Ok, so I'm super sorry that it took so long to get this chapter out…I just wanted it to be perfect :)
So, this is the last chapter of Dorm Ride. *sniff sniff* you guys have been the most amazing readers ever! Thanks so much for a great year of comments and reviews…and death threats when I wasn't updating…haha. You guys are awesome!
So, be on the look out for my next FanFic. I'm co-writing it with Ostrobogulous. It's going to be a City of Bones (the mortal instrument trilogy) and a Maximum Ride crossover. Be on the look out for it in 2011!
Alright. So let's get this wrapped up guys.
Hope you like it!
Nightwings93
Fang POV: Chapter 59
I watched as Max grabbed the French guy and they exited the club. Dammit! I shouldn't have been so sarcastic in the bathroom. I didn't come this far just to ruin it. I can't fuck up. Not again.
"Guys," I called to the band. "Keep them busy. I'll be back later."
"What the hell are we supposed to do!" Iggy yelled.
"I don't know…just don't let Gazzy sing whatever you do!" I shouted back and sprinted out the door after Max. I couldn't let this happen.
Max was it. She is it. She is everything. I had just been stupid and taken too long to realize. Hopefully I'm not too late. Please tell me I'm not too late. I can't be too late. I don't think I'll be able to take if I'm too late.
I rushed down the street. Max's blue dress was in sight. I could still catch up. I pushed myself to run faster and started gaining on Max and the French guy.
Max POV:
I grabbed Gaspard's arm and forced him out of the club with me.
"So, you do know those guys," Gaspard stated.
"Yes," I replied curtly.
I glanced sideways at Gaspard. There was no doubt he was gorgeous…but, he wasn't Fang. I swallowed hard. Why was I still comparing Gaspard to him? They were totally different. But, which one did I mesh better with? Which one would I trust with my life? Which one would I save from drowning first? Which one could I see myself having a future with? Which one do I want to be with? The answer to all those questions:
Fang.
I mentally slapped myself. Fang didn't want me. He made the perfectly clear when he had said that he didn't want to see me again.
As Gaspard and I were walking back to the dorms, the sidewalks and streetlamps faded as they were replaced with harsh white hospital lights.
"I…I was going to tell you. Today actually," I muttered, shifting from foot to foot.
"But, you didn't try hard enough, did you?" Fang accused, his voice like ice again.
"Well, maybe you should ask me first before you go and take Sam's word as law!" I yelled, angry that Fang would immediately believe Sam.
"Then why don't you tell me!" Fang shouted.
"Fine!" I yelled.
"No… you know what? I don't want to know. I don't care," Fang hissed. "You lost your chance to explain your side. How could you keep this from me!"
"Because I knew you'd have this reaction!" I fired back.
"This reaction! What do you expect me to act like after my sister got the living day lights beat out of her because some jack-ass wanted our money!" Fang whisper shouted. Gazzy had lifted his head and was looking in out direction.
"I…I was afraid," I murmured.
"Don't give me that shit!" Fang yelled, punching the wall. "This isn't always about you! Don't give me the "I'm a damaged child who has trouble trusting people" act! I know all about that and yet I opened my heart to you! You saw Nudge was married to him! You knew the danger! You knew he wanted to rob the house! Are you so concerned with your own feelings and well-being that it doesn't matter if other people get hurt!"
I took another step back. "Fang… I'm sorry." Tears started to well up in my eyes.
"Save it!" Fang hissed. "I don't want your apology. I don't even want to see you."
I sucked in a deep breath. I reverted to anger instead of sadness. It's much less painful. "Well, that's gonna be kinda hard since we live next door to each other," I replied, my words dripping venom. The tears were gone from my eyes.
"Well, maybe you should live somewhere else next year," Fang suggested.
"Idiot! We go to the same college! You're going to see me no matter what!" I yelled. This time I took a step towards Fang.
"Then maybe you should take your French teacher up on her offer and go to France this coming year," Fang suggested. His voice was a mix of steel and shattering ice.
"You…you want me to go to France?" I asked, my world crumbling before me.
"Yeah. I think it would be best if we didn't see each other for a long time," Fang whispered. He almost sounded like he regretted speaking those words. Almost.
