I opened my eyes (once again) to reveal a fuzzy black figure to my right. I blinked a few times as Fang's tired face came into view, just as he stifled a huge yawn.

"Tired?" I quipped. He shot me a look and I blushed as I suddenly realised I had no idea where I was, or why I was in bed.

I must have looked considerably confused, for Fang was now regarding me nervously. "Are you ok?" he asked me.

"I'm not sure where I am," I replied, still confused, although an irresistible odour was winding its way up my nostrils. "Why can I smell cookies?"

"We're at your friend Ella's house," Fang began. "I brought you here after what happened at the beach- you remember what happened at the beach, don't you?" I nodded as images started to filter into my brain. "Anyway, Dr. Martinez, I mean, her Mom, managed to close your wounds, although you lost a ton of blood, practically, so Iggy and I had to, you know, help out."

I nodded again, wincing as the stitches I hadn't realised were there tugged in my side. Fang was still sat beside me, watching me silently, which I have to admit was a little unnerving. He was being nice though, I guess, which counted for something...especially compared to normal. Speaking of which...

"Where're the others?" he nodded towards the window; Mr. Rock was back. I followed his gaze out to the trees where Angel and Nudge were talking about something or other. A disposable barbeque lay discarded at its base- I could guess what Iggy and Gazzy had been doing.

Max? Angel thought.

Yeah? My head was filled with excitement as the girls flew down the tree and up the stairs.

"Max!" they exclaimed as my neck was wrung in what Nudge clearly believed was a hug.

"Omigosh, I am so glad you're ok! 'Cause, we saw you when Fang brought you here and we thought you were just joking with us, you know? Except there was so much blood, and-" she fell silent at a significant glance from Angel, who clearly felt my impeding headache as much as I did.

Thanks, sweetie.

Iggy, Gazzy and Total soon followed the girls, and, once she got in from school, so did Ella. I noticed with mild interest that she was sat a lot closer to Iggy than usual, not that he seemed to mind that much. Dr. Martinez, I was reliably informed, was still at work, but would be home by five. I listened eagerly to everyone as they shared all pieces of information (no matter how boring, I noted with an internal yawn) that I had missed since arriving, but unfortunately for Nudge I was growing more and more tired as yawn after yawn was unsuccessfully stifled.

Fang noticed though, and, with a curt nod at the others, and a quick prod of Iggy, they soon left the room, leaving us alone, which obviously wasn't awkward at all.

Can you tell I'm being sarcastic?

My eyelids were fighting to stay open, but I repelled their urges as I saw Fang open his mouth nervously, running his hands through his hair. He sat down on the sofa next to the bed, squinting in the late afternoon sunlight. He reached out impulsively and gently stroked my forehead, pretty much the one unscathed part of my body.

OK, I'm exaggerating.

Whatever.

"I'm glad you're alright, Max," he mumbled. I smiled back at him, trying vainly to stay awake for a few more moments. He leaned down and pecked my forehead lightly- damn those Erasers for splitting my lips.

Still, it was better than nothing, right?

He smiled back at me and my heart beat loudly in my battered ribcage. I blushed and he laughed as he lay down on the sofa and went back to sleep.

You made me feel like the one,

Made me feel, like the one

The one.