A beat up blue pick up truck pulled into the driveway surprisingly fast, considering the state of the truck. A familiar pale face was looking out the window from the passenger seat. I hopped off the porch and in next to Iggy.

"This is quite the car," I said, once we'd been driving for a few minutes. Normally I have no problem with quiet, but it was making me a little uncomfortable.

"This baby's all mine," he said with a grin, patting the outside of the rusty, blue paint. Well I wouldn't exactly say I was jealous. "So Nick, you party much?" He asked, turning on the radio.

"Um, I don't know. I did before we moved; it was a big party school," I said simply. People partied all the day, whether you wanted to or not. It pretty much defined your social status.

Iggy let out a slow whistle, "Man, you don't know party until you've been to one of our parties."

"Wait, we're going there now?" I asked. I was so not prepared for a party. I'd figured it'd just be a few people hanging out, something low key.

"Nah," he paused. "Believe me, you'd know if there was a party." I just nodded, I couldn't really imagine a huge rager going on anywhere here. He noticed my skeptical look, "Trust me."

We pulled into a big lot with a few scattered cars, and I saw shadows of people standing near some cars. Iggy raised his hand in greeting and a few voices called back, but none that I recognized. We got closer and I was able to make out a few faces all leaning on cars.

"Sup Ig?" I looked over and vaguely recognized the guy who'd spoken. He was tan and muscular, with the hair of a celebrity. He was the guy Max had been walking with in the hallway.

I scanned the faces, but didn't see Max anywhere; I'd really been hoping she'd be here to introduce me. Thankfully though, Iggy did the honors. "Hey guys, this is Nick. He just moved here; he's friends with Max." A few people nodded and I just nodded back. I was playing it cool.

"Is Max even coming?" A girl's voice asked.

Iggy shrugged, "Last time I talked to her she was."

Another girl chimed in, "Well she was, but she got in trouble with mom." Mom? Oh yeah, Max had five other siblings. "She'll probably sneak out anyway." The girl sounded kind of annoyed, but I couldn't tell for sure. She turned over towards me and held out her hand, "Ella. Lucky me, I'm Max's sister." By the tone of her voice, she definitely didn't sound like she enjoyed being related to Max. Now that I knew she was her sister, I noticed some striking similarities: the curve of her jaw bone, the natural streaks in her hair, the perfect ski slope nose. But there were also striking differences; Ella seemed more concerned with her appearance judging by the makeup and name brand clothes.

"How come?" I asked, curious to know more about Max. It was so difficult to gather information from her.

Ella snorted. "She's just a handful. She's real moody, ever since dad..." She trailed off, her attention shifting over to Iggy who was lugging something out of his car.

All of sudden, Max's dusty, old pick up roared into the parking lot. She hopped out of the drivers seat, looking flawless as always. She also looked incredibly irritated.

"Nice of you to show up," Iggy said and she just rolled her eyes.

"I was sort of in trouble. Again. But I left, so whatever," her voice was quiet and menacing. "What's going on?" she asked.

"Nothing yet," the tan guy who looked sort of like a Ken doll said. "Just waiting for you." Her flashed her a quick grin, showing off his perfect teeth.

"Well you didn't have to do that," she looked slightly happy anyway. "Hey, Nick," she said, sounding surprisingly excited as she came over to stand next to me. "You know how to light a fire?"

"Um, yeah. I did Boy Scouts, I know what's up," I smirked and she rolled her eyes laughing.

"C'mon." She grabbed my hand and pulled me into the woods until we got to a clearing. There was a pile of firewood next to a smaller pile of twigs and a bunch of branches with dead leaves on them.

"You realize that the leaves will just smoke, it won't be a bonfire that you can cook off of?" I asked. For someone who lived out in the wilderness, I figured she knew how to start a fire.

She shrugged, and looked at the ground. "My dad never taught me before he," she paused, before mumbling, "you know." Except I didn't know. But me, being the good friend I am, just nodded. I didn't want to push it.

"Sorry," I mumbled quietly. I could tell that it was a touchy subject.

"Don't worry about it," she flashed me a quick grin and I nodded. "So...this fire isn't gonna light itself," she said with her typical smirk.

