"You didn't have to come and bail me out, I wouldn't have cared if I got detention." I told her, sort of annoyed. I mean, I didn't ask for her help. I didn't care if I got detention- I wouldn't have showed up anyway.

"Actually, I was sent to the principal's office so I didn't intend to save your ass. You were one felony away from suspension and it's only your first day!" We were walking side by side in the halls, people milling about.

"So? I've been kicked out before I even got to the school. So, what you do?"

"Not me- Iggy. He lit a firecracker and stuffed it in a can, making it explode. He tossed it in the air before it did, though. I took the lighter and made it look like it was me. I also broke the window."

I glared a bit. "Now, because of you, I have to get a job. Then again, it has nothing to do with school, I don't have to apply for one."

"Actually, Barb is pretty strict when it comes to punishment. Not that I would know-"

"Really? I thought you lived in the principal's office." A high pitched voice rang through the halls. It hurt my ears.

We stopped and both faced her. Max looked bored.

She stepped forward wearing a shimmery blue halter top and a mini jean skirt with high blue heels to match. She was clutching her purse at her side, a smile on her face. Her red hair was pinned up in an unsightly up do. "So, I heard you're getting a job. Maybe I can help you out and see if you can work alongside me." Her voice dripped with fake sugar, like Splenda.

Everyone in the hall was quiet. I watched the banter silently. "Lissa, prostitution is NOT a job."

Everyone ooh'd and stuff, enjoying the show. I held back a laugh.

Her face went red with anger. "I am NOT a prostitute!"

Max looked at her outfit and then back at her face. "You could have fooled me."

Lissa sputtered incoherently, no comeback coming out.

"Whatever. Later, Bowling Ball." She said, turning to leave.

"Bowling Ball?" Lissa questioned, acting as though it were the stupidest thing in the world.

Everyone was confused as was I.

"Yeah. Bowling Ball." Max repeated. "You know, because your exactly like one."

"I am not fat!" She protested, putting a hand to her abs.

"No, I meant that you're both used to being picked up, fingered, and banged down an alley." Max smirked. Everyone gasped and laughed, ooh-ing again. I chuckled. "Plus, you constantly make that weird face as if you're shocked it's happening when really, you enjoy it. You know how the holes are set in the bowling ball- two eyes and an open-wide mouth." She snapped my fingers and pointed to her face, still smirking triumphant. "That's the face!" Her mouth was agape and her eyes were wide. "That look comes so naturally to you, doesn't it? I mean, considering you like to blow. Later, Bowling Ball." She left, everyone laughing hysterically and applauding.

I took a while to catch up since I was frozen in place with shock at her words. "I think you were a little harsh." I told her sternly even though I was laughing on the inside.

"No, being harsh would be ruining your birthday party every year, trying to make it about you and stealing all your presents.

"She did-"

"Bingo."

We met up with Nudge and some other people. Max handed Iggy, I'm guessing, his lighter back.

"How much trouble you in?" Iggy asked. His brows were creased with guilt and worry.

"Not much. I just have to get a job. Fang too." She pointed to me and introduced me to everyone.

As a response, I said nothing.

"Fang, what did you do?!" Nudge groaned. "I swear, if you punched another teacher-"

"He skipped all his morning classes. I broke a window earlier so now I need a job to compensate. Fang needs one because the principal thinks it'll teach him about showing up and being on time." Max chuckled while I smirked.

"Hey, why don't you guys come work at the club? Being waiters or something?" Iggy offered. "We're shorthanded on staff so we could use the help."

Max looked at me. "The club isn't far. It'll be easy to get to so it'll work. Plus, that place is fun." She smiled her breathtaking smile.

I shrugged.

She rolled her eyes and turned to Iggy, giving him a smile. Gazzy, Ella, Angel, and Nudge headed off down a hall to get to their next classes. Iggy waved at us and headed to gym class. Yeah, he had gym after lunch. Not the best time…

I stood there with Max. "What do you have next?" She asked.

I gave her my schedule.

