Summary: 30 Minutes has to be enough.

 8:30 am… That couldn't be right. I knew this day. Re-lived it enough in my dreams to know exactly what had happened. I woke up at 9:02, not 8:30.

 

Was I still dreaming? It would make sense. Going so long on will power alone and passing out in a cemetery is bound to give you some messed up dreams. Raptor Jesus knows I've dreamed about this day enough. But something was off…

 

WAMM! “Ow damnit!” Ok so kicking the bed frame without putting shoes on first wasn't the best idea. But it did raise the question. I could feel that … No this isn't making sense. I couldn't be back here again, that wasn't possible. Time travel isn't possible!

 

“Wait a second..” My phone. I had the world's knowledge at my fingertips! I immediately open my messaging app. Fangs name sits at the top. 

 

‘Anon: hey, you alright?’

‘Anon: just noticed your dad was pretty livid last night’

‘Anon: he mustve been writing all night long’

 

It ended right there. The phone shook in my hand. Thats it… no cryptic song lyrics about murdering her classmates. I was back… I was back… I.. Was… WASTING TIME! 

 

I finger the call button under Fang’s name as I simultaneously struggled to get both shoes on. Please answer please please. Straight to voicemail, she had her phone on do not disturb. Fuck. 

 

Time 8:34. I could do this. Tearing out of my room at full tilt, I was about to make record time. Though I was forced to slow down at the stairs to avoid having an untimely repeat. Out of the building I made a mad sprint towards Volcano high. I had to make it in time. No matter what happens today I was going to change something.

 

“Hah… hah..” My breath was already labored. Fuck me I was out of shape. Sweat already began to streak down my face. But I wouldn't let myself slow. Body if you get me through this I promise to treat you better.

 

The school finally came into view. No crowd piled outside, no sirens. There was still time. I don't know how long I ran, I didn't risk slowing down to check my phone. 

 

A spike of fear hit me when I realized I didn't know when Fang had started.. Naiomi was first, right? I think they had 3rd period together. Surely Fang had waited until they had class together. If only to spend her last moments with Trish and Reed before. 

 

I made it to my old enemy, the stairs. Each step is killer on my already drained legs, but I somehow manage to stay on my feet. Taking the final step was when I heard it. SCREEE! 

 

Shit! That's the bell! I practically threw the door of the hinges to get inside. Dinos line the hallway, casually talking with friends or walking to their next class. Thats good, no screaming, no blood. But also much harder to find who I was looking for.

 

I still needed to get to Fangs class and that meant one more flight of stairs. I probably looked insane as I shoved through the crowd of students. Frantic, covered in sweat, Wife-beater tank top, and shorts a little too short. But I didn't care. The old me cared about what others thought of him too much. It turned me into an ass. Not anymore, their opinions don't matter. Stella we're gonna talk anime until you're sick of hearing about it!

 

I was halfway up the stairwell when my phone buzzed. A leg cramp had me almost flipping down the stairs, but I managed to snag the rail to hold myself up right. Chancing a look at it had me doubling my already flagging efforts.  

 

‘Fang: ♪ Control over my life you denied,

              And now death approaches from the sky,

              Why’d it be me you had to vilify?

              Goodbye Volcano High ♪’ 

 

Shit shit shit shit shit! Not again! I could still stop this! A second wind finally let me ignore my exhaustion. I didn't slow down when I made it to the correct floor. There was no time left…

 

I stumbled again as I pushed through the door. Only a few dinos were still left in the halls. Quickly scanning over each of them, I hesitated as I saw a particular one. An orange triceratops. I had seen him before, one of the faceless victims of the 7. He was laughing about something as he slipped into a door. Waiting at that door I finally saw her.

 

It was Fang… It really was her.. I wasn't crazy. She was standing with her back to me, but it was definitely her. Her bag in one hand she yelled for someone in the room. And when I saw who that person was I suddenly remembered that I was on a mission.

 

An orange and white head poked out of the doorway, a fake shugary voice calling out some bs pleasantries. Oh fuck. This was it. Now or never.

