FANG'S POINT OF VIEW

"You did what?" I asked, incredulous.

"I just told you; I found out what you told Max."

"Why?" I couldn't believe this. What could Ella possibly think to gain from snooping around?

"Fang, you didn't tell me. You should have."

"I didn't think it would make a difference."

"Of course it makes a difference! She's knows, Fang. She has seen a part of you and a part of your world you have tried so hard to conceal."

Crap. I was afraid of that. I was hoping that she would shrug it off, or get scared and let it go. Apparently that wasn't the case.

"She wants to help, you know."

"How could she possibly help us?"

"Not us. You, Fang."

"What? What about me?" I was not in need of help. I may not agree with the situation, but I could handle it. If she interfered, I could not imagine her coming back out as well as she entered. Ella, probably knowing what I was thinking, put her hand on my arm and gave me a half smile.

"You are brave and you are strong. But can't you see? You are not who you were, before this happened. Who, besides myself, really knows you, Fang? You are hiding far inside your walls, and unless you let someone in, you will be crushed."

"Do you really think that, Ella?"

"I do."

"What about you?"

"I have Iggy. But I am not as nearly as burdened as you are."

"El...I don't know. She may not like what she sees."

"Ah, but she already has seen." She had a point there. I would never want to pull anyone near me simply because I did not want to see them hurt. Max did seem generally caring, but how could I know for sure? People could be so flippant. Untrustworthy. I hardly told my best friend anything. Not because he would tell, but because who knows? We could get into a huge fight and he might tell just to spite me. Would he? I just don't know.

But Ella was asking, and she did have some valid reasons to. I was aware just how far deep I had sunk into myself-so far I wasn't sure I could get out. I had never truly meant to become someone people avoided, nor did I mean to become someone who avoided others.

"Alright, alright." My sister smiled, gripping my arm tighter in thanks.

"Wonderful," my sister said, sounding very relieved. Did I think this was going to do anything? No. At least, not anything good. But Max was already bonded to me through my secret, and Ella was absolutely convinced I would benefit from her presence. What did I have to lose?

Oh yeah. Everything.

MAX'S POINT OF VIEW

"Partner up!" my health teacher called, waving her hands around to encourage us. I looked around and got up, making my way to where Fang sat unconcerned with chaos around him. I really didn't want to be annoying to him, but I promised. When I was near him, I stretched out my hand to touch his shoulder, and he ducked his head and faced me, making me accidentally stroke his cheek. I retracted my hand, blushing furiously.

"Uh..." I stammered, embarrassed.

"Yes?"

"Would you like to work with me?" I asked lamely.

"Sure," he said calmly, motioning for me to sit. I sat in the chair next to him. I was still humiliated, but he seemed more tense than I did. Not frustrated or anything, more like- Heaven forbid- afraid.

"Alright. Everyone paired up? Perfect! Now, to end our unit on relationships, we're going to do a special project. You are your partner will performing a series of tasks together, learning how to function as a team. You will tested on your ability to plan, cooperate and act as fast as you can. The best working couple will win a prize at the end of the week."

I stole a glance at Fang. He seemed...amused? Wait, really? Are you kidding me? Is it that hard to see us working together?

"Alright! Come up to get a blindfold and a string. Hurry up!" I stood, following Fang to the front of the room where we got a crappy sleeping mask and a shoelace. I sniggered, shaking the items in Fang's face.

"This could be taken many ways," I said, wiggling my eyebrows and hoping he understood what I meant. He rolled his eyes, but gave me a half smile.

"Okay. Everyone outside. There's an obstacle course there. When you get to the entrance, you must tie your ankles together and someone must be blindfolded. The person without the blindfold must guide the both of you through the maze. It may be harder than you think. Good luck!"

I huffed, annoyed. Fang said nothing, to everyone's freaking shock and awe. The obstacle course was laid out on the soccer field. I saw on odd assortment of chairs, a ladder, and some kiddie pools. Fang handed me the blind fold to put on and bent down to tie our ankles. Once I was completely blind, we were allowed to start.

"Clear ten footsteps," Fang instructed. I counted ten footfalls before pausing.

"There are cones making a serpentine path. The first curve goes off to your left." We shuffled along, walking at an average pace. I noticed we did indeed begin to turn left. Then right. Then left again. We did five or more curves, all the while I got better and better at walking steadily. Fang slowed to a stop and I listened for his quiet instruction.

"Okay. We have to step through tires. There are three in a row, six rows. One for each of us and one to share. Follow my lead," Fang muttered. I waited a moment, then felt a tug on my ankle. The bottom of my shoe scraped the rim of the tire before I felt the ground again. It was a little more difficult to get my other foot in the other tire, but I managed.

It was a tediously slow process, and I almost fell twice, each time grabbing Fang's elbow for support. After a few more painstaking minutes, we stopped. I swore I heard Fang sigh.

