A/N: I'm soooo sorry for not updating for like...a long time. But here it is. I'll try to update more often. R&R :) oh and I didn't really edit it, I did a little, but there may be some errors.

"WHY?" Nudge whined.

"Because, you and caffeine don't mix," I explained for the fifteenth time.

She pouted and crossed her arms defiantly. "You suck."

I laughed a little, smiling sadly, "Nudge…"

"Yeah," She replied, taking a bite of her cappuccino ice cream.

I couldn't hold it in any longer. I told her everything that happened, starting from when I found Lissa's underwear all the way to now. She added in her own comments in just the rights places. Always on my side. That's what I loved about Nudge; she always knew what to say and never really judged me.

"I hate Lissa. It's like the only way she can be seen is in bed!" Nudge sighed, taking a giant bite of her ice cream.

I ran a hand through my hair repeatedly. "AND HE WON'T FREAKING LEAVE!" I exclaimed angrily, a few worried people glanced our way.

Nudge laughed a little, "I guess you've rubbed off on him." I glared at her.

"You're not helping."

She smiled at me. I looked at my phone. I should be getting back home. "I have to go-"

"You're coming with us, right?" She asked eyes wide and pleading, Bambi eyes. Damn her. I sighed and ran yet another hand through my hair.

"One condition," I replied, lifting up one finger for emphasis. She nodded happily, "ANYTHING!"

"Dylan isn't going and you help me get rid of him."

"That's two," she sadly pointed out.

"Fine, fine," I muttered, waving my hand dismissively, "Just the first one. No Dylan."

"M'kay," She nodded, a wide grin spreading on her face.

Max's Pov

I really hope he's gone. And if he's not, I'll call the police. He's not welcome anymore; he's trespassing on my territory. I think that's how the law works. I'm still learning. As I walked down my hall to my room, I walked pass someone I've never seen before, and I know almost everyone in this building. He was tall, taller than me (now that's saying something, I'm like 5'11''), with shaggy black hair that hung over his dark eyes that looked black. He was wearing a black leather jacket with a white t-shirt underneath, but you could barely see the white. His jeans were a dark shade of blue; it was very close to black. His dark eyes flicked down at me and met my eye for about a second before he looked away. I silently prayed that Dylan and his stupid perfectness would be gone, but the car parked across the street told me differently.

I sighed and walked inside, seeing Dylan sitting comfortably on the couch. Anger boiled in my blood, but deeper in my mind, forgiveness was not far away. You know what they say...Forgive and forget. But they also say, Forget but don't forget, use your memories as lessons. "What the hell?" I growled at him, dropping my purse onto the floor, storming over to him, crossing my arms in utter determination.

"What part of 'GET OUT' do you not understand?"

"Max," He replied soothingly, standing up, looking so sweet, so imperfectly perfect. If that makes sense.

But then I remembered what he did, and those perfect blue eyes didn't seem so innocent. I backed away from his outstretched arms, shaking my head, and uncrossing my arms. "D-d-don't touch me," I hissed, not meeting his eyes. "OUT!" I was tired of repeating myself.

"Max. Please, forgive me..." His eyes were pleading. I just wanted to hold him again. But I couldn't get the horrid image of him and Lissa together.

I shook my head, "We've been through this, Dylan. OUT! Get your freaking ass out!" I turned away from him, waiting to hear the door close. "Or I'll call the cops." I heard him sigh and then, seconds later, the door closed. I fell onto the couch, screaming into the couch.

Why did this have to happen to me? Why did he have to be so, so...so perfect? There is no such thing as perfect, Dylan's exhibit A. I took out my phone and quickly texted Nudge.

Max: Can't go. 2 much drama.

Nudge: WHAT?

Max: Srry to let you down. But theres 2 much going on rite now :(

Nudge: But-but-but-but-but Iggy's bringing his brother who's finally back!

Max: srry, srry :( I am, trust me, I want to go, but I can't. 2 much drama. And what bro?

Nudge: Some guy

Max: Obvious sauce.

