I'm so sorry for the long wait. I feel like utter shit for letting all you hang. I've just been working on a few other things, and haven't had a chance to work on this. I really want to finish this story this month though, so there won't be any long waits for updates anymore, m'kay?

Thanks. So hope you enjoy!

Nineteen: Ahhhh!

I swung an accused look over at Fang while the others were busy frantically questioning where did Iggy go since you know he, 'disappeared.' Yeah… I don't believe for a second that Iggy was kidnapped nor anything bad had happened to him. I mean get out. Him and Fang cooked up a plan some how, staged this I'm sure. And it didn't help that it was still dark. Despite the fact that I know this was all made up I still played along. "Oh snap! What coulda happened?" I asked mocked worried, eyes still glaring at Fang.

He gave me a cheeky look and shrugged. "Well, I don't know."

"You don't know? I need him for the dance. He's my date!" Ella yelled panic.

Gazzy gave her a, are-you-out-of-your-mind look. "Your date! He's my role model!" He yelled.

"We have to find him." Ella said ignoring Gazzy.

I stood up. "Yes! Let's go find Iggy, shall we."

"We'll split up." I pointed at Fang. "You're with me. Ella and Gazzy. And then Angel and Nudge. We'll meet back here when we find him -"

"If we find him." Fang intercepted.

I glared at him, and ignored that.

"Everyone agree?"

They all agreed.

I hooked my arm with Fang, tugging him towards me. "C'mon."

"Aw. Max we have to look for my best friend, we can't be all kissy in a time like this." He said.

I glared at him, dragging him farther away from the parting group. "Fang get real. If you don't tell me where Iggy is, I'll cut off your balls."

Fang halted, and looked at me worried. "You wouldn't."

"I would. Now spill."

He shrugged. "I honestly don't know."

"Hm." I mutter. "And I honestly don't believe you."

"Do or don't. All I know is talking is wasting time. Iggy's time." Fang said, amused.

I still didn't believe him. Nerveless I looked at Fang and said, "Thank you."

He rose an eyebrow. "For what?"

"You won't tell me where the blonde is and that's fine... but it was nice to do this. It gave Nudge and all of us something else to think about then what she told us. We needed it."

He blinked, skating fingers through his hair. Fang then rolled his eyes, and threw an arm around me, holding me close. "Alright." He mumbled against my temple.

I smiled. "Just to let you know, he scares me, I'm aiming for the family jewels."

He chuckled, his warm breath ruffling my hair. "Then we pray he's one smart kid, and won't scare you."

"Mm. Yeah."

With that we searched for the missing boy on the left side of the gym since the others had the other side. So far no Iggy. Fang however was whistling, freaking whistling.

"Shesh, for someone who lost their best friend you seem pretty freaking chirpy." I accused.

He abruptly stopped his whistling and gave me a long look. Hell was it hot in here all of a sudden?

"When have I ever been chirpy?" he asked.

Meh. Yeah. That was true. Fang and chirpy don't really belong in the same sentence, still… "Fine. You don't seem worried then."

"Oh, but I am." He said winking. "Absolutely grieving."

"Whatever. Help me look under the bleachers."

"Anything for you."

I rolled my eyes, but I could feel my lips forming into a small smile. Too hide that fact, I started to look under the bleachers for the missing blond boy that I was gonna smack when found...

... and he wasn't there.

We haven't checked the boys locker room yet… I aimed my light in Fang face, lighting him up. "What about the locker room?"

He nods. "We can give it a shot."

"M'kay." I lead him towards the locker room, opening up the door for us.

Inside, it was dark and frigid. The locker doors shine, looking polished from our fleeting flashlights. It was all very eerie. And gloomy. Eh. Not that I was scared or anything. Fang smirks at me. "How about I take the back and you take the front. Sound good?"

No.

But I didn't wanna be classified as a scary cat, so, I nod.

"Yea, sure thing." I said indifferent.

Fang smiled at me, spun around with his flashlight and walked father into the locker room towards the back, throwing a, "Good luck." over his shoulder.

"You too." I mummer.

Iggy where are you?

Drip...

Drip...

Drip...

Broking pipe?

That had to explain the unexpected noise, I won't allow myself to think otherwise. Still, it was scary as shit. I looked through the window of the office, shifting my eyes over dark shadows, and dark ominous objects that look way scarey in the dark then light. Iggy, however, wasn't there. I growled, totally annoyed with the boy.

Clink.

Clink.

Clink.

Um. Could I really blame that on a broken pipe?

"Fang?"

No response.

