Max is going to be a little OOC in this story, specifically the beginning of this chapter. But this is technically a Cinderella story, too. Kind of, it's becoming less and less of that... Anyways! I had a really craptastic day, so you all should write me reviews and general PM s tonight, like before I go to bed. See you at the bottom! Chapter 8!

Chapter 8

MAX POV

As I pulled away from Fang's house, I couldn't help it. I was smiling, I was laughing. After I was far enough away, I even giggled. What is wrong with me? Well, whatever it is, I don't think it's all bad. I could definitely get used to having Fang around. And his mom, Melanie, she was cool too. But I knew it wouldn't last. Eventually, Fang would get sick of me, or Lissa and Brigid would get mad at me for hanging out with him. He's too hot to be my friend. When I pulled into the driveway, Ari ran out the front door and jumped into my arms.

"What's wrong, babe? What did Anne do? Did she do something to you or Ella?"

"No, but she and Ella are yelling at each other. Lissa started it."

I set Ari down on the sidewalk. "What did Lissa say, Ari?"

"She said something about a fang, then Brigid and her started fighting over it. Then Anne asked what they were talking about. I think they were talking about a boy. Then Ella said something about you and all three of them started yelling at Ella." What did Ella say? Obviously, they were talking about Fang, but what would Ella say about me?

"What did Anne do after that?"

"She sent Lissa and Brigid to their rooms, I was hiding on the stairs. Then she and Ella kept yelling at each other. They still are, I think. Max, can you fix it?" Ari was crying now.

"I don't know, Ari, but I will try my best. I want you to go up to your room and put your headphones on. When you've listened to Party Rock three times, if Ella or I haven't tucked you in, I want you to just go to sleep, okay?"

"But..."

"Ari." I looked at him firmly.

"Okay, Max." I took him by the hand and walked him into the house and to the staircase. I heard Ella and Anne still yelling at each other. Ari ran up the stairs and I waited at the bottom until I heard his door slam. Then I walked into the kitchen.

"What is going on? Ari is crying up in his room."

"Oh, that poor baby. It's all your fault. If you would have been here, we wouldn't have gotten into this mess." Anne responded.

"Ella, what is going on?" I said, ignoring Anne.

"Nothing. You should just go downstairs and go to sleep."

"No, I want to know what is going on. Besides, no one will be able to sleep in this house with you two screaming at the top of your lungs. Now, Ella, what is going on?" I said, glaring at both of them.

"Lissa and Brigid started fighting over who was going to ask Fang to the Homecoming dance. I said it didn't matter because he wouldn't go with either of them. Then I kind of let it slip that he would probably ask you since we're spending the night at his house on Friday-"

"You said what? Ella! There is no way that this is happening!"

"I'm sorry! Like I said it just slipped."

"And then I asked why I didn't know you were both sleeping over at a boy's house Friday night." Anne piped up.

"Anne, shut up. Ella and I were actually invited by his little sister. Fang isn't interested in me like that."

"You still won't be going-"

"You can't punish Ella just because you hate me!" I yelled at her. It just wasn't fair. Fine, I know I really did want to go to the Veleno' on Friday, but at least if I couldn't go, I still wanted Ella to go. Iggy would be there.

"I didn't say Ella wasn't going. Ella can go spend the night with her little friend, but you will be grounded. You will be cleaning, anyways. I don't know why you thought I would give you the night off. Besides, I am having friends over, you will have to serve us dinner. I'm hiring a professional caterer, though. You are not worthy to cook for my friends."

I glared at her. "Ella go to your room. You no longer need to be here. And would you please tuck Ari in?" Ella gave me a look, and I mouthed "just go" to her. She scampered out and up the stairs to her room. Once I heard her door slam, I motioned for Anne to sit at the table. When she sat, I did too, and I continued. "Fine with me. I don't even like cooking. I didn't even want to go to the stupid sleepover. I just met these kids today."

"Fine. You also won't be going to school tomorrow or Friday. You have to start cleaning the whole house. I've already excused you at the office. I also called that dumb boss of yours, you will not be going into work tomorrow. You are grounded and need all the time you can get to clean."

"You can't just do that! I need to go to school! I need to work! I won't be able to graduate, I won't be able to move out! You will be stuck with me living here forever!"

"Maybe that's what I want. That is the only way I can keep you in control. You are also to never talk to that boy, Fang is it? Ever again." I just gaped at Anne. How could she do this to me?

"You just want me to stay here so I can cook and clean and do all of the dirty work you refuse to do and are too cheap to hire someone to do! You know, if you don't get a real job, eventually, my dad's money will run out. Then everything you have will go away. Also, if you don't start taking care of Ari and Ella, I will report you to child services."

