Another early update for my faithful readers, proof of my love, if you ask me!
But seriously, okay, okay, you guys can stop hating me! I told you I'm a FAX lover, and you'll just have to trust me on that.
This chapter is a little uneventful, but totally necessary for the next chapter, where... Well, where some things get explained. I'll just say that because I don't want to give too much away!
Reviews make my day brighter :)
KarleeRay
"Kids! Dinner!" My mom's voice rings throughout the house, and I cringe. I had been dreading this. Time to go play nice at family dinner and pretend like nothing is wrong, when really I feel like beating a few people up, eating a banana split or three, and then passing smooth out and never waking up again. I know, lame right?
I splash some water onto my face, put a few drops of Visine into my eyes to clear away any leftover redness, and slowly head down to dinner.
"Hey Max!" Gazzy greets from where he's already seated at our large dinner table, eagerly awaiting my mom's delicious cooking.
"Gaz," I say in return, dropping a kiss on the top of his head before going around the table to take my seat across from him.
"Where ya been?" Gazzy asks, though he's not really paying attention. He's more interested in rolling his toy car across the table as if my mother had never banned toys from Family Dinner.
"My room," I say simply, hoping he doesn't pick up on the weirdness in my behavior. Usually, I'm all about flock time, but not today. Today, I was all about holing up in room and not coming out unless I had to.
"Max? Will you help with drinks, honey?" My mom calls from the kitchen.
She grabs a stack of cups from the cabinet and places them on the counter for me. I busy myself with filling the cups with ice as the rest of the flock and Ella enter the kitchen and get seated at the table. I hold my breath as Fang walks past the kitchen, clad in a black t shirt and my favorite pair of his black sweat pants that I always steal and wear myself.
"I don't suppose you want to tell me what's bothering you?" Mom asks, under her breath.
I shake my head, pouring water from the pitcher into all the cups. I hesitate at Fang's cup, knowing he would prefer Coke, but pouring water into his cup anyway.
I walk into the dining room and begin setting everyone's cups down in front of them. Fang is seated in his usual spot next to mine, and I deliberately avoid his gaze as I set his cup down in front of him, and then take my seat without saying a word.
The flock chatters on around us, but I'm completely zoned out and off in my own world.
"Alright guys. Dig in," Mom announces, placing the last of the food onto the table.
The flock practically falls over themselves, occasionally bickering when someone was takes too long getting their corn or their mashed potatoes. What can I say? Old habits die hard.
Slowly but surely, everyone begins to notice that Fang and I aren't speaking to each other or anyone else, and an awkward vibe falls over the table, almost like everyone is walking on eggshells, afraid of saying the wrong thing.
"So when is the Athletic Banquet, Max?" My mom asks from the head of table as she takes a sip of her water.
I clear my throat, having forgotten all about the Athletic Banquet that I had to attend because I play Basketball for the school. "It's this Friday. At seven," I say shortly.
"Seven thirty," Nudge corrects me, and I shrug. Nudge had taken up Volleyball after I forbid her to become a cheerleader, and Iggy's soccer season was just about to start up, so they had to attend as well. Even Fang was playing sports now. I got him hooked on Basketball, taught him everything I knew, and I have to admit, the boy is good, really good, and everyone knows it…. Which makes him even more appealing to the female population of my school. He's now a starter on varisty, and watching him play, with such passion and determination, well it's one of the sexiest thing I've ever seen.
"What do they do at Athletic Banquets, anyway?" Gazzy asks around a mouthful of chicken and mashed potatoes.
Nudge saves me from answering. "Basically, all the athletes at our school have to go, and we get announced and introduced with our teams to like all the parents and families and stuff. And they serve food. It's like five dollars to get in though, if you aren't an athlete, so I guess that makes it a fundraiser, but really it's more about introducing parents and other people to the different sports teams at our school…. And I have the perfect dress to wear, so when they announce me, I'll be looking gooood." She laughs, and high fives Ella.
"Real talk, that dress is so pretty on you. You're going to upstage me," Ella pouts. And that's not the only thing Nudge upstages Ella on. Because not only did Nudge take up Volleyball, Ella did too, and they're on the same team. To put it nicely, Nudge is athletic, and strong, and fierce. And Ella, simply, is not. It's not in her nature.
