A/N: No time for this freaking Aya's note. I'm really sorry once again.

Chapter 9

Max POV

I swear, I remembered falling asleep on the floor and not on my bed. I remembered no blanket covered me.

But, when I woke up the next morning, I was on my bed, with a blanket covering me and still fully-clothed. There was also a faint smell of aftershave in the air.

Someone came to my room and carried me. I'm totally sure of that. And it's a guy. It's either Iggy or Fang. I'm guessing it's Fang.

I took a quick shower and dried myself. I threw on a white t-shirt and black athletic shorts. I shoved my feet on my black worn out Converse low-cut sneakers. I grabbed a black hair-tie and held it between my teeth. I took the stairs three at a time and was welcomed with the mouth-watering smell of bacon.

I emerged to the kitchen and Fang has his back to me.

He's cooking. "Morning." I said to Fang, obviously confused. He turned around with a pan in his hand. He dropped the strips of bacon on the paper towel covered plate.

"Oh, morning," I was looking at him, still confused. He stared at me, and rose an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"

I shook my head. "No, it's just weird."

"What's weird?" He asked, wiping his hands using a hand towel.

"You're cooking."

"And that's weird how?" He tossed the towel on the railing of the oven. He pulled himself a chair and sat down. Fang grabbed a plate and filled it with lots of bacon. He bit a strip, still looking at me.

I shrugged and I wasn't satisfied. "Am I the only maid here?" I also helped myself a plateful of bacon but I didn't sit down.

He nodded and took a glass and poured himself orange juice. "The list is taped on the fridge."

I put down my plate and walked to the fridge that was five feet behind Fang. The list was definitely taped.

I looked at it and became utterly confused. "Just four chores? Four?"

Fang glanced at me over his shoulder. "Want more than four?" He sipped his OJ.

"God, no. But why only four?"

"Because you're the only maid here and it's a big house."

"So, you make me clean the whole house in small parts?" I shoved the list in my pocket.

He nodded and finished his breakfast. "I'm going out. Tell Iggy that I'll be back," I nodded, came over to me and patted my head. Fang grinned at me. "Good luck." Then left the house, car keys in hand.

I finally sat down on a chair and nibbled my bacon absently.

Fang definitely looked different.

Oh, shit.

How can I forget? I shaved Fang's beard last night! Duh.

Anyhoo, Fang looked different. He looked more handsome without his beard. And it made him looked younger. Like he's eighteen years old. Even though he's twenty.

Why am I thinking about my boss? This is stupid.

But I can't stop thinking how he's so drop dead gorgeous. And rich. Super rich. Tch. He probably has a girlfriend somewhere who is supermodel-gorgeous like him. Tch.

While I was mooning about Fang, I didn't notice Iggy grab a plate and sat down across from me. I also didn't notice that I was scowling.

Iggy waved a hand in my face and brought me back to reality. "Hey."

I shook my head and saw him. "Oh. Hey."

"What's up with you? I saw you grinning two minutes ago. Then your grin turned into a frown."

I am not going to tell him that I was daydreaming about his brother. Never. "Nothing. I just remembered something."

"Like eat your bacon before it loses its deadly but juicy palatableness?" Iggy shoved five strips of bacon down his throat.

He knows five-syllable words? "You know five-syllable words? I'm impressed." I smirked at him.

"Whatever. Where's Fang, BTW? His bacon is not as good as mine."

"Went out. And what do you mean his bacon is not as good as yours?"

"I'm the cook here. And Fang's cooking suck hard. He fries bacon with canola oil. I fry mine with pork fat."

"So, your bacon can kill a man with just one bite?"

"Basically. But I'm immune. It means I can eat five whole packs of bacon and not die."

"Impressive. Why didn't you join the circus then?" He glared at me and slowly stood up. I held up my hands and bit down my lower lip hard to keep from laughing. I couldn't hold it any longer. I dropped to the floor and laughed. And laughed. And laughed until tears came out of my eyes. "I'm sorry."

"You're funny," I stood up and finished my bacon. I was still laughing when I poured OJ in my glass. I chugged it in three gulps and left the kitchen. "You should join Jeff Dunham's crew! I'm sure you can fit in his suitcase!"

"Shut up, Iggy! If you still want to live!" I shouted back to him.

I stood in the middle of the front living room and took out the list.

1. Vacuum front living room.

2. Wipe windows in Iggy's, Gazzy's, Angel's, Fang's and your room.

3. Clean kitchen.

4. Water all plants INSIDE the house.

Hmm. Easy chores. But I don't know where the supply closet is. "Iggy!"

"What?"

"Where's the supply closet?"

"Inside my butt! Drinking coffee!"

I chuckled. "Quit it! I'm serious!"

"Upstairs! Three doors left of Angel's!"

"Thanks!"

"I still don't like you!"

"I don't care!"

I was finished with two of the chores. I finished watering the plants INSIDE the house (Fang really emphasized "inside") and vacuuming the front living room.

I was made to wear an apron and rubber gloves (read: Iggy did.) I also need to bring the basket that was full of cleaning things. (i.e. Lysol, Clorox, wipers, Febreze and more)

I was deciding what I was going to do next. Clean the kitchen or wipe windows.

I'm going with the windows. I ascended the stairs and went straight to my room first. Since my room only has two windows. I grabbed my iPod and slipped the headphones behind my back. I turned it on and played The Calling's Could It Be Any Harder.

