My first thought of the dance was that it was very hot and crowded looking. It was in the school cafeteria which has a connected area called the commons where you can kinda just go and chill after lunch. The actual cafeteria was the dance floor with a DJ and the commons was full of tables and heels that girls' had taken off because they wanted to dance.
Whoever came up with the name "Winter Formal" emphasis on the "Formal" was incredibly misguiding and pretty stupid because this dance was essentially another homecoming. For those of you have not had the wonderful pleasure of a homecoming dance, it's basically just crazy music played by a DJ, and a large amount of unsupervised grinding. This Winter Formal wasn't exactly like ballroom dancing which I had somewhat expected. However I guess this was the right dance, something I had been debating since we walked in, because Gordon, Fang and Iggy acted like this was totally normal and expected. Maybe this was just a Chicago thing. Whatever, I decided to just roll with it and Gordon took my hand and we went out onto the dance floor.
Normally, I'm not the dancing type, but since this was a new school, it was essentially a new start and I decided I didn't care what anyone thought about me and I was just gonna be me. Blow Me One Last Kiss by Pink was playing as we danced to the first song. Another great thing about Gordon, he was a great dancer and had a hilarious personality on the dance floor. They played a few popular songs that we all danced to, and even Fang who we all know is Mr. Personality, came and let loose and danced with us. Then they played Gangnam Style, by PSY, that crazy music video that has an awesome dance and is in some crazy language. Everyone went crazy and started doing the dance, because I mean come on, who doesn't know the Gangnam Style dance. I have to admit, Iggy was the best because he incorporated parts of the music video in, along with some of his own dance moves and everyone was laughing so hard.
Then the DJ decided to put a little spin, and played a slow song. All the girls went over to their dates, and they got into the slow dancing position. Does that have an official name? You know where the guy has his arms around the girl's waist, and the girl has her arms around his neck. Like in the movies where everyone's happy and dancing. Well if you don't know because you've never seen a princess movie, just know that you have had no childhood. Anyway he played around 4 slow, romantic songs, and Gordon and I danced to the first 3, and l leaned my head on his chest, and it felt kind of right. Then the DJ yelled to grab a new partner for this last slow dance song. Gordon looked a little surprised but then nodded and Fang came over and asked me to dance.
"May I ask you of this dance, Ms. Maximum Martinez?" he said taking a fake bow and using some crazy fake accent. I laughed and nodded, over-exaggerating my failed attempt at a courtesy. Fang smirked but then reached out his hand, and I took it and we took that pose I explained before. Sorry for all of those who haven't had a childhood, I'm not going to explain again, but you catch my drift.
We danced together for the last song, and I didn't even notice who Gordon had asked to dance. Fang seemed so calm and at ease right now I couldn't help but smile.
"What's so funny?" he teased looking down at me, smiling to myself.
"You seem so peaceful. It's weird," I joked back. He grinned back and then did a weird little embarrassed look to the ground. I ended up ignoring it because I didn't want to ruin the moment. I felt just as comfortable dancing with Fang as I had with Gordon. Almost a little more comfortable. Fang's arms were wrapped around me and they were strong and firm. They seemed impossible to break. We stepped in time perfectly together, and Fang had perfect rhythm. I guess all those years singing and playing guitar had managed him to keep a steady beat.
I looked over and saw that Ben and Alexis were still dancing together, as they had completely blown off the DJs comment to switch it up a little. I had to admit they were perfect together. Ben seemed so genuinely happy and was just smiling to himself; his blue eyes seemed far away. Alexis was just adorable because she was so much smaller then Ben who was around 6'1" and she was probably only 5'4". She was leaning her head on his chest, and his hands held her back close to him. If they ever break up, it would break my heart. They were that couple that everyone admired and adored. He asked her out to homecoming in a really cute way too. Since Alexis played volleyball and lacrosse, he had gotten her locker combination from someone and decorated her locker, and wrote "X-Marks the Spot" on a volleyball. He showed up at her locker after school when she was grabbing all her stuff. He had also brought a large bucket, full of sand. She had to then dig in the bucket of sand until she found the glass bottle, which had a note in it. Most guys just wrote WF with a question mark, or something simple. But Ben's note said "It's been my goal for 4 years to take you to a dance. Winter Formal?" Then he had also happened to have a dozen roses for her. Honestly, how much sweeter can a couple get. I mean I loved how Gordon asked me to, but they were like that fairytale you always hear about, but never see come true.
