Getting late… about time I updated, huh?

*Chapter Eleven*

~Sage Advice… from a vampire~

Where were we now?

…Ah, yes. Puggsy being tied up in the basement.

All because of how he was chewing out Toni… Now, no one exactly knew what happened after their argument- they just knew that all the shouting caused another earthquake in San Francisco (causing Luca to resent trying to fry hot-dogs over a gas-stove). All they knew that, from the shocked/angry expression on Toni's face afterwards, their friend must have done something quite… out of character.

"He did WHAT to you?" Sam gasped after Toni told the girls about it- feeling more comfortable in confiding in them…. and Fangs. "Oh, heck no, now that loudmouth's going TOO far! I can take the insults, the backfired prank, pushing around my brother… but going as far as hitting a young girl?! Someone had better get that guy in anger-management, before I kill him!"

"He didn't really hit me- he just raised his fist, all red in the face, and was holding back like the last shred of humanity inside him was trying to keep him under control." Toni clarified. "…It's not the first time he gave me that kind of look, to tell the truth, only this time I didn't break his game console."

"You know, I think we ought to lay off Puggsy for a while. He's getting more aggravated every minute of the day," Kim said. "I want to teach him a lesson as much as the rest of you… but I don't think pulling pranks or roughing him up is going to work."

"Don't tell me you're taking HIS side!" Kassy replied.

"I'm not. I just think we should take a break, restart maybe tomorrow and do as Chance said- only teach him a lesson when he does something mean." she gave Toni a look. "…In the present, NOT over something that happened last week."

"Alright, alright, but I'm still going to have a word with him about his near-violent reaction." Sam said, standing up. "So, where is the little pipsqueak?"

Toni shrugged. "I dunno. He disappeared after his episode. Probably went on a walk or something," she replied.

"I hate my life," Puggsy muttered, then tried once again to break free of the rope that bound him. He sighed after realizing it was no use. "Alright, whoever's doing this to me, just put me out of my misery, now!"

"I would… but that would be too merciful." came a voice from the shadows.

He hung his head low. "Ah, great… it's you. What do you want?"

"First, shut your mouth and listen. I've come to notice the way you've been acting this weekend, and despite the fact I knew you were going to be a loudmouth since you were eight, I have to say I'm quite appalled. Your friends are going through all this trouble to teach you some respect, and yet you blow them off like the stubborn little twit you are."

"Yeah? Did you miss the fact that they're torturing me, too?!"

"You bring the torture upon yourself, Russell. You claim your friends are being ignorant of your own feelings, yet in reality it is you who is being the ignoramus."

Puggsy rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. They've been harassifying me since the very beginning… and could you NOT refer to me by my first name?"

"I believe likewise. …I read a verse not too long ago: Proverbs 6:1-2, "Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth," …and you seemed to have snared yourself into a hostile predicament."

"Alright, so what do you recommend I do about it?"

"Do what your mother has been telling you to do for years- watch your mouth. If you're not careful of what you say, you'll bring trouble upon not only yourself, but your friends. Keep this conversation in mind next time you think about doing something stupid. I have places to go and can't stick around to see what scenario you get yourself into next. Until we meet again, Russell."

Puggsy shook his head. "Whatever. How about untying me before you go?"

No answer.

"…Hello? Lamone? …Alright, I know you're still there! Come untie me! …C'MON NO ONE VANISHES THAT FAST! LAMONE!"

Zip. Nada. Zero.

He growled. "I can see why he isn't invited over for Christmas."

*Thonk!*

An apple hit him in the head. "I heard that!" snapped Lamone.

Puggsy snarled and began thrashing… only to have the chair fall backwards with a *thunk!*

"Ow." he put bluntly.

A/N: Yep, even Lamone's in on it too XD (what, you honestly thought I wasn't going to give him a cameo? For shame! lol)

Next chapter… will Puggsy have cooled down, or will Fangs have to give him a lesson in judo? And where are Cassandra and 'Erica' during all this?