Well, now who's a good little group of reviewers? Not to mention busy. I am absolutely gobsmacked at the sight of all these interesting reviews! I absolutely love you all! I have a dog. A dog named Tiny. Who is a massive pest. If this chapter isn't as great as usual, well, blame the dog. It pulled all of my blankets off my bed, pushed me off the electric blanket side (my electric blanky only works on one side ), squeaked its dog beer squeaky toys numerous times in my ear while I was having delightful dreams about owning my own Fang. And you do not want to get me started about the dribble incident. And this was all at night! I swear this dog drives me to the brink of insanity. So, instead of going to sleep like a usual happy person does, I instead choose to write this chapter at 2:42 am for all my lovely friends. Ok. I've finished ranting. Onwards with the story!

Chapter Three

It's official. My life sucks.

"Max?" Ella knocked on my door hesitantly.

"Go away," My voice was muffled by my pillow, since my head was buried in the pillows. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I didn't even want to hear them. But oh no, there they were, all cackling downstairs about something that Valencia said. Jeb is too much of a lovesick puppy and her kids were grating on my nerves. The next time I see Angel smile I am seriously punch someone so hard that they'll be in a bloody coma.

"Max. Please, just come downstairs." Ella begged. Nope. Not gonna happen.

"No way. Now just bugger off." I said, wishing that she would leave me alone to be miserable by myself. I heard the door being pushed open and I didn't move. I cannot believe it! She opened the door! You should kick her ass Maximum! Oh, what do we have here, I do believe me conscience was on my side for once. But unfortunately, that was wrong. The bed sunk down slightly, with the weight as Ella sat down on the edge next to me.

"Did you just do what I think you did?" I asked my voice sounding like I had been crying. That figures, since I have.

"No," Smart-arse. "Come on Max," Ella sighed and tugged at my hair.

"Don't touch my hair!" I snapped and stuffed a pillow on top of my head so she couldn't do anything.

"Ok." we sat there on silence and then finally, I moved to see if she was still there. I peeked, and saw she was looking right at me, with steady but sad eyes.

"What's wrong?" I sat up immediately, concerned that something had happened.

She laughed and shook her head. "Trust you to be worried about me, let alone yourself."

I just watched, with one eyebrow raised, as if saying, are-you-going-to-tell-me-or-are-you-just-gonna-sit-there-and-waste-my-time?

"Ok, ok," Ella sighed and bit her lip. I prodded her, not to gently with my foot on her hip and she scowled. "Ouch!"

"So do you want to tell me or not?" I asked. I fiddled with the edge of my bedspread, which happened to be a very cute picture of a cat with a moustache and very bushy eyebrows. Iggy and Gazzy did that when they were about, ten or something. I didn't stop them. I thought it was hilarious. Now that I think about it, I feel sorry for the kitty now.

"No," she replied and I sat there waiting calmly for her to tell me. She will. She never keeps anything from me.

"Oh ok," she huffed and wriggled onto the bed properly so that we were facing each other. "Did you know that hasn't had any kids after Gazzy?"

"She as in, Valencia right?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"Now that is a lie." I scoffed. That was the most ridiculous, dumbest lie I have ever heard.

"No, actually it isn't. The other kids aren't hers."

I looked at her suspiciously. "Then what are they? Her nieces? Nephews? Next door neighbours kids? Hired actors and actresses? I knew that that kid Nudge couldn't talk that much without it coming off a script!"

Ella waited patiently for me to finish. "No, Max. She adopted them."

". . . Adopted them? That son-of-a-bitch!" I lost it then. I stormed out of my room, down the hall to where everyone was congregating in the lounge room.

That fucking bitch! She dumped her own, biological kids, and then adopted another bunch! Whatever happened to responsibility? Well, I'll show her my part in responsibility. It's called you-better-fucking-run-away-before-I-fucking-murder-you! Oh! My fury knows no bounds!

When everyone saw me, and my thunderous face, they completely stopped talking. Just like that.

I walked right up to Valencia, all up in her personal space and . . . . Slapped her. I slapped her so hard that her face swung almost completely 360 . When she finally brought her face back towards me, I punched her. Her nose made a sickening crunch and I waited again for her to look at me. I didn't notice that Fang had grabbed around the waist and pinned me up against the wall.

"Let me go!" I screamed, anger blurring my vision. I couldn't see through a haze of red. God, everything was red. I really wanted to punch that bitch again and again till she dropped dead. And man was Fang strong! I struggled, but it was futile.