"Well, fine then Nicholas. This is the last time you'll ever have to see me,"
I said, my voice hushed and laced with oncoming tears.
I turned and ran down the hall towards the parking lot.
Tears stung the back of my eyes. I pushed them away. Fang had made it clear. Perfectly clear that we were over. What I did was unforgivable. There's no going back to the way we were. We couldn't
"Max? Are you okay?" Gaspard asked, he sounded legitimately concerned.
"Yes," I lied, my voice a little thick with tears. "Just fine."
"Are you cold?"
"No. Why would I be?" I questioned.
"You're shivering," Gaspard observed.
"Oh."
Gaspard shrugged off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders, and then his arm was around my shoulders. As if the slight body contact could warm me up. Strangely, it did.
"Hey! Hey, Max!" I heard a voice I knew all too well call from behind.
My heart leapt and my stomach plunged to my feet. He actually came after me. But, he'll just yell right? He's just going to rub it in my face right? Tell me he's going out with some hot chick with giant boobs. Like Lissa or someone like that. Fang had always thought that red hair was pretty.
"Keep walking," I muttered to Gaspard.
"Max! MAX! STOP, DAMMIT!" Fang cried.
He actually sounded broken. I stopped dead in my tracks and turned around. Fang was standing about 100 feet away from me. My broken heart repaired and shattered at the sight of him. I didn't know what to do. I was frozen.
I look of apprehensive hope passed over Fang's face as he slowly approached me and Gaspard.
"I'd appreciate it if you'd take your arm off of her," Fang demanded of Gaspard.
It took a moment for Gaspard to process but then in perfect English: "And why is that? Who are you to her?"
"Her boyfriend." Fang stated.
Gaspard looked at me in question. I was still frozen. Finally, his words began to register and my body started to come to life again.
"My what?" I asked slowly.
"Boyfriend," Fang repeated, less confidently than the first.
"As I remember, you broke up with me. We're done. You said so yourself."
"Yeah. I think it would be best if we didn't see each other for a long time," Fang whispered.
Fang shifted slightly. "Well…I've revised my thinking. Can we go and talk somewhere in private?"
"Revised your thinking? Like you would revise a song to make sure the lyrics sounds good, the melody is right, and all the syllables line up? I'm not some song you can just redo whenever you want to. This is life. Not a song. You can't change your decisions and revise them like you can revise a verse when the syllables aren't quite right!" I hissed, my voice steadily rising.
"That's why I want to talk to you," Fang muttered. "I want to tell you that I took another look at my past actions and I want to start fresh. A new song. Not change the old one."
"I'm confused," Gaspard started, talking to me in French. "Are we talking about songs or the fact that he broke up with you?"
"Both," I said quickly. I had almost forgotten about Gaspard. When Fang is around, it feels like he's the only one. I turned to Fang and switched back to English. "I feel like we said all that needed to be said in the hospital. You've already formed your opinion of me based on Sam's words. You killed the old song and there is no possible way to start a new one without some threads of the old song clouding the verses."
"Max, please can we talk. And stop using a damn song analogy. You're confusing the poor French guy. Can we just talk face to face about what happened?" Fang insisted.
"No."
"Why do you always do this? You always avoid confrontation." Fang stated. Sounding more hurt than angry.
"Max," Gaspard whispered. "You should go with him. He seems sincere. He needs you just as much as you need him."
I spun and looked at Gaspard. "What?" I insisted, speaking in French again.
"I can tell. He is the one who has your heart. He always will. I never stood a chance," Gaspard replied. "Go with him."
I chewed my bottom lip and turned to Fang. It was true. Fang does have my heart. And I think he always will. And, I do want to go with him. I want to tell him how desperately I've missed him and how badly I want to start over with no secrets. But, I couldn't just act like nothing happened. He really hurt me. He broke my heart. That sounds so cliché but it's true. He is the first person to really break my heart. He really screwed me up. But, he's the only one who can put me back together. Even if it's at the risk of breaking my heart again in the future because Fang will always be the only one who can put it back together.
"Fine," I ground out, glaring at Fang. I hated that he had this power over me. Hated it and loved it. I am as high as a kite when I'm with Fang and down in the deepest dumps when he's gone. He's the only one who can make me feel so much. He's the only one who can make me feel, really. "I'll go with you."
