A/N Sorry for the delay guys I've been busy trying to catch up on my college work. But great to know you all wait patiently and that patience is well rewarded, enjoy the update! Also heads up, there is some swearing in this chapter.

Chapter 9

Max POV

Despite the luxury fabric of the seats that were probably softer than a puppy fur coat, it didn't ease the pain at all when the car bumped over a pothole and made my aching body slam into the seats. I squeezed my eyes shut and ground my teeth together as my ribs creaked and pain shot through me as my shoulder flamed. A warm hand rested on my knee.

"You hanging in there okay?" Fang asked as he peered at my already purple and blue coloured face.

I opened my eyes to give him my levelled stare. "Peachy, but I would appreciate it if your driver tried to avoid the potholes rather than drive through every one he can find."

Fang chuckled. "He's actually avoiding most. The roads of your neighbourhood aren't that well kept."

I felt there was a hidden question or speculation in his words, I felt my warning signals flash certain he was going to touch on a sensitive topic. My family, my life, all in all it meant none of his business.

"Why do you live here? If you're in the fights like the others you can afford houses like my father, the fights may be rough but the pays darn good."

I tapped my fingers against my leg. "Necessity, I don't have a lot and I've only just been paid. This is the best I can get for now."

I tried not let shame and humiliation eat at me, the kids in school who didn't have enough money for the latest phone or clothes didn't even live in this part of town. Nobody who had kids would live her, it was run by drug dealers, thugs, thieves and possible murderers. It was my mum who had brought us here, nobody questioned or offered to help if screams were heard, they ignored you, it was easy for her to get her drugs and it meant we weren't under societies radar, they all ignored us really. Out of sight and out of sound. I had learned young no one would help, when I'd been little I'd ask the neighbours to help if me and Mum were being hit, they slammed the door in my face every time. So I learned to fight back, I learned to look out for myself and my family. I didn't need to rely on anyone, and I probably didn't know how to either.

Still, knowing I was the toughest thing but there and the local drug dealers steered out of my path didn't comfort me when the car slowed outside my house and stopped at the curb. Fang had seen my home before, but now I'd also seen his. My simple wreck of a house must've looked like a pig sty as opposed to his temple he called a house. The differences between us were about the same as our homes. Massive.

The moment the car slowed to a stop I pulled on the handle and dived out as fast as my sore body would let me. "Thanks for the ride." I swung the door closed but as I walked, well hobbled really, up the steps to my pathway and the house door.

It clicked in my head that there was no sound of the car door shitting, but there was the sound of another pair of feet following behind me. Okay Fang was too annoying for his own good. I paused at the front door and spun to look at him. He didn't even fidget awkwardly, as if he was use to following girls to their doors…well maybe he was.

"Will you please leave now, I appreciate the help but you interfere too much. Go away."

He shook his head. "You took a hell of a beating, I need to at least make sure you get settled down or your mum knows to keep an eye on you in case you have a concussion."

I couldn't help the harsh laugh that burst out of me. "My mum's probably not even home and she doesn't mess with my business. I don't need to be babied."

"Where is your mum? Is she working late?"

I narrowed my eyes. "It's none of your business." I turned and unlocked the door and swung the door open, before I'd left I'd managed to change back to my normal clothes, at least I felt more myself and even a bit better now I was in what I was use to.

"Max, you're back, how was the party?" Peter said as he glanced up from the kitchen table, he blinked then shot to his feet. "Fang, I didn't know you were here."

"Peter, why are you here?"

I sighed and walked to the sink and filled a glass with water. "Don't answer him, in fact throw him out, he came in uninvited."

And it said a lot about my condition and exhaustion at the fact I wasn't throwing him out myself, I felt as if I'd been out through the washer and wringer.

"Max has been having trouble with her mother's boyfriend, so Lucas arranged for me to babysit them so I could handle him if he showed up."

I felt rage rise in me as I dropped the glass in the sink, thankfully it didn't break. "You slick shmuck! You have no right to share my personal life with him!"

Peter shrugged. "He's my boss' kid, bite me if you don't like it."

"Don't tempt me." I grumbled. I tried to shift my gaze to the sink and ignore Fang's look that lasered on me.

"Peter go stand out by the door, I'll be there in a minute." At Fang's voice, Peter didn't even wait a second but simple obeyed.

I leant against the sink and folded my arms over my chest in an attempt to keep my pride and give him 'back the hell off' signs. "You can leave too."

Fang he took a step forward and it clicked in my head that with the dark interior of my house, he's dark looks and the dark expression he wore, he was very intimidating. He looked so much like Lucas. "I take it your mother's boyfriend isn't very nice?"

I ground my teeth together. "You could say that."

He took another step forward. "So un-nice that you have a fighter like Peter watch your house while you're out. Do you normally handle him?"

I took a deep breath which made my chest ache. "I can handle anything."

"For hells sake no wonder you fight, you're mum doesn't really work nights does she?"

