The Runaways – Chapter 32

By MyNameIsCAL

-Angel's POV-

Max's mom, Dr. M, and her sister, Ella, welcomed us into their home with open arms. We were all exhausted. Fang was in a lot of pain, you could tell, and he was suffering silently, trying to make sure Max wouldn't worry too much. It was sweet of him, but I think Max knew that he was lying through his teeth about being okay.

Things started to settle in. Come September we would be off at school, well, without Fang, Max, and Iggy. They were supposed to be off in college, but Fang obviously wasn't up for that and Iggy would feel too vulnerable, not to mention Max's attachment to Fang wouldn't let her go far.

But it was good to sleep in a real bed, one we wouldn't have to be afraid of jumping out of and sprinting away in the middle of the night. We had to share rooms, but that was quite alright with me. Nudge and I had a room together while Iggy and Gazzy shared the other. Fang had his own room and Max had hers with Ella.

As for now, the FBI wouldn't let us leave the house. Fang only got out when he had to go visit the doctor, which was like once a week, and Max wasn't even allowed to go with him. He was only gone for two hours though, and she often occupied herself with looking after us and helping her mom.

But today, I lay on the couch, the TV on to some new show that had developed over our absence away from society. Max was in the kitchen talking to her mom as they made lunch.

"It's your decision Max," said Dr. M. "College is a big deal. It's important, and I know you have to choose between following your heart and your head. But whichever you choose, I'll be there to support you one hundred percent."

It took a long time for Max to answer her mother. "I think staying here would be best. Ella is already going off to college, and now we've got all this to deal with. We can at least save money for a while, and Ella can go and not worry about anything."

I could almost picture Max's mom smiling for some reason. "Then it's settled. Now let's finish getting lunch together. We can have it ready when Fang comes back. I'm sure he'll be tired."

Sitting up, I spotted Iggy heading towards me, unsure of himself. He hadn't quite figured out his surroundings yet, but he was adjusting quickly as always.

"Did they start cooking yet?" he questioned.

I shook my head. "They're about to start. Fang should be back soon."

Iggy made it to the side of the couch and pat my head. "Thanks, Ange."

-Fang's POV-

It was late, and I was up as usual, since I had refused pain medication, this was the consequence I was going to suffer. Things were healing well, considering the damage already done there before I had been shot. The doctor said that in a few weeks, they could get me started on rehabilitation, and I had to make a mental note that I wouldn't give up because Max was giving up going to college for me, and I felt guilty. She deserved better than this.

I closed my eyes, just for a moment, and then something was shaking. Startled, I almost rolled off the bed, and then I realized it was Max. She took my hand and curled up against my side.

"It's only me," she whispered.

Letting out a breath, I squeezed her hand. "Your mother wouldn't approve of this."

But we had promised each other we weren't going to do anything else stupid, and Max laughed a little, relaxing now.

"So why are you up?" I asked her after a while.

"My father is coming to visit tomorrow."

The words seemed to hang in the air.

"Mom wants to keep you all away from Jeb." Max sensed my unease. "He's not a pleasant man and I'm sure he's unhappy something like this didn't come up sooner because he could have fought for custody over me."

"It's too late for that anyway, we're almost legal adults," I murmured.

"Exactly," sighed Max. "He's going to hold on as long as he has to."

Silence crept over us, and for a long time, we said nothing. I thought she was asleep, and I nudged her. "You can't sleep here, Max."

She let out a sigh. "Yeah, I know."

Before she got out of bed, she leaned over and kissed me on the cheek, promising me she'd have breakfast for me when I woke, or at least she would have Iggy prepare something. I muttered a thank you to her and she left, closing the door. I closed my eyes, wishing we could have fallen asleep together, and how perfect it would have been.

-Max's POV-

Fang didn't wake until noon, and I hoped that my late night trips to his room weren't the reason. He sat in the kitchen, eating the lunch that Iggy had thrown together quickly for him. Jeb would be here in any minute, and I paced the kitchen.

"Do you want me to go when he comes?" Fang rested his fork against his plate. "I can finish later."

I shook my head. "No, it's alright. You should eat. I'm not worried about Jeb seeing you."

He nodded, picking his fork back up.