Maybe it was my imagination, but I think Fang's eyes lit up when I said I would go with him.
*****8*****8*****8*****8*****8*****8*****
Fang POV:
I fought down my smile when Max said she would come. I have to play it safe. I'm still on thin ice. Really thin ice.
"I saw a café down the road. We could go there," I offered tentatively.
"Yeah sure," Max muttered. She turned to the French guy and said something to him in French. I still marvel at the way she can switch from one language to another so easily. I marvel at everything Max does. I don't why I let her go.
The Frenchie replied and nodded in my direct as a sort of goodbye. He gave Max a kiss on each cheek and left.
"What the hell was that?" I demanded as the guy's back disappeared into the blackness of the night.
"It's how French people say hello and goodbye. Don't sweat it," Max mumbled. "What was with you calling yourself my boyfriend?"
"Um…let's just go get some coffee and we'll talk about it then," I suggested quickly.
"Whatever," Max grumbled.
She took a few long strides so she could walk ahead of me. I could tell by the set of her back that she was determined not to talk to me. I smiled faintly. Still the same old stubborn Max. But, I could also tell there was something different and it scared me, frankly. I'm not sure if this new side of Max still loves me…and I'm afraid I'm the reason there's this new side to her.
I gave Max her space and walked behind her. We'd have plenty of time to talk in the café.
Max POV:
I knew the café Fang was talking about. I walked ahead of Fang, formulating what I was going to say. But, most likely it would all come out as weird incoherent gibberish. It was still worth a shot though.
We walked into the café. We were the only ones there. A blessing and a curse. I called the waiter over.
"Un table pour deux, s'il vous plaît," I asked the waiter. (A table for two, please.)
He nodded and led us over to a table that was tucked away in the corner. It was a booth and there was romantic candle lighting and everything. It reminded me of the time Fang and I went to dinner the first night we met.
Fang and I walked into the small Italian restaurant and were given strange looks by the people who were leaving. I guess wearing paint-splattered clothes isn't so stylish I just smiled and waved. That got me even weirder looks. Fang smirked.
"Table for two, please," Fang asked the waitress.
We waited for a few minutes, and the busty waitress came back, smiling, and holding two menus. "This way," she said cheerfully.
We both exchanged glances and tried not to laugh at her super happy voice. She led us past the front dinning area and up a flight of stairs. She was leading us to a back room that said "The Godfather Room" on the door. That looks pretty cool. As we were about to go in I spotted a glass door. There was a pretty terrace outside with a few seats. Fang looked in the same direction.
"Can we go out there?" he asked.
Wow, it was like he read my mind or something.
The waitress looked shocked, "You don't think it's too cold?"
We both shook our heads. I had a sweatshirt with me, and Fang, well, he just doesn't seem to be affected by the weather. He was still in his wife-beater tank top, which was covered in purple paint, and when we stepped outside, he didn't shiver once.
The waitress nodded and led us to the outside tables. "You can pick a spot; no one else comes out here."
Fang nodded and led me to the only table that was under a cover that had vines growing up it and small lights planted within the greenery. It was really pretty. The waitress looked slightly disappointed. Then it dawned on me. It was a romantic spot. Did she think I was Fang's girlfriend? Fang and I sat down and she set the menus in front of us.
"Kind of reminds me of our first dinner together," Fang said as he slid into the booth. The candles made shadows dance across his face, highlighting his perfect cheek bones and making his eyes sparkle like diamonds.
"I was just thinking that," I whispered. Fang smiled but didn't say anything. "What do you want me to order for you?"
"Just a black coffee, thanks," Fang answered not even looking at the menu. In fact, he was staring at me. He'd been staring at me the whole time. I blushed slightly. Hopefully the dim lighting concealed it.
I turned to the waiter. "Je prends du café avec le sucre et…il prend du café aussi mais pas du sucre." (I'll have coffee with sugar and he'll have coffee also but no sugar).
The waiter nodded and smirked. "The girl orders? Interesting. I suppose he doesn't speak French."
"So?" I demanded. "I don't suppose you speak English."
