Max

Everything seemed so serene and regular outside. The palm trees swayed slightly against the light current of the breeze. The heavy traffic that Los Angeles always sported almost came as a comforting sight and sound. People walked around on the grey sidewalks, looking into windows or talking with friends.

I gazed out the window longingly. I could see the quaint ice cream store where Sage, Evangeline, and I used to go to after school on Friday's. The lights of the movie theater glistened in the distance and a pang shot through my heart. The place that grew to be my home was quickly fading away from my version. A place that I had always took pride in living in was soon going to be just another memory, just another location on our great adventures.

"Are you okay?" Fang stared at me, worry evident in his eyes. The whole way to the car, Fang kept watching me like a guard dog.

"I'm fine," I grumbled. "Just tired."

"Max, you know we can talk-"

"Just stop. I don't want to talk about it. I just want to move on from this place and go get them so we can go back to our real lives."

Fang suddenly stopped the car abruptly and pulled over to the side of the road.

"Why are we stopping?" I asked.

Fang touches my hand reassuringly. "Because we need to talk about this Max. You can't keep your feelings bottled up. I'm here for you. Why can't you accept that?"

"Because Fang, it's hard!" I yelled. "I lived fourteen years keeping my feelings inside because I had to be strong from the others. I couldn't cry or crack because I would look weak. Feelings are hard for me to express. You out of all people should understand that."

"Max, we're not in that dark place anymore! Even right now, it's just me and you. You can act however you want and I won't judge you."

"I don't know what to say!"

Fang glared at me. "That's crap. You know exactly what you want to say but you feel like you can't share it with me. Is it because you don't trust me anymore?"

"Are you serious?" I asked, my eyebrows raised. "I trust you so much. I trust you with my life. But we haven't been with each other in a year and a half! It's still a little weird to be a part of this life. A couple weeks ago, the only thing I had to worry about was getting good marks on tests and excelling in track. Now, I have to worry about getting the Flock back, and, oh what's that again, saving the world! Do you know how much pressure I'm in?!"

"I understand how you're feeling. But we've known each other basically our entire lives! It doesn't matter if we haven't seen each other for a year or ten or twenty. You should be able to confide in me because I know I could for you."

I laugh hesitantly. "When did you start to talk so much?"

"Don't try to play this off. When you feel awkward, you say a joke, trying to lighten the mood. But it's not going to work this time. Just tell me how you feel."

I threw my hands up in the air, exasperated. "What am I supposed to say? That I feel happy that I'm back to this life but also depressed that I have to leave my old one behind? That I now have to be on the run with no place to call home? That I miss my friends so much it physically hurts? That I feel utterly and complete betrayed by the one man who I thought truly cared for me?"

My voice cracked a little bit and I felt Fang's hand on me, tracing small circles onto my back.

"These emotions are too overwhelming right now," I sighed. "I try to be this tough leader because that's what I've always known. I hide things form people, that's just what I do. So how am I supposed to look at things differently? I just don't know what to do."

"I don't know either Max," replied Fang. "But you have to understand that I'll be here for you, no matter what. We're not going to be separated ever again. We'll go to Colorado to get Iggy then we'll get the rest of them and everything will fall into place."

"Like pieces of a puzzle," I whispered.

"Exactly."

"Oh my gosh," I laughed harshly, "I'm such a mess. I'm sorry that you had to see me being all insecure. It's not really my groove. Maybe I'll try what you do and be all silent and brooding."

"You know you like it," he winked.

I pretended to think about and replied, "I'm really not sure. Why don't you convince me?"

He nodded his head, inching himself towards my seat. He leaned closer and closer to my body. Fang began to kiss my jaw, leaving kisses trailing down my neck. A shiver ran down my spine.

"Are you convinced yet?" he asked, his voice sounding husky.

"Maybe. I'm still undecided. You have to do a better job than that."

Grabbing my face gingerly, he placed his lips on me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he pulled me closer. My fingers found their way into his soft black hair, and they combed through the locks roughly. His tongue slipped into my mouth and we began to fight for dominance.

When we pulled apart, breathless, Fang smiled sneakily. "Does that answer your question?"

"Yes, yes, I'm convinced. Now go and drive the god damn car. We do actually want to get Iggy in this century."

Fang let out a hard chuckle. The car suddenly roared to life and we tore down the street, leaving the city of Los Angeles far behind us.

OH MY GOSH I'M SO SO SO SO SORRY! I cannot believe I haven't updated in almost two weeks. I know, I'm such a horrible person. And this chapter wasn't even were good! Gah I'm so sorry. I'll try to update faster from now on. Thank you for the wonderful reviews. They really gave me the inspiration to write. Read and review! ILYSM! 3