So, I feel really bad because I got real busy and just keep forgetting to update... if you want more on that, read the end of the end AN. And this is just a filler chapter, but it's leading up to the longest one in the story! Get excited for next week! But read this first!

Chapter 12

MAX POV

I had been cleaning all day. It was already 2:15. The rest of the kids and Anne would be home in about an hour. The guests would start coming in 3. Luckily, I saved time by "watching the cook" and doing all the kitchen and dining room things at the same time. The long, entertaining guests table was set and ready for dinner. I had the rest of the kitchen looking spotless and the cook told me when I should turn the oven back on so that the hot things would be hot for the guests. I also had snacks laid out for all the kids, including the twins, so they wouldn't go rummaging through the cupboards and mess up my perfectly clean kitchen. All I had left on the "actually do" to do list, was to clean the third floor. The whole third floor was three rooms. The master bedroom, the master bathroom, and the master walk-in closet. That thing was huge, but this was not going to be exciting. The first thing I did, was put all of her dirty clothes in a hamper, which went in very far back corner of the closet. I needed someplace to put it, I couldn't do laundry now! No one would go back there, right? Then I vacuumed. The room was pretty clean, actually. Anne must have picked up before hand. All that was left, was the bathroom. I just had to do the normal stuff. There wasn't anything extremely disgusting. Maybe Anne was starting to take it easy on me. And maybe hell was freezing over and a pig would fly into my window tonight.

By then, I had heard the pager go off twice. Fang had dropped Ella and Ari off again, this time having enough sense not to come in. Iggy and Nudge did, however. They called up to me and said they left something on my bed. It was probably just my homework Iggy was supposed to bring me yesterday. Whatever. I told Ella and Ari snacks were on the table and that I would be down when I was done. Then a little later I heard Lissa and Brigid call to the whole house, announcing they were home. I paged them back and told them where their snacks were and told them they had a little less than two hours to get ready for the party. By then I was done cleaning Anne's bathroom. I went down to tell Ari he needed to be ready to go to Angel's in half an hour. Angel is the same age as Ari, and she is Iggy's little sister. They are friends at school and so when Anne has parties, normally he spends the night there. Sometimes, if Ella really doesn't want to stay at the party, she spends the night there, too. Iggy also has a younger brother, named Zephyr, but he goes by Gazzy. Gazzy is a year younger than Ella, so they all three can hang out.

Then I went in to check on Ella. After talking to her for a minute, I left. She was snickering to herself, but then remembered she had something else to tell me. "If you need help getting ready for the party, let me know, Fang's picking me up in about an hour." Then she went back into her room giggling. Whatever. I knocked on Lissa and Brigid's bathroom door to make sure everything was okay, and they didn't need anymore make-up. They said no, and to leave them alone. I don't know why I bother. It's those dang maternal instincts that I have with all kids younger than me. I try so hard to make them not hate me, and they still do.

I proceeded down to my room, but when I got to the first floor, I ran into Anne. Like literally. "Sorry, I'll just be heading to my room. I finished the whole list." I tried to slip past her, but she wouldn't let me.

"Did you really now? Did you appreciate the fact that I actually cleaned my room before you? You look like crap. You better get cleaned up before the guests start arriving. I want you at this door waiting to take their coats at 5:10, no earlier, no later. Understand?"

"Yes, and thank you Anne, I did appreciate that. I'll be in room if you need anything before that." I started to walk away, then turned around. "And Anne?"

"Mmph?"

"Please don't go in the kitchen. I don't want you to accidentally ruin any of the food that Mrs. White made for you. Just let me deal with all the food. You relax and get ready for the party, kay?" Her face looked surprised. I think she was surprised I didn't make any snarky comments at all. I just didn't have it in me to argue with her after not sleeping at all last night.

"Oh, oh, okay. Are you sure you aren't actually sick, Max?"

"I'm positive, but thanks for your newly found concern, Anne. Now, I must get going to my room if you want me to look any kind of pleasant for this party." She just nodded and started up the stairs towards her room. Some of you may think I placed something in her room and didn't tell you, or something else to make her mad before, but honestly, this whole Fang thing, and not sleeping, just took all my energy. That and cleaning. I really wanted to just go to sleep on my wonderful bed that will never yell at me. But I had to get ready for this party. And when I got to my room, and over to my bed, something else was occupying where I sleep.

Okay, next chapter is the party scene, and the longest one in the story I've written so far. It's so exciting! I mean, I know what's going to happen, but you don't! Can't wait for next week!

But in case you care about my life, the reason I keep forgetting is a) I got a boyfriend Friday. He's pretty cool. b) I made All State Choir, and it makes me extremely happy. And c) my brother is in Florida having surgery and both my parents are with him, so I'm kind of in charge of my other two brothers for a week... so yeah. That's my life. Message me and complain about yours! Or review, or whateves, don't matter to me!