The waiter flushed. "I'll go get your coffees."
I nodded and turned my attention back to Fang. Had I just defended him?
"Thanks," Fang murmured.
My eyes flew open in surprise. "You understood that?"
"I got the basic gist of it. I sped read a French words guide book for tourists on the plane ride over," Fang replied.
"Um…wow," I muttered. "So, why did you hop on a plane to France exactly?"
Fang sucked in a deep breath. "I had to see you."
"Why?"
"The way I left things wasn't right. Just, what happened in general wasn't right."
"I know. I'm sorry," I said in a hushed voice. My eyes widened. Had I just apologized? It surprised me just as much as it surprised Fang. Honestly, I had wanted to apologize for so long…but why was I doing it now? I supposed to be playing hard to get. But, I'm just putty in his hands.
"Why are you apologizing?" Fang demanded.
"I should have told you about Sam," I answered as though it was obvious. I mentally slapped myself. Playing hard to get, Max. Come on!
"Ok, yeah, but I shouldn't have gotten so hot under the collar. I wasn't thinking straight because Nudge was hurt."
"How it Nudge, by the way?" I cut in.
"She's loads better. They let her out of the hospital about a month ago and when she came home she demanded why you hadn't come to see her and why you weren't at home waiting for her return."
Tears stung the back of my eyes. "She wants to see me? After it was my fault that she ended up in the hospital?"
"She doesn't blame you. She said she understands why you didn't say anything. I guess girls get stuff that I just don't."
I smiled slightly. "Yeah. It's a girl thing to make things ridiculously complicated."
"So I noticed. I guess it's a guy thing to overreact and be stupid at the most crucial moments."
"Yeah, I noticed that as well."
Fang smiled. "Things aren't right at home without you, Max. Angel misses you. Nudge misses you. Mom and Dad miss you. Rondie is getting fat again and won't let anyone catch her. And the guys in the band miss you. And Ella misses you. And…and…"
"And?" I prompted.
"And I miss you. I miss you a whole hell of a lot." Fang finished. "Life sucks without you. You gave me a purpose and a direction. Seriously, as corny as it sounds, I was like a lost soul floating around before you came along. You brought me back to life."
Tears pricked at my eyes again. "I kept so much from you. I don't deserve this kind of forgiveness. You have done so much for me. You picked me up out of the raging storm I was lost in. You made my life bright again."
"But I also ruined it and made it dark again. I'm the one who needs to be forgiven."
"No, it was my fault too. I shouldn't have kept everything from you. And trust me, I've forgiven you. It's more myself I'm mad at for screwing up the great thing we had going."
"Max, is there a chance we could start over?" Fang pleaded.
"How could we?" I asked. "When so much has happened how can we start fresh?"
"Hi, my name is Fang Martinez. I'm almost 20 years old. I'm a sophomore in college at University of Portland. I'm in a band that has a really shitty name. I play guitar, violin, and I sing. I used to be in a gang. My real name is Nicholas Martinez. I used to go by Dagger in my gang. I have a scar on my back that says worthless. And I'm hopeless in love with the girl who is sitting in front of me."
I stared at Fang. Tears freely streamed down my face. He really did want me back. "Hi, I'm Maximum Ride, but everyone calls me Max. I used to be a wild party girl and later a thief. I ruined many people's lives including the life of someone I love the most in the world. I used to be in a band that now has a really shitty name. I play guitar and sing. I'm an ex-alcoholic because the man sitting before is my reason not to drink and I'm hopelessly in love with him."
"You're still in the band with the shitty name, sorry to say." Fang smirked. "So, we'll have to up with a better name. And you didn't ruin his life. You make his life seem like heaven. And…" Fang slipped out of his booth and came and knelt in front of me. "That guy would like to know if you would always make his life like heaven."
Fang slipped a black velvet box out of his pocket and popped it open. A silver band that twisted at the top and had one amethyst and one black diamond nestled together in the twists sat in the black satin inside the small box.
I looked up at Fang with wide eyes. "This is…"
"A huge leap, I know. And I know we're young. So, we don't have to get married until we graduate. But, while you were gone it made me realize that I can't live without you. So. What do you say?"
