January 2, 2013: A

Ratchet pushed me forward, his easy smile mischievous. "There she is, lover boy," he snickered, nodding at Max talking to her friends – Angel and Nudge – just inside the school doors. "Did break help you grow enough balls to ask her out?" As I watched her pale, pink lips move, I ignored him, walking slowly towards her.

She looked up, as if sensing the movement, her brown eyes widening in surprise, the puzzled look in the chocolate orbs making me half grin at her, my backpack slung over my shoulder. "Hey, Max," I said, my voice calm, cool, and collected – everything I was before I had seen her. "How was your break?"

A smirk fluttering across her face, she raised an eyebrow and replied, just as evenly, "Well, I had a bit of a surprise a few days in, but other than that…it was great." I smiled, chuckling as I remembered the Garbage Bin Incident.

Her friends wiggled their eyebrows at her, giggling and jetting off. Max's eyes flickered after them, before hesitantly returning to my face, her confidence faltering for just a second. I took this as a good sign, and dove in. "I was actually wondering something…"

She frowned, her eyebrows furrowed. "Yeah?" she inquired, leaning against the wall, her books shifting into the crook of her right arm. "What is it, Fang?" The way she said my name gave me strength, and I didn't pause as I stared into her beautiful chocolate eyes.

"Will you go out with me?" Max's eyes widened, but her cheeks flushed with pleasure – at least, I hoped it was pleasure. The silence slowly made me falter, and I stepped back. "I'm sorry – I should've – I…"

She shook her head, stepping forward and putting her hand on my arm, smiling softly. "Yes, Fang, yes, I will," she replied, voice soft, as if she couldn't believe the words as they passed through her lips.

A grin spread across my face, and I wrapped my arms around her, leaning down to kiss her lips –

"Fang?"

Max's lips formed the words, but her voice was different – it sounded almost like…like my mother's.

Blinking, I pulled away, looking at her in confusion, my eyes widening in shock as she started to blur.

"Fang!" my mother's voice echoed through my ears, frustrated. I felt a vague shaking in my shoulders, but no one's hands were on me. "You have to wake up! God, I should've known to force you to go to bed earlier the day before school started again…"

Too late, I realized what was happening, and groaned internally as Max disappeared, only to be replaced by the darkness behind my eyelids. Begrudgingly, I opened my eyes, and there was Mom – shaking my shoulders and telling me to wake up.

Sitting up, I sighed, wishing that I had the guts to do that in real life, and – quite pathetically – wondering if she had dreamt of me, too.

Wow. I actually got reviews.

Wow.

You guys are...nice.

:o

And how do I repay you?

FAKE-FAX.

(Fluffy refused real Fax - a few threats were involved as we argued about updating, some of which I am not proud of - so I decided this was the next best thing. D: Sorry. D:)

FLUFFY LET ME POST MINE FIRST. ^_^ I SO PROUD. I'll probably be posting hers, also, tonight - but don't worry, no crazy A/Ns this time.

Fang: You say that now...*Grumble mumble.* Everything about you is crazy.

Me: RUDE! *Glowers and sends him back to the Closet.*

ANYWAYS. ^_^

PLEEEEASE REVIEW.

~Anna Ride