"What?!" I screeched.

"I repeat," Nudge said slowly. "We left Fang! As in, kicked him out! As in, he's gone!"

"Why?" I asked dumbly. Jake's arms circled my waist, keeping me from falling over.

"Because, Max, we didn't know that's what he did to you. We thought you just flew off, and Fang was feeling a little sad about leaving the person he loves, explaining the mind blocks. But no. He just almost killed you."

I started hyperventilating. I was trying to forget them! I have the love of my life, great friends and a roof over my head. Fang was out of my life, the flock was out of my life. The people who ruined my life were out of my life. Now here they are, asking for me to take them back, and what am I supposed to do?

"Alright, so?" Jared sneered, taking an intimidating step forward.

"We want you back, Max. It wasn't like before. Without you, I mean." Iggy said.

"Iggy. Everybody. I'm staying here. Ya know why? Because I love my boyfriend with everything I have, my friends are the best I could ever ask for, I'm more free here than I ever have been, I have a roof over my head, and I no longer have a flock to take care of. I have a pack that takes care of me because of you." Sure, I liked taking care of the flock…but I think it's nice to not have to, to not have to always have an answer.

Nudge opened her mouth to say something and I quickly said, "No, Nudge." But unfortunately Angle l started talking before I could get another word in.

"So what Max? You're going to just put us on the street?"

I stared at her. "Well where have you been living?! Can't you just go there?"

"I guess, but we want you there. Please. Pretty please?"

I groaned and looked around. I had forgotten to when I got out of the water. The boys and Emily were to my right, Jake behind me, the flock behind me and a few randomly placed joggers on the side walk far behind the flock.

Then I got the bests idea. They put me through hell so I was going to return the favor. "Alright." I said calmly. Jake tightened his arms and the flock looked happy. I put my hand up, mouth a hard line. "But. There's a catch. Jake has to come to." Their smiles disappeared.

"Um…" Angel started, then got a glazed over look. She was talking to the rest of them. An eternity later they all snapped to reality. "O…kay;" Sigh. "if it means you coming to live with us."

Emily smiled at me knowingly as I turned to look at Jake. I was almost afraid to see his face.

He bent down and whispered so low, even Iggy wouldn't be able to hear it. "Are you sure about this, Max?" I looked into his eyes asking him what he meant. "I'm not saying I don't want to go, but you don't think it's a trap or something?"

I smiled. "Well, if it is, I have this awesome boyfriend that can protect me from anything!" I finished dramatically. He nodded and I turned back to the flock.

"Okay, where is this place, then?"

Half an hour later me, Jake, Emily and Sam were staring at a giant house. How I have never noticed this house was beyond me. Anyway, this house was a giant Victorian house, all white with pillars, four floors, giant garden and huge front/back yard.

I gawked as the flock walked up the stone steps to unlock the doors.

Iggy turned back to the four of us, "Are you coming, guys?" He motioned to us with his hand before disappearing into the house after the others. I turned to Jake and silently

asked if he was still okay with this. He squeezed my hand, gave me a smiled, and pulled me to the door. I heard the almost inaudible steps of Sam and Emily walking close behind us.

I walked in and was even more amazed. Parallel to us—at the front door—was a small, yet big, staircase that parted, almost spiraling and went off into a hallway on either side. To the left, on the main floor, there was a big kitchen, on either side of the stairs there were rows and rows of books. To the right of us there was a huge living room/dining room, and behind that, there were many tables of laptops. I was in awe! Behind the stairs I could only imagine what there was and not to mention the bedrooms or that whole other level after that.

Gazzy came into view. "Hey…so I would give you a tour but I'm too lazy. I'm just supposed to show you to your room." He raised an eyebrow. Weird little kid…er…12 year old pre-teen.

I nodded and Gazzy started walking to the stair case. As to not get totally lost, we hurriedly walked to catch up.

We jogged up the stairs and turned left. Along the walls were…nothing really. Only pictures of the flock. And me. I stared in more awe. There were pictures from me when I was ten, there were pictures of me and Fang, me and Angel, me and Iggy, and lots of others. But one caught my eye; it was a picture of only me and I looked eighteen, I was standing at the beach, my hair was dirty, and blowing in the wind, a smile on my face. I'm pretty sure it was from yesterday. It was in a biggish frame and surrounded by other pictures from years ago.

I scowled. How dare they?! I stalked up to the picture—Gazzy, feet away. I placed my hands over it and pulled; the result what I was looking for. A huge crash. I put on an innocent face and looked as Gazzy came running.

"What happened? Is everyone alright?"

My voice was tight. "Yes. I don't know what happened. It just…fell." He didn't see the lie, probably on a high from me coming back. Wow, I'm special, eh?