I opened my small clutch bag and took out the old promise ring Fang had given me. I slipped it onto my ring finger on my left hand.
"Yes. A thousand times yes," I smiled through the tears that were streaming down my face.
Fang smiled his smile that he saves just for me and the world lit up like there were a thousand suns shining on us in the café. Fang carefully took the ring out of the box and slid it onto my ring finger so it was stacked on top of the promise ring.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you, too." I muttered.
Fang's face drew closer to mine and his lips met mine in a gentle but passionate kiss. All was right with the world again.
******8*****8*****8*****8*****8*****
I slipped into my dorm room. My lips tingling and my left hand feeling happily heavy. I had sent Fang back to the bar to tell the band the good news while I packed my things so we could return home on the flight that was leaving tonight at midnight. It was like a fairy tale.
I quickly packed all my and changed into some comfy sweats and a hoodie. I opened the cupboard that held all my alcohol. I didn't even want a sip. I shoved all the bottles into a cardboard box and started to make the trek down to the large dumpster behind the dorms.
As I was going down, I ran into Gaspard.
"Getting rid of all the alcohol I see," he commented.
"I don't need it anymore." I stated happily.
"Why's that?"
"Remember when you said I should stop drinking and I asked you what the point was?"
Gaspard nodded. "I said that earlier this evening."
"Yeah, well, I have my reason. Fang is my reason not to drink. He's always been my reason and he always will be."
Gaspard smiled. "I figured as much. After everything Iggy and Gazzy told me about you two, I knew he was the only for you."
"What? How do you know the twins?" I demanded.
Gaspard smiled even wider. "When their dad was in high school he did an exchange program and lived with my dad's family for about a month. They kept up their friendship over the years and visit every couple of years. The twins and I are really good friends. Anyway, they were worried when you came to France and asked me to keep and eye on you."
I stared openmouthed. "Then why did you kiss me?"
"Because, I knew you'd compare me to Fang. I knew you'd realize that any other guy is just sub-par," Gaspard reasoned.
I smiled and shook my head. "Those two. Taking care of me from across the ocean. Thank you, Gaspard."
"No problem. I hope we can part as friends."
"Of course. I would love that."
Gaspard gave me a hug and kisses on my cheeks. "I'll throw this stuff out. You better get back to the bar so you can catch your plane home."
I nodded. "Bye Gaspard. If you and family ever visit Iggy's family, let me know!"
"Will do!" Gaspard called as he waved me off.
I smiled to myself as I walked back the bar. I had the best friends in the world and the best fiancé a girl could ask for. I internally squealed at the word fiancé. Life had been shitty before I met Fang. Life was shitty when I was away from Fang. Therefore, and logically, the best way to live is with Fang in my life, indefinitely.
*****8*****8*****8*****8*****8*****
I walked into the bar to find it deserted. The only people left were Fang, Iggy, Gazzy, and Kyle. They all smiled brightly when they saw me.
"1…2…3…4," Fang counted off.
I got your runaway smile in my piggybank baby
Gonna cash it right in for a new Mercedes
You were worth the hundred thousand miles
But you couldn't stay awhile
I got your little brown shirt in my bottom drawer baby
And your little white socks in the top drawer
You were always leaving your shit around
And gone without a soundYeah I'm the first to fall and the last to know
Where'd you go?Now I'm heels over head
I'm hangin' upside down
Thinking how you left me for dead
California boundI got a first class ticket to a night all alone
And a front row seat up right by the phone
Cause you're always on my mind
And I'm running out of time
I've got your hair on my pillow and your smell in my sheets
And it makes me think about you with the sand in your feet
Is it all you thought it'd be?