Nudge: Apparently... Iggy's brother moved away when his parents divorced and now he's finally coming back... after like 10 years.

Max: Then wouldn't we be intruding on theyr reunion?

Nudge: UGH! WHO CARES! I bet he's hot...

Max: I thought u likd Iggy... o.O

Nudge: HOW'D YOU FIND OUT!

Max: Nudge. I'm your bff, of course ill know who you like gtg and can't come sorry once again.

Nudge: We'll pick you up at 6:00

Max: Nudge... *sigh* fine. C u then

Someone's persistent today. I looked at the clock and noted I had two hours to get ready, which means I have 1 hour and 40 minutes to wait.

Fang's Pov

"What?"

"Oh, come on, you'll love them!" I could hear his happiness through the phone.

"That's exactly what you said about Tanya...and Ella...and Aunt Millie...and-"

"Okay, okay, I get it. You hate everyone that loves you." His happiness was gone, replaced by anger. I haven't seen Iggy for ten years, and in those ten years I met some old family members and some old family friends. I haven't gotten along with many of them and most of them were too happy for my taste. The only reason I'm back is because I missed Iggy and I'm pissed at my dad. He's been trying to find someone for me. An arranged marriage. Gross.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, "Okay, sure, I'll go."

"Really? Seriously? And you'll actually try this time?" He asked, his voice told me that he didn't really believe me.

"Yeah, course. They're your friends, I should meet them. What time?" I asked, trying to be excited for him.

"Umm, okay...6:00, we'll pick you up at six with Max." At least he has some guy friends. I don't want to be in a crowd filled with girls talking about girly things. Sometimes, I wonder if my brother's not straight with all the girls that he hangs around. Then I remember that he's a pervert and understand that he's fine.

"Sure. Okay. See you then."

(A/N: I was going to stop it here, but then I remembered how long I made you wait...)

I decided to go for a walk, get familiar with the place that I would be in for the next year or so.

In the hallway, I walked past someone. A girl. She was pretty, I guess, but I only got a glimpse of her. From what I saw, she had dirty blond hair with sun streaks, warm brown eyes, and was tall. Almost as tall as me and I'm 6'4''. She seemed tired, exhausted, like she was having a rough day.

Max's Pov

? And why... have you not told me about him? I'm like your best friend!" He laughed and Nudge smiled at him.

"Well, I thought that that news was unimportant."

"He's your family. How is that unimportant?"

He just frowned a little, "Because he kind of sort of chose to leave..." I felt bad. What kind of brother was he? Choosing to leave Iggy with his dying mother. Not even bothering to pop up for his birthday or even just saying hi!

"Oh, Iggy," I gasped along with Nudge. I knew Iggy wasn't much of a hugger, but I also knew he needed a hug. So I wrapped my arms and around him and gave him a quick squeeze before letting go.

"So wait, why are you so hap-" I put my hand on Nudge's mouth, cutting her thoughts short. He was happy for not being forgotten, that his brother was still there for him. I gave her the shut-up-or-else-he-might-cry-and-we-all-know-that-Iggy-doesn't-cry look.

"There he is," Iggy said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly and pointing to the guy I saw in the hallway come into view.

"Oooh, he's cute," Nudge whispered to me and I rolled my eyes.

"He's also my brother," Iggy said, sounding slightly jealous. I need to tell Nudge. It's sad that she doesn't know that the guy she likes likes her. How clichéd, right? "FANG!" Iggy called and the guy turned to us and walked over. He didn't smile.

"Hey, Ig," He said, taking Iggy hand and they bumped chest, a boy hug.

"Hi I'm Nudge; I'm still not too sure why they gave me that nickname, because my real name sounds nothing like that. It's Krystal, by the way, not that it's important because they always call me Nudge. But you would think that they would call me Krys or something right? But no, they call me Nudge. I-" I shoved her slightly and caught her eye, telling her to shut it, she was scaring Ig's brother.

