Doitashimaste Everyone! (AKA: You're Welcome.)
It's NarutoLover7890 back again... the reason why that makes no sense what-so-ever is because my good friend Mx2Blue326, started this author's note for me... she does NOT speak Japanese what-so-ever, hence the erm... interesting intro. So sorry about that... but I know that I had a good laugh!
We want to have a special call out to PANTHER-PRIDE in this author's note. You have left us a review for like every chapter and we really appreciate that. You are so supportive of our story and it makes us feel so good when we hear your kind words - so, thank you so much!
Also, we would like to thank fanglove101 for your kind comment! We read it and we were like "AWWWWW!" It was so sweet! I know that Mx2Blue326 stays up supa late too, to read FanFictions people have written because they are so good! We feel honored that you feel that our story was good enough to stay up to 2am to read too! That's commitment people! Hope you weren't too tired. Don't worry, if you can't ever finish our chapters - they'll be there. We won't be lame and delete our story... unless it's super terrible... :) Hehe. But that's up to you guys to decide!
As for the rest of you... we feel you deserve a special call out too.
zoey and stark 101: You were our first review ever! Extra special thank you to you! Esp. since we don't ask for reviews. You're awesome! Hope you have enjoyed the story so far!
FallenSnowAngel5297: Love your enthusiasm for our story! And you were our second review. I know we also love your predictions for the upcoming chapters. Who knows? Maybe one day you'll find one of your 'predictions' in a chapter!
xoiLuvFangxo: First off, we loooove your pen name! Totally true... I know that I personally am in love with Iggy, as I put it, "I LOVE IGGY MORE THAN NUDGE EVER WILL! hehehe ^_^", but I still like Fang too. Mx2Blue326, well I think her favorite is Fang... Shhh! Don't tell Max! But, your comment made us feel so good inside - you'll keep reviewing! YAY! We looove you!
Nikki Ride: Your comments always bring a smile to our faces. Short, sweet, and to the point! We always feel pumped to keep the chapters coming when we read your comments. Hope you have enjoyed the story so far!
Jace'n'FangLover: Nice! LOL. Thanks for your support, we appreciate it! If your comment is one word or 100 words long - we don't care. If you took time to write it, that alone means so much to us! So thank you Jace! We love you!
i'm short: I think you might have changed your pen name sometime along the lines... but, I'm short too so that's totally cool with me! (Mx2Blue326 typed this - totally against my wishes!) Also we want to say thanks for asking the first question, ever! We hope that you got your answer on one of the author notes... Chapter 5 possibly? But thanks for your comment!
conti siegel: WE LOVE YOU! :) Thanks for your comment... and absolutely loooooove your pic. We love horses! Hope you have 'loved' the rest of our chapters too!
Ally: YEP FANG IS POPULAR! (Even though we've been doing a horrible job of showing this... but YEAH!) Anyway... thanks for your enthusiasm and support for the story. We appreciate you and your thoughtful comments!
O.o-KatielovesFudge-O.o: Awesome pen name. We love FUDGE too! (We really hope you're talking about the chocolate!) YUM! With a capital 'UM'. Hehe (Just not the Nudge and Fang thing - sorry, but we're Max and Fang all the way!). Okay, but, thanks for your comment! You made US feel AWESOME with YOUR AWESOME comment! Wow... I like used 'awesome' x3 in those 3 lines... creepy. *Wiggles eyebrows. No, but really, sincerely, thank you!
Baby-Rosalita: We can't wait to put up more chapters either! LOL. We're glad that you have enjoyed reading the story so far. :) We 3 you!
FangLover911: Hopefully we will update soon! Haha! Glad you're liking the chapters so far, as well. Thanks for your review... it will push us to update ASAP! :) Love your penname BTW.
Bigtimebooks: Once again, thank you so much for all your love and support! We love reading your comments and they bring us such joy! We're so glad you're liking our story - cause that's why we put it up! Thanks so much again, you are sooooo kind! We love you!
FaxLover: Last, but not least, don't worry! FAX will come, we promise! We just need to build up the tension! If we let her have Fang in two seconds... well... where's the story in that? We hope to continue this as long as you guys like it... so... *BREATHE and keep reading. We would NEVER let Max end up with anyone else in the end (or would we?). *Wiggles eyebrows. Thanks for your comment - don't worry we won't ever forget about you... or your pen name! :D
OKAY WOW... THAT WAS ONE LOOOOOOOONG AUTHOR'S NOTE - BUT BE SURE TO FIND YOUR NAME IN THERE AND READ OUR LITTLE COMMENT BACK! ALSO ANOTHER THANK YOU TO EVERYONE OUT THERE WHO READS OUR STORY AND ADDS US TO FAVORITE AUTHORS/STORIES LISTS... YEAH. EVEN IF YOU HAVEN'T REVIEWED, STILL THANK YOU FOR READING OUR STORY, IT MEANS A LOT TO US! Please don't feel that you need to leave a review - you don't. We just hope you have enjoyed our story so far and will continue to with the many chapters to come! YAY!
Disclaimer: Okay, we've been through this a million times, but here it is-
First, walk out into the street on a beautiful day. Then go to a place where there are a LOT of people. For example, malls, movies, restaurants, etc. Well, if someone runs up to you with a Maximum Ride book in their hands asking for an autograph, screaming "Oh my gosh it's James Patterson!" or "Oh my gosh that's Andrew Lloyd Webber!" that's really wonderful for you, but that has never happened to us.
LET'S GO! :D
Chapter 10
Max's POV
"And a one, two, three, one, two, three, good! Now spin!" The choreographer calls out again. I think that if I have to run through this thing one more time, I will scream. I'm dancing with Sam, rehearsing our waltz that we have to do. It's short but we're going to put it in our "All I Ask of You" scene and during the masquerade scene as well.
"Max." She calls out. I can tell that she is trying to be polite but is getting impatient. Good. Hey, we can't all be naturals? I wasn't even supposed to be here - remember?
"Remember we said that you have to start the turn on your right foot not your left!" She says through clenched teeth. Haha!
"Will do." I reply, even though she and I both knew that's what I said the past five times.
"Good! Let's try this again! Remember - look at each other and feel the connection between you. And a five, six, seven, eight." She says with a terse smile. After a few times she finally yells.
"STOP! My dear, how are you managing to even dance like that? The man is supposed to lead. You are his graceful little butterfly. You go with his flow. You should look like one unit moving simultaneously and in synchronization with each other." All I got out of that was, I am his whaaat?
"Oh... I don't know. I'm sorry but I am a really horrible dancer." I said sweetly. She just sighed and didn't even try to deny it. What can I say? I have the effect on people sometimes. "And Sam! I'm so sorry for stepping on your feet - I must have done that what? Every three steps?"
"No, no. It's fine - you don't weight a thing. And it's gotten a bit better. It used to be every two steps." He said easily. We've gotten even closer with all of these rehearsals together. He's actually a really nice guy.
"How's it coming along?" I jump about a foot in the air. Why? Because that voice was coming from right behind me. I twirl around and find tripping over myself and then falling. I fall into a heap on the floor and pain shoots through my ankle. Fang rushes over and quickly comes to kneel next to me.
"Max! Are you alright?" He says suddenly all serious. I use his arm and get up. I put all of my weight on my right foot and cautiously set my left foot down. Some tenderness, and pain, I'll admit that... but it was bearable, kind of. I couldn't look weak in front of Sam and Fang. I could deal with this myself. I take a step forward. OUCH. And another, and another. I head back to Sam.