I rolled my eyes, chuckling softly as I went over and started rearranging the logs in a teepee fashion. "Can you get some rocks? I don't want to start a forest fire."

She nodded and I went back to as sorting the sticks into an acceptable pile. I scanned the ground but didn't see any matches. Looks like I was gonna have to do this the old-fashioned way.

By the time I realized Max had a lighter, I had already gotten a small flame started. She came back, arms full of rocks and I grabbed some and surrounded the base of the fire with them. Hopefully this would prevent something from catching on fire easily.

"I have a question," I announced. She didn't say anything so I took that as a good sign. I dropped my voice, "Are you embarrassed to be friends with me?" I asked.

"Huh?" She dropped whatever she was carrying and came over to where I was awkwardly standing. "Yeah you're just really funny looking and I don't feel comfortable being seen with you in public. It's a real inconvenience," she looked at my startled face and laughed. She came over and through a casual arm over my shoulders.

"So that's a no?" I was still confused.

"Why do you think that?" She asked, she turned to me with her nose a few inches from mine. It sloped down perfectly and then turned up slightly at the end.

I shrugged. "I don't know. I mean you act like that night in the woods never happened. You asked me to start the fire in here, away from everyone else..." I felt stupid, but I had to know.

"You're an idiot, you know that?" She smiled softly. "Of course I'm not embarrassed you moron."

"Then why-" I started but she cut me off.

"I don't tell anyone because that's always been my special spot. Iggy's never been there. Ella and Ari and Dylan don't even know it exists. I don't know, I felt like I could take you there. You're different. You're something else," she paused. Something else. I could spin that as good. Most guys were something; I was something else. "I mean, I love Iggy like a brother but it's just one of those things you know?"

I nodded cause I did know. We headed back to tell everyone the fire was "a blazin'." Max's words not mine, I swear.

"Sup kids, the fire's ready," Max said as we appeared out of the darkness. "You all know Nick right?" Everyone nodded. "Nick do you know everyone?" I shrugged; names were not my thing. And they also hadn't actually told me their names. That might help. She started at Iggy, "That's Iggy, Dylan, Jensen, Ella, Monique but call her Nudge, me and that's Dean." She pointed to a guy carrying a bag of stuff towards us. I nodded; hopefully I'd remember at least a few names.

"Sup Dean," she held out her hand and he fist bumped it.

"I brought fireworks," he said with a devilish grin. His grin matched Max's when she was ready to cause trouble. So basically on a daily basis during math.

"Sweeeet," Iggy crooned. "Let's see how Nick's fire-making skills are holding up." We followed him into the woods, and thankfully the fire seemed to be going strong. We all sat down around the fire.

"Yo," Max called out. I hadn't even heard her get up, but she was back holding a cooler. "Who wants one?" Everyone raised their hand and Max tossed everyone a beer. I caught mine, and cracked it open. Don't worry; I'm not a drinker, but you've got to be able to have fun once and a while.

I sipped the cold drink, feeling it run down my throat. Max took a swig, and sighed. After everyone had at least one drink, Iggy yelled out that we were playing truth or dare.

"Alright, you're up first, Ig. Truth or dare?"

"Is that even a question? Dare," Max rolled her eyes and then furrowed her eyebrows in concentration.

"Alright, take off your clothes."

"Now, now Max I know you like me, but now's really not the time for that." He winked and flashed the devilish grin that everyone around here seems capable of doing.

"Just do it. But leave your underwear on," she said. "For now. Okay now you need to go to the street side, drop your undies and yell 'I'm a woman, hear me roar!' And you can't stop yelling until someone pulls over to take a picture or talk to you." Iggy scowled and Max grinned while everyone else just laughed.

"If I get arrested for public nudity I will actually kill you," he said, trudging off. "I am a woman! Hear me Roar!" We could hear him calling this over and over, til he got close enough to the road that it was barely audible.

Jensen was up, since Iggy was gone. "Alright Nudge, truth or dare?"

"Truth!" She said instantly. I tried I to make out her face through the fire. She had mocha colored skin, bright eyes and curls that just seemed to go every direction. She was pretty, but she was no Max.

