A/N: Hey people, okay... I officially admit it... I need a Beta. Like seriously... so if you know a Beta or are a Beta in need of a story to edit (or three) then PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE MESSAGE ME! I'm begging here! I NEED ONE! My mistakes piss me off! Turst me you have no idea how annoying they are!

Okay, I'm REALLY REALLY SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG! But this chapter is really long (14 Microsoft Word pages) so that should be good and lots happens! I PROMISE!!

For now, I'll try to promise you faster updating and less spelling mistakes.

Oh and this is Fang singing, this is Jim singing, this is Iggy singing, this is Max singing, this is Casey singing, and Kari singing, this is Lilith singing, and this is all of them and is usually in brackets. This is the ()girls singing together() and this is )(the boys singing together)(

Easiest way to remember is that Boys are Bold and the girls are italic and then the people who like each other are similar. Ex: Iggy is bold underlined and Kari is italic underlined.

But for future reference my underline this is being annoying and sometimes doesn't underline stuff I want underlined... it actually stops right were Iggy comes in to sing... so just imagine there's a line there.

oh and to those ignored this... READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE!!

otherwise...

READ AWAY!

Chapter 4
(Fang's POV)

I walked up the steps of school the next morning with a calm expression. I'd asked Lilith if she'd sing for us and she had jumped at the chance. I think she wanted to prove to me that she could be strong and brave, but it just made her cuter.

I walked through the halls with no expression. I was waiting for the gapes and the whispering and the pointing. Last night my dreams were haunted with the faces of my peers' frightened faces when they learned who I was and what I was. I should have known that news wouldn't travel that fast, but I was worried, what if she told people?

I walked through the halls, feeling slightly insecure, but not showing it. The others had taken the car and I'd flown. I sighed as I approached my locker. I opened it and put away some books I wouldn't need until the afternoon. I sighed and decided to go to the bathroom before class.

I walked over to the nearest bathroom and stood looking at myself in the mirror. No one was in here and I just stared at myself. There were shadows under my eyes and I rubbed some sleep out of my eyes. "Urgh," I groaned, I was so tired. I kept waking up last night and kept dreaming about the faces of my classmates and what everyone would say to me. Even my hair looked limp and dead.

I ran my hands through my hair, trying to make it looked somewhat alive. I gave up trying to look like I was among the living and left for my first class.

The others were there and they looked at me when I entered. Max's eyes went to mine and I sat down beside her. "Are you okay? You looked tired…" She whispered in my ear.

"Ya, I didn't sleep too well last night, but I'm fine," I whispered back.

She took my hand and squeezed it and focused on the teacher.

By drama I was totally wiped out. I was so tired I could just sleep on the piano keys as I sat in front of the piano. The talent show was exactly in two days and I still needed to learn the last few bars of the song.

I sighed and rubbed my eyes, Mrs. Dillwyn cast me a glance and I quickly looked away. I started to play. The words filtered through my head and I smiled as I played.

The presence over my shoulder was instantly known despite my growing drowsiness. "Yes?" I asked as I played.

"Are you alright? You seem tired…" Mrs. Dillwyn said and I could hear the worry in her voice.

"It's nothing I haven't dealt with before," I muttered and yawned.

She sat on the other side of the stool and watched me play, "That's not really the point," She whispered.

"What is?" I was honestly curious. What was the point? To anything really; there was none.

"The point is that sleep helps your mind and body grow and learn." She said sincerely.

"There is nothing here to learn that would help me survive, and if there was, I've already learned it. I'm almost as tall as Jacob; I don't need to grow anymore." I muttered as I finished the last note.

Mrs. Dillwyn pursed her lips. "That's not really the point."

"Then what is?" I growled in frustration. I had to hold myself back from smashing my hands on the keys.

Mrs. Dillwyn seemed surprise by my sudden rush of anger. My fingers began another song I'd known for a long time. I closed my eyes and let it calm me. "Did you tell anyone?" I asked her my eyes still closed.

"About Kari? No I haven't had time to go to the counsellors and talk to them about it," She said quietly.

"I meant about Max, Iggy and I," I said and focused on the keys to calm me.

