The rest of the day Fang and Iggy kept whispering to each other. So I couldn't tell Fang that I didn't think we should be in a relationship and he couldn't tell me whatever he was going to this morning.

It was after dinner and I was in the bedroom with Kendyl. "So, what's with you and, uh, Fang?" she asked. I shrugged.

"Dunno. He's been my best friend. I don''t know what's gonna happen now. I'm not going through with it, though." I answered.

She looked disappointed. "Well, if he's going to be single then you might want to watch out for Emma Chase. She was really checking him out."

I flinched at the name. "Just another Lissa." I muttered. "What?" Kendyl asked. "Nothing. I wouldn't worry about her." I said. It was true. If I didn't want Emma to get near Fang, I won't let her. She probably doesn't know what a punch in the face is.

She will, soon.

Max. Fang really has to tell you something. Angel's voice popped in my mind. What is it, sweetie? I asked. He should tell you himself. He's looking for you. She 'said'. Good, I have to tell him something, too. I replied, getting up.

"Be right back." I said, walking out the door. I went down the hall and ran into Emma. "Watch it!" she said. I rolled my eyes. "I don't have time for this." I told her. She stomped in her 3 inch heels. "Don't walk away from me." she said.

I turned around to face her. "I just did." I said.

I walked outside and into the gym. Fang was walking toward the door. "Hey, I was looking for you." he said.

"You too." I said. He walked up to me and kissed me in the forehead. "Fang." I said, pulling away. He looked at me.

"Look, Max, I really need to tell you-"

"Wait." I said, putting a hand up. He stopped talking and looked at me. "Before you say anything, I need to tell you something." I said. He nodded. "Well, Fang, I really like you, you know that. I told you I would want to fall in love with you, but right now, I can't even be with you. It's too difficult. I just need to focus on what's coming up." I let it all spill out.

He was speechless. Wait, scratch that- he looked more speechless than usual. "Max." he said.

I looked at my shoes. "It's true. Fang, I can't keep letting you kiss me and then think it's okay. At the beach, I didn't mean to do that. Ari almost killed you. In the cave, when you kissed me, I didn't know what was happening, I just, I don't know. I can't keep letting you do this." I said.

He put a finger under my chin and lifted it up. I was now looking in his eyes. "Max, tell me you love me as a flock member." he ordered.

"Fang, of course I do." I replied. "Now, Max. Tell me that you don't love me." he said. I sighed. "Fang, I just told you I do."

"No." he said in a harsh voice. I looked up in surprise. He never talks to me like that. He only talks to Erasers or whitecoats with that voice. "Tell me that you don't love me. As in, not family form, but tell me you don't love me." he said.

I understood, now. "Fang, I...I...I..." I started. He backed away. "I knew it." he mumbled. "Is that what you were going to tell me? That you loved me?" I asked. He shook his head. "It doesn't matter now." he said.

I grabbed his arm. "Fang. Is that what you were going to tell me? That you loved me, not as in a family way." I asked. He slowly nodded. I hugged him. "Aw, Fang. That's sweet. I never thought...I...huh. I just can't handle anything now. Okay?" I said, pulling away.

He nodded. "Max, even if you don't...love me, I'm not mad at you. Just remember that. We're still friends." he said. I kissed him on the cheek. "Of course, Fang. Friends, family, your my right wing man. Or, boy, or something." I said.

He laughed softly and brushed the hair out of my face. "Man works for me." he said. I rolled my eyes and walked in front of him.

We passed a few guys and girls and walked to the hang out area. The flock was there.

"Hey!" Gazzy called. I waved and we walked over. "So, Max, can me and Iggy make...uh...bombs?" he asked. I looked at him.

"You tell me the answer." I said. He looked down and sighed. I laughed and Nudge ran over to us.

"Guys! Oh my gosh! This guy asked me out! I can't beleive it! I was talking to Angel and he walked up and was like 'hey, what's your name?' and I was like 'Nudge, yours?' and he said 'Jake Edwards' and how cute is the name Jake! So we talked and he was like 'so you wanna like go out some time?' and I was like 'ya! of course!' and he was like-" Iggy put a hand over her mouth.