"Oh, but I do take care of them-"

"No you don't!" I screamed at her, then remembered the younger kids upstairs. I lowered my voice, but just a little bit. "You don't have any food in the cupboards except for junk food and weight watchers stuff that will probably stunt Ari's growth! He needs nutrients to grow up, and that food doesn't have it! I don't make enough when you keep canceling my shifts to take care of him! And you can't tell me who I can and can't talk to when I'm not in this house. I will continue talking to Fang. He is my friend!" I said that in a lower voice, but it was starting to prove difficult to keep my cool.

"Fine, I'll make a deal with you, girl. I'll start paying you an allowance. How's $75 a week sound?" That sounded amazing, to tell you the truth. It wasn't quite as much as I made in a week at FlyingBeats, but it was pretty good, considering now it would only take me a few more weeks to have enough for an apartment for a few months and the guitar. I wasn't stupid. I knew I needed enough to move out before I bought the guitar. I figured if I saved up $20K then I would have enough for three or four months of the apartment I was looking at plus the guitar. But I knew there was going to be a catch to Anne's proposition.

"What's the catch, Anne?"

"Well, Maxie. I still will be in charge of when you go to school and work, don't worry, I'll try to keep you missing those down, but you will have to do all the shopping for Ari and Ella's food, and some clothes and other necessities." I didn't think that was too bad, I already did most of that. "And..."

"And what, Anne? Just spit it out."

"You will never talk to Fang, again. At school, at work, anywhere. Understand?" I don't know if I can do that. He will certainly talk to me, and Lissa and Brigid are going to be on watch. Plus, I was starting to like and trust Fang. But the deal was just too good to pass up. Hopefully, he will understand.

"Fine. It's not like I care about him. I just met him. I don't understand everyone's big hubbub about us!" Well, I kind of did. I don't trust people very often. And on the inside I was just about dying.

"Good. Now go down to your room. I don't actually care what you do, just stay down there until I page you with a list of chores for you to do tomorrow." I got up and went down to my room and got ready for bed. After I got settled, I looked at my phone. There was a message from Iggy.

The Igster: Hey, what's up, chica? I haven't heard from you since school got out. Are you okay?

10:22pm

I quickly replied.

Maximum: Yeah, I'm fine. I had to work and then went to Fang's house. When I got home Ella and Anne were yelling at each other and Ari was crying, so I had to deal with that.

11:01pm

I took out my iPod and started listening from where I left off that morning in homeroom when I saw Fang for the first time. Gosh, that seemed so long ago.

The Igster: You went to Fang's?! Girl, you just met him! What were Ella and the step mom yelling about? And poor little guy!

11:03pm

Maximum: Yes, I went to Fang's. He needed a ride home from the mall and my shift was over, so I dropped him off and he welcomed me in. His mom is pretty cool. Too bad I'll probably never speak to any of the three of them again. They were arguing about me and Fang. The twin witches both want him and Ella said that he liked me! No way is that even true!

11:04pm

The Igster: Why will you never see them again? And come on, Max. A lot of people like you. Quite a few boys at our school eye you in the hallway while you're not looking. I always glare at them, though.

11:04pm

Maximum: What? No they don't. They eye Lissa and Brigid, not me. And Anne made me a deal. By the way, I won't be at school tomorrow or Friday.

11:05pm

The Igster: Why? And yes they do. You are still coming to the sleepover, right? What's the deal?

11:06pm

Maximum: Anne called me in sick. I have to clean for a party she's having on Friday. I can't go to the sleepover, because of the party and the deal. Can I call you tomorrow after school? I need to sleep. I have a feeling I'll have a long chore list tomorrow.

11:06pm

The Igster: Sure, I guess. I'll miss you tomorrow. Ella still better be coming, and we will find a way to sneak you out of the house Friday night. Don't worry about a thing!

11:08pm

Maximum: No you won't. G'night Ig.

11:09pm

The Igster: Goodnight Maximum Elizabeth Ride, the best sidekick ever.

11:11pm

It was already that late? Wow. I made a wish on 11:11. I know its a childish thing to do, but both my parents always said, make wishes and act upon them, your life can't get worse if you have something to look forward to. I wished that it would already be March 15th and I could legally get out of here and out of Anne's life. With that wonderful wish, I fell asleep.

Poor Max! Yeah, I don't wish I was her anymore. But do you sometimes want to be in a story, and even if you have to endure all the crap, still do it to get a happy ending? Sometimes I'm jealous of the flock and the fact that they were in the School, because that meant they all got a happy ending, Fax, Eggy, etc... Anyways, drama picking up! See you turtles next week!