After about an hour of dancing, I told Gordon and Fang I was going to run to the bathroom and then outside to call my mom and tell her around 10:15 was good to pick us up, since it'd be over at 10ish. I went to go stand outside because the air in the cafeteria was so stuffy I could barely breathe, and as gross as it sounds, I was sweating a lot from the heat and exercise. I didn't hear or see anyone else outside, and I slipped my shoes off and set them against the door and walked over by some trees to call my mom. But then a lot of things happened at once.
First, I noticed that a gang of about 3 or 4 big guys, maybe 18 or so appear out of nowhere, and circle around me. I hate where dresses because I feel so vulnerable in them, not being able to move fast or efficiently. Anyways, I tried to scream for help, but as soon as my mouth opened one of the burly guys smacked a hand over my mouth. I decided I was going to rely on the element of surprise and give it a minute, or at least 45 seconds before I took some action. I pretended to struggle for 30 seconds, and then I swung my elbow around in a fast jerk movement and took one of the guys out. I heard loud gasp as he made that oh so attractive fish out of water face as he rapidly, and unsuccessfully I might add, tried to take in oxygen. I spun around fast and did a low kick and the knees on another one of my unknown attackers went out and he collapsed.
But remember how I said a lot of things happened at once, yeah well while I was trying to hold my one against these fat bastards, a black car had driven up and 2 more guys had hopped out, and replaced the two that I had knocked unconscious. I also noticed that the two guys who had come out of that car had come from the back seat, so that meant that at least one more must be in the front: the driver.
I hadn't given up yet, but I was starting to lose hope as the last 2 men joined the gang. I kept thrashing around, trying to get a good kick or punch in, but it was getting to be impossible. They had such a tight grip on me I could hardly move. I'm much stronger than the average freshman girl, and possibly the average freshman boy. But these men were much stronger than an average college guy, and probably on steroids and who knew how many other kinds of drugs. I wasn't sure what they wanted me for, but I sure as hell knew I didn't want to find out.
It felt like I'd been struggling for at least 2 hours, but in reality it was probably only around 7 or 8 minutes. I was about to lose consciousness completely, when I heard doors slamming and feet running. I couldn't register who the voices belonged to, but I heard someone yelling "MAX!?" Then I heard another voice, more familiar but I still couldn't tell who it was. "Max?!" and then quieter, "Where did she go?" The voices seemed very far away, but I wasn't sure if that was due to the fact that I was in a half subconscious state, or if they really were far.
"Oh shit Fang." I heard the first voice say, and then I knew it was Gordon and the other was Fang. They must've come looking for me since I'd been gone for quite some time. I heard the footsteps grow closer as they must've seen me and these huge guys despite the darkness.
They must have detected some sort of motion censored lights because as they approached lights flashed on and they could see me surrounded.
"Get them?" Gordon asked.
"Get them," Fang replied sounding deadly.
"God not Max," they both whispered at the same time.
They came at us and guys looked a little worried with two insanely pissed and scared guys came running at them. They reached us and started whaling on these huge guys, who weren't as strong as they looked. The two Fang and Gordon got to first were laying on the ground, and there were 4 more guys grabbing me. I wanted to try to take some more out, but I had no strength left and was still trying to remain awake. I saw Fang, looking almost deranged, take a fast swing and caused the guy's jaw to smash, and his hands instantly cupped his face. Blood poured from his mouth and he fell to the ground. Out of the corner of my other eye I saw Gordon take a blow to the gut, but he kept on punching. He got his guy in the throat and the guy's eyes bulged as he fell over too, gasping for air. Now, with one guy left, Fang spun around and kicked him in the chest with all his anger, momentum and power and the guy tipped like a tree that had just been cut down. I had fallen to the ground as the guys had been taking down by my two best friends.