"What are you going to wear, Max?" Mom asks.
I look up. "I don't know. I haven't really thought about it," I say, striving for a normal tone of voice.
She smiles softly. "Ahh, maybe a dress for you too? We could go shopping for one tomorrow after school if you'd like?"
I try not to look disgusted. Seriously Mom? I want to snap at her, tell her that she should know by now that I'm not like Ella or other girls. Shopping won't mend my broken heart. Instead, I say, "I'm not wearing a dress. It's an Athletic Banquet, not a Red Carpet."
My mom looks disappointed, and I instantly regret not rejecting her in a nicer manner.
"But you can help me pick out my outfit, if you want," I mutter, wishing she would say no, so I could just wear a t shirt and jeans, but knowing she won't.
She smiles in satisfaction. "I'd like that."
The rest of the week drags on. School may suck on a daily basis, but when you're depressed, it makes it fifty times worse. And when you have to see the girl that your boyfriend cheated on you with, everyday in first period, with her flashy deep red hair and winning smirk, it makes it one hundred times worse. And when you can't punch said girl right in her pretty little mouth, it makes it a thousand times worse. And when you cant- well, you catch my drift. Basically, what I'm trying to say is, this week has been Hell.
Fang and I haven't talked, but only one time, when we found ourselves alone in the kitchen, and he claimed he understood my reaction to the incident, and he would be giving me my space until I felt ready to talk, if I ever felt ready to talk. And I didn't know if I would, because really, what was there to say?
I miss him like crazy, especially at night when I'm sleeping alone in my big queen size bed, knowing he's only four rooms down the hall, but that I still can't have him.
The flock almost instantly picked up the change in vibe. I can tell they're curious, but they're all too afraid to ask the wrong thing. Nudge and Ella have tried to talk to me a few times, but when I refuse to tell them anything, they give up, claiming they're there for me if I need them. Which I don't. I've become too dependent on someone else. It's time for me to stand on my own two feet. I don't need Fang to live. Will it hurt to go on without him by my side? Duh, I've had to do it before, and trust me it ain't pretty. But at this point, maybe it's for the best. Maybe I was wrong about Fang and I. Maybe we aren't meant to be.
So basically, no one in the house really knows what happened with Fang and I, except maybe Iggy because Fang might have looked to him for Guy Code advice or something like that. And except for Angel, who has her nose shoved so far up into my business that I couldn't get her out if I tried, and believe me I have.
"It's just not right," Angel insists, trailing me down the hallway and into the living room. "Something isn't right about this whole thing."
I plop down onto the couch. "Ange.." I start. "I appreciate your concern and all, but like I said it's really none of your business… Besides, I know you saw what happened, either in Fang's head or mine. So that means you know that this is not my fault. And you're right about it not being right, because cheating is always wrong," I tell her sternly, as she crawls into my lap, knowing she's too young for relationship advice but hoping my words stick in there until the time does come.
"It's not that," She murmurs, her forehead crinkling like it always does when she's thinking really hard about something. "I know cheating is wrong… And I know you think this is all Fang's fault but…"
"It is," I interrupt. "It is all his fault. I'm not the one running around kissing other people," I protest, keeping my voice low, and having to stop myself from shaking my head at the fact that the only person I've talked to my relationship problems about, is a seven year old.
"A seven year old who can read minds," Angel points out, her blue eyes staring into mine. "And a seven year old who has seen what happened from your perspective and from Fang's. And a seven year old who can tell you that there's a teeny, tiny gap in Fang's memory right before he kissed that girl, right before all his thoughts changed. There's something not right here, Max. I'm telling you. I just don't know what it is."
I stare at her blankly, before sighing. "Maybe it's just that Fang is a hormonal teenager who got tired of his girlfriend and looked for something better," I say glumly, staring down at my feet and feeling my cheeks heat up. Did I really just say that? Out loud? To a seven year old?
"You know that's not true," Angel says absently, stroking Celeste with her tiny hand, a hand so little and feminine and soft that it hardly looks capable of throwing a punch. "And Alexandra is not better than you. You're much prettier, and stronger, and fiercer. You're perfect, and she's not," Angel continues, as if reciting facts from a book, as if all of this was obvious. She stops smoothing down Celeste's hair and looks up at me. "You and Fang are supposed to be together. You just are. He loves you. I should know."
