thanks so much for the reviews! really. thank u. so much. i managed to reply to a few of you. but to the rest, i give you my friendly love. ^.^
disclaimer: not miiineeee!
Previously on Home Is Where My Grave Is...
"Oh look what we have here. Two kids trying to sneak into my house. How nice."
Max and I froze, then slowly turned our heads to see Mr. Grinsby behind us.
"Anything you two want to say?"
I looked at Max out of the corner of my eyes. She's as shellshocked and frozen as... A shellshocked and frozen Max.
I gulped. "Crap."
Mr. Grinsby smirked. "You got that right."
Max
Shit. What the hell? Ella said-
"Ella." I growled.
Fang gave me a short nod. Yes.
I feel stupider than ever. Of course Mr. Grinsby wouldn't let us in his pool. Heck, he wouldn't ever let us near his house. He hates us. Especially me. I just have to want to be on the good side of my old friends. Why can't I have a conscience? A voice?
You are stupid, Max
Nevermind. I don't want a voice. Forget I ever mentioned it.
Right now, Fangles and I are sitting in Mr. Grinsby's living room. Oh, the joy.
"You two are in trouble. You are aware of that, correct?"
Fang and I nodded.
"I could call the cops right now. You could be arrested."
We nodded again. I don't know the whole police blah blah, but I'm pretty sure trespassing isn't gold star worthy.
"But I won't."
Phew. We let out a breath of relief. Like I said, I don't know the shebang of all this, but it's not good. I owe you one, Mr. G.
"As to what you two were trying to do, I don't want to know. I do not need to know, nor do I care. But you still crossed into my property. Now," Mr. Grinsby stared at us with piercing gray eyes. "What should I do with you two?"
"Yell at us with your fist in the air and tell us how nasty our generation of kids are and then let us go?" I muttered under my breath.
Mr. Grinsby narrowed his eyes at me. Oops, he heard. "Somebody's got a big mouth."
I crossed my arms and shrugged. "At least I know how to use it."
Fang cleared his throat. "Sorry about her, Mr. Grinsby. And we apologize for sneaking onto your property. But it would be very nice to let us off somewhat easy."
Woah. Fang's got a brain. Didn't see that coming.
Mr. Grinsby gave an appreciative look; still no smile. "Thank you... Fang. I always appreciate your polite manners." He glanced at me-disgusted, by the way-then back at Fang. "It may have been a long time since I've last seen this young lady, but we've had more than enough years to get to know each other." Mr. Grinsby looked right at me. "And you haven't changed a bit."
I gave him a big cheesy grin. "Why, thank you, Mr. G!"
"That was not meant to be a compliment."
"Really? I rather thought it was."
Mr. Grinsby sighed and rubbed his temples. Oh how much I missed Mr. G.
After a long silence-me sitting impatiently, Fang sitting as still and quiet as only he can, and Mr. Grinsby still rubbing his temples while deciding how to punish us-Mr. Grinsby finally spoke up.
"Maximum. N-Fang." He said, looking at each of us.
"Yes?" I squeaked. Ew, I squeaked. Why the hell did I squeak?
I see the corner of Fang's lip twitch out of the corner of my eye. He noticed. Bum.
Mr. Grinsby sighed. "Maximum, I've known you for a very long time. No matter how unpleasant, you're mother and I have been on good terms. I owe her some of my gratitute, in which I will use to punish you as gently as I feel you deserve" He cleared his throat. "Therefore, you will simply have 'detention'"-He quoted with his fingers-"with me. Here in this house, you will assist me with my garden. For a month."
Huh. Not too ba- Wah? So I have to face Mr. G everyday for a month. Well. Aren't I the luckiest girl on earth?
He turned to Fang. "Nicholas." OMG. Nicholas? Total blackmail material. Right there. "I am aware that your parents will want to pay me off. I am not going to let you go that easy. You need to be punished as well."
"Ah-" I tried to cut in. Tell him it's really not Fang's fault. I think. Well if he came to try to get me out, it must mean it's not his fault. Right?
Mr. Grinsby glared at me to shut up and continued to talk to Nick. I am never gonna let that go. Not-so-jolly ol' Saint Nicky, you're name has been revealed to moi. Be jolly. Or not so jolly.
