A/N Hey guys! So this chapter is a little shorter than the last one but I hope you like it! Also this chapter and the next couple are mostly going to be filler chapters so hang in there!

MAX POV

I'm lying on the pavement, I can't move.

I hear sirens, and screaming that I can't pinpoint the location of.

It's loud.

My entire body hurts and I can't breathe, why can't I breathe?

That's when I realize that I'm the one screaming, I'm screaming and I don't know why but I can't stop.

The sound gets louder and there's a ringing in my ears, I think blood is dripping into my eyes, I can barely see.

I'm still screaming.

My breathing is heavy as I shoot up in my bed; I'm shaking from my nightmare.

Only it's not a nightmare, it's reality, it had actually happened to me.

I'm freezing but I'm also sweating.

The numbers on my phone screen tell me that its 11AM.

I run my hands through my hair and get out of bed, walking on shaky limbs.

I glance outside and notice that it's cloudy, the rain from yesterday has let up but it looks like it's freezing.

The weather in New York is so different compared to the weather in Florida, I'm not sure I'll ever get used to it here, not that I plan on getting used to it anyways.

I throw on a hoodie and some warm socks before heading downstairs.

I've contemplated staying in my room to avoid people for as long as possible but I don't want Ella sending up another one of her friends to drag me to another social gathering again.

The smell of breakfast food hits me as I make my way downstairs, I throw my hood over my head because I'm still freezing and my 'nightmare' has left me in a particularly awful mood.

"Morning Max!" Nudge yells, she's the first one to see me enter the kitchen.

I manage a weak smile in response; I don't feel like talking, I haven't felt like talking in months.

I sit down at the kitchen counter; I don't feel hungry at all even though I'm surrounded by food.

I don't know what to feel.

Somehow everyone in the room seems to notice that I'm not up for much and leaves me alone after saying good morning and I'm grateful for that.

Before I know what's happening Ms. Martinez is placing a mug of something warm in front of me on the counter.

I look up at her and she smiles at me, I can see a tinge of sadness in her eyes.

After silently thanking her for the tea I place the cup between my lips and take a few hesitant sips, careful not to burn myself.

I have no clue what kind of tea it is but it's amazing.

Part of me is starting to feel like being here might not be so bad but as soon as I recognize that part of me I shut it down.

My dad had taken care of me my whole life while my mom had been here, taking care of Ella.

I don't deserve to be here, to be happy while my dad was six feet in the ground.

There is no scenario in which this is right, no scenario in which I'll ever feel okay letting myself be happy here, I have no right to be happy.

Ella and her friends wanted to go to the mall and despite my silent protest I'd tagged along.

I'm now sitting in the passenger seat next to Ms. Martinez, staring out the window.

Ella's in the car ahead of us with her friends, I think Iggy is driving.

Ms. Martinez thought I'd rather go to the bookstore while she ran some errands and then come back home with her, she wasn't wrong.

I hadn't felt like leaving the house at all but hanging around shelves of books while Ms. Martinez ran a few errands was preferable to going shopping with Ella and her, admittedly very nice, friends.

We pull into the parking lot and Ms. Martinez leads me into the bookstore.

I immediately breathe in the smell of books and coffee from the small café that was attached to the store.

"Max?" Ms. Martinez says, snapping me out of my trance.

I look up at her, nodding so that she knows I've heard her.

"I have a few errands to go run, can you busy yourself here for an hour?" she smiles at me.

A weak smile makes its way onto my face and I nod.

"Good" she says before reaching into her purse and handing me a handful of cash.

My attempt at protesting proves futile; Ms. Martinez insists that it would be unfair to make me look at books for an hour without being able to buy any.

I try to tell her that I have my own money, a lot of it actually since my dad had left me so much... but she insists on giving me money anyways.

My hair flies away from my face as I let out a deep breath of air.

I know Ms. Martinez will get on my case if I don't buy something so I start walking down aisles of books, occasionally picking one up and reading the description if it looked interesting enough.

Suddenly I hear a familiar voice coming from one of the aisles around me.

I turn the corner and see none other than Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome himself, Fangy boy.

He's wearing a red vest over his otherwise completely black outfit so I guess he works here.

A little girl with blonde hair in two pigtails on either side of her head wearing a pink skirt and a white shirt is looking up at Fang.

She looks like an ant in comparison to what I'm assuming is Fang's 6-foot height.

