Fruit Punch à la Brigid

"No! You can't wear that!" Nudge stated as she observed my jeans and red tee shirt attire that looked like a Thrift Store buy because it was. I was slipping on my windbreaker when Nudge walked into my room. She had decided to invite herself over after getting ready for the party herself.

Standing in a jean mini skirt, black high heels, and a black, one shoulder dressy shirt, Nudge searched through my closest for suitable clothes according to her taste. Ella stepped into the room, interested in the commotion, "You won't find anything good in there. Check my closest, Max and I are almost the same size." Nudge smiled and walked out the door.

Ella in a pink tank top with a cream sweater and a black skirt looked like one of the preppy kids at school. I narrowed my eyes at her and complained, "Traitor, now I'm stuck in some stupid clothing that I wouldn't be caught dead in." She was excited to go and see Iggy where as I was currently freaking out because I don't do this kind of thing- EVER.

If you haven't figured that out yet.

Nudge rushed back in with Ella's black jean skirt which would go to my mid-thigh to my humiliation and a red tank top with glitter. Then, a leather jacket. Why did Ella even have clothes like these? Why did I have to wear them? As if reading my thoughts Ella began laughing, "I bought those for discount, the whole outfit was like five dollars. You can keep it Max."

"Not over my lifeless, cold carcass, rotting body, Nudge," I warned, ready to fight. Nudge gave me a smile as Ella shut the door.

"Well then," Nudge replied softly, "Prepare to die."

Then we burst into laughter.

And I, weak and pathetic, gave in.

Fang was…how would you put it…R-I-C-H. For a guy who never talked and wore black clothes, you wouldn't expect him to have a house that made Beverly Hills look like Africa. Ella drove us because she had her license and for some reason, I did not. Nudge was jumping up and down so much I thought she was having a seizure. I was panicking, dressed in clothes that weren't mine and with dark mascara and light lipgloss. Besides that I was still normal, butt-kicking, tough Maximum Ride.

Right?

Wrong.

We entered the back where the pool was completely surrounded by people. Set into panic mode, I began making my way through the crowd just to find a way somewhere else. The music was pounding in my ears so anyone could sneak up on me (although I don't know why they would, I just had that feeling). I stepped onto the stairs that led to the even more crowded porch.

I opened a door to the house with the plan to say I was looking for the bathroom. I had made it through without anyone seeing me or recognizing me. I went to the kitchen and leaned against the counter. I could just hide out here until the end of the party and then leave with Ella and Nudge. Simple as eating a cake.

"Hi, are you Maximum?" Opening my eyes wide, I drifted my eyes to stare at a woman, in maybe her mid-forties with blonde hair, about my height, and brown eyes. Wondering why she knew my name, I glared at her and she laughed. "I'm so rude." She held out a hand, "I'm Anne Loretts, Fang's mother." I reluctantly took the hand.

"Call me Max, please." She didn't look at all like Max, she seemed really happy and bright. Her aura read healthy, business woman. I felt weird around her too, as if I had met her before and didn't like her one bit. I pushed that feeling aside. "I hope you don't mind that I'm here. I…I don't like big crowds." There, simple enough.

Mrs. Loretts nodded her head in understand, "Of course dear. Fang should be hiding out here soon anyways. He does the same thing whenever he throws a party. I think he only does it for the rest of the kids to have fun. He doesn't care for much." Well, did she hit the hammer on the nail or what?

She picked up a container of plastic cups and smiled. Maybe it was my jitters from just walking through the crowd but I kind of wanted to hit her. Then, Mrs. Loretts gave my shoulder a squeeze before heading back outside towards the crowd.

I took off the jacket about to sweat from the heat that it produced. I faced the counter and leaned my hands against the cool. Wow- I couldn't even survive a high school party- I wondered what I would be like in the real world. "Hey," I shifted my eyes up instantly and felt a blush.

Max- genius with words.

Nope, that was I lie.

Just as a football narrator would scream.

FUMBLE!

Fang watched her for a moment as he passed his mom through the back door. Even she enjoyed the party more than he did. The only reason he held the damn thing was to watch over Iggy and the others to make sure they weren't stupid. At least here, his mom would watch out for them and make sure they were okay before leaving the house.

Max was stunning in black converse, the black jean skirt, and red tank top. On her shoulder he saw an odd familiar scar that was lighter than her skin and jagged. He had one of his own in the similar shape. Brown curls of hair shifted and covered up the scar. Her lips were pursed and her forehead wrinkled in deep thought. Her curves were definite and her legs long in the skirt. Perfect was the only word he could manage to say about her.

"Hey," he whispered knowing that his words would carry across the room. Her head lifted and stared at him. He instantly recognized the blush and he smiled. She was cute, beautiful whenever she did that. He hoped that he could make her blush again sometime soon. Her dark eyes shifted back to her hands.

Max's lips opened as if to say something but Fang smiled when she closed them back together. "Speechless?" He teased, liking the way she turned to face him in a slight angry stare. A part of her couldn't be mad at him, he knew that with one look in her eyes. How was it that she said so much to him and they had only known each other for a week?

