I'm sorry that there was such a long wait! (It's been less than a week and I'm calling it long! GOD BLESS ME, THERE'S A MIRACLE UPON US!) Tell your friends about this story, because I feel really proud of this story. -smiles wide-

Zach: She says that about all of her stories.
Abby: FALSE STATEMENT.
Zach: Whatever, Abby. Whatever.
Abby: Whatever, Zach. Whatever. Enjoy the chapter, folks!

Fang POV

Flashback

I was standing in front of my new elementary school, staring at the angrily wide open doors. I had been through this many times before, though my divorced and currently single mom promised this time it would be for good. Every place we end up at she meets a new guy that she ends up hanging around with like a sick little puppy dog. Each time, it lasts between 4 and 9 months. I've counted. After a sobbingly long break up, Mom decides to move to a new state.

This time it was to the small town of Seligman, Arizona; Population 456. Or so I've been told. My tired, secretary mother and I made 458.

Awkward.

As I gawked at the gates that would keep me in heck, a voice in my head told me it would be different this time. I listened to it as I walked into school, but knew it wouldn't be. It never was.

I'll spare you the gory details about the start of the day, but I knew there weren't going to be many good things about my year here. Except for one thing.

I was doing a math worksheet that my teacher, Mr. Morgan, assigned when an angel walked by me. She had beautiful, scarlet curls and shockingly green eyes. They connected with mine and though I would never ad mit it, I shivered. I didn't like the way the guys behind her treated her and pulled on her hair.

From the way she harshly whispered, " Quit it, Batchelder!", I could tell that this was a daily routine. Mr. Morgan heftily got up from his pathetic excuse for a desk and mumbled a scruffy dismissal. On my way out I took my sweet old time; I had no friends to sit with at lunch, anyway. I was going to be "that loner" again, just like usual.

Take a bite of the reality apple, folks. Kids aren't all nice and dumb like they seem in the movies.

I threw my dirty black book bag over my shoulder and left that awful class room. I dragged my fingers across the bumpy, disgusting cream-colored brick walls, and then I saw it. The first time I saw the angel get picked on up close.

Ari and his little gang of friends ripped off the curly red-wig?-off of the girl's tenderly bald head. I absentmindedly read her backpack; It read MAX in tiny, bold letters. Max... It suited her.

Max leaned down to pick up her wig and Ari kicked it far away from her. I couldn't let them pick on the ang- I mean Max. As I started to stealthily move forward, Max's eyes darted towards me. I stealthily swiped the wig up from the ground.

"Just leave her alone if you know what's best for you," I threatened. I delicately grabbed her bony elbow and brought her with me towards the cafeteria, mentally questioning my sudden burst of courage.

When we reached the lunch room I wanted to introduce myself, to tell this girl that I could be there when those jerks wanted to pick on her... To be her friend. But I couldn't bring myself to do it. Hesitantly, I shut my mouth and handed her the tangled mess of red, then turned away to the nearest empty lunch table, shaking my head in self-dismay as I walked there. I glared at the group of boys as they walked in and ate my lunch in silence until it was dismissed.

Next battle to conquer: recess.

I absentmindedly walked through the grossly colored wood chips on the sadly decaying wooden playground, thinking about Max. Obviously she had cancer, I mean, I saw her head. But I'd never really seen what that looks like in real life. And why would those boys make fun of her for that? It was utterly disgusting. She was honestly the prettiest girl i had ever seen in the seven states I've lived in. Prettier than the girls from New York, the girls from Los Angeles, even prettier than the four cutest blonds from my school in Montana. Max seemed nice enough and cancer isn't something to fool about.

Suddenly, I felt something hit my back. I ignored it, thinking it was just my imagination. But again, I felt something against my spine. I turned around and a rock hit my left cheek, barely missing my eye. Ari and his friends were laughing behind a slide, laughing stupidly. I walked up to them, prepared to have a different reputation this time.

"What do you want, Batchelder?" I spat venomously. He chortled rudely.

"I want you," he poked a stubby, sausage finger to my chest, "to join our crew." I must have given him the most shocked deer-in-the-headlights look. He rolled his eyes.

"You know. The cool guys. We make all of those inferior kids feel like what they are; scum. Like that dumb chick, Max Martinez." I shook my head. This dude was seriously getting on my nerves.

"Inferior? You mean the fact that Max has a disease? You think that you're better than her because she's sick? Well, I've got news for you, bud. You're the sick one. You're the inferior one. No way will I be in your 'crew.'" Ari pushed me. It wasn't very hard, but he still managed to move me backwards a little bit.

"You made a mistake standing up for that Martinez girl. She's a freak of nature."

That's when I snapped. Well, as much as a fifth grader can snap. I pushed Ari back and he went flying backwards. All of his friends started getting angry. The stupidly blond, greasy looking one, Greg took a swing at me, which I easily dodged, but on my way up the freckly red headed kid, Trent, hit me in the cheek, right where my cut had just started to bleed. I kicked the back of his knee and he fell down, nursing the pain.

Suddenly, I saw another pair of feet run up to me. I got ready to fight, but looked up to find a bald Max, her muddy, tangled wig on the cement a yard away.

"Everyone! Stop fighting!" Nobody, including me, stopped fighting. I hit the Vietnamese boy, Vance, and I saw Ari get up out of the corner of my eye as I bit his shoulder violently. Meanwhile, Max had given up being the peace maker and was beating up a black boy named Bryson.