"That's why, Nudge," I said, "That's why." She smiled sheepishly at us and muttered a quiet apology.

The boy, Fang, looked relieved that she had shut up, kind of like everyone else. "I'm Max," I said and there was shock in his eyes.

"You're Max?" He asked in surprise. I nodded.

"Yep' that's me..."

"Isn't that a guy's name?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. I crossed my arms, and gave him a look.

"You've just stepped on thin ice, man," Iggy laughed, patting Fang's shoulder and taking a small step back.

"And isn't Fang a dog's name?" I shot back, smiling innocently at him.

"Touché," He replied, nodding a little.

"So now...dinner. Where should we go?" Nudge asked, breaking the silence.

"I don't know any ideas?" Iggy asked, looking at me.

"Don't look at me," I raised my hands in a surrender kind of way, "I'm just the person tagging along."

"I thought, Fang was that person," Nudge pointed out.

"How about a diner?" I suggested, shrugging.

"Apple Cafe?" Iggy asked.

"I said diner..." I pointed out.

"Don't be such a smart alek."

I smirked at him. "How about Becky's Diner?"

"Hmm, sure, but I hate Becky, and she acts just like Li-" Nudge shut up and looked like a deer in headlights. She looked apologetically at me and I shrugged nonchalantly even though I was still hurting inside. I shouldn't be hurting anymore. Dylan means nothing to me anymore. But it's just the fact that he embarrassed me, he used me then broke me, and made a fool out of me with Lissa. She'll never let me live that down. He chose her instead of me.

Iggy looked at me, then Nudge, then me, then Nudge. Then decided we would talk later. "How about Sunshine's?" I asked, immediately changing the subject.

"Yeah, sure," Fang shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. Unlike him, I changed. I was now wearing shorts, not the tiny ones that look like denim underwear, they went to a little bit lower than the middle of my thighs. I was also wearing a white tank top on top of another white tank top, just so it wasn't so see-through, with a black sweater that went to the middle of my torso. It was my sister's. I missed her. It's been about five years since it happened, but March 7, 2007 still haunts my mind. Her smiling, healthy, face is still fresh in my mind, like I just saw her yesterday. Like she-

"You coming?" Fang's voice broke me from my thoughts. Only then did I notice the other two were gone and he was at the open door, waiting for me.

"Oh sorry," I muttered, running over and nodding my head as I exited.

"You nod a lot," He pointed out as we walked to the apartment's parking lot where Iggy and Nudge were waiting for us now.

I smiled a little, "Bad habit of mine." I used to always apologize because I used to be really shy. Then things changed. Then she got sick.

He nodded. "A man of many words," I said more to myself, but he still heard. A small smirk appeared on his lips. I gasped dramatically and said, "Oh my gosh, is that a smile I see! THE WORLD IS ENDING!"

He shoved me playfully and I laughed. When we got to the car, I noticed Nudge's face, all happy and bright. "Whoa!" I said, putting up my hands to shield my eyes, "Tone done the happy beam, would ya'? I'm going blind!"

She smirked at me and crossed her arms, something she picked up from me. "Oh Max..." She shook her head playfully.

"Wow the world is really ending," I said seriously, staring at the cement wall, "First, Fang smiles, then Nudge only says two words... Iggy we need to go find cover, the world is officially ending."

Nudge laughed as Iggy said, "You got Fang to smile!"

I nodded and he gasped, "Oh my god, it really is ending..." We were all laughing (well Fang was just smiling a little, but I'm taking that as a laugh since he's not much of a laugher) when we got into the car. On the drive to Sunshine's my old train of thought hit me like a tornado, blowing me away. Bringing back the old depression that almost took my life. Drowning me in a horrible sadness. She was gone.

Like she was still alive.

But I knew she never would be. I would never see her beautiful smile ever again. Because she was gone.

She was gone.

A/N: I hope that made up for my delay. I'll try to post more frequently but my math teacher loves to drown us in homework so I never have time. But I'll try. R&R!

~Yours Truly Forever~