"No, I told you I wouldn't. I told my husband. He's a doctor and I told him this secret was doctor/patient confidentially worthy," She said casually.

I sighed and all the tension seemed to disappear and my fingers were instantly lighter on the keys, "Thanks."

"Is this why you are stressed and lost sleep?" Mrs. Dillwyn asked suddenly upset.

I opened one eye a crack to glance at her, "Maybe. What's it to you?" I took a deep calming breath to keep my temper and paranoia down.

"F-Nick, jeez," She groaned slightly, "I said your secret is safe with me. Now just relax."

I opened my eyes and the keys slowed to a crawl. I felt my walls going down and I frowned, I quickly worked to build them up again, "Whatever." I muttered and got up. I went around the other side and left her there.

Max looked up at me and patted the spot beside her. I sat and she lay down and I lay down with her. She took my hand, "Fang," She whispered so softly no one had a hope of hearing, "Can you do something for me?" She asked me looking me in the eyes.

"Sure," I answered instantly.

"Close your eyes and get some rest. I'll wake you up if anything happens." The look in her eyes told me she wasn't really asking me to do it.

I sighed and closed my eyes and let myself slip into a needed, dreamless sleep.

I was awoken by the sound of a bell and I jumped. Max patted my arm, "Just the final bell Fang."

I rolled my eyes and sat up, "What happened while Max forced me to knock myself out?" I asked my friends and they laughed.

Max's eyes narrowed at me but she didn't do anything else after. "Nothing much, just planning on how to do it," Casey said.

I nodded as I rubbed sleep out of my eyes. The class was starting to file out. I smiled as my friends and I got up. We filed out the door with the rest of our class.

We left and Max and I flew. It was kind of nice, we just flew calmly home. We had to take all sorts of precautions to make sure Randle didn't follow us, but we got there around the same time.

Lilith ran to me and I picked her up and hugged her to me. "Hey Lili, what did you do today?" I asked her.

"Alison and I went shopping, I got new clothes, I got a dress for the talent show, and I helped her pick out food and I got you a pineapple," She said smiling proudly.

"A pineapple, wow, that's amazing," It had never been so hard to put that tone reserved for little kids in my voice. I was just simply way too tired, "Why'd you get me a pineapple?" I asked her feeling confused.

"Well Max said you like pineapple the best out of all the fruits, other than apples, but we already had apples and they look like you in the morning." She said rambling a little. "You know because you're hair is all sticking up and funny looking," she giggled.

"Well that's right little umpa-lumpa, I do like pineapples, but Max likes pineapple the best. She played you for a sucker," I teased her, tickling her little tummy. Max rolled her eyes, but she had totally tricked Lilith. Max loves pineapple, I like pineapple, but it's true, I like apples better.

"What kind of sucker?" She asked me grinning but looking confused.

I tapped my chin as I walked inside pretending to look thoughtful. "A secret sucker from my secret stash," I whispered knowing what she'd think it was.

"Oh! Is it a lollypop?" She yelled clapping her hands.

"Maybe you'll just have to wait until after dinner to see," I whispered, pretending like it was a big secret. She grinned, "But you'll only get it if you eat all of your dinner and not tell a soul."

She giggled and I set her down, "Alison! Guess what? Fangie is going to give me a lollypop after dinner if I eat all my dinner!"

I sighed and rolled my eyes, "Apparently the concept of 'not telling a soul' has yet to register in her mind," I mumbled.

Max giggled, "You better have lollypops and how come I've never seen this secret stash of candy that you've got?" She asked putting her hands on her hips.

"Because you'd eat it all," I said as if it was obvious, "And what are you doing telling Lilith that I like pineapple? Get over here you little trickster," I said running after her.

She giggled and ran for it, "Hey, Iggy's totally done that before, everyone knows that if you want Lilith to do it just put your name in front of it." Max said as if it was obvious as I chased her around the couch.

I rolled my eyes and I tackled her onto the couch, the both of us burst into hysterics and I started tickling her until she cried. "Fang! No fair!" Max yelled between her laughs and I released her.

I was totally exhausted now. I seriously was in need of a heavy duty nap. I was actually quite comfortable here. I blinked and my eyes didn't open again.

