I would have updated sooner, but FF is being really stupid. Now; A fair warning: this is a basic filler-chapter. But wait; there's more. He-he… moving on. A filler chapter; yes it is. Still contains important events: yes it does. SO READ ON!

Fang's POV

I haven't felt this great since that faithful day 3 months ago. Ahhh, what a great day that was. Max is just plain amazing in every way imaginable. All of you horny guys out there reading this; don't get any ideas. Max is MINE. I'm staking a claim to her. So how do you like me now? God, if I would have snapped my fingers in a Z shape and rocked my head, I could have been mistaken for a girl! You see what happens when I open my mouth? Crap spurts out. You don't really think I thought about what I said to Sam, do you?

You know what, let's not reminisce. Let's focus on the subject at hand. My Max. In my arms she stirred, blushing like crazy.

"I didn't fall asleep…" She trailed off, her cheeks darkening another shade of red.

"Just during the middle, but don't worry. I told myself snoring was your sign of ecstasy." I joked, smiling down at her. She slapped me half heartedly. I could tell her mind was elsewhere.

Next thing I knew, she was shouting at me to get up; throwing my clothes at me. I had to duck as she hurled sneakers at my head. One hit the staircase with a thud, the other landed on the couch.

"What the hell?" I yelled, hastily pulling on my discarded clothing.

"Look at the time!" She pointed, struggling to hook her um, bra. I sighed, glancing at the analog clock hanging on the northern wall. I strained to read the numbers the hands indicated; 3:36.

I'm a little lost, "It's 3:30, so?"

She groans, finally dressed, "The bus drops Ari, Angel and The Gasman off at precisely 3:30. The walk from the bus stop to our front door is about 5 minutes long. They'll be barging in here at any second." Oh. I see. Her little siblings walking in on us… that'd be bad.

"Hi Max!" called a sweet voice; her little sister.

"Hi, guys. How was school?" Max was bent down on her knees; I was leaning against the wall with my arms crossed over my chest. I've always hated meeting new people, so maybe if I act like I belong there, I'll be in the clear. Stupid idea.

"Max," One of the boys said, "Who's that?" He looked at me, and all other eyes followed.

"This is Fang. Fang, these are my little siblings." I frowned, there was no way out of this.

"Actually, I'm Nick, but you can call me Fang." What? Some people assume that's my actual name and I have hell to pay for it. "Now which one of you is The Gasman?" The 3 of them looked alike; they all had blonde hair and blue eyes. You could clearly see Jeb was their father. They looked nothing like Max or her mother; everything about their appearances just screamed Jeb.

"I am," He stepped out of the line they had formed unknowingly.

"Now, I know that The Gasman is your nickname. What's your real name?"

"Au-Austin"

"Okay. And you must be… Ari? Right?" The girls eyes shined brightly, she could tell that I wasn't serious.

"No, I'm Angel." She smiled; her smile just as bright as her eyes. She was purely angelic with that blonde hair and those blue eyes. It'll never be a mystery as to why they named her Angel.

"And you're Ari." I said, holding out my hand. He just glared.

Max cut in, "Ari, be nice."

"It's okay, Max. If they don't want to be nice to their step brother…"

"Step brother?" Variations of the word were said. Shocked, excited, indifferent and even an annoyed tone.

"Yes, step brother. Jeb married my mom. That makes me your step brother." I was facing the opposite way, but I could still feel Max's eyes boring into the back of my head. I turned to confront her, when Ari stepped out and literally pushed me to the ground. He was a strong little guy. Max ushered the kids upstairs, careful to avoid her mom's room, and came back into view. Offering me a hand, she pulled me to my feet.

We kind of awkwardly stared for a minute, until she said, "I don't know what got into Ari, but you'd better get going."

"Fine, I'll see you later." I leaned in and she frowned. Leaning back, she righted herself and opened the door. As I walked outside, one thing was clear. She was rejecting me.

Max's POV

In my dream, I'm at the edge of a cliff. The other side is a good 15 feet away, and death is catching up to me from behind. My mind is racing just as rapidly as my heart. I have to jump. It's the only option I have. I take a deep breath and place one foot forward.

