I'm pretty surprised to see how much I'm writing for this story. You people should be grateful :P

Disclaimer: Yeah right.

The next day I was back at the store, shelving a new package of CD's that just came in that morning.

"I have to say I'm impressed Maxie, no one can put away those CD's as fast as you do." Reggie said, coming up from behind me, watching as I put some more CD's on the shelves.

I rolled my eyes, "I better be the fastest considering I'm getting to shelve these CD's and nothing else." I scoffed, picking up the box and going over to the next aisle. I swear, there's like an endless supply of CD's. There must be a magic factory somewhere that keeps producing them.

Reggie smiled, "Don't feel bad Maxie, we also pay you to stay there and look pretty." He laughed. I glared at him and flipped him a certain finger. He laughed again and shook his head, "That's no way to treat your boss Maxie." He taunted.

I huffed, "Arnold's my boss and you and I both know I would gladly treat him the same if it didn't mean losing my job in the process." I said bluntly.

Reggie nodded, "Ah Arnold that reminds me, he's coming in tomorrow. Consider yourself warned." He said before leaving to go to the back room.

I swore under my breath, I had to be here on time tomorrow and I had to dress nicely. Not that I wasn't dressed nicely now; I was decked out in a navy blue striped zipper hoodie with a black tank top underneath, skinny jeans and denim colored converse. My hair was straightened with a black beanie on top and I had on medium sized hoop earrings by request (more like threat) of Ella. I also had on my lucky necklace and one of those infamous mustache double finger rings. Also, Ella had managed to slather some lip gloss and eye liner on me before I had escaped and the previous night I had painted my nails black out of boredom.

When I say nicely, I mean like skinny jeans and a blouse with some sort of heeled shoes and pretty jewelry; not to mention I had to willingly put on a good amount of make-up. That was more effort than I had put in for my semi-formal in eighth grade and that was the only dance I've ever been to and I had actually tried to look nice.

But Arnold had this weird policy that stores with well-dressed employees have much more business, which is true to some extent but honestly, he made it a rule that all girls had to wear lip gloss/lip stick and blush. Blush. That's just pushing it.

But I needed this job and I loved it with its quirks and overbearing boss. If I wanted to keep it, I would have to comply with Arnold's weird ways. Sadly, that also meant getting help from Ella which usually ended up with me dressed as a Barbie until I threaten to spill her secrets to the whole school will she tone it down. Of course, I would never do that to her and she knows that, but she complies anyway.

The joys of being a big sister.

The bell chimed from the front of the store and I looked up to see a rather tall guy with black hair walk into the store casually. I could recognize that head from a mile away. Any girl that went to my school could.

Fang, Iggy's brother.

I put on a smile and walked to the front of the store, putting my box down. Customers before other work.

"Hey Fang, need any help?" I asked casually approaching him.

He looked at me from the shelf of CD's he was looking at, "Yeah I need help finding a CD. Something like Destiny Faith." He said looking at me.

He was attractive with shaggy black hair that fell just right over his eyes, a tall broad frame with toned muscles and piercing black eyes. But I was immune to most guys' good looks, having learnt the hard way that they can be deceptive.

I raised an eyebrow, "You look like Destiny Faith? I was expecting something more along the lines of Central Park." I asked, crossing my arms. Fang also had a reputation for being dark and way mysterious. He would be considered 'emo' if he didn't participate in so many social events outside of school and wasn't consistently surrounded by people.

"No it's for my little sister." He said sourly.

My eyes brightened immediately, "I forgot Abby's birthday was coming up." I said. I needed to get her a present.

He raised an eyebrow, "You know Abby?" He asked suspiciously.

I glared, "Thanks Fang, it's nice to know you're so knowledgeable about your brother." I remarked a bit bitterly. I could tell he cared so much about his brother. This was why I didn't talk to him often; he was so consumed in his own world he didn't even bother to take part in his brother's.

His eyes widened, "You're the girl he keeps raving on about? He talks about you like you're the Goddess of Beauty herself." He scoffed incredulously like he couldn't believe it, even though I knew he was talking about my sister (Iggy had a slight crush on Ella, it wasn't noticeable or anything, psh no way.)

I laughed, "No, I'm the best friend. That girl is my sister, Ella." I said, walking over to the back of the store where the kid's music was kept.

