Hey guys! How's life? Mines ok…

So… sorry, but the concert isn't in this chapter, but in the next! Which I might give you if you guys really want it ;)

But you gotta give me lots of reviews :D

I know, I'm mean.

Disclaimer: own nothing, duh.

24 hours until the concert…

Max Pov.

"Max! Come on! The guys are waiting!"

"Coming!" I call, brushing mascara lightly on my eyelashes. I close the mascara tube closed and grab my backpack containing my song book and iPhone with its charger. I sprint out my door and catch up to Nudge and Ella in the car.

Iggy and Gazzy were with Angel at the studio where Nudge and Ella work.

We were going to find me my attire.

Why, why, why does this always happen?

And, how am I always dragged into this?

I don't think I even agreed to this, I could just wear jeans and a button up shirt, but no, they just have to overdo it.

I just love my life right now.

Nudge rambles on about how great the color deep purple and aqua blue looks on me. I stare out the window.

Ella's phone buzzes but is soon cut off by her answering.

"Hello…No, why…oh, I see…well that's fine, wait, WHAT? What do you mean he's coming?!"

The car is silent except the hum of the engine and the rambling on the other end of the conversation.

"Oh Iggy…you…yes, I love you too…see you in a few." Ella ends the call and sighs.

Nudge glances at Ella from the driver's seat. "What's wrong?"

"Fang's gonna be there, he said he insisted he wanted to talk to Max," Ella says. Ella turns on the radio, and Fang's newest song comes on the radio.

(A/N this song it called Life after you by Daughtry)

All that I'm after is a life full of laughter

As long as I'm laughin' with you

I'm thinkin' that all that still matters is love ever after

After the life we've been through

'Cause I know there's no life after you

I find myself singing along with the next verse.

Last time we talked, the night that I walked

Burns like an iron in the back of my mind

I must've been high to say you and I

Weren't meant to be and just wastin' my time

Oh, why did I ever doubt you?

You know I would die here without you

My voice fades away.

"Max, I didn't know you were a fan," Ella teases.

I roll my eyes and continue to gaze out the window to the passing buildings.

Nudge pulls up to the studio parking lot and parks the car. We get out, Nudge and Ella dragging me into the fashion torture building.

I am yanked through the front door and dragged to the Back room.

Now, imagine way back when I was bound and tortured with hair products for my dance. The Back Room is all the hair stuff, face stuff, dress stuff, you name it. They even had a spa in the back corner.

In short, the Back Room is huge, as in, basketball court huge.

Standing by the fabric storage area, stood the guys and Angel.

I yanked my arms from Nudge's and Ella's grasps. I attempt to sprint out the door, but Nudge grabs my elbow again.

She drags me to where the others are standing. Iggy is currently holding Ella's hand, his sightless eyes glance up in my direction as Nudge's heel's clank the floor, while my converse are squeaking against the dark tile.

Nudge throws me in Fangs general direction. I tumble into his arms and glare at Nudge (who is smirking, obviously pleased with herself), and shove Fang away from me.

"So, I don't know why we are here…" Fang starts.

Nudge shifts uneasily. "Uh Fang, in case you didn't notice we're um…"

"Going to give you a makeover for your concert tomorrow," I finish hurriedly for her.

Fang gives me a skeptical look and everyone else is staring at me like I have two heads. I give Nudge the its-the-best-thing-I-could-come-up-with look.

"Yeah! Makeover for Fangles!" Iggy chimes in, breaking the odd silence.

Fang looks at Iggy, and then back at me. "You're not serious…."

"Well, I know you like your other stylist, but I mean, what they do doesn't exactly look that great on you," I say.

Fang glares at me. "My stylist does a very good job, thank you very much!"

Angel steps in. "Fang, I promise we won't change your hair, but can we at least try something on besides those faded grey jeans? I have some good ideas…" Angel pulls out her famous, yet deadly Bambi eyes.

Fang looks at Angel, and it's obvious how much of a struggle it is to refuse to her request (Fang's ultimate weakness, as I have found, is Angel's and only Angel's Bambi eyes).

