A/N -Damn, you guys nearly made me cry laughing! IDNOMR


Max POV

Alright, I lied. I didn't really want to get totally pissed. Just tipsy enough for me to forget my current troubles that were munching away at me from the back of my mind.

I thought this was going to be some sort of concert, so I wore the pair of skinny jeans that I wore on the way here, and a large souvenir t-shirt, that I bought at a shop -why is it that souvenir t-shirts are always one size?- saying, ' I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, (Unless I buy something, of course)'. Cheesy, not true, but cheap- And we all know how much I like to but cheap stuff- note the sarcasm.

Anyways, when I got there. Oh boy, I realised how wrong I was. It was like a hippy commune. My jaw literally dropped- the only thing keeping me here was Sam Walkers soft hand in mine, guiding me around the crowds of people, and into the centre of the beach, where the stage was. No, I wouldn't normally hold a person's hand, whos I met just an hour or two ago, but no was in hell was I going to get lost in this mass of people.

"Don't worry," Sam said reassuringly, squeezing my hand. " It's always like this; all the families who come here for the sunshine and fun leave by six o'clock, but this isn't a bad place, and these people aren't bad ether," he gestured around him with one hand, a sweet smile on his blemish-free face. "I used to come here as a kid... if you just block the stench of booze out, its all fine and fun", he gave me a quick shrug and a wink, before pulling me in deeper, his hand latching on to mine so tight, that my knuckles were pale.

I was going to reply, but it was hard trying to cast my voice over the people around me, so instead I gave him a sharp nod, and a small smile; I wasn't scared, just a little creeped out.

Finally, we came to place where there was more of a clearing, I didn't really know what to say or do. The music hadn't started, and there was only a loud buzz of people talking over one another, the clinking of bottles, drunken laughter, and kids screaming and singing off tune. Since I barely knew anyone, I just watched, and waited, analysing the people around me- they all looked like the stereotypical hippies, someone who doesn't bathe, lets their hair grow long, generally doesnt give a darn about what goes on in the world, a care-free vibe surrounding them; Oh, and lets not forget, smokes pot.

There were men in their forties, sitting down and the beer bottles in their shaking left hand, and their smoking pipe in the other. I wonder if their aware that they were just shortening their life span?

I felt immensely uncomfortable, but just watching Sam act to calm and cool, and nodding at people, made me feel a lot more relaxed. He was alot more different from the shy guy I met in the morning. For some reason, I trusted Sam a little bit, I mean, if he wanted to do anything to hurt me, its been an hour already, the damage could've been done, right?

I'm sure, that if Fang hadn't potentially ruined my life. I would be in Nudge's Porche Carrea, sitting on the leather seats in the cool night air, earphones plugged in, on my way home, to go to my comfy warm bed.

I tried to convince myself that this was a lot better, but I honestly couldn't. I'm a lazy girl by nature. I would take my warm bed any day.

"Hey," Sam whispered, snapping me out of my little ongoing commentary in my mind, and giving me a charming smile. "I have some friends I need to say hello to, I'm sorry, but do you mind tagging along?"

Nah, it's fine Sam, I'll just stand here, in the middle of nowhere, getting crushed by people who stink, you can go talk to your friends. I'll stay here.

Despite what I was saying in my mind, I replied with a shrug, "Yeah, sure".

"Great," Sam took my hand, and lead my through the crowds, again. I just followed aimlessly, watching as girls walk past, and kids run through the crowds dodging people and earning themselves a few colourful names. It was pretty hard trying to dodge the people lying down in the sand, one guy grabbed onto my foot; I have no idea whether it was intentional, or by mistake, but it made me shit a brick all the same.

After five minutes of walking, Sam came to a halt, "We're here," He said happily, leaning forward on his toes, and peeking over the heads of people, looking for his friends.

I watched as crowds of men and woman, walked by, clinking their whisky bottles together, and letting out loud gurgling noises, before a group of people ranging from about eighteen years old, to twenty-one walking over, bumming around.

They came towards us, and immediately began talking animatedly to Sam- must be his friends.

They didn't dress like the hippies; the guys dressed just like Sam. Frayed necklaces with clay-beads, shorts, big t-shirts, toned limbs, blonde hair... the whole surfer look.

The girls wore tight t-shirts, three-quarter denim trousers, and sandals, flipping their brunette hair all over the place.

As soon as they came over, Sam's grip on my hand loosened slightly, making me feel a little more comfortable, as I felt more private. But it also made me more shaky, as if he was leaving me.

Sam and his friends talked for a while; I watched and listened, smiling and nodding, the occasional answer if a question was thrown my way.I realised the stance they were in. All the surfer-dudes had their own 'chick', and the way they were holding onto them, was just radiating out the message that the girls were their possession. I didn't like it.

They talked to Sam, and completely ignored me, and their own girlfriends.

