I struggled to walk in a straight line in the high heels as I waltzed through the halls, trying to leave the stupid school. But, with my mind on other things, I forgot which way was out!

I rounded a corner and ran into something hard. I grunted as I started to fall back but an arm caught me and hoisted me back up. I looked up and saw dark, dark orbs of beauty. I stopped my blush midway at the thought. But Fang smiled at me anyway, seeming to read my mind like he used to.

I licked my lips, a little nervous. "Hello there…" I greeted, trying to act nonchalant.

He raised an eyebrow, chuckling once. "What? No quip about me still holding you?" I looked down and realized his arm had been around me still. I shrugged, not caring all that much. Fang's small smile dropped slowly as his eyebrows drew down closer to his eyes. "Why'd you run?"

I sighed and stepped away, his arm falling to his side as I turned and slowly paced around, trying to figure a way to explain. "It's… well, um, it's just that-" I looked at him and had the words in my mind but I couldn't seem to say them.

He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms, his ankles crossed too. He was waiting for an answer but giving me my space. I didn't really want space, I wanted him to hold me.

Oh, God.

Forget I said that.

Just forget.

"Don't go." I heard myself say. It seemed to shock us both. I started walking toward him. "Fang, don't leave me again. I could barely handle it the first time, don't make me go through it a second," I wound up right in front of him. "More importantly, don't leave Ella." I looked into his eyes, just trying to make him understand. "You shouldn't- You can't- I won't let you leave. Not again."

He just stared back at me. I saw nothing in his eyes, no expression on his face. And it made me angry. Extremely angry. I think all that I've been going through this past year had built up and now it was overflowing.

"Okay, you know what? Fine! Don't listen to me! Leave, go ahead! Just leave! See if I care! Go and ignore me, and go live your old Lala Land again!" I spun on my heel and stormed away, my heels creating a dramatic effect, the clicking showing I seriously was walking away and not faking it.

As I started to really get away, a hand grasped my arm and spun me around to a stop. Fang was hugging me tightly to him. Not like he was upset, but like he was afraid I'd really leave.

"I'm sorry." He murmured into my hair. "I'm so sorry. I didn't think you'd- I didn't know I had- Oh, God, I'm sorry,"

"Stop apologizing and stay." I mumbled into his blazer. I buried my face into his chest. "Just stay with me."

I felt Fang's hand in my hair and he tightened his grip, pulling my head back slowly. I didn't resist. As soon as my face was away from his chest, he lowered his lips to mine and gently placed ours together. He let go of my hair when I made no sign of leaving.

"Aw!"

"So cute!"

We pulled apart and looked to our left to see Iggy, Ella, and Nudge standing there, witnessing it. I blushed and tried to step out of Fang's grasp, not liking how much affection we were showing. Fang wouldn't let me go.

"Fang," I whined quietly, embarrassed.

He smiled at me. "You're gonna have to get used to it, Max," He laughed, pulling me closer protectively.

Ella and Nudge were smiling so huge, I thought their faces would break. Iggy… well, Iggy looked like the stern older brother. I bit my lip and looked down and away, covering my face with my hair.

"Fang," Iggy called out. I peeked up at him through my hair. He looked serious. "Not in front of me, okay? I'd rather keep my dinner."

I smiled a tiny smile and lifted my head, so many remarks flying through my mind. "Why not?" I sarcastically whined. "I mean, I have to watch you and Nudge all the time. And you guys aren't exactly good at sneaking around, either."

Fang chuckled, hiding his face in my hair, trying to muffle it. After all, Iggy and Nudge were still his bosses. And, teaming up, they could kick his ass… I think. Unless he got stronger over the years, I'm not too sure. Oh, God, I'm babbling.

"Neither were you and Fang," Iggy quipped.

"At least we didn't scream," I laughed back. Nudge hit Iggy on his arm. "I told you she heard us!"

I laughed even harder, tears coming to my eyes.

Iggy sort of ignored Nudge, trying to win this little battle. "At least I still get some!"

Fang's and my laughter immediately stopped.

After an almost endless silence, Ella broke it, shuddering. "Ew!!!!!!!" She shook her head to rid the thoughts. "That's so gross, Iggy! You're disgusting!"

"What? You made that assumption on the phone the other morning!" He defended.

