A/N: (yawns) Are there anymore fried chicken?
Fang: Iggy ate them all.
Me: (shouts) What? Iggy! (strangles Iggy) Spit it out! Spit it out! Spit the chicken out!
Iggy: No! I won't! (chokes) I'm choking! The bone is stuck in my thro- (coughs)
Me: OMG! He's choking! Fang! Help him!
Fang: Me? You do it!
Me: Just do it! Iggy! Hang on! If you see the white light, don't follow it!
Iggy: (spits out bone) I'm OK. I'm alive. (points finger at Aya) This is all your fault! If you didn't strangle me, I wouldn't have to go through all that crap!
Me: Me? You ate all the chicken, you dumbass!
Fang: (shakes head) Just read the chapter. Skip all this.
Chapter 13
Max POV
Fang is the best boss ever.
Instead of wasting $130 on an airplane ticket, I didn't get to spend any penny!
I feel like kissing and hugging Fang. But that would be really weird and awkward since he's my boss and all.
I couldn't keep still. I paced all around the front living room while Fang was taking a nap. Angel was playing the harp unsuccessfully. Gazzy was burying his face in the ice cream carton he was eating. Iggy was yawning like he's bored as usual.
What is taking Ari so long?
"Chill, Max. Chill," said Iggy. He stood up and grabbed my shoulders. I stopped and turned my head to look at him.
"Let go of my shoulders or I'll break both of your arms. Or possibly all of the bones in your body." Iggy let go and went back to his seat.
The front door opened. (Fang said I couldn't go to the helipad up in the roof because of the wind and all. Whatever, Fang!)
Mom and Ella went inside the house. I ran up to them and gave them a huge bear hug.
"Max," Ella croaked. "I. . . Can't. . . Breathe!" I let go of her, while she rubbed her ribs.
Mom smiled at me and kissed both my cheeks. "I missed you, honey." She hugged me and I hugged back.
Ari was right behind Mom. "I need help here!" He was carrying Mom's and Ella's bags. "My arms are going to fall off!"
"Be a man, Ari!" I shouted to him. He just glared at me.
"You must be Max's mom." I looked down and saw Angel smiling at Mom. Mom smiled brightly at her.
"Yes. I'm Max's mom. And Ari's."
Angel turned to Ella. "And you must be?"
"Ella." Ella stretched her hand. Angel shook it. "Max's sister." Angel took Ella's and Mom's hand and showed them upstairs to their rooms.
My eyes were bulging out of their sockets. I was so stunned that I didn't see Fang stand right beside me.
"How did she- How-"
Fang shrugged. I turned my head at him. "Thank you so much." I kissed his cheek and squeezed his hand. I dropped it and went upstairs to Mom's and Ella's room, completely ignoring the fact that Fang was gaping behind me.
"Mom!" I hugged her again.
"Sweetie! Oh, you look different!" She pulled away until arm's length and looked at me up and down. "Still stubborn and loud like always." Mom grinned at me.
"Yeah, I think Max broke three ribs. They still hurt, Max." Ella was standing in the doorway. I gave her another bear hug. "Four ribs! Max!"
"I'm sorry! I missed you guys!"
"Yeah, well, we really missed you too. This house is huge!" Ella said, excitedly.
"I'll unpack later," Mom said. "I still have to say thanks to your boss, Max. Where is he?"
"I think he's downstairs." I replied.
Mom nodded and left Ella and I alone. Ella dropped on Mom's bed. "So, Max. How's your job?"
"Stressful." Especially when you have an irresistible, dark-haired, drop-dead gorgeous 20-year old guy as your boss.
"Really? You don't look stressed. Tell me the truth."
"It is stressful!" I leaned a shoulder on the doorway. "I clean the whole house-"
"You clean the whole house everyday?"
"No. I clean in parts. Not the whole place everyday, you know. And it differs everyday, since this is a mansion."
"What differs?"
"The chores. Sometimes I water the plants. Or vacuum the hallway."
"Aah. Is that all you do? Nudge said you're a maid-slash-nanny. Who are babysitting?"
"Angel. The blond little girl."
"Ooh! She's so a-do-rablé!"
"A-do-rablé?"
"Adorable. Shows that you're not from the 21st century," I rolled my eyes at her. "How old is she anyway? 13?"
"She's 10."
"Oh. Well, she acts more mature for her age. Who was that guy I saw in the living room?"
"The pale one?"
"Yeah. What is his name? He looks cute," I made fake-barfing noises. "What? He does look cute!"
"Whatever. You really have weird tastes for guys."
"What's weird about that? He's handsome and tall."
"He's Iggy. Never mind."
