Chapter Twenty

Fang and I left early the next morning, on our way to Marks house in Port Fairy. Fang had left late the night before and came back to pick me up in the early morning. We had packed the car the night before to save time, we had hoped to get there before it got to hot. It took us three hours to get there with out stopping... well only stopping once for a petrel station break.

We had pulled into Mark's drive way at ten o'clock.

The house had pale blue weather boards with yellow shutters over the big windows covering most of the walls. It was a two story house, and the best part, was it was a two minute walk to the beach. I had always loved Marks house, waking up to smell the salty sea, and hearing the wind chines hanging on the veranda. And I loved going for walks alone the beach in the evenings when the sun was setting.

Age Eighteen

"Kid's, hey, how was your drive?" Mark says, as he walked out of his house, and came down the steps of the veranda to greet us.

"Hey. Good thanks." Fang says hugging his Dad.

"Hi Mark." I say smiling at him. "Hope you don't mind me crashing on Father Son bonding weekend."

"No, of course not Max, I'm happy to have you." He ashores me, while stepping forward and pulling me into a hug. Fang smiles at me as I look at him from over Marks shoulder.

"Let's get your stuff in and get you kids set up." Mark says.

We get our bags out of the car, and follow Mark into the house. It looks as if Marks put a lot of effort into cleaning up, because I know he isn't a very tidy person. The walls are all painted off white with picture rails going around all the walls. From the front door we walk straight into a sitting room, with blue couches and white and blue striped arm chairs. The coffee table in front of the couch has a glass bowl full of shells, and there's a big open fire place with a model sail boat on it. The house isn't big, but it's very cool, with the same colour theme of blue and white through out the house.

"Come on up." Mark says gesturing to the stair case. He takes my bag from my hand, giving me a smile as he does so, it's a smile that reminds me of Fangs, know big surprise there them being Father and Son, though Fangs more like his Mum then Mark.

The wall of the stairs is covered in picture frames photo's of Fangs family. There's even a photo of Mark, Fang and Lana all together.

I turn to Fang and notice him looking at it; he see's me looking and him and shrugs smiling at me.

There are four doors in the up stairs hall way. Mark points to each door as he says. "That's Fang's room, Mine, bathroom and guest room, which will be your room Max."

Fang's and the guest room are to the left, Mark's room and the bathroom is to the right.

"Make yourself at home." He adds before making his way back down stairs.

Fang opens the guest room door for me, and I go in, the first thing that I notice when I walk in is an anchor, hanging over the single bed in the middle of the room.

Fang points to it. "He found it washed up on shore a couple years back. Pretty cool, hey."

"Yeah." I mumble.

He smiles. "So, what do you think, of the place?"

"I think I'd like to live here permanently." I turn to him and grin.

He laughs. "I've thought that myself."

"Why don't you?"

"Live here permanently? I can't. I can't leave Mum, or the gang... or you."

"We could come visit you."

"Are you trying to get rid of me?" He laughs.

"No." I laugh as well. "There's just something about this place."

Fangs smile wider and nods. "I know." He says.

Later that day Fang and I walked down to the beach. It was so hot, that the sand was unbearable to walk on. We threw our stuff down, kicked off our thongs (flip flops) ripped off our t-shirts and ran to the water, in our board shorts and bathers.

As soon as we got up to our hips in the water we dived under, the water instantly cooling us down.

I came back up grinning. "That's better."

"Hmm, yeah." Fang mumbles, putting his head under again and coming up, shaking his head, his wet hair flying over his face.

I laugh.

Coming over to me, he wraps his arms around my waist. I automatically put my arms around his neck, playing with the hair at the back of his neck.

"Dad and I are going to take you to the best fish and chip shop in the world tonight." He says keeping one arm wrapped around me, holding me to him, taking the other and moving my long hair back behind my ears.

"Oh yeah? The best in the world?"

He nods, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "In the whole world."

"I'll be the judge of that."

"Alright babe."

We stare at each other for a few moments, both of us smiling like fools. I move my face closer to his, going for his lips then changing my mind and spreading wet kisses across his face, his throat, top of his chest. Fang holds my tighter, mumbling something I don't hear, and then taking my face in his hands bending down to me and kissing me on the lips.

We stay like this, for what feels like forever. "We should get back?" I finally say pulling back, short of breath.

"Back? Who said anything about leaving? We're never moving from this stop."

"Never?"

"Never. Try to leave me." He gives me a challenging eye brow raise and a smirk, and pulls me flash against his chest.

I try to pull back, and laugh when I can't move. "Want we get cold?"

"We'll keep each other warm." He says gripping my waist.

When Fang and I get back to the house, Mark's out the front sanding a beautifully crafted wooden row boat. He looks up at us and grins, turns off the sander and putting it to the side.

"Did you make this?" I ask in shock.

He shrugs causally. "It's just a little project of mine."

"It's amazing." I say.

Mark tries not to smile. "Thanks Max. We'll leave in an hour, so if you two what to get cleaned up, and shower..." He motions towards the house.

