Chapter one

"Nudge, Max, get up, it's your first day back at school." Mum screamed up the stairs.

I groaned when I heard my little sister and brother Angel and Gazzy run up the stairs, Angel ran into Nudge's room and Gazzy ran into mine.

Gazzy grabbed my arm and started to shake me awake.

"Get up, Max, get up, you'll be late, do I have to get the jug?"

I sat up quickly. "I'm up, I'm up."

My six year old brother giggled next to me.

I rolled my eyes as I rolled out of bed. "Okay Gazzy, I need to get dressed. Is Nudge up yet?"

"Yes, she's having a shower, come on Gazzy, Mummy's made cookies." My six year old sister, Angel, said skipping past my room.

Gazzy ran off as well, probably to eat some cookies. My Mum makes the best cookies in the world.

I quickly got my clothes out of my drawer and walked into my bathroom, yes I have my own bathroom.

I had a quick shower and put on my dark blue top, three-quarter length jeans and my blue converses, I ran a brush through my wet dirty blond hair which was already starting to curl.

I walked out looking in the mirror as I passed, there are two things I actually like about myself, I like my long dirty blond curly hair and my brown eyes.

I threw my night clothes on my bed, put on a blue head band and walked out of my room, I almost walked into Nudge, my sixteen year old adopted sister, I'm sixteen too, I'm two months older than Nudge. She was wearing a pale pink t-shirt, pale pink mini-skirt and pale pink heels, she has certain colours for certain days, today was obviously a pink day. Her long curly dark brown hair was up in a high ponytail and her brown eyes were staring at me.

"Why do you wear mini-skirts, Nudge? You could pass as one of the pops." I said.

"I don't look that bad, do I? I mean I thought my skirt was longer." Nudge looked at her skirt.

I sighed. "You don't look that bad, Nudge. I mean, you look fantabulous, as always. I really envy you sometimes."

"Don't worry. You look really pretty but if I give you a make-over…" Nudge said.

"No. No make-over's, Nudge, you know I don't wear make-up." I snapped.

"But you'd look even more pretty than you do now, Max." Nudge said.

I shook my head, turned on my heel and walked downstairs to the kitchen.

"Morning Max." Mum smiled as she gave me my plate of pancakes and cookies.

"Thanks, Mum." I kissed her cheek before I sat at the table, Nudge joined seconds later, I knew that by the look on her face that she was going to try and talk me into a make-over, she's only ever managed once, when we were fourteen, she'd threatened to go tell Mum that I was the one who scratched her car with my bike.

Sure enough Nudge started to talk about giving me a make-over, I knew Angel would join in, and she did but so did Mum, that traitor.

Finally I agreed after Angel and Nudge gave me the bambi eyes and Mum promised me more cookies, two of my weaknesses.

Ten minutes later I stared at my reflection in the mirror in awe, the girl in the mirror couldn't possibly be me, she looked amazing, she was wearing black eye-liner, black mascara, natural coloured eye shadow and pink lip gloss.

"Wow…Nudge…I'm…wow." I managed to get out.

"You look so pretty, Max." Angel gaped at me.

Nudge was speechless. Well there's a first time for everything.

"Kids, come on, let's go before you're late."

Nudge, Angel, Gazzy and I ran down the stairs, grabbed our bags and ran out the front door.

I sat in the passenger seat, Nudge, Angel and Gazzy sat behind Mum and I. We dropped Angel and Gazzy off at school and went to collect Ella and Ari, they were sitting on the wall outside their house. Ella and Ari are twins and they're sixteen. Ella had her shoulder length dark brown hair in neat curls. Her chocolate brown eyes were wide as she stared at me.

What? I never wear make-up, everyone knows that, even the pops. Ella wore a pale blue top, dark blue jeans and blue converses. She's like Nudge but today's blue, they promised they wouldn't wear the same colour on the same day. Ari's dark brown hair was gelled again and his hazel eyes were looking at Nudge, I think he likes her. He wore a red t-shirt, baggy blue jeans and black trainers.

Ella and Ari sat next to Nudge in the back seat.

"Morning guys." I grinned.

"Wow, you're wearing make-up, did the girls get to you?" Ella asked.

"Yep." I smiled popping the 'p'.

Mum drove us to school in five minutes, a new record but I think she was speeding.

We got out of the car and waved to Mum, then we walked over to Iggy and Fang who were waiting for us at the gate.

Iggy has short light brown hair, and brown eyes, he wore a white t-shirt, white shorts and white trainers, I hope he's not doing a different colour for every day as well, it's enough with Nudge, Ella and the pops doing it.