 

Forcing my destroyed legs to move one last time I was firing down the hallway towards them. I couldn't hear what they were saying to each other over the blood roaring in my ears. They were arguing that much was for sure as Naiomi’s mask had cracked into a scowl as she said something and Fang's wings had flared behind her.

 

Fang’s hand had drifted down to her bag as she unzipped it. I tried to call her name, but my breath was so haggard it didn't come out. Shit was I too late? Not fast enough? Had I really fucked up again… no wait, they had stopped.

 

Naiomi had locked eyes with me, staring in confusion at the desperate caveman hauling it down the hallway. 

 

“Are you fucking listening to me!” Fang yelled in her face before glancing back over her shoulder. 

 

Her eyes met mine for the first time in over 3 weeks. They were as beautiful as ever… Fang's mouth dropped in shock as she tried to process what was happening, her eyes flashing in stunned horror as she saw me. She frantically jerked open her bag as she reached inside. But she never got to draw it.

 

My hand grasped her wrist as the other grabbed the bag, holding on to it with all the strength I had left. We didn't move for a few seconds until another cramp dropped me to a knee. 

 

“Haaah… haaah… Fang..” I couldn't catch my breath.

 

“You're not supposed to be here..” She barely whispers. Tears had already started down her face. I wasn't far behind. “You're supposed to be home asleep…” Her voice was quiet and weak, her head slowly shaking back and forth in disbelief. 

 

“...Fang..” 

 

“No.. no nononono…” She was starting to panic, glancing side to side as we began to draw attention from inside the room. 

 

“Fang… I’m.. I'm so sorry..” It was taking every ounce of mental strength not to throw up on her boots.

 

“Anon..” My words seemed to shock her. “I already told you. You have nothing to be sorry for..” Her voice came out a fragile whisper. “None of this is your fault..”

 

“You're wrong!” I interrupted. “Or.. I was wrong.” Fang stared at me in confusion. “Look.. I was wrong. I said it doesn't matter. I said nothing mattered. But YOU matter..” I paused to catch my breath again

 

“Even Naiomi matters. Ok yes, she's a bitch. But without her I might have missed out on the most important person in my life.” Here I was in front of a class of strangers crying to my girlfriend, goodbye nonexistent social standing. Eh I didn't really care anymore.

 

“But Naiomi was wrong too.” Fang was shaking, but I had the full attention of those beautiful amber eyes. “You don't need to be fixed, Fang.There's nothing wrong with you. You needed someone to support you. You came to me and I ignored you.”

 

“Anon..”

 

“Wait please. Just.. let me finish.” Fang nods. “Fang I promise you. I will never ignore you like that again. I swear I'll spend the rest of my life supporting you.” My words seemed to shock her but I was on a roll so I continued.

 

“I love you Fang.. Don't you ever doubt that. We're not a piece in some big stupid plan.” I finally broke eye contact with Fang to shoot a glare at Naiomi. She stood awkwardly with her hands behind her back and tried to make it look like she wasn't intently watching the whole exchange. Fuck her, Fang deserved all my attention right now.

 

“Before I met you I was some loser, content with having nothing and skating by in life.” I had to clear my throat as it threatened to choke me. “You matter Fang. You improved my life. Your music inspired me to be a better person. I want to spend the rest of my time with you…” I felt her drop the bag.

 

“I love you…” That was the last of my breath. This was all I could say. I must look a sight to her. Wearing practically my undergarments, covered in sweat stains, crying my eyes out. 

 

Fang’s mascara had run down her face. A cycle of emotions flickered through her water eyes. I couldn't tell what she was thinking, but I knew she would make the right decision.

 

“Anon…” I was suddenly wrapped in the tightest hug of my life. “I love you! IloveyouIloveyouIloveyou!” 

 

Her beautiful wings were wrapped around me in the softest hug someone could possibly get. We held each other and wept, rocking gently. Fang was mumbling incoherently in my ear as she attempted to break my spine.

 

Me? I was holding her as if my life depended on it. It was finally hitting me. I was actually holding Fang… She was real and in my arms. She was alive… Raptor Jesus thank you…

 

“Ahem.” An awkward cough brought our attention back to the real world.

