Seriously guys? I mean, come on this is getting ridiculous. I'm not kidding…..

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…OVER 60 REVIEWS IN JUST 2 CHAPTERS?

You don't know how happy this makes me. I feels so loved! It also inspires me to write more for my AMAZING reviewers. :) Thank you all so much for the song choices and feedback. It's all SO helpful and makes my job so much easier….not that this is a job…but you know what I mean.

Oh, and I would have gotten this up sooner, but my laptop, being the retarded thing it is, wouldn't connect to the internet….BUT now it's all better! Happy thoughts!

So I know that Max has been…well, depressed and stuff, but that's one main BIG thing for this story. So…sorry for depressed Max, she may be here for a little bit, but I hope you all can survive with me. Right?

Thanks again for the reviews!

-SarahBelle—

Chapter 3

"Max."

I blinked and turned from staring at the raindrops sliding down the window to Asher. I raised an eyebrow.

"We're here."He said, and nodded towards my right, where I was just previously staring at.

I turned in my seat and saw that we were, in fact, parked in front of the school.

Great, another day of misery.

"Hey," I turned towards Asher again, "You okay?" His eyes were concerned and he pursed his lips like he always does when he's in deep thought or, like now, worried about something.

I gave him a fake smile and mentally hoped he didn't see through it, "Yep," I said brightly before grabbing my backpack that was sitting at me feet.

I wasn't okay though. It was my first day back from Thanksgiving break and I could already feel that familiar feeling of emptiness settle in the pit of my stomach.

The first day of school was harder because it was right after I found out Fang wasn't going to come back. Iggy, Nudge, and Ella took care of me though. They made sure I didn't lose my cool and go on a rampage during class. If anyone asked were Fang was they would tell them that he was gone and that it didn't concern them. That was probably the hardest part of coming back; telling everyone that Fang wasn't here. Every time someone said his name my eyes would water and I had to excuse myself from class or a conversation.

Yeah, life wasn't fun back then. But, then again, it still hasn't gotten any better.

At first, I was hurt. I cried and cried, and it was like I had a never ending waterfall of tears. Then after my pathetic, my-life-sucks-because-my-boyfirend-now-ex-boyfriend-ditched-me-to-be-famous stage, I became angry. Only, at him though…and anyone who tried to defend him…

I've calmed down after three months. September was depression. October was anger. And now November is when I can finally talk to someone who says his name or speaks about him without feeling like I'm about to throw up.

I feel accomplished.

"I'll see you later Ash. Thanks for the ride." I opened the door to Asher's truck and stepped out into pouring rain. I pulled my hood up and was about to slam the door shut when Asher's voice stopped me.

"Max," the tone of his voice made me look up at him. It was filled with some kind of overwhelming emotion.

He leaned over the consol in the middle to look at me better, "You know that I love you right?"

I let out a breath I had been holding and gave him a smile, "Yeah, love you too Ash."

"I'm here for you." Then, with his signature Asher smile he reached over to grab the handle and shut the door before speeding off into the rain.

I took a deep breath before letting it out, watching as my breath turned into a white fog.

Brothers…

I walked into English soaked to the bone. Iggy was already there and had his head in his backpack as he tried to look for something.

"Hey Ig,"

Immediately, his blonde head popped out of the bag with a big grin stretched out on his face.

"MAXIE!"

I only had the time to blink once before I was attacked by Iggy. Well, he doesn't seem to mind my current state of wetness.

"You're back!" he screamed in my ear, squeezing me tighter as he lifted me off the ground.

I awkwardly patted his spiky hair, "I never left."

He set me down abruptly with a frown on his face, "Oh, yeah. I did. Max! You will never believe where my family went! I apparently have some rich Aunt that lives in Colorado and has this HUGE cabin right next to the slopes. It was incredible! I also-" I smiled as I listened to him rant on and on about his break. He didn't mention Fang once, thankfully, so I didn't know if Fang had gone with them or not.

"How was your break?" Iggy asked after he was done and we had sat down in our desks. Actually, Iggy was sitting on top of the desk with his feet in the seat while I was sitting in the actual seat.

I shrugged indifferently, "It was whatever. Asher came down for Thanksgiving from college, and Mom and the twins came over to my house to have a turkey dinner. Nothing special."

Iggy nodded, "Did Steph not come down?"

I shook my head, "No, she had to stay to take some big mid-semester final or something."

Yes, Stephanie and Asher were still dating. They're a good couple and I think will make it. Her and Asher both go to the University of Kentucky. Ash is studying to be an architect, and Steph a teacher.

Iggy was quiet for a moment, and we both watched as people started filing into the classroom.

I was watching one girl with curly black hair flirt miserably to a guy wearing a letterman jacket when Iggy spoke again.

"How are you Max?"

Geez, they make it seem like someone died…

I just nodded slowly, never taking my eyes off the girl, "I'm okay."

He started to say more, but the last bell rang and the teacher walked in, silencing him.

I held back a sigh and opened my book to the assigned page.

When the last bell rang for school to end, I nearly jumped for joy. First days back are always the longest.