"Nicholas."
"Call me Fang, sir."
Mr. G ignored that. He seems to like playing the ignoring game. "Nicholas, you will also assist me for a month with Maximum." I really wish he'd stop calling me that.
But unfortunately, Mr. G likes full names. No nicknames, no pet names, no anything other than the possibly dreaded name on your birth certificate. So I guess he doesn't like that I call him Mr. G. Eh, sucks for him.
"Although, I will need to speak with your parents sometime, Nicholas." Mr. G added. A look passed between them; one that I don't recognize. What's that all about?
Fang looks awfully uncomfortable now. He seems almost... AFRAID...that Mr. Grinsby wants to chit chat with his 'rents.
"Mr. Grinsby, actually, I don't think that would be such a good idea...," Fang trailed off.
"Nonsense! I have some other things to discuss with your parents. This will simply be included." He turned to me. "And Maximum, you will need to call your mother as well. I would be pleased to discuss with your mother as well. It has been a good enough time since I last saw her."
I gulped. Mom won't be so happy. It's not like she's in much of a smiley mood right now to begin with.
Mr. Grinsby suddenly has an evil sparkly in his eyes. "Should I call your parents now?"
My eyes widened. "Oh no. Um, that won't really be neccessary, Mr. Grinsby." Seriously. It won't.
Fang nodded desperately in agreement.
"Actually," The evil sparkle is still there. Damn. "You two will call your own parents."
I dead. It's official. I'm dead.
"But Mr. Grinsby-"
"No buts, Maximum. Be thankful the police aren't involved." He gave me a pointed look.
I groan, not saying anything. He does have a point.
Mr. Grinsby stood up to get the phone. Just as he turns around, I swear on my poor little life that he smirked.
Oh my cheese sticks. I'm doomed.
Fang
Kill me. I won't haunt you.
Max decided that I should call first. Thanks, Max. You're on my haunt list.
"Hello?" Mom. Shit.
"Hi mom."
"Fang? I thought- Where are you?"
"Mr. Grinsby's place."
"What? The old man who works at the flower shop? Wha-What are you...?"
"And the Dark Knight goes down." Max muttered beside me, her ear glued onto the phone.
I glare at her; she grins.
"Fang?"
Oh yeah. My mom's still on the line. "Um, well..."
She freaked. To say the least, she freaked.
"Come home now, Fang. Please." Mom's thin voice pleaded.
"Okay. Bye mom." I hung up.
Mr. Grinsby nodded in approvement. Turning to Max, I hand her the phone. She backs away.
"My turn." She groaned.
Her conversation went much better than mine did. Lucky her.
"Okay, see you. Yeah. Bye Mom." Max hung up and handed the phone back to Mr. Grinsby. "Can we go now?"
"Say please, Maximum." Mr. Grinsby's eyes are sparkly. That's just really weird. I don't think I've ever used the word sparkly before, either.
Max rolled her eyes, but muttered a 'please'.
Mr. Grinsby gestured us toward the door. "Good night, you two. I'll see you for your 'detention' after the break. Come by after school everyday. I'll let you rest during weekends, depending on your progress during the week."
"Thank you, Mr. Grinsby." I said, nudging Max towards the door, before she messes this all up.
"Yes, thank you so much. Merry Christmas!" Max called, as we walk out the door.
Mr. Grinsby gave a short nod and shut the door.
Max and I walked in silence. I'm not much of a conversationalist, so it's not a big deal for me. Gives me time to think.
To think about things like how my friends can be a fun group one minute, and then such psycho bitches the next.
By the time we reach the gate that leads out of the Lightys area, we still haven't said a word. We both stop walking and stand there.
"So. Nicholas?"
I groan. Of course she picked that up. And I know she's going to hold onto that for te rest of my life.
She smirks. "Guess I'll see you after the break."
"Yeah."
"Bye Nicky."
I glare. "Night Maxerella."
Max glares harder. "Don't you dare."
"Just did."
She stared at me. "Well... Merry Christmas!" And she ran.
Max is definitely one unnormal girl.