You mean everything to meBut I'm the first to fall and the last to know
And where'd you go?Now I'm heels over head,
I'm hangin' upside down
Thinking how you left me for dead
California bound
And when you hit the coast
I hope you think of me
And how I'm stuck here with the ghost of what we used to beYou're burnin' bridges baby
Burnin' bridges, making wishes
Yeah you're burnin' bridges baby
Burnin' bridges, making wishes
You're burnin' bridges baby
Burnin' bridges, making wishes
Yeah you're burnin' bridges baby
Burnin' bridges, making wishesYou're a chance taker, heartbreaker
Got me wrapped around your finger
Chance taker, heartbreaker
Got me wrapped around your fingerI got your runaway smile in my piggybank baby
Gonna cash it right in for a new Mercedes
If I drive a hundred thousand miles
Would you let me stay a while?Now I'm heels over head,
I'm hangin' upside-down
Thinking how you left me for dead
California bound
And when you hit the coast
I hope you think of me
And how I'm stuck here with the ghost of what we used to beNow I'm heels over head,
I'm hangin' upside-down
Thinking how you left me for dead
California bound
And when you hit the coast
Maybe you'll finally see
And then you'll turn it all around and you'll come back to me
I smiled and tears of happiness pricked at my eyes. It was the first love song Fang had ever sung to me. It had swept me off my feet then and it had just swept me off my feet again.
"Hey, Max?" Gazzy asked.
"You okay?" Iggy inquired.
"Earth to Max!" Gazzy yelled.
"Use this," Iggy suggested.
Gazzy took the square plastic object Iggy held out. It was a drink coaster. Gazzy pulled his arm back and chucked it at me, hitting me right in the face.
"Dammit, Gazzy!" I yelled rubbing my nose. Last time Fang had sung that song for me, Gazzy had chucked a pine cone at me. It was way softer. It still hurt, but it was softer.
I ran up to the stage and was bombarded with a group hug. I couldn't help it, I cried. I had missed everyone so much. After the group hug, I got individual hugs from everyone. Knowing I had to thank the twins I pulled them aside.
"Guys, thank you so much for sending Gaspard to look after me," I muttered.
The twins winked and tapped their noses. "Let's just keep this our little secret," they chimed. "Fang doesn't need to know we were the master minds behind this reunion."
I smiled. "But, we promised no more secrets. I'll tell him when we get back to the states."
"Make sure he's in a good mood when you tell him," Gazzy muttered.
"Pretty sure he's gonna be on cloud nine for a long time, Gaz," Iggy replied. "It's good to have to back, Max."
"Good to be back." I smiled and crushed the twins in another hug. A girl couldn't ask for better friends.
I ran back out on stage and grabbed the mike. I hadn't sung in a while. At least, I hadn't sung sober in a while. I hope it sounds okay.
"I have a song for you too, Fang," I murmured.
Guess this means you're sorry
You're standing at my door
Guess this means you take back
All you said before
Like how much you wanted
Anyone but me
Said you'd never come back
But here you are again
'Cause we belong together now, yeah
Forever united here somehow, yeah
You got a piece of me
And honestly,
My life (my life) would suck (would suck) without youBaby I was stupid for telling you goodbye
Maybe I was wrong for tryin' to pick a fight
I know that I've got issues
But you're pretty messed up too
Either way, I found out I'm nothing without you'Cause we belong together now, yeah
Forever united here somehow, yeah
You got a piece of me
And honestly,
My life (my life) would suck (would suck) without youBeing with you
Is so dysfunctional
I really shouldn't miss you
But I can't let you go
Oh yeah'Cause we belong together now, yeah
Forever united here somehow, yeah
You got a piece of me
And honestly,
My life (my life) would suck (would suck) without you'Cause we belong together now, yeah
Forever united here somehow, yeah
You got a piece of me
And honestly,
My life (my life) would suck (would suck) without you
I knew that I had already sung this song for Fang, but it applied to us like no other song. I looked down at Fang. He was smiling my special smile up at me. I jumped off stage and into his arms. I didn't wait for his head to snake forward. This time, I bent down and crashed my lips onto his. Fireworks erupted between us. Everything in my life was as it should be.
"Good God! Get a room!" The twins and Kyle yelled at us.
OMG! So that's it. THE END! Dorm Ride is officially over. Thanks everyone for reading the crazy roller-coaster ride of a story that my strange and twisted brain came up with!
Like I said before: be on the look for the new story I'm going to be co-writing with Ostrobogulous! We'll probably post it under my pen name. We'll see. But it'll be a City of Bones/ Maximum Ride crossover! I hope you enjoyed Dorm Ride! Thanks so much for reading.
Nightwings93. *sniff sniff*my last time signing off of Dorm Ride….