Okay, so this chapter is super super random. I had the entire story planned out and then I was just thinking about it today and decided to add this chapter in before Max's birthday.

I know this is Valentine's Day, so I should probably make this all romantic, but that's not how I roll, but don't worry peoples. The romance (and drama) is coming soon. Very soon, but I just decided to add this chapter in before all of that.

So let me know what you think, and I promise to update soon. I've had this research paper, so that's why I haven't updated lately.

Disclaimer: I'm not James Patterson. I don't really want to be an old man, no offense to James Patterson, though I would not mind owning Maximum Ride.

Oh and about the llama last chapter. I really did make a llama! But the computer messed it all up! –tear- So now meet the invisible alpaca named Lenny, because my computer has something against llamas:

Bonus points to you if you find the Kurt Vonnegut reference! (Kurt Vonnegut's this awesome countercultural seventies writer. I totally recommend his books.)

Fang POV

The last thing I wanted to do on the day before Max's birthday was mow someone's lawn. But it pays money, and money buys food, and food keeps you alive. Ergo, I was mowing the lawn.

Some rich lady decided she just had to have a party tomorrow and her lawn just wasn't good enough for the occasion, the occasion being her Chihuahua's birthday. Someone has a little too much time on their hands.

"I know its late, so I'll pay extra," She called from her porch, "You boys want some lemonade?"

"I'm fine, thank you." I said back politely. Yeah, I know. Me, being polite. If Max were here she would so kick my ass. But Max wasn't here and the politer you were the better the tips are, so I was being polite.

"I'll take some!" Boaz called out.

"Dude, say thank you," I muttered underneath my breath, glaring at him.

"Why?" he snarled at me.

This was why I hated being paired with Boaz. He was the only kid my age in the lawn mowing business, or at least that I knew of, but he was also the only jackass.

I did my best not to snarl back. "Tips!" I whispered.

"Oh, right." He put back on a polite smile, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson. You look smokin' today by the way."

Mrs. Thompson let out a small girlish giggle and went back into the house. The air was still full of her perfume. I tried my best not to gag.

"Smokin'?" I asked, sarcastically.

Boaz shrugged. "Old chicks around here used to be the cheerleaders and prom queens when they went to high school. They like stuff that makes 'em feel young."

I thought for a moment, "Fair enough."

Usually I don't take advice from Boaz. He's what Max would call a "sexist pig", but I might have to try that one out. Anything for extra tips.

I pictured myself saying that. Then I pictured how Max would react if she saw me saying that to some old lady. She would crack up and never let me live it down.

On second thought, I'm never trying that.

I struggled to pull the lawn mower off the truck bed. It didn't budge. I tugged at it again. Still nothing. This time I out all of my might into it.

It rolled off the truck and landed on me. Ow.

Boaz cracked up. "Well boy, guess you can mow if you want to that badly.

I groaned as I pushed the lawn mower off of me. "Don't call me boy." I scowled out him.

"Whatever you say, boy."

Breath. Think happy thoughts. I chanted in my head. What would Max do?

Well, Max would take him down. Maybe it's best not to ask what Max would do.

I really have to stop this thinking about Max every minute of everyday. I feel like a freaking stalker, but I can't help it.

Argh. Max is making me crazy.

And there I go thinking about Max again.

I got to my feet and hauled the lawn mower to the edge of the lawn. I grunted as I pulled the crank.

15 minutes into mowing the huge lawn Boaz signaled me to stop.

"What?" I asked irritated.

"She's coming soon." Boaz said.

"What?" Now I was just confused.

"This girl, man, she is HOT!" Boaz grinned. "Every night at 8:20 she's here without fail, running. She lives in that house over there." He pointed to this huge house on the right that made all the other houses look like dollhouses.

"So you're stopping me from working, so I can stalk some girl?"

Boaz looked at me, dumbfounded. "Uh, yeah. Believe me, dude. I'm doing you a favor. She is the hottest girl you would ever see."

"I have someone I like." I muttered.

"And? That doesn't stop you from looking."

I was about to argue with him, but he whisper shouted, "There she is."

A girl about our age was running our way. And yeah, Boaz was right. She was hot. I immediately felt bad for saying that, because I totally though Max was the most beautiful girl, but this girl was really hot. In fact she looked a lot like-

"Max?" I asked, incredulous.

Boaz mouth hung open. "Dude you know her?"

I couldn't take my eyes off Max. I could hear her music blasting from all the way over here, so luckily she couldn't hear us.

"Yeah, she's my best friend."

Boaz chuckled. "Looks like you want to be a little more than best friends."

I was shocked that I snapped out of my trance. "What?"

He shrugged. "Well its pretty obvious. You're drooling even more than me."

I couldn't really argue with that, so I just shrugged back at him.

"Well it looks like your not gonna take a chance, so could you introduce me?"

"No." I glared at him. I hated seeing guys look at Max at school and boaz was even worse than all of them combined. He was not touching her.

"Come on man. Two days ago I saw her crying and I was about to go over there and 'comfort' her." He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

I could not believe this guy. Yeah, Max was completely amazing, but that didn't mean he could go all sexist pig about her. She was mine, though Max would totally kill me for saying that. I swear one more comment from this guy and I was gonna- wait. He said he saw Max crying? Max? Max who is the strongest person I know? Max that thinks crying is the sign of weakness?

"She was crying?" I asked.

"Yup." Boaz wasn't really paying much attention to me; he was too busy staring at Max. "Man, I'd tap that."

I'd had enough of this guy. Its bad enough he makes these comments all the time about girls, but about Max?

I punched him. In the face. Blood gushed from his nose and I took some satisfaction from seeing that.

"Dude, what the hell?" He shouted at me, but I was already running to catch up with Max.

I got to be about 20 yards behind Max and I slowed down to think about what I was doing. She would think I was stalking her or something.

I hung back and decided to follow her, which is basically the definition of stalking.

What can I say? Love makes you do crazy things.

Plus, I wanted to figure out why she had been crying. So yeah, I followed her.

When Max reached her house I saw Angel waiting for her, crying.

Max looked pissed. I would not want to get in her way. I had never actually seen her look this mad.

Angel started saying something to Max, but I couldn't hear it.

Max looked pissed and ran up to the house where a figure waited for her on the porch.

They argued for a while, but then Max nodded her head. She went back to Angel and brought her back to the house.

My brain was still trying to process what happened. My best guess was that Max had an older brother or something and they had bullied Angel. Max was super overprotective of Angel and Gazzy.

I decided that I would ask Max about it tomorrow. I took one last look at Max, and then I left.

I was starting to feel like a creeper.

Yeah so fang's kind of stalkerish. Whatever, he's crazy because he's in love.

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