Max
That was probably the shortest Christmas break I've ever had. Or at least it felt that way.
First day back. Also the first day of my garden-detention.
Wait a sec. How does Mr. Grinsby plan on getting us to help with his garden if it's January? Is he trying to grow some twigs or something?
Indoor. Indoor garden. Of course.
Like what Ella said. An indoor pool.
ELLA.
I'm steering clear of them. That is a good idea. Should've listened to Astrea asking me that repeatedly. I'm SO smart.
"Hey Max!"
I smiled. "Hey Astrea."
"I haven't talked to you since that last day and- The party. How was it?"
Uh. "Good?" Okay. That sounded weak, even to me.
Astrea sighed. "What now?"
So I tell her.
"I should've known it was a trap! That's why I kept asking you if it was a good idea! But I gave up on it! Which I should'nt have! Oh Max, I'm sorry!"
Um, woah. "Jeez, take a chill pill." I muttered. "Astrea? Don't sweat it. I blame Ella and the rest of them, and myself. Mmkay? Plus, I should've listened to your annoyingly repeated questions." I smirked.
She smiled. "Well, on the bright side..."
"There's a bright side?"
"Of course there is!" She laughed.
"Should I be scared?"
Astrea rolled her eyes. "Fang, you doof."
"What about him?" I ask wearily.
"You. Him. Together. Get it?"
I blink. Then a sudden realization hits me. I'm just that slow, but- "Oh my poor chicken. How did I not...?"
"'Cause you're Max. You don't realize it until it's, you know, too late." She grinned. Why is she grinning?!
"Astrea...!" I can't do this. Fang? Alone? With me? That ain't happening. No. It can't. I-
"Maxie! How's my little juvenile deliquest?" Smurfie looped her arm over my shoulders. Where'd she come from?
"It's 'delinquent' not... whatever you said." Astrea corrected.
Smurfie shrugged. "Sounds the same to me." She looked at me. "So? You excited for your precious time together?"
"How do you-"
"Astrea told me while you spaced out. You were having one of those weird mind panics, right?"
My friends know me better than I do. I feel like one of those -.- emoticons.
I roll my eyes. "Let's go. Get my mind off things."
"Well, it looks like another ritual will need to be held."
Scratch that. My mental emoticon is officially T.T now.
"Hellooooooo?" I called, knocking on the wooden door.
It creaks open after my hundreth knock. Mr. Grinsby appears behind the door. "Maximum." He nods. "And Nicholas."
I spin around and see Fang. He slugged behind me the whole time, didn't he. And he never bothered to say hi. What a tragedy.
"Come, come." Mr. Grinsby waved us in.
Let the hell begin.
kinda crappy, imo. oh well. i wanted to post something for you guys.
okay! so yeah i mightve been able to update a bit sooner... but i rewrote a bit, cuz i couldnt totally decide what should happen next. i think coulve thought better, but that would take like a million years, so yeah, this should be..decent. besides, this is will help with the story later. you'll see. ;))
plus, my dearest mother decided to sign me up for this 3-week LIT (leader in training) course. it started this past week. 8hrs a day. boring. tho next week, i get to go to hang with kids for the whole week. too bad im getting evaluated and crap. whatever.
so yeah, thanks to that, writing time is taken away. along with sleep-in time and do-whatever-crap-you-want time. also, my mom is almost always with this laptop im using, and its the only working laptop in the house. my dad has his personal computer which i can use sometimes.
all in all, ill try to update asap, mmkay? alright.
OMG. SO. NEVERMORE. I READ IT. AND ITS SOOOOO FNICKING AWESOME! JP wasnt kidding when he said its an ending no one wouldve seen coming. cuz i sure as hell didnt. but its so amazing. i wanted to cry by the end of the book. i was like OMFG! and omg i dont wanna spoil...but something (*cough* someone *cough*) amazing happens to come back... AHHHH i was fangirl screaming throughout the whole book.
anywhoo, im off!
REVIEW pour moi! my magical writing powers will be sparked with epic rainbows. the next chappie will be up soon! maybe tomorrow if i can write the next chapter today... but yeahh.. no guarentee
toodle lou di doo! (lol wtf?)
-zammielicious98