"Okay, are we going to finish this thing?" I ask him.
"Are you sure you're okay?" He asks me with concern in his green eyes.
"Yeah. I'm totally cool. Let's get this over with." I reply.
"No, I really think you should get home and ice your ankle." Sam says.
"I said that I'm fine." I say through clenched teeth. I'm not that weak! Thank you very much.
"You don't look fine. You look really pale." He says softly. Now that he mentions it, I guess I don't feel so amazing. I give him one last glare and stalk off the stage... well try to stalk off the stage. After about two steps my stupid ankle gives out on me and I'm falling again. Just as I'm sure that I'll twist my other ankle too, two tan arms shoot out and grab me. Stupid perfect-timing, muscular, TALL, best friend.
"Whoa there! Easy!" Fang said.
"I'm fine." I say, though I know my voice doesn't sound fine.
"Come on. Lemme take you home." He says in a soft voice.
"Okay." I sigh, and all the energy is drained out of me.
"I'll take care of her. We'll see you soon." He announces to Sam and the choreographer. The choreographer throws her arms up in the air as if she can't believe the misfortune she was given. Sam just nods, concern still all over his face. There was something else, but I couldn't quite place it.
"Sounds good. Thanks, man. Feel better Max!" Sam says. He is so sweet! I smile at him and wave.
"Hope your feet don't hurt too bad." I say in return. He just laughs and waves back.
"Done?" Fang asks me. He's been watching us the whole time.
"Yep." I reply.
"I was going to go out with Lissa this evening, but I'll tell her an emergency came up. This is important." He says whipping out his cellphone with his free hand. He's not carrying me, thank God. But he had his arm wrapped around my waist and was aiding me along. He kinda tried to stoop so I could put my arm around his neck a little easier but he was too tall for that to be comfortable.
"No! Please Fang, go out tonight." I tell him. "I'll be fine. I'll have Iggy come over." I reply.
"Yeah, but his father isn't a doctor." Fang reminds me.
"Yours is?" I ask in disbelief.
"Yeah. I just want him to take a look and make sure it's only a sprain or a twist not a fracture or something else." He explained to me. He dialed Lissa's number. She answered pretty quickly.
"Hey Lissa," Fang said into the phone's mouth was a moment of silence as she replied. I think it was something weird like: "Hi Fangy-poo." Boy, I never was going to let him live THAT one down.
"Listen sorry, but I don't know If I can come tonight." He said. "Max twisted her ankle and I want my Dad to look at it." She must have let him off the hook because he sort of sighed in relief.
"Thanks Liss, I'm so sorry. But I'll make it up to you, I promise." Short silence as she replies.
"Okay, sounds good. I'll see you tomorrow. You too. Bye." He replied then hit the end button. Hmm... wonder what he was saying "You too" to... If it was "I love you", then he isn't that serious about it. A guy is never serious unless he actually says it back... but that's just my opinion... errrr... okay... back to my twisted ankle! Hehe...
"Alright let's get you home. This half dragging you thing, is not working. You are not going to put anymore weight on it." With that, he scooped me up... again. Oh, for the love of all that's holy! I'm not THAT desperate!
*ooOoo*
Sam's POV
I watched her go with Fang. For some reason it bothered me. I mean I know that Fang has a girlfriend. Lissa. Shes cute, but not my type. Well, I don't really think she's any guy's type... Fang would actually be the last guy I'd picture her with... Oh well. His choice. But better for me, I think Max is awesome. She's funny, kind, sweet, tough, and doesn't care what anyone thinks of her. Just my type. Wait... I didn't really mean that. I don't think she would go out with me in a million years. I mean, I think she just thinks or me as a friend. I mean, I know that Fang and her are just friends, but they're better friends than we are.
Sigh, Fang has the perfect everything. He has a popular girlfriend. His best friend is the awesomest girl to ever walk this planet. He has tons of friends. He has the best voice I have ever heard. He's smart, as in straight A's. Not trying to be weird or anything, but he's a good-looking guy too. I know that when he's brought up in the conversation, normally headed by girls, the words "hot" or "handsome" are thrown around a lot. What makes it all worse is that Fang is nice. He's not mean. He hasn't gotten a care in the world, he's the perfect guy. And Max is the perfect girl.
I smile slightly at the choreographer when I'm done with my rant and run my hand through my hair.
"I'll see you... uh soon. I mean when Max's ankle is better." She has this pained look on her face, like she's trying not to think about another dance lesson with Max. I give a half wave and turn on my heel. I'm outta there.
*ooOoo*
Max's POV
"You can put me down." I say to him with a sigh. "You're probably breaking your back right now. No need to act all macho. Just set me down. I can walk." Fang just laughs at me.
"Uh huh. Walk two steps and then fall down. Then I'll just end up carrying you again, or you'll twist your other ankle." He says with grin.
"But Fang, I'm not that light." I argue.
"Not really. How much do you weigh?" He asks me.
"Umm..." I just give him a weird look.
"Oh, right, asking a girl her weight is like boiling live puppies." He says.
"Nice analogy but yes, something like that." I say. I can tell that my cheeks are flaming.
"Well since you won't tell me, I'm going to guess that you're maybe..." He lets it dangle in that irritating way of his.
"Hmph." Is all he gets out of me.
"How tall are you?" He demands.
"Umm... 5' 8"ish" I say.
"Yeah, you are pretty tall." He tells me. I give him a look. Was that supposed to be a bad thing? He backpedals.
"That's not bad. Don't worry about it." he tells me. "I like tall girls." He says with a joking smile. I roll my eyes. He likes tall girls? Doesn't show. Lissa is like 5'0"? Hehe... WAIT! I mean, Lissa's tall - with her heels - this made total sense for him to like... okay, never mind.
"Oh really?" I say trying to distract him from the blush on my cheeks and the fact that just a second ago we were talking about my height and weight...
"Mhm." He says. I smile to myself. After a few seconds I feel the need to break the silence.
"How tall are you?" I ask out of curiousity.
"Over 6 foot?" He kind of asks.
"No, I mean exactly?"
"I don't know. Haven't measured in a while." Hmmm... Well, he's taller than Sam. Shorter than Dylan though. I know, kind of off topic but, I hate having to look up at guys. Don't you? Sometimes? I mean they do have to be tall because it's nice that they have to lean down to... errrr... moving on. Anyway, having to look up to them makes me feel... I don't know... not as strong or independent as they are? I mean, it bothers me that I can't look at them eye to eye when I'm talking to them. But never mind that...
"Hm... that explains that a lot." I say. I've decided that I'm going to take out my annoyance over all of my tall guy friends on him. I let the bait sit there.
"About what?" He asks me.
"Nothing." I say with a smile.
"What?" He demands.
"Guy's inability to dance well." I reply.
"What?" He exclaims, his eyes wide with shock. I guess this conversation wasn't taking the turn that he was expecting.
"I mean, Sam, he's pretty good. But he's shorter than you are." I say with a smile. His eyes narrow.
"Excuse me, but I don't think you've ever seen me dance." He replies.
"Oh! But I can guess!" I say in a sing-song voice smiling up at him. He just laughs back at me.
"We'll see who's so mighty the next time we see you in rehearsal!" He shoots back. Okay, that got me angry.
"Well! I... sprained my ankle! It was your fault, you distracted me!" I said indignantly.
