Chapter 10 - Never Again

Max's POV

On my way home, I couldn't stop remembering the words from that text. Who would've sent him that? Family? Friend? Or was it just an accident, you know, just a joke? Part of me didn't believe it was a joke, but what could I do? Ask him about it?

I feel like I've pressed on him too much already, no need to keep asking so many questions when he doesn't seem to want to answer.

With each stride I took, I just got more anxious to find out what happened, or more like what was going to happen.

I pondered if maybe...just maybe it had to do with Fang's habit of giving me warnings about getting hurt. Walking, through the front door I noticed the lights were still off and no shoes by the door.

"He still hasn't made it back yet?" I questioned softly. It was only 4:15 and we let out at 3:55, so maybe he's just doing something for once, I chuckled to myself. Well, it has been while since I've been home alone, so I set myself down onto the floor, sprawled out like a snow angel.

I took a deep breath in, filling my lungs with the cherry scent of my new air freshener I bought and closed my eyes.

Fang's POV

"Thank you for your purchase, come again soon!" The cashier brightly beamed, as he lifted his hand to wave in an over-the-top manner of a goodbye. I took my things and walked out into the parking lot, fighting the breeze that seemed to have a grudge against me not to mention giving me a chill.

I looked inside the bag and smiled to myself, I should pat myself on the back for this one. Fang, you slick, slick man. She's going to love this. I thought to myself.

"Fang?" A voice said behind me. I swiveled my head to see who it was, when an arm came over my shoulder and light brown hair came into view.

"Sam." I replied. He ginned and looked suspiciously to the bag and up at me.

"What's that you have there, Mr. Walker? Drugs? Magazines? Or maybe...something else? Oh and hey, don't forget to bring food for the trip, if I have to room with you, you've gotta bring food or I might just turn cannibalistic." He joked, bumping me with his elbow. I shook my head, obviously none of the above.

"Be warned, if you proceed to know my plans, you've gotta help me. Alright?" I warned, standing there with a smirk on my face. Sam nodded hesitantly, motioning his hands to let me go on.

"So, this is how it's going to go down..."

I got home, noticing how I was gone for about an hour and a half talking with Sam and ending up giving him some of the items that would be hard for me to keep hidden. I put the rest into my book bag and unlocked the door, slowly seeing if Max was inside. Indeed she was my dear friends, but lucky for me , she was passed out on the floor.

I decided to tip toe to the storage closet in the hall to put my book bag inside of it along with the rest of my stuff.

Deciding to just make something, I went into the kitchen to start cooking dinner.

I picked up Max's jacket up off of the counter to put it on the chair, when I noticed a card falling out of one of her pockets. I picked it up and honestly...I feel like I've seen this somewhere before. I opened it up and it read:

I love you. I'll tell it a million times, though you don't

seem to get it. You avoid me. Soon, you'll realize you

share the same feelings, Max.

You'll come to love me.

You'll see.

-Your soon to be beloved

At first I thought this was some weird prank or something, but then I noticed there was a name in the bottom right corner.

Dylan

I pretended to gag, I remember this kid. He was the one who came around Max during lunch. Is he trying to get with her? I don't know if he noticed, but I believe he is making a mistake trying to mess with Max. Stuffing the card into my jean pocket, I rolled my eyes turning to the ingredients.

About thirty minutes in, I heard Max's phone going off and her grumbling about it. I looked over to see her rolling to the couch and pick it up. I kept my eyes on the food, but had my ears open for business.

"Huh? Oh, right. No, I remember, but...Slow down, I can barely understand you. Dude, slow it. Yeah, I know we are. You want me to do what now? In your dreams, Nudge." She replied groggily to the voice on the other end.

Nudge, huh? I guess it was the girl sitting with her at lunch the other day. I noticed a sudden hiss in Max's voice as she lowered it, taking notice I was back. She got up, walked to the door, turning her head to say, "I'll be right back."

Hm, I wonder what was that about.

A few moments later and she came back in with a bag of stuff that looked like clothes. I heard her shuffle into her room, closing the door behind her. I shrugged it off and called out, "Max, dinner is done."

A sound of a muffled voice shouting an approval came back. I guess after I get done, I should prepare for tomorrow. I grinned to myself thinking about the look on her face. I went into the bathroom with my things and began to decide what to take.

I noticed something in the corner of my eye, so I reached for it and picked it up. It was my old guitar pick bracelet. I remembered when I got this as a gift a few years back, when my life was actually decent.

Remembering the old times made me feel a little nostalgic, so I sat down and just held it for a little bit, releasing a breath I didn't know I was holding.

I'm ready for this trip.

Max's POV

Day one of four of our little trip out to the mountains. Nudge has been bugging me *all night and morning to put on the outfit she picked out for me last night when she came over to give me the clothes.

I swear this girl is the reason they came up with the word persistent.

I looked at the set of clothes in front of me, entertaining the thought of just not wearing it...But I would never hear the end of it so I put them on.

A white tank top with a semi-see through blouse over it, with the top of the hem was tied together by a small bow. I carefully, as in not flail everywhere, tried to put these damn white skinny jeans on and after that came the brown braided belt and white converses.

I proceeded to follow the instructions texted to me on how to do my hair. I tried my best. Honestly, I tried. I braided two braids that met at the back of my head while the rest fall a bit below my shoulders in waves.

I rolled my eyes and packed up everything I needed to take, including...a little box. I twiddled my fingers, slightly anticipating of it's owner's reaction. Putting it in the safest place in my book bag, I was ready to go and so I set out into the living room to wait for Fang. He was rushing around it seemed, carelessly if I might add.

