I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! *Goes to run and hide in a corner*

Honestly, I could name a thousand excuses why this took so long, but I wouldn't want to waste your time with that. ;)

Ch. 26:

Fang POV

"What?" Nudge exclaimed. "That's ludicrous, absolutely ludicrous."

"It's the best way, Nudge." I tried to reason. "I need to go back to California to see her- Lissa has connections. She's the only one who might actually be able to help us. She has the information we need."

"That's bull, Fang. You can't just keep me here, wondering where Max, Iggy, and Gazzy are! I'm not five, I want to help, too. Max is the closest girl friend I've ever had, and- and Iggy…"

I sighed. "I get it, Nudge. You have a crush on him. But you will be helping, you're going to stay here and hack your way into some info. Some website somewhere must have information on the School. Nothing's untraceable." I knew Nudge could hack- Nudge knew she could hack. I didn't want to bring her with to California, though. I couldn't risk it. I loved Nudge like nothing else. She's my sister, and nothing can ever replace that. Since Max was gone, I couldn't risk her getting taken away.

Nudge seemed to contemplate. "Fine, but the minute – and I mean the minute – you get any juicy information, I'm coming down to help save them. And this is only because that was more words than you said throughout your entire childhood." I cracked a small smile, which was a first since they had been taken.

"I guess that means I'm going back LA."

Standing in front of Lissa's house wasn't nearly as climactic as I imagined it to be. I don't know what I was expecting- giant storm clouds, lightning rods blocking me, an evil witch sitting on the front porch. Her house was the same as it had always been. A peachy pink with a nice white picket fence surrounding it. Nothing out of the ordinary, but I felt a sense of dread climbing up the steps.

I hadn't talked to Lissa since the argument over Max. Probably not the best when you're dealing with your girlfriend, but Lissa is something else. She can be feisty or sweet or a complete bitch. She's the only person I've ever dated, but I felt something else radiating from her when she was fuming about Max living with me.

Slowly, cautiously, I knocked on the door. I heard a pitter of feet, and then the door was opened to reveal a familiar redhead. Lissa stood there, beautiful as ever. Her freckles were in the same place, her red hair was styled the same way it always had been, and she was wearing the pumps she always did when she was trying to increase her height. I restrained myself from frowning. Lissa was still as attractive to me as she was before, but something I felt about her just wasn't the same.

"Nick?" She questioned, looking me up and down. "I thought you said you were moving to Arizona. I mean, you just called a few days ago about it and-"

"I did. But something happened." I added regretfully.

"And what was it that made you have to come down here so desperately to me?" She quirked an eyebrow and crossed her arms in a gesture that reminded me so much of something Max could've done. In fact, I could almost picture her face… No.

I cleared my throat, "It's about them, Lissa."

Her eyes widened. "Come in," she ushered me inside and to the sofa, "and sit down and tell me everything."

"I don't know if your dad had anything to do with it, but seeing as he's a whitecoat, I'm just going to figure." I breathed deeply. "The time limit Nudge and I had is over, which is why we left for Arizona, but- but… The School. They took them." I fought tears talking about it. I don't cry. I haven't cried since I was five. It's led some to believe I'm a robot, but that's just how I've always operated. A strong façade to hold everything inside.

"Took who, Nick?" She rested a hand gently on top of mine, a gesture meant to calm me. It did no such thing. Staring at the hand, it started to grow a bit larger, and the porcelain skin turned much tanner. Oh great. Now everything is turning into her.

"Max and her friends." I said, and was surprised to find my voice emotionless. "Lissa, if you know anything, I need to hear it. A location of the School, a worker for them who might know the location, anything. I know you don't particularly like Max, but I just can't let Jeb do anything to her."

She looked at me, speechless. I realized that was likely to be more than I almost ever spoke to her. But hey, I was desperate. Lives were at stake, lives that actually meant something to me. Not only Max, but Iggy and Gazzy. No matter how much I felt like killing Iggy because he was so obviously after my sister, he could be a cool guy and with him living in my house, I made some sort of a bond with him. Gazzy, too. Gazzy was more like a little brother… one with an unbelievable stench. I could only hope nothing had happened to them yet.

"I'm sorry, Nick, all I know is that my dad has been traveling a lot recently. He didn't say where except- yes. He mentioned how much he hated crowds once. Crowds in," She clicked her fingers and looked up, trying to remember. "In Times Square!" She exclaimed. "He's been to New York."

A grin spread across my face. It was a location. Nothing for sure, but it was something. There was a chance now. Maybe I'd find her before Jeb… no. I would find her before Jeb did anything. I would make sure of that. Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around Lissa. I had known going to her was a long shot, but she came through for me in a crunch.

"Thank you." I mumbled into her ear. Gently, I tilted her face to mine and went in for a kiss. She had helped me so much, there was no way I could possibly thank her enough. When our lips met, I felt nothing. Not void of the world or anything, but again- it just wasn't the same as before.

Lissa pulled away from the kiss, surprising me. She averted my eyes. "This isn't right, Nicholas."

"What isn't right?"

Her eyes met mine, but now those green orbs of hers were watering. "You know Goddamn well what isn't right. Us." Her voice cracked.

"Huh?"

"Nick, I love you. You know how much I love you, but I can't keep dating you any longer. I can't date a man who won't ever love me."

"I do lo-"

"No, Nick. Maybe that was true at some point, or maybe you still do in a different way, but it isn't same anymore. It's changed." I was in shock. Was it another guy, what was making her say this?

"You're in love, Nick." She whispered. My frown deepened. First I didn't love her, now I did? What was she getting at? She seemed to recognize my confusion. "Not with me, you idiot." She let out a small laugh "With her."

"With who?"

"With Max."

As she spoke the words, I realized them to be true. I could picture her smile, I could see her chocolate eyes I loved so much. Yes, I did love them. She was perfect in my mind. I had wanted to kiss her so many times before, but I hadn't quite realized what the feeling was. Now it all made sense. Lissa wasn't the the person who wasn't the same.

Lissa was exactly the same. I had changed.

How'd you like it, huh? I hope it wasn't too terrible. O_O

Anyway, if you'd be kind enough, I'd appreciate you going to vote on my poll. Thanks all.

Don't forget to review!

Last Chapter's Song: C'mon C'mon by 1D! 1D, ahhh! *Fangirl directioner spaz-out*

This Chapter's Song:

Am I more than you bargained for yet?

I've been dying to tell you anything you want to hear,

Cause that's just who I am this week

Lie in the grass, next to the mausoleum.

I'm just a notch in your bedpost.

But you're just a line in a song.

I'd have to say this is pretty much my favorite song ever so… Peace out, y'all!

~Cake.