If It Weren't For You – Chapter 11

By MyNameIsCAL

-Max's POV-

I had expected Fang to hide away in his room since everyone was arriving this morning, but he was up even before Iggy today.

"Well, good morning," I said to him.

He started to make coffee. "Happy Christmas Eve?"

I let out a laugh. "Well, yes."

He took Ava, producing a smile from her, before giving her back to me. When he thought I was looking away, he rubbed his shoulder, wincing.

The buzzer rang, and Fang proceeded to push it before I could.

"Your brother and sister are here, Ms. Ride," the familiar voice of the security guard said. "And your brother's girlfriend. Can I send them up?"

"Uhm, yes," Fang said.

"Oh, hello, Fang," the guard responded.

"Hi," Fang said stiffly.

"Well," the guard replied. "Have a merry Christmas, okay?"

"You too."

It wasn't long before there was knocking at the door. Iggy had just came trudging out of his room, shirt buttons all off by one, but before I could say anything, Fang approached him, muttering. Iggy let out a sigh, letting Fang fix them. It surprised me. Ever since Iggy and Fang had come home from the hospital, I had been holding my breath, waiting for things to come crashing down, but they hadn't. As distant as Fang could make himself, he had a big heart, and it pained me to think he was just being nice to Iggy because it was only going to hurt Iggy more in the end.

Nudge greeted everyone with hugs, even Fang. He was a little taken aback, and he managed to wrap a stiff arm around her. Gazzy, always weary of Fang, still shook his hand firmly.

"It's good to see you," Gazzy said with a small smile. "How have things been?"

Fang said, "Things have been, well, finally settling down I guess."

"Good, good," Gazzy nodded, searching for something else to say.

"I'll be, uhm, clean for a year at the end of January," Fang added.

Gazzy clapped Fang on the shoulder. "That's really great. I bet Max is proud. Well, you know, we've all seen how far you've come. I'm glad you're okay, man."

Things went smoothly. Fang had occupied himself with helping Iggy in the kitchen, and tried not to let that bother me. The others, and by others I mean Gazzy, Angel, and Nudge, hadn't been told why Iggy and I had been fighting the day of the hospital incident. Iggy told me it was already enough that Fang and I knew. Not that I had been planning to tell them anyway.

Gazzy came and sat next to me on the couch, and we watched Angel and Nudge entertain Ava by putting gifts under our artificial Christmas tree.

"So a year, huh?" Gazzy took a sip of his soda. "He's a good guy, just mixed up in all the wrong things. A lot like Ari I guess."

I nodded.

"I take it you two aren't going to get married."

I shook my head. "I don't think I could. And he knows it too."

"He's too much like Ari," Gazzy said. "I'm glad he stuck around though, that he wants to be around for Ava."

"It's good for him," I agreed. "He doesn't want to be like his father either. Lately Iggy and him have been getting along better. Maybe it's good that he's still around to occupy Iggy now that he can't see."

"Ah, Iggy, I guess he's been adjusting well too."

"For the most part. You know he likes to put everything off as a joke."

"Good ol' Iggy," Gazzy laughed.

"He's been trying to teach Fang how to cook. And you know, I burn everything, so it's been going pretty well."

"You couldn't even make a bowl of cereal," he smirked. "Nah, I'm just kidding, Max."

I rolled my eyes and glanced over to the kitchen. Iggy was trying to show Fang how to cut vegetables.

"I promise I won't chop your fingers off," I heard Iggy say, his hand resting over Fang's. "Here."

Fang gave in, and I was surprised because I knew knives were something he hated. There were days that I would have to help him shave because he couldn't stand the idea of bringing blades to his face.

"I've always wanted to tell you to be careful with Fang, and maybe I was a little disappointed when I heard what happened, but I think I've always been wrong about Fang," Gazzy admitted.

It wasn't until seven when all the food was ready. Ava was cranky, Iggy looked proud, and Fang looked like he was glad all the cooking was over. We sat down and began to eat.