"Max" A familiar voice startles me. It's Fang. He's hovering just feet above me, being kept aloft by two midnight blue wings. He's calling out to me, assuring my safety. But I'm hesitating. In the distance, I see Sam standing on the opposing side, asking me to make the right decision. Him or Fang. My choice is ugly and entirely stupid. I choose to turn around, facing death. My predators pursue me and…

I wake up in Fang's arms.

"I didn't fall asleep…" Embarrassing, yes, but not the first time I've fallen asleep. Sam could be so gentle and blah. Give me something exciting.

"Just during the middle, but don't worry. I told myself snoring was your sign of ecstasy." I slapped him and he smiled. I wasn't in the mood for joking. I was too lost in my own thoughts.

I was so unsure of everything between us. I couldn't be in love with him, could I? Usually, when a guy appears in my dreams, it's the first sign of love. But- I ran from him. And Sam was there too. What did it mean?

My eyes drifted to the clock, and I jumped immediately. Screaming and throwing Fang's clothes, I hastily pulled on my own.

"What the hell?" He shouted, picking up his sneakers from where they landed when I threw them.

"Look at the time!" I point at the clock, struggling with my freaking bra hook.

"It's 3:30, so?"

I groaned and almost patiently explained, "The bus drops Ari, Angel and The Gasman off at precisely 3:30. The walk from the bus stop to our front door is about 5 minutes long. They'll be barging in here at any second." Realization dawned, and he finally got it. They could have walked in on us!

"Hi Max!" Angel called out, dropping her backpack on the ground beside her.

"Hi, guys. How was school?" I'm on my knees, smoothing their fly away hairs.

"Max," Ari said slowly, "Who's that?" I had forgotten Fang was here. We all turned and he frowned.

"This is Fang. Fang, these are my little siblings." I scowled. Would meeting my family really be that bad?

"Actually, I'm Nick, but you can call me Fang." Did anyone else think that sounded a little too, cocky? No? "Now which one of you is The Gasman?" I let out a sigh of relief. He was at least trying to be friendly.

"I am," His familiar blue eyes were a little flat. He didn't know what to expect.

"Now, I know that The Gasman is your nickname. What's your real name?"

"Au-Austin"

"Okay. And you must be… Ari? Right?" Angel giggled a little. She's always had a talent for telling if someone is serious or not.

"No, I'm Angel." For the first time in a while, Fang's face showed emotion. He was amused by how angelic my little sister was. She definitely fit her name.

"And you're Ari." The amusement was gone; Ari was glaring. He was the one always getting into fights at school and by the death look he was giving Fang, I knew he was ready to battle. But for what? For who?

I cut in curtly, sensing danger ahead, "Ari, be nice."

"It's okay, Max. If they don't want to be nice to their step brother…"

"Step brother?" Well, that put a damper on things. I had totally forgotten about Jeb being his stepfather. My mom didn't forget though.

"Yes, step brother. Jeb married my mom. That makes me your step brother." What a stupid statement. Still, I couldn't help but stare at him. Stupidity and all, he meant well. As he turned to talk to me, Ari pushed him to the ground in one sweeping motion. I forced all 3 kids upstairs; carefully avoiding mom's closed bedroom door. When I ventured back downstairs, I offered Fang help and got him back on his feet.

There was an awkward pause, and finally I just said it, "I don't know what got into Ari, but you'd better get going."

"Fine, I'll see you later." My mind froze as he leaned forward. This was the guy I was beginning to love. The guy I've slept with twice already. Why would I be afraid to kiss him again? I needed to figure a few things out before I made my next move. I had to spare his heart. But, by the look on his face as he turned to leave, I could tell that I had already broken him beyond simple repair.

Phew- I haven't written a chapter in a while. Review? Yes? No? Come on, you know you want to! (I know Fang was a little OOC, okay, a lot OOC, but it's harder to get his character just perfect. Props to those of you authors who manage to keep him in character. You know who you are.) Oh, and happy Valentine's Day! *kisses* Buh-bye!

~Faxisthegreatest123~