Chapter Thirty-Two

"You're going back to him aren't you?" Is what Dylan said to me after taking one look at my face when I showed up on his door step a couple hours earlier then we had planned.

"Yes." I feel close to tears. Why do I feel close to tears?

It had taking me an hour to get down here, and still in all that time I couldn't figure out the right thing to say to him, because I wanted to say it in a way that would result in the least amount of heart break. I don't want to hurt Dylan. But he's made it easier for me I guess.

"I'm so sorry Dylan. It's just- just I..."

He shrugs his shoulders in a helpless gesture and steps aside for me to come in. I follow him into the lounge room and sit down on the arm chair across from the couch he sat down on.

He looks surprised for a moment, but he recovers quickly. He had patted the couch next to him for me to sit down. I pretend to have not noticed, it's best if I keep my distance.

"Max, I was kidding myself in wanting so bad to replace Fang for you, for wanting to have what you and Fang had." He says leaning forward with his arms resting on his knees.

"I wanted that as well Dylan trust me."

"But we'll never have that."

"No. I'm sorry!"

"You don't need to be sorry Max."

"I haven't been fare on you." I some how feel inclined to ask the next question and really care about the answer. "Do you hate me?"

"Hate you? No. Max, I think I knew deep down, even if I didn't want to believe it, that you'd go back to Fang."

"Sorry."

He laughs a little. "Stop saying sorry. It's okay. I know you'll be happy with him."

"You're an amazing guy Dylan. And you deserve an equally amazing girl, and you'll find her- she's just not me."

"Have you... talked to Fang yet?"

"No." I shake me head.

"Go on then." Dylan says standing up.

"Your parents!" I say remembering I was meant to be here for dinner tonight.

"Don't worry about it." He grins. "They never liked you that much anyway." He jokes. I smile at him, so relieved he took it all so well.

"You really are a great guy." I say earnestly.

"I know." He smiles his charming smile. "Now get out of here." He gives me a brief hug and walks me to the door.

Fang, here I come.

I imagined it like this.

Fang and I are in a daffodil covered field, he on one side, me on the other. We run towards each other. Arms spread wide, goofy grins on our faces. When we reach each other we embrace in a tight squeeze. My arms around Fangs neck, his arms around my waist. He picks me up and spins me around. I tip my head back and laugh.

But this is not how it happened.

I went straight over to Fangs after I talked to Dylan. His car wasn't in the drive way but Lana's was so I knocked on the door Lana answered straight away. She had said she'd seen me pulling into the drive way from the up stairs window. We had embraced. I had missed her so much.

She told me Fang had taken Gazzy up to his school (Australian Institute of Art) in the city to show him his work space and art pieces. Lana asked if I had wanted to wait and spend the day with her. I had made a rain check and drove up to Fangs school myself.

Fang spotted me, before I did him, as I walked through the building looking for him. He and Gazzy were standing in a room with easel's set up in a circle around the room. I looked up to see Fang staring straight at me, with a look of shock. I didn't move towards him and he didn't move towards me. There was something in this eyes that made me hesitate. For the first time I thought about the possibility that he might not want me back.

"Hi." I say as I stand in front of Fang and Gazzy.

"Hi." They reply at the same time.

We stand there in silence for a few moments.

"So, I'm hungry. I'm just going to, you know, eat- or something." Gazzy mumbles as he walks off, but not before giving me a little encouraging smile and squeezing my arm. We watch him walk off.

"Where's Dylan?" Fang asks, crossing his arms over his chest in a sort of protective stance, he's protecting himself from me.

"Home." I answer.

"Your home?"

"His home. I just came from there."

"Hmph. Great."

"No. Fang we broke up."

"Why?" He asks his expression not changing.

"Because I love you and Dylan knows it."

He just stares at me. I keep quiet until I can't bare it any longer.

"Aren't you going to say anything?"

"Max. I don't know what to say."

"You don't love me any more?"

"Of course I love you. But you left me for Dylan!"

"I'm sorry I didn't trust you and I'm sorry I hurt you by dating Dylan, but I didn't leave you for Dylan. I left you because I was confused." I step closure to him.

"Max. All I've ever wanted to do is protect you. And if that meant not telling you about your mum, I did what I had to do. She may have asked me to look out for you. But I would have done it anyway. I've always loved you."

Did I just melt?

"You and I are meant to be together. We're something special." I say smiling.

He grins. "That's what I've been trying to tell you from the start." He pulls me closer by putting his hands behind my neck, and crushes his lips to mine.

When we pull apart he puts his forehead against mine and smiles. "Marry me Max."

I pull back. "What?" I did not see that coming.

He smiles broader. "I love you more then anything Max. And you love me. We've been through everything together. We're going to spend the rest of our lives together why not start now?"

I've decided to look into getting a Beta Reader. It'll make my life a little easier- and yours, in reading this story. I looked at the profiles for Beta readers, (and there's some good ones) but I find it a scary thing sending my work off to someone- this is just my first story and I'm still learning as I go and getting a hang of it.

So if anyone can suggest a good Beta Reader, or have any tips on finding one, I'll be most thankful.

Thanks for reading this. Sorry it's taken me awhile to get this chapter up. I've had a lot on and been putting it off because I wasn't sure how to handle it.

Oh, and I hope this helps anyone who doesn't live in Australia and isn't familiar with our seasons and school year. (This is for Victoria, in other states it may vary but not by much maybe a matter of days/weeks.)

Seasons

December- February: Summer

March- May: Autumn

June - August: Winter

September- November: Spring

School Terms

1st Term: 1st February- 30th March /Then the Autumn Holidays

2nd Term: 16th April- 29th June /Winter Holidays

3rd Term: 16th July- 21st September / Spring Holidays

4th Term: 8th October- 21st December / Summer Holidays