"Is that his name? Iggy? Catchy. I like it!" I shook my head at her. "What about the dark-haired one?"
"Fang?"
"Yeah, him. He's drop-dead gorgeous. Don't tell me you didn't notice that." I notice it everyday!
"Of course I did. Besides, he's my boss."
"So? He's hot and you're hot. Why don't you two go on a date?"
"I will not date Fang. Ever. Over my dead body." I snapped.
"Geez. He likes you, y'know."
"No, he doesn't." Does he?
"I saw the way he looked at you. You didn't see that? His eyes were sparkling because you were there. I'll show you tonight."
"What? He doesn't look at me that way! And you will show me nothing tonight!" I whirled around and collided with a wall.
"Max!" Ella dropped to the floor and cradled my head. "Please tell me your alive."
"I'm alive," I managed to say. "Just destroy that wall" I pointed in front of me.
"Max, that wasn't a wall."
"Well, what was it?" I yelled. "It's definitely hard and tall! Ow! My head hurts! Stupid wall." I kicked the "wall."
Someone kneeled in front of me. "Carry her to the bed. I'll get an ice pack," said a deep voice.
Ella carried me to the bed. "Are you OK?" She sat beside me.
"Yes, I'm OK. Is the wall gone?" I peered through my closed lids.
"Yeah, I think so."
"You think so? What do you mean-" I saw Fang in the doorway. "Oh. So it wasn't a wall. I told you, Ella!" Fang nodded and handed me an ice pack. I held it on my forehead. I looked at Fang. "What were you doing standing right behind me?"
"I was going to ask your sister if she wants some snacks."
Ella clapped her hands and cheerfully answered Fang. "Oh, I do! The snacks are in the kitchen, right?" Fang nodded. Then she left me with Fang.
"Traitor!" I yelled after Ella. I turned away from Fang's gaze.
"Does it hurt?" He asked, worried.
"Not anymore." I handed the ice pack back to him. "Thanks again."
"No problem."
I faced Fang. He was inches away from me. I pulled back a couple of inches. "Why didn't you want me to leave?"
"You'll know someday."
"Did you hear my conversation with Ella?"
"No."
I nodded. "That's good then."
Cue awkward silence.
"Wanna get some snacks?"
"Sure."
"Your mom made cookies."
My eyes widened. "She did? Why didn't you say so?" I grabbed his hand. "C'mon! Before Ari and Ella eat them all!"
"You seem overprotective over the cookies."
I just stared at him. "Not just cookies. They're Mom's cookies. You haven't tried them. You'll melt when you taste them for the first time."
He snorted. "Yeah, right." I smacked his shoulder. "Ow!"
"Don't talk bad about Mom's cookies. I haven't eaten one of Mom's cookies for over a month!"
"I won't."
"Good."
I grabbed his hand and went downstairs.
Is what Ella said true?
Does Fang look at me like that?
I turned my head at him. He was looking down at me. I blushed and looked away.
When we reached the kitchen, I dropped his hand and helped myself with Mom's cookies. Iggy and Ari and Gazzy were already shoving cookies in their mouths.
"Pigs," I murmured and sat down next to Ella.
"Look who's talking," Ella whispered to me.
"Shut up, Ella." But I smiled. "Mom, are there any more? Ari and the pigs already ate them all!"
"Hey!" Ari and Iggy and Gazzy all said in unison. I laughed. Mom patted Gazzy's head.
Mom turned to me and said, "They're in the oven, Max. They'll be out in a minute."
I nodded. I poured myself some Sprite. I felt Fang's dark gaze on me. I met his gaze. I smiled at him. He half-smiled back.
Ella nudged me with her shoulder. "See? Told you. He really likes you."
I dropped my head and peered at Fang through my eyelashes. He was still looking at me and he winked.
How does he know that?
Ella nudged me again, but this time with her elbow. "Oh my God! He winked at you!"
"Shut up," I hissed at Ella.
Angel's had popped out from beside me. Angel cupped her hand and whispered, "Ella isn't lying. Fang really likes you. I've never seen him smile that much before."
"He doesn't like like me."
Ella whispered on my other ear. "One thing for certain. We are going to fix up both of you in a date."
I stood up and shouted.
"WHAT?"
A/N: RnR?
Fang: That's short.
Me: Well, the introductory Aya note is pretty long.
Fang: Ah. Now I'm hungry. What are you eating?
Me: Pistachios. You know, pistachio-flavored ice cream is pretty good.
Iggy: Ew. Green ice cream? Ew.
Me: Idiot. You like mint ice cream. That's green too, y'know.
Iggy: Whatever.
Fang: RnR?