"We don't want to know about your conversation with Jake. Okay? So shut it." he said. I looked suprised he just almost yelled at Nudge. "Iggy. It's okay. This is the first time she's been asked out. Let her talk." I said.

He grunted and walked away. "Go ahead, Nudge." I said. She grinned. "I told him yes! And he was like 'cool, so, see you later.' and I was like 'wait, where are we going on our date?' and he was like, 'oh, ya. I forgot. How about we meet here tomorrow after school and we'll go somewhere' and I was like 'okay!' so, Max, can I go? Please?" she finished.

I yawned. "Of course. But you have to do any homework that you have and no kissing." I said. "But Max!" she squealed. I sighed.

"Okay, how about just make sure homework is done." I said.

She nodded and ran to tell Angel. Gazzy was playing in the dirt with Iggy 'watching' and Fang was leaning against the wall. I looked around and saw Kendyl and some of her friends walking by. She waved and I waved back. They kept walking and some guys walked past, looking me up and down.

I glared at them and they backed away. It was getting dark, so I suggested we went inside. The boys went off somewhere and us girls all went to our rooms. "Lights out at 10:00, but I want Angel at least laying down by 9:00 okay?" I told Nudge and Angel.

They nodded and I went to my room. It was empty when I walked in, so I turned on the light and went to wash my face. When I looked in the mirror I saw I had a big fat pimple under my bangs. I sighed and used a little of Kendyl's face wash.

When I was done I rinsed my face and clipped back my bangs. I brushed my teeth and got in the shower. The water was boiling, but I didn't care. When I got out, I put on some basketball shorts and a plain white shirt.

I put my shoes in the closet and laid down. I stared at the ceiling. The light was still on, but it turned off all of a sudden. I sat up quickly. "What happened?" I said aloud.

"Your about to get a face change." I heard a voice say. It was a high, girly voice. "Who's that? And what does that mean?" I asked.

I stood up carefully. Something pushed me back down. "It means I'm going to get your little friend. The tall boy." she said. "Emma? Look, Fang isn't interested in you. He fell for a girl like you before, and it didn't go well." I told her. She flicked the light on angrily.

"Fang can decide himself! And maybe the other girl like me had issues!" she said. I looked at her. "Uh, you don't even know her."

"Well, she can't be too much like me." Emma said. "Well, you both have red hair, you dress the same, wear the same shoes. talk the same. You both want the same guy. The only difference is Lissa lived in Virginia, and actualy kissed Fang." I said.

She stared at me. "Lissa? In Virginia? Kissed Fang? What school?" she asked. I shrugged. "Don't remember. But the teachers and the principal were weird." I said.

She mumbled to herself for a second. "That's my cousin! She told me this weird guy dressed in all black was hanging out with her! I should have known!" she yelled. "Whoa! Lissa's your cousin?" I asked. Emma looked at me. "Yes!" I should have known. "Well, this is weird." I said. She nodded. I stood up and walked over to her.

"Emma, I don't think we should fight over Fang. It's stupid. And, Lissa didn't do so good, if your just like her, you won't either." I told her. She nodded. "I agree. No fighting." she said.

But there was something in her voice...

She smiled at me and left, leaving a trail of perfume scent. I coughed and laid back down.

I woke up to Kendyl's alarm again. It was like 7:00 in the morning. "Morning!" Kendyl said when I got up. I smiled at her. She pulled out a copy of her schedule and handed it to me. "Same schedule, so after breakfast, wait for me. I'll show you where everything is." she said. I nodded and slipped on a pair of jeans and a tank top. She left and I finished getting ready.

I knocked on the girls' door. Nudge opened it, fully dressed and holding a pink backpack. Angel popped up holding a light blue and white backpack. "Ready?" I asked. They nodded.

I followed them to the cafeteria. It was once again hot outside. When we entered the building, it was a little cold. Nudge found Jake, and went to sit with him, and me and Angel sat with the flock. I sat down with a tray full of food. Iggy and Gazzy were already eating, and Fang had just finished.