I had seen Nudge and Ella during second period and they told me about their breaks, asked about mine, and also asked how I was. It's like a never ending process every day.

"Hi Max."

"Hi."

"What's up?"

"Nothing much, you?"

Cue long details of their life.

"And you?"

"Same old same old."

"Cool."

Cue awkward silence.

"So how are you doing, Max?"

"Fine."

Just peachy fine!

Well, I guess some of it is my fault. I do acted like some depressed emo that looks like she's half dead most of the time, but I'm getting better. I'm trying. I really am.

The only time I feel like the old me. The one where I'm happy about life and stuff, is when I'm making music. It's like my own personal medicine that feeds me life to keep me going every day.

Gosh, if Fang saw me now what would he say? Would he even care?

I shook my head as I tried to shake the thought.

He has to care at least some still.

Asher's car pulled up in the front of the school and I quickly hopped in. I rubbed my hands on the warm air vents and let myself defrost.

Asher chuckled, "How was school?"

"Eh."

"You always had a way with words."

I rolled my eyes, but smiled.

"Where to?" He asked as he pulled out of the schools parking lot.

"I have to work. So, Fay's I guess." I stared at the window and watched the raindrops speed down the glass.

"Are you performing tonight?" Asher asked, his tone light and happy.

Careful.

That's what he was being.

Careful. As is something he says could set me off. That's another thing that went on daily. Everyone had that overly cheery tone that was so obviously fake. It's not like I'm going to go suicidal! I still love life! Just not as much as I used to…The only one who never uses that fake tone with me is Iggy. You don't understand how much that means to me. Everyone that uses that voice just reminds me that something is wrong, but with Iggy he acts like everything's ok and normal. It helps me move on a little better.

"Yeah, I'm opening up for some band, but Fay won't tell me who." Darn Fay and knowing how much I hate surprises.

"What song's you going to sing?"

I shrugged, "Whatever comes to mind."

Ever since Fang…left, the band sort of split. Asher went to college, Iggy got preoccupied with basketball, and Nudge and Ella spent most of their free time working at the fashion boutique. I was basically Fall and Rise now.

"Well, I haven't seen that stage in a while." Asher said, giving a low whistle while leaning over to look outside the window.

"What?" I leaned over and looked and saw the huge stage set up in Fay's park.

Guess the band I'm opening up for is bigger than expected.

I silently cursed under my breath. Darn it Fay.

Asher dropped me off next to the stage, "Have fun." He said with a smirk.

I rolled my eyes and waved as he drove off. I stared at the stage as I walked over to it.

I hadn't performed like this since the IMusic competition. Back when we were still Fall and Rise, and not just Max.

I walked up onto the stage and went to stand right in the middle. Closing my eyes, I could almost picture that night we performed. The way Fang and I were laughing and smiling at each other the entire time, when my heart was beating so loudly from the adrenaline I thought the audience could hear it, that cold night where we had performed for the last time ever without even knowing it.

"You know, you're supposed to sing up there, not go to sleep."

I opened my eyes and turned around, then gave a tiny grin.

"Hi Fay."

She smiled warmly at me, "Hello darling, are you ready to perform tonight?"

I shrugged, "Sure, who's the other band?"

Fay suddenly got this nervous look on her face, "Oh, you know…just one of those hip new bands everyone seems to enjoy."

I frowned, not believing her.

Fay my dear…you will never have a good poker face.

"Fay," I said slowly, "Who is it?"

My heart started to beat a little quicker. What band could make her this nervous and fidgety?

She wouldn't meet my eyes, "Just some band."

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, giving up, "Fine Fay don't tell me, but I'll find out sooner or later."

Fay looked at me sadly before she was distracted by something over my shoulder.

"Um," She stuttered, suddenly looking worried, "I think that will be sooner rather than later."

"What?" I turned around and felt my heart drop.

No.

I'm dreaming.

I have to be.

But I wasn't. Because in the parking lot was a huge black RV with the words "The Fallout" printed on the side of it.

No.

The shiny, black door opened and a boy with blonde hair jumped out, looking relieved. He stretched his back before turning back and yelling, "Fang! Come on, man! Let's go set up!"

I sucked in a breath and was frozen in place.

No.

"Chill Matt, I'm coming." A deep voice answered. The voice that used to give me butterflies and goose bumps. Now it just gave me heartache.

He stepped out onto the pavement and he ran a hand through his black hair. He looked the same as before, but only slightly different. I mean it's only been seven months, but still. He looked thinner, and his hair wasn't as thick and long. It reached right to the tips of his ears and barely reached the top of his eyes.

The boy that I fell in love with.

The boy that I thought I was going to be with forever.

The boy that broke my heart.

He was standing not thirty feet away from me.

I somehow got the control back in my legs and turned around slowly to look at Fay. I'm sure my expression was one close to a fish.

"Th-there the band?" My voice croaked. I could already feel a little moisture coming to my eyes.

Why Fay? Why?

She looked at me warily and raised her hands up as she shrugged her shoulders, her eyes wide and nervous.

"Uh, surprise?"

Review please! :)

Thanks!

Oh, and song choices! YAY! You have to love them!

-SarahBelle-