"No, you sprained your ankle ecause you were performing, what you call "dancing", and then tripped over your own feet. A dancer is utterly focused on what they're doing and are always aware of the position of their body." He tells me with a satisfied expression on his face. HA! Like I didn't know that! Man, he sounds so... proper and poised. So... un-Fang like... I burst out laughing. Fang sounds like he stepped out of a ballroom dancing guidebook, my ankle is sprained, and he's carrying me in his arms, to my house, in public. Can this get any better? He looks at me, startled.
"What? Was it something I said?" He asks a little too innocently.
"No..." I get out between giggles. "Not at all!" That's when I lose it.
*ooOoo*
Fang's POV
"Okay... now I'm wondering if I should be worried. I mean... it wasn't that funny. I was just kidding!" I exclaim. Max has lost it. There are tears streaming down her face and I know she's laughing... but she's not making a sound. Have you ever done that? I think I've seen it before... but by the time her breathing has become these weird hitching wheezes, I'm deliberating if I should do the Heimlich or slap her in the face.
"MAX! You're really creeping me out." I say. I've come to a stop by the side of the sidewalk and set her down on the grass. "You alright?"
"I'm," Weird hitching sound. "Fine!" She says. Then explodes into another fit of giggles. She's acting like one of those silly schoolgirls in those movies!
"Uhhh... you don't look fine." I say. She takes a few deep breaths and is able to speak again... kind of.
"Huh? Really?" She asks me sarcastically. *Hickup! Her hand flies to cover her mouth. *Hickup! I snort. She takes one surprised look at me and then I'm the one laughing my head off, just like when I first met her at the airport. She is probably the only person in the world who can get me to laugh like this: on my back, tears streaming, unable to move an inch. She's got me incapacitated. She looks at me again and then she's rolling on the grass laughing with me too. Silence. Then, *Hickup! We both stare at each other then burst out laughing again. My knees feel weak and I can't get to my feet, so we just lay there getting the last of our hysterics out.
"Awww! What an adorable couple!" A voice says. We look up to see and elderly woman stop on her way down the sidewalk.
"Wait, what?" Max asks her in disbelief.
"In denial, are we?" She says with a sly grin. Speaking behind her hand she whispers, "Don't worry! Your secret is safe with me!"
"But we're not..." Max says trailing off. Then, when I think this cannot possibly get worse, the lady winks at us.
"No I mean we're really NOT together!" I exclaim before this can get worse. what if she started rumors and Lissa heard about this? It would ruin our relationship! "I have a girlfriend, whose not her!" I say pointing at Max. Max is still frozen staring at the old lady.
"Young love..." She sighs to herself. "You two take care of each other!" Then continues her way down the street humming a song about the birds and the bees. This is why old people will never have anything to do with my profession when I get older. It's not that I can't tolerate them, but just that the headache that I get when I do tolerate them isn't worth it. I stare at Max wondering if I should start laughing or if I should just play it cool and say something like 'Well, that was odd...' Instead, I just wait for her to do something so I don't do something that would make this even weirder...
We both stare at each other.
"She thought..." Max says.
"That us... we..." I continue.
"Were..."
"TOGETHER!" We hoot well... together. We're already on the ground so we do the natural thing. Start rolling around like five year olds laughing our heads off until we both have major side pains and feel like we gotta pee our pants. Natural right?
*ooOoo*
Max's POV
So, my ankle has only gotten me two days of pity. It's now fully healed and I'm dancing... again. Except this time they've added heels to the mix. So our algebraic formula for the day is: Max + xHeels = xPain + Terror! Let x = the height (in inches) that the heels are. Therefore, each inch = the same amount of pain. Because there is only one variable... if we -xHeels and -xPain, Max and Terror are left over... meaning... Max = TERROR... Get it? See, I'm fun and educational. (A/N: Now where have we seen that one before?) Now if you didn't understand that one bit... just know this... Max + Heels = { }... the empty set - meaning there IS no answer.
"I'm super sorry about all of this." I say to Sam.
"No worries." He smiles at me reassuringly. "Really, I'm just glad that you're all right."
"Thanks." I'm touched that he said that even with me stomping all over his feet. The music begins and we start 'dancing'. I put this in quotes because... I really would not consider it dancing. If possible, I've gotten... well, there really is no other way to say this, but worse.
"Oh mon dieu!" Our choreographer screeches. Wow. She's bilingual. I'm guessing that means she's cursing at me in French. Fabulous! Sam and I continue dancing. I'm so sorry! I say with my eyes. He just chuckles quietly.
"AGAIN!" She exclaims after watching us for a second. "FROM THE TOP!" My, this is going to be one loooooong afternoon of rehearsal.
*ooOoo*
Fang's POV
As I'm passing the auditorium, I see Max up there with Sam right now. She is killing me with that form. I think Sam is doing alright... sort of. He's trying to lead but stubborn old Max is fighting him for it. I'll have to take matters into my own hands tonight. I feel bad for the guy, he needs some serious help. Not to mention the look that choreographer person is giving Max. She looks like she's going to rip all of her hair out. I shake my head with a smile and turn away from the door. Silly Max. I continue to my locker to get my books. After that, I'm headed to the library to study with Lissa. After her rehearsal, Max and I will meet at the front to walk home as we always do.
"Hey Fang!" I hear Lissa's bright voice behind my door.
"Hey!" I give her one of my half-smiles. The only person to ever see my "pearly whites" is Max. I don't hide anything from her. Lissa takes a step towards me and puts both hands on my chest. Rising on the tips of her toes she still can barely reach my chin. But she still manages. I lean down so she can reach. Her sticky lips press against mine. Ew. Lipgloss. When she pulls away, she's beaming up at me. I smile down at her and take her hand. When I don't think she's looking I wipe my free hand across my mouth. Kissing? OK. Lipgloss? I could live without.
"How's your rehearsals coming along?" I ask her.
"Oh fine." She replies. But I can tell that something is bothering her.
"What's the matter?" I ask her.
"It's just that, I guess I'm jealous." She admits sheepishly. I stop walking and look at her. She refused to meet my gaze and stared at the tile floor.
"Of what?" I ask her softly. I know that Lissa, even though normally very sure of herself, is sometimes very insecure. This was one of those times.
"Nothing. I shouldn't have mentioned it." She signs and urges me forward, or tries to, I resist her attempts to pull me. Max isn't the only one who can put up a good fight.
*ooOoo*
Lissa's POV
"Lissa." Fang says gently. I keep my eyes trained on the floor. I feel Fang put his long fingers under my chin and slowly tilt it up so I was forced to look at him. I know it's stupid and shallow of me, but I can feel tears start to gather behind my eyes. I guess he can tell that I'm about to lose it because his eyes widen in shock.
"Lissa? What's the matter? What's making you jealous?" He asks me.
"Not 'what', 'who'." I murmur. Realization dawns in his eyes. He pulls me towards him.
"Oh no, not Max, right? You know better than to be jealous of Max." He says softly. He chuckles softly as he feels his shirt dampen with the few tears that have finally spilled over.
"I know, I know, I'm being silly... but..." I wipe my eyes. He's so good at this boyfriend stuff. I suck as a girlfriend.
"What?" He asks me. You see? This is what I'm afraid of. He's such a great guy. There aren't many of those in the world. I know that it never made sense for him to like me. I mean, he's the most popular boy in school, true. And I know that I'm one of the populars too. There is no one 'It' girl. But there is an 'It' boy at this school. That would be the handsome teenager staring back at me. Fang, my boyfriend. Man it feels good to say that. I know that I can never really admit this to him. It's so shallow of me.