He nodded in understanding, "Oh I see." He said, watching me as I looked for the CD, "You're the infamous Max." He said.

I smiled, "So you've heard of me?" I asked coyly.

He scoffed, "If Iggy's not talking about that girl, he's talking about you and the band. I usually have to kick him out of the room. He never shuts up." He told me. That should be a compliment but the way he said it, it sounded like he couldn't stand his brother, which was a load of bull considering he barely even saw him. Iggy says he's always out somewhere doing God-knows-what with God-knows-who. Plus, now I know that when he did see Iggy, he barely gave him the time of day. Jerkwad.

I found the CD and practically shoved it in his hands, "Here, Abby doesn't have this CD so you don't have to worry about he already having it. I spend more time with her than you do apparently." I said, before walking back to the aisle where I had left the box, leaving Fang looking extremely confused. If he barely talked to Iggy who's to say that he gives Abby the time of day as well?

"Uh thanks? Look did I say something wrong because if I did, I'm sorry." He said, coming up behind me.

I stood up from my spot on the ground (I was stocking the lower shelves), I looked at him for a moment deciding what to say to him, giving him my famous 'Look' which makes anyone uncomfortable. He squirmed under my intense gaze.

I finally spoke up, "It's nothing." I said at last.

He raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure, I mean if I offended you or anyth-"He began but I cut him off.

"Why would you have said anything to offend me?" I said innocently. It wasn't technically a lie.

He scratched the back of his neck, "I mean uh-"He said, trying to think of something to say.

I faked a smile, "Fang. I'm not upset. Just busy." I explained.

"If you say so." He said before walking away to the check-out counter. I blinked, what just happened? He's persistent one minute and totally laid back the next. I shook my head, whatever it's not my problem to deal with anyway, though I'll have to find out from Iggy if he's always this up in the clouds.

. . .

"I have arrived." I announced as I plopped down on the couch in Iggy's basement.

Iggy barely moved his eyes from his video game, "Hey Max." He said, totally preoccupied with his game.

I looked around, "Where are Kenzie and Kendall?" I asked. They were supposed to be here by now.

"I don't know. They haven't come yet." He replied hastily.

I looked at him annoyed, "Iggy, come back to reality now. We have band rehearsal." I told him, getting up and unplugging the TV.

Iggy shouted in outrage, "Hey! I was on Level 8 and about to beat the boss! Now I have to start all over!" He cried out.

I rolled my eyes, "You'll live." I said sarcastically.

He glared at me, "But it takes forever to get to the boss, you have to undergo The Quest of Fir-"He began.

I held up my hand, silencing him, "I really don't want to hear it." I said. He glared at me before sulking in his seat.

"Meanie." He grumbled.

I perked up, "Speaking of meanies, your brother is a major jerk." I said, taking a sip of the Cola I had grabbed on the way down.

"Tell me something I don't know." He scoffed, "He doesn't care about anyone but himself and his stupid friends. He's never home and when he is, he barely gives any of us a moment's notice. And then he goes and says he's a fantastic brother." He tells me.

I shake my head, "I met him today in the store, he came by looking for a present for Abby's birthday." I explain.

He looks a bit shocked, "He remembered?" He asked incredulously, "He barely remembers Mom's." He exclaimed.

I nodded, "I know, I still remember the whole blow up, your mom was in a bad mood for weeks." I said, remembering when entering Iggy's house had been like walking into a war front.

He chuckles, "Fang couldn't even look Mom in the eye without her giving him 'The Evil Guilt Trip'." He replied.

I laughed with him, "The one where she makes you feel incredibly guilty for what you did while staring you down?" I asked.

"Is there another look that's considered 'evil'?" He remarked.

I shrugged, "True. Anyway, where in the world are Kenzie and Kendall?" I asked, changing the subject.

He shrugs, "I don't know, knowing them they probably ended up arguing about something or another and ran the car into a tree or something." He said. I glowered and threw a pillow at him.

"Shush, let me call them." I said, reaching for my phone. I dialed Kenzie's number and waited for her to pick up but she didn't. I then dialed Kendall's number and waited.

I didn't see it but Iggy had a sly smile on his face. Just as Kendall picked up, Iggy jumped at me and attacked me with the pillow. I fell to the ground with a shriek as Iggy continued to hit me with the pillow.

"Iggy cut it out!" I yelled, trying to cover my face.