When the doorbell rang, I walked slowly towards it. My mom met me in the foyer and opened it, giving a disdained smile to Jeb.

"You can sit in the family room," Mom offered.

"Thanks." Jeb hung his coat up. It had been years since he had lived in this house, but things hadn't moved around much. But like those kinds of things that didn't change, his unfatherly attitude also remained. Not even a hello or a smile or a hug to me. Sometimes, when I saw him after not seeing him for a long time, I wanted to punch him in the face.

Leading him into the family room, I caught Fang's eye as I passed the kitchen. He had stopped eating again, watching me as I sat, and I was glad Jeb's back was to him. Jeb wasn't here because he cared about me. He was here to talk about something, and I could see it in the way he sat on the edge of the couch, leaning towards the coffee table between us.

"Have you thought about college, Max?" he asked.

"No, I'm going to stick around here for a while." I avoided his eyes. "To help Mom out with anything. Ella is already heading off to New York. That's a lot of money already."

"But I can pay for your education, Max. Why do you forget this always?"

I held back a laugh. "Jeb, even if I went to college, I wouldn't go to a place that you wanted me to go, I wouldn't fulfill your dreams of the son you never had. I wish I could make you happy, but I want to do exactly the opposite to be honest. I hate you, Jeb, and I hope you know when my birthday comes around, I never want to see you again. You wanted a perfect child, a perfect son. Someone to follow in your footsteps and exceed your so-called accomplishments. Well reality check, and here it is. You could have had it. You could have been a real father, but you fought the things you needed to do to attain what you wanted. You killed Ari."

His eyes seemed to be fueled with rage now. He always blamed Ari's death on us. Ari resented him, always. Ari always sided with us, not with Jeb, and that frustrated Jeb. I knew Jeb had always been determined to make Ari into a mini-Jeb. But he was never nice to Ari, and naturally, that usually led to hate between them. Jeb didn't understand emotion, and he didn't understand that you couldn't just plow through life only wanting and not trying to find a way to make what you want, or what you need, happen.

"How dare you talk to me like that, Maximum." He stood, fists balled. "I will give you everything that you need to succeed! Don't through it away! I don't sit around blaming you for everything that's gone wrong in my life."

"I don't blame you Jeb." I sneered at him. "You're my father, and nothing will change that, and so I feel sorry for you because you'll never understand how I feel, or how anyone feels."

Before I could even react, he grabbed me, reaching over the table. I fought him, and as I put my weight forward, he fell back, my legs connecting with the table, giving him enough time to free himself of my grip.

"You're so ungrateful!" He spat. "I wish you and Ari had never been born!"

Jeb slammed his weight into me, raising his fist. I closed my eyes, waiting for him to hit me. At least if he hurt me, I'd have a way to never see him again. No judge would go against hard evidence of me getting beaten up.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

Before I knew it, Fang was beside us, and he propelled himself out of his wheelchair, pulling Jeb onto the ground. I rolled off the table, landing on my wrist and cursing, but I got to my feet. Fang, as much pain as I knew he was in, was winning against Jeb. Although Jeb had managed to connect his fist to Fang's nose, and blood was spewing out, Fang was still fighting back.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" One of the FBI agents had entered the room, Mom trailing at his heels. The agent pulled Jeb off of Fang, handcuffing him.

Fang lay back on the floor, closing his eyes as soon as Jeb was secured by another agent. I kneeled next to him, for a moment, I thought he had passed out.

"You alright?" he asked me, his eyes fluttering open as he took in a deep breath.

"Am I okay?" I laughed. "I oughta be asking you that."

The agent interrupted us. "I'm going to call an ambulance."

"No…" Fang shook his head, sitting up now. "I'm fine."

The agent opened his mouth to protest, but Mom cut in, saying she would take care of him. I grabbed a cloth, and Fang began to staunch the bleeding.

"I'm sorry 'bout the mess," Fang told my mom.

"Don't worry about it, Fang." She gave him a smile. "We're all okay and that's what counts."

I suppose the whole running away part is over now, but I think I'll continue on with how they'll all get back to trying to have normal lives. I'd like a happy ending. But for the most part, closure is what's left.

Thanks for reading! I'll update ASAP