"Max has such a beautiful voice." I say.
"Oh. That's what all this is about?" He asks me with a smile.
"Yeah... I guess so." I reply.
"You sure it's not something like 'Oh, I spend so much time with Max now because of Phantom rehearsals?' or... 'You have neglected your girlfriend by spending so much time with Max?'" He's caught me.
"Okay... it's something like that." Not to mention HOW much. "I guess I'm kinda scared that she's 'stealing' you away from me." I try to lighten the mood with a playful punch to his arm. Even though I seriously mean everything I've just said.
"I know. I'm sorry, Lis." He says with a sigh. "I haven't been paying as much attention to you as I should have." He goes on. "I've been a really sucky boyfriend. I know it, and I'm sorry." He says. My eyes are filling again.
"No no, you're perfect. The best boyfriend anyone could ask for. I'm just selfish." I say with a small smile. "I know that it's just that you can't help it. You got a lot of stuff on your mind right now." I say. I slip my hand back into his to continue down the hall. But this time, he's the one who stops me. He pulls me into a deep kiss. It's then that I decide that I am really, truly, and deeply, in love with him.
"Sorry, I really am sorry." He says. "I know that a kiss can't makeup for everything I've done. But, I know a special someone's birthday that's coming up next week..." He trails off smiling at me.
"Oh! I almost forgot! It is my birthday..." I had forgotten it.
"The 29th right?" Fang confirmed.
"Yep." I said beaming. He got it right! Most boyfriends, I'm sad to say, totally forget when their girlfriend's birthday's are.
"Okay, I'll make reservations for that new Italian place in town to celebrate. How does that sound?" I just lean up and give him another huge kiss. He was so sweet!
"Deal." I say and we continued on our way to the library.
*ooOoo*
Max's POV
"How did it go?" Fang asks me as I'm in the kitchen trying to find a coke.
"Good. I guess." I say. "Jackpot! I found the cokes. Want one?" I ask Fang.
"Yep." He says. As I go to hand him one, our hands briefly touch. Instead of letting go, Fang kept on of his hands on mine and drags me up the stairs into the open patio on my third floor. (Where my TV and my beanbag chairs now are.) Still dragging me, he puts a CD into my surround sound player, fiddles with the buttons, and then presses play. We walk to the middle of the floor and he goes to the table, that has been pushed against the wall, sets down both of our cokes, then walks back to where I'm standing in the middle of the floor. As the music starts he wraps one hand around my waist and then grabs one of my hands. He took that hand and placed it on this shoulder. His other hand then took hold of mine.
"Maybe this will help." He said.
"What are you doing?" I spit out between my teeth.
"Dancing of course." He replies innocently.
"WHAT?" I screech. I'm sure the whole house can hear me.
"Come on. I can dance. You can't. I'm sad to say that I feel very bad for a certain... Raoul in our play." He says with a sly smile. That dumbo. Thinking he's so good at everything. He's probably worse than I am he's so dang tall!
"Yeah. Right." I say trying to pull out of his hold. No dice. He starts the familiar choreography that I've been attempting to do over the past few days. I stare down at our feet.
"No, Max. Look up here." He tells me. After a second I take my eyes off the floor and his feet.
"Good. Now stop fighting me for the lead." He says. I slowly start to relax and were twirling around and around.
"Max." He says softly.
"What?" I say annoyed, even though this is the best I've been doing.
"Look me in the eye." I've been looking at his mouth, anywhere but his eyes. I tilt my head the extra few degrees back so that I'm looking him straight in the eye. Isn't this what I wanted? No. My courage and defiance is deserting me as I stare into the two deep abysses of night that are Fang's eyes. After a few seconds the only thing I see are Fang's eyes, the only thing I feel is his body moving in perfect graceful movements with mine, and the only thing I hear are the soft melodic notes of the piano recording.
"Max," Fang begins.
"Yes?"
"You're dancing." I beam up at him as he leads me into a final spin. "Actually you're improvising." Really? Wow I didn't even notice that we weren't doing the choreography anymore! Fang is an excellent teacher. So there! Mrs. Max-Can't-Dance-To-Save-Her-Life-Choreographer-Lady! The music stops and we're staring at each other, breathing a little harder than usual but grinning. The sound of clapping resonates off the walls. I turn to see Ari, Jeb, and Anne smiling at me and Fang. The blood drains from my face. Shoot! How long have they been standing there?
"That was gorgeous, honey!" Anne gushes. I allow a small smile at her.
"Yeah... you looked so pretty." Ari pipes up.
"Thanks." I say softly. I can feel the blush coming back.
"Okay. Now I think you need to try it with some heels on." Fang's voice cuts into my thoughts.
"Uhhh... so soon?" I ask him.
"Yes. With me leading, you won't fall, promise." I see the determined look in his eyes and sigh. He'll be here all night if I don't agree to do this now. Not that that's a bad thing... him being here all night, I mean... Crud! I mean... okay... lemme go get those heels!
"I don't own heels." I say with an exasperated sigh. Yep that's me! Pretend like nothing's wrong! Right?
"Oh! You can borrow mine!" Anne says and runs downstairs to get them.
"Thanks." I say in a sarcastic tone to her retreating back as well as a smirking Fang.
"You're most welcome." He replies with a slight bow.
"You're impossible!" I exclaim, but my 'annoyance' is slightly marred by the light laugh I let out of my lips. Sadly, by that time, Anne is back with the shoes of death.
"Lucky we both wear a size 8!" She says with another smile.
"Uh huh." I force a grimace and take my beloved socks off.
"Whoa! Your toes are really bony!" Fang exclaims.
"So I've been told." I mutter under my breath.
"She gets them from her father." Anne supplies. Huh. Thanks Anne... NOT! Once I've safely gotten the dang shoes on, Fang walks over the stereo to restart the song.
"Do you mind if we join in?" Anne asks Fang.
"Not at all. It will be good practice for Max, there will be other dancers in the masquerade scene." He says.
"Masquerade scene?" Jeb asks with slightly raised eyebrows. This means that he is absolutely shocked. He never pays attention to anything I do.
"Didn't Max tell you about her landing the lead in the school play?" Fang asks with a polite smile. He knows me too well to know that I wouldn't have told my father about it.
"No. She didn't mention it in any recent conversations. Max?" He replies.
"Oh... Yeah. I did get in." I say staring at the floor. Fang!
"Yes. She is playing the role of Christine Daae, the female lead. You can come if you'd like." Fang says, most helpfully. Why that little...!
"We would love to come and see you perform. When will it be and what play is it?" Anne asks us. Well, Fang mostly.
"We are performing Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phanotm of the Opera." He said with a flourish. "The play is in early December. I'll be sure to get you front row tickets for the opening night!" He adds. Oh that jerk!
"Oh, that's so thoughtful of you Fang! If you can get us such good seats you must be one of the important people." She remarks with a sly smile.
"Yes. I actually am the Phantom. Max didn't tell you that either?" He sounded pleasantly surprised.
"She was very withholding in her information about this, school production." Jeb said. His voice was serious but his face was trying not to smile. I don't think I've ever seen him go this long without his blackberry or reprimanding me for something I didn't do... okay maybe I've done some of those. But, he was actually joking around. Fang must bring out the best in all of us... excluding me. He brings out the worst! But what are friends for? Once I've finished putting my blasted heels on I'm ready to attempt this waltz thing again. Oh well, our funeral. (Trust me, if I fall, I'm taking him down with me!)