I ate in silence and Angel ate fast. "So, what's your schedule look like?" Iggy asked."Um, the same as Kendyl's." I said. He took a big bite of food. "Well, I have a special class, blind, so, ya." he said. Fang pulled his out of his pocket.

"We have two classes out of six together." I said, looking at his. "Yup. And Angel, Gazzy, and Nudge have one teacher each, like regular elementry school." he said.

I finished eating then threw my trash away. "I'm gonna go. Kendyl has to show me around." I told them. Angel and Gazzy walked to their building, Nudge went with Jake, and Iggy went to his. Fang followed me to Kendyl's table.

"Let's go." she said, jumping up from her table. We all went out and into the Jr. High building. Fang walked down a hall and into a classroom, and I followed Kendyl into a classroom close to his. I sat down next to her and the teacher called our names, making sure everyone was here.

"Maximum Martinez?" she called. I raised my hand. "It's just Max. And my last name is Ride." I corrected. "Okay." she shrugged and wrote something on the paper. She finished calling out names and wrote on the chalk board.

"Please get out your English books and read and complete lesson 1 and 2." she said. Kendyl handed me a workbook and I started.

An hour went by quickly, and I went to my next class. "Your next class is with Fang." she said. I saw Fang right when she said that. He smiled at me. I walked over and sat next to him. "Hello." I said. "Well, Hi there." he said. I smiled and got out the science book.

Once again the teacher called us out, and I had to correct him. "Nick Martinez...or Ride?" he asked. I looked at Fang. "Right here." he said. "Nick?" I asked. He shrugged. "Is it Ride or Martinez?" the teacher asked. "Uh...let's go with Martinez." he said.

That class went by too quick, and I followed Kendyl out and into a classroom on the other side if the building. "After this is gym." she said. I ignored her and looked at a guy that was staring at me. I furrowed my eyebrows. He smiled at me. I gave him a small smile.

"Oh. That's Kevin." Kendyl told me. "Oh. Well, good to know." I said.

"He's like, the hottest guy here." she explained. I nodded. "You bet he is!" I said. She giggled and sat down. I sat down next to her. Kevin slid off the desk he was sitting on and came over. "Can I sit here?" He asked. I nodded.

"So, your name?" He asked. I stared at him. "Uh...oh! Max." I said. I almost forgot my name! "Cool. Mine is-" "Kevin." I finished.

He smiled again, making my stomach flip. "New?" he asked. "Ya." I said. "You with that other group?" he asked. I nodded.

"Um, there's Fang, and Iggy, they're both our age. Nudge, she's 12, Gazzy is 8 and Angel is 6. My sister, Ella, doesn't come here." I explained. "Oh, well, that's cool. So at least your not the only new one. You've got a whole family." he said.

"Well, we're all...adopted. Only Angel and Gazzy are brother and sister." I said. He grabbed my pencil before it fell, and handed it to me. I smiled. "Thanks."

"Your welcome." he said as Fang walked in. I looked over at him. Great. Now he was gonna think I don't like him at all. "There's Fang." I said. Kevin turned around and looked at him. Fang walked over. "Who's this, Max?" he asked a bit harsh. I gulped. "Kevin." I said.

Kendyl slowly backed away and sat at another desk. Fang glared at Kevin. I gulped again. "So...Why don't you let Fang sit here... for today." I told Kevin. He nodded, giving me one last smile.

Fang took the seat. I turned to face foward. "Max, having fun?" he asked. "Um...sure?" It sounded more like a question. He smirked.

"What?" I asked. It was my turn to be harsh. "Max, can you ever make up your mind?" he asked. I crossed my arms over my chest. "Yes." I said. "Then what was that about?" he asked. "I was... being nice." I said. He smirked again.

"You really should try being me for once. It's kind of hard." he said. "What? Watching me talk to guys and telling them about me?" I asked. He sighed. "Well, ya, kind of. I just told you something I have been wanting to tell you for about 2 weeks, and you go and say you can't do anything about it. Then the next day your here talking to random guys!" he said.