Trying to act casual, Fang stepped towards her and she didn't move back at all. He saw her tighten her fists. He knew her enough to know that she had fought at least once before. He had seen scars just like his on her knuckles. He was drawn to her like a fat dude to a free buffet.

Fang smirked and she bit her lip as if trying to guess what it meant. "You look good Max," he stated simply. Short sentences, that was how he reeled her in. She always wanted more but he couldn't give it up so easily as she would like. He wondered if she thought about the almost kiss as often as he had that entire day. He wanted another chance.

"But not as hot as usual," he whispered just as their bodies were just inches apart. Max was confused and he knew she wanted an explanation. She wouldn't get it. The thick mascara took away the glint in her eyes and the clothes didn't show the Max he had the need to hold in his arms. "Attacked by models lately?"

Max gave him a smile that he wished longer than it had. "Actually, Nudge and Ella are to blame." She sighed and closed her eyes, "I wish I at least had some pants." Fang casually stared down at her long legs in the mini skirt. He wouldn't deny that he enjoyed the sight. She leaned back against the counter and he joined her. They could stare out at the party from where they were. Only the music was a dull thud in the home.

Then Fang got an idea.

He left without a word.

She didn't follow.

But he knew she would wait.

Curiosity was Max's middle name.

I knew Fang would come back, after the way he stared at me was still burning my skin in a pleasant way. I kept here as the party went on outside. A few minutes later, Fang walked into the room holding something black in his hands. I raised an eyebrow.

Giving me a smile, he tossed the clothing at me and I held up the fabric to see as it unfolded that it was a pair of black pajama pants. I laughed, "Are you serious?" I was caught between two difficult decisions- get out of this awful skirt and wear Fang's pants or keep wearing the embarrassing skirt. Then again, wearing Fang's pants would be kind of embarrassing.

"Go ahead," he nodded his head towards the open door of the bathroom. Before someone decided they had to pee for an hour, I rushed in and shut the door. I slipped on the comfortable pants and blushed. Never thought I would be wearing a guy's pair of pants- wait- that sounded wrong. I mean that in a non-sexual way for all of you with gutter minds.

Unsure of what to do with the skirt, which Ella had said I could keep, I tossed it into the wastebasket. I stepped out of the room and saw Fang was still waiting for me, joined by Ella, Iggy, and Nudge. Ella was smiling widely, Nudge was jumping up and down again, as Iggy gave a smirk as if he knew what was happening even though he was blind. Fang had a casual blush on his cheeks as well as I did.

Just then, Mrs. Loretts walked in and saw my new change of attire, "Oh good, Fang. I'm glad you asked the Martinez girls to stay. I got a call from their mother who wasn't going to be in tonight so she asked if they could stay." Mrs. Loretts actually had a phone in her hand as if she had just been talking to my mom.

"What?" Ella asked casually staring at her in confusion. I was going into complete shock. Spending the night here? Outside the party was still going on, it wouldn't end for another hour or two, and I had arrived late.

"I'm an old friend of your mother and she didn't want you driving home late or without her to make sure you were home safely. So, you're staying here." That received a smirk from Iggy as soon as Fang's mom left the room. Nudge, having us as her ride, had to call her parents and tell them she was spending the night- then had to chase after Mrs. Loretts so the parents could talk one on one. Ella and Iggy decided to head back out to the party leaving- you guessed it- me and the one whose pants I was currently wearing. Embarassing.

"Weird huh?" I asked Fang as he glanced at me. Then, I referred to the pants as I whispered, "And thanks, I suppose. It's a lot better than the skirt." My converse barely stuck out from the ends as it was the pants were so long. I let out a breath, all right, I could get through this because nothing was happening and we were just going to sleep once the party was done.

Nothing bad would happened.

That's when I remembered my nightmares.

"Come on," Fang reached out for my hand and I let him take it. He led me outside where the music was playing until we were by the edge where all the food was laid out. My stomach rumbled on queue as if he knew how hungry I was. Fang gave me a smirk and handed me a plate.

"Thanks," I replied, forgetting the fact that I was wearing his pants.

We grabbed food and headed towards the fence, the edge of the party so we could sit and watch without really being disturbed. After finishing enough food to feed a walrus (I assume but you never really know), Fang threw out our plates and then came back to me. "Max," he whispered closely in my ear, "Do you feel it?"

Like magnets on a fridge, his hand traced up my arm lightly and I shivered. He smirked as if I had just answered his question. Then, a voice broke through the moment, "Who do you think you are?" Reacting by instinct, I backed away from Fang and stepped myself over by the foods table for possible throwing items. I thought it was a werewolf or something with red hair. Then I realized it was Brigid.

"That's my boyfriend, slut." Without any warning she came running at me and I picked up the nearest item. The punch bowl and flung its contents all over her. Doused in red fruit punch, Brigid stopped in her tracks and started screaming. At this point, the party had died down to watch the scene and was now laughing at her. "Ugh! I hate you! You'll regret this Max!" Then she ran off but I didn't care about her empty threats because of two reasons.

I could kick her butt any day

Fang didn't offer any of his clothes to her to make her feel better.

And that was my first high school party.

I thought it went pretty well.