"Hello? Who is this? Grandma, I already told you I'll get a girlfriend when I meet the right girl!" Kendall's annoyed voice said from the other side. I shot my leg out, tripping Iggy.

I propped myself on my elbows, "No Ken, its Max. Where are you guys?" I asked, straightening out my hair.

Kendall's voice immediately changed into a more nervous one, "Oh hey Max, you mind forgetting what you heard a minute before?" He asked nervously.

I smirked, "Not a chance." I said smugly.

He grumbled and I heard Kenzie' snickering from the background, "Hey Max, we're almost there. Just give us a few minutes. Don't kill Iggy in the meantime." Kenzie shouted from the background.

I nodded, "Kay, I'll try." I said, hanging up.

Iggy was in the process of standing up, "Okay so you now you know, they're almost here. Now can I return to my game?" He asked, standing up.

I rolled my eyes, standing up as well, "If what you said is true, then you won't get far anyway, might as well talk to me in the meantime." I said, plopping myself onto the couch once more.

Iggy scoffed, "Yeah because that's so entertaining." He replied.

I pretended to be hurt, "What happened to being the wind beneath your wings?" I asked.

"Hey that was Kendall, not me." He said, waving his index finger.

I rolled my eyes, "Sure, he may have said it but I know you were thinking it as well." I shot back.

Iggy was about to reply when a voice came from upstairs, "Iggy have you seen my black shirt?" Fang's voice said.

I raised an eyebrow, "Two appearances in one day, it must be a new record." I said sarcastically.

Iggy nodded, "I know," He said to me. To Fang he said, "No, I haven't seen it." He replied.

"Did you blow it up?" Fang immediately responded.

Iggy paled, "Uh no?" He said though it came out more like a question.

Fang stomped downstairs, "You blew it up?" He asked incredulously, completely missing the fact that there were other people in the room and he was just in his boxers. I blushed slightly and turned my head, suddenly becoming very interested in the blank TV. Fang had a very nice body.

Iggy cried out and covered his eyes, "Ack Fang, put some clothes on! My eyes are burning!" He cried out dramatically.

I could practically hear Fang rolling his eyes, "Shut up Iggy, what am I supposed to wear now? That was my good shirt." He exclaimed.

Iggy scoffed, "Dude, all your shirts are black. You're not going to miss one. Now seriously, put some clothes on. There are girls here." He said, referring to how I was sitting uncomfortably on the couch.

"Abby's seen me like this plenty of times. Now I have to wear my other shirt. You're getting me a new shirt, bro." He said before stomping up the stairs.

Iggy glared at Fang's back, "Cool story bro, tell it again." He muttered.

"Is he gone?" I asked cautiously.

I heard Iggy sigh, "Yeah he's gone. You can look." He said.

I turned my head around, "Finally, I thought he'd never leave. Honestly, does he walk around half-naked all the time?" I asked sarcastically.

Iggy snickered, "Nah, he just likes to think I have no social life whatsoever so it's okay for him to walk around like that because there will be no one to see him like that." He told me.

I raised an eyebrow, "He's pleasant." I remarked. I was learning more about Fang than I had in my whole time knowing Iggy which is impressive considering I practically lived here and knew basically everything about Iggy. But then again, Iggy barely talked about him (It was always a touchy subject) and he was never around. I didn't care much at all for him considering I hear enough about him from school so I never asked.

Iggy scoffed, "I know right?" He replied. We settled into a silence for a few minutes before the doorbell rang.

I looked at Iggy, "It's about time they got here." I said.

He nodded, "Let's get this party started."

. . .

"I got some good news, guys!" Kendal said as he sat down on the bean bag at the foot of the couch Iggy was sitting on.

"Do tell."

"I got us a gig." Kendall said proudly, "You may now fall to my feet and grovel." He said.

I rolled my eyes, "That's great, where is it?" I asked.

Kenzie answered, "At the mall, they're having a grand opening for a new store and they're desperate for some entertainment." She explained.

Iggy smiled, "Sweet." He said.

"Which store?" I asked.

Kenzie shrugged, "I don't know, it's some big teen store that's really picking up business." She said.

Kendall piped in, "So what are we going to perform?" He asked. We thought for a while.

"How long do we have?" I asked.

"One set." Kenzie replied.

Iggy said, "That's about two songs."