"No! Max! Settle down!" Fang growled in my ear and I lashed out, my leg kicked him where it counts and he let go of me, with a surprised grunt. I dived towards Valencia, who was sitting in the chair with her head up, and Jeb was kneeling next to her, with an ice-pack. Angel and Nudge had their backs facing me and they were in my way.

When all of them heard Fang grunt, they turned towards me and saw I was coming again. Angel and Nudge scattered, and just as I reached Valencia, I got rugby tackled. I landed on the ground in a tangle of legs and flying punches.

"Gerroff of me! I'll kill you! I'll kill all of you bastards!" I screamed and then I stopped, panting heavily. I couldn't believe I said that! That was not me! Settle down Max! Get a grip! My conscience was yelling at me inside my head, and I started getting a headache. Whoever grabbed me must've realised that I had given up, and that I wasn't going anywhere.

The hands let go of me hesitantly and I saw that it was Fang, who was grimacing and looking at me warily, like I was going to kick him in the family jewels again. Serves him right, I thought to myself smugly.

"You stable enough yet?" Fang asked, getting up off the floor.

I nodded, struggling to push myself off with my arms. Fang rolled his eyes and reached down to help me up but I just shook my head at his hand and managed to get up by myself.

"Max! What was that?" Jeb marched over to me, fury in his eyes. I just looked at him, with steely eyes. "Max? Fucking answer me for once!"

He was about to grab my shoulders and shake me when Fang stepped in and said in a calm voice, "I don't think it would be a good idea to go near her or man handle her."

Jeb cringed away and stared at me with a look of distaste. "Go back into your room and don't come back out!"

I walked slowly out, leaving Fang behind me, staring at me with a worried look. As I walked past Valencia, I saw a trickle of blood trailing down from her nose all the way to her neck. And I also saw my hand print clearly on her cheek. Hmm, I never knew I had such long-fingered, perfect hands before.

She must have felt my gaze because she looked at me, this time with sympathy showing in her eyes.

Woah. I reeled back. She felt sad for me? Now that is really weird.

Angel and Nudge stood at the doorway, staring at me with wide, shocked eyes. I felt a flash of sadness. What great first impression to your 'adopted step-sisters'.

I walked past them tiredly, down the hall, where Iggy was shaking his head at me with Ella, at my doorway. I ignored them, I didn't feel like talking but of course, Iggy had to be the smart-ass.

"Beat up Valencia? Whoa man you are so tough."

"Leave her alone Iggy!" Ella slapped him on the arm, and he winced and moved out of her reach.

"Tell it to the hand, Ells. Seriously Max, what was going through your brain when you hit her?" Iggy teased me and I clenched my fists and pushed on past, to where my bed was inviting me in.

All I wanted to do was climb in under the duvets and fall asleep and never wake up again.

"Don't listen to him Max." Ella tried to reassure me but it went through one ear and out the other. oth of them followed e into my room, obviously taking that since I didnt shut my door behind me, that they called waltz in too.

"Since when did I ever say you guys could come in my room?" I said as I climbed tiredly onto my bed and collapsed, making the bed squeak and groan at the sudden weight.

"Man, you are one fat person," Iggy commented and I snorted.

It was silent for a long time. I think I feel asleep, but when I went to get up, I couldn't open my eyes properly. Must be my body telling me that I need more sleep, I thought drowsily to myself. I mentally shrugged, oh well, if it wants me to sleep more, than I will gladly oblige. Now I'm talking to myself. Iggy and Ella climbed into bed next to me. I drifted in and out of conscience. I felt Ella slapping my hand and Iggy pinching my arms but I couldn't move. It was like I was my body but someone else was controlling me.

"Max! Wake up; it's four in the afternoon!" Iggy's voice sounded far away. Oh shit! Its four pm? Damn! I needed to visit Sam's sister before she found out that we dumped each other's sorry arses! Otherwise she'll think that I dumped hisand then she'll hunt me down and repeatedly stab me till I die! I struggled to wake up, to push through the black veil that was descending upon the back of my eyelids but it was worthless. Know whats weird, I have been sleeping since eight last night, til four o clock in the afternoon.I seriously need to sleep more often, I slurred to myself.

"Wake up Max!" Ella squealed in my ear, but it sounded faint. Like I was under water. I heard rushing and people punching and pinching me. They were even dumping cups of very cold water on my head. I wanted to yell at them, to tell them to leave me alone. And then, everything went dark.

Oooh! Whatever has happened to Max? Review and maybe you'll find out!

Sorry for the short chapter but I decided to hang the suspense on you! Yeah I'm mean. Thats just how I live. And don't knock it til you try it!

So, the more reviews I get, the quicker I update. Simple huh? Good. I'm glad you all like it :D

XxPaigeXX