One conceited little fool said, "Score Man," and clapped hands with Sam, "You got yourself a city chick". I am nobodies city chick.

They talked for a while, me feeling completely inferior, and wanting to lash out at them. I felt myself wishing I hadn't left the guys. I couldn't even get a taxi, because I didn't know the way out of this...place.

The 'friends' of Sam, who were, in no way like him, lead us through to another place. All this walking was killing me, my calves were paining, like sombody was jamming a needle into them. We eventually got to a very crowded place, it was average for this place. Further closer to the stage, people were packed like sardines, and then there were places with barely anybody there. But here, it was around the middle. If you stuff your hand out, in any direction, you would touch a person, but you weren't constantly touching them.

It took me quite a while to figure out where the hell I was, but eventually, I realised.

After going on my tip-toes, I realised that this place was an alcohol heaven.

Only half an hour ago, thought I would go hard on with the alcohol get pissed to no end. I'd be so drunk, I wouldn't be able to walk anymore. Becuase this would most probably be my only chance for the rest of the summer, but eventually I came to my senses. Those were things I did in my first year of Collage, and since then, I get straightened up. It wouldn't be safe for me to get that drunk; I certainly could have though, there were tables lined up with different varieties of alcohol; Vodka, Rum, Gin, whisky, Brandy and Liqueurs.

It was like the epitome of temptation for Alcohols Anonymous.

I almost, just almost, went straight to the table with Cherry Vodka, but I came to my senses and realised this isn't any ordinary 'Beach Party', it was simply just a place where woman and men get drunk and taken advantage of by each other, and I wasn't really in the mood for that, thank-you very much.

I watched as Sam and his friends dished out the notes from their wallets and purses, and dug around their trousers for spare change. After a while, one of the girls looked over to me, expecting me to contribute. I really didn't want to, I barely have enough money as it is.

"Sorry," I shrugged. "I didn't bring any money, I just came here to spend the day with my friends at the beach, I didn't expect to come here." Most of that was true, I didn't expect to come here, but I did have money. The blonde gave me an icy glare with her piercing blue eyes.

I could've taken it personally, but I didn't.

"Well then," she sneered. "You don't get any-"

"Don't worry," Sam cut it, his arm winding around my waist and pulling me in closer. "My share is divided between her and I".

Has arm around my waist felt so uncomfortable it was unbelievable.

I gave him a shaky nod as a thanks, but kept quiet watching as they all split up, and went to different tables, splashing out all their money on different varieties of Alcohol.

As I walked around, my eyes began to water, and my head began to ache; It took me a few minutes, but I manages to clear the fuzziness that was distorting my senses, a sharp smell stung my nose.

The sun had set, and the bands were getting introducing themselves, up on stage over three hundred metre's away. I shook my head trying to clear the thick fog that was now engulfing my brain.

This place stank of smell was to sharp and disgusting, it stung my nose- I really needed to clear my head.

I yearned for a moment alone with Sam. But it wasn't happening, there was always some person talking to him, or trailing around with us. Eventually, I gave up on the idea of asking him alone, to save me some embarrassment problems. "Uh, are there any toilets?" I questioned, hopefully, ignoring the odd look I got from the freckle face beside him.

He gave me a nervous smile, "Yeah, I guess..." he trailed off, pointing twenty metres in the other direction of the stage, where there were a couple of dirty old outhouses which I could tell, from just looking at it, must give off the dirtiest stench in the world.

I stared at it disbelievingly, my mouth frozen open, not because it was so disgusting but because there were twenty or so adults and kids lining up for each outhouse. How could they stand that bad hygiene. As I mentioned before, I'm messy, not dirty.

Nudge would have a heart attack if she took a look at this place.

I looked up to see Sam staring at me expectantly. Oh, he wanted an answer?

"Uh... I'm good..." I muttered quietly, turning away.

"Uhm, if you really gotta go," this was unbelievably awkward. "Most people can't be bothered to wait either," -More like they don't wanna die of the stench-" So they go over there" I turned back hopefully, only to see him pointing about fifty metres away in a different direction.

He was pointing at the woods, I squinted, and sure enough, I saw a dark figure running around, and another one bending down and... Ew.

"It's Alright, I didn't need to go that bad..." I said, nervously.

"You sure?" He placed a free hand on my shoulder.

I squished the urge to shake it off, it was making me feel awkward, "Yeah, I'm sure."

And I guess, that was the end of that.

After everyone got their drinks, we set off to go back to the stage, where music was blaring out of the speakers.

I realised how this was not at all what I thought it would be.

I expected calm music from some red neck on a guitar, while I lay in the clean sand, drinking a cocktail with a laid back surfer guy. Not some heavy Metal and 'Spiritual Music' from some crazy hippies, while I stood squished on littered sand, sipping some warm beer, with a soon-to-be-drunk surfer dude, and his snotty friends.