"What?" I asked nervous. "What do we have to do?"

"This is the running the portion. 'Cept we have to run through and stick our feet in a few small pools. I'll give you a heads up. Ready?"

"Ready." Can I just make it clear how awkward running is while tied and blind? It's like riding a hose upside down and backwards. It's just wrong.

"Smaller pool right ahead," Fang said, coming to a stop. He lifted our ankles and I gasped as we stepped down.

"Good Gandhi that is freezing!" I said, shocked.

"There are ice cubes in the water," Fang explained, shaking off our ankles and setting out again. We had to step in four pools together, each of them making me want to cuss. Then Fang informed me we had a straight stretch to run. We sped up, moving in unison. When Fang slowed, he announced we completed the course. Relieved, I was quick to rip off my blindfold to see Fang and...no one? I looked around, confused.

"We're first. Turns out you're not as clumsy as you look. Almost," Fang teased under his breath.

"Hey!" I said, turning to swat him. Instead, with our ankles still connected, I managed to trip both of us. Using my butt kick warrior skills, I was able to land with one hand on either side of Fang's head, on foot on the ground while the other one still tied to Fang was raised slightly. Fang looked as surprised as I felt, lying underneath me. I held my breath, not moving for what felt like an eternity.

"Sorry," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I lowered our raised ankles and got to my feet. I helped pull Fang up and we stood there awkwardly a moment before he smirked at me.

"Better get us disconnected before you injure one or both of us," he said before bending down to untie us. I scowled as his bent head, sticking out my tongue. After he finished, we both took a half step back and faced each other. The rest of our class was beginning to pop over the finish line, some giggling incessantly and others grumbling at one another.

"Hey Fang?"

"Yeah?"

"Why were you limping?"

FANG'S POINT OF VIEW

Oh give me a break. How could she have noticed? I made sure to tie her to my good ankle and she was freaking blind! I was good at hiding it; it was hard to believe she would even be able to tell if she could see.

"I wasn't limping."

"Yes you were. I could tell."

"I'm fine, Max."

"Not if you're limping, Fang."

Why couldn't she just drop it? Who cares? People limp all the time. Nothing new there. Honestly.

"I'll heal." I said through gritted teeth. I knew I was being rude, and I was expecting her to be hurt. I was wrong.

"Would you just let me help? Stop trying to act tough, you'll only make it worse." She said, coming over and putting my arm around her shoulders. I stiffened, not used to having much personal contact. Max hardly seemed to notice as she helped me limp my way to the classroom. It wasn't all that much better, and I didn't like having her helping me.

Oh who am I kidding. My ankle was freaking killing me. But I still know if I liked the way she was babying me. I mean, I'm a guy after all. It's in my nature to be independent. Plus, having been mostly alone for years, I was just fine with solitude. I was weirded out by affection from other people when I had grown with none.

I cussed in my head. Ella was right. I may just be in need of personal contact. I hated it, but she probably knew better about that kind of stuff than I did. I sighed in defeat, relaxing a bit and leaning on Max more. She smiled at me, looking pleased.

"See? Was that so hard?" she asked, speaking softly so no one else could hear her. I could feel the stares from the other students around me. They were used to me being reserved and alone, but seeing the new girl with me? She may as well have written 'loser' on her forehead. I gestured to them with my head.

"You're not doing yourself any favors. They may not take this lightly."

"I know. They may think you're possessed, with how much you've been speaking lately. If they take out a camera phone, I'll chuck you at em." she teased, obviously not worried. I surprised myself by laughing softly, an action I hadn't done in a really long time. Max laughed along with me, carefree and light. She didn't seem to care in the least about the other kids, her eyes trained ahead of her.

"No but really. I've been to a few schools this year; I know how the people can be. It doesn't bother me anymore." she confided, not looking at me. I wondered just how many schools she had been to. Enough to get over the need to impress people, I thought. I was starting to see why Ella liked Max so much-she was decisive, but not opinionated. She just knew what she wanted, and that was it.

"Max?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

"Anytime, dude. 'Leeeeean onnn meeeee,'" she sang, causing a few of our classmates to snicker and roll their eyes. I smiled one of my famous half smiles, nudging her.

"I take it back."

"Oh c'mon! It's a classic!"

"It is not a classic. It's mopey garbage."

"Don't make me drop you."

"You wouldn't dare." I said, feigning terror.

"Mwahahaha."

We walked on to class, ignoring the comments made about us and laughing at each other. It was something I felt like I had to try at; Max already knew my secret. If that didn't drive her away, it seemed nothing would. Even so, she seemed at ease with me, like I was with her. I found myself all but forgetting the strain on my ankle and the anticipation of talking to her. I was almost, almost sad to part ways with her that day.

Ella was right-perhaps we could be friends.