Now I stepped forward, I was up close and in his face, I used a finger to poke him hard in the chest to the point he had to step back slightly. "What my mother does is none of your business, leave me and my family alone."

I felt fear slightly creep up into my mind, if Fang or anybody found out I was raising the kids by myself, paying the bills, handling her abusive boyfriends, and she was on drugs and alcohol nearly twenty-four-seven, I could lose Angel and Gazzy. All I had thought for was for nothing. But I couldn't just slam a door in Fangs face, he could seriously hurt my family, he knew too much, all he had to do was say something to the wrong person….and it would all be over.

So I did something that was so rare for me that I could count how many times I'd done it on one hand. I pleaded.

"Fang please, listen to me. I can handle my mum's boyfriend, I can handle keeping the family together, I can handle the fights and I can handle the house. But that's only if I'm able to keep Gazzy and Angel. If you tell anyone how we're living, what I'm doing, or what goes on in this house, I'd lose my brother and sister. We'd be separated and I won't be able to go with them, I've practically raised those kids and fought all the way for them, I can't lose them. Please, don't tell anyone anything."

I stared at him with honest eyes, allowing my anger, shame and rage ease aside to show what only gave to my siblings. The soft side of me, the me that had taught Angel how to walk, the me that had held Gazzy through the nights as he'd cried ill with a stomach bug, the me that had put Mum to bed after one of her bad episodes and she cursed the day I was born yet I still loved her even if she was a shell of a person and couldn't help herself. I was hoping he could see all that in my eyes.

He reached a hand up and surprisingly, he tucked a strand of hair behind my ears. I blinked not use to the gentle and kind gesture. "Max I wouldn't do anything to make you lose your family, but I want to help you. I can help you."

I frowned puzzled at him. "Why?"

He was silent a moment and I thought I'd never have an answer. "Because…..sometimes you just need to do the right thing, and Max I want to help you, I like you, and I help my friends. You're a good person."

I was still trying to wrap my mind around what he'd said, he liked me, what like as in friend, like as in curious, or like as in hmmm I like you? It made no sense to me, I wasn't glamorous, I wasn't eloquent, I wasn't gorgeous, I wasn't even the average girl. But at this point, could I trust Fang? It didn't matter how he liked me, only that he did and that would mean he'd keep his mouth shut. I needed that, I needed to at least trust him that far.

"Fine, you can help, a little. But don't you dare try and take over mine or my family's life, otherwise then we'll come to blows." I warned.

A smile lit his face and I felt my lips twitch wanting to smile back, I focused and realised how close we were, we had gone from invading personal space to be threatening to invading personal space and….being comfortable? He was close enough I could smell his deodorant, close enough I could see the wrinkled that lined his clothes, close enough that I could feel the warm air he breathed fan against my face. A shiver ran down my spine and I was shocked to hell.

I was thankful when the back door opened and Peter poked his head in. "Max, your mom's just showed up, she's lying in the garden and is giggling. Shall I bring her in?"

I turned my head to the side and stepped around Fang towards Peter. "No, I'll do it, she'll freak if a guy like you tries to grab her, she'll think she's being kidnapped or something."

Fang gripped my arm lightly and I stopped. "You're still hurt and it sounds like you're mums drunk."

Sure drunk, that's what she was, if that's what he thought I saw no need to correct him.

"Let me bring her in, I look less threatening than Peter, you could tell her I'm just a friend. Don't tell me you're fine either, you wince just to take in a deep breath. After all, you said I could help."

I nodded slowly, so this was what it felt to rely on someone else to help you. I felt slightly awkward, out of my comfort zone. "Fine, but I'll come, I won't lift her, just reassure her you're helping and not trying to mug her or anything."

He smiled again and nodded as we walked to the door where Peter stepped aside to reveal the view of Mum sprawled on the overgrown lawn that had broken toys and god knows what else strewn across it.

"Thank you." I nearly choked on the words as we approached Mum. She was giggling and waving her hands slightly. Fang glanced at me and I knew he'd heard my thanks.

I took a deep breath as I crouched down by Mum, ready to talk to her and ease her into the house. "Mum, this is my friend Fang from school, he's going to help you get into the house, I can't lift you this time….I fell over and I've hurt my back. So don't freak out okay?"

Mum blinked up at me from under her light blonde curls that spread all around her, tangled and messy but even I could see the shine in the curls that had made her a beauty once upon a time. Her t-shirt was slightly stained and the hem was ripped, her jeans that were skinny's hung on her hips, I knew underneath I would be able to see all her bones, no matter how many times I brought her food, she hardly ever ate it. I blinked at her dirty feet, she had either lost her shoes or had gone out with them, and there were slight cuts that stood out from the orange glare of the street lamp.

"Oh Maxie, Maxie, Maximum. You know I never liked your name, your filthy father chose it. It's stupid, it doesn't even mean anything. I'd have given you a nice girls name like Angel. I wanted to call you Matilda."