My head was throbbing, and I felt like throwing up. Who the hell like's warm beer? But there wasn't anything with less alcohol content.

Some of his friends were nice, like a small brunette, who was urging me to dance; Actually... now that I think about it, I suspect she was trying to make me throw up with all that jumping up and down.

I suddenly felt so sick, my stomach paining every time I moved, and I had no choice but to move. The crowd was squishing me in every direction, and I just needed some air.

The strobe lights were paining my eyes, the sound of the beat was paining my ears, my legs were aching from walking around, and I was just about ready to collapse.

"Are you okay?" A hazy voice whispered into my ear. I looked up at Sam.

"No, not really; I, uh, feel really sick... Can I leave?"


Third Person POV

"Oh my days..." Iggy huffed, rubbing his eyes in fatigue. "Where the heck is she?" He leaned against Nudge's car, yawning.

"How would I know?" Nudge replied angrily, picking up her bag from the car boot, and whipping out her little hand mirror. "Oh dear, I look terrible..." she gasped to herself, gingerly fingering the dark bags under her eyes.

"No you don't," Iggy re-assured nicely, giving her a friendly pat on the back. "But I'm tired, we've been searching for her for over three hours now. Only god knows where she is now... How do we know she hasn't taken a taxi home?"

"She isn't that stupid," Nudge replied airily. "She would've told us anyways, right?" She turned towards the pair for re-assurance. At least I hope she isn't that stupid.

Nobody nodded.

"Why won't she pick up her god-damned phone then?" Iggy began wringing his hands together. "Maybe we should call the police, she could've gone missing, I'm worried," Iggy cradled his head in his hands, "She could be hurt..."

Nudge opened her mouth to reply, a re-assuring sentence hanging from her lips.

"Let's just go home," Fang cut in, monotonously. "We won't find her anyways".

Nudge and Iggys heads were raised in a flash, and they stared at him with disbelief. Not just because this was the first time he had spoken in a while, instead of his hands-in-pocket-and-look-thoughtful façade, but because his words were cold and harsh.

"You know what, Fang?" Nudge asked, fire burning in her eyes. "This isn't some little joke. We can't find Max anywhere, you were the last to see her, and your not contributing any information of her whereabouts, and you won't even tell us why she left, and I have a feeling it was because of you".

"Come on guys," Iggy cut in, not in the mood for a fight. "It's late in the night, and we can't drive back now, can we? We may as well book a hotel for the night... Or at least actually do something, instead of standing here".

Nudge hesitantly nodded, her cold glare still hovering over Fang.

Iggy made a move to get into the car. "Wait," Nudge ushered."Can you at least tell us what happened? Please?" she asked, her eyes pleading with Fang.

He pulled his hands out of his pockets, "You know when you two asked me to go get Max?" He asked solemnly.

They both gave him a sharp, but curious nod.

"Yeah, well, when she got up to come over, she spilt her Soda over her Ipod earphones, and burst into tears," Fang shrugged, lying. "That's it really, she then had a little tantrum, and lashed out at me, before running off the beach... Later, around ten minutes after, I saw her eating ice Cream and walking with some boy".

That is nothing like what Max what do, she wouldn't cry over earphones, she would just save up and buy a new pair, or I would buy her one, Nudge thought to herself. She rarely ever cries anyway. Plus, what boy- Oh crap.

Realisation dawned over her.

"Do you remember what he looks like?" Nudge asked desperately, a flicker of hope in her eyes.

"Sure," he replied carelessly.

"Well..." she urged.

"Uh, Cheaply highlighted blonde hair, Dirty brown shorts, A white shirt that's two sizes too small, which honestly looked gay on him... it said, 'Mummy's beach reserve rentals. That's all I remember," he finished off.

The corners of Nudge's mouth uplifted, while Iggy stared at them clueless, wondering what was going on.

Nudge grinned coyly, "I know where Max is".


Max POV

"Thanks for taking me out of there, I was a bit stuffed up," I gave Sam a sweet smile.

"It's okay, You looked a little pale anyways," he replied over his shoulder; I got smell the slight tinge of booze on his breath. I could tell he wasn't full on drunk, but just tipsy like me.

He gave me a cute smile as he opened the door of a gleaming chrome diner, that was far away from all the commotion of the beach, I gave him a smile in return and a nod. How gentlemanly...I stepped inside. The place was called, 'Rosie's Diner'.

I walked around, and cursed under my breath when I nearly slipped on a wet patch of floor, where the 'Wet floor' sign had been kicked to one side.

"Where do you wanna sit?" I asked, regaining my balance, my eyes scanning around the tables. I looked up expecting to see Sam, but there was only Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon and Carbon Dioxide. In other words, air.