"Well, I'm glad no one got hurt, now your room is down here." He pointed down the hall and started walking again. We followed slowly, taking in all the pictures and doors—to were they led, I have no idea.

We stopped at the last room on the right. Gazzy nodded and walked off—he's a good host, I must say. Jake took his hand out of mine and put it around my waist, then stretched around me with the other hand to push the door open. And inside was amazing.

There was a king size bed that was dark purple, a desk, dresser, beanbags, a beautiful, giant window, posters of some bands I've heard of, even a vanity and walk-in closet. The walls were lime green, and everything else was an assortment of the lime green of dark purple, including the carpet that was green with purple butterflies.

Emily squealed and ran to my bed and jumped on it. Mature. I walked over to the bed and sat down, a smiled on my face. I might be able to see a little brightness in this dark, dark world I live in. That's me—the poet.

Jake sat down next to me. "Seriously, Max, I didn't know the flock was rich. Cause this does not look like the house people who have been on the run their lives, would live in." He rested his hand on my leg as he scanned the room in awe.

"Yeah, I don't know. How could we not see this house before?" I sighed.

"Listen, Max." Emily said plopping down on my other side. "I think we have to go. You know the new people that just moved in? Their son is about sixteen, and we're supposed to be there almost all the time…you know…just incase."

I nodded. "Sure, whatever you have to do. We'll probably be coming back a lot, of coarse, though, so no worries." They smiled and Sam pulled Em out of the room, muttering something like, 'now to get out of the house.'

Sighing I lay back just as the door closed. Jake lay beside me and took my hand, I snuggled closer to him and closed my eyes. "Did I make the right choice coming here, Jake? I mean, I don't belong here, and we both know that."

Jake put his arms around me and gave a squeeze. "Yes, I think you did. And if things get too bad then…we'll leave. Easy as that."

"Okay. We should get something to eat, its getting late."

Some time later we were walking back into our room after telling everyone we were going to bed. We had decided that to avoid awkwardness we'd go to A&W for supper. The flock hadn't been around a lot of what we could tell, much less Fang—we hadn't seen him at all. Guess they kicked him out of the house? That seemed a little cruel, but okay.

"So…think you can live here?" Jake asked, pulling his shirt over his head.

"Yeah, but we'll need to go get our clothes tomorrow. The clothes in here are…not my type." I grimaced, thinking about the tight shirts, short skirts and finally…the night clothes. I shivered. They were skimpy and very showy. What? Were the girls trying to say something, cause really?!

"Mm, really?" Jake had a smirk on his face. Not good. I scowled, and took off my shirt, replacing it with the one Jake had been wearing, and my pants with some shorts.

He came behind me and slipped his arms around my waist, his mouth at my ear. "That's what you think?" I shivered, but kept my grimace non-the less. I turned around and stepped back.

I poked him in the chest. "Yes, it is. And you know what else I think?" He raised an eyebrow, a smile creeping onto his face. "That I want to go to bed. I'm tired." His smile faded and he walked over to turn the lights off. "Jacob." I warned. "Even if I'm enhanced I still cant see in pitch black. I am going to trip, fall, and break my face." But he did anyway.

I crossed my arms. I was a long way away from the bed and I was going to trip over the un-familiar room if I tried to walk there—the blinds were drawn, making not a bit of light in the room. I didn't hear anything.

"I wouldn't want that." I jumped, like, five feet in the air. Jake had—somehow—snuck up in front of me and wrapped his arms around me so they met on the small of my back, his breath was hot on my face.

"Jeez, child, way to scare me to death!" I exclaimed. He chuckled. "What? You find this funny?"

"Yes, I think it's very cute when you get mad." I pouted. "C'mon." He added before I was lifted off the floor and into his arms. I started arguing but stopped as he set me down on the bed. He lifted the covers off the bed, and slipped in.

"So, what about you? Think you can live here?" I asked picking up the conversation from before, while Jake started massaging my lower back.

"Probably. I mean, it does have some drawbacks." He pulled me closer. "But I could definitely live here for how-ever-long."

"Mm. That's good." I mumbled. Really, I was happy that Jake wanted to live here because if he wasn't comfortable, then I wasn't. We were like one person, anyway. And I would feel horrible if he was only staying here because I was here.

"So about before…" Jake started a few minutes later. He moved his mouth to my neck.

I smiled and moved my head to the side. "Yeah...what about it?"

"How was it?" I was a little confused that he, you know, had to ask but still muttered a 'good'. He nodded and started nibbling on the skin of my shoulder. It felt so good. I changed my answer to 'really good', which made him chuckle.

