Fang

I get dressed and meet Max downstairs.

"Happy birthday." She says, kissing me on the lips. I savor the kiss, remembering how much love I felt with the first one we shared-my first kiss. I always feel like there's more love in the kisses with each passing day. I hope Max feels the same thing because I try to do the same for her. Regrettably, our euphoria comes to an end becuase of our need for oxygen and we pull away.

"Thank you for that remarkable birthday present." I tell her, smiling a full smile that I can only muster when she's around.

She flushes and rolls her eyes. "Your present is still at my house." She reports. "I accidentally left it there because I couldn't wait to see you."

She couldn't wait to see me? Yeah, she's hiding something but I'll play along. I smirk at her and cross my arms over my chest. "Really?" I ask.

She nods in a way that she's assuming looks innocent but only confirms her guilt. Max never looks particularly innocent except in her conservative dressing style and make-up free face, other than that she generally looks mischievous. She gets this look in her eyes like she's plotting something and she tends to wear this cheeky grin before she does something particularly mischievous.

"Let's go over there then." I say.

"I have breakfast ready Fang!" Ms. Monroe-Mom calls from the kitchen. I'm so glad she adopted me but it's still hard for me to believe that I didn't just imagine it.

"Breakfast? Let's go!" Max says, grabbing my wrist, dragging me into the kitchen.

I shake my head at her as we enter the kitchen. Ms. Monroe passes each of us a plate and says, "Dig in you two."

We load our plates up with eggs, bacon and pancakes. Max eats at least eight pancakes and I eat ten topped with peanut butter and maple syrup. Mom (I love writing this down) looks surprised to see Max and me fighting over the last pancake. She often forgets that Max has a high metabolism like me, but I shovel my food down faster so I only eat more because of speed.

"I can make more if you two want." Mom offers.

"That's okay. Fang can have it." Max says, smirking at me as she tosses the pancake at my face. I catch it but I fail to defend myself against the maple syrup she squirts at me. I'm covered in sticky goo in seconds and look for something to defend myself with. There's nothing (naturally), so I spread my arms out and walk towards Max.

"Back off, I have syrup." She says brandishing the bottle.

"Do you want a hug Max?" I ask.

"No!" She exclaims, running behind Ms. Monroe. "You wouldn't get Ms. Monroe all syrupy would you?" Max asks.

I narrow my eyes at her and she sticks her tongue out at me.

"Fang honey, you should probably get cleaned up." Mom says, smiling at Max and my antics.

"Okay. I'll be back soon. Please refrain from plotting my demise while I'm gone." I say, on my way upstairs.


Max

Ms. Monroe peeks out of the kitchen to see if Fang's gone. She comes back and smiles. "Coast is clear." She says.

"Cool. Where are your cleaning supplies?" I ask.

"In the hall closet." She replies. "You should tell them to hurry."

"Will do." I tell her, getting my phone out.

You may be confused right now. Let me explain. See, today is Fang's seventeenth birthday so we're throwing him a surprise party at my house. I'm supposed to bring Fang there but everyone else is behind schedule. That's why I covered Fang in syrup...and because that was pretty funny. Ms. Monroe is obviously in on the plan otherwise she would have been horrified to see food thrown in her kitchen.

I text Ella.

Are you guys ready yet?

No, not even close.

How are you guys not ready? I left over an hour ago; what's the hold up?

Sam showed up and he won't leave.

What Sam?

The only Sam we know, the jerk-Sam.

Crap.

Can't Jeb make him leave? You know, arrest him for trespassing?

No, Jeb's got a call and had to go to work. It's just Mom, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, Angel and me here.

Well, don't do anything crazy. I'll be over there in a few minutes.

Bring Fang, okay? I don't want you getting hurt.

It's his birthday. I'm not gonna make him deal with this crap today. How did he even find out where we lived?

Beats me; just be careful Max.

You know me.

Yes, I know you, which is exactly why I had to warn you to be careful.

I glare at my phone and feel the urge to punch something. I shove my phone back in my pocket and grab cleaning supplies from the closet.

"Has he come down yet?" I ask Ms. Monroe.

"No, not yet." She replies.

"Can you tell him I went to my house to get his gift?" I ask.

"I thought you were bringing him to your house with that excuse." She says, looking confused.

"There's an inconvenience that only I can take care of so I have to go do that. I'll be back soon." I explain as I walk towards the door.

"Be careful Max." She calls after me.

Why does everyone feel the need to remind me to be careful?

It's because they care about you and you're a risk-taker.

Great, now I'm going crazy again. The Voice is back.