"Okay." I nod.

I take the first shower, a cold shower, since I'm already hot again.

I get changed into my jean shorts and a sleeveless blue blouse with small black flowers over it, with a black lace back. It's my favorite top, and possibly my most girly top as well, I'm really into lace at the moment, don't tell anyone.

When I walk into Fang's room he's laying on his bed leaning up against four pillows on top each other, a sketch book on his lap, pencil in hand. He's staring ahead of him out of the open window.

"Are you waiting for inspiration?" I ask.

He looks over at me and smiles. "Not anymore, your pretty inspirational... wait hold that pose." He holds his pencil up, squints his eyes at me, and then pretends to draw.

I roll my eyes, but laugh. "You turn for a shower."

He puts his he's pencil and paper down and walks over to his cupboard, searching for clean clothes to wear.

"Are you going to wait in here?" He asks once he's found what he's looking for.

"I'm going to snoop." I say grinning at him. "Is there anything you'd like to hide before you leave?" I joke.

Fang grins back at me. "Na, snoop to your hearts content." He walks out of the room.

I look around and seriously consider snooping, but then change my mind and go back to my room, closing the door behind me.

I fish threw my bag for my brush, and de-tangle my long wet hair, then put it up in to a messy bun, not bothering to blow dry it, in this weather it'll dry in no time.

I pick up my phone from the bedside table and unlock it.

Three new messages.

I smile to myself seeing who they are from.

The first one is from Iggy.

Maxine (He knows I hate being called that)

I hope Ur having fun at the beach while I'm at my unbearably hot house dying!

Yes this is a bitter message.

I just want you to no I hate you.

; P

I laugh and text him back.

Hey Ig

Why yes thank you!

I'm just relaxing in the nice cool water.

Don't die on me who's going to do all the cooking?

I hate you too...; D

The next one is from Ella.

Hey Sis

Just checking up on U. That U got there safely.

Hope Ur having fun!

Ella xox

I text her back.

Hey Lil Sis

Yes. I'm doing good. Got here in one piece.

Have just been to the beach for a swim.

How are you?

Surviving the heat? I hear Iggy isn't. : P

Talk to you later.

Xox

The last one is from Nudge.

Come home! Ig's driving me crazy!

I laugh, and am about to text her back when Fang knocks on my door once before coming in.

"I thought you were going to snoop." He says.

"Oh I did." I walk back over to my bag and pull out my toiletrybag, hold it up, in a way of saying 'I'll be back', and make my way to the bathroom.

Fang follows me. "Yeah?"

"Hmm, found some very interesting stuff." I put the bag down on the sink and opened it pulling out my sunscreen, which I put on then took out my mineral powder and brush, applying a little. It was all the make I really wear. Sometimes I wear mascara as well, but I decided not to tonight.

Fang smiles at me in the mirror, he's standing slightly behind me, leaning against the shower screen. "Like what?" He asks.

"I can't say." I say trying to keep a straight face.

"Oh can't you?" He says, he reaches his hand out to me but takes it back when he hears Mark yell.

"If you kids are ready we'll leave a little earlier."

"Best Fish and Chips in the world!" I declare a little later on, as Fang, Mark and I sit on the warm sand eating out dinner. Fang and Mark both nod.

"I told you." Fang says smirking, nudging me gently with his elbow.

"So what's the plan for tomorrow?" Mark asks.

Fang and I look at each other. "Not sure. Did you have something in mind?" Fang asks his Dad.

"I was thinking we could test out my boat."

"Sounds like fun." I say smiling at Mark. He looks pleased.

"Good, great. It's a plan then."

We got up at seven the next morning and had a big breakfast of eggs, bacon, tomato's, toast and hash browns, all of which Mark cooked on the Barbeque, as Fang and I found the equipment we were going to need for today, owes, life jackets, and the fishing gear. Mark had decided we should go fishing as well, he had said he knew a great spot with heaps of fish.

"It's not sinking!" Fang says. We're in the boat just ten metres from the peer.

"Don't sound so surprised." Mark rolls his eyes. "I am an expert boat maker."

"How many have you made?" I ask.

"Well... only this one, but didn't I do a fine job?"

"Sure did." I agree laughing. "Where's this great fishing spot?"

Mark looks at me and smiles. "Not too far. Can you swim?"

"Yes, what Australian kid can't swim?" I joke.

"Good, it's going to get a little bumpy."

"That fills us with confidence." Fang says shaking his head, but smiling.

And a little bumpy it was, actually not just a little, a lot.

We court ten fish between the three of us and only kept one big one, throwing the other's back in. Mark said there was only certain fish you were aloud to keep. I kept getting puffer fish and other poisonous species. Fang was the one that court the fish we had for dinner that night.

At the time I had thought it was the best weekend of my life, the weekend Fang and I spent with Mark. I was sad to have to leave, but we had school the next day and couldn't afford to have time off, with exams right around the corner.