Chapter 23

Please Don't Take Him Away From Me

As I pass by the choir room to get to first hour, the sounds of the Jazz Choir float to my ears and fill them with the most beautiful sound. I stop and look inside to the small student crowd inside. Jack's there, chocolate milk in hand, sipping slowly as a slow, jazz tune plays.

"We...were meant to be...together..." Kane sings in his beautiful tenor voice, making all the girls around him swoon and croon. Jack rolls his eyes. Kane continues:

"But you...are only in...my dreams..." The rest of the choir joins with an "Ah" and Kane continues to wring the rag of Pity as his face shows the broken hearted boy who adores the girl next door. For some odd reason, I feel like just crawling into a hole and just hiding for the rest of the day. First, waking up horny as I'll ever be...ever. Then Kane singing about the fate of two lovers who were probably meant to be together. What's next, I want to ask the sky. Fire balls and talking pigs?

"Hey." I jump to see Max standing directly behind me, his eyes a cool brown as his gaze sends chills racing all through my veins. I try to give him a lethal glare.

"What?" I bite, the Jazz Choir drowning out the last of the 't'. Kane sings even higher, showing off his impressive vocal range. Max looks to the choir room.

"Your brother's a good singer." He said, smiling slightly. "That song makes me think of you..."

"If only in my dreams!" Kane's last note reaches so high, girls are actually clapping and applauding. Show-off.

"I...need to go to class now." I start to walk off, but Max's strong hand pulls me into his embrace gently. His lips brush across my forehead, the touch feather-light, the effect as subtle as being slammed by a huge boulder.

"Have a great day." He whispers, walking past me to go to class. I pant softly and try to shake off the magic he has, yet again, cast onto me. I blinked as the Jazz Choir finished the last song and started on another one for the books:

"I burn for you!" The girls sang as the boys joined in.

"Burn for ya, baby, burn for ya, baby, burn-"

"OH, SHUT UP!!" I screeched as loud as I could to the 16 people holding the microphones. The piano died and the crowd -even the choir teacher- turned around to look at me, red as a cranberry and panting softly. Kane gave me a murderous look as I santered off to the Art room, holding back the tears that scorched the back of my eyes.

I found the perfect object for releasing my frustrations.

An old oak tree, ripe with Autumn's gift to us. Golden brown and red leaves hung off the top in a beautiful veil, masking the old age of the wood. Simple pure beauty.

Perfect.

I put up an easel and canvas and started to sketch it, this being my last art project: paint something from nature. A cow came up as quietly as it could and stared over my shoulder, mooing softly in approval. I smiled and reached over my shoulder to pat its nose. The cow nuzzled my hand gently and leaned down to the grass to graze.

"How did I know you'd be here?" Max Wakeman called from the bottom of the hillside, using those long legs to climb toward me at the top. I put down my pencil and turned in my seat.

"It's for an art project." I called back. His smile warmed me against the sharp Kansas wind slapping me over and over in the face.

"Nice." He finally reached me, looking over the beginning phases of my sketch. "Very nice." I nodded and turned back, picking up my pencil. He stood behind me and put his hands on my shoulders, massaging them. I bit my lip to hold back my moan of pleasure.

"You need to relax." He muttered, running his fingers along the curve of my neck. I dropped the pencil.

"Damn." I leaned to pick it up, but Max beat me to it, putting it in my hand gently. I swallowed and stood up, looking at him. God, he looked so handsome in this soft glow of the soon-to-be twilight sky. The shirt he wore stretched over the taunt muscles of his chest; it looked like it was going to burst at the seams any minute now.

He touched my face. I turned to his palm and nuzzled his hand gently.

But then...

BANG!!

Max screamed in pain, collapsing into my arms and bringing us both down to the ground. The land was painful, but not as painful as seeing the Texan God on me...barely breathing.

"Max!!" I screeched, turning him over to inspect the wound. He was shot in his side.

NO...

"Max, say something." I begged him as I fished for my cell phone to called emergency services. "Yes," I croaked out. "I need an ambulance right away to Kay." I took off my shirt and pressed it to his side as he groaned in pain, persperation pooling on his brow and skin turning silky white pale. "We're about 3 minutes into town. Please come quickly. He's been shot." I hung up and continued to apply pressure to the wound.

"Max, hang on, please." Max remained still as a stone, his breathing barely heard. I put my ear to his chest. His heartbeat was slow and steady...

"Max..." I sobbed quietly, looking up at the stars appearing in the sky. One shot across. I know this is childish, but...

"Please...let Max be okay." I said, feeling Max's side contract in pain.

Don't take him away from me...I love him...

Note: ...wow. It's been a long time since I've updated...REALLY LONG TIME...but...I have found the inspiration to continue and finish the story! :) Anyways, I know this is short, but the length of the next chapter will make up for it. Please R&R, plzxthnx.

BFQ