"How many days have you gone without wearing underwear? Or a bra?" He asked chuckling. The guys all snickered but Ella and Nudge both wrinkled their noses.

"Ew, Jensen that's gross," Nudge complained.

"Wow. So you're calling my way of life gross? That's racism!" He yelled, doubled over in a fit of laughter. He had definitely had too much to drink.

"You guys are disgusting," Nudge moaned. I couldn't help but laugh at the stark contrast between the guys who were comparing the longest they'd gone, and Nudge and Ella who seemed completely disgusted.

We kept going around, but thankfully I hadn't been picked. I'm not really a fan of being the center of attention. Halfway through, Iggy returned, clothes in hand. He looked chilly and annoyed but he was still smiling. I doubt I would still be smiling if I had to do that.

"Alright Maxie, I got one for you," Iggy said, once he had put all his clothes back on. "Truth or dare?"

"Oh come on Ig, you know it's always dare," she said, brushing hair out of her eyes. I was surprised she hadn't whipped out her cigarettes yet tonight, but maybe her sister didn't know about them.

He grinned evilly, and I grimaced. I had a bad feeling about this. "You need to make out with-"

"No girls," Max cut in.

"Aw shucks," Iggy said rolling his eyes, but suddenly he was serious. "Make out with Nick." Max looked at me, shrugged her shoulders and came over to where I was sitting. Oh yeah, that was me. Well making out with Max: this was one way to do it.

I stood up, and we turned to head into the woods. You know make it nice and romantic. "No children, you must stay here," Iggy said with a cackle.

"Ew Iggy, we're not staying here to make out in front of you," Max sounded kind of disgusted.

"Oh gross, Max that's not what I meant. Never mind, please get to the woods as quick as possible." He tossed a few more logs in the fire. "Oh and I'll tell you when you're allowed to come back." Iggy grinned manically and Max and I set off to the woods to at least get some privacy. Under Iggy's guidelines, we must be visible but not close enough to see. Sure, Max had a lot to drink, but we were still going to make out. In my book, that still counted.

I laughed, and felt nervous. Sure, I'd kissed plenty of other girls before, but this was Max. It was different. She was different. Before I could overthink it anymore, she leaned in, her face barely an inch from mine. Her breath smelled like a mix of bad beer, a little of smoke, and a little of mint gum. She leaned in, and in seconds her mouth was on mine. Her lips were incredibly soft. They were perfect, like everything else about her. Her hand reached up, getting tangled in my hair. Before I knew what happened, it was over. She pulled back, grabbed my fingers and pulled me back to the fire.

"I knew you two could barely keep your hands off each other," Iggy said, eyebrows raised suggestively as always.

"Oh grow up Ig," Max said. I could barely keep a straight face; I had just kissed Max. And she'd kissed me back. I knew how I felt about it-well I thought I did. But I sure as hell didn't know what was going through Max's head. She seemed as cool and nonchalant as ever, but her eyes seemed to be racing. But that could also be the alcohol or my imagination, as usual. "What'd we miss?"

"Not much," Ella said with grimace. "Just boys being boys." The guys were all snickering and fist bumping.

We played a few more rounds of truth or dare. Jensen and Dylan had to swap clothes with Ella and her friend (Nudge?) for the rest of the night and go home in them. That could be an interesting conversation when they got home.

"This is boring," Max said, sounding tired.

"Still bored?" Dean asked as he held up a bag full of fireworks. His eyes took on a mischievous glint that if recognized as Max and Iggy's signature look.

"Let's light em up," Iggy said with a grin. Max tossed him her lighter, and the flame illuminated just his pale blue eyes, making them glow in the darkness. "Guys get ready to run." Wait what? Were these even legal? Then I figured that Max didn't seem to have much of a problem with disrespecting authority. I wasn't sure if I was okay with that or not.

A burst of color erupted in the vast darkness above. The sound echoed across the mountains, making it 100 times louder. Everyone applauded as he took a bow, before getting ready to light some more up.

He grabbed a handful, and then flame flickered before he tossed the fireworks and they exploded into bursts of color across the sky. The ground shook, and I swear he was going to cause an avalanche.

That's when we heard the wailing of police sirens; and then they were definitely getting louder.