"Shall we?" Fang asks with an easy smile.
"We shall." Fang nods to Ari, who has come to stand by the stereo and be DJ for the evening. As the music starts he bows slightly from the waist and I take this as my cue to curtsy. I wobble a little in my heels as I'm looking at my feet. As I rise, Fang's fingers raise my chin so that I'm looking into his face. Perfect balance now, of course. He was smirking, shaking his head slightly, and making a 'nuh-uh' expression on that handsome face of his. Did I just say handsome? I meant... moving on.
"You're not so bad at this you know." Fang whispers in my ear as Anne and Jeb and Fang and I swirl around my patio. I throw my head back and laugh out loud. Jeb and Anne were looking at us with knowing glances... or so I've been told. I'm not sure, I was too busy to notice.
*ooOoo*
Max's POV
I wonder if me stepping on Sam's feet has caused them to go numb, or if it's possible that I haven't stepped on either foot yet... yeah, like that's possible... that was supposed to be funny... Guess I'll never be a comedian when I grow up. Hope my parents aren't too disappointed. I try to not look at his face nor down at our feet because I'm so sure I'll get snapped at again if my head is caught tilting down one more time.
Looking at Sam's face... makes me feel really awkward, so I don't do it. Even though Fang told me that that's what makes the dance what it is. The eye contact. And, it's not because his face is too 'hot for me to handle' or because it's 'super ugly' but just because any time I look at him, he looks straight back. Straight into my eyes. Straight into my head. It's just a really awkward feeling. I think it's easier with Fang, because even though he looks back, he's always clowning around. Sam is so serious!
Anyway, back to dancing- I haven't heard a single yell from the audience that would cause me to stop dancing and say "Oh my gosh, what have I done wrong this time?" Miracle, isn't it? I really feel like I'm dancing now, though. It's kind of... a satisfactory feeling to have even though dancing wouldn't necessarily be put on my "Top 10 Things to Become Pro At By the Time I Graduate" list.
When the music finally stopped, we looked around to find the lady who was supposed to be teaching us how to dance. She was nowhere to be found... then I did that head tilting thing... the thing that always got me in trouble. This whole rehearsal has been so silent that now I just felt I couldn't call it a rehearsal without someone yelling at me. But did that yell ever come? Nope... You wanna know where my so-called dance instructor went? Well, fact is, she didn't go anywhere. At least, not out of the auditorium she didn't. I came closer to the edge of the stage, looked down, and found a very stunned looking Mrs... Hm... that's funny I don't think I ever caught her name. But anyway, the choreographer was so stunned that she had sat down. On the floor. Of the auditorium. HA! I would have paid a lot of money to get her on video like this... I guess I really do owe Fang a thanks!
*ooOoo*
Max's POV
"Awww! Come on, you have GOT to be kidding me!" Iggy exclaims as his bowling ball ends up in the gutter, again. We all laugh.
"Sore loser?" Ella asks him with a sly smile.
"No." He says glaring at us. Fang, Iggy, Ella, and I were playing Wii sports bowling the first day of our Thanksgiving break, and we were having a blast. Nudge was downstairs getting us some sodas and snacks. YUM!
"Fang it's your turn." I say as the screen switches from Iggy's Mii to Fang's. Fang's was, of course, wearing black. He cracks a smile at me, then raises his eyebrows menacingly. He walks up to the screen, adjusts his guy carelessly and proceeds to make a perfect turkey strike. That boy had a knack for Wii Sports. It was my turn next.
"Okay, lemme show you all how this is really done." I say with a smirk. Not to be cocky or anything, but I am pro at Wii bowling. The fake crowd cheers as I get a turkey as well.
"Nice." Ella says appreciatively.
"Thank you!" And I give her hand a slap as I pass back to my seat next to Fang on the couch.
"I'm next!" Ella says jumping out of her beanbag chair. Iggy was sulking next to her in the other one. She hits and gets a clean spare.
"Very nice." I tell her.
"Thanks, this is my first time playing." She says with a kind smile. She's 14, one year younger, but seems like she's our age. Nudge can be grown up, but you can tell that Ella is the more mature of the two.
"Well, in that case, great job!" I tell her.
"Thanks!" And sits back down in her purple bean bag chair. Iggy's was black.
"Okay, I'll show you how the pros do it." Iggy scoffs.
"Sure Iggy." I say. Fang, Ella, and I all laugh again.
"Oh just shut it!" He says and proceeds to throw his ball.
"No! No! Go to the RIGHT! You stupid ball!" His ball hits the three pins on the left. The other seven remain standing, mocking him and making us burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?" Nudge has returned with our snacks! Come to mama! We all swarm around her to help her grab the big bowls of popcorn, potato chips, and cans of coke.
"Thanks Nudge!" Ella says. A chorus of 'thank you's' ring out.
"No prob." She replies. "So, hows the game going?"
"Well... Iggy is losing. Fang and Max have been getting strike after strike, and I guess I'm doing alright." Ella supplies.
"Ah." Nudge replied. "I'll play tennis with someone after." She suggested.
"Okay. Maybe Iggy will beat us at that game." Fang laughed.
"Or not." I put in. That got the four of us laughing. Iggy just snorted in disgust and glared at all of us. By the end of the day we had laughed so much! Fang ended up winning the bowling match, but I came in a close second. Ella and Nudge were an unbeatable team at tennis. Iggy turned out to be good at golf. Who would have thought? I was the champion at baseball and boxing, so I guess we're about even. NOT! No, but we all had tons of fun.
This break was all about perfect until I got a call from my father.
"Hello?" I answered on the second ring.
"Hi Max. What are you doing right now?" He asks. I am immediately suspicious. He never asks me what I'm doing.
"Ummm... playing Wii with the gang." I reply. He knows all of my new friends and he adores them, so no problem there.
"Ah, I have a huge favor to ask. Anne has to take Ari to his annual doctors appointment and then they're going to go on a one night camping trip with his boy scout troop. The housekeeper has the next few days off to be with her family for the holidays. I am stuck at work and don't know how I'm supposed to get Thanksgiving dinner on the table." He sounded apologetic.
"Oh." This was not what I expected.
"Yeah, my hands are tied. If I leave you a couple hundreds, could you and your friends make a turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes? The works? They are welcome to bring their families and themselves over for dinner, provided that you can prepare it and have it ready for 6:00pm tomorrow evening." He says.
"Oh great." I reply. I'm getting weird looks from all of my friends. They are seriously confused. A few seconds later they've all returned to versing themselves on Mario Kart.
"Do you think you could do that for me? Thanks honey." He says. "Oh! I'm sorry important call. I'll see you tomorrow." The phone beeps and he's gone. I make my way to the couch and sink down on it's soft cushions, my head in my hands.
"Play the next one without me, alright?" Fang says. I think they all say okay, but they're having too much fun to really care.
"What's wrong?" He demands.
"Nothing." I reply tersely.
"Yeah, right, like I'm supposed to believe that."
"No really, its... nothing." I assure him. My lie sounds weak to my own ears.
"What is with you girls?" I think I hear him mutter, but I'm not too sure.
"Alright. It's just that Anne and Ari are busy, my Dad's stuck on his business trip for one more day, and our housekeeper has her break for the holidays." I say.
"Oh? So you'll be alone? Is that it?" He asks me. "You're welcome at my place." He says. I know, a girl sleeping at a guy's house... but it's nothing like that. We're just buds.
