Sometimes, I wonder if I should be a nicer person. Because if I was a nicer person, maybe karma wouldn't be such a witch with a capital B and I could for once get something accomplished. But noooooo.

Fang's cell phone started ringing.

I pulled back, snapped out of the trance Fang had put me under. Oh my God, I was such a freaking idiot! I stared at Fang and he stared at me, his cell phone blaring. Without looking away from me he pulled it out of his pocket and I peeked down to see LISA on the caller id. You've got to be kidding me, right?

"Max, I-"Fang started, but I shook my head.

"Save it. Like I would actually want to kiss you!" I snapped. "I wouldn't kiss you if you were the last person on earth!"

"That's great, because I'd rather kiss a horse's ass over you! It's probably much more sanitary anyway!" Fang snapped right back. I huffed, ramming my foot in his rib cage purposely as I crawled out of the playhouse. I didn't wait for Ella as I ran towards the fence that separated Fang's house and mine and I hopped over it. When I glanced back, I could see the glow of Fang's cell phone. If he honestly wanted back with Lisa, then fine. I didn't give a damn anymore. Nope, not a damn because as far as I was concerned Fang could go to hell.

I barged up in my room, slamming the door behind me.

Okay, so some people would think I was over reacting, but it was like all of this tension was finally boiling over the top. I wasn't mad about not being able to kiss Fang. I just wanted to hit myself silly for even trying to kiss him. That was the second time I'd almost kissed him and I was ashamed of myself. I couldn't believe that I had been so ready to just do it, when earlier today he threw my car keys in the pool!

Stuffing my head in my pillow, I let out a long, muffled scream. I couldn't do this anymore. Fang was causing way too much confusion, drama, trouble …pain in my life. I hated not knowing what I wanted, because it made me feel so vulnerable. And Fang seemed to have that affect on me, which was unacceptable. I had to get away from him, so no more pranks, no more threatening to kill him when we talked through the windows, no more anything. I was going to have to…well, break up with him. You get what I mean. I just couldn't tolerate him messing with my head so much, and getting by with it. Fang was a lowlife creeper, and that was that. I thought he may have a different side to him, one that wasn't as self absorbed as the side I always saw, but I was dead wrong. I'm just glad that Lisa called; because I didn't even want to imagine what it would have been like if I would have kissed him. I mean, can you imagine the awkwardness? And it would have been even worse because apparently he'd accepted Lisa back and I did not want to be known as the girl who made out with other girls boyfriends.

I stared at Fang's window, shaking my head. I couldn't wait to graduate, to put this all behind me and forget that Nicolas 'Fang' Gomez ever existed.

.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

*TWO DAYS LATER*

I tore of a flyer that had been posted on my locker, glancing briefly at the bold letters, HOMCOMMING DANCE, before crumpling it up and tossing it to the side. I don't understand why they find it appropriate to tape those stupid things on people's lockers. It's like vandalizing property. And no, when I posted those pictures of Fang, that did not count as vandalism.

After pulling my books out, I stuffed my backpack in my locker and then locked it, telling myself repeatedly not to look at Fang. I wondered if this 'almost kiss' would change anything between us. The first one hadn't been too bad, I mean, we still hated each other. But the second time…I'd felt something so weird and unknown and Fang had looked so intense, and the way those dark eyes just-

Never mind.

So, I plopped down in first period. Nudge chatted aimlessly, explaining how she planned to get a date for homecoming. Then she asked the silliest question I'd ever heard come out of Nudge's mouth,

"Are you going to homecoming?"

My head snapped towards her and I began laughing. "Very funny."

Nudge's expression was serious. "Why are you laughing? I-"she lowered her voice to barley a whisper. "I don't have a booger or anything do I?" Her eyes were wide and she tilted her head back, as if expecting me to really look, and I shook my head, laughing harder. The most funniest and disgusting things Nudge could have ever said had been said.

"Oh, Nudge," I sighed, eyes watering from laughing so hard. Then Mrs. Wilson snapped,

"Max! Do you want to share with the rest of the class?"

I smirked. "Well, Mrs. Wilson it's sorta a private topic, but if you really want me to tell the class about how Lisa stuffs her bra after P.E. then I guess I can."

The classroom erupted into giggles, but Lisa looked horror stricken. She glared at me and mouthed a very dirty word. I shrugged, smirking innocently. I don't know what brought on the remark, but Mrs. Wilson replied with a stiff,

"Then I can tell the class about how you have detention after school today."

I had never gone to detention. The past eighty billion times I'd been sentenced to it, I never did a day. Still, I nodded and forced a sad sigh, even though I knew that at three ten I'd leave this school and wouldn't stay an extra minute.

But, Mrs. Wilson looked convinced and she turned her head back around to continue teaching. Nudge waited until she started talking again before nudging me.

"You should go," she said. I rolled my eyes. Dances and I just didn't fit well together. I just didn't enjoy them.