"Good morning." I said warmly as he zipped past me going to the storage closet and back. He turned around, walking backwards and gave me a small smile.

"Morning."

When we got to school, Nudge was practically screaming into my ear. Dear God, I wish she could just slow down and speak English. "Max, Oh my God, you look great. You followed my instructions, finally! You won't believe it, but it took such a long time to put that together, but don't worry I've got you and I have your outfits packed with me for the rest of the trip. I also thi-" She ranted, but I managed to stop her before she could end up writing a book on it. Nudge got the hint and held up her finger, twisting it in her long, black, bouncy hair.

"Hello to you too, Nudge." I laughed.

Then she looked around and she asked me, "Did you bring it?"

I nodded and she lit up, clapping her hands profusely, then grabbed mine to bring me into the cafeteria to wait for our instructions.

We were given a lecture about acting maturely on this trip and to not act up, yada yada, words and more words. Plus a few more words on the side, though don't forget the ending words as well. "Don't act like animals."

We all headed for the buses and I happened to see Fang sitting down already with a seat open next to him, so I took the chance and sat there. Nudge and Iggy sat behind us, I could hear their seemingly never ending conversation.

I gave a little push on Fang's arm to only realize he was asleep already.

Geez, Fang it hasn't even been 10 minutes.

We were on the bus about an hour in. As I was staring out of the window on Fang's side, which were dare I say it, some gorgeous trees. Then I noticed his arm twitching.

Fang's POV

Hands. Comfort. Relaxed, worries gone, still there, but hidden.

Why? No idea. Changes, new experiences.

Pain, not from them, old memories, old memories. Don't let them come forward, keep them hidden.

No. Not needed, no reason, keep them hidden. Calming down, relaxed, everything is okay. Lies. Lies. Not okay. Never again.

I woke with a jerk as I noticed Max staring at me with a questionable look.

"Max, what's wrong?" I asked, still retrieving myself from the strange dream I was having. For some reason, I felt my heart pounding furiously. Max took my hand in hers reassuring that I was okay. What...was that all about?

"Fang, you were totally flipping out. Like mumbling and twitching, not enough for the other people to notice though. Are you okay?"

"Um, yeah. Thanks." I said a little doubtful, because I still haven't quite calmed down yet, but other than that, I was just as dandy as I could be. Sort of.

I turned to look outside the window, repositioning myself around the uncomfortable carpet like seat. I noticed we were pulling into the resort and everybody started getting their stuff together to prepare to go straight to their rooms and set up.

Max, Nudge, Sam and I all headed into the same direction, on the second floor with our rooms beside each other. Two to a room. When we closed the door, I turned to Sam and gave him a sly smile and he returned the expression.

"Let's make a plan."

Max's POV

When I shut the door to our room, walking out to the back for a walk around the track that led into the woods. I turned to Nudge who was already bouncing with excitement as we headed down the hallway into the elevator. "Max! Can I tell you a secret? Can I please? You know you want to listen." She insisted. I nodded to let her speak whatever she needed to.

"Well, Max I have a crush on someone!" She covered her face with her hands in embarrassment. I laughed at her sudden need to hide her face as I pulled them away.

"Really Nudge? Who?"

"You know...Ig- Um..I like...I LIKE..Omg, I- Max, I like Iggy." She said. I gasped, I totally didn't see that coming since they hang out all the time. You know, cause I definitely don't see them always sitting next to each other every day. That was sarcasm.

"Do you want me to help you?" I offered, seeing her eyes get set with determination.

"You would do that?" She asked, pulling me into a hug, jumping and squealing.

"Yeah." I said, convincingly.

When we went through the doors, we bumped into Fang, a guy I don't know, and surprisingly Iggy. He stood there, giving me a slight wave while Nudge sparked up a conversation with the other two, giving me a wink.

"Where are you off to?" He inquired with a look on his face that basically asked for me to take him with me. I pointed to the trail and we both walked off while the others going back inside.

He touched my hand with his pinky, locking his with mine.

I smiled to myself, what was he? A kid? If he was, then goddamn I want to go back to kindergarten.

We were walking next to the pond when I decided to just hover over the side and look at the fish swimming around. Next thing I knew...I was soaking wet with a bitchy sounding voice behind me saying, "Oopsies, my hand slipped."

Fucking Lissa.

AUTHORS NOTEEEEE~

Well damn, this chapter was really long. I wanted to try going over 1,900 words to see if it'd be any different? And adding a few new things in it as well. i have come to notice that im definitely not the same writer when i first wrote this story and i didn't like how i was writing so i changed it to fit how i felt right.

Do you like it this way or do you want me to keep posting around 1,300 word chapters?

I believe this one is 2,228 words, not including this authors note. I felt like i was cutting things short too much and rushing thorugh everything so im taking it a bit slower and adding in more details.
How do you like it?

Also I think this time, you guys have a few hints at what may happen in the next chapter yeh?

c:
Also, I'd like to start replying to your reviews, I don't know why I stopped doing that. I used to do it in other stories i had but now i dont. well things are changing now
So lets start with my most recent and go from there

ArtificiallyIntelligent: Thank you so much for giving me some ideas i didn't think about before. Dylan will definitely need to do some explaining before the trips over hehehehe, and they'll face some things. Everything will come in due time, that's part of what im bulding on for the next two chapters.

Thank you guys so much for doing what you do, and I've become a new person over spring break so...go ahead and expect chapters out weekly from now on. I dont know why, but i feel really good about this story now that i have new ways of bringing it together and i know what im doing.

Thank you~
You know the drill, my lovelies 3

Catch you of the flip side

~Kyra