As their lead singer sang the first lines, I grabbed the cloth and the glass cleaner. I sprayed the window and began wiping. I found myself singing the song.

You left me with goodbye and open arms
A cut so deep I don't deserve
Well you were always invincible in my eyes
And the only thing against us now is time

Could it be any harder to say goodbye and without you
Could it be any harder to watch you go, to face what's true
If I only had one more day
Fade away, fade away, fade away

I lie down and blind myself with laughter
Well a quick fix of hope is what I'm needin'
And how I wish that I could turn back the hours
But I know I just don't have the power, yeah

Could it be any harder to say goodbye and without you
Could it be any harder to watch you go, to face what's true
If I only had one more day

Well I'd jump at the chance, we'd drink and we'd dance
And I'd listen close to your every word
As if it's your last, but I know it's your last
'Cause today, you're gone

I finished the window and moved to the next one. The windows are pretty big.

Could it be any harder
Yeah fade away, fade away, fade away
Could it be any harder
Yeah fade away, fade away, fade away
Oh yeah yeah, could it be any harder to live my life without you?
Could it be any harder? I'm all alone, I'm all alone

Like sand on my feet
The smell of sweet perfume
You stick to me forever baby
I wish you didn't go, I wish you didn't go
I wish you didn't go away

To touch you again
With life in your hands
It couldn't be any harder, harder

Fade away
Fade away
Fade away

I finished my windows and I went to Angel's. She also has two windows.

After I finished hers, I went to Iggy's, then Fang's and then to Gazzy's. I haven't met Gazzy, but just entering at his room and had been welcomed with that awful stench, he's. . . Gazzy.

I left Gazzy's room with my eyes watering so bad that crying is like blinking. I went downstairs to the kitchen and leaned on the wall.

"Shit, shit, shit." I wiped the tears away and took several deep breaths of clean, fresh air. "Oh, God." Just like The Calling's song said, I want to fade away from that room.

I finished cleaning the kitchen in just two hours. I took off the apron, the rubber gloves and brought it all back to the supply closet. I collapsed in the middle of the hallway because I was so tired. Partly because of Gazzy's room.

I rested my left arm over my eyes and lied down on the floor, resting. Then, I had this feeling that I was being watched. I peered over my arm and saw Fang looking down at me.

Fang tilted his head and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Tired?"

I nodded and closed my eyes. "It was only four chores; it was supposed to be easy. But since your house is so freaking huge, I was tired right after vacuuming the front living room. And also add the fact that I almost died inside Gazzy's room. Jesus. Doesn't he ever clean his room? Or even spray it with air freshener? God."

Fang chuckled softly. "You haven't met him, right?" I nodded. "Stand up and I'll introduce you to him. Then you could scold him." I slowly sat up. I bent my knee and shot myself up.

Headrush. "Is the room spinning?" My legs gave away and I fell.

"No," Fang's arms shot out and caught my waist. "Are you OK?" I glanced at him, my face just inches away from him.

He has dark brown eyes. "I'm OK," I said in a whisper. "You can let go now." Don't.

He let go, but leaving his hand around my elbow. We went downstairs and on to the backyard.

Their backyard is bigger than I imagined it would be. The ground was so green; not a weed can be seen. Ten feet away, I saw Iggy's pale head. Fang and I walked to them.

Iggy was crouched over something and looked up at us. He saw Fang and whatever he was working on he immediately threw it over his head, landing on the blond head of a kid.

"Iggy! Dang it! Watch it!" The blond head emerged from behind Iggy and he too saw Fang and threw the thing he was holding over his shoulder. "Fang! What are you doing here?"

"Are those bombs?" Fang asked in a serious voice.

"No!" Iggy replied, a little too quickly. "I was just. . . Just. . ."

"Making bombs." Fang finished for them. Iggy's shoulders sagged down.

I was shocked to hear this. Bombs? They were making bombs? I whispered to Fang's ear, "They were making bombs?"

Fang nodded. "They do it everyday," he whispered back to me, his breath warm against my neck.

Iggy saw me and his eyes turned to slits. "Why is she here?"

I grinned evilly at Iggy. "I came to meet Gazzy." At the mention of Gazzy, the blond head popped out of his hiding place.

"I'm Gazzy."

I smiled at him. "I'm Max, Angel's maid-slash-nanny." I held out my hand and Gazzy took it. We shook hands.

"You are smokin' hot. Just like Iggy and Fang said." I rested my palm on his head and went behind him.

I rose my eyebrows at Iggy and Fang. "Really? They didn't mention it." Fang and Iggy turned away from my gaze.

Gazzy glanced at me. "Oh, they're like that. They're shy."

"I am not shy!" Fang and Iggy snapped in unison. It made my eyebrows rose even higher. I grinned at them.

"Looks like two people are in denial. Am I right, Gazzy?" Gazzy nodded. I turned my back and walked backwards, back to the house. "Am I right, Fang, Iggy?" I repeated to them, but they were silent. I turned back around and rose a hand. "See ya!" Then I laughed.

"I like her," I heard Gazzy say to Iggy and Fang. "Why didn't you say to her that she was hot?"

"Not was. Is hot." Iggy replied to Gazzy.

"Dude, she's still there," I slowed my pace and rose a hand again.

"Oh, shit."

A/N: That's definitely longer, right? RnR?