"Max," Fang breathed as he knelt down beside me.
"Can you hear me?" Gordon whispered, kneeling at my other side.
"What?" I asked and tried to sit up. They both smiled in relief as they watched me. "I feel kinda weird. Like dizzy or something."
"Oh my gosh, you're arm…" Gordon choked out, his face drawn and tight, looking so much different from when we had just been dancing together only 20 minutes earlier.
Fang turned so he could see it and his eyes narrowed, and he looked scary again. "Those bastards are gonna pay."
I looked to what they were making such a big deal about, and then gasped as I saw this huge gash in my arm, blood seeping into the grass from it. I hadn't even realized it, but when I looked around, I saw one of the men held a knife in his hand, that appeared to be covered in my blood. My arm was so cold I couldn't feel the pain, but I was afraid I would need stitches or something. I had lost a decent amount of blood already.
"At least there's no blood on my dress," I said trying to break the awkward silence which had fallen between the three of us.
"We need to get to you to the hospital," Fang said sounding determined. "And contact your mom, Max."
"I'll call 9-1-1. Fang you call her mom," Gordon replied sounding calm as usual but his face was pale and panicked.
"Right." Fang whipped out his phone and dialed my mom, who was saved into his contacts as ICE (in case of emergency). I guess this kinda qualified as an emergency.
"Hi, Ms. Martinez. It's Fang. Max got attacked by some guys when she came outside to call you. She's beat up and has a huge gash in her arm from a knife we think. Gordon's calling an ambulance. Do you want to meet us at the hospital?" Fang said speaking really fast, barely able to get his words out.
He nodded and then hung up, after he said a quick thanks and good bye.
"Your mom will meet us at the hospital Max."
"Hi. Yes. I need an ambulance. My girlfriend was attacked by we think a gang, outside of the highschool. It's the Winter Formal tonight. Yes. Yes. No. Yes I'm here with her and her best friend. Her name is Maximum Martinez. Yes, her mom is meeting us at the hospital. She has a huge slice in her arm from a knife and it's bleeding like crazy. Yes please. Right away. Thank you. Bye," Gordon hung up and sat down next to me, and put an arm around my shoulders.
"It's okay Max," he whispered. I nodded.
"Thanks. To both of you guys. I don't know what they would have done with me if you hadn't come out." Fang was pacing looking stricken, which was so unusual because he normally showed no emotion, and remained so composed all the time. He looked so upset, and I realized that he'd left his girlfriend and the dance and most of his friends to come find me. I was so lucky to have a boyfriend like this and the best friend anyone could have. They were both so sweet and they really cared about me.
Fang came over and sat down really close. "I'm sorry Max. Are you okay?" he asked earnestly.
"Yeah. Really. Thanks for coming for me and ditching everything else."
"Of course. Why would I not come?" he replied sweetly. Gordon sat next to me silently, and I wondered if it bothered him that my best friend was a guy too. He never showed that and I hoped it didn't because I would never ditch Fang for anyone. He was my best friend and no one could break us apart. Just then, an ambulance pulled into the school parking lot, and Gordon scooped me up and carried me over to the bus and Fang went to go talk to the paramedics.
"What is your relation to Ms. Martinez?" a black medic asked holding a clipboard. "Are you the boyfriend?"
"No. I'm Fang Ride. I'm her best friend and neighbor."
"Okay Mr. Ride, you may ride in the ambulance with Ms. Martinez and if you could maybe you could help provide some information to Alex, he's hooking up Max to the monitors in the back now."
"Sure. Her boyfriend can ride with us too right?"
"Yeah. Well we better get going. Hop in the back," he said, and walked off to get in the driver's seat.
I was hooked up to some equipment, and then laid down on this stretcher thing. I'm pretty sure I passed out after that, and I'm not too sure what happened.
