Oh, gummy bears. You are delicious and entertaining.

Tank: What?

Me: Heh heh. A gummy bear flipped off Katy Perry.

Skid: How do you know that?

Me: Well . . . one of her songs is mentioned in the chapter, and I decided to watch the video. That was just a weird experience for me. Who knew candy could help her be represented as a slut? Oh, wait, I did.

JP: Of course you did . . .

Me: And who lays on a bed of cotton candy naked? And then eats said cotton candy? While I was watching that I was thinking what if she peed on it?

Tank: Oh, thanks. I needed to now that.

Me: Yeah, you did. OH! Good news! I'm writing on my laptop! The virus is finally gone, and I don't have to use the home computer, so I don't ahve to worry about my mom reading what I write. It would be my down fall.

Disclaimer of the winged: I don't own them. Geez. I'm not sending mixed messages like Max here, people! I clearly stated that I don't own them. But I wish I did . . .

Sam and I were dancing, in the middle of homecoming, when he just blurts out, "Max, I love you."

I was speachless. I loved him. I did. But . . . not in that way.

When he realised I wasn't saying it back, his face fell and his arms went limp by his sides. "Go away."

"Sam, I-" I tried to say, but he pushed me and I almost fell, but thanks to my super duper sense of balance - even in these heels - I was able to stay up.

"Go." He walked away, and I just stood there for a second in shock. But I got over it and walked over to the table thing that I had my purse on. I sat down on the chair and put my elbows on it. I put my head in my hands and closed my eyes. What did I just do?

Someone put a hand on my shoulder and I jumped. "Max, are you ok?" I recognized the deep voice as Fang's.

I looked up and nodded. He didn't seem to believe me, and grabbed my hand.

"Fang, what are you doing?" I asked as he pulled me through the gym.

He shrugged and continued to pull me through the gym.

"Can you at least tell me where we're going?"

He shook his head and I swear he smirked. I sighed and let him pull me out of the gym and to the courtyard off of the gym.

"Whoa," was all I had to say. There were trees in this courtyard, and little twinkling lights were laced through them, looking like stars. You could just hear the soft, slow music coming from the gym. We were the only ones here.

Fang turned me around and put his arms around my waist. I hesitated, but my arms around his neck. We gently swayed back and forth, just looking at each other.

He should wear a tux more often, I thought to myself. He chuckled and I blushed. "I said that out loud, didn't I?"

He chuckled again and nodded. "You should wear a dress more often. But I'm not too sure about the blue lipstick . . ."

I sighed. "It wasn't me, I swear."

"Ella and Nudge?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Your lips look much better pink," he said.

"Been looking at my lips, have you, Fang?" It was his turn to blush. "Well, your cheek look much better tan."

"What?" he asked, then I kissed his cheek. It left a blue lip mark.

"Oh, ha ha," he said and tried to wipe the blue lip stick off and I laughed.

"You only managed to smear it," I told him.

"Great," he said and we stopped talking for a minute. He looked into my eyes and whispered, "Your lips are still blue," then he started to lean in. His lips barely brushed against mine when the door to the gym opened and we jumped back. Iggy was glaring at Fang, and I took that as a sign that I should get out of there, ASAP. And I did.

It was like I moved faster than the wind.

A week. Its been a week. Its been a week since homecoming, a week since Fang and I almost kissed, a week since Jeb decided we all needed a vacation from our hectic lives. We're going to California on Friday. Or, at least, we're trying to get there on Friday. Our terrific little town lives right on the boarder of Arizona and California so its only a few hours drive if Jeb goes really, really fast in the car.

On Monday and Tuesday our teachers have a class they have to take or something so we have a four day weekend, meaning Jeb deiced he wanted us to have a break. Can't blame him. I love it when we go to the beach. I like the water. But I don't like the crowds.

Right now, I'm packing clothes because the second we get home Jeb wants to leave. I managed to convince him to let Ella and Nudge come. Mom was reluctant, but eventually agreed to let them come.

So . . . fun. Yeah.

Let's just hope they don't make me wear a bikini. *shiver*

Fang POV

"Finally, we're here!" Max yelled and jumped out of the car. Several hours in that car/truck/van/whatever witel singing Gazzy singing the constipation song in the exact same voice as the dude who sings it and Angel the song that never ends. At the same time.

Gazzy got out after her, then Angel, then Iggy, then Nudge, then Ella, then me. Its like going on a field trip . . . We even got stares from people. We were pretty weird. They probably never saw a family of seven - Jeb included - and we were so mitch-matched. No offense, family. See how much I've grown to like them?

Jeb said, "Let's go check into the hotel." He popped open the trunk door thing of the SUV (A/N: Me no good with cars. Choose whatever car you want that can fit them all.) and pulled out the duffel bags and backpacks. We slung them over our shoulders blah, blah, blah.

