220January 2, 2013: C (continued) + D
I stare at the cloudy sky, wondering why they would make us walk on the track when it looks like it's going to rain. Not that I really mind. I love rain, and running in it is also pretty cool. I just don't appreciate sitting in class afterwards dripping wet.
My mind goes from class to what my classmates would say to what Max would say to Max.
And then it goes to pathetic.
Maybe Ratchet's right, and I should give another girl a try. I'm too hung up on Max. It's even creeping me out a little. I mean, we've barely talked! How could I like her so much? It could be that it's just attraction, and if that's the case, then why wouldn't I like Maya? They do kind of look the same, I guess.
But am I really that shallow? Since when have I only liked girls for their appearance?
I groan under my breath, running my hands down my face. I like Max. I know I do. But this whole does-she-like-me-back thing was going to give me gray hairs!
"Fang?" a female voice asks, and I feel a slender hand on my shoulder. I turn around to see Brigid standing there, looking concerned. She must see me looking at her hand, because her face flushes red. "Are you okay?"
I nod, coughing slightly out of embarrassment at being caught in the midst of my mental chaos. "Yeah," I say. "I'm fine." We keep walking quietly, and she looks up at the sky absentmindedly. I glance at Max. She's thinking about something really hard, her eyebrows furrowed in that cute way –
No, I think sternly, looking away as Angel and Nudge look over at me. Stop being such a chick. "So," Brigid says, and I look at her inquiringly. Her face is still red, but she looks at me with a determined curiosity that she usually uses during class when she comes across something puzzling and asks the teacher about it. "I heard that you friend-zoned Maya."
Blinking, I shake my head, confused. "No," I say slowly. "No, Maya doesn't like me. I think you've misunderstood…"
Brigid says, rolling her eyes, her cheeks now only tinted pink. "Fang. I know that she likes you. She said that you liked another girl, and that you turned her down rather…well, rather obliviously." I open my mouth to respond, but she adds, her lips quirking up along with her eyebrows, "But then again, you are a guy, so it's to be expected."
This comment brings about a few memories of my aunt slipping in similar jabs at my gender, but I brush it off. "Brigid, I don't know where you heard that from, but she doesn't…" I trail off, feeling a pair of familiar eyes on me.
I look up slightly, and I see Max studying me. Soon, our eyes lock, and a smirk plays on my lips. Hi, I try to say with my eyes, but she looks down before the message could reach her. "Fang, she does," Brigid stressed. "A lot of girls do. I mean, look at you!"
Her face turns red again, and I look down at her, my eyebrow furrowing. Maya doesn't like me. She can't. She's my friend, practically one of the guys like Ratchet or Gaz. She couldn't think of me as…boyfriend material.
Could she?
I think about her innocent texts, asking who I liked, or the times she asked to hang out during break.
Ratchet's voice echoes creepily in my head, saying to give Maya a chance.
Instinctively, I look over at Max, and see her watching me again. This time, she doesn't look away. We stare at each other like that for a while, and those stupid questions pops up in the back of my mind again.
Does she like me?
Should I ask her out?
Does Maya like me?
Should I listen to Ratchet?
Without breaking eye-contact with Max, I reply to Brigid apologetically, "I'm sorry, Brigid, but what Maya said is right. I like another girl a lot, and I don't think it'd be right to date anyone else right now."
I turn to her with an apologetic half-grin, and she shrugs, smiling. "Well, alright. Whoever she is, she's a lucky girl. I just thought you should know, y'know?" she laughs, and I nod, feeling Max's eyes leave the back of my head. "Well, bye, Fang!"
She jogs ahead, and I wave at her back. "Bye, Brigid!"
I look up at the sky and see the clouds are starting to dissipate.
At least something's clearing up.
*SHIELDS FACE WITH IGGY.*
Iggy: NOOOO! MY BEAUTIFUL FACE WILL BE ATTACKED BY READERS! D:
Me: IT WAS FLUFFY'S IDEA TO MAKE FANG START DOUBTING HIS FEELINGS! SHE TOTALLY PULLED THE 'IT'S MY STORY' CARD. BUT DON'T WORRY. I WORKED OUT A DEAL. YOU WILL HAVE FAX. REAL FAX. NOT DREAM FAX. WHOOP.
Max: *Hits Fang.* YOU DARE DOUBT ME?
Fang: YOU DON'T EVEN LIKE ME! D:
Maya: He's got a point.
Max: *GRUMPY CAT FACE.*
~Anna Ride