Fang sighs. "Fine, just, don't touch the hair."

Angel claps while jumping up and down, obviously pleased with herself. Fang takes her hand and she walks him over to the closet where the men's clothes are.

I look at the rest of the group, still glaring at me.

"What? Hey, you guys couldn't think of anything, so I mean-"

"Max! Don't you know that what he's trying on is supposed to go to a Trunk show in New York this Sunday?! Max, you really need to be considerate! I mean, honestly! Don't you think, Ella, that she-"

"Nudge!" I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. I reopen my eyes and cross my arms. "Nudge, first of all, what is a Trunk show? And second of all, you guys didn't have any bright ideas, so, I came up with one!"

Nudge closes her open mouth.

"Now if you excuse me I really must be-"

I am about to walk out the door but Fang's voice stops me. "How do I look?"

I turn around to see Angel's handiwork.

I have to say, she did a pretty good job. I mean, he looks like he always does, just… nicer? I mean, he still is wearing his famous leather jacket, but he has a simple YOLO t-shirt on with black skinny jeans and his DC high tops. Angel added a red leather belt to match the red colored letters on the black shirt.

He looks simple, but he looks dressy and at the same time he looks himself.

I shrug, "Looks okay to me."

"Agreed," Gazzy pipes up.

Fang nods at our approval. "Ok Angel, you did ok. I think I can find something like this in my closet at home."

Angel squeals and tackles Fang into a hug. "Fang, you are the best brother ever!"

Fang chuckles.

Meanwhile, I am slinking my way towards my escape route. I ease the door open and slide into the lobby. I look back to the door leading to the back room before turning back to the front door. I race out of the door and hop into Nudge's unlocked car. And what do ya know; it still has the keys in it!

I turn on the engine and slowly back out of the parking lot.

There's a violent rapping on the window. I turn my head to see Fang's face peering into my window.

I stop the car and roll the window down. "Can I help you?" I ask.

"Yeah, can you give me a lift? Nudge and Ella are chasing after me."

Sure enough, Ella and Nudge barge open the front door with murderous looks on their faces.

I glance back up at Fang. "Get in."

Fang hops around to the passenger side. As soon as he shuts the door, I turn around and back up into the almost empty street and speed away, just as Nudge and Ella get about three feet from the car.

We drive down the road in silence. I notice Fang has kept the clothes Angel picked for him.

"You do look nice, by the way," I say, with my eyes on the road.

From the corner of my eye, Fang smirks. "You really like it?"

I shrug. "Yeah, is that a bad thing?"

"No, but I'm glad you do. It's good to know that I can attract you with what I wear."

What did he say?

"Excuse me?" I scoff. "Who says I'm attracted to you?"

I glace over to Fang to see him shrugging. "No one, I just assumed-"

"Well you assumed wrong, Nickolas Walker."

Fang flinches at my icy words.

"I don't know who you think you are, and I don't know if you have realized, I'm off limits," I snap.

Fang looks at me. "I'm sorry Max."

I look at him then back at the road. "Fang, where do I need to drop you off?"

Fang sighs and looks out the window. "I need to go to my hotel."

I make a left at the next intersection and pulled up to a huge Hotel with a gold exterior. Fang got out and walked around to my side, ignoring the photographers at the Hotel entrance coming toward us.

I rolled down my window.

"Max, I'm sorry for just now. I don't know what's wrong with me," Fang says, locking eyes with me.

I look away from him to the approaching photographers.

Fang glances their way and gives them one of his charming smiles. He looks back at me. "Are you going to my concert?"

"I'm not sure if I want to," I answer honestly.

Fang reaches his hand towards me and he lightly brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, like he always did.

"I would really like it, if you showed up. Perform, or you know, show up in sweats, I don't care. But I'd really like-no, love it- if you came. I have a new song for you."

I raise my eyebrows, "For me?"

Fang smirks and straightens. "You'll just have to come and see for yourself, Miss Ride."

The corners of my lips quirk up, "Whatever," I say, shifting the clutch from park to drive.

Fang steps back as the reporters get here.

I step on the gas and pull out from the front doors.

