I actually make 11:11 wishes as many times as possible, don't judge. None of them have come true yet, maybe if I wished for something realistic it would happen... Chapter 9

Chapter 9

FANG POV

I woke up the next morning to my alarm screaming at me. I quickly got up and ready to go to school. I really wanted to see Max again. Once I was ready I yelled at Nudge. Ten minutes later she was ready to go. Melanie was in the living room, drinking her morning coffee and watching the news. We both went in and pecked her on the cheek before saying bye, going out to my Audi, and racing off to school.

"Someone is a little excited to see a certain girl, aren't they?"

"What? No, Nudge. I just... I just need to talk to Iggy really badly before homeroom."

"Don't even try to lie to me, Fang. You and I both know that you like her. And I would bet she likes you too."

My eyes widened at that. Nudge thinks that Max likes me back? "Don't be ridiculous. Why would Max like me?"

"Fang, this is totally from a sisterly stand-point, but you are hot. I don't think I know any girl who wouldn't like you. Well, except for Ella. She's infatuated with Iggy, and she's not supposed to know, but Max won't let him ask her out until she turns 15."

"Yeah, I knew that. They kind of mentioned it yesterday. Don't tell her, but I think he is going to ask her out on her birthday. It's not too far away."

"Oooo, yay! That's so exciting!" The rest of the car ride Nudge just babbled on and on about why Ella and Iggy will be amazing together. When we pulled up to the school, I went to my locker, and Iggy came up to me.

"Hey, man. Max is really sorry, but she's sick and can't come to school today or tomorrow, which means she won't be able to sleep over at your place tomorrow night."

"What? How is she so sure she will still be sick tomorrow?" No, I don't think that now that I've met Max I will be able to last very long without her.

"Jeez man, you really do have it bad. I'm calling her this afternoon after school, you can come with me if you want. If you really want to know, she can tell you herself." Iggy gave me a pitiful, sympathy filled look. "I know how it feels, Fang. It'll work out eventually, I promise." How could he be so sure? I hadn't stopped thinking about her since that first time I saw her in homeroom the day before. "Listen, I gotta get to homeroom. I'll see you in science, okay? Just hang in there. After school. Then you can talk to her."

MAX POV

Anne paged me at 9 saying I had to get up and check the fridge for the list of chores. She was leaving for her job. Her job isn't honestly that bad, but I'm pretty sure that's how she met my dad, and she's probably seeing/sleeping with her new boss. She used to be my dad's secretary, and he was a scientist for a pharmaceutical company called Itex. I assume she's the secretary for whoever took his position. And, when I leave, she will probably still be fine money wise. Anyways. I got up and groggily walked up the stairs while checking my phone. Yeah, I'm just skilled like that. When I got to the kitchen there was a folded piece of paper on a magnet. It didn't look too bad. Then I took it off the fridge. Yeah, it all came crumbling down. It was the size of five full sized pieces of paper! I don't think I'll be able to do this all in a lifetime, much less two days! I set to work anyways.

I popped a couple of waffles into the toaster and grabbed a plate, peanut butter, syrup, and a fork from the cupboards. Then I loaded up the dishwasher and turned it on. By then, my waffles had popped, so I prepared them and ate them. Then I continued doing some of the more important tasks on the list. I had gone through and starred them while I ate. I'm so smart. I also put little checks next to the ones Anne wouldn't actually notice if I didn't do. Seriously, who would even notice if I polished the light switches? Who even does that anyways? I continued on until my phone rang at 3:00. I had about a page and a half done, not including the ones I crossed off at the beginning. All but three of the starred things were done. I looked down at my phone that lit up and said The Igster. Huh, I told him I'd call him, but whatever.

"Hey, Ig. How was school?"

"Don't you mean how was Fang?" Why does everyone think I like Fang?

"No, but since you said it first, how is dear Fang?"

"I don't know, how about I just let him tell you?" I could just hear the smirk and smugness in his voice. How dare he!

"Iggy! Hi, Fang."

"Maxie, I can hear you blushing!"

"Since I'm thinking about it, can you give Ella a ride home? One of you two?"

"Yeah, sure. I have to take Iggy since he still didn't drive, even though you weren't picking him up. You don't sound sick, Max. Does that mean you're coming to school tomorrow?" Fang asked hopefully. What was wrong with him? Is he trying to butt into my life?

"Thanks, and I am sick. You probably just can't hear it in my voice. I more just feel lightheaded, dizzy, and like I could puke at any second. I'm really sorry, Fang, but I'm not coming tomorrow. I haven't left my room all day. Can I just talk to Iggy now?"

"Yeah, sure. I hope you feel better, Max. I'll see you soon." I heard Iggy switch the phone off speaker, so I knew I was safe now.

"James Ignacio Griffith! Never ever do that to me again!"

"Wow, someone is not having a good day." He lowered his voice. "You've been catty lately, is it your time of month or something?"

"Iggy! How many times do I have to tell you not to ask a girl that! And no, it is not. I'm just really stressed about Anne."

"Oh, yeah. Can you tell me about the deal now?"

"Yeah, I guess." And so I told him about the $75 a week, and the not being able to talk to Fang anymore because of Lissa and Brigid.