I woke up laying in a hospital bed, hooked up to a few IVs and with a huge bandage on my arm from my shoulder to my wrist. Was the knife cut really that long? I mean it was dark last night and I was kinda out of it but I didn't think it was that bad. I started to register things now that I was waking up, and I must have been put on some sleep medication if they had to go into surgery. I sat up and got kinda light-headed but the 3 chairs in my hospital room were full. Man am I popular or what? But the chairs had my mom, who was the only awake. Fang and Gordon were out cold in the other two, on either side of my bed.
"Hi Max," my mom said getting up and coming over stand by me.
"Hi mom. Um what time is?" I asked completely disoriented.
"Hi sweetie. It's around 8am. You got stitches on your arm, and Gordon and Fang have been here since you got here. Both their mom's showed up to bring them home but they both refused to leave. Molly Ride stayed and talked with me a while."
"Oh wow. What's the deal with my arm?" I asked. Wow. I can't believe they stayed all night just for me. I mean there's really nothing special about me. I noticed a few cards and flowers on the table with a balloon.
"Well, they are sure it was knife by the way the cut was. It was around 9 inches long, and pretty deep, but thankfully no muscle tissue was damaged and it'll be okay. You have about 50 stitches in your left arm at the moment, and you're coming back in around 2 weeks to get them out. But you have to wear that bandage thing until then and probably for at least a week or 2 after to make sure it heals up, alright." I nodded. Man this was gonna suck. Thankfully though, it was a moveable bandage cast thing so I could still sing, and hopefully play guitar.
"We have a gig next weekend. I can still do it right? It's our Christmas one and we might do part of it in Kaylie's honor," I said worried.
"Yeah of course you can. You're out of gym though for at least a month," she replied with a smile, and I breathed out relieved. "Oh, and good news. Jeb and Ari are coming for Christmas. I knew they wanted us to go visit them, but I also knew how much you and Ella want to be here for your first Christmas with all your friends," she gestured to the two sleeping boys at my sides and I blushed. "And they all want you to be here too, so your father has agreed to come out, but we're figuring out the dates along with when you all get let out for Winter Break."
My face lit up. At first I was begging for my dad to let us come out there for Christmas, and then stay there. But now that I'd made such close friends, I loved it here almost better than I had loved St. Louis. Jeb, I still refuse to refer to him as dad, lives out in Colorado with Ari. I loved Ari though. He was the sweetest, most adorable kid and he had such a hard life, between his parents being gone and everything. I was glad I'd get to see him and I knew he'd love Fang and Gordon. And Iggy of course because everyone couldn't help but love his great personality.
"Great. Maybe they can come to see out Christmas gig this weekend? Or is that too soon? And just out of curiosity, who's all this stuff from?" I asked looking at the table with cards, flowers, candy and balloon.
"Ella and Nudge got you flowers, Iggy got you the balloon and some candy. And Ben and Alexis dropped off more cards and candy last night when they heard about everything. Oh, and some kid named Colin dropped off a card too," she explained. I grinned. Of course Nudge and Ella got the flowers, and Iggy had to have gotten the balloon.
"Aww, that was so sweet of everyone," I said smiling still. Then I grimaced as some pain was starting to return to my arm.
"Yeah it was. You have great friends Max. You're very lucky," she replied taking a sip form her Diet Coke. I nodded and she noticed that my hurt arm was being cradled by my other arm.
"Is it hurting again? Max tell me the truth, you don't need to be tough all the time," her brown eyes wide and pleading for an honest answer.
I waited for a few seconds, "More than before. The painkillers are wearing off."
She nodded, "Why don't you try to get some more sleep honey. You seem exhausted and sleep will help the other medicines to take into effect." I agreed, and then laid my head down on the pillow, surprising myself by almost instantly drifting to sleep.
Hey guys! Here's another chapter. Figured I could post two today since I didn't have school. Please review! I have some ideas but I'm not really sure where I wanna take this story yet. Don't worry FAX is coming eventually. Ideas? Please RnR! Thanks to everyone who's following my story and reviewing and reading!