"How did you like it?" I asked, brining my hand up to his chest.

He rolled us over so he was pressed against me. His hands made their way up my shirt and his lips made their way to my ear. He whispered huskily, "More than I should've." I think I like that answer.

I took his face in my hands and brought his mouth up to mine. "So, about those clothes…" I groaned as Jake brought up that one thing I didn't want him to. I took my mouth away from his and dropped my head to the pillow.

"In your dreams." I said quickly. I don't care if I love him, he is not seeing me in any of those clothes.

"C'mon, it's not like I said you had to…wear them."

"It was implied. Now, I don't care what you say, I am not showing you them, wearing them or anything to do with those disgusting clothes!" I had to make myself clear, right?

He sighed. "Alright…" That was a first; he actually gave in. But then he started massaging in between my wings and kissing down my neck. I had to keep repeating 'no, no, no,' to make sure I didn't give in and admit that it felt really good. But when he started giving me a hickey on my neck I wove my hands in his hair and decided it would be safer to just give in.

Four minutes later my shirt was on the floor and my shorts were about to follow.

"Are you sure Max?" Jake asked, his lips on my ear. "Because, I mean, the flock is all downstairs." Crap. Forgot about that. I hesitated, and in that second's pause the door crashed open.

Thank whatever god there is that 1. We had the covers around us, and two. My shirt was on the other side of the bed.

Too bad, luck doesn't last.

"WHAT IS GOING ON?!" Fang yelled, holding the door jamb for support and pointing a finger at us.

I pretended to be bleary eyed, "Fang…? What are you going in here? Cant you, like, knock?"

He looked at me and Jake disbelief, still gripping the door, why I'm not sure. Jake sat up slowly and glared at Fang.

"Fang!" All of us jumped hearing Iggy's angry yell. "Fang! Where the heck are you?!" We heard stomping then Iggy was at our door. He took Fang by the shoulders. "Who do you think you are, coming in here and yelling at them?! And on top of that you are drunk!" I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand.

"I'm not drunk!" Fang yelled louder than he should have. Now that Iggy mentioned it, Fang was swaying slightly, shaking, his eyes were a tiny bit glazed and his clothes were scuffed, including his hair was messier then it had ever been in the few times I'd seen him.

"Fang…what's happened to you?" I whispered. I couldn't believe this.

"Can't you tell, Ma…ax?" He asked, making some flailing hand motion. His eyes had hopelessness in them. "I…I hate myself, Max. Cant you tell?" He yelled, making Jake tighten his arms around my waist.

My lips went into a tight line as I thought about something—I was sure the skin was going white. I rolled out of bed, and put my shirt on in record time, hopefully they wouldn't see that. I got up and walked over to Fang, even though he was about three inches taller than me, I still grabbed his arm roughly and pulled him over to where the giant closet was. Fang pulled his arm away from my hand and I glared up at him.

"Show me your wrists, Fang." I ground out.

He shook his head. "No."

I could feel the two other boys staring at me, but I just kept my face set strait on Fang's. "Show. Me. Your. Wrist." I said, again, between clenched teeth. I was almost afraid of what I would see.

"No."

"Fang." I know what you're all thinking; why in the world are you helping him?! He almost killed you! Yes, I know this, but I am supposed to save the world. So I cant just let him be suicidal—for whatever reason—without doing anything. I may hate him, but I'm not going to be like him and leave him for dead.

I grabbed his wrist, seething and drew back his sleeve slowly. I gasped at what I saw, running my finger over the scared skin; there were a few faint pink lines, scabbed ones, and ones that were still puffy, swollen and very red. "Fang! What is wrong with you?!" I screeched, I could feel Jake and Iggy wince, but they didn't move.

Fang chuckled and smiled like a maniac—and I don't mean like, he smiled a lot, but like he was insane…or high. Crap. "There is nothing wrong with me." He whispered—really loudly—then burst out laughing.

"Fang." I started again, glaring my hardest glare. "Take off your shirt." He raised his eyebrow before smiling suggestively. He is so delusional. He took his sweatshirt off then his t-shirt. I took his arm roughly, happy that I didn't give him the satisfaction of looking at his abs and such. I ran my hand over his arm and felt tiny holes around the underside of his elbow. I took him by the arm and dragged him into the hall, avoiding Iggy who jumped out of the way.

When we were in the light I examined his arm closer and saw red blotches all over. "FANG! I am going to kill you!" I screamed. He stopped smiling and gave me an innocent look. "You know what? I don't care if you are the new flock leader," I turned to Iggy who shrank back. "Where is Fang's room?"

Iggy looked confused. "Down the hall, three doors down on the right side."