"Mr. Walker! Mr. Walker! Who's the girl?"

"Mr. Walker! How do you know the girl?"

"Mr. Walker, what is the relationship between you and the girl?"

"What are your comments upon you upcoming concert?"

I don't hear Fang's answer's to any of the outbursts, for I am already gone.

And now, our dear Max is home at last…

I open the door quietly and slip into my bedroom undetected. I'm not sure if anyone is here yet, but I'm taking no chances.

I close my bedroom door and spin around to see Angel sitting on my bed with Nudge and Ella standing in front of me, arms crossed.

"Maximum Ride, do you know how much trouble you are in?" Ella says in a dangerously quiet voice.

"Uhh, can I get off with a warning?" I ask in an uneasy voice.

"No Maximum, you know better than to steal someone's car! Especially our ONLY car! Not to mention we have to get ready for the concert TOMORROW!" Ella exclaims, throwing her hands up in the air.

"I'm not sure if I want to go to the concert anymore…" I cup the back of my neck with my right hand and my left hand snakes around the front of my waist and grips my side.

Nudge and Ella gape at me.

"What! Why not? I thought you were pretty excited to show Fang what he's missing!" Angel exclaims from her perch on my mattress.

I move my hands so my arms are crossed right below my chest. "Fang and I… had an argument. And I don't really feel like speaking to him at the moment. Much less look at him again in less than twenty-four hours."

Angel's posture straightens as she swings her legs over the edge of the bed. She leans in with attentive ears as Nudge and Ella lead me to sit beside Angel.

Nudge sits beside me puts an arm around my shoulders. "Tell us."

I clasp my hands together in my lap. "Well, I complimented him on the clothes Angel picked out for him, and I think he…overreacted. Like, he got all cocky and he started assuming that I was attracted to him because of his attire. I mean I'm not-"

"I'm gonna stop you right there," Nudge interrupts, holding up a hand. "Were you attracted to him?"

"I…I mean…It looked nice on him, and the t-shirt was impressive, but still. Is it bad that I liked what he was wearing? I thought that was considered normal." I look at Nudge for a response.

"Are you still attracted to him?"

"If you mean still feeling that electric buzz every time we touch and the way his eyes just mesmerize me, then yes." I look down at my hands to hide the faint blush on my cheeks. I look up and groan. "God, I sound like a sap. "

Angel pats my back. "Don't worry; you don't sound that big of a sap."

I look at her with hard eyes. "Yeah, right."

"Max, did he apologize?" Ella stands in front of me with her arms folded.

I sigh.

"Max…" Ella presses.

"Yeah," I mumble.

"Was he sincere?" Ella asks.

"Not sure. I just wanted to get out of the parking lot in front of the hotel he's staying at." I reply.

"Well, we'll just have to go to the concert then if you want to win him back." Nudge smiles like she knows it will all work out.

I roll my eyes. "I want him to come groveling at my feet, begging for me to take him back. Besides, I'm singing for me, and no one else."

"Stubborn as always…" Ella sighs.

"Max, we already signed you up for the concert tryout sheet. You're gonna do this thing whether you like it or not." Nudge says.

"Gee, thanks, you're a great pal." I reply sardonically.

Nudge ignores my sarcasm. "You're welcome Maxie. If I were you though, I'd run through the song one more time before we go tomorrow."

Oh, yeah. I forgot to tell you this: Nudge and Ella insist that getting ready for "my concert" is going to take more than thirty minutes. And all ya'll know that it would take me less than twenty-three minutes to get showered, clothed, and mascaraed. Ah well. That's the price of having best friends who are complete girly-girls.

I stand up. "Whatever, I'm going to call Iggy and Gazzy to work on the finishing touches of the song. Angel sweetie, I need you for the guitar."

"Sure thing Max." Angel stands up from the bed and follows me out my bedroom door.

I turn back to Nudge and Ella. "If you do me a favor, pick something that's me if you want to find clothes. I wanna keep it real."

I hope that didn't seem too rushed…. Please review! It would mean a lot!

Seriously though. Review.

~Fly on~