(Max's POV)

Okay so I tricked a 4 year old into buying a pineapple, big deal. Iggy got Lilith to buy chips and a two litre pop! I was laughing so hard and I looked down to tell Fang about that when I saw him blink and his eyes just stayed closed.

"Fang!" Lilith yelled and I put my finger to my lips and she was instantly quiet.

"Your silly big brother is very tired," I whispered to her and she nodded, her brown hair bouncing a bit.

I slowly got up and covered him with a blanket, "Come on Lili, let's go cut up some pineapple and leave him to sleep." I whispered and she grinned and nodded. I took her hand and started for the kitchen.

"I've never had pineapple, is it good?" Lilith whispered looking up at me with wide, round eyes.

I nodded, and she giggled and grinned. She ran into the kitchen, she was truly too cute. I needed to call Nudge, Angel and Gazzy again. I was going to surprise the others by bringing them up to see the talent show. I had also talked to Alice and she said that if we could convince the pack then they'd come down too.

Over the next two days we practiced like crazy to do pretty well at the talent show. Mrs. Dillwyn pulled us out of a few classes to practice through the talent show so we had Lilith on call. Basically Alison and Lilith spent the two days in the elementary school playground waiting for us to run out and get them when we needed them.

The weirdest thing happened the other day; we voted for our valedictorian or whatever for graduation, it's going to be the day after the talent show, good planning? I think not, and you'll never guess who was picked… the golden poster boy of Forks, Fang. I nearly pee myself from laughing every time I think about it. I mean Fang isn't that smart is he? All I can say is that this school has a good supply of angry nerds now.

He's constantly been complaining about how he doesn't want to do it, but if you ever mutter a word about him talking to someone about getting someone else to do it he gets all defensive and says he can do it. I swear there is no just reasoning with him when he's like that.

I was so happy, I got the pack to agree to let the Cullens come down and see the talent show. I was so happy about that, I knew Fang missed Alice and I missed them a little too.

The day of the talent show was, well, crazy for lack of a better word. Forks High school was going crazy because the whole town pretty much wanted to go. Mrs. Dillwyn was going crazy trying to organize people and I was going crazy because of Fang's obnoxious complaining about being the valedictorian.

I was in the bathroom with Casey and Kari getting ready. Casey was more excited than Nudge would be. I swear she was going to explode or something. Kari and I were wearing the same abnormally paranoid look on our faces; neither of us liked public attention.

Fang, Jim and Iggy were somewhere in the house downstairs. I wanted to downstairs to see their faces when the Cullens and the rest of the flock walked through the door.

We headed down; I'd told the two girls but had sworn them to secrecy. I ran down the stairs as the doorbell rang. Jim pulled him up from the couch and went to get the door. Fang was sitting with Lilith on his lap and she and him were talking, he looked up at the door as it opened and he stopped saying whatever he was saying to her.

"Hi guys!" Nudge yelled and she ran over to give me a hug.

"Oh my God!" Iggy said staring wide eyed at the rest of the flock as they piled in. "What are you guys doing here?" he asked bumping his fist with Gazzy.

"Max called us to tell us to get our whiney heinies up here," Angel said taking off her coat and she walked over to Lilith who was reaching out for Angel to hug her.

Fang and Iggy looked at me, "You sneaky little bird-girl," Iggy laughed and I just grinned somewhat angelically. Angel giggles as she held Lilith who was whispering to her about God knows what.

Jim shook his head at us and was about to walk away from the door when there was another knock. He rolled his eyes and opened the door.

"Alice?" Fang's voice was happy and surprised.

"Hey!" Alice chirped bounced over to give him a hug. The rest of the Cullens were slowly piling in and I smiled at them.

Ryan came in and Angel immediately put down Lilith and ran over to hug him.

Jacob came around the corner in the kitchen and smiled at them. "Hey, I talked to Sam and he's okay with you guys staying here for a while. I don't know if you're staying until tomorrow or leaving tonight, but you're welcome to stay until tomorrow night."

Carlisle smiled, "Thank you Jacob, I'm not sure how long we're staying." He looked down at his watch, "We should go; I was told they had to be there at 6:45 to be ready for 7."