"No, that's not it." I reply. It's the fact that I'm supposed to cook a whole dang meal and I don't even know the difference between a whisk and a spatula!
"Then what?" He asks, plainly confused.
"I... He... My dad asked me to cook Thanksgiving dinner." I admit.
"You can beat my butt at boxing, but you're scared to go into a kitchen?" He asks me in mock horror.
"Shut up!" I punch him in the arm. He's just smiling at me. "I can't cook!" He opens his mouth but I cut him off. "You were Emril in a past life weren't you?" I say sarcastically. He just laughs.
"Yep!" I glare at him. "No, no! I'm not the best either." He admits. Oh, wow, something he can't do. This must be a first.
"Oh good." I say.
"Good?" One of his eyebrows have arched up.
"Well, that's one thing you can't do, just like me!" I feel very triumphant at this second. "Now, even though I know you can't cook, I'm not sure what to -" I'm cut off by Fang's next remark.
"I never said that I can't cook. I said I'm not the best. I can cook, but Iggy over there, he's the man when it comes to cooking. He can whip up a lemon meringue pie like nobody's business." Fang said. (A/N: Sound familiar?)
"Oh. Wait seriously?" My eyes are now the size of dinner plates.
"Yep." He said. "Shh... don't tell him I told you that. Star of the basketball team can cook too!" I giggle. I never knew that he played basketball either! Hm. I'm learning a lot about Iggy today.
"Okay, go get the duck tape Fang, he's going to be my hostage." I tell him. Fang just chuckles.
*ooOoo*
Iggy's POV: Thanksgiving Day
I look around in shock. Max's kitchen is the most high-tech I have ever seen! It's close to a professional chefs, you know like the kind you see on Food Network? There's an island and everything. Pans are hanging from racks above all the appliances. A huge grill and oven sit next to each other on one side of the room. Even a separate pizza oven! Their stainless steel fridge is huge, as well as their chest freezer. They have their own wine room as well.
"Dang, Max, this place is huge!" I exclaim in wonder. It's like my dream. I can already see myself dressed in a white chefs uniform, apron, and bandanna hat. "Are you sure you don't want to help me?" Max explained her dilemma and all of us immediately agreed to help. Surrounded by our friends and their families, this would be the best Thanksgiving ever!
"Uh, yes I'm sure." She says, looking warily at the stove, grill, and assortment of knives.
"Awww - come on! What's the worse that could happen?"
*ooOoo*
Max's POV
Time for another of Max's Mini quizzes! While cooking Thanksgiving dinner with Iggy and Fang, did Max, A) Burn the house down and have to call Poison Control... (Haha, very funny Iggy), B) Make a perfect Thanksgiving feast and will be starting her own line of restaurants next week (Yo, note the sarcasm - Fang), or C) Set the Turkey on Fire, Burn the stuffing, and get mashed potatoes on the ceiling? Hehe... if you chose C) well... funny story. Hehe...
It all started when Iggy asked me to preheat the oven... or was it when Fang told me to take over the mashed potatoes for a sec? Ah... who knows? Anyway, Iggy and Fang have never seen me cook. The only person who has was Ari... my parents still wonder how he had gotten that sick for two weeks. Shhh! Don't tell! I was only trying to make him a sandwich!
"Are you absolutely sure you want me here?" I ask for the tenth time. So far the only thing we've done is don white aprons, black for Fang, of course, and wash our hands.
"Max, have some confidence. Like in Ratatouille, "Anyone can cook!" Right?" Iggy says with a fake Italian accent. Hmmm... maybe if this cooking career doesn't work out, he can become an actor.
"Sure." I say. Then, "Wait, you actually watched that movie?"
"Yeah." He replies kind of sheepishly. "You?"
"Um, yeah, with Ari." I mutter. Ari is my excuse... though, it actually was okay. We just nod and know that the other will keep it a secret.
"So, all I need you to do right now is preheat the oven." He tells me looking very calm about all this.
"Okay... umm... this one's the oven right?" I ask him pointing to the one that has the door that opens downward.
"Yes Max." He replies making me feel like a three year-old. Great.
"Okay, just checking." And head over to the oven. Okay... preheat, preheat, preheat... Oh! I think it's the button that says 'Temperature'. Yep, has to be. I press it and it's on 350. Okay... it says that the turkey, once prepared, should be set in the oven at 325˚ F for around about 45 minutes.. or until the white thingy explodes. Okay. I can do that. I make sure the number reads 325 and then go back to Iggy.
"Done." I say with a triumphant smile.
"Great." He tells me with a returning smile. "You can help me by making the stuffing."
"Okay." I agree.
"Cook the sausage. I'm going to try something new and put some small bits of sausage into the stuffing."
"Okay. I think I can do that." He sets one of the big pans onto the stove. I know that one! He turns the stove on and adds the sausage that he has chopped into the pan.
"Just stir it every so often. Make sure that it doesn't burn, but make sure that it's cooked all the way, alright?" I nod and he walks off to do some other thing. The sausage hasn't done anything yet so I go back to the oven to see if the thing has preheated yet.
"MAX!" I hear from behind me. Fang is staring at the sausage that still hasn't done anything. Or... maybe it has. I can't be sure, the oven is too far away. I walk back over there to where the sausage has started cackling in the pan.
"Don't you know to never let a fire going unattended?" He reprimands me with a weird look on his face. Oh, right I knew that. I just smile at him and attend to my sausage. Great, I've forgotten to get something to stir it with. I'm just about to leave to go find one when I remember what Fang told me. I can't leave it here unattended. By now the sausage is smoking and it's making really loud cackling sounds. I delicately grasp the handle and try to shake it a little like I've seen them do in movies. I only end up getting some of the sausage out of the pan and seeing it fall into the fire under the burner. Whoops!
"Iggy! Where's the spoons?" I've set the pan back on the fire because it was getting heavy.
"I left you one right on the counter." I turn to see that yes, indeed he has left me a wooden mixing spoon.
"Oh! Thanks!" I take it and being to somewhat calmly stir the little cubes of sausage around the pan. It's smelling really good. I think it's cooked all the way. Great... now how do I turn off the fire? I open the cabinet underneath the stove. Oh! There's the knob! Weird place to put it, but I turn it. I hear a huge "Whoosh!" go above my head. It turns out that, that knob was not the fire control knob, it controlled the amount of gas feeding the fire. Now staring me in the face was a foot high fire which enveloped the pan, sausage, and was threatening to spread.
"Max!" Iggy comes running over and quickly turns the knob underneath the stove. Then he fiddles with some that are at the top of the stove and the fire goes out. Who would have thought to look there? Behind the two burners. Because that means you have to lean over your fire to reach it. That's just stupid.
"I... I..." I stammered.
"Are you all right?" He asks me.
"Yeah. Sorry... I didn't know that that was the thing for the gas. I thought that turned the fire off."
"All the way down there?"
"Yeah..." I felt mortified right there.
"Well... the sausage is done... a little burnt, but that's alright. Okay here's the rest of the ingredients. Add it little by little to the sausage so that you can mix it all in." He instructs.
"Can I please do something else? I really don't want to deal with the stove again!" He gives me a look and sees his attempts will be futile then directs me to another pan. Okay, this should be easy. I was just about to finish this up. Just put the marshmallows in neat rows all over the sweet potatoes, okay?" I nod. This I couldn't screw up, if I did, that would be such an epic fail. Thankfully, I do this without screwing up.