"Oh, Max! Why did you agree to that?"

"Because, Iggy. I barely even know him. I care about Ella, Ari, moving out, and getting my guitar more than some guy I just met! I thought you, of all people would understand where I am coming from."

"But Max!" He shouted, I could hear Fang and Ella asking him what was wrong in the background.

"Iggy, tell them it's nothing. Tell Ella I'll see her in a few minutes. Don't tell Fang a single thing. I don't want him thinking I have any kind of interest in him. I can't talk to him anymore. Just tell him. Tell him to stay away from Lissa and Brigid. I have to get back to my chores now."

"But Max. You can't just ignore... You can't just ignore it for the rest of your life. It is part of your life now, and you are going to have to embrace it sometime." He was going great lengths to not say anything about a boy in front of Fang, which I was grateful for.

"Iggy, please, just hang up. We can talk later, when you aren't in his car. I really have to go, before the step monster and her kids get home and see me not doing anything. Bye Iggy." Before he could say something else, I hung up my phone and went back to scrubbing the floor. I really just wanted to cry. I didn't want to do anymore chores, I didn't want to be in charge of my younger siblings. I wanted to go back to school. I wanted to be friends with Fang. Heck, just seeing Fang would be okay! What was wrong with me? I just met this boy! I needed to do something to get my mind off of this. I ran down and got my Ipod to plug into the speakers in the kitchen. Then I went back to the floor. Hello, by Evanescence started to play. I sang along. This song was just so dark and wonderful. The sound was so rich.

A few minutes later, Ella and Iggy burst into my house with Ari and Fang close behind. I totally forgot to ask Fang to get him! Thank god for Ella and Iggy. Wait, why was Iggy here? Why was Fang here! "You have to leave, now." I motioned to Fang and Iggy.

"Max, why? What did Anne say?"

I knelt down to Ari. "Can you go up to your room while us older kids talk for a minute, buddy?" He nodded vigorously and ran up the stairs. I turned my attention back to Fang, Iggy, and Ella. "He cannot be here. If any of the other three see him here, I am going to be in so much trouble." I refused to meet his eyes. From what I heard on the phone and what Iggy and Ella were saying, he would be sad and not understand. I looked down at the floor. "Fang, you have to leave. Please, don't come back." I just looked at my feet for a while, until I heard the front door slam.

"Fang, wait up! I still need a ride home!" I heard Iggy running towards the door. "Max, I'll chat with you later. Bye Ella!"

"Bye Iggy! I'll text you later!" Ella yelled back, too enthusiastically. Then she turned to me. "Max, what was that all about? It's not okay to shoo him out of our house."

"Ella, you don't understand. I'm doing this for you, and Ari. And to get away from this stupid place we call home."

"You are right. I don't understand why you would shoo away a boy who might actually like you, and not as a best friend, like Iggy. Like a girlfriend. You didn't see him at school today. You didn't see his eyes when you told him to leave and never come back. You didn't hear how he was talking to Iggy, and Nudge, and even me about you today. Max, what did Anne say?"

"Ella, you might want to sit down, and you have to promise not to tell Fang, or Nudge. I told Iggy on the phone." She sat down on one of the steps and motioned for me to continue. I went back to scrubbing. Fang obviously knows that I wasn't sick now. "Anne and I made a deal last night. That's the only reason we stopped fighting so quickly last night. We made a deal that she would start paying me for what I do. She's going to pay me $75 a week until I move out. I'll have to use some of that to keep the cupboards stocked and to get you and Ari new clothes and such, but mostly it'll go into my savings so I can buy an apartment when I turn 18, so I can pay for college, and so I can buy my guitar. Her only conditions were that I keep doing what I have been since Dad died, and that I never speak to Fang again. She's going to have Brigid and Lissa watching me like hawks at school. Ella, you have to understand, it's the best deal I'm ever going to get from her."

"No, Max! It's not! She can't control you like this! She doesn't even take care of you! She never has. She shouldn't have any say in your life and she certainly shouldn't be able to tell you who you can and can't talk to at school!"

"Ella, now think about it rationally."

"Fine. At least she should be paying you more." I laughed as I scrubbed. I had started moving into the parlor now. We had wood floors on most of the first floor, and all the stairs, and parts of the second. Luckily, all the bedrooms and most of the rooms on the second and third floor were carpet, so you just had to vacuum.

"Can you go tell Ari he can come out now? Thanks for having Fang pick him up, I totally forgot. I have a lot of work to still get done before tomorrow night."

"Actually, Fang asked me if he needed to get Ari. I would have forgotten, too."

"Oh, well then, thank him tomorrow at school for me?"

She nodded and ran up to get Ari. I just thought for a while. I was so sure that this was the right thing, but why did it feel so wrong?

Confused Max is so fun! And poor Fang! He has to suffer! But more drama! It's just gonna keep building for a while now, and then it will probably be the end of the story... But if I end it there, I'll write a sequel, if I don't, I still might eventually write a sequel... So in the reviews, do you want a shorter story (still not very short) with a sequel, or just a really long story? Tell Me! See you later peeps!