I turned around, looking for him, only to catch his mop of blonde hair from the corner of my eye. He was sitting at a booth at the far corner... he had already gone to a table, and sat down without me.

Well, I take back the whole gentlemanly comment.

I walked over awkwardly, as he picked up a menu, and smiled, "What would you like to order?" Hmm. I guess he's got his gentlemanliness back.

It was a fast food restaurant, with the whole 'olden day's' theme.

It had fancy-schmancy black and white portraits hanging crookedly on the walls, there was only one waiter on roller-blades, and she looked like she was having a tough time with them. I swear the whole waitress' on Rollerblades was only in movies, and the other waitress' and waiters certainly weren't using them. The waitresses wore pink dresses which stopped at the knee, and little white aprons... Its clashed horribly with the Rollerblader's hair, which was, unfortunately for her, a gingery red.

I could tell the rollerblader was a young girl, no older than eighteen; I could tell from her childish features that were caked with make-up, trying to cover the bold splatter of golden freckles across her pale face.

I brought my attention away from her,"Uhm, Chicken Burger and Chips, I guess?" No, I'm not some Pig who eats everything, but I am a girl who actually eats real food, not some crappy garden leaves.

"Alright, anything to drink?" He passed the menu over, I scanned down the menu- I should be drinking water to wash out the bitter taste of beer, but I want to drink something tasty.

"Chocolate Milkshake," I said happily.

"You sure, it's not good to drink after having alcoh-"

"S'okay, I'm fine," I said with re-assurance, cutting into his sentence.

"Alright then," and with that, he raised his slender, and slightly tanned hands, to call over a waiter- luckily it wasn't the Rollerblade one.

A bob-haired brunette quickly caught his eye and strutted over, when she was about half way to our table, when the red-headed roller-blader whizzed past, earning herself an icy glare from most of the staff.

They must be picking on the new-comer, whose name was, (now that she was close enough to read)...'Helga'. Oh dear.

Her parents must have been trying to ruin her life.

She came over and raised an eyebrow sceptically, "Well?"

Sam quickly recited my order, adding his own onto it, which was, might I add, quite a long list of things- he was going to have a lot to pay for.

"Uhm, I can't pick a drink. Gimmie a sec..." Sam said, his forefinger resting on his chin as he stared at the drinks menu in thought.

The waitress gave a large huff of impatience, her name was...' Bertha'. This must be ugly name place.

I looked up just in time to see a different waiter mouthing to Bertha, that she should be 'nicer'.

"So, honey, how was your day? You look like you've come from the beach bash down there, right?" She had a sickly smile on her face, and if that didn't give away the fact she couldn't care less, you could see it in her eyes.

"Uhm, Yes..." I nodded.

The smile never left her face, "That's nice, Did you have fun?"

I looked up awkwardly, "Yeah".

"Oh, that's-"

"I'll have a coke, please?" Sam interrupted rudely.

She stared at him, disgust in her eyes.

"Alright, have a nice day sweethearts," she called as she walked away. If you couldn't recognise the venom dripping from her voice, you'd have to be stupid. I bet she didn't mean that, she was most probably cursing us under her breath.

Me and Sam had small talk, waiting for the food to arrive.

"You shouldn't eat much," look who's talking, " because when we go back down there," we're going back down there, again? "You might throw up or something". Oh, great.

I desperately wanted to say, 'Screw you! I'm not going back to that hell-hole!', but I couldn't as he was paying for my food.

I looked at him, my eyes a little wide, "Mm, Okay, I'll keep that in mind". I racked my brains for a new conversation starter, in the hopes that he might forget about going back down there... "Got any other brothers and sisters?" I asked.

He gave me a wicked grin, "Nah, just me and Anne."

"Pretty name, " I noted.

He smiled, "Thanks. You got any brothers and sisters?"

I frowned, " No, just me and my dad".

"Your Dad?" He raised his eyebrows.

I nodded, "Yeah".

"Cool, I never met my Dad, it's just been us and our Mother", he shrugged. "What's your Dad like?"

I was trying to think of some lame excuse to change the subject, when a loud scream erupted from the left of the diner.

I shuffled round the seat, and swivelled my head around, to see who it was.

"Maximum Ride! Where the heck have you been, you idiot? We looked for you everywhere! Get your little white ass over here now!"

Uh-oh.


Sorry it took so long, It was my half-term last week, and I was doing stuff xD I didn't get a chance to check reviews...

The whole beach charade is ending next chapter!

Ew, and that whole Sam does 'that' to Max and gets saved by Dylan, IS overdone, I didn't even think of it as a matter of fact, your reviews made me realise (:

Please tell opinions x] and tell me whatcha thought about the last chapter, I'd love it if you did this one too, but you don't have to!

REVIEW, my little Honey Bears- (AHAHA- 'Night Wolf your honeybear' you crack me up! xD)