me: Aww, poor Maxie. This will be a short chapter

Angel: Does she find her father again?

me: Maybe... If she does, it will be in a later chapter.

Total: Why aren't I in the story?

me: You pop up in this chapter, Total. You know that.

Total: Oh yeah...

me: But you can't talk. Enjoy!

-line-

"Fang, what's up, dude? You've been acting depressed all morning! Or, more depressed..." Gazzy said.

I took a deep breath. My dream freaked me out, about a date with Brigid, *shiver*. Look, there are some things you can never unsee, and that's one of them. Twisted and, well, wrong. Max totally got the wrong idea if she thinks that that will EVER happen.

"Gazzy, worry about yourself. And eat your oatmeal."

"We're eating eggs."

I shot him a look. I felt something brush against my leg and looked down. Total, Angel's dog, looking up pleading for some bacon. I shook my head. He frowned and walked off.

Angel called him and fed him a piece of her bacon. Iggy and I exchanged looks, but we didn't do anything.

Iggy's phone dinged, saying he got a text. He sighed, pressing the open button and read it. A huge grin appared on his face. "Maddy Claire and Mom will be home tomorrow!"

Eveyone cheered. Iggy put his phone back in his pocket. "Good, cause I can't manage this house like she does." He caught my look. "Or, we can't." Everyone murmured an agreement.

After breakfast I stood up and walked out the door without a word. I walked to Max's house and didn't bother knocking, just walked right in. Max and her sisters were sitting at the table, eating. She shot me a look and went back to listening to Ella's story.

"MAX!" I yelled. She jumped and stood up. She shoved me out the door and to the side of the house.

"What do you want?"

"You're mother, she...we didn't..." I took another deep breath. "You're mother accused me of harrassing you. I'm not, right?"

"Of course not! But you agreed to meet with my mother today. I heard that."

"No I didn't! She saw you and lied about that. Me and Brigid? Can you honestly see that?" Max shook her head. "Exactly. And, I'd never date you mother. Just...no. Never."

Max almost laughed. "A guy would have to be drugged to date my mother. But you didn't fight back. You let her kiss you."

"I was in shock, Max! Plus, it was on the cheek. On the lips, and I'd have something to say about it. So would my fist." I shook my head. "Don't you believe me? You said it yourself, never trust your mother. And do you honestly think I'd lie to you?"

She thought about it, kicking a rock with the toe of her sneaker. "You can't trust my mother, but right now, I don't trust you, either. I don't trust anyone! I don't even trust myself. And I keep thinking that there should be someone that I can, but I don't. Not since - Never mind."

My heart almost stopped beating when I realized what she was saying. "You may not be able to trust anyone else, but you can trust me, Max!"

She shook her head. "No. I can't trust anyone. Ever again." She turned to walk back to her house. She paused and turned back towards me. "I use to trust you, Fang. It's not your fault, don't think that. You couldn't have done anything to stop it, either."

What was happening? Max was...breaking up with me when we never went out? Whatever. I didn't care. All I cared about was that she didn't trust me.

I grabbed her shoulders and spun her around, kissing her full on the lips. I slowly pulled back and opened my eyes. She just watched me, expressionless. Well, at least she didn't punch me. She turned around and walked away. I didn't try to stop her.

She didn't fight back. So...what?

I stepped up to the side of her house and looked around it. Max walked to the sidewalk and out of sight.

Now, I'm not afraid to admit it.

"I'm in love with you, Max."

I said it. That wasn't as hard as I thought!

Then, where Max was headed, I heard an explosion and a puff of smoke.

"Max!" I called, running down the sidewalk.

-line-

me: Oo!

Angel: Is Max dead?

Total: O_o

me: Oh! Today (the 27th, that's when I wrote the author's notes), I saw my first CROP CIRCLE! I mean, stood there looking at flattened crop, I've seen them over the Internet and stuff. I had to explain to my parents what it was, and Dad was so mad, said it was just as bad as thieving. It's destroying food, and you don't mess with Dad's food! Trust me, won't make that mistake again.

Angel: I guess it's up to me to say -

Total: REVIEW!

Angel: *glare*