nodded, her lip still quivering. She wiped away more tears and I thought, how can she look this pretty while crying?
"Guys!" Dr. M called from over by the church entrance. "C'mon, food's ready!"
"Coming!" I called back. I looked at Max and started to say something, but she cut me off.
"Let's go eat." Max said and pulled me along as she walked back.
I guess the others were kinda disappointed when me and Max didn't walk in holding hands and laughing. I saw Ella and Nudge visibly deflate when we came in. But you know, I don't think that was the right time to make a move seeing as she was crying.
About an hour later we were all just finished with our food when the music slowed down. It was playing Check Yes Juliet, but it turned to My Immortal by Evanescence. Immediately I thought, it's a slow song! This was my chance to dance with Max.
I swear right before I ask, like I was turned toward her, my mouth open, when Sam cuts me off.
He pops up out of nowhere behind her. "Uh, hey Max?"
Max turned around and smiled at Sam. "What's up?"
"Uh, I was just wondering…do you, maybe want to dance?" My heart dropped. Max wouldn't say yes to him though, not Sam.
But she did. "Yeah, sure." Sam grinned, and he held out his hand to her as they walked out onto the dance floor. I stared at them as they danced, Sam said something that made Max laugh. The others started talking.
"Oh my gosh."
"Oh, Fang!"
"Geez bro. That's some bad luck."
"Bro, Sam just did what you've been trying to do for two years now, in a few seconds."
I glared at Ratchet. "Thanks man." I ate the rest of my food in silence.
~ Later ~
At the end of the night, Max and Ella said their goodbyes. I wasn't saying much, mostly just watching. I didn't really have much to say. Dr. M was waiting in the van. When Max came to me, she surprised me by giving me a long hug. I held her tightly and buried my head in her hair.
Before we pulled apart she whispered in my ear, "Thanks Fang."
I frowned at her. "For what?"
Max smiled sadly, "For being my best friend."
I blinked in surprise. "Oh, um, yeah. I mean-no problem." Max smiled and went to meet Ella at the car. They climbed in, and as they drove away, Max turned around and waved at me. I waved back. I watched as they drove away. Iggy came over next to me.
"You didn't tell her did you?"
I shook my head. "Nope." Iggy sighed and after a moment, knocked me upside the head. I grabbed the back of my head in surprise.
"Dude!"
"You ran out of time Fang. Good job." I sighed and put my face in my hands.
This was going to be a crappy summer.
Finally finished with their elementary school adventures! I was actually going to put more details in the banquet, but I started to get bored so I skipped it. Next up is high school. That's gonna be lots of fun. :)