"How much are we getting paid?" I asked.

Kendal gave a wicked smile, "They were so desperate they offered a solid hundred for each song." He said.

Both mine and Iggy's eyes threatened to pop out of their sockets, "Two hundred dollars?" We exclaimed simultaneously.

Kenzie and Kendall chuckled, "Yup."

Iggy placed a hand on his forehead, "I think I might faint." He said weakly.

I began to stress out, "We need to be really good then. They may offer two hundred now but if we suck, they won't pay us fully." I said.

Kendall nodded, "So what songs are we going to do?" He asked.

"How about Time Bomb?" She chimed in.

Iggy nodded, "Yeah that one's good." He said.

I thought for a moment, "How about Good Life?" I asked. They all nodded, "Okay so we'll do Good Life and Time Bomb. We need to get some serious practicing done."

. . .

A few hours later, I was out with Mom, Angel, Ella and Gazzy in Mal-Market. It was one of the few times I had seen in practically deserted, but then again it was almost nine o'clock at night and not a lot of people get out of the house and go to Mal-Market at nine at night.

"Mom look! They have the new deluxe Fantastic Guy action figure! It can shoot laser beams and fly! Can I get it, please? Please?" Gazzy begged, holding up a shiny box with an equally shiny action figure inside.

Mom looked at the price and sighed, "No Gazzy put it back. It's too much money." She said tiredly.

Gazzy pouted, "Please? I'll do all my chores without complaining! Please mom, please!" He pleaded.

Mom looked at him extremely tired, "I'm sorry Gazzy, but not today. Maybe in a few weeks okay?" She said, before walking out of the aisle and into another.

Gazzy's face crumpled and I felt badly instantly. I looked at Ella who had the same expression on her face. She looked at me as if to say 'what should we do?'

I shoved my hand in pocket, looking for some money, "I have a twenty." I said, pulling out my twenty. It was the only money I had left from my last gig.

She rummaged through her purse pulling out a ten, "I have ten." She said. I looked at Gazzy who had put the toy away and was currently looking at it sadly. I walked out and looked at the price, together Ella and I had just enough to pay for it.

I nodded to Ella and walked over to Gazzy, placing a hand on his shoulder, "Come on Gazzy, you can get the toy." I said to him.

He looked at me confused, "But Mom said I couldn't." He told us.

Ella nodded, "But we're going to pay for it. Now come on, get the toy before we change our minds." She said jokingly.

Gazzy's face immediately brightened as he gave us gigantic hugs, "Thank you, thank you!" He cried, grabbing the toy and running to the front of the store. Both Ella and I shook our heads, the things we do for family.

. . .

An hour and a half and one argument with Mom over the toy later, we were back home. Ella, Gazzy and Angel were already tucked in bed and sound asleep. They had passed out like lights as soon as they hit the bed.

I, on the other hand, had to work on perfecting the songs and learning the music. I was the lead vocalist for both songs and I played lead guitar for Time Bomb.

I looked up at the clock, '10: 45 PM' it was late and I had work tomorrow. I got up, placing the music sheets on the corner of my desk and quickly changing into my pajamas. I was about to get into bed when I realized I was really thirsty.

I went down the stairs and was about to enter the kitchen when I hear Mom talking on the phone. I paused and hid behind the wall that separated the kitchen from the living room.

"Look, I just need an extension. I'll have my taxes paid by next week I can guarantee you." Mom's tired voice said. I heard muffled voices on the other end of the phone.

"I understand that but I'm begging you, I just need one more week and I can pay them off." She reasoned. More muffled voices and then Mom gave a relieved sigh.

"Thank you so much for your understanding." She said and then I heard the familiar click of the phone hanging up. I peeked over the side of the wall and saw Mom hunched over a pile of papers, her head in her hands.

I knew that we were in a tough spot, a single mom with four kids was hard to handle. I had thought that we were finally getting back on our feet again by Mom's happier appearance but I should know more than anyone that looks are deceiving. Why didn't I see it before? We weren't getting better, we were falling in deeper.

I made a decision then and there without a second thought; I needed to get another job.

And that ends another chapter of Maximum Ride: The Music Beats! If you want to see the outfits PM me or go to my profile and click the link to my Polyvore. They'll be there. R&R?

(Also if you like Code Lyoko, check out my story The Prodigious Tale of Us!)