Then, I felt someone hit my shoulder blade; Ari. Our fists were in a little dance, trying to hit one another without intercepting, without hurting ourselves, only hurting the other. I finally went in for the kill and hit his chin. He kicked my knee cap and I fell, taking him down with me. I rolled from his falling form and once he hit the ground, I slammed on top of him, hitting his face.

Unfortunately, he had a good spot of kicking what really shouldn't be kicked. I fell over and then he was all over me with his tubby fists. I could feel the bruises forming and the blood dripping from my nose. Sure, I was strong for a kid, but I wasn't nearly as beefy as Ari.

Suddenly, a scuffed up white shoe kicked the Ari's side, and then his head. I saw his eyes close and I thought for sure he was dead. I, on the other hand, probably didn't look so hot, either. Max rushed down to me.

"Nick! Oh my gosh, Nick, I'm so sorry! Are you alright! Oh, obviously not," She muttered. "This is all my fault. This is why you don't stand up for me. You get your butt kicked by dumb Batchelder over there." She was looking down on me, a finger resting on my hand. I felt embarrassed that she could beat them up better than I could, but I didn't care. I had the prettiest girl in the world talking to me.

"Are... are you an Angel?" She laughed a sweet, hearty laugh.

"No, Nick, I'm not. I'm just your average sick girl." She looked around. "You know, Nick doesn't really suit you." I gave her a frazzled look. "And after what you did to Vance's shoulder, I can see you're a biter. I'm gonna call you F-"

"What in the devil happened here?"

To be continued...

I considered ending it here, but I figured that would be the definition of cruel and unusual punishment. No need to thank me. -wink-

Max was cut off by the vice principal who was standing next to Mr. Morgan and a few other teachers. Now, before you all go off and defend my honor, imagine how this looks from everyone else. One kid knocked out, a few nursing their minute injuries, and a girl above a bloody and bruised boy. Yeah, basically a miniature re-enactment of World War II with kids as soldiers. Max stood up, grabbing what used to be a wig.

"Ari and his friends were trying to hurt Nick! So I went over to tell them to stop but then they were all hitting him. It was all self defense on his part!"

Mr. O'Donnel looked angry, obviously not believing the story, and his face was turning the color of his flaming hair.

"And how exactly did you end up with a cut on your cheek?" Max wiped her face and saw blood. She sighed.

"Well, it was self defense. And Nick-defense. I did what I had to!" She folded her arms against her chest.

"Max, why is it that you are constantly getting into fights?" I saw the glimmer of a tear in her eye, but as soon as I saw it, it was gone.

"I'll express my right to remain silent. Just bring me to Laurel's."

Max sat next to me as we waited to see the principal. We were also waiting for our parents to arrive, and glaring at the bullies across from us.

"Max... You were trying to tell me something when Mrs. O'Donnel cut you off. What was it?" She snorted.

"I've decided to give you a nickname. Fang. Do you wanna be my friend, Fang?" She grinned and I couldn't suppress one of my own.

"Sure, Max." She was hugging me when the door beside us swung open; it was the seven mothers. All of the fifth graders around me cringed at the site of their mothers' looks. All except for Max. Her mom came up to us and squatted.

"Max. I'm not happy about this." Max nodded and muttered something. "But I know you have a reason for it. So tell me, do you feel accomplished at hurting these boys?" She scowled at her mom and shook her head. "Why did you do it then?" She sighed.

"I was trying to help my friend. They were trying to hurt him and five against one just isn't fair. And look at me! I'm finally healthy, I just had to get into a fight!" Her mom looked at her; healthy wasn't exactly the look she was going for. Mrs. Martinez let out a small chuckle and gave her daughter a small smile.

"Then you're off the hook with me. But that doesn't make it alright. Now, who's this friend of yours?" Max beamed and hugged me again.

"This," She squeezed me, "is my new boy best friend! His name is Fang." Her mom looked puzzled but nodded.

"Hi there, Fang. It's nice to see that Max made a new friend. I'm Mrs. Martinez. Are you new here?" I just nodded my head, afraid I would say the wrong thing. I was Max's boy best friend? I couldn't let her mom think I wasn't a good enough person to be her friend. Mrs. M smiled and O'Donnel opened the door to the principal's office.

"Principal Laurel is ready for you," He droned, leaving the room. He muttered, "What happened to good coffee?" and left the room. My mom told me that she knew I was 'innocent' compared to the other 'greasy' looking boys as she guided me into the principal's office.

We each took our turns telling the principal what happened and she saw that the five bullies' stories didn't match up, but Max's and mine did. We weren't completely let off, but they were much worse off.

On the first day of fifth grade at Seligman Elementary, two outcasts became friends, five bullies were suspended for three days, and the two outcasts had to eat lunch with the principal for one day. I could tell this year was going to be different.

End Flashback

BEFORE I RECEIVE EMAILS AND EMAILS OF HATE-MAIL: I have nothing against Asian people, African Americans, 'Toeheads', or 'Gingers'. I actually enjoy being diverse (: (Especially with the 'stupidly blond' part... I'm blond, so take no offense!) Now, I know it seems like there's going to be more about the flashback, but there isn't, I'm sorry! I hope this is a good second chapter!

Zach: Wow, Abby... I didn't know you had it in you to write about serious matters.

Abby: Can it, meat head. Review, lovelies! Enjoy!

Love and Bloody Noses,

Abby

P.S. I don't know if this is going to send another alert to those of you who have it alerted, but someone told me it was all bolded and I had to fix it. Terribly sorry!