Chapter 1
(Fang's POV)
Ever since I hugged Max in my room after she found out about Iggy's parents I've felt so… free. I felt so relaxed and at peace, I loved it. I felt whole, like I'd never lost my parents or had to deal with any of that pain and hurt.
It was the next day and I held her hand as we walked down the hall. She rested her head on my shoulder and I smiled at her.
Iggy was on my other side. "Have you seen Kari?" He asked me. I swear Iggy was whipped and he wasn't even with her yet.
I sighed, "No, we just got here. I'm sure she's fine though Iggy." It was Friday and I knew he was worried about the weekend. The two days where he'd not see her and be able to make sure she was okay were going to kill him.
Iggy sniggered, "Did you know that people keep looking at you guys?" He asked us and I looked up at him.
"What?" Max asked startled as if she came out of a train of thought.
"Well girls look at Fang and they're like… swooning or whatever and glare at Max, and then it's the same with guys… but you know the other way around," he said as if it was obvious.
I laughed, "I guess I didn't notice," I said my hand unwrapping from hers and going around her waist, pulling her closer.
I saw Kari down the hall with a sad expression. I looked at Iggy, he looked so sad to he see her sad. "I've got to tell her," he said softly.
"Iggy," I said looking him in the eyes, "Tell her when you're ready…."
He smiled at me slightly, "Don't worry, I am," he said and ran off to talk to her.
I looked down at Max to see her smiling, "Come on, we should get to class."
We walked to class, we had class with Iggy but he wasn't there, I guessed that he and Kari were talking somewhere and that thought made me smile.
At lunch I waited for Iggy to show up to talk to him and ask him if he told Kari, which he most likely did, and I grinned broadly when they walked in together. We waved them over instantly.
(Iggy's POV)
My eyes were still kind of red and itched from last night. I couldn't believe I'd fallen apart like that. I walked right up to Kari and said, "I need to speak to you." There was pain and stress in my voice.
She stared at me, shocked by my forwardness. She looked me over, she must have heard the tone in my voice and she looked into my eyes, and I knew she could see their redness. "Okay," she said simply.
"Do you mind skipping first block?" I asked in a whisper. "I might need a while to say this."
She nodded, "I don't mind." She paused, smiling, but only slightly, "Come on, let's go somewhere quiet." She said and she led me outside and we walked through the school yard. We were silent the whole time. She led me to a place far from any window or building but still on school property. It was completely silent and by the trees and it felt very private.
"What do you want to talk to me about?" She asked as she sat down on the grass. I sat with her.
I took a deep breath, "I know about your dad," I started.
She stared at me, fear and shock in her beautiful eyes, "What?"
I looked down, "The first day I met you I followed you home… I'd seen that look in his eyes. You know the look they get before they hit you. Well I followed you home and I saw him hit you and I…" Tears were at the edge at my eyes at just the thought of someone hitting her. My thoughts started to linger towards my dad and I shut it all out. I didn't want to think about that. That was the last thing I wanted to think about.
"Iggy, oh my God, I'm so sorry you had to see that." She said tears at the edges of her eyes. "I'll understand if you like… don't want to be near me or whatever." She said tears cascading down her face now.
My own tears fell from my eyes. I would always want to be near her, it was her that should want to not be near me. "No, Kari, I want to be near you, I always want to be near you," I took her face in my hands and wiped away her tears. "Kari, there's something I need to tell you," I said and my tears fell harder.
I looked down, what if she didn't like me because of my parents?
"What is it?" she asked. I looked up at her beautiful eyes. The fear I felt before was gone, I knew she wouldn't be like that. She couldn't be like that; at least that's what I told myself.
"Remember how you said that your dad was strict, and I said my dad is similar to yours?" I asked her and she nodded. "Well… my dad… well you know… he like… does the same thing." I said trying to find the words.
Her eyes shot wide; "Really?" obviously she was surprised. I nodded, looking down. "Wow," She said. She looked up into my eyes. "Is it weird that I'm really happy to know that about you?" she asked me.
I smiled her, I pulled her into a hug, resting my head on top of hers, "No, because I feel the same." I said with a smile. I felt so relieved now that she knew.
"What should we talk about now?" She asked me.
I shrugged, "Do you want to tell me anything about your situation?"
I could feel her laughing lightly. "Not really… do you?" She asked.
I took a deep breath; I figured I should tell her this part. "Well, I guess I should tell you that only Fang and Max know about my parents, and I only told Max last night. Fang's known for a couple days, he wanted me to tell Max, but he's a loyal bastard and I made him promise not to say a word." I laughed lightly and I heard her giggled, the most beautiful sound in the world.
"That's what we were arguing about a bit, he wanted to tell Max but I wouldn't let him and he was worried because my parents have been thinking of coming up here and getting me. So Max would let them, because she didn't know. That's why I had to tell her," I added.
"So your parents might come and take you away?" Kari asked sadly as she continued to lie on my chest.
I shrugged, "I guess, I won't go quietly though, that's for sure."
She pulled away to look into my eyes, "So, what is the plan… for my dad I mean…" she whispered.
"Well… we're not quite sure, we mostly just wanted to let you know we're here, and if you want to turn him in you can and you can stay with us. You can stay with us now if you want too…" I said scratching the back of my head. She nodded.
Kari and I continued to talk and when we heard the lunch bell. "Well we should go see the others. They're probably freaking out," she said with a smile.
