Why Friends Shouldn't Meddle

Plot: Max's friends have made a decision- either she chooses Fang, her best friend since forever, or Iggy, the captain of the football team who wants to take her to prom. The choices they make result in serious problems. Complete AU.

"Hey," I lifted my head from the boring book about a Man, a fish, and a boat that I was suppose to have read two weeks ago and had a test for next block. I saw though, making themselves comfortable in the chairs next to and across from me- that my friends could care less about my future English grade.

Ella sat across from me, I had known her long enough and she had been my best friend (that's a girl but not my bestest friend), that we practically called ourselves sister. With her long black hair pulled slightly back out of her face by being tucked behind her ears, I could see her soft brown eyes and light pink lip-glossed mouth twisted in a menacing smile.

Nudge sat to my right, her frizzy brown hair in a somewhat decent fashioned ponytail. "Hey," was my response as I turned back to Santiago and his cramping hand. Damn the Old Man in the Sea. Damn Hemingway. I don't care how great he is- at putting people to sleep.

Then, another hand was reaching over and pulling my book away. Damn my friends. "Max, give it up, you're not getting through this by the end of lunch, even if you have twenty pages to go- it's too boring. You'd find a gum wrapper more entertaining." JJ was placing my book away in my bag. She had me on that one.

"Still," I complained, "I could try." I wasn't going to give up even if they began to gossip over the latest pieces of meat. Ella was fiddling with a pink bracelet on her wrist, her eyes staring right at me. Nudge was covering her own mouth with her own hand. JJ had that look that screamed TROUBLE! "What? Did I piss Brigid off again?" If they had confirmed my question with a positive response, I wouldn't have been surprised. Except, I was wrong- way wrong.

"Nope, we just know someone wants to ask you to prom." Ella jumped up and down with glee- or at least bobbed up and down in her seat. "You will not believe it," Ella whispered.

Great, because that's what I wanted to focus on. Someone wanting to go out with me…exactly how I like to spend my thoughts on. You saw the sarcasm right? Or did I have to point it out. "Umm, so?" I asked, shrugging.

They gave me this look as if I wasn't Maximum Ride, girl dressed in a black hoodie and jeans with the coolest Converse ever (they were black but I took neon paint and splattered it all over the shoes). I doubted, with the information they were going to explode with revealing, that my appearance- let alone my attitude- mattered.

"Well, he's totally hot," JJ announced. They were giving each other these googly eyes that said, let's scare Max, let's make Max nervous. Hell, let's just make Max suffer. I formed fists, I clenched my teeth, and I shook my head to get a strand piece of hair out of my face. I'd rather be reading that stupid book.

"And, completely popular," Nudge added.

"This is me we're trying to win over remember?" I asked. Popularity did the opposite of score when it came to me. They sighed together knowing that I had a point.

"Plus, he's captain of the football team-"

"Iggy." I noted. "Iggy 'knows more about the diameters of a football than the difference between Spiderman and Superman' Jones." I watched Ella smack her face and I almost heard her thoughts Ugh, stupid Max. JJ sighed and Nudge- well, if you didn't know- she's like a kid on crack and a sugar high. All hyper with her talk.

"WHAT? Come on Max, you are way to harsh. Iggy Jones has been telling Sam who told Brigid who told Lissa who was overheard by Ella who told us about how he wants nothing more than to take you to prom." Yeah, and possibly get a look up my metaphorical skirts (cause I don't wear them) the athletic, thinks he owns the school because he has a nice car, sexist pig. "There's no reason to say no unless…unless," Nudge was lost for words (for once!).

"Unless someone's already in the picture," JJ announced. Of course, their one tracked minds all jumped to the next, easiest assumption. "Honestly though Max, I'm surprised nothing hasn't happened sooner and why didn't you tell us you finally decided to hook-up with Fang?"

"I didn't," I responded, "We're friends." That resulted in groans from the table. "What now?" I asked. Couldn't I do anything right? Yes. In their minds- oh well, that would be a no.

