I opened the door to our room and immediately flopped on the first bed. "It feels amazing to just lie here and not worry about anything," I sighed happily. "Don't you think?" I raised my head to see Fang, still standing in the doorway.

"I would. If I was lying on a bed instead of standing up," said Sarcasm King.

"Ha-ha. You know what I meant."

He didn't say anything, but moved to the next bed and set his pack down on it. Whatever.

I stood up. "I don't know about you, but I am taking a long, hot shower."

"Don't take all the hot water," he said, kicking off his shoes.

"I can't. We're in a hotel! Their hot water supply must be endless!" I said, grinning. I headed into the bathroom and shut the door.

I glanced around, in awe for the second time since we'd entered this hotel. This bathroom was fit for a…for a princess! The bathtub must have been three feet deep, and the faucet was outlined in gold. It probably wasn't real gold, but it looked awesome!

I shed my grimy clothes and turned on the water. When it was the right temperature – scorching hot – I turned the shower head on and stepped in, letting the water rinse me clean. Ah, bliss.

I watched as the water turned to steam, then grabbed the soap and began scrubbing myself clean. Someone knocked on the door. "Fang? What do you want?" I called.

"Can I come in?"

"I'm the shower! Hello! Of course not!"

"Unless the curtain is see-through, there's no problem."

"What do you even want in here? Go use Iggy and Gazzy's."

"Fine."

What the…? Someone's acting weird.

Ten minutes later, I decided it was a good idea to get out of the shower before I drowned myself. I shut off the water and grabbed two towels. I wrapped my dripping hair in one and dried off in the other. Only when I had finished that did I realize something very, extremely important.

I hadn't brought clothes with me into the room. Which meant I was going to have to go out into the room…in nothing but a towel. Fang would never let me live it down.

Of course, he'd seen me in a towel before…but that was when I was freaked out because I thought I was an Eraser. That was also when he kissed my forehead…no. Bad Max! Bad, bad Max! I refuse to think of that just now.

I braced myself and walked out of the door. I glanced around the room. Hmm. No Fang. That was weird. He must still be in Iggy's room. I grabbed jeans and a T-shirt and rushed back to the bathroom before he could come back. "Made it!" I sighed in relief, slamming the door.

I changed quickly and combed through my matted hair. I frowned as the comb got caught in the middle of a lock of hair. I yanked harder, and it went through with a ripping noise. My hair was yanked, leaving me with a sore scalp. I rubbed it, irritated. Stupid dirt. It tangles hair too well, even when it's been washed out. Oh, man. Nudge's hair must be awful. I winced at the thought of her trying to comb that mess out.

It took so long to comb half of my hair that I decided to go back out, now that I was dressed, and sit to comb the rest. When I emerged, Fang was back.

"You were in the bathroom for that long?" he marveled, raising one eyebrow.

"No. I came out for a bit. But my hair is a rat's nest! It's taking forever to comb out." As if my hair wanted to prove my point, the comb promptly broke in my hands. "Crap! Do you know if I can get a new comb here?"

"No. Why don't you ask the receptionist?" he asked in a scathing tone.

I frowned, wondering why he put the stress on receptionist. "I guess I could call the front desk…" I trailed off, looking at his expression. It wasn't happy.

"Whatever," he said, and flicked on the T.V.

What was his problem?

I went over to the phone. I ran my finger down the list of numbers for assistance until I came to the one marked Front Desk – Dial 1. I did so.

"You've reached the front desk. How may I help you?" asked a female voice.

"Is it possible to get a comb here?"

"Of course. May I have your room number, please?"

"321."

"Thank you. We'll send one right up."

"Thanks."

"No problem." I hung up.

"So, what'd he say? Did he give you his number?" Fang asked.

I stared at him incredulously. "What is wrong with you? Why do you keep asking all the questions about the stupid receptionist? And it wasn't him, anyway. It was a girl, thank you very much."

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe I'm asking because you kept flirting with the guy."

My mouth dropped open in astonishment. "Flirting? I was NOT flirting! All I did was ask about the rooms! What did I do to make you think that?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe it was tossing your hair, or leaning way over the counter."