"Nick Martinez?" the teacher called. Fang raised his hand, still glaring at me. "Right here." he mumbled. "Well, Fang, it's a bit hard to handle the flock, plus Ella crying about us leaving, and having to deal with girls up in your face." I replied. He snorted.

"Who's the one telling everyone our names and family member's names? You. And who is the one sitting back, with no girls bothering him, watching you? Me." he said. "Please, first Lissa, kissing you in empty classrooms, then Emma Chase! Did you know Emma is Lissa's cousin? Ya. So if I were smart, I wouldn't go near Emma." I hissed.

"Max Ride?" the teacher called. "Here." I told her. She nodded. "You know, I really thought you were going to be good about this kind of thing." Fang whispered. "What thing?" I asked. "Dealing with other girls." he replied.

"Well, if I have to deal with that, then why can't you deal with guys wanting to talk to me?" I asked him. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed his mouth again. He crossed his arms and faced foward. I smiled to myself.

The rest of the day went by quickly. Kevin was in most of my classes, Fang was just in the two, Kendyl has the same schedule, so I was in all of her classes, and I saw Iggy a few times. Not in my classes, but in the hallways.

Finally the school day was over, and I went back to my room. I finished all of my homework and sat on my bed. Nudge was on her date, Angel was with a new friend, who knows what the boys were doing. Kendyl was with friends. I decided to go for a walk.

I grabbed my watch and slipped it in my pocket. Then I walked outside in the hot air, taking in all the scenery. Buildings, plants, trees, dirt areas, people. "Hey, Max?" I heard from behind me. I jumped around. "Oh, um, hi." I said.

"Sorry I scared you." Kevin said. "Don't worry about it." I said. He looked at his feet. "So, you wanna hang out?" he asked.

"Sure!" I said.

He was the cutest, hottest, funniest, sweetest guy.

We walked around the dirt areas, sat against the trees, got chased by girls that wanted to hang out with the 'new girl' and of course, the hottie.

We came around a corner of a building, breathless from running. "Sorry, that happens to me a lot," he said. "It's fine. I'm... used to it." I said. "You are?" he asked. I took a breath. "Well, ya. It's a long story." I said. "I have time." he replied.

"Uh...it's...personal?" I said. It sounded like a question. He shrugged. "Okay, you win." he said.

He pulled me towards him when a bunch of kids ran by. "Thanks." I mumbled. I turned toward him, and his face was only about 2 inches away from mine. I gasped at how close we were. He smiled. "Max, you are fun to hang out with." he said.

"Well, you are too." I replied stupidly. He laughed again. His braces were shining in the sun.

"I didn't know you had braces." I told him. He shrugged. "I've had them for almost a year." he said. I looked around. Nobody was near.

"So, um, maybe-" I started. "Max, will you go on a date with me?" he interrupted. I froze. Date. Cute guy. Fang. No trust. Bad.

"Will you?" he asked again. "Um, well, I uh, um, uh." I stuttered. "Spit it out!" he said. "Yes." I said, regretting it.

"Great! So, when's a good time?" he asked. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. "How about...uh...tonight?" I asked. He nodded. "Cool." he said. He had to pull me in closer before the rest of the girls ran bye, not noticing us standing here.

So now are noses were just about touching. I cleared my throat, trying to look away. It was no use. This guy was H-O-T. I laughed at myself. "What?" he asked. I shook my head. "Your too attractive to stay away from." I said. He shrugged. 'Can't help it."

I laughed again. I looked up to meet his gaze, but instead met his lips. They were soft on mine. Moving with mine.

What if...no! I can't even think it. But what if...Kevin felt right for me? More than Fang did? No! He can't be.

I pulled away, gasping for air. He was too. He gave me a small smile. I smiled back. He looked behind me, and frowned. I turned around, too, and clapped a hand over my mouth, trying not to shriek.

Fang.

He was watching us. Watching me.