(A/N) I felt like updating… so I did!!! :) Be warned: this chapter contains some upsetting stuff, and I bet none of you saw any of it coming… This chapter partially takes place the night before the day they get the assignment.

Max POV

Jeb yelled. He wouldn't stop. He screamed at me for being irresponsible and I guess for just not being the perfect daughter he expected me to be. "Max! You aren't even listening. Pay attention!"

I shoved past him and ran to my room. I frantically thought about what I could do. I needed to escape the pain, I couldn't take it anymore! I was done dealing with Jeb's crap!

There. There it was, sitting there innocently enough. A pocket knife. I grabbed it and locked the door.

The door was shut and I grabbed some paper towels lying nearby. I placed the shaking knife to my wrist. I steadied myself before drawing a single line.

I closed my eyes at the rush of pain and bliss. Up until now, I could never understand why people would cut themselves. But I get it now. A gateway for the emotional pain being channeled by physical pain. Maybe one more wouldn't hurt…

Dabbing at the still bleeding cuts, I pondered whether anyone would be able to find out. No one would. They just… couldn't. If they did…

*********THE NEXT DAY*********

Stretching as my alarm clock rang; I wondered why my arm was throbbing. I glanced down and saw the wounds I had inflicted on myself. But the sad thing is, I didn't feel any regret.

When I got ready, I ran downstairs and I saw that mom had written a note on the counter.

Max and Nudge,

Jeb will be on a business trip for a few days, so when you come home to an empty house, don't worry, Jeb is fine.

I grinned. No Jeb for a few days, there's no way this could be any freaking better. I literally skipped out the door and saw Fang outside. "Hey, Fang!" I said with my warm smile still on my face.

He nodded his head at me. I waited patiently for Nudge and when she appeared behind the door of our house and yelled, "Okay, Max! Let's go!"

I ran over to her and we waited for Fang. "Jeb's gone!" I said and we both high-fived each other.

I stared at Fang a bit when he finally reached us. He looked…disappointed and upset? He quickly smirked at me and asked me cockily, "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing." I responded and I could hear the uncertainty in my voice.

While we walked to school Fang and I teased Nudge. "So, you and Iggy, huh?"

"Yeah!" She said with this goofy look on her face. Fang and I continued to get on her for awhile but I noticed Fang wasn't fully in the conversation. It was like he was on auto-pilot or preprogrammed.

When we got to school, Nudge and Iggy had a mushy meeting. I rolled my eyes at her, and she smiled at me. Of course, one of the teachers ruined the moment and I shook my head 'disapprovingly' at her.

Fang and I walked to our lockers and I saw…. Her. "Hello, Max." She said sweetly. Oh, so mommy taught her manners?

"Hi." I said, and hopefully venom wasn't dripping off my words.

Brigid was looking at him with those blue orbs of hers. ""Hey, Fang! How was your weekend?"

I rolled my eyes when I knew both of them weren't looking. Fang didn't even give her a response with words. That's what the little she-witch gets.

"So, Fang, will you please walk me to class?" She asked him fluttering those impossibly long lashed. They're probably fake.

He looked at me so close I blinked a little bit. He agreed and I just barely heard Brigid ask, "So, Fang are you single?"

I nearly choked on my own spit, which can totally happen. Totally. Who did she think she was? Madonna? Or someone better than Madonna?

When I got to the class, I saw Sam. I sat down next to him with a smile on my face. "Hey, Max!" He said sweetly. He was just so nice.

We talked and laughed until I heard Fang say in a tone I would almost call threatening, "Hey, Max." Same thing Sam said… weird.

"Hi!" I said brightly before we talked until the bell rang.

We got an assignment. I was assigned to work with Fang who seems to know me really well. He would pick up something about me. What would it be?