Chapter 2?

A/N: Hey friends. So people wanted more of that last one…but it's titled Clinic SCENE, and scenes end. But then I thought, hmm, what if I change it up a little? What is Fang is the one with the chip, the one getting it removed? Kind of implausible, but oh well, I'm bored.

My fists clenched as we stepped into the clinic. Here we were, at this all-too-familiar feeling office, and some girl I'd just met was going to operate on my arm. There are three things I hate a whole lot: small, confined spaces, anything medical related, and experiments. And I was just outright walking into all three.

But Max trusted her. I had to remember that. Max trusted her, and I trusted Max. And who knew? After this chip was out, maybe we'd finally stop getting stalked.

We'd first noticed the chip when they were injecting blood into me after I got ripped apart by Ari that one time, and I had to go to the hospital. They were X-raying my arm to make sure it was okay to stick and IV in it, and we saw this. I don't think the doctors noticed, as they were more focused on a different part of my arm, but it's defiantly kept us on-edge. So now Max had remembered her friend, Dr. Martinez, from some time way back when, and we were in the area.

I probably wouldn't have come, but Max insisted. I can be pretty stubborn, but when Max insists on something, it's hard to say no. I mean, seriously. It's Max. Beautiful, strong, determined Max, with her sharp comments and —

No, Fang, I told myself. Don't go there. She made it pretty clear yesterday that she didn't like me that way. Most girls don't take off to avoid kissing you when they like you that way.

"Are you familiar with Valium?" Dr. Martinez asked me. I just looked at her. "It'll help with your anxiety. I'm going to shoot it through your IV now." She was seconds away from poking a needle into my arm when I yanked it away.

"You didn't say anything about drugs," I scoffed.

"It's necessary, Fang. It'll just be this and a local painkiller, I promise. Nothing more."

"Just let her do it," Max told me. I crossed my arms across my chest.

"No."

"Why?" She teased. "You scared?" I shot her a glare that made Darth Vader look like a cuddly panda in comparison (though I'm sure pandas can be lethal, too).

"I don't want to be out of control of myself," I spat. "And needles don't bode well with me."

"Without any meds, the procedure would be unbearable," Dr. Martinez insisted. I was starting to get mistrustful. "Plus, you would try to fight me the whole time. You'll feel much better with this." I shook my head, thinking, this is ridiculous, but stuck out my hand anyway.

"Thank you," the doctor murmured. I felt the needle enter my skin, refusing to look. I wasn't sure if it was the medicine, or if it was just me, but suddenly everything seemed hyped up and amplified. Max's soft breathing was deafening, that antiseptic smell was almost tangible, and I was overwhelmed by a sudden terror.

But then, something funny happened. Everything just stopped. It was like everything was in slow motion. I felt calm and…happy. I felt pressure on the hand of mine that wasn't strapped down, and looked over.

It was Max.

"Mmm Max," I managed groggily. She nodded in encouragement. "I feel so happy."

"That's a good sign."

"Sure is," I murmured. I glanced up at her. Her eyes were so soft and warm, like chocolate. But lighter. Everything about her was so perfect and wonderful. "You look so beautiful Max." Her soft eyes went guarded.

"Thanks?"

"Actually, you always look beautiful. Even when you're all bloody and muddy," I told her. "But I always get scared when you're bloody."

"Huh? Why?" She seemed taken aback.

"Cuz you're hurt," I explained. I hoped I was coherent. "I don't like it when you're hurt. I want you to be happy and good."

"Um, er, well, that's nice. Me too…?"

"You're hand feels nice." She was quiet for a second. I tried to look at her face, but I couldn't see her. "Max? Where'd you go?"

"I'm right here, Fang." I squinted, but all I saw were bright lights.

"You disappeared," I stated simply.

"No I didn't," she argued.

"Lean closer." Then, actually listening to me, she leaned in closer, and I could see her face. She was even more perfect up close. Was that possible? I smiled dopily, my eye lids drooping. "That's better." She pulled back quickly, disappearing. Defeated, I closed my eyes.

"Yeah, keep your eyes closed," Max said, her voice a little weird.

"Okay."

"All right."

"Okay."

"Uh…"

"You know what Max?"

"What?" She wondered nervously. I flashed a big grin, but kept my eyes closed.

"You're spectacular. I love you. Like, seriously. I seriously love you. Seriously." The last part came out a bit of a mumble, but I think my point got across.

Her hand let go of mine immediately. I opened my eyes, but she was still invisible.

"Maxy?" I asked.

"I have to go to the bathroom," I heard her blurt. The only thing I heard were her fast footsteps, running away. I laughed an incoherent sounding laugh.

"That Max," I told Dr. Martinez. "She's so silly."

"Um, yeah," she said uncomfortably. "We're all done now. Why don't you wiggle your fingers." I laughed again.

"Wiggle," I repeated. "Silly word." I 'wiggled' my fingers for the doctor.

"Can you please move them?"

"I already did."

"Oh, my God. Oh no."

Now would be a good time to be shot.

Max was upset about my hand, but aside from that, she'd been completely ignoring me. Like I had some awful plague.

I now officially hate all meds, more than before. How do people do that kind of shit for fun? There's absolutely nothing fun about being double-rejected. My life sucked.

"Max," I said later the next day, once I was sober. I just wanted to get stuff back to normal.

"I—I can't deal this right now, Fang," she said, her eyes almost horror-struck. Lovely. She probably thought me scarier than whitecoats or Erasers. What guy doesn't want that from the girl he loves?

"I just wanted to—"

"No Fang. Just…no."

"What?"

"I don't know!" She snapped, storming out of the room. I just looked at her, feeling like crap. Hormonal much? The doctors daughter, Ella, had witnessed the whole thing from where she was seated on the couch, eating an apple.

"You two aren't really brother and sister, are you?" I glanced at her, taking in her slightly nervous eyes.

"Not exactly…"

"Oh, thank God. Because, no offence, but if you were, that would be so sketchy."

"Thanks," I said dryly.

"No problem. I think she likes you though." I laughed darkly.

"Oh, I'm sure," I muttered sarcastically.

"No, I mean it. She just doesn't realize it yet. You should have seen the way she was looking at you earlier. She totally loves you." I shot Ella a look and walked away, refusing to believe it. If she loves me, she wouldn't take off every time I got close to her.

But I couldn't give up. I just couldn't. Giving up on Max was giving up on love all together. And I'm sorry, but I'm too young to be a priest just yet.