"I thought so too, kiddo," I murmur, hugging her close to me. "I thought so too."
"Okay what gives? Seriously, when did you get so boring?" Kace asks, in his usual uncaring manner.
I sigh and look down at my paper, choosing to ignore him. I don't have the time or energy to participate in his immature games.
Kace rolls his eyes. "I know this is about you and Fang."
I busy myself with some stray papers on my desk, pressing my lips together and trying not to clench my fists, so I wouldn't just reach over and deck the kid already. I was so sick of people trying to be in my business, people that I've never talked to before in my life, asking what was going on with Fang and I.
"Oh come on! Don't be so dramatic! Really, Max. It's teetering on pathetic. Where's Maximum Ride? Where's the badass everyone's so obsessed with? Or was it all just an elaborate hoax?" He muses, lazily leaning back in his chair as if he doesn't have a care in the world.
With that, he catches my attention. My heads snaps up, and I look him directly in the eye when I snarl, "You shut the hell up. You don't know what you're talking about."
But Kace just grins. "Aaah. There she is. I knew it wasn't a hoax."
Friday night I stand in front of my full length mirror, checking out the outfit my mom helped me pick out for the Athletic Banquet. I had to admit, it wasn't completely atrocious, kind of hot actually. But was it better than jeans and a simple t shirt? No way. Absolutely not.
Black leggings hugged my skinny legs all the way down into my black lace up combat boots, while a midnight blue tank flowed down just far enough to cover my butt. A black leather, studded jacket, completed the look. It was a badass outfit. Much better than any dress Mom and I could have went shopping for. Ella insisted on doing my makeup, giving me a smoky eye and pouting when I refused the blood red lipstick she wanted to put on me. She wouldn't let me hear the end of it until I compensated and let her curl my hair, which in all honesty, didn't look half bad. I hardly looked like a fembot. I looked like someone you would be afraid to mess with, and if I had to dress up, that's exactly how I wanted to look.
"Woahh, you look totally hot, Max! Fang's gonna die," Nudge trills, coming into my room and getting her first look at my outfit. I give her a look, but she isn't having it. "What? He is. I don't care if you two are fighting or not. You look hot, and Fang's going to notice." For a moment, she stares me down and pouts, jealousy clouding her features for no reason at all. She looks beautiful, more beautiful than I could ever look, clad in a turquoise dress that falls to her knees. She twirls nervously, seeing my stare. "What do you think? Be honest."
"You look beautiful," I state. "As always." I check my watch. 7:15 pm. "Come on, we better go. Everyone else is probably already downstairs."
And I was right. Everyone is gathered in the living room by the time, Nudge and I make an appearance. Ella spots us immediately and squeals. "Nudge I told you that dress would look perfect on you!" And then she turns to me. "And I don't mean to take all the credit, but DANG I'm good. You look so hot."
I ignore her, my eyes scanning the room for one person out of habit. I see Gazzy and Iggy sitting on the couch, looking uncomfortable in button up shirts that my mother no doubt forced them to wear. I see Angel wearing some jeans and a simple white blouse, and finally my eyes land on the person that they unintentionally sought out.
But Fang is already looking at me, and our eyes meet before I can stop it from happening. Instant attraction as always, delicious chills running across my body from the expression on his face despite the warm feeling I get in my stomach. God, I miss him.
Regretfully, I look away, though I can still feel him staring, feel him drinking me in from across the room.
"Alright kids! Let's motorize!" My mom calls, coming down the stairs, and we all begin to file out the door.
Whether it's bad luck or something I was secretly hoping for, Fang and I are the last ones to pour out the door.
He stops me with a hand to my arm, his smoldering eyes meeting mine. And I can tell that he wants me. He wants me very badly. And he has no intention of hiding it. "You look gorgeous," He says finally, his low voice making my knees want to tremble.
It's everything I can do not to throw myself into his arms. I've missed him. God, I've missed him. If I could just be in his arms for one second…
But instead, I just swallow and nod in thanks before following the rest of my family out the door.
And most of you probably still hate me after this chapter, but once again, I'll just say what I've already said. I'm a FAX lover. And you just have to trust me. In the next chapter... *smiles evilly*... Well, you'll just have to read on and see.
Reviews, anyone?