A/N Thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter, here's the next one.

Disclaimer: I don't own maximum ride or anything related to it:) I don't even own Julie or Scarlet, because they're real people. I also don't own careful, by paramour. Gosh, I really don't own anything.

Max POV

The rest of the night I avoided Fang. I purposely sat on the other side of the room from him and went out of my way to make sure we were never in the same room alone. I needed to think for a while.

I lay in my sleeping bag and listened to the sounds of my sleeping friends. Soon I realized it was pointless to try and sleep, so I got up and went to sit on the swing on my porch.

What was going on with Fang? I had no idea. All I knew is that I was scared. I was scared to lose my best friend because of stupid feelings.

"Hey." I heard someone behind me say. I whipped my head around and there was Fang, leaning against the porch railing.

"Hi." I said quietly.

He came and sat next to me and we swung back and forth for a while.

"Do you remember when Iggy pushed you off of this swing?" he asked finally, after silence.

I laughed, "Yeah, and because of that he learned how hard I could hit."

We sat out there for a while talking about memories, and I felt like I had my best friend back.

That morning all of us got a kick out of seeing Iggy and Scarlet curled up next to each other in their sleep. They were never going to hear the end of this one.

The rest of the weekend passed by uneventfully, and soon it was time for school again. The seven of us were waiting for school to start, sitting on a long stone bench near the entrance. I noticed Sam was looking at me funny.

"Max," he said, "can I talk to you for a minute alone?"

"Uh, sure" I said, wondering what he wanted.

We walked a ways away and he looked at me for a minute.

"Would you…" he began, sounding unsure."Would you like to go out with me on Thursday?"

Whoa. "Like as a date?" I asked.

He nodded.

I thought about it. "Well…why not?" I finally said.

He grinned and looked very pleased with himself. "Pick you up at 7 on Thursday."

I smiled at him and just then, the bell rang.

I slumped into my seat in history. Everyone was milling about the classroom, waiting for class to start.

"So," Scarlet said,"I didn't know you liked Sam."

I flushed and noticed Fang's head snap in our direction.

"It's one date." I said shortly.

Scarlet raised her eyebrows but let the subject drop.

I noticed that Fang didn't say one word to me all through the classes leading up to lunch. I mean, I know he's quiet but he didn't say one freaking word. The lunch bell rang after 3rd hour and I pulled Fang off to the side.

"What's with you?" I asked him. He just shrugged and tried to push my passed me. I grit my teeth and pulled him into an empty classroom.

"You. Better. Talk. To. Me." I snarled.

He just shrugged again and studied the floor like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

I'd had enough. I pushed him against the wall and stood on my toes so we were level with each other.

"What's wrong?" I asked again. My voice clearly said that he better tell him or else.

"You and Sam." He spat out, not meeting my eyes.

I felt my jaw drop. "What?" I asked, surprised and confused.

He just gave me a look and walked out of the room. I slumped into a desk put my face in my hands. I was so confused.

That night we decided to have band practice. Perfect timing. Music would help me escape from all the drama in my life.

Our band's name is The Flock. I'm the singer, although Fang sings sometimes. Nudge is bass guitar, Iggy is drums, and Fang does regular guitar. Scarlet plays piano and occasionally sings.

We always practiced in Iggy's basement because all our equipment is set up there, and it's sound proof. Apparently some neighbors do not enjoy our awesome music. They're loss.

We started with Careful, by Paramore.

"Ok, guys" I said, "Let's do this."

We started: (A/N lyrics are in italics)

I settled down
A twisted up frown
Disguised as a smile, well
You would have never known

I had it all
But not what i wanted
cause hope for me
Was a place uncharted
And overgrown

You'd make your way in
i'd resist you just like this

You can't tell me to feel
The truth never set me free
So, I did it myself

You can't be too careful anymore
When all that is waiting for you
Won't come any closer
You've got to reach out a little more
More
More
More, more

Open your eyes like i opened mine
It's only the real world,
A life you will never know

Shifting your weight
To throw off the pain
well You can ignore it
But, only for so long

You look like I did
You resist me just like this

You can't tell me to heal
And, it hurts remembering
How it felt to shut down

You can't be too careful anymore
When all that is waiting for you
Won't come any closer
You've got to reach out a little more
More
More
More, more

The truth never set me free
The truth never set me free
The truth never set me free
So, I'll do it myself

You can't be too careful anymore
When all that is waiting for you
Won't come any closer
You've got to reach out...

Can't be too careful anymore
When all that is waiting for you
Won't come any closer
You've got to reach out
More
More
More
More, more

I smiled when the song ended. It had sounded fantastic.

"Great," I said happily. And it was perfect in another sense. I had to be careful, or I'd lose my best friend.

We did a few more songs and then it was time to go. I frowned, remembering that we were all walking home, and Fang and I lived in the same direction.

Fang and I set off down the street. There was a tense silent that he finally broke.

"Look," he said, "I'm sorry for being a jerk. I just…I don't know. Sam gets on my nerves."

"It's ok." I said, "But, why don't you like Sam?"

He looked away for a minute and then said, "He likes you. He always has."

I frowned, "Yeah but why don't you like.." I trailed off, and then it clicked. That's why he didn't like Sam. "Oh." I said. Now I was very, very confused. Why would that make Fang not like him?

A/N meh. I don't like this chapter that much, it's mostly a filler, please review, and tell me what you want more of: Fax, IggyxOC, or music?

-Hannah