"How have you guys been best friends since sixth grade, now juniors, and not once has he ever made a move on you?" Ella demanded as if it was as big as a tragedy as me failing my upcoming English test.

I shrugged as a response. "Honestly, Max, why you even hang out with him in the first place is complete a mystery. He's so emo with his black clothes and silent."

"He's not emo!" I protested. "And you guys should shut up, he said he'd sit with me at lunch today." Okay, sure Fang was the whole dark and quiet kind but he was not emo. I was his best friend, I knew he was anything but emo. Shy is better at covering Fang's personality than emo.

"Maybe's he's gay," JJ suggested.

"You've got to be kidding me," I groaned, placing my face in my hands so as not to go ballistic.

"That would make sense," Nudge agreed. "ZOMG, Max is he? Only you would know. You're the only one he even bothers talking to. He's gay. He's got to be gay. He's too hot now that you think about it to be straight."

"He's not gay!" I yelled, catching a few stares from others in the lunch room nearby, I thought I saw a familiar figure in the corner nearby standing in the dark but... that could've been my imagination. "And what the f- does the damn Z stand for!" I stood up, not wanting to hear them anymore.

"Max, if you don't choose, we will for you. Either the strange kid who's your best friend or the popular hot jock." I rolled my eyes at my friends. I know they mean well but honestly couldn't they stop meddling for once in their lives?

"Secrets don't make friends," Nudge reminded me.

"But friends make secrets," I replied before covering my mouth. I could've said too much and there is one person who I know would not like me saying anything at all. Luckily, the bell rang and I was saved. I almost clicked my heels and screamed 'Freedom!' but I had enough people questioning my state of mind at the moment.

When I sat in my class, I let out a sigh of frustration and relief (what can I say- I'm a complex person). I crossed my arms and didn't even bother to pull out the dumb book. I'd like to go into this knowing I failed instead of pretend that I even had a shot. I then adjusted again in my uncomfortable seat to rub my temples.

"Uh-oh, someone didn't study." I lifted my eyes to see the figure sitting next to me. He was probably dead on prepared for this (he was an English nerd to the bone although no one was supposed to know that) and was cocky with his cute little smirk on the side of his face.

"Shut up," I muttered, "And it has nothing to do with this test. I'm totally prepared for it, so don't you worry." Fang raised an eyebrow. Of course he wouldn't believe me. It happened to be a curse with the way he saw right through me. In a way, it made me feel violated like he was Superman using his x-ray vision on me to remove my clothes or something. Ugh! Why am I even thinking like that?

"Then what is it?" Fang was curious. Running a hand through the thick strands of his black, soft hair. I could see the outline of his muscles. Oh right- oogling is for the weak and I am not weak. Crap- he shot me another smile as if he had heard my thoughts.

I leaned towards him and he responded by leaning in as well. This had to be kept on the down low. I couldn't have everyone knowing. "Ella, Nudge, and JJ think that the blonde haired wonder boy of East Simmons High is going to ask me to prom." Fang shrugged as if to hide that he was pissed- beyond piss. He may be able to read me like a book but I could do the same.

"Was this before the gay kid conversation? I couldn't hear everything after all." So he had been there, I wasn't lying to my other friends when he said he promised to sit with me. "I was going to sit with you," he confirmed, "But seat was occupied." But he didn't know that who the others thought was gay…hmmm, maybe I should tell him.

"Yes it was before, I'll tell you about it later when I come over," I told him. Fang gave me a grin, knowing I was hiding something.

"Secrets don't make friends," he repeated what Nudge had said.

"Well then," I informed him, "It's a good thing you're my best friend." My mind traveled what to Ella had said, How has he never put a move on you?

Truth was- he had.

Then the teacher was telling us to pay attention and I looked to the front of the classroom but not before I caught one of the rare smiles (not cocky smirks) of Fang. And the whole failing this test seemed a lot better.

Oh the plans I have conceived for this story is phenomenal. But I will only continue with these ideas if you, my readers, like them. So let me know.

Watching the Red Sox,

flyerac1029