Don't you just love me for all this updating? Come on! I know you do!

HalesXxGriffiths: AW! I'm flattered! Thank you! And as to your intellect question: Well, I'll just keep writing! As long as you guys enjoy it, this story has a future. If you should stop reviewing and telling me you want more, I can find a way to end it. Until then, every course has a future. And every future has a subject (Fang and Max). And every subject has a psychotic hobbit with a pitchfork stalking them in their sleep. Every hobbit has a munchkin who likes to kick them in their shin, Every munchkin…well, you get the idea.

Okay, I've got time for one, maybe two more chapters tonight and then I HAVE to sleep! (Blame Gabe and Missy for keeping me UP!) –cough weirdos cough!-

GABE DO NOT HIT ME WITH ANOTHER PILLOW! NOT NICE!

MAX
The next morning I got up and got dressed to go to school. Nick came out, fully dressed and…silent. "Morning Nick," I said with false brightness. "Feeling any better?"

He shrugged.

"What's wrong?"

No words came out of his mouth. I paled. Not again.

"Nick? Is this because