Fang and I had separated after Iggy's comment. I didn't meet his eyes at all, totally ready to kill Iggy.

"I was joking!" Ella yelled.

"Hey, at least he isn't!" Iggy tried to point out.

"Iggy!" Ella squeaked, still red in the face from anger. "I do not need to know about my uncle's libido or action or lack thereof!"

"Hey!" Fang yelled, insulted.

I stifled a laugh and turned it into a cough. Everyone looked at me like I was calling their attention with the cough. Shit, time to be leader. "Ella, that's enough," I tried to sound stern. I saw Iggy looking smug. "And, Iggy, that was too much. You need to grow up."

"Excuse me?!" He ground, infuriated by the fact that his little sister was scolding him.

I took a step forward. "For Christ's sake, Iggy, you were arguing with an eighteen-year-old about sex! You're supposed to be a role model for these kids and you're being as immature as ever! Just because your best friend from high school is back-"

"Max-" Iggy tried to interrupt.

"-it doesn't mean you get to act like you're back in tenth grade." I finished off rather smoothly, my voice still the same, easy level. "Iggy, I love you, but sometimes, you need to be an adult. And keep some things confidential." I added, as light as a feather.

He was silent for a while as we all just stood there. Ella looked embarrassed to have fought with Iggy about other people's business and pretty guilty for it too.

"Iggy," Ella sighed and bit her lip, stepping over to him. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I argued and I'm sorry I cause so much trouble," Her eyes started to fill with tears to the brim and her breathing started to stagger. "I didn't mean to be such a bother, I'm sorry." The tears overflowed and spilled down her cheeks, not mixing with her waterproof mascara. She covered her mouth to silence the cries and ran off.

"Ella!" I yelled for her, concerned, ready to run after her.

Fang put a hand on my arm to stop me. I stared at him, ready to throw him across the hall floor so I could run after Ella. "Don't forget about your heels." He informed me.

I looked at my feet and then rid them of the sprained ankle waiting to happen. I grabbed Fang's hand and we ran off to find her.

We made it to the parking lot and saw her car gone. I looked at Fang. "The apartment," I said, sort of as a question. He nodded and we got to my car.

~~!!~~

We pulled into the parking lot of my apartment building and I saw Ella's car. As we ran up to my floor, I noticed my door was open. Yeah, she was in there. I ran in first and looked around. Her heels were by the door, carelessly thrown. I went over to my bedroom and slowly opened the door in case she was near it. I didn't want to give her a concussion.

She was sitting near my closet, wearing some pajamas she left there at one point. She left some things at my place in case she ever wanted to sleep over or if she couldn't get home before the night was over. Her dress was carefully placed on the bed.

I sat next to her curled form and started petting her hair, getting rid if all the clips in it so it could fully be let down. I didn't try to convince her of anything while I fixed her hair.

"You've got a face for a smile, you know.

A shame you waste it when you're breaking me slowly.

But I've got a world of chances, for you.

I've got a world of chances, for you.

I've got a world of chances, chances that you're burning through.I've got a paper and pen.

I go to write a goodbye and that's when I know I've

got a world of chances for you.

I've got a world of chances, for you.

I've got a world of chances, chances that you're burning , I'm going my own way.

My faith has lost its strength again.

& Ohhhh, it's been too hard to say we've fallen off the edge again.

We're at the end.

We're at the you'll call me someday.

Hear the operator say the numbers no good and that she had a world of chances for you.

She had a world of chances, for you.

She had a world of chances, chances you were burning through.

Chances you were burning through.

Chances you were burning through.

Ooooh

You've got a face for a smile, you know." [World Of Chances by Demi Lovato]

That was Ella's favorite song that she had found I had written. She always had listened to it her sophomore year when she was upset.

Ella lifted her head as I had sung the last lyric and she gave me a tiny smile. Her tears still remained on her face but no more were coming. I wiped them away.

I never knew how to cheer Ella up with actual speeches so I always sang her favorite songs or unexpected songs. "I can ride my bike with no handlebars

No handlebars

No handlebars," I smiled at Ella as she laughed, her shoulders relaxing. She smiled back, happy again.

