Ah! I'm sorry, I promised this on, like Tuesday, and a week later, it's here. But I started school. And I'm gonna die already in APUSH. Stupid Irene for not letting me be a weed and quit….

"I have walked all alone
On these streets, I call home
Streets of hope, streets of fear
Through the sidewalk cracks
Time disappears."

--Bon Jovi

Chapter 15: Max P.O.V.

Recap of last night. High School Musical marathon. Much gagging from Iggy, Gazzy, Fang and I. Which, of course, caused Nudge and Ella to flip out and start smacking us. That is the reason why I have a handprint on my thigh. Nudge has been taking steroids for her hands or something, because she slaps like she throwing an airplane at you.

So, in the middle of the second movie, Nudge and Ella got into a fight over who is the better dancer, Zac Efron or Corbin Bleu. Neither of them appreciated my theory. That they were both computer generated robots, because no boy with any self-respect should be able to move their hips that much.

And after the excruciating pain of watching ideal Disney high school life, it was about eleven-thirty at night, and we curled up into beds, and that's when Akila decided that she was my best friend and jumped on top of the bed Ella and I were sharing and fell asleep right on top of me.

So, this morning, when Nudge whined that she was hungry at six-thirty in the morning, I offered to take her downstairs to the free breakfast buffet while everyone else was still sleeping. I was more than happy to get out of that room, which seemed to have shrunk about three feet since we got to the hotel.

Now, we were at the back of the line with our arms crossed, Nudge being uncharacteristically quiet, while we impatiently waited for the businessmen to gather their breakfast and just take their freaking seats.

I could already tell this was not going to be the best day of my life. And it was only six forty-seven in the morning.

"Hey Max?" Nudge asked, not looking at me, "What time are my parents coming?"

I sighed. I think I must've told her this about twenty-five times since last night.

"Well, their plane landed around eleven o'clock, and they probably arrived at the hotel around midnight, but we're going to meet everyone at eleven down here in the lobby."

"Why?" she asked.

"Because everyone will be here by then," I said, grabbing two plates and handing her one.

"Thanks. Can I see them before then?" she asked.

"Uh… I don't know what room they're staying in," I said, deciding between a blueberry muffin and an apple cinnamon one. Giving up, I just put both on my plate.

"This is so weird," Nudge said, moving behind me. "I mean, my parents are in the same building as me. Isn't it weird?"

"Uh-huh," I said, piling up on scrambled eggs.

"Like, I've always dreamed about meeting them. And now I finally am! It's about the coolest thing ever!"

We sat down at a small table near the back, minding our own business and eating our food, while Nudge shockingly stopped talking. Glancing at me from behind her hair, she kept adverting her eyes whenever she looked into mine. Which was like, every time she looked up.

I put down my fork, "Nudge?"

"Okay, whatever you do, do not make a big deal out of this," she said quickly, as if she was waiting for me to start talking.

"Make a big deal out of what?" I asked.

"Well," she started, and then bit into her bagel. She chewed slowly, still looking at me, obviously stalling.

"Can I ask a question?" she said, a small smile on her face.

"Yeah," I said, unsure. "What?"

Nudge blurted out, "Do you like Fang?"

I paused for a moment, not knowing how to react. Then brushing it off, I responded, "Well, I don't hate him."

She rolled her eyes dramatically. "No, I mean, do you love him?"

I shrugged. "Of course I do," I said, completely ignoring the real question. "He's like my brother."

"Like your brother?" she asked, making a face. "Are you sure? Because you guys would make such an adorable couple!"

"Oh please," I said, starting to eat again. "Me and Fang? We would go on one date, and then break up because I said that the sky is blue and he would disagree with me."

She narrowed her eyes, "But would you go out with him? If he asked?"

I took a sip of my juice before answering, "Well, he wouldn't."

She let out a dramatic sigh and leaned forward in her chair, "You are completely avoiding the question! All I want to know is if you like him. As a potential boyfriend."

I looked up at her. Her eyes were all sparkly and she was smiling like she knew some big secret. "How old are you?" I asked sarcastically.

She rolled her eyes, "Don't try to change the subject. But I'm thirteen. Almost. And you're sixteen. And Fang is almost sixteen. It's about time that you've had some romance in your life."

I gave a short laugh, "In your dreams."

"More like in yours."

My head shot up and I looked up at her, "What?"

"Nothing, let's go. I'm done. And I want to get ready. Can you believe I'm going to meet my parents in, like," she grabbed my arm, and she was getting up and looked at my watch, "four hours?!"

"Yeah," I said, following her as she headed towards the elevator. "Hey, what were you going to tell me before? That you didn't want me to make a big deal over?"

"Oh, it's nothing," she said, pushing the elevator button. She turned and smiled, "Just that you like Fang."

"You're full of it," I said, "Now, seriously, tell me."