"Ya okay," I said and helped her up. We checked each other to make sure we were presentable. "Kari?" I asked as we walked.
"Yes," she said looking up at me.
I chickened out, I was going to tell her that I liked her, but I couldn't do it. "Nothing…" I muttered.
"Iggy, what is it?" She urged taking my hand.
"It's nothing, I was just going to ask you something, but it's okay…" I said wishing she'd just forget what I said.
"Oh, okay, well I was just wondering if I could stay at your house this weekend… since you know about my dad and all..." She said trailing off.
"Of course you can," I said with a smile.
"Thanks, I don't want to freak you out or anything, but it's just that I feel comfortable around you, maybe because you've been through the same thing, but it makes me feel better…" She said.
I took her hand, "I'm glad you feel that way," I whispered in her ear as we entered the cafeteria. Our table looked up and smiled at us.
We sat down with them and I told them that Kari was going to spend the weekend at our house. They all nodded as if they expected that, which they probably did.
(Fang's POV)
In drama Kari sat with us again and Mrs. Dillwyn ran over, "I have some bad news."
"What is it?" Jim asked suddenly alert. He'd been lying down staring at the ceiling when she came over.
"Well someone asked me yesterday after the movie if they could use the song I wanted you to use during the talent show. It's kind of first come first serve, so I had to give the song to them, but I have another idea, and you need someone who's young and can sing…" Mrs. Dillwyn said and we nodded and started to plan.
When class ended, we had it pretty much all planned out. I was going to play piano and sing during the song, but I didn't really mind. I actually liked the song; it was pretty close to my life.
We walked out of the classroom and Kari looked at Iggy, fear in her eyes, "My dad is picking me up, how am I supposed to get to your house?" She asked.
"I'll drive you Kari," Jim said, "I'm heading over there anyways." Casey nodded taking Jim's hand.
Kari whispered something to Iggy and he nodded and took Kari's hand, "Jim, can you bring the car around so we can just get in and go?" he asked Jim and he nodded and Jim and Casey left to get the car.
"I take it we're getting home without you…" Max said with a smile.
Iggy smiled, "Ya, I know how Fang hates cars."
My face paled at the thought of cars. I was thankful no one was in the hallway and they couldn't see my face.
"Whoa, Fang, get embarrassed or something you sheet of paper," Iggy teased.
I snapped out of it and glared at him, "Nice Iggy."
Max kissed my cheek and I breathed in deeply and let my fear leave with my breath.
I gained a little colour back as Jim and Casey pulled up. "Okay, come on," Max said and we headed for the car.
We walked out together and my eyes across the crowds of people. I was looking for Kari's dad's car; I could remember what it was like from yesterday.
Kari and Iggy closed the car door just before Jim shot across the blacktop. I stood there with Max, watching them go. I watched as they stopped at the stop sign before the road. I looked down the row of cars, there was Jim's car, 2 cars and then I froze.
Kari's dad's car was right there and he was, without a doubt, going to follow them.
I took off running right away. I ran across the parking lot, with Max yelling and following right behind me. I didn't know what she was saying nor did I care right now. She started practically screaming at me as I ignored her and every head in the cars turned to look at me.
Jim rolled down his window quickly and I screamed at him, "Go!" because Kari's dad looked like he was debating getting out his car because everyone had stopped.
Kari suddenly said something in a panicked tone and Jim's tires smoked as he shot forward and away. I stared in horror as they stopped at the first streetlight. They were only a few metres away from the parking lot exit. All of them, except Jim who was watching the traffic lights, spun around to look at the parking lot.
Max screamed at me so loudly that it hurt my ears and tried to grab my shirt as I ran towards the cars. One of the cars pulled out of the parking lot before I reached the cars. The other car was just pulling forward to go.
I took in a deep breath and set my fears aside as I did one the most terrifying thing I'd ever done. Even though I'd done crazy, scarier things, this had me shaking as I ran, mostly because I knew the risks of me doing this. I ran right in front of the car.
There were 2 people in the car, a guy and a girl, and they screamed in surprise and the car lurched to a stop, just inches before it hit my legs. They were in my grade and I stood there breathing hard for a second. My whole body shaking at what I'd done, they could have quite literally run me over, and God knows how scared of cars I was already.
Max stood off to the side, frozen in shock, fear and surprise.
"What are you doing!?" the guy driving yelled at me through the rolled down window.
"Uh…" I struggled to come up with a reason I ran in front of them. Kari's dad beeped his horn impatiently. I suddenly got an idea, "Watch where you're going!" I yelled and Max's eyes widened in surprise.
"What the hell are you talking about? You ran right in front of me!" He yelled at me, suddenly angry.
"What are you talking about!? It's a stop sign you have to stop you dimwit!" I yelled back. I looked over at the light which had changed and Jim drove off quickly. I could see that the others were staring at me still in shock.
Kari's dad beeped the horn again. "I didn't know you were going to run in front of the car you idiot! Get out of the way!" He yelled at me.
I smiled slightly, I had given Jim enough time to get a few blocks away now, "Okay, sorry, ya I know, it's my fault." I said and stepped aside.
The guy looked at me in shock and muttered thanks and inched forward. Max went around the back of the car and the two of us ran into the forest. I glanced back to see Kari's dad fuming in his car as he pulled forward and onto the street. Max and I took off when we were hidden far enough in the trees and headed for home.