"I did that because I was impatient! Not because I like the guy! For God's sake, he's not even cute!" I was standing up now, my arms crossed angrily.

He stood as well, getting right in my face. "So guys have to be cute for you to like them?"

"NO! What makes you think I'm that shallow? Why would you care even if I was flirting with him? As I remember, you left me. Which must mean you don't give a dang about what happens to me!" For once, he looked astonished.

The connecting door swung open. Iggy stood there. "Hey, could you guys keep it down in there? Some people don't appreciate your yelling." He must have sensed our glares, because he said, "Is this a bad time?"

"Yes," Fang and I growled at the same time.

He smirked. "You guys are so into each other." He snickered and shut the door before Fang or I could come up with a witty retort.

Fang blew out a breath. "Max, I care what happens to you."

I had one last question. "Fang…you weren't jealous, were you?"

He didn't seem to be able to reply.

"Fang?"

"What if I was?"

It was my turn to smirk. "You'll never know until you tell me. After Lissa? Uh-uh."

"Were you jealous of Lissa?" He asked, raising an eyebrow once more.

"I asked first."

"On three."

"Fine. One, two, three!"

"Yes," we both muttered, then stared at each other in shock.

"You are?" we said at the same time.

"This is interesting," I said.

"That would be an understatement," he replied. "And besides, Lissa's annoying. I never really liked her."

"So you kissed her…why?" I asked, tapping my foot. "At least I only kissed Sam because I was getting back at you for kissing her. You didn't even have that excuse!"

"That was why you kissed him? I thought you actually liked him!"

"I thought you liked Lissa!"

We stared at each other. I shuddered. "Ew. The thought of you kissing Lissa still haunts me."

"What would be a sight that didn't haunt you?" he asked.

"As in what? You and another person?"

"Yeah," he said, stepping closer. I was suddenly aware of how very close we were, how easy it would be to reach out and touch him…I took a deep breath and blew it out. Bad idea. He smelled heavenly. What? I did not just think that.

"Well, who do we know? The only girls I know besides Nudge and Angel are Ella and the Red Haired Wonder. Oh yeah, and JJ, but I doubt we'll see her again, or Lissa either. And I'm pretty sure Ella's into Iggy."

"Really?" he asked, momentarily distracted.

"Yep."

"Hmm."

"Don't tell me you like her!" I cried, horrified.

"Your half-sister? No! I was just thinking…if Iggy married Ella or something, you guys would really be related."

I pondered that for a minute. "Hey, you're right! Cool!"

"You still haven't answered my question."

"Umm…" There was a knock on the door. It must be the people with my comb. Yes! I was saved! Thank GOD for that timing.

I opened the door. "You needed a comb?" asked the housekeeper, smiling.

"Yeah, thanks," I replied, giving her a once over. No robotic voice. Not really stunningly beautiful. She wasn't a female version of a Flyboy, then. I grabbed the comb and shut the door. All the same, you could never be too careful.

I returned to my bed and began combing the other half of my hair. "So…your answer, Max?" Fang prompted. Jeezum. He can't just let this drop?

"Nope." Oh. Did I say that out loud?

"What if I decide not to answer?" I asked, looking up at him.

"Okay. Fine."

"Alright. I decide not to answer." Ha! I win!

"That's answer enough for me."

"Why?"

"Because. If you don't want to answer, there's something you don't want to tell me. And, you're blushing." Damn. I don't win.

"No, I'm not," I immediately contradicted, hiding my face with my hair. I was, I knew. But would I say that? Of course not!

"Max!" It was Nudge and Angel.

"Yeah, guys?"

"Our room is awesome! Come see!"

"Alright," I agreed, glad to escape from Fang. I could feel his eyes on me as I left the room.

We had to walk through Iggy and Gazzy's room to get to Nudge's. As she rattled on about the hotel, I couldn't help but let my mind wander. Guess who it wandered to?

If you guessed Fang, you're absolutely right.

A/N: A little Faxness for you there! Thanks for all the reviews on the first chapter!