Guys, I'm really sorry for the extremely long hiatus, especially because it came unannounced… A lot of things have happened in the past 3 years… Anyways, let us continue with this story and hope that it will no suck!

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. :(

Claimer: I own the plot. :D

Chapter 14 (Max POV)

"So, Fangy…" I began.

"So Maxy," he said mockingly. This, of course, garnered a glare.

"Fang, this will not work if you keep acting like this. Please be serious or I'll leave and whatever we have will end here."

"Ok, but only if you tell me what we have." Fang said this nonchalantly while walking to go sit on his bed. "Come join me, Maxy." Cue a jerk-ish pat on the spot next to him, and although it resulted in an eye roll from me, I obeyed and sat down in the spot indicated.

"Well, Fang, I cannot answer your question because I am not sure myself. All I know is that I feel like I know you without having met you previously," I said all of this while staring at the ground. Fang tried interrupting me, but I didn't let him. "Please let me finish. I don't want this connection we have to fade, so I will be extremely honest with you for however long it takes this talk to be over. Do you agree with my terms?" At this, I looked up to see that Fang had somehow moved without my knowledge and was now kneeling before me, studying my face.

"Max, I will listen to everything you have to say to me. Please do not feel that you have to hide anything from me. I feel the same way you do, strangely enough. Continue." Gently, he moved so that he was sitting instead of kneeling.

"Well…" I began sheepishly. "Remember earlier when you kissed me?" A dutiful nod. "And how I freaked out and ran away?" Another nod. "There's a reason for that. You see, about two years ago, there was an incident…" Pause. Check his reaction. Dang his stoic face… Continue.

"In this… incident… I was almost… raped…" Fade to a whisper. Contain a sob. Can't think. Have to stop the memories. Stop. Stop!

(Fang POV)

"In this… incident… I was almost… raped…" Max suddenly went quiet after saying that. Then, she started to tremble and curled up into a ball. I don't know what to do. I've never really been girl-savvy; that was Ig's thing. Suddenly, my body moved of its own volition and I pulled Max off my bed and into my lap. I felt her entire body stiffen for a second before relaxing. Instantly, she started sobbing. Her hands wrapped themselves into my shirt and her head found its place on my chest.

I don't know how long we were in that position, but soon enough, her sobs stopped. Slowly, she peeled herself away from me. Again, my body moved of its own will and I found myself kissing the top of Max's head. Realizing what I did, especially after what she told me, I pulled away immediately, apologized, and looked at Max's face.

"Why are you apologizing?" She looked perplexed.

"Because I did that, despite what you just confessed to me." I looked down, ashamed of myself. Startlingly, Max put her warm, soft, and surprisingly small hand on my face and made me look at her.

"You don't need to apologize for that. You managed to calm me down. If it were anyone else, this would not have happened. I would have broken down completely and eventually closed myself off to the world. That did not happen. Thank you for listening to me." With that, she wrapped her arms around me and pressed her face against my neck.

Slowly, I enveloped her body with my arms, testing the waters to make sure that she didn't react negatively. As soon as my arms were completely around her, Max let out a sigh.

We stayed like that for what felt simultaneously like an eternity but also an instant. Suddenly, Max spoke up.

"Fang, can I stay here tonight?"

So, that's the end of this chapter. Don't worry, there's plenty more. :) I'll try to upload at least 2 more chapters before the end of the week. Anyways, have a nice day, wherever you are, my lovelies! :)