"Faaaaaaaaaaaang?"

Ugh, being locked in my own gym is really starting to piss me off. It's felt like I've been stuck for days not merely hours... and Iggy... Fang too for that matter, is going to wish they weren't locked in with me.

"Iggy?" I tried.

Guess what?

Yeah, he didn't respond.

I signed as I moved away from the window of the office, and walked deeper into the locker room towards the vending machine. I ducked and looked under the stalls for feet, but saw none.

Clink.

Clink.

Clink.

Broking pipe. Had to be.

I moved over to the bleached sinks, bowing down to check the sliver pipes beneath for creaks of some sort. I aimed my light on them, and inspected them closely. They looked perfectly fine, new even. I was afraid of that. I grumbled under my breath and stood back up... and peaked in the mirror that was above the sinks... I shrieked.

I wasn't the only reflection in the mirror.

I didn't stop to think.

I didn't stop to ask.

I lashed out on pure instinct.

I punched the gut, then knee them in between the legs.

"Max! It's me! It's Iggy!" Whoever I just pummeled wheezed out.

Iggy?

Slightly breathless, I aim my light down. What do you know... it was Iggy.

Oops.

He was arched over, arms across his stomach. His face was reddened in pain.

"Ohmygod." I breath out. "Iggy I'm so sorry! You scared me, and I just acted on instinct! Ohmygod, is your stomach okay?" I rushed out, and went to help him.

"My stomach? Yeah that's doing a helluva lot better then my freaking nuts."

"I'm so sorry." I say again, while helping him stand. Wow, don't I feel awful. "How can I make this up to you?"

Before he could replay, Fang appears, emerging from the darkness. "What happened? I heard screaming."

Fang shifted his flashlight to my guilty expression then over at Iggy's painful one, drawing his own conclusion. "He wasn't smart was he?"

"Nope." I say.

Iggy looked between us confused. "Hell Fang, I think your girlfriend mighta ruined any chance of me having kids."

"Well... you scared me. And I doubt that I'd kneed you that hard."

Iggy looked at me skeptical and only said, "Is your knee made outta steel or something?"

I laughed. "Well... that was nothing. You ever hurt my sister, and that would be a walk in the park compare to what I will do."

Iggy sobered up. "If I ever hurt Ella, I'll let you hurt me."

I gave him a nod. "Good. Don't ever scare me again either."

"Noted." He said quickly.

"The others are looking for you." Fang said. "Ella was really worried."

Iggy smirked cocky. "Oh yeah?"

"Oh for suuuure... she was worried her date got eating by the ghost. She woulda been shit outta luck for the dance." I said, removing that smirk quickly.

Fang smirked at me. "Oh Max. Leave the kid alone. It's bad enough you almost dislodged his nuts."

I laughed as Iggy whined.

"Can we never tell anyone that?"

"Fine." I say. "As my sorry, I won't tell a living soul, Fang either."

"Fang?" Iggy asked.

"I won't tell anyone."

"We should put Ella's fears to rest, and tell her we found you." I tell him.

He nods. "Sounds good. I think I can walk now."

Iggy walked ahead... a little wobbly, but he was alright.

Fang threw his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. "My girl is kickass." He whispered in my ear.

"Is that... Is that alright? I know guys like to be the hero, always saving their girls?" I ask hesitatingly.

"Oh... on the contrary. I think its actually kinda hot." He pulled back to look down at me. "I like that you have a backbone, that you don't need saving. You can take care of yourself and those you care about. Just know I'm there if you need me, because even the toughest girls like yourself need someone to lean on."

Is he perfect or what?

I hugged him. "Know that I'm there if you need me also, because even the toughest guys need a shoulder to lean on from time too time."

I felt his smile against my cheek, and the warmth of his body. "Thank you."

We pulled back, and I linked our hands. Together we joined the group.

Fang is perfect.

Perfect for me.

How cute is Fang in this chapter?

Gah, I love him!

And I love Max and Fang together. I've never really thought of them as two people, but one... but hey... if you love Max and Fang as much as I do... check out my other stories.

1) A Camping Trip of a Life Time (totally completed... I am fixing it though, so the first... eh... seven chapters I'll say are really good, the latter still need to be fixed. But the chapters are super long, and have a lot of Fax trust me.

Annnnd...

2) He is NOT my brother (I only have like seven done, but once I'm done with Locked In, I'll put my complete focus in this one.)

Check them out!

In the meantime, review and tell me what you thought about this chapter.

And again, I'm so sorry for the wait. Won't happen again.

Thank you!