…I updated much faster than I thought I would. I was reading fanfics and suddenly, I was inspired. Crap that sounded lame…

Anyways, I think I finally have the full story in my head. Because when I actually started the fanfics, I had NO clue what was going to happen (story of my life). I'll try and update faster, since it's the last week of term for us Aussies, and I have two weeks of no school. I think. It better not be one week, or I'll be really pissed.

Recommended Book: The Mortal Instruments. Really good series. And tons of good fanfics for when you've finished the books. Not to mention Jace is really hot.

Chapter 9: Sweet Tooth

You know that feeling you get when you slept way to long, and you wake up, and not only are you groggy and your mouth is as dry as the Sahara, but you also can't remember a thing about yesterday.

Well that feeling seems to happen a lot. I sat in my bed (I think?) and just stared into space for over half an hour, trying to recollect my memories. The only thing I remembered though was fragments, including me shouting at Fang and the others, and the terrible dream I'd had.

It took another fifteen minutes before I noticed the glass of water next to me, which I greedily guzzled down my throat and another ten minutes before I noticed someone else in the room. Jeb was sitting across the room in a beige couch that did definitely not belong in my room (have I ever told you how much I hate beige? No. Well, I hate it. A lot.) His eyes were closed and I presumed he was sleeping.

Then he opened his eyes and looked at me in shock. Ok, I get it, I presumed wrong.

"Max?" he asked, staring at me as if I was a bomb about to go off at any second.

I nodded slowly. For some reason I couldn't speak. As if my mouth refused to form words. What I really wanted to say was incredibly rude and probably would have gotten me grounded. Again.

Jeb's face broke out into a huge smile, and he just about ran out of the room. Seconds later I could hear him speaking into a phone. Well I think it was a phone, since I couldn't hear anyone speaking back to him, and I'd hate for someone else in this house to be insane. Yes, I still refused to call it home. Because it wasn't home.

Jeb didn't come back into the room so I just lay back down and stared at the ceiling. Have you ever played that game where you make shapes out of the different shadows on the ceiling? Well, if you do, you're an idiot. Because no matter how hard I tried to make the shadow on the ceiling turn into a bunny, it stubbornly remained a shadow.

Voices shook me out of rant I was having at the shadow. Yes, I mentally rant at things that aren't even real.

I looked around and realised the room was filled with people. Interesting. I hadn't even noticed them come in. Maybe they all suddenly became ninjas. What? It could happen…

I blinked, and suddenly I recognised them. A second before, they had all been strangers. Weird. I could see Iggy, Nudge and Fang all standing in the corner of the room looking at me warily. I ignored them and continued to survey the now familiar faces. Angel and Gazzy were sitting on the floor, playing with toys, seemingly oblivious to everyone else.

And there, in the doorway stood Jeb. But not only Jeb, behind him I could see ter Borcht. My blood boiled but I couldn't move. All I wanted was to get out of this bed and wipe that stupid smug expression off his face. But nothing. I couldn't even open my mouth. And my face remained expressionless.

I struggled against the barriers in my mind, stopping me from killing him. Or speaking. Or moving. Or smiling. Or crying. Or scowling. Or anything that required showing emotion.

Oh crap! I thought. I'm turning into Fang. Stop laughing at me.

Speaking of Fang, I saw him break away from the others and cautiously approach me. I so wanted to say a sarcastic comment there. But no.

He stopped at my bedside and looked at me. Underneath my emotional mask that I couldn't get rid of, I was currently trying to stop myself mentally drool over Fang.

He's so hot! One part of my mind said.

Is this really the time? Asked the other part of my mind.

Totally. He's right there. Perfect for admiring.

But right now, I can't show any emotion or speak. So this really isn't the time.

This is the perfect time. This way he won't be able to know what you're thinking. And smirk that annoying smirk of his. The incredibly hot smirk…

Stop it!

I was distracted from my inner battle by Fang speaking.

"Max?" he asked warily. If I could have, I would have groaned. I mean, out of all the things he could have said. That was just lame.

Unfortunately, I could not respond to the lame comment accordingly. Instead I just stared at him, my face betraying nothing.

He sighed and walked away. I wanted to scream at him. I could see him talking to Iggy and Nudge, occasionally glancing at me. Yeh, 'cause that wasn't a huge giveaway.

Jeb walked over to them and said something grimly. They nodded slowly and one by one walked out of the room. Jeb then quietly said the same thing to the twins. They abruptly got up and hurried out.

Now it was just Jeb, Bastard and I. It's my new nickname for him.

The bastard walked over to me, no swaggered over and sat down on a chair which I hadn't noticed was next to me until then.

"So Max…" the bastard drawled and leaned closer. He was so damn lucky I was more or less paralysed.

"Can you hear me?" bastard asked. Even if I had wanted to, I couldn't answer him. In fact, the only thing that I could possibly control in my own body was my eyes. I could move them around and stare at stuff. So helpful. I couldn't even blink on my own.

It was like my whole body was wired to auto pilot. It breathed and blinked on its own but apart from that, it didn't need to do anything else. So it didn't. No matter how hard I tried to find the switch that turned it off.

Bastard was still talking but I tuned him out. I couldn't answer anyways, so what was the point of getting pissed.

I was only half aware of him leaving and Jeb taking his place. For some reason though, instead of all the contempt I usually felt for him, I just felt indifferent, mellow. I know, I was shocked too.

I tuned back in because it seemed like this was probably important.

"Max," he was saying. "I know this is hard for you, what with your parents gone and your home destroyed. But this is a new place. A new life. Perhaps it's time to let go of your past."

He waited, as if expecting an answer, then sighed when he got none. He got up from the chair and walked out of the room and shut the door.

As soon as the door was shut the switch went off and I could move again, although I still couldn't speak. Good thing I was mad enough to have two voices in my head, right?

I got up out of bed and looked at my clothing. I shuddered. I absolutely hated sleeping in my clothes. I went to my door and opened it a crack. Downstairs I could hear Jeb yelling.

"Kids, hurry up, before the mall closes!"

I distantly heard the door open and then the voices of the twins and Ella walking outside. I waited until I heard them drive off before opening the door fully.

I had a long, hot shower and changed into black sweat pants and a grey tank. Then I foraged in the kitchen for food. I was starving. So to stop the growling in my stomach, I found some bread and piled it with all the sweet things I could find. Nutella, icing sugar, maple syrup and some chocolate chips. I put it in the sandwich toaster and when it was done, I had a toasted sandwich with an inch thick filling of hot, sweet goo. I washed it down with whipped cream and milk. What can I say, I had one hell of a sweet tooth.

By the end of this dentist's nightmare I was so full I could barely move. But I cleaned up the kitchen and removed any evidence of me having been there. And stole some snacks to keep in my room in case I got hungry.

I didn't want to be confronted with people again and not be able to move. It was bad enough not being able to speak, even on my own. So if I had to stay away from people, I would. No matter what.

I know, not that long, and another filler. But it needed to be done.

Basically Max's mind has shut down. So she can move, sometimes but she can't talk. And I'm telling you this now because it won't really be explained properly. And no, you can't know the reason yet.

And I stole the sugary toasted sandwich from Cherub. Mainly because I have a massive sweet craving at the moment. But unfortunately, I am not allowed anything sugary for the next SIX weeks.

I don't know how I'm going to survive either. Next chapter will be up soon. And yes, if you send me chocolate it might come faster.

~BookNerd7~