"Excellent." Iggy says when I come to tell him that I'm done. "Please keep an eye on this while I put this and the turkey in the oven." Yeah... we have two ovens, I almost never come in here and don't really care about the kitchen, but this is helpful on a day like this.
"Okay." I'm feeling very confident about the marshmallows so I think I'll be able to keep an eye on the stuffing for a few minutes. I stir every so often. It smells pretty darn good. I wish it would just be done already so I can try it! I reach across the burners to the controls and turn up the heat. (The correct one this time!)
"Iggy did leave me in charge of you!" Great... now I'm talking to the food. I'm going mental. I start humming to myself when Iggy comes back.
"Max..." He starts. Uh-oh... what did I do this time? "Did you by any chance stir the bottom of the stuffing too?"
"Erm... no. Was I supposed to?" I ask him.
"Yes."
"Oh, sorry... but I did turn the heat up!" That's when he grabs the wooden spoon out of my hand and takes over stuffing duty. The bottom came up a little blacker than usual. He just looks at me and sighs.
"Go help Fang." Is all he says trying to salvage what was left of the stuffing.
"Okay... sorry!" And I run to where Fang is on the other side of the kitchen.
*ooOoo*
Fang's POV
"Hey!" Max calls from behind me.
"Yo." I say and then return to my peeling potatoes.
"Iggy told me to help you." She says. Her voice is slightly higher pitched than usual. Oh boy, what did she do this time?
"Okay. You can help me by peeling these potatoes for the mashed potatoes." I tell her.
"Alright. Is there another one of those peeling thingies?" She asks me.
"Umm... yeah. Second drawer on the left. Don't you know where this stuff is? It is your kitchen."
"Yeahhh... I try to steer clear of here as much as possible. I don't know what a fourth of the things in this kitchen even are." She admits to me.
"And your parents don't know you're a terrible cook?" I confirm.
"Nope. Which is why they asked me to do this blasted dinner." She tells me as she begins to peel the potatoes. Which she was, of course, doing wrong.
"No, Max. You do it like this." I take quick, even, and precise strokes with my tool's blade and the skins right off. Max, on the other hand, is making very short, choppy, and hard strokes with her tool.
"I never knew that we could get two very different results with the same exact tool." I tell her. She just sticks her tongue at me. I've annoyed her and now she's just making even worse strokes.
"Here." I say and set down my potato and peeler and come stand behind her. I wrap both of my hands around each of hers. I move her fingers so she won't chop them completely off and force her to lighten her grip on the tool. I feel her tense up, then slowly relax. Her hair smells like green apple shampoo. Who knew? That's the same type Ms. Girly Nudge uses.
"Like this." I whisper in her ear. We proceed to silently finish the potato together.
"What are you guys doing?" Iggy's voice makes Max jump in front of me, causing the peeler to jerk sharply onto my hand. Ow! I wince slightly as blood started to run from the gash on my hand.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" Max says in shock. Panicking, she threw a dish towel at me and ran to the first aid kit that was hanging on the wall. Well, she knows where that is, at least.
"Max calm down. It's okay, I'm a big boy, I've had worse." I laugh at her. She's worse than my mother!
"Out of the kitchen!" Iggy exclaims. Oh, I forgot, he was the cause of all this. I saunter out of the kitchen, Max on my heels.
"Let me see it!" She demands. I sigh and hand over my hand. Well... that sounded weird. She takes my arm and drags me to the nearest bathroom. She takes out an alcohal swab and proceeds to wipe away the blood surrounding the cut but careful not to get it inside of it. Thoughtful of her. Then she lifts it over the sink and runs some hydrogen peroxide over it. The cut bubbles, but not too bad.
"I really am sorry." She tells me again as she uses a cloth to dry my hand, still very conscious of not touching the gash.
"I know, it's fine Max." I assure her. She put some Neosporin on a band-aid then applied it to my cut. "Thanks." I tell her.
"You're welcome." She looks at me and I look back. The air feels charged with something. But she looks away and cleans up the trash on the bathroom counter.
"Umm... I'll finish in the kitchen with Iggy. He probably won't allow you back in there because you have a band-aid on." She tells me with a smile. "You'll probably 'contaminate' the food somehow!" She rolls her eyes at me and heads out the door. Silly Max.
*ooOoo*
Max's POV
Okay, let's just say that going back into that kitchen was the stupidest thing I've ever done in my life. I end up finishing the potatoes, remembering how it feels to have Fangs arms around me. It makes me blush just to think about it. The turkey is in the oven and so are the sweet potatoes. Iggy has come next to me to make the cranberry sauce.
"So what was going on with you two earlier?" He asks me.
"Nothing." But I blush, he doesn't miss it.
"It didn't look like 'nothing'." He says.
"It was. I am a lousy cook and Fang knows that. He was just helping me figure out how to peel the potatoes so I wasn't standing here all night." I explain.
"Really? That's all?" Iggy asks me.
"Yep. I mean he has a girlfriend. I'm just his friend. It's not like that between us." I say self-consciously.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Iggy says. "It's just that he never looks like that with Lissa."
"What?" I say shocked.
"I mean he's with her now, but I don't think it's going to last." He admits.
"Oh." Is all I can think of to say.
"Yeah." He says awkwardly. After a few moments of silent, awkward, work, I decide it's time to clear the air.
"So, I'll just finish up the potatoes." I say changing the subject.
"Alright. Just try not to break anything!" Iggy says with a smile.
"Yeah. Right." I say returning it. I finish peeling all the potatoes, still pondering what Iggy said. I don't know. Fang and Lissa looked pretty tight to me... but who am I to judge?
"Hey Iggy, where -" I start, but am cut off by Iggy's answer to my question... Am I getting that predictable?
"Third cabinet to your right." He says. I just stare at him. "You were going to ask me about the electric mixer, right?" He asks with his eyebrows raised, as if he's betting me to differ.
"Yeah. That's what I was going to ask." I reply with a sigh. Hey it rhymes! Whoa there Max, ADHD moment! I look under there and sure enough a fancy, high def, shiny, looks like it's never been used before, Kitchen-Aide mixer is staring me in the face. Okay... Now I just have to figure out how to turn the thing on. Oh, right, plug it in! I knew that! I was just making sure that you're still awake...
So, I plug it in and now it's not my fault when I come to a dead end. There were so many buttons on it that I have no clue where to even begin! When I press the power button, it's devilish eyes gleam to life and it stares at me, as if to say, come on, I dare you to try me! With a determined glare at it, I push a random button. Then I realize that I forgot to put the potatoes in. Smart Max. I grab one of them and shove it into the connected mixing bowl. It splattered a little bit but made it to the bottom of the mixing bowl. Okay... only twenty more potatoes to go! Perfect! I'm not even going to try and stop it, so I keep shoving potatoes in it. It seems to work... but it's taking a really long time to even grind the full potatoes into a mush. I press the little plus button on the machine and it starts going faster. Yes! I got this, finally! I grab two more potatoes and shove them into the mixer. Then I press the plus sign a few more times... going a little faster won't hurt it... And, that's where it all went wrong. The machine goes crazy! The little blue screen said "System Overload" and instead of shutting down like a normal machine going into 'overload' would do, it goes freaking faster! As fast as it possibly can actually. Potatoes fly everywhere! On me, on the floor, on the counter, on the cabinets, and... almost impossibly, on the ceiling!
Well... Iggy finally came to the rescue. He hit a few buttons and the robot killer flying potato machine came to a stop. Of course we were both covered in mashed potatoes by that time so he just glares at me. That's when I know that I should leave. Immediately.