My best friend Fang, I know he's a guy but still, he has a mop of jet black hair with his fringe covering his right eye, his eyes are a gorgeous dark brown, almost black, I'm the only one who can understand him, he's Mr. Emotionless of the group and he doesn't talk much, except to me, but we are best friends. He wore a black long sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, black skinny jeans and black converses, he always wore black, like Nudge, Ella and the pops always wear the same colour. While Fang is Mr. Emotionless we have Nudge, the fantabulous poetry writer, Ella, the brainiac, Iggy, the pyro, Ari, the music and song writer, he plays the guitar, drums and bass, when he records he gets me to sing because he 'really likes it and thinks it's good', then there's me, the girl who's good at gymnastics, martial arts and dance plus I'm the leader, because I'm the one who always stick up to the pops the other five, not so much Fang, follow my lead.

Speaking of the pops here they come.

I rolled my eyes as the leader of the pops, Lissa, snapped at someone who walked into her.

We call them the pops because they are the popular group at the school, but they're really mean to everyone, the only people who stick up for themselves are Fang, Ari, Iggy, Nudge, Ella and I.

Unfortunately for Fang, Sky's his cousin and Lissa's always flirting with him.

Sky flirts with Ari, Nudge gets mad at that which is really funny, Hannah flirts with Iggy, Dylan flirts with Ella, Sam flirts with me and all the jocks flirt with Nudge…two words…Not interested.

I've got a feeling Ari loves Nudge as much as Nudge loves him, Iggy loves Ella as much as Ella loves him. I don't love anyone, although Nudge keeps saying I love Fang, which I don't, we're just best friends. And I have no idea who Fang likes, for all I know he could like Lissa.

Sky has black hair in a bob and dark brown eyes, Lissa has long frizzy red hair and green eyes and Hannah has shoulder length wavy blond hair and pale blue eyes. They were wearing the same hot pink outfits with mini-skirts that hardly covered their bums.

They also have two boys in their group, Dylan and Sam.

Dylan has blond hair and brown eyes and Sam had mousy brown spiky hair and hazel eyes. They were both wearing dark blue, as always.

I groaned as the five of them walked over to us.

I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at them, Ella, Iggy and Ari glared at them too. Nudge put her hands on her hips and stared coldly at them and Fang leaned against the wall, expressionless and with his arms crossed.

"Awww what's the matter? Aren't you glad to see us?" Lissa asked.

"Not really, we've got better things to do than talk to you." I said coldly.

"What's better than talking to us?" Hannah said.

"Anything." Ella snarled.

Everyone in the corridor froze to stare at us, it's not a secret that we hate each other, I know hate's a strong word but in this case it's not strong enough.

"Hey Fang, do you want to come to my party with me this weekend?" Lissa asked fluttering her eyelashes.

I had to resist not to gag. Fang shook his head.

"Why don't you ever talk to me? You are my boyfriend." Lissa said.

I can't believe her sometimes. I scowled at her. "He's not your boyfriend and maybe he doesn't talk to you because he doesn't like you."

"That's not true, he is my boyfriend and he does like me." Lissa said stomping her foot.

"In her dreams." Fang mumbled in my ear causing me to jump, I didn't know he was standing next to me.

He smirked at my reaction while I rolled my eyes.

"Don't worry Lissa, she's just delirious, of course you're dating." Sky patted Lissa on the shoulder and walked up to Ari. "Hey Ari, can you come over mine tonight and help me with my homework."

Nudge grabbed Ari's hand and pulled him away. "Sorry he can't, Sky, he's over my house tonight."
Nudge and Ari held hands for what was longer than necessary.

Hannah walked over to Iggy and kissed him on the lips.

My eyes widened in surprise, they're not usually this direct.

Iggy tried to push her away but Ella pulled her off him by her hair, Hannah screeched in pain.

"You bitch." Ella spat before punching Hannah.

I grinned. "Nice one girl." We high fived.

"You'll pay for that Ella." Hannah spat blood on the floor and stalked off.

The bell rang for us to go to form.

I started to push past Sam as I followed Fang to form but Sam grabbed my arm, he pushed me against the wall as his lips crashed onto mine.

I tried to push him away, but he was too heavy, I kneed him in the stomach but he didn't even flinch, I was about to slap him when he grabbed both my wrists and held them above my head. He stepped closer to me as I struggled to get free.

Then suddenly he was ripped away from me, I wiped my lips as I gasped for air, I looked up at my 'hero' and saw Fang punch Sam in the face and kick him in the stomach, Sam ran off with Dylan not that far behind, Lissa and Sky had already stalked off.

Nudge and Ella were both staring at me with equal masks of horror, Iggy and Ari had looks of disgust and Fang had an expressionless mask on again but I could tell he was angry when I looked in his eyes.

"You okay?" Fang asked me.

I nodded. "Thank you."

"No problem."

"Let's go to form, we're late." Nudge said.

I nodded in agreement.