"I can ride my bike with no handlebars

No handlebars

No handlebars"

"Look at me, look at me

hands in the air like it's good to be

ALIVE

and I'm a famous rapper

even when the paths're all crookedy

I can show you how to do-si-do

I can show you how to scratch a record

I can take apart the remote control

And I can almost put it back together

I can tie a knot in a cherry stem

I can tell you about Leif Ericson

I know all the words to "De Colores"

And "I'm Proud to be an American"

Me and my friend saw a platypus

Me and my friend made a comic book

And guess how long it took

I can do anything that I want cuz, look:

I can keep rhythm with no metronome

No metronome

No metronome" Fang was singing from the doorway, making Ella smile even more.

I can see your face on the telephone

On the telephone

On the telephone

Look at me

Look at me

Just called to say that it's good to be

ALIVE

In such a small world

All curled up with a book to read

I can make money open up a thrift store

I can make a living off a magazine

I can design an engine sixty four

Miles to a gallon of gasoline

I can make new antibiotics

I can make computers survive aquatic conditions

I know how to run a business

And I can make you wanna buy a product

Movers shakers and producers

Me and my friends understand the future

I see the strings that control the systems

I can do anything with no assistance

I can lead a nation with a microphone

With a microphone

With a microphone

I can split the atoms of a molecule

Of a molecule

Of a molecule

Look at me

Look at me

Driving and I won't stop

And it feels so good to be

Alive and on top

My reach is global

My tower secure

My cause is noble

My power is pure

I can hand out a million vaccinations

Or let'em all die in exasperation

Have'em all healed of their lacerations

Have'em all killed by assassination

I can make anybody go to prison

Just because I don't like'em and

I can do anything with no permission

I have it all under my command

I can guide a missile by satellite

By satellite

By satellite

and I can hit a target through a telescope

Through a telescope

Through a telescope

and I can end the planet in a holocaust

In a holocaust

In a holocaust

In a holocaust

In a holocaust

In a holocaust

I can ride my bike with no handlebars

No handle bars

No handlebars

I can ride my bike with no handlebars

No handlebars

No handlebars." [Handlebars by Flobots]

"See, Ella?" I turned to her, smiling. "Everything is going to be fine. You're not trouble, you're not a burden. We all love you. Truly do."

I stood and lifted her to her feet. She sniffled and looked at Fang. He stood straight and opened his arms wide, smirking: waiting for a hug.

Ella ran to him and jumped into his arms. He wrapped his own around her tightly. "You… are the greatest niece I could ask for. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

I leaned against my wall, staring at the two. I dug around in my closet and grabbed twenty dollars out of a jacket pocket. "Hey, Ella," I faced her as she and Fang let go.

I handed her the money.

"What's this for?" She asked, completely confused.

"Why don't you go see a movie and grab a bite to eat?" I suggested. "Maybe grab yourself some ice cream at Walgreens too."

She looked back and forth between us and shrugged. "Okay, sure." She seemed wary. "Just let me get changed and I'll go." She grabbed some of my clothes and went into the bathroom.

Fang just stared at me, confused and wondering.

Ella came out and ran out of the apartment. "Bye, guys!" She slammed the door shut after putting some shoes on.

"What was that about, Max?" Fang asked, chuckling as he loosened his tie.

We went into the family room and he sat on the couch, leaning back into its comfortableness. [Yeah, that's a word…Didn't need SpellCheck on that. {But I do for SpellCheck XD}]

"I thought that if I cried in front of her, she wouldn't think of me as Tough Max any more." I explained, turning toward the sound system.

"Why would you cry?" He sounded alarmed and I could hear him stand up.

I turned around with a case in my hands. I walked toward Fang and handed it to him. He sat down at the same time as me.

He gazed up at me, confusion etched into his face. "The DVD I made you?"

"I haven't watched it yet." I admitted.

"But… why not?"

"Because the only footage there is of us being together was taken by Marian. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to handle it at all after the CD." I didn't look him in the eyes.

"I'll watch it with you?" He tried to sound comforting but it just came off unsure.

I smiled at that. "You can… if you want, you don't have to."

He pulled my head toward his and pressed his lips to my forehead. "I want to."

He patted my knee and got up to put the disc in. "Time to delve into our exciting past!" He said with fake enthusiasm. That made me smile up at him.

I had a tissue box sitting the coffee table.

I knew I would burst once I saw Marian again…

I am back! My computer fell off the coffee table and the hinges snapped but it's working so I'm happy! I'll be updating as much as possible! Look out for a new chapter next week!