We walked into the empty elevator, and she leaned against the back glass. "Okay," she sighed, "While you were away… I got a new power."

"What?" I said, "Nudge! That's so cool! What is it?"

She bit her lip, "Um, its actually not that useful. But it is kinda cool."

I waited for her to continue. But the elevator doors opened and she speed walked down the hall about a mile ahead of me. This was so unfair. She bombarded me with embarrassing questions about Fang and then totally avoids telling me about her power.

Nudge held the door open for me when we got into our room. "Did you guys eat breakfast already?" she asked, seeing dirty plates stacked high on the coffee table.

"Yeah," Iggy said, from his adjoined room.

"We ordered room service," Gazzy said smugly.

Nudge clicked her tongue. "Whatever," she said, "it's from the same kitchen."

Walking into the bedroom, I avoided Fang's gaze and Nudge completely noticed. She wiggled her eyebrows, following me into the room.

"Back already?" Mom asked, running a comb through Angel's hair.

"Yeah," I said. "Nudge was rushing."

She glared at me, but then perked up, jumping onto the bed. "Well, I found out that Max has a crush," she crooned. I kicked her ankle.

"The door's open," I hissed, and her eyes widened mockingly.

"Why do you care?" she said with a sly smile.

"You told her?" Angel asked, trying to turn her head.

"No," I said, "she hasn't."

"It's really not that big of a deal," Nudge said. "Only that I can see people's dreams while I'm sleeping."

I paused. Somehow, I was expecting something a little cooler, something worth keeping a secret. Like being able to shoot lightening from her eyes. Or being able to turn invisible and stalk people without them knowing.

"And you felt like you needed to keep this from me?" I asked, sitting down next to her.

"Well," she said, sitting up and closing the door with her foot. Mom looked at me and I shrugged. "I kinda saw one of yours. I wanted to see how far away it could work. You know, like if they had to be in the same house in order for me to watch their dreams. So I tried it on you, while you were away."

"Oh," I said, surprised.

She looked uncomfortable "It was the one…where you were kissing Fang."

Oh. Oh boy. Not good. Not good at all.

"What?" Mom asked, looking at me.

Feeling my cheeks flushed madly, I opened my mouth to say something, but then closed it on second thought.

"And, I wanted to tell you that I got a new power, but I didn't know if you were going to be mad or anything, so I waited to say something," she said, still not looking at me.

"Well," Angel said, "I wouldn't have told her that."

Nudge jerked her head upright, "Thanks for telling me now." Then she turned to me, and I sensed a new reign of terror.

"So, you were lying," she said, smiling, "when you said you didn't have feelings for Fang."

I shook my head, "I never said that."

Nudge's mouth feel wide open and Angel smiled. My eyes widened, realizing what I just said.

"That's not what I meant," I said quickly, "I just don't like him that way."

"Sure, sure," Nudge said, "But you just admitted it," she sang.

"I did not," I said hotly, my cheeks flushing yet again.

"You did too," Angel said.

"Alright girls," Mom piped in, "Why don't you go get dressed?"

Silently, they left, and then closed the door behind them, and I prayed that they wouldn't say anything to Fang.

Mom sat down next to me. I turned to look at her.

"I don't like him," I said, not really convincingly.

"Okay," she said, not convinced anyway.

I sighed then turned away, to stare at the wall. She put her hand on my leg.

"Just be careful," she said, "He's your best friend."

"I know," I said.

"He wouldn't want to see you hurt," she added.

"I'm not," I said, "I wouldn't want him to be hurt either."

She didn't say anything, but her face looked worried.

"I know," she said, finally, "But that's what worries me."

Then she got up and left the room, pulling the door wide open where I could see Fang lounging on the couch, playing cards with the Gasman. Looking up, he caught my eyes, and gave me the universal, it'll-be-okay face he'd been giving me every five minutes for the past week.

Then he smiled. And suddenly, I remember the real reason I was such a mess in the first place.

Today, the only family I've known for my entire life, were meeting their real families.

How silly of me to forget.

So, four hours later, we were on our way downstairs, and I was holding Gazzy's hand, as we walked to the elevator, and I looked over the edge of the balcony on our floor and said to him, "Look. There's your dad."

And he smiled, while gripping my hand tighter and leaning over the railing. Looking up, I saw Fang staring at me. Behind him, Nudge was smiling wickedly, but I couldn't tell if it was because Fang was looking at me, or because she was meeting her parents.

Probably the latter. Hopefully.

As the doors opened, we piled in, and made our descent to the beginning of my end.

I made a deadline chart. Seriously, deadline. It says "or die" all over it. "Do this, or die" in big capital letters. A little morbid, I know. But my next update will come by the 10th, or else, you know, I die. It says so. Reviews are extra special! Like Party Cake ice cream. Mmmm…