This is my first Max Ride fic. So be nice. Definitely Fax, and random hints of Nuggy. Probably a three-shot.

I own Nussing! Nussing!


I woke up quickly when I heard a twig snap. I struggled to remember my dream. I was in this cave and Fang was bent over me whispering, "Goodbye, Max. I love you."

But that . . . well, it just couldn't be right. But, speaking of Mr. Tall, Dark, and Silent, where the heck was he? This was supposed to be his watch!

I got up and walked out of the cave, looking in every direction. "Fang?" I called softly, trying not to wake the others. I walked over to the tree where he'd been sitting as I drifted off earlier and found his laptop sitting on a branch at eye-level. A piece of paper hung off the front of it with my name on it.

My breath caught in my throat. Oh god, what's going on, I thought, starting to panic a little.

I pulled both objects down. I held the laptop in my right arm while I opened the paper with my left.

Max,

Just read the blog.

Fang

What the hell? Ok . . .

So I did what it said. I leaned against the tree and clicked on the link on Fang's homepage that brought me right to it.

My eyes grew wider and my breaths came faster as I read.

Alright guys, Fang here, letting you know that Itex is freaking going down once and for all. I figured out their weakness and I'm going to stop them . . . alone.

I'm not putting my Flock at risk.

Now to address the incredible, indescribable Maximum Ride.

Max, if you're reading this, it means for once in your life you're doing what I asked you to. I know you must be really confused, but let me explain. The Flock means more to me than my own life, and I'll protect them any way I can. That's something I should have told you all a long time ago.

Cuz chances are, Max, that I'm not coming back this time. And better me than all of us, or even just one other member of the Flock.

But, before all this happens, you gotta know something . . . Max, I love you. Not like my sister, but like my best friend, like the one and only girl for me in the entire freaking universe. And I'm so sorry I've been a dick and didn't have the balls to step up and tell you sooner.

I don't know if you ever felt the same about me, but regardless, I want you to remember me. But move on with your life. Fall in love Max. Be happy. Do whatever the hell makes you happy, as long as the Flock stays together.

Grow old with someone you love.

I wish that it coulda been me, Max. God, do I wish it was me. Goodbye my Maximum. I love you.

Say goodbye to Iggy, Nudge, Angel, Gazzy, and Total for me. Make sure they know I love them too, and that I'm so, so sorry.

Now for the rest of you reading this, there's about a 99 chance that this is the last time you'll ever hear from me again. The last time I'll ever post on this blog, or talk to people who actually mean something to me so here it is. The final words of Fang 'Fnick' Ride (yes Max, the Flock's adopted your last name) . . .

I've known love in my creepy and short life, and that's good enough for me. Experience love people. It's the only thing worth anything is this dark and crappy planet we call our home.

How's that for a moral to this twisted story Good god I'm such a sap.

It's been a fun ride, but I guess this is my stop. See y'all on the other side.

Keep fighting to the end,

Fang

I couldn't breath. The air just got caught in my throat and stuck there. Oh god oh god oh GOD!!!

I sank to my knees against the tree sobbing uncontrollably. This couldn't be happening! I can't lose Fang! He's my best friend, my right hand man . . . the love of my life. What was I going to do without him?

Then I got angry. That bastard! How could he do this to me? What happened to that promise he'd made me? What happened to the "Max I'll never leave you again" shtick?

I'm pretty damn sure this constituted as LEAVING ME!

Again and again, as the sweltering hot tears poured down my face, all I could think was, how could he?

I felt a feather-light touch on my shoulder- Iggy.

"Max? What's wrong?" He sounded so . . . alarmed. But it made sense. I never broke down in front of him. Or Nudge. Or Gazzy or Angel. My meltdowns were reserved for Fang, the only one who could put my pieces back together every time they fell apart.

I felt Iggy kneel down beside me and I instantly threw myself into his arms. He hesitated, and then put his arms around me. He must've been really freaked out by now.

"Max?" Oh yeah, definitely freaked. His voice was actually trembling a little. "Please. Tell me what's going on. Where in the heck is Fang?"

At the mention of his name, I just sobbed harder. Iggy got the hint.

"Oh. Oh my god, Max. Where is he? What did he do?" He sounded so anxious and afraid as I held him close to me, the only lifeline I had right now.

"He-he l-l-left, Ig. And he . . . he's not c-c-coming back." I let out another shuddering sob and buried my face deeper into his skinny chest.

He tightened his arms gently around me, and I couldn't help shuddering again. Iggy was one of my best, and closest friends, but it wasn't his lean, wiry arms that I needed protecting me right now.

And the only arms that could comfort me ever again where the solid strong ones of the one person I'd never see, ever again.

I couldn't believe I'd never see him again. I'd never get another one of his sporadic smiles that just lit up my world. Or one of those amazing, strong-armed hugs I'd get on the very rare occasion that I was completely collapsing in on myself. When he got all defensive and protective. Never again.

And just like that, my world got a whole lot darker and colder.

Oh, god, Fang. Why?


THIS IS NOT THE END!!!!!!!!

Which song inspired this, might you ask? Well, that would be Goodbye Girl by Hootie and the Blowfish.

All your life you've waited for love to come and stay

And now that I have found you

You must not slip away

I know it's hard believing, the words you've heard before

But darling, you must trust them please

Trust them just once more

Cause baby goodbye doesn't mean forever

Let me tell you goodbye doesn't mean

We'll never be together again

If you wake up and I'm not there I won't be long away

Cause the things you do my goodbye girl

Will bring me back to you I know you've been taken, afraid to hurt again

You fight the love you feel for me Instead of giving me

But I can wait forever for helping you to see

That I was meant for you, my love

And you were meant for me

Remember goodbye doesn't mean forever

Let me tell you goodbye doesn't mean

We'll never be together again

Though we may be so far apart

You'll still have my heart

So forget your past, my goodbye girl

Now you're home at last