"I'll go now." I say looking down at the mess on the floor.
"Yeah, that would be good." He mutters darkly. I skedaddle out of there as fast as my legs will carry me. In the hallway, I run into a frozen looking Fang as he sees the latest addition to my wardrobe.
"Don't." I say holding up a mashed potato covered hand. He had opened his mouth to start but then was smart enough to close it. Yeah, he does not want to get me in a bad mood right now... sadly his fashionable sister Nudge, for some reason, did.
"Oh my gosh!" Nudge exclaims.
"Nudge..." I sigh.
"You are coming with me!" She commands me. "And you! You are going straight into the bathroom and changing into the clothes I just bought for you. No 'ifs, ands, or buts'! You hear?" By now she has him backed up against the wall. If I've ever seen Fang even close to scared, or rather, uncomposed, it was now.
Nudge shoved me into the bathroom and told me to "Hurry up and shower, or I'm coming in after you!". When I was done she threw something into the bathroom for me to put on. I put my undergarments on, not really paying attention but the balked when I saw the other piece of clothing she threw in here. That girl...! Ugh! I finish dressing in the bathroom, and stalked out of there. Nudge looked me over and said... "You'll do." Then turns me to my room, blow dries my hair, and proceeds to put my hair in a 'half-up-half-down' style. Excuse me, but, what? Then somehow found the Tiffany's bow that I kept hidden in my closet was brought out and forced on me. Erm... stalker much? I cannot fathom how she even found... never mind. If I think of the possibilities, I'll get nightmares.
After almost poking my eye out with eyeliner and mascara, then smearing some light lipgloss on my lips, it was clear thank goodness, I snuck out of my bedroom into the hall. I was almost to the end when I heard a threatening...
"Oh, Maaaaax!" Coming from my bedroom. Shoot! I tried to escape but she caught up with me that sly little girl! She shoved some black heeled sandals at me and wouldn't leave until I put them on. The heel wasn't too high and the straps were simple but elegant. Oh dear... I just used the word 'elegant'... HELP!
I was trying not to let anyone see the awfulness of a dress on me, but I had to eat turkey one way or another... Fang looks at me for a bit and I look back. His eyes widened for a second then came to stand next to me. He picked up a lock of my hair and examined it.
"Wow, you look like an actual... girl." He says with wonder.
"There's a reason for that..." I reply with my eyes narrowed to slits. (A/N: Thank you James Patterson) We stare at each other for a while more, then were both holding in our laughs.
"You do look nice though." Fang says while we make our way to the dining table.
"Thanks." That's when I get a good look at Fang's outfit. He was wearing black dress pants and a black collared shirt. I ran my fingers over the collar, turning it out because on side had flipped up funny.
"You don't look so bad yourself." I remark.
"Nudge got to me." He replied with a smirk. We laughed again at that. I guess I should describe my dress to all you girly girls out there. You'll never forgive me if I don't... It's all black and simple. It was pretty modest. Halter, with straps that made an 'X' on the back which connected to the back right under my shoulder blades. The fabric was loose enough that I could eat my fill without feeling like I would rip my dress if I ate a bite. It ended right above my knees. The only other piece of decoration, was a simple satin bow, tied around my waist with the bow at the hip. To tell you the truth, I loved it! Other than my Tiffany's necklace, I wore no jewelry.
As I enter the dining room Iggy lets out a low whistle.
"Wow Max! You sure clean up good!" I roll my eyes and punch him in the arm. Jeb, Ann, and Ari have returned while I was upstairs getting the 'special treatment'. Anne wore a burgundy professional looking top and a pencil black skirt. She also had on her killer stilettos. How women can walk in them? I'll never know. Jeb was in his business suit, but had a tie that had Autumn leaves on it. Ari was adorable in an orange, green, and brown plaid shirt with brown pants. Alice and the rest of the gang was there. Iggy's parents too. Ella couldn't make it that night because her family had prior engagements. Jeb comes up behind me and squeezes my shoulder.
"Thank you so much Max! This looks amazing!" He tells me. Fang must have set the table while I had my run-in with the blender. Nudge had probably done the place card settings and the bouquet in the middle of the table.
"I had a lot of help. Iggy's an amazing chef!" I admit to him. He just gives me a big smile.
"Where did you get that dress? You look nice." He says.
"Nudge." Is all I said. That was all the explanation he needed. He nodded and after helping Ann into her seat, took his at the head of the table.
When everyone was seated, we all grabbed hands- Fang on my left, Nudge on my right. Jeb starts leading the prayer. I don't really pay attention till the end when I hear him say "Amen." The thought of food runs through my mind and I can't stand it any longer. I stare at the feast in front of me sitting right on the table, taunting me when I realize there's no turkey.
"Dang it, I forgot the turkey on the counter. Sorry, I'll be right back." I get up from my chair and walk into the kitchen. I look around for the turkey on a nice plate but couldn't find one. I probably spun around three times looking for the turkey. The kitchen was big, but not big enough for me not to spot it from the center of it. I run back into the dining room and look at everyone.
"The turkey's gone." I say bluntly and everyone looks at each other dumbfounded. Finally, Nudge looks up.
"Wow, you almost had me there! Now come on, I'm starrvvinngg!" she said beaming. She wasn't the only one with an empty stomach here! What happened to the turkey? Let me tell you ahead of time, I made three unforgivable mistakes. #1: I actually believed that I lost a stupid turkey - Strike 1. #2: The first time I glanced around the kitchen I failed to recognize the oven was on fire with smoke coming out of it -- Strike 2. And #3: The turkey was stuck inside of the burning oven. Strike 3. I'm out.
After I saw the oven was on, I grabbed oven mitts, jammed them onto my hands, turned the oven off (correctly) and opened it. Big mistake. Even more smoke filled the kitchen, getting onto my face, my hair, and my dress. The turkey wasn't only burned, it was BLACK. You know how some people don't mind the crispy bits of a slightly over-done piece of meat? Well this isn't the meat that person is looking for. Pure black, no edible parts left. I grabbed the turkey tray and dropped it on top of the stove, letting it... air out. After opening the windows, thank goodness we have some in this kitchen, so the fire alarm doesn't go off, (by some miracle it hasn't... yet), I turn around and Fang is in the doorway of the kitchen staring at the black piece of unintelligible crispy bird sitting on top of the island.
"Um... I think it's a little over-done." I say forcing a smile. Fang smiles back and actually starts laughing a bit. I walk back into the dining room, Fang right behind me. I don't need to turn around to know he's laughing at me.
"Um guys... Sorry to ruin the party, but the turkey is bad." Everyone already knew though. The smoke and scent of something burning kind of gave it away. Nudge being Nudge tried to make the mood better.
"That's alright! We can have mashed potatoes with gravy, ham, stuffing, carrots and peas, and cranberry sauce!" she says brightly. Everyone laughs and start digging in. Oh geez... You think I can live off of that? You're dead wrong. But, it was still one of the best Thanksgivings I've ever had!
How's that for a Thanksgiving feast? Merry Christmas everyone! Sorry, it's been long and Thanksgiving doesn't exactly match up with Christmas, but too bad! Hope everyone got what they wanted! Sorry for the long wait, once again, but this is a good LATE Christmas surprise to wake up to right? Nah, we're just playing. Hope you had a sincerely wonderful Christmas (and if we don't get another chapter up in time) New Years! WE LOVE YOU GUYS!
Fly on!
NarutoLover7890 and Mx2Blue326