 

Naser was standing in the doorway. And behind him a technicolor swath of curious dinos. 

 

Oh ya I kind of forgot we had an audience. It did feel good to see Naser alive and well though.

 

Fang’s hands shot to hide her face and her wings shielded her from their stares. I caught a glimpse of shame before she was completely covered. 

 

“Anon I swear..” Whatever Naser was going to say was cut off by the shrill screech of the tardy bell

 

“Not now Naser.. Later I promise.” He looked like he wanted to argue for a split second before glancing at his panicked sister. With a stiff nod he stepped back into the class.

 

“Naiomi.” 

 

“Yes Anon?” The sugar rush replied as she waited at the door.

 

“Fuck off.” It felt awesome to see her scowl at me before giving a stuffy ‘humph’ as she followed after Naser.

 

“Anon…” I turned to Fang. She was shaking harder, blood trickled down her arms where her claws had punctured.

 

“Let's get out of here Fang.” I grabbed her hand and scooped up her bag in the other. 

 

“Roof…” She croaked out.

 

I nodded and we made a beeline for the stairwell. Our progress only hindered by the fact that my legs were more jelly than legs at that point. But with Fang's help I somehow managed to make it to the top. Though I wasn't looking forward to the trip down.

 

The roof was exactly how I remembered it. I could see the hole that I watched Fang step off the edge through. The thought made my leg throb with a quick phantom ache. Or it was another horrible leg cramp.

 

We sat there next to each other for a long while before either one of us said anything. 

 

“How did you know…” Fang broke the tension first.

 

“What?”

 

“I said how did you know!” She shouted at me. Her breaths were coming in rapid beats.

 

“I didn't..”

 

“Bullshit!” Her fingers dug into her hair. When I tried to reach out she jerked away to glare at me. “You went straight for my bag! You knew I had it!”

 

The ‘it’ in question was suddenly made clear as I found myself looking down the barrel.

 

Her hands shook as she squinted at me through her tears. 

 

“Fang…” Oh fuck. I didn't think of this part. “I didn't know… I.. I had a bad dream. One where you did something really, really bad. You were acting strange last night. And when I woke up to my alarm unplugged. I just… had this horrible feeling that I would never see you again...”

 

 I don't know if it was the pain in my voice or the look in my eyes, but she squeezed her eyes shut and let the revolver clatter to the ground.

 

I had her wrapped in my arms before the gun settled. Fang sank to her knees bawling like a newborn. She shook and shuddered in my arms as she finally let out her grief.

 

“I'm sorry!.. I.. I just.. hic ..I wanted.. hic. ” she blubbered as I let her pour her heart out. She would never again go without a shoulder to cry on.

 

“I wanted t-them to pay!” I squeezed her tight as she dissolved into soggy hiccups. “... I just wanted control over my life.. Just once I wanted to make my own decision.”

 

“And look at what I choose to do…” She sounded so lost. “I’m a monster.”

 

“No you're not. You won a battle today, Fang. You came back to me.” I pulled back and made her look at me. “You get to choose who you are. After today you get to be whoever you want.”

 

I wiped her mascara streaks away with my hand. Her hand settled on mine as I caressed her cheek. She was bloody, teary eyed, and had snot dribbling down her snoot. But to me she was perfect. I'm sure I still managed to look worse.

 

We slowly leaned in until our lips met. It felt as if we were kissing for the first time. Sure technically we had done more than this, so it was kind of dumb to get butterflies from a touch of lips. Maybe it was the different mindset, as if we were different people now then we were the last time we kissed… All I knew was that I never wanted it to end. 

[POST-NOTES]
At the end again. If you made it this far you must be really dedicated. Some quick notes. I made some changes from 'canon'. For starters I had Rosa & Stella visit Anon in the hospital, just feels like something they would do. Also, I used the ending picture of the grave scene as reference, that's why Naser's grave was blank. Thanks again for reading.
"It's me again, Mr. New Vegas, reminding you that you're nobody until somebody loves you. And the somebody is me. I love you."