Ha ha! You weren't expecting ANOTHER chapter, were you? MWAH! That's my kiss to you! I love you readers! You're my favorite-est people in the fan-fiction universe!

And I'd like to thank Drippingly Sarcastic for agreeing to BETA me! Thanks!

MAX

"And, wha-la! You are finished! Don't you look beautiful?" Ella squealed. They let me face the mirror. I'd been forced into a new outfit, makeup and a hairstyle from a magazine this morning for school.

"Whoa…." I whispered. "Who is that?"

"Huh?"

"That's not me," I insisted. I let a slow smile across my face. "She's just too fabulous! You girls have done an amazing job!" Okay, so maybe I was gushing a little too much…

"Thanks! We'd better get to school now!" A horn honked. "Oh! That's your ride! Bye love you!" They dashed out of the room.

"Ride?" I headed downstairs with my backpack and gasped. "Ari! No way! How are you!?" I threw my arms around our old family friend.

"I'm great Max. You? Wow, you look gorgeous. He must be a lucky boy."

"It's revenge, actually. Just peachy."

"Revenge? No wonder the girls wanted you to ride in my car." He opened the door to his black convertible for me.

"Girls must love you!" I laughed, getting in.

"Actually, no," he smiled. "They find the car better suits them than me."

I frowned at his joke. "Not funny."

"Very funny."

"Okay, a little funny!"

He drove up the street. "Hmm, next time we should go for the motorcycle," he murmured. "Don't worry! I'm a safe driver!"

"You got it bud."

He smirked. "Have a good day! Break his heart for me!"

"Why for you?"

"Because anyone who can make you wear that had better be worth it!"

"He is." With that, I swung my legs out of the car and stepped onto the front lawn.

Unfortunately, Ari had made quite a scene, so all eyes were on me.

Well, at least I was cute.

FANG

Oh, God, what is she doing? I thought desperately. Estelle won't like that.

"Nicky? Isn't that your ah…?" she let the question drop.

"Relative? No. I just live in the same house," I swore. "God, she's such a freak."

"What does she think she's wearing?"

"Looks good," Adam commented. "Not as good as you though," he swore, looking at Estelle. "But she could totally be your groupie."

"Hm," she sniffed, turning away. "Come on, Nicky." Giggling, she took my hand and we ducked behind a wall and started kissing.

MAX

A few boys whistled as I passed, searching for a certain face. I finally found him at a table surrounded by girls, posing and vying for his attention. I leaned against it. "Hey there."

"He-llo," he said, looking up at me. "You new here babe?"

"Not really."

"Then how come I've never seen that beautiful face before?"

"Maybe you just didn't look hard enough?" I flicked my hair, really looking for Fang. He was glaring at us from across the court yard. It occurred to me that I could have any guy I wanted now. I turned back to James Rothen, the coolest guy in the school. All black shirts and ripped jeans, skateboarder, motorcycle (hello? Legal at 14!) We skated together a few times in fifth grade. I'd nearly died of shock. Then he'd forgotten my face (and my skate moves) when I faded back into the background again in sixth. Forget you Fang. That would be practically incest anyways.

"Possibly. Maybe you can tell me how to be more observant?"

"I don't know. What's it worth to you?"

"Dinner and a movie?"

"Hmmm...tempting. Throw in meeting me with your board at the park at four and you've got a deal."

"You skate?"

"We boarded together in fifth, didn't we?"

He nodded, remembering now. "Max Ride, girl on wheels who never feels. Pain, that is."

"Exactly."

"Then I'm there."

"I'll be waiting." I started to walk away.

"Hey, Max? Why don't you hang with us at lunch?"

I smirked back at him. "Maybe some other time. I've got a prior engagement."

He watched me walk away the whole time.

"Well?" Claire demanded. "What was that?"

"That was me figuring out that Fang and I aren't going to happen. Ever. Lissa, have fun with the turd. I've got James."

"Yes you do," Kayley whistled.

"Who are these lovely ladies?" James said from behind me.

"Kayley, Claire, and Lissa," I introduced them. "My girls."

"Hello there."

"Claire's taken," Kayley grinned. "But we aren't."

"I am," Lissa walked away.

"She's still got a grudge against me, doesn't she?" he winced.

"You put glue in her hair in preschool."

"On accident!" he followed her. "Lissa, wait!"

LISSA

"Lissa!" James yelled. I turned. "I'm sorry, okay? Really, the glue was a total accident! I didn't mean to. I'm super sorry."

I eyed him. "Fine. You pass. But why Max? Why now?"

He shrugged. "I've like her since fifth grade. Why not?"

"Then what was-" I started, having heard them talking.

"Just flirting back. Look, she's given me an opening here! Please, help me out! What can I do or say to make her like me?"

I shrugged. "Be yourself. If you're good enough, you'll know it."

"How?"

"Well, we won't be killing you or making sure you don't have children because you won't have broken her heart." I flounced away, smiling.

Somehow, I don't think I've done anything but scare him.

Oh well.

Their time will come. If you demand Max and Fang be together I will prolong the time until they are.

R&R?