I winced visibly, not because I had knelt beside her but because of the name. "No offence Ma, but I think I'd prefer Maximum Ride over Matilda Ride. Dad's not here now, so it's going to be okay. Is it okay if Fang helps you up?"

I kept my tone soft and casual, Fang stood at my side waiting. I hated to know what he thought of my mother, as long as he said nothing degratory about her I wouldn't have an issue. Despite the state Mum was in, she was still my mum, she had even been a regular woman once, I'd seen pictures. It's just something happened that I couldn't remember and she had ended up like this.

"Your father was a pig, I don't know why I fell for him. He was such an ass, so controlling, so cruel. He sued to make you scream and cry, I was too scared, Maxie I'm sorry I never stopped him, I was too afraid in case he did worse. I'm a horrible person, I'm a terrible mother. I should have stopped him, I should have left him. Can you ever forgive me?"

She sobbed softly and tears ran down her cheeks, I frowned taking note of her dilated pupils, making her eyes seem larger on her small pretty face. "I've already forgiven you. Dad can't hurt you or me now, we're safe, I promise. But it's getting cold, Fang's going to lift you up and we're going to take you inside now."

I brushed a few tears away from her face and stood moving aside as Fang easily bent and lifted her up in his arms, almost as if she weighed nothing at all, she probably wasn't far off.

"I'm Fang, it's nice to meet you Miss Ride, I'm going to walk to the house now. Don't worry, I won't drop you." I felt truly thankful there and then as Fang smiled at my mother. He didn't look disgusted, he didn't treat her less than a human being, unlike other people I'd seen do. Maybe Fang really was a decent person.

"Men are animals, but you can't win. Sometimes they're bad, and sometimes they're really bad. Are you a bad one for Maxie?"

Mums voice wavered as we walked into the house, she stared at Fang and I could see her expression slowly change.

I glanced around and after staring at the sofa I started walking upstairs. "We might as well put her in her room."

I rushed ahead slightly so I could use the free seconds to quickly shove things in the bin and tidy out the bed. You could still tell the room was a tip, heck, the house was a mess. No carpet, broken, chipped furniture, the stale stench of alcohol and B.O.

Fang kept his composure as he walked in talking calmly to Mum, assuring her he was a friend and was only here to help. He didn't even wrinkle his nose at the smell.

Once Mum was on the bed I pulled a blanket up over her. She blinked at me and I realised her expression had changed completely. In the garden she had had a dreamy and wondrous look on her face, right now it was one of seething hatred that was slowly building, and building.

"Max," she practically hissed my name. "How dare you bring somebody into my house, this boy. I thought I raised you better than that, you don't go around sleeping like a slapper. Not like a whore, I knew I couldn't rely on you. You're worthless, gone all night, busy all day. You should go join your father, go fucking join him and HIS whore. I know that's what you want, you hate it here so leave! Both of you leave! Get the fuck out before I claw your eyes out! I GAVE BIRTH TO A FUCKING SLUT! YOU FUCKING BITCH! YOU'RE NOTHING YOU WORTHLESS BITCH!"

As her ranting started to get louder, I lead Fang out of the room, I turned to see her struggling out of bed and I closed the door on the scene. Seconds after I heard crashing noises and thumps against the door along with muffled curses. I was already sliding the bolts on the outside in place to keep the door secured.

I wasn't worried, I'd already gone through her room to make sure there was nothing for her to harm herself with, I'd even gone as far as to putting a locked grate over her window, after an incident when she'd been so high she'd tried to jump out of it.

I cleared my throat and carried on to pull Fang down the hall, down the stairs and to the front door. "Thanks, she'll be okay now."

He raised an eyebrow, I could see Peter waiting by the car.

"You sure she'll be fine? I can call a doctor or stay to help you. She seems to be flipping out."

I shrugged. "She gets like that when she drinks, I can cope. I think she had bipolar but she won't get tested, she also suffers from depression and the drink throws her for a loop. It's worse than a hormonal pregnant lady at times." I laughed roughly trying to make a crack at humour.

Fang merely watched me. "Well fine, I'll be by tomorrow though. I'm still worried about you, so I want to at least check you're still standing. Try to not slam the door in my face."

Okay, that made me grin. I winked at him, something that I do not normally, no, EVER, do. "I can't make any promises."

I closed the door and I could hear his deep voice chuckle on the other side. I leant against the door as I heard the sound fade, knowing he'd left. I couldn't put my finger on it, but despite the fact how much Fang annoyed me and I wanted to hate him, there was still something that made me relax when I was around him. Something I hadn't felt for as far back as I could remember.

And a bonus was that after the scene with Mum, most people would be throwing questions and accusations at me like I was a murder suspect. Fang hadn't even batted an eyelash. I was starting to think I could trust him. I was hoping I wouldn't be proven very, very wrong.

A/N I hope you enjoyed the chapter, I made it a extra bit longer cause its taken me so long to update. It'll be halfterm soon though :D So there should be more soon. I will try and get the next chapter up ASAP! In the meantime review please. .