Chapter 38

I had no idea what Fang meant until the next two weeks that followed. Sam was definitely acting cockier around Fang like he'd triumphed something which he hadn't. Suddenly Sam was showing off around me but I still stuck to Fang. I noticed Fang's mood became dark after we came back from the weekend. He'd been to Ardrossan so I assumed that the dark look had something to do with boredom however when Sam came around if at all possible the look on Fangs face darkened.

Fang refused to speak to Sam at all and eventually I'd had enough.

"Alright, Fang, out with it!" I demanded.

"Huh?" Fang asked me.

"What is you're problem with Sam? He's a nice guy and he just happens to like me," I demanded again.

"If you knew what happened this weekend then you wouldn't be defending him!" Fang snapped.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I demanded. I noticed that our voices were getting louder and louder. "You were at Ardrossan not here," I pointed out.

"So was he!" Fang blurted out.

"What does that have to do with anything?" I demanded.

Fang paused for a second.

"Fang, just talk to me," I begged him.

"Fine, Max, you really wanna know then here when he asked you he took me away and said 'she's mine now'!" Fang began. I stared at him in shock.

"What?" I breathed.

"And this weekend I ran into him and he said some stuff," Fang continued vaguely. I gave him a look that said 'come on tell me'. "Alright fine, I said something to him and said 'shut up I could have Max in five seconds if I wanted her,' so you wanna tell me again what a nice guy he is?" Fang finished.

"Are you sure you heard him correctly?" I asked him, not able to believe that Sam thought that I was just a piece of meat.

"Yeah that's right, Max, believe golden boy over me!" Fang snapped and stormed off.

"Fang!" I called out.

"Forget it, Max!" Fang yelled and with that he was gone. I'd never seen Fang so angry or so hurt, I suppose that I deserve it for not taking his word for it but how could I?

Since the following day was Saturday I didn't hear from Fang at all I figured he was still really pissed at me. He normally calls or texts me on a Saturday and a Sunday but when it got to Sunday afternoon and I still hadn't heard from him I wanted to break down and cry.

I sat down on my bed when my phone started ringing.

"Hey, Ig," I said trying not to sob.

"Hey, Max, are you alright?" He asked me.

"Not really," I sighed.

"Say no more, meet me at the shops in ten minutes," Iggy said. I agreed and hung up. Mum said it was ok.

I met Iggy at the shops like I said I would because I'm loyal like that. We weren't at the big shopping centre but we went to the small café type thingy.

"Alright what's wrong?" He asked me.

"Fang," I mumbled.

"Should've guessed, what happened this time?" Iggy asked me.

"He told me something and he thinks I didn't believe him and he won't talk to me," I said quickly. I told him what Fang told me about Sam.

"Why wouldn't you believe him about that?" Iggy asked me.

"I don't think he'd lie but I just didn't think that Sam was like that I mean Sam asked me as a friend," I explained.

"Max, you're my friend and I care about you but you can be a huge idiot sometimes," Iggy sighed.

"Huh?"

"Max, Sam didn't care that you didn't date he thought he was so good you'd change your mind. Look the rest of the flock doesn't really like him and Gazzy has had to keep Nudge but he's always acting like he's better than everyone else," Iggy pointed out.

"Look, I don't care what you guys think about Sam he's been nice to me," I argued.

"Really? Nice as in treating like you're something to be owned or a trophy?" Iggy asked. "You're smarter than that, Max,"

Finally I gave in.

"Alright, I'll talk to Fang and Sam, I think if I make it clear to Sam that we're just friends…" I began.

"Then you'll finally see him for what he really is?" Iggy finished for me.

"Ok, I know Fang was just looking out for me but he didn't let me finish and refuses to talk to me," I sighed.

"Well I'll talk to him for you," Iggy offered. I had to get home so we said goodbye but as we turned to go our separate ways I stopped.

"Iggy," I called.

"Yeah," He responded.

"Thanks," I thanked him with tears welling in my eyes. He walked back over to me and looked at me.

"No problem," Iggy said and before I knew it his arms were wrapped around me in a hug. "I'll always be here for you, Max," Iggy promised me as I hugged him back.

I'd never hugged a guy before I'd always thought it was some huge thing since Mum always made a big deal about hugging guys but I found Iggy's hug comforting and brotherly.

"It'll be ok," He assured me. For a twelve year old boy he suddenly seemed so mature.

That night I tried to figure out some of my Maths sums when there was a knock on the door. I heard Mum answer it and someone enter the house.

"Hi," I heard Fang's voice say.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I turned to see him.

"Can I come in?" He asked me. I nodded and patted a spot on my bed.

"What's up?" I asked him.

"I spoke to Iggy," He began.

"Wait, let me just say this," I requested. "I'm sorry I didn't believe everything you said instantly. I never thought that you were lying I just found it hard to believe,"

"Max, it's fine, I know that Sam is a bit of a smooth talker around you and I know you don't like thinking badly of anyone," Fang said to me.

"Yeah, Fang, I know you don't like Sam and did he really say that… as in did he say it sweetly or in a she's mine and I'll whoop your arse if you don't back off way?" I asked him.

"The second one, just be careful oh yeah and he told me to stay away from you and there's no way that you'd ever look at me when you have him," Fang told me.

"Look, I'll deal with it but thanks and I'm sorry," I apologised again. "Friends?" I asked.

"Friends," Fang smiled (a proper smile). We looked at each other for a minute and I really wanted to hug him but once again I told my heart no.

"Um, yeah," I said and extended my hand. He shook it and we said goodbye after sitting in an awkward silence. I exhaled the breath I was holding in as he left my room.

The next day was Monday and I was going to go to Iggy's house with Fang and Iggy (duh) to work on our group projects that we were given. Gazzy and Nudge were working with Lissa which Fang thanked them for.

"Max, wait up!" Sam called out to me that day as school ended.

"What?" I demanded. I was slightly annoyed with him with how he thought he could treat me.

"How about we go and catch a bite to eat?" He asked me which didn't even sound like a question.

"Sam, I'm going to Iggy's house with Fang and Iggy for homework," I told him and I never thought I would be grateful for homework.

"But you always hang out with Fang," Sam pointed out.

"He's my friend," I sighed. "Look, Sam…"

"What does he have that I don't?" Sam asked me in a raised voice.

"What are you talking about, Sam? We're just friends same as me and Fang," I exhaled.

"Then why would you rather hang with him than me I mean he's nothing special," Sam scoffed. That did it no-one I repeat no-one picks on my friends especially Fang.

"Sam, there is nothing between us and there never has been I don't even know where you got that idea!" I snapped.

"Come on, Max, he's pathetic and you'd rather hang around him," Sam scoffed again.

"You know I think you should find somewhere else to hang out and a new partner because just so you know I'm not yours and I never was. I'm not a piece of meat!" I scoffed and walked off.

I joined Fang and Iggy who were waiting for me with their eyes open.

"I'm proud of you," Iggy told me.

"You heard?" I asked.

"Yeah," Fang said. "Not that I care what that douche thinks about me but thanks for having my back," Fang thanked me.

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered. Fang and Iggy laughed and followed me.