This is...a very short one actually. I've had this saved for a while but planned to add to it, but cant think of a way to, so this is all you're going to get I'm afraid .-. I'm starting the next chapter now, and as of tomorrow am unemployed (thankfully because i need to be rather than they kicked me) so I should get a bit more written, especially since i'll be home alone and have no one to distract me *coughboyfriendcough*

So...here it is. Hope it isn too lame for you. =3

Irisheyes: Sorry it wasnt soon .-. I hate writers block...

oceanlover14: you'll have to keep reading =3

Iggy4ever: Or the government. I blame them too.

edwardismyromeo: Uh...lessie...definately, maybe, probably, possibly and no? x3 ANd yes. Yes you do sound like Nudge.

FunOne007: Glad you liked it =3 Do keep reading ^^

boox914: Never. lol

lexigrrl09: delayed update .-. hope you still read.

TaylorSwiftTwilightFan75: Lol, my updates are so sporadic. Glad you liked it and understand x3

HannahBrandon: Thats the problem - they havent got the money yet, still got to have the lady down to assess them for it. That and its kind of neccessary for this month's bills and crud. And who took it will become apparent pretty soon =P

kirena45: glad you liked it, and sorry for the drag .-.

AlmostaGoodGirl: It was, and it might go up again .-. but im not entirely sure atm

SallafeK: (24) ^^ Thank you, I'm glad you liked it.

(23): Athankyou x3

Lil Q: Thnx

XxMRulesXx: Lol, I'm way too inconsistant in my writing to become an author, unfortunately. But thank you for the praise =3 I'm glad you like it ^^

Holy cow that was a lot of reviews. I feel loved -w- Thank you all for the kind words and critisisms and stuff, hope you all keep reading =3

Part 25

It was Sunday. The day of prayer and rest, when only the unfortunate had to pull themselves from their beds and trudge into town for a few hours of work. Max was very grateful to the small number of people that did this, simply because she needed to go shopping today.

And that's pretty hard to do when the shops are shut.

Of course, the shops also shut ridiculously early on Sundays. That she could understand, but it meant here she was out on the streets at 8.15 on a chilly morning trekking the hour or so walk into town. Normally she would get a taxi when she needed to shop, she couldn't afford it, not this month.

She had stayed up all night trying to locate then trying to see where the missing money had been used, but none of it made sense. By the records in the book all of the missing money should be there, and they should have fifty dollars left for this weeks shop. Exhausted, Max had finally fallen asleep at her desk at three in the morning, being woken at six by her alarm to go into town.

Max yawned and readjusted the empty backpack on her back, filled with a couple extra carrier bags in case she needed them. Sure she could last with very little sleep for a few nights in a row without falling apart, but three hours was pretty lame even by her standards.

She'd have to have a nap later.

As she waited for the crossing to turn green, Max rubbed the sleep from her eyes. The agency lady was going to be around next week, she couldn't afford to be half asleep and have the cupboards barely stocked trying to conserve this money.

Crossing the road, the beeping crossing giving her a slight headache, she decided she'd have to spend her usual amount and hope the money would turn up. Even if it didn't it just meant they'd have to start taking it from the following month rather than the present one, but she hated that idea.

She liked having some money in case of an emergency.

Finally, she could see the shops on the horizon, A few people buzzed about them in an early morning high Max herself had never had the fortune to feel shudder along her veins. She breathed a sigh. Looks like she was going to have to have a chat with the kids, though her heart was hoping what her head was telling her was incredibly wrong.

*~*~*~*

Though he was obviously no longer bedridden, Fang had no intention of getting up until his stomach was trying to digest itself. He was stretched out on his bed with a tray on his lap, his sketchbook resting open and at a slight angle as he pencilled in an outline.

Nudge had let him borrow a pencil and rubber, since he hadn't been able to find the one in his school bag. He really needed to get a pencil case. That meant since she had give it to him early this morning he had been sketching away, getting the newest picture in his head down on paper.

If he was lucky, the school would let him submit this book instead of trying to catch up with all the term's work he'd missed. There wasn't too much longer left of school before a holiday, Christmas on the horizon. The air was getting chillier by the day and the forecast was beginning to threaten snow.

Walking on crutches in snow was going to be so fun. Not.

He paused when he heard the front door open and slam, then twisted his wrist to check his watch. Half past one in the afternoon, that was pretty early for Mike to get home. He usually stayed out until about seven or eight, coming home bladdered for dinner.

Hoping that meant he wasn't drunk of his head yet, Fang went back to his sketchbook, rubbing out and going over the same line a few times until he got the angle the way he wanted it to be. Anyone looking over his shoulder would have no idea what it was yet, but he was no where finished.

His best works of art took days to do.

Heavy footsteps on the stairs. Fang ignored them as he continued to perfect lines and erase bits he no longer liked. He didn't look up for a few seconds when his door creaked open, but when he did he was met with Mike standing in the door, a can of beer in his hand.

He can still walk up the stairs without falling, Fang noted as he closed his sketchbook, eyes never leaving his step father's. So he's not totally off his head yet…

"You're back at school tomorrow," Mike stated before taking a long swig from his beer. Fang nodded once in agreement, but Mike wasn't even looking at him. His head was tilted back as he drained the last of his can. Fang frowned. He wasn't looking to talk to the boy, just tell him what was going on.

Mike swallowed the last drop and leant back against the doorframe, steadying himself as the alcohol hit his brain. He looked back at Fang, still on his bed, before looking away and taking hold of the door handle.

"Taxis wont do an account less than three months long. You're walking."

As the door slammed shut, , Fang smiled a little. Though it wasn't going to be the best experience of his life, he was happy he was being forced to walk to school. He smiled slightly to himself as he flicked back to the picture he had been drawing and looked it over for lines to correct.

At least if he was walking he'd get a little muscle on his skinny frame, since those crutches made his arms work so hard. That, and he could walk in with Max every day. He added the finishing touches to his frame lines and placed his pencil down, criticising his work before he added flesh and life.

He just hoped Max would like the finished picture.