"I'm serious! You know that Sam is going to ask you," Nudge persisted.

I stared at her. "Sam knows I'm not into that sort of crap. Besides, it's in what-a week? - I don't have a dress or anything."

"I've got tons of dresses," Nudge volunteered.

I muttered, "I'm sure. But I'm still not going. Well, if Orlando Bloom comes himself and asks me to go with him then I may be able to make an exception, but other then that, it's not happening."

"Fang sort of looks like Orlando Bloom," Nudge grinned. I snorted, loudly enough where the kids in front of me turned around to stare. I glared at them but focused on Nudge.

"Yeah, okay," I said sarcastically. My cheeks were flaming all of the sudden.

"Why are you blushing?" Nudge inquired, her lips tugging into a suspicious grin. "Max is there something you need to te-"

"MONIQUE!" Mrs. Wilson snapped furiously. "You can join Max in detention this afternoon. Honestly, can you two be quiet for three seconds?"

One second, two second, three second.

"Yes," I replied, and it was an honest answer. I counted off three seconds then answered. Mrs. Wilson closed her eyes in frustration, took a deep breath and then said,

"Max, go out in the hall. Better yet, just go to the office until you can learn to be quiet in my class."

I sighed, honestly annoyed with this, but I stood up anyway. I never usually acted up this much in Mrs. Wilson's class but today I just felt impulsive and reckless. And there was another feeling that I couldn't quite name, but it was in the pit of my stomach.

I walked slowly to the office, in no hurry to get there. I admired the art work spread across the walls, and even stopped by Mr. Campbell's history class to peek in the window. I saw J.J. sitting in the back and waved until I caught her attention. Mr. Campbell was writing on the board, oblivious to me, so I started making a lot of funny faces and moves. J.J. busted out laughing, and I watched as Mr. Campbell twisted around to see what was going on. I ducked down when he glanced over at the door. J.J. looked quite embarrassed. I'm sure I would think somebody was insane if they started laughing in the middle of class. She flicked me off as soon as Mr. Campbell turned slowly back around and I grinned.

When I finally did go to the office, I sat in front of an eleventh grade boy who I knew some what. He held a large ice pack over his right eye and I whistled.

"What happened to you?"

When he looked up at me you would have thought he saw the devil. He shoved himself farther back in his chair and looked away from me quickly, stuttering.

"I-I-well, I-"he kept on for a moment, then he just shook his head and stared at the floor. I was a bit offended by his attitude but I shrugged it off. Boys were weird.

"Michael Morgan," the secretary called. "The principle will see you now." The boy stood up on shaky legs and didn't so much as look at me while he walked past me and down the hall to the principle's room. I followed him with my eyes until somebody else walked past him. The boy cowered towards the wall and the other figure just kept walking.

"Fang?" I asked incredulously. His eyes met mine and for a moment I thought he was going to smile, but instead he paused walking and stared at me. I stared back, momentarily lost in those eyes of his. He broke the stare and stepped out the doors. That wasn't what got me though.

He had an ice pack on his fist.

So, obviously, Fang had punched Michael Morgan the eleventh grader. But why? Everybody 'loved' Fang. Nobody would want to purposely make him mad enough to where he would hit them.

Mrs. Linda, the secretary, was talking on the phone with somebody. Her nails clicked annoyingly on the desk; clack clack, clack clack, clack clack.

Overwhelmed with curiosity, I crawled past her desk to the back of office to where the principle's door was in sight. I pressed an ear to it.

"…..and that's what happened," Michael's cracked voice floated through the door. I mentally groaned. I had missed it.

The principle said, "So, Nick had punched you for a specific reason? He did not just run up and hit you?"

"No…" Michael murmured. "I shouldn't have said what I did and he had every right to hit me."

Why did he hit Michael?

I heard the sound of people standing and I straightened up and stepped a few paces away. The door opened and Michael walked out, glancing briefly at me. The principle sighed, running a hand through his graying hair, and asked,

"What did you do this time, Max?"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - -- - - - -

My internet connection died and I haven't been able to update due to that reason. I'm really sorry guys.

And for those who will be like, 'YOU SHOULD HAVE MADE THEM KISS!' a lot of other reviewers requested that I hold off on the kiss, and then I got a very awesome idea so be patient :) The Fax is coming soon and I've got it planned out. This was just a chapter filling in some missing parts, but I really look forward to posting the next chapter because…well, I can't tell you :) So please review and thank you guys so much for reading my story!

If you think my story is worthy, please vote for it in the maximum ride awards :) It would make me very happy!

-NR

Oh yeah, if you find yourself board, then read .net/s/5369982/1/Jessica_and_Katies_battles

It will be a waste of five minutes, but it is about an epic battle that involves a bit of Fang, Iggy, Myself, My best friend, Edward and Jacob, along with some other fictional guys. The first paragraph is written by me, the next by my friend, and so on.