"Chemistry." She laughed. "Sweet, me too. I'll take you there." She gave it back while I stared at her crazily. "You want to ditch again?" She guessed.

I shrugged, a smirk coming to my lips. "It's what I do."

"Yeah. But we get to play with chemicals today." She told me, walking down the hall. My eyebrow lifted. Chemicals…Explosions…I smiled as I caught up with her.

"You know how to get a guy to class…" I muttered.

She laughed. I savored the sound.

-!-

So bored!! I was sitting on a bar stool at the club and Max and the band just finished practicing. I was drinking out of a rootbeer bottle when she sat next to me. She got one too.

"Having fun so far?" She asked.

I looked at her before shrugging.

"What is up with you? God! Why don't you ever speak? Are you TRYING to look Goth and mute?! Do you LIKE getting on people's nerves?!" Wow…sort of…blew up there…

I glared at her, not appreciating the attitude. To anyone, they'd be crying or screaming because the glare I sent her way was a death glare. She glared right back, just as deathly as I.

I was shocked. She didn't back down. I mean, considering somehow, we had stood up and were facing each other, a hair away. I had to look down a bit and she had to look up. The height would be intimidating to anyone, add it to the glare, but she wasn't even shaken. Not a bit. At all. My eyebrows went up a bit. She wasn't affected at all by my looks.

"You're not afraid of me?" To anyone, I would sound calm but underneath I was shocked, a little bit happy.

"Not in the least." Her voice was quiet. "Show a little bit emotion and people won't be terrified to know you. I'm sure you're a cool guy." She gave me a small smile.

"You should be afraid. If you're not then you're messed up." I started to leave,

She grabbed me by the sleeve to keep me in place. "Why do I need to be afraid of you? You're not in the least scary."

I grabbed both of her wrists and pinned them by her head, pinning her to the wall of the club, outside. I felt so much pain inside of me. I felt afraid to talk to her.

"I can't let people in." I said in a strained voice. "Everyone gets hurt. I'm dangerous to be around." I loosened my grip on her wrists, making it easy for her to slip her hands out.

She slid her hands down and placed them in mine, squeezing them tightly. "You can let me in." She murmured. "I won't get hurt." She smiled a bit. "I'm dangerous too. We can…" She trailed off, a small blush gracing her cheeks. "We can be dangerous together."

My glare slipped from my face instantly and I squeezed her hands, mine shaking. I leaned my head down to rest on her shoulder. "No one ever accepts me." I muttered a bit darkly. And it was true. No matter where I went, people cowered in fear and stayed away.

"Nudge accepts you. Your parents do. I do." I lifted my head so I could look into her eyes. "Iggy and Angel and Ella and Gazzy will accept you once they get to know you."

"How can YOU accept me?" My voice was hoarse and I was extremely close to crying. "You don't even know anything about me!"

She kept looking at me, not backing down. What was with this girl?? "I do know you. You are an amazing writer- or so Nudge told me-" I chuckled and provided a small smile. "You care for people. You might not show it but you do. You fight for what you believe in. You don't let people push you around. And my Theomachia necklace seems to sooth you." She moved her hand out of mine and held onto the Theomachia dragon. "Though, that, I do not know why…" She trailed off again.

I took my hand and wrapped it around hers that was holding the dragon. I took down my mask and became completely vulnerable.

She kept eye contact as she continued. "You build walls so people don't see the real you. So they can't get to your heart. To your soul. You hide behind them and cower because you don't want someone to walk in a build a permanent settlement just to leave and break your heart. Leave you deserted. You act all tough so people don't see the vulnerable you- the shy, weak, insecure you. Weakness isn't in your vocabulary.

"You feel that you want to open up sometimes but you don't want to get hurt and be left broken. Unable to be repaired or healed. So you open up around your family, not even that much around them. You think that not showing emotion is the best way to go. But sooner or later, you know, you just know, it'll come back and bite you in the ass."

I couldn't take it anymore. She was scaring me. I didn't want to hear any more and there was electricity going through my body at her touch. It became unbearable. I crashed my lips to her own.