A/N: AHHHHHH! I am SO sorry guys, I could have sworn I put this up weeks ago! Ha, I would have ended up putting Ch11 up and confusing you all. I hope you all had a great Christmas and new year. It's a shame the holidays are over now :(

R&R?

Chapter 10

Sports was followed by double maths, in which I sat alone and talked to no one. It's the end of lessons for today and it's only 4:10. I walk back to tulips alone. As I reach the door I knock, realizing that nobody gave me a key. Apparently I'm the first one back as the door remains closed.

My mind wanders to the running track. I'd love to get back out there and run, without noisy company. Maybe I'll be in better shape by the time Ari comes for me – ha ha.

"Hey." Fang's deep voice hits my ears, snapping me out of my morbid thoughts.

"Oh, hi," I say, "I haven't got a key." Fang unlocks the door and holds it open for me.

"Thanks." I mumble, getting a whiff of him as I pass.

Man, how does manage he smell that good?

I make for the stairs.

"Max," he says. I turn. "Sorry."

"So am I."

My phone rings as my foot taps down on the first step. I freeze, checking the caller ID. I scan my brain, trying to figure out if it's the same number that Ari called me with at lunch. I can't remember.

Damn.

I bite my lip, wondering whether to pick up or not.

"You okay?" Fang asks. I nod, click 'reject call' and rush upstairs. I close my door behind me and check my call history. Sure enough, this number and Ari's are the same. Taking a deep breath, I follow the steps on my computer and block Ari's number.

Guywithaknife: Hey, how are you?

Funkylyricist321: Honestly? Awful.

Guywithaknife: Why?!

Funkylyricist321: How would you react if I said someone was stalking me?

Guywithaknife: I'd say 'How come we're talking specifics all of a sudden?'

I chew my fingernail, contemplating meeting Knifey for the first time ever.

Guywithaknife: Wait, you're serious?!

Funkylyricist321: I bet you're eager to stop talking to me now.

Guywithaknife: Never Funky. Did you tell anyone yet?

Funkylyricist321: No.

Guywithaknife: What, are you insane? Call the police, now!

Funkylyricist321: Knifey, I can't do that.

Guywithaknife: Why not?

Funkylyricist321: I just don't know if I can trust them. Promise me you won't tell anyone? Please, you're the only one who knows.

Guywithaknife: Fine. But only because I don't have your name or address to give to the police.

Funkylyricist321: Can we change the subject?

Guywithaknife: Alright but this isn't over.

Funkylyricist321: How's your guitar holding out? Convinced anyone to get you a new one yet?

Guywithaknife: Not since lunch. Did I tell you I'm in a band?

Funkylyricist321: No! That is so cool! Are you any good?

Guywithaknife: Nah, we suck.

Funkylyricist321: Never!

Guywithaknife: Well maybe if we met you could hear us play?

Funkylyricist321: I'll think about it.

Guywithaknife: C'mon, you're clearly into me.

Funkylyricist321: Yeah, but I'm just not sure it's safe at the moment.

-FLASHBACK-

"It hurts," I moaned, clutching my arm as I ran.

"I know sweetie," Pete said, "But now they won't know where you are."

We stop just outside Mr. and Mrs. Patrick's house. They were my foster parents when I was twelve.

I was with them until a lump in Mrs. Patrick's belly replaced me, 2 months after my arrival. Although that night, I was still their temporary daughter.

"Max," Pete put his hands on my shoulders, "You need to be careful. Just because your chip has been deactivated doesn't mean they won't find a way to reboot it one day." His voice took on a grave manner, "If that happens you'll need to fight. Hopefully it won't happen until you're much older." He kissed my forehead softly and patted my shoulder, "So this is goodbye." A tear escaped his eye but he didn't brush it away, "Watch your back kiddo," he said before sprinting off.

-END FLASHBACK-

As it turned out, that wasn't the last time I saw him. The last time was two days later when the Erasers broke into my house. Even without my chip they'd known where I lived. That day was the worst of my life, when I came home to find Pete dying on the living room floor – the result of an Eraser rampage.

Four years have passed and already my chip has been reactivated. I thought I'd get a little longer to live a normal life, but they will take this away from me, just as they took my parents, my best friend and any semblance of childhood I'd once had.

A/N: Ch11 will be up soon, for reals this time. It's Fang's POV next :)

A review would be nice...