Roommates (A Maximum Ride Fanfic)

...19...

Disclaimer: I own only the plot.

Max POV

"Max!" My mom smiled at me from the doorway. She stepped aside to let us in.

"Hey, mom." I said and smiled back.

"Hello, Fang." My mom gave him a smile also and Fang nodded with a smile on his face. Okay, too much smiling.

"So, mom, what's for dinner?" I asked and walked over to the coat closet. I took my flats off and set them right inside. Fang followed my lead and took his sneakers off also.

"I was just going to cook some enchiladas. Does that sound good?"

"Perfect," I smiled again at her because she had remembered those were my favorite growing up. "Where's Jeb?"

"He's in the living room. He's excited to meet Fang." I headed to the living room and Fang followed behind me.

"Hey, Jeb." I walked in to see my step dad reading a book. His glasses were sliding down his nose and his aged face looked up to me. The sides of his eyes crinkled as the corners of his mouth turned up. His brown hair was combed so that it was clean and out of his face.

"How many times, Max, do I have to tell you? Call me dad." He said and got up from his chair to hug me.

"Everytime, because it's never gonna happen." I gave him a squeeze and pulled away.

It wasn't that I had a bad relationship with Jeb. He was fine. But I had a very close relationship with my dad and no one could replace him. He was my best friend, therapist, and nurse. He would sing away the nightmares, kiss away the wounds, and make sure that every aspect of my life was fun and entertaining.

"This is my boyfriend, Fang." I said and gestured to Fang who was standing behind me with his hands in his pockets. He pulled his hand out and stuck it out for Jeb to shake.

"It's nice to meet you, sir." He said.

"Please, call me Jeb. And the pleasure's mine." Jeb smiled at Fang and shook his hand. Fang and I took a seat on the couch next to each other and Jeb sat back in his chair. Fang slung an arm across the back of the couch behind me while he and Jeb talked about cars or something like that. Since today had been hectic and crazy, I had completely forgotten about that rock that had found refuge in my stomach until now. It sat and I puzzled over why it was there.

"Right, Max?" Fang asked and turned to me.

"Huh? Sorry," I said and smiled sheepishly at them.

"I was telling Jeb how my truck is a rusty bucket." Fang explained.

"Oh, yeah," I said and they went back to talking while I sat, thinking.

"Dinner's ready!" Mom called from the dining room. Fang, Jeb, and I got up from our seats and made our way to the table.

"It smells incredible, Ms. Batchelder." Fang said and I followed up with a, "Yeah, delicious, mom."

"Why, thank you. But please, Fang, Ms. Batchelder seems so old. Just call me Valencia." Fang nodded his head at her and smiled. So. Much. Smiling. I don't think I could take anymore.

We sat at the table and ate and talked. Fang talked with Jeb about his job and the type of cars he's repaired and with my mom about what his ambitions are for after college. I learned that Fang was into computers and was getting his degrees in math and technology. He wanted to be a web designer.

"Well, I'm glad that Max is dating such a nice and smart young gentleman. I think I like you even more than I like any of her old boyfriends." My mom said.

"Mom!" I said and scowled at her.

"Well, I'm sorry, honey. Adam was quite the little troublemaker and Teece wasn't as planned out as Fang is here, if you know what I mean." She said. I rolled my eyes at her and Fang chuckled.

"Well, only ever meeting Teece, I would agree with your mother. He was unstable when it came to his future." Jeb agreed. "I think Fang here is a fine young man for you, even if his name suggests different." Jeb chuckled at his joke.

"I've been meaning to ask you about that. How did you get the nickname 'Fang'?" My mother looked at him. I was wondering as well and looked to Fang for an answer.

"Well, when I was younger I was quite antisocial, so whenever someone would try to talk to me I would bite them. One day, a kid named Mick tried to talk to me and I bit him, but Mick was different. He screamed and said 'Geez, what do you have, fangs?' and the name stuck. Mick and I were best friends from then until graduation. Mick got into some pretty bad stuff after we graduated and I don't even know where he is anymore. I don't even know if he's still alive." Fang finished, looking off into space. I looked at Fang and saw a strong and brave person trying to hide his conflicting emotions. I put an arm on his shoulder and he looked at me and his eyes focused again. I gave him a small smile.

"I'm sorry," I whispered and he whispered back, "It's okay,"

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that." My mother said and looked down at her plate.

The rest of dinner went by with small talk. After everyone had finished we decided to just hang out. I pulled Fang behind me up the stairs and he looked at me questioningly while I dragged him. I opened the door to a middle sized bedroom and flicked the light on. A couple of posters and a bare mattress were in the room.

"This is my old room." I explained and Fang walked in farther, past me. He looked around at the few posters and then out the window. I watched him as he studied my old view. "You see that branch?" He nodded, "That's the branch my boyfriends used to climb on to get into my room after night had hit." I told him and walked to stand next to him. A small smile escaped at the memories. "We used to stay up talking and kissing for hours." Fang looked at me and he had a twinkle in his eye. "What?" I asked and cocked an eyebrow.

"So, was it like your ritual to do that with your boyfriends?" He asked.

"I guess, it kinda was. Why?"

"Well, we wouldn't want to break tradition." He said and captured my lips with his. I smiled against his kiss and wrapped my arms around his neck. Our lips moved in sync and a deep sound from Fang made me shiver in pleasure. His hands were on my waist and they slid down to my hips. I slid my fingers from his neck into his hair.

"Max, would you and- OH! Sorry!" I heard my mother say and scurry off. Fang and I pulled away from each other and I sighed, annoyed with my mother's interruption. Fang leaned his forehead against mine and breathed me in.

"We should go downstairs." He said and I reluctantly nodded.

"We're sorry for leaving you guys." I said when we entered the living room.

"No, problem. You needed time alone." My mother said and I couldn't help noticing her holding back a smirk. Her and Jeb sat on the two-seat couch and Fang and I occupied the other. Fang snaked his hand around my waist and I leaned against him slightly. We chatted with my parents for a short while after that and then told them that we should probably go.

"So... Mick." I said in the car. "He was your first friend?" I asked.

"Yeah," Fang said but his eyes stayed on the road.

"Why didn't you ever tell me about him?" I asked.

"You never asked, and I didn't want you to feel bad for me." He said and I could understand it.

"I see, well, I'm glad I found out." I told him. I took his hand that rested on the console and intertwined our fingers. He glanced at our laced fingers and then at my face. I smiled at him and he smiled back. We held hands the rest of the way home.

A/N Yay! Another chapter. You get another insight on Fang's past. I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. GOOD NEWS. I finally found the line tool that helps me separate stuff on here! Lol, it's from something else it'll probably work out next chapter.