Turning back to Fang I pushed him forward. "Move." My voice full of venom. When we reached his room I opened the door to find everything black, big surprised. I pushed him in after turning the light on. "Who do you think you are?! You get drunk! And, and then you get high doing who know what?! Fang, what is wrong with you? What's happened, and have you told everyone else, or are you just going to rot in your room until they notice you're dead?!" I whisper yelled—Iggy and Jake would be able to hear me but hopefully no-one else would be able to.

"Max do you know how…" He stopped, and looked around as if forgetting what he was about to say. "Hard its been? I missed you. Max, I missed you so much!" He had been whispering but then he started almost-yelling, looking at me with heartbreak in his eyes. He grabbed my shoulders—shocking me—and started sobbing into my shoulders, swaying quite a bit because of being…well, high and drunk.

"Shh, shh," I said awkwardly. Resting my hand on his neck, I went on, "Fang, how long has this been going on, and you better tell the truth."

"A few days, maybe?" He rolled his neck, his voice sounding hopeless and hoarse, as if he didn't care.

"Why, Fang? Tell me exactly why you are doing this. And after that you'll tell me everything that you're on. Got it?" I lifted Fang's head up so I could stare him in the eye.

He closed his eyes and swayed. "Max, Max…Max. I made such a bad mistake. I love you. You. So much. More than any-ything! Max, I need you to live! I cant believe…how stu-upid I was! Now I'm nothing! I mean nothing!" He started thrashing. He couldn't have been very drunk, or at least it was wearing off quite some; his words weren't as slurred.

"Okay, we'll get back to that, later. Now, you need to tell me what all you are on." I pronounced every word so he would understand.

"Uh…I'm getdrunk. Sometimes, though, not all the time, only sometimes. Meh-eth. I got it put in my arm with a…poky thing. And, um, and a plant…oh! A weed!" He opened his eyes and smiled in triumph that he got it. I was in shock, to say the least.

"But, Fang, I thought you were afraid of needles. And don't get me started on the weed. I mean, are you already hooked?" I stared at him and his smile faded.

"It doesn't matter anymore." He whispered loudly, his voice full of longing and more heartache. "Seeing you…with another man is worse then anything. You kno-ow? Knowing that you're happy with…out me. And," He swallowed, "its my…fault."

I sighed, "Fang. You had to have known what would happen when you did what you did. You had to know kicking me out of my own flock would have consequences!" I started yelling, but seeing Fang's eyes widen in fear stopped me. I started again, more gently, "You should lie down, c'mon." I pulled him over to his bed and forced him to lay down.

"Max…?" Fang's voice was panicked as he stretched his arm out in my direction. "Max! Max, come back! Max!" He started hyperventilating, looking around wildly.

"Fang, stop! You have to stop hyperventilating, or you'll pass out." I tried to push him back down but he started flailing wildly. "Stop. You have to stop."

"I-I-I-I ca-an't" He stuttered helplessly.

"Okay, you cant or you wont?" All he did was nod—to which I don't know. "Alright, okay, when your finger tips start to get tingly, Fang, you have to stop. What that means is that you aren't getting enough air—and that's bad."

"Ma…" He made out between gasps before he just stared at me, finally grasping that I actually stood there and smiled. "…ax." Then he groaned as if in agitation, before slowly lowering his head, slowly. About one inch from the pillow, though, his eyes rolled back and he just dropped down.

I let out an exasperated sigh and put my hand on my head wile pacing the huge room. This was defiantly not what I wanted to be dealing with, especially now.

Sorry it took so long, all! Okay, first order of business; I'm watching a Doctor Who marathon and all of this, in my head, is freaking British. Nothing against British or Britain, but I don't think Max was one. Second; I have a longer plan, now, so it's not crucial for help because—ahem—I'm not getting any! Really, dear friends, why do you not help me? Third; a similar situation happened to me; I was hyperventilating and my Dad told me that if my fingers got tingly I was going to pass out—so that wasn't a lie—but I didn't pass out, never have, so if I got it wrong, sorry. Fourth; I'm sorry about that last bit, how Fang is a druggie? Just remember; Everything is connected. Well, at least in my story. And Fifth; if you see mistakes, tell me because I've only gone over this about twice and I'm much too lazy to do it another.

So, as always, review what ya want in the next bit.

Also: check out And Guitar Hero? Its under Uglies, but you don't have to have read the books, or you don't even have to read the story, but at the bottom it has info on some of my stories—you can ignore the part for You found me drowning, though, of coarse.

Side note: I got new glasses and THEY KEEP FALLING OFF MY FACE! They're cool, though, so that's a plus, right?

Happy New Year, and Christmas!

Hales