Jacob nodded, "I was just about to get in the car," he said picking up his jacket. "Uh, who's going with whom?" He asked all of us.

"Fang is going with me!" Alice shouted instantly. "So are Max, Lilith and Jasper." She waved us over and started out.

"Hey Alice wait up!" Lilith yelled running after her. I giggled and followed the others out.

(Fang's POV)

When I saw Alice I had to restrain myself from jumping up and hugging her, at least she realized I wanted one and gave me one. She smiled and lightly kissed my cheek subtly.

"Hey, I talked to Sam and he's okay with you guys staying here for a while. I don't know if you're staying until tomorrow or leaving tonight, but you're welcome to stay until tomorrow night." I barely registered Jacob saying that Alice was whispering to me.

"I missed you, Fang, there was a lack of sarcasm. Although the others tried it didn't have the right vibe," She said smiling and I chuckled a little.

"Fang is going with me!" Alice shouted suddenly, apparently I'd been out of it and I hadn't been paying attention to the conversation that was happening around me. "So are Max, Lilith and Jasper." She added and started out.

"Hey Alice wait up!" Lilith yelled and I grinned as she ran after Alice. I looked at the kitchen to see Emeric there, watching the Cullens.

I met eye contact with him. I smiled slightly, "Fang come on!" I heard Alice yell. My smile turned into a grin and I left into the dark after them.

The car ride to school was pretty calm even though Alice drove like a maniac. "I see you got over your fear of cars," Jasper noted from the seat in front of me.

I shrugged, "It all depends on the driver."

"See he feels safe when I drive," Alice said sticking her tongue out at him.

Lilith put her little hand in mine, "Auntie Alice did you know that I'm singing with Fangie." She asked swinging her legs and practically beaming. The little girl was wearing a spaghetti strap dress that was covered with little flowers that looked adorable on her.

"Yes, I did," Alice said and I could just feel the excitement coming off her. "Max told me, but I just know you're going to be amazing." She said and tapped her temple, "You'll be fantastic."

Max smiled and Jasper sighed, "Cool it down Alice," he muttered.

"Well sorry Jasper, I just can't wait for this to start!" Alice said grinning like the crazy little pixie she is.

Jasper sighed and massaged his temples. Max and I chuckled; Lilith just smiled and swung her legs.

We arrived right at 6:45 and Max, Lilith and I headed for the drama room to meet the others. Jasper and Alice waved goodbye and said they'd be in the audience.

"Hey where are the others?" Max asked me nudging me in the side with her elbow.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. I saw where they were. "Jim and Casey are taking Kari and Iggy, they're just parking. The Cullens are nearly here and Jacob and Alison and the rest of the flock are with them. Happy?" I sneered.

She gave me a look and stuck her tongue out, "Yes."

The others came and we practiced a little but other than that we were set.

I shook out my hands as I waited, "Why are you doing that Nick?" Lilith stage whispered. We'd told her that you're not allowed to talk loudly behind stage and she'd seriously taken up the challenge. A bunch of people smiled at her. They'd all agreed that she was the cutest thing ever.

"Loosens up the fingers for when I play," I whispered back.

She smiled and nodded. Mrs. Dillwyn went out and I grinned as she told the audience about tonight.

We were the 13th act out of 25 so we had to wait a little while. By far we were the largest. So far it was going pretty well. Iggy looked like he was going to explode any second. "Do I really have to sing?" He asked me quietly for the thousandth time.

I rolled my eyes, "Yes, you only have a few lines to yourself so just relax."

He sighed and nodded. "Hey that's the 12th act, ours is next. Don't you need to practice?" He asked in a whisper.

I shook my head, "No, if I practice it anymore I'm going to scream."

Iggy chuckled softly and the curtain closed for our act. I dragged him onto the stage and we all assembled there. I forever am thankful the piano is on wheels. I wheeled it into place and got Lilith to sit beside me on the bench. I'd given her the order to not touch the keys and handed her the microphone she'd be using. I had told her how to turn it on before so she did and she grinned at me as she waited. Max, Kari and Casey were all sitting on top of the piano and Iggy and Jim were standing beside them.