Fang is smiling down at the girl; I don't think I've seen that kid genuinely smile once since I've moved here.

"Do you have more of these?" the little girl grins, she's missing one of her front teeth.

Fang takes the book out of her hands, examining the front cover.

"We have a lot more" Fang smiles, "follow me".

Fang turns around and immediately makes eye contact with me, he smirks.

"Stalking me?" he says as he walks past me with the little girl trailing behind him.

I roll my eyes as he gestures for me to follow him.

We finally reach s smaller section of the store that I'm assuming is the children's section.

The little girl squeals with joy as Fang shows her an entire shelf full of books that she's looking for.

"Thank you!" her big, toothy grin surfaces again.

"No problem" Fang smiles at her one last time and walks towards me.

"Oh and mister?" Fang turns around to look at the little girl; I smirk because she just called him 'mister' which seems way too formal considering Fang's emo fringe.

"Yes?"

"Your girlfriend is really pretty," she giggles, staring at me.

"Oh I'm not-" Fang cuts me off before I can protest.

"Yes, she is" he says, I can feel my cheeks heat up.

I miss badass Max, badass Max needs to come back because badass Max would have never blushed at something like that.

I also need to stop referring to myself in the third person… that's weird.

I realize I've zoned out again when Fang snaps me out of my thoughts,

"You never answered my question" he smirks. "Are you stalking me?"

"Yeah, I-I'm actually super i-in love with you" I say, sarcasm dripping off of every word.

"Ouch" he says jokingly, "That was cold".

"Ms. Martinez left me h-here to fend for m-myself while she r-runs errands" I explain as we walk away from the children's section of the store.

"I'm surprised Nudge and Ella didn't insist on taking you shopping"

"Oh t-they tried, I was s-saved by Ms. Martinez," I laugh.

"They'll get you eventually, they got me once…"

I can't help but smirk at Fang; I'm attempting to hold back laughter as a picture of Fang dressed something other than black clothes enters my mind.

"Yeah, it was hilarious" Fang frowns and runs a hand through his hair, this kid needs a haircut.

I quickly glance at my phone and realize I have 45 minutes to find books before Ms. Martinez comes back.

"A-aren't you going t-to get in trouble for slacking o-off?" I ask Fang.

"No, my break started five minutes ago"

"And y-you're talking to me?" I question him.

"Why not?" he shrugs.

I smile.

30 minutes later Fang's helped me pick out various different books that he thinks I'll like after having admitted that the day I moved in he stalked my bookshelf.

We're now sitting in the small café attached to the bookstore; Fang wouldn't let me pay for my coffee.

I rolled my eyes when he paid for me and he just smirked, I'm starting to think that' the only facial expression that he's capable of producing.

"So how are… things?" Fang asks awkwardly once we've sat down.

I can tell he's trying to be nice without prying into my rather recent life tragedy.

"R-right now or o-overall? Because right n-now I'm f-fine but overall m-my Dad is s-sort of dead so" I responded, I hadn't meant to say that, crap.

It just came out of my mouth like word vomit; Fang is silent, probably unsure how to respond to me casually talking about my dead father.

"S-s-sorry" I mumble.

"It's okay Max I just… didn't expect you to say that" he finally responds.

"Anything else you want to blurt out?" he asks, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Are you actually a vampire? Do you see dead people? Can you fly?" he teases me.

I'm internally punching him for the comment about flying since I actually can fly.

"H-how did you know?" I ask, pretending to be shocked.

Fang laughs and I take another sip of my coffee, ignoring the fact that it's still too hot and burns my tongue.

"Ah, I knew you two would find each other" I hear Ms. Martinez from behind Fang as she walks towards us.

"Good to know Max isn't actually stalking me, I was starting to get worried" Fang says with a dead serious expression on his face.

Ms. Martinez just laughs and shakes her head, "Ready to go Max?" she asks.

I nod and get up from my chair, pushing it back in once I'm standing.

"It was good seeing you Fang, thanks for keeping Max company" Ms. Martinez smiles.

"No problem" Fang says.

I say goodbye to Fang as we walk towards to the door, when I walk past him my hand accidentally brushes his and I feel sparks shoot up my arm.

I remind myself again that I'm not here for a boyfriend, or friends, I'm here because I don't have a choice.

As much as I… don't really mind Fang's company I have to start keeping my distance.

I shove any thoughts I have about anything positive about living here as I sit in the passenger seat on the way home.

I'm better off on my own.