I don't own Maximum Ride. Sad, but true.

That end of the night came and I wondered again where everyone was going to sleep. The nearest hotel was almost an hour from where we lived.

Nudge, Luca and Angel all piled into Nudge's room. Nudge and Luca had so much in common I was wondering how much sleeping would get done. I was sure there would be discussions of Zac Efron and the Jonas Brothers that went on until 3 in the morning. I knew Nudge had missed Angel too. They had been best friends before she turned traitor.

Milo had agreed to sleep in Iggy and Gazzy's room. Gazzy had even given up the bottom bunk and agreed to sleep on the floor in exchange for some good prank ideas. I made a mental note to check the whipped cream in the fridge the next morning to make sure it didn't end up on anyone's face. Ella and my mom took my room. I washed my sheets first in hopes all the guilt from the night before would wash away. Dylan followed me to the washer smirking deviously at me.

"Go to Hell." I muttered, punching him in the shoulder, pushing my way around him only to bump into Fang. He was scowling as he noticed the interaction between Dylan and me. I wondered if he pieced the conversation together.

"Ruby wants to sleep in the same room as me. She has nightmares, especially in new places. Is that cool with you?" He asked.

"That's fine. I understand." I answered.

"Where do you want us?" He asked

"You can stay in my room, Max." Dylan offered.

"No. Jeb and AJ are in there with you." I answered, ignoring his insinuation. Mom would just love that. 'Hey Mom, I'm going to shack up with my other half slash friend with benefits.' Somehow I had a feeling that wouldn't go over well.

"Nat's staying in your room with your Mom and Ella. I think she and Ella get along okay." Fang told me.

I nodded in approval. The further away she was from me the better off we both were.

"The couch folds out. You guys can have that. I'll take the chair in the living room." I offered. I noticed Dylan scowl when he realized I would be sleeping in the same room as Fang. I simply rolled my eyes and pushed my way back into the kitchen.

I was finishing up dishes when Ruby came into the kitchen. "Goodnight Max." She smiled. She seemed like a really sweet girl. She seemed to have softened Fang up some too. I heard him call her chickadee a couple of times, making her smile. He never had a nickname for Angel and even if he did he would never have said it out loud.

"Night Ruby. Sleep tight." I winked at her, making her giggle. I wondered if Nat ever did stuff like that for her. Probably not. She didn't seem the type.

I finished up the dishes putting the last of them in the strainer, when I heard Ruby and Fang whispering in the other room. "Fang, you lied." Ruby said quietly. My ears perked up in interest.

"About what?" He was genuinely confused. I heard the honesty in his voice.

"Max isn't pretty." Ouch. Maybe she wasn't as sweet as I thought. See if I ever wink at her again.

"Yes, she is Ruby." I heard the hurt and a little anger in Fang's voice, making me even more confused. It made me happy that Fang still took up for me and thought I was pretty.

"No, she's not. She's not pretty. She's beautiful." Aw. Wow. I really did like that little girl.

"You're right about that one chickadee. Now go to sleep. We had a long day." Huh. Fang still thought I was beautiful. Not that I cared. But I totally did.

I walked into the doorway between the kitchen and the living room, turning off all the lights on the way and grabbing my iPod from the table. As I was about to turn off the last light I heard Fang whisper from the couch. "Can we talk?"