The girls have their own room, as do the guys. I immediately picked the bed closest to the window, and pretty much fell asleep before my head hit the pillow.

The next day

We're going to the beach. Finally. I've always heard it was real pretty, but never really been there myself. And the girls were taking forever. WHy does it take them so long to get ready? We're just going to the beach. Geez. Iggy's going to be real happy. Beach bunnies+Iggy=happy him, even though he has a girl friend.

I pounded on the door with my fist. "C'mon!" I yelled.

Angel opened the door right when I was about to knock again and popped her head out. "Sorry, Fang. But we're trying to convince Max to wear a bikini."

At that, my ears pricked up like a cat with tuna being hung right in front of its face. Max+bikini=happy me. Its like Iggy and beach bunnies . . . Before I could say anything, I heard a crash that sounded a lot like glass.

"Well that can't be good," Angel said and slipped through the door again. "Holy cra-bs!" She poked her head through the door again.

"Nice save," I told her, grinning

"Thanks," she said. "This might take a while. You can leave without us." Then she disappearred back into the mysterious girls room, and I heard the click of the lock.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, which had really grown out. I walked over to the guys - Jeb included (who should really wear a shirt) - who were waiting at a bench down the hall. "Angel says they're going to be a while. They're trying to get Max into a bikini."

Jeb frowned, Gazzy shivered, and Iggy glared at me, reminding me of the little convo we had during homecoming. Touch my sister and I kill you.

Sure, Iggy and I were pretty tight, but he and Max . . . they're twins, and have always been there for one another. And I don't blame him for being over protective. If I had a sister - which I pretty much do now, thanks to Angel - I'd be just as protective, and probably break the first guy's nose who's eyes even landed on her. But thats just me. Iggy, on the other hand, will beat them to a pulp. He probably told the same thing to Sam.

"Angel also said that we should leave without them," I added. They started to look really impatient.

Jeb said, "Alright! The girls know where we're going, right?" I nodded. "Great! We'll just meet them there."

And then we were off, at the beach, and relaxing. I didn't like the way some of the girls were looking at me, though. It made me feel like a fresh piece of meat at the butcher's shop. The beach wasn't as packed as what you always see on TV or whatever, but it was still pretty crowded.

Someone cleared their throat behind us, and I wouldn't have recognized Max if it wasn't for Nudge and Ella flanking her, and Angel holding her hand. One word: Damn.

They had somehow managed to get Max into a bikini that was black with red polka-dots on it (Really? They couldn't come up with a better word? It makes my testosterone level drop to, like, negative a hundred.) They had a red tank top on top of it, but I could see the straps thing. And stuffed her into short, short, SHORT cut offs. I didn't know they made them that small. She had black glasses on that completely covered her eyes. Her pretty, brown eyes . . .

Max flopped down on the beach towel and pulled her iPod out of the short's pocket (how did it fit?) and brought a sketch book out of her bag. She brought out a pencil and started to sketch the beach, I'm guessing since she looked up every forty seconds or so. Why is it so hot?

I pulled my shirt over my head and let the small breeze run over my bare chest. Oh, how poetic of me. Maybe I should make my living off of this . . .

I noticed Max gawking at my eight pack and smirked. She blushed redder than the tank top, then smiled evily.

"I'm going for a swim," she said and pulled the earbuds out of her ears, the cut off off (that sounded weird), and the tank top above her head.

I take my one word back. Make it this word: DAMN. I swear, the bikini was only string. On the butt of the bottom part of her bathing suit - no, I wasn't looking; I just happened to see it - was a little cartoon devil. I was practically drooling, and I think Iggy's eyes must be hurting from glaring at me so much.

Ella and Nudge wolf whistled, making Max laugh and walk over to the water, catching the attention of several other teenage boys. I felt like ripping their throats out. But Max was already diving into the waves before she could see their eyes following her.

Hormones, what am I to do with you?

Well, you could just hook up with Max already. Its getting quite boring just waiting for you to build up the nerve.

Not happening. Iggy would kill me.

I think it's be worth it.

And I don't. I'm not in the mood to die, thank you very much.

I know what you're in the mood for.

Seriously? Did you have to ruin my vacation?

Its my job.

I sighed and looked over at Max's empty towel, which was now accompanied by three others, meaning Angel, Nudge, and Ella had joined her. Max's towel only had her iPod and sketch book. My fingers twitched to flip through the sketchbook, but I waited until Iggy had left to go to the water. I picked up the book and my mouth litterally hit the sand.

Not at her drawing ability, which was freaking amazing, but what most of her pictures were of. Go on. Guess.