"This next group is full of students that are overflowing with talent. Together they have come together to sing a song for you all. I would like to welcome to the stage, Iggy Griffiths, Kari Hennessey, Maxine Ride, Casey Delanie, Jim Creek, Nick Riles and his little sister Lilith Riles." Mrs. Dillwyn's voice through the curtain sounded very respectful. The curtain started to open and I started to play.

The song was Raise It Up from that August Rush movie. It was an okay song, it wasn't a favourite of mine, but it fits.

Lilith flicked on my mike and put it in the little holder thing that held it exactly where I wanted it to hold it and I started to sing.

No father figure in the house
and I'm wonderin' how I'm gonna work it out
oh, my friends keep on tellin' me how I don't need that man

but they don't really understand
there are far too many pressures in reality

but dealing with the pain and stress and poverty
and I gotta be myself because there's nobody else for me

The others came in right on time and I grinned. Lilith was practically vibrating with excitement and I smiled at her. Jim sang the next verse and he was right on time and in key. He smiled at me from around the others and I grinned.

(heading there with me) sometimes it takes a different kind of love to raise a child
(so don't give up)
so don't give up
(when pressures come down)
sometimes it takes a different kind of dream to make you smile
(so raise it up)
so raise
(hang in there with me)
sometimes we need another helping hand to show the ways
(so don't give up)
so don't give up
(when pressures come down)
sometimes it seems impossible and that's why we pray
(so raise it up)
we raise

Lilith grinned and held the mike to her lips the way I showed her and started to sing. As she sang she hopped up from the bench and walked around to the others like we had done in practice a billion times.

Seems to be nothing left for me mommas gone daddy didn't wanna be and now I'm all by myself wonderin where is love or
should I just give up

Casey took a deep breath before singing. She hopped down and stood beside Lilith.

life falls down on me, cuts into my soul but I know I got the strength to make it through it all cause I'm still standin tall
breaking through this wall I'm gonna give my all

Lilith grinned at her as she sang. I glanced at the audience, all eyes seemed to be on my 'sister' and I nearly laughed because she didn't even notice.

Feelin like a motherless child hate cuts into my soul it's bringing me down can't find my smile on a face of a motherless child

Lilith and the other girls sang this part together and their voices were in perfect harmony.

()I'm gonna break down these walls gonna give it my all ya know
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahhhh()

We all sang the group part as Jim sang his line.

(hang in there with me) sometimes it takes a different kind of love to raise a child
(so don't give up)
so don't give up

Max and Jim switched and she sang the next two lines.

(when pressures come down) sometimes it takes a different kind of dream to make a smile
(so raise it up) so raise it up

Iggy sent me that, 'I can't believe you're making me do this' look before he sang the next line. For goodness sake it was three words! He can be such a drama queen.

(hang in there with me) raise it up

Kari smiled at Iggy before singing her part and he blushed. I focused on playing before I lost my train of thought.

Sometimes it takes another helping hand to show you the way
(so don't give up, when pressures come down)

sometimes it seems impossible that's why we pray
so raise it up

We all sang the last line together and I was pretty happy with how it all turned out.

Once we were done they started clapping. Iggy glanced back at me, a smile on his face. I turned off my mike and chuckled. All walked forward and met in the middle and we all bowed. The people applauded and we smiled as the curtains closed. They helped me roll the piano away for the other people and backstage Lilith jumped into my arms, "That was awesome," she whispered.

I swung her around, "You were awesome," I whispered to her and she swung her feet and giggled.

Max ran over and kissed my cheek, "That was so… amazing."

I grinned, "I know." A picture flashed across my eyes and I looked around wildly. "Where's Iggy?" I asked instantly.

"He just left for the bathroom… why?" Max asked looking confused.

"His parents are here."

(Iggy's POV)

I really needed to use the bathroom, like really. Everyone I came across was saying how great we did, and I couldn't help but agree. I was surprised that I was able to go out there. Ya, I didn't have a big part, but I happen to be paranoid and have a heck of a lot of stage fright.

On the way back from the bathroom I froze on the spot. Two people down the hall looked too much like my parents. My father looked right at me and I was frozen in the spot. I slowly backed up and turned, walking fast down the hall. My breath was coming faster and I rounded the corner and ran outside into the dark night. I ran around the side of the building. I stared in shock; I was at a dead end. I leaned against the wall and prayed they wouldn't find me.

