Happy New Year's, everybody! Gahh, I can't believe it's already 2012. And I can't believe it's almost time for me to get back to school.

Fang: Whoop-de-freakin'-do.

Me: I have to agree with Sir Negative on this one. Whoop-de-freakin'-do.

Fang: Well, since it is the New Year, why don't you go ahead and review this chapter? C'mon, you know you want to.

Me: I should be saying this at the end of the chapter, but oh well. If you would like to give me ideas, or give me criticism, or even just a smiley face, go for it! :D

Fang: And now, for Chapter…uhh…I lost count.

Me: (eyeroll) Chapter 7, folks!

Fang: Riiight.

Disclaimer: No, I don't own Maximum Ride. Not even in 2012. Don't worry, I know people. It will happen soon. (ominous music)

Previously….

"Hey Fang, I'm really tired, can you take me back to my room? I got lost last time," I said sheepishly. He smiled, taking my cup and nodded. After dumping them in the sink, he led me through the dark hallways and opened the door to the now familiar bedroom I was using. "Thank you," I said quietly. He just smiled. "Goodnight, Max," was his reply, and he disappeared back down the hallways. I smiled in contentment as I took a shower, put on some nice silk pajamas Nudge had left for me, and took off all the gunky makeup. Crawling into the soft bed, I fell into a nice deep sleep.

Morning came too soon, and I saw a figure by the side of my bed.

"Hello, Maxie." Well, if it wasn't Captain Buttwipe himself.

"Sir Butthead! How'd you sleep? I slept well, ya know, after Fang picked me up from the party," I replied evenly, giving him a steel glare. He only smiled in reply. "Come on Maxie, it's not a big deal." My mouth fell open. "Not a big deal!" I sputtered, jumping out of bed. He crossed his arms, but didn't have anything to say.

"I thought so, you little windbag!" I said angrily, marching up to him. He simply walked around me in a circle, his hands clasped behind his back. "Oh little Max, what could you possibly do to me?" he taunted. "Oh, now you're just asking for it!" I snarled, walking straight up to him, backing him into a corner so he couldn't escape. "I'm going to rip out your spine and freaking beat you with it, until you beg for me to kill you!" I said, clenching my fists.

Dylan suddenly mustered a small smile. And it grew, and it grew, and it grew, painfully slow. "And just how do you plan to hurt a prince?" he asked innocently. That didn't make the process any slower. "Well, like this," I said, swinging my fist back. I slammed it into his nose faster than he couldn't reply with a snarky comment. He fell to the ground, clutching his bleeding nose. I grinned triumphantly, and then suddenly realized what I had done. "You, you are going to pay for that, you little witch!" he yelled, standing up. I didn't say anything, just observed how hard I had hit his nose. "That's gotta hurt, huh, Captain Buttwipe?" I asked sympathetically, putting a hand over my heart mockingly.

Dylan only sneered, and soon I was against the wall, his hands around my throat. "Hey, stop!" I coughed, pulling at his hands. "Not until you apologize," he said. "Not on your life," I ground out, and his fingers dug deeper, closing off all air I could get access to. "I might let you live, if you do me one thing," he said, never releasing my throat. I was trying to inhale, but was starting to see stars. "We don't speak of this to anyone, especially your superhero, Prince Fangy," he started, with a smart aleck tone. "And, whenever I want to go anywhere, you come with me. Understand?" he snarled. "That's two things!" I wheezed, ever the sarcastic one. Dylan released me, leaving me to fall on the ground, coughing my internal organs out. No, just kidding, I'm not that graphic. I laid there for about ten minutes, my pulse finally going back to normal.

I wanted to cry from the pain that was making my throat throb, but instead, I got dressed into something that hid the bruises Dylan had left from his choking session. How was I going to hide this from Fang? I was never good at keeping secrets from anyone. "Max? Are you in here?" Nudge asked, flouncing in my room. I was in the middle of fastening a few buttons on the lavender turtleneck sweater (gag me) I put on. "Fang wants you at breakfast," Nudge said, going over to my bed to remake it. She noticed my silence, and raised her eyebrows. "Are you okay?" she asked, placing a hand on my shoulder tenderly. I jumped slightly at her touch, and she walked in front of the mirror I was standing near.

"Max. What happened?" she asked, gripping my shoulders. I swallowed hard. "Nothing happened. I'm just tired, that's all," I replied, removing her hands from my shoulders. She looked skeptical, and a little hurt. "Well, when you're ready to tell me, I'm here," she said, and left my room. I breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn't scared of Dylan, but I did know that he would go through with his threat. Just thinking about it made me clutch my arms around myself tightly, and I shivered. My stomach growled, letting me know that was my cue to get down to breakfast.

****this is a line break. His name is Bob. You can pet him, but he likes sharp things, so I suggest backing away slowly.*****

Angel POV (oh yes I did)

I was sleeping in my bed, the one I used to share with Max. But the prince took her to the castle, and now it was all mine, for now at least. However, while most people like sleeping in beds alone, to me it was a sign that I was alone, without my sister. I wished she was back, but right now she was probably getting pampered and socializing with rich people (A/N oh Angel…if only you knew…). "Angel? Wake up," my mother, Valencia shook me awake gently. "Is it morning already?" I asked, pretending that I was waking up from a deep sleep.

"I have to go to work, would you run out and get us some food today?" Mother asked, pulling the thin covers off my thin body. I remembered the coins that Prince Nicholas had put into my hands a few days ago. "Of course, Mother. Just let me get dressed," I answered, putting on my blue dress, the only one I had. "I must go now, Mrs. Patterson is demanding I come now (A/N haha, Mrs. Patterson…I wonder if she knows JP?(: Okay, okay, I'm done.). So be good and stay safe," Mother warned, kissing my forehead before hurrying out the door.

*time skip…Angel's in town now after walking there.*

I stumbled across the pavement, trying to dodge all the overweight rich people, eating hot bread and drinking hot apple cider, laughing with one another about something that happened yesterday. Carefully dodging one fat lady's swinging fur purse, I walked to the grocery vendor. He knew who I was; Max and I were already the talk of the town for stealing. "Are you here to steal something?" the grocery vendor sneered. I smiled at him politely. "No sir, I would like to buy a few groceries," I stated calmly, holding out a few coins.

He looked stunned, so I grabbed a sack and started to fill it with groceries, but the man stopped me. "Pay up first, little girl," he sneered. I smiled. "Gladly." With that remark I handed him some coins, filled up my sack, and skipped off, adding a, "Nice doing business with you!" The confused man shook his head, rubbed the coins around in his hand, and stuck them in his pocket.

I went home to eat some fruit for breakfast, and sat around on the couch. Usually Max took me to school, but since she didn't, my friend Chloe said her mom could take me. After hearing a honk at the front, I grabbed my small backpack, made myself a small lunch, and skipped outside. I wasn't expecting dozens of men in black suits with snipers surrounding my house.

"Come with us," one said. "If you want to save your sister."

Ooooooooh, cliffy! What do you think is going to happen? *Fang plays Phantom of the Opera theme song to increase the drama* In the next chapter, Iggy, Gazzy, and Ella will be introduced! Yay! And Happy New Year!
Fang: So…review? Because it's New Year's Day?

Me: And because I wrote a little more than usual?

Fang: Virtual will be handed out to those that review. Farewell guys!

-switchfootlove13