Me.

Max POV

When I got out of the water, I went to our spot on the beach and picked up my extra towel. I dried my hair with it - or at least I tried to. I pulled my shorts back on and sat down. A few minutes later, some guys walked up to me and stood in front of my towel. Great. Guys. Fan-freaking-tastic.

"Hi," one who had blond hair said. "We wanted to invite you to a beach party we're having tonight."

I licked my finger and flipped the page on my book. "Mm-hm."

The other one, the smoother one with chestnut hair, said, "You and you're friends can come too." Then he winked at me. "Feel free to wear as little clothes as possible."

I raised an eyebrow into my book. "Mm-hm."

"See ya here," Chestnut said and winked again. How can I tell he winked when I was looking into my book? I've got mad skills. Mad skills.

Chestnut and blondy walked away, a swagger in their step like they were the kings of the world. Dear God, what has Jeb brought us to?

Nudge, unfortunetly, heard the whole conversation. "ZOMG, Max! That is, like, so cool! They were seriously hot and totally into you. We should totally go to the beach party tonight! It would be so much fun! Please, Max, please?" I made the mistake of looking at her. Damn Bambi eyes . . .

I sighed and flipped the page on my book. "Fine, but only for a few minutes. And Angel and Gazzy can't come."

"Angel and Gazzy can't go where?" Iggy asked, magically appearing behind Nudge.

I was about to say something, but Nudge beat me to it. "These guys came up to Max and asked her to go to the beach party they're having tonight, and Max said we could go for a few minutes only. Won't it be so fun? OMG, Ella and I should totally dress Ma and mhph fhmph."

"One," Iggy said, "please, baby, try not to talk so much. My head hurts." Nudge glared at him. "And two, we're not going to the party."

I raised an eyebrow. "And since when do you call the shots?"

"Since some guys invited my sister to a beach party," he said and sat down on the towel next to Nudge's.

"Iggy, stop being so over protective. You know very well that I could kick their asses into next month."

He shrugged. "You're still my sister."

"And I'm still older," I said and closed my book.

"Yeah, by two minutes."

I waved a hand. "Still older."

"Not."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"No."

"Yes," he said.

"Ha!" I said and pointed a finger at him. "I win. You admitted it. I'm older."

He glared at me.

"I think it's an excellant idea," Fang said next to me.

"Gah! Where did you come from?" I asked him, basically jumping two feet in the air.

"Well, when a man and a woman love each other very much-" he started, but I cut him off.

"Don't be a smart ass. Make some noise when you move!" I told him and slapped his arm.

"Whatever, Max."

"So, its settled," Nudge said, joining us in the conversation. "We're going to a beach party."

"Jeb won't let us," Ella said. Where are they coming from, really? (A/N: I feel your pain.)

I grinned. "Who said we were telling Jeb?"

I looked at the strip of fabric the girls had shoved into my hands. Oh, wait. That's a pair of shorts and a tank top . . . woopsies.

"Ha ha, no," I said and rummagged in my bag for a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I only managed to find my deoderant. Where are all my clothes?

"C'mon, Max," Ella said. "It'll be fun!"

I scowled and looked under the beds for my clothes, having no luck.

"Please, Max," Ella said and I looked at her. Dammit, dammit, dammit . . .

I huffed. "Fine." I put on the clothes and the black flip flops they handed me. It looked pretty nice, despite the fact that I had way too much skin showing.

"Lets go," I said.

And that's how we ended up at a beach party.

Chestnut walked up to me and said, "Hey, glad you could make it." Then he handed me a beer bottle.

"Thanks," I said and tipped the bear top towards him. He smiled and when he was gone, I threw the beer bottle somewhere in the sand with a thud.

Nudge, Ella and me stayed together, but the guys were with each other. That sounded wrong.

California Gurls by Katy Perry came on from a radio somewhere and I rolled my eyes. Stupid slut . . .

"C'mon, Max! Let's dance!" Ella said and dragged me over to where a bunch of people were dancing.

Nudge and Ella started to dance, but I said, "Yeah, I don't dance . . ." Then tried to slip away. But this is my life and I never get a break.

"Just dance, Max!" Nudge said and I sighed. I started to jump up and down on the balls of my feet, and threw my hands up. I was having fun . . .

Sometime during my dancing time, I started to laugh for no apparent reason. Soon, Nudge, Ella, and me were on the sand laughing.

I don't know why, but who ever turned down a good laugh?

It was weird writing this chapter. I wrote the first part during my writer's constipation, and the other in a chi mode when all of my energy was flowing freely or something.

And this is not the end of Max's Anventures in California. Stay tuned for the next episode when Max gets in trouble with the law.

Mwahahahahahahaha!

- Sanity