"James!" my mother's voice rang through the night and I squeezed my eyes shut. If they came around the corner I'd be screwed.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked at the opening between the two buildings.

My father came around the corner and in the dark I couldn't tell if he'd seen me or if he was looking at me, but I knew he was there.

"James, James, James," he said in a scolding tone, "You should have told us you can sing, but it's time for you to come home now. We're leaving, now, and there's no need to say goodbye I'll leave your freaky friends a message." He said as he walked towards me.

I backed up until I was right against the end and I shook my head, "No."

"What?" My father spat.

"I said no, I'm not leaving," I said standing a little straighter. I was taller than my father but I'd gotten into the habit of slouching around him.

"Yes, you are you ungrateful child," he yelled at me.

"I'm not a child," I said back to him. "I've survived on my own for nearly 15 years of my life and I won't let you control my life now. I'm nearly 18, I'm almost an adult, and I can do what I want."

Something hard connected with my face and my head wacked against wall behind it. I realized it was a hand as hands gripped my shoulders and threw me to the ground. I lay there and he started kicking me, "You will listen to me! I am your father and you will do what I say!" He yelled at me, every word was a kick to the gut and when he stopped I lay there with my arms wrapped around my torso. My insides were in pain and my mind begged for it to stop.

This has to stop. My mind told me. I can't live like this. I tried to take a deep breath, but it hurt. Get up! Tell him that you're not going to listen to him! Tell him that he's not your father! Tell him you won't do what he says! I yelled at myself.

Who am I kidding? I'm not strong enough to do this. I thought feeling defeated.

Fang's words from when I said I wasn't as strong as him came back to me and I smiled at them.

"You are a strong, intelligent, brave son of an asshole who is stronger than me in many, many ways, so if I hear you say that one more time I'll be the one to pop you in the side of the head."

Somehow I found the strength to use my shaky arms to lift me up. I got up onto my knees and slowly stood.

"No, I won't listen to you, and I won't do what you say. Someone once told me that I am a strong, intelligent, brave son of an asshole who is stronger than him and he was right. You do not control me and you can't make money off me." Fang's words had given me some strength to say that and the punch in the gut nearly made my knees buckle.

"You are not strong or any of those things, you are worthless. Do you understand? Worthless!" He yelled at me. In the back of my mind I could hear someone approaching our little fight.

I heard someone let out an angry grunt somewhere and my father fell into me. I pushed him off me. I squinted in the dark and I looked down at the girl there. Kari wrapped her arms around me gingerly and I held her. She was shaking so I rubbed her back. "Oh my God, I heard you two talking. You know what he said isn't true right? You were right; you are strong and brave and stuff. You know that, right?"

I smiled, "Ya, I know."

"I can't believe I punched your father…" She whispered randomly.

"Where did you hit him?" I asked her, although I wanted him to be hurt I didn't want him to be seriously injured.

"I don't know… I think in the back somewhere," She whispered.

"Do you know where my mom went?" I asked her, as if she knew.

"I don't know, Fang saw you though, I heard him say your parents were here so I went to look for you," She said.

"But… what if you came across your dad?" I asked her.

I felt her shrug, "You're the most important thing to me, I wasn't about to let you slip away."

I smiled, "Thanks Kari."

"No problem, after all, between you and Fang, I seriously owe you guys," She giggled.

I let go of her to lean down and check to make sure he wasn't seriously hurt. "Come on, I guess we should go find Carlisle. Although I don't like him I don't want to just leave him here."

She smiled, "Okay, but Iggy can I do something first?" She asked.

"Uh, sure," I said, completely clueless as to what she was talking about.

She took my face in her hands and I felt something soft touch my lips. It took me seriously way to long for me to realize it was her lips. I kissed her back and she slowly pulled away after. "I'm sorry," She said a little breathless, "I've wanted to do that for a long time."

I chuckled, "It's okay."

She smiled in the dark and we went to find the others.

A/N: so there you have it... who here expected it to be Kari? 'Cause I was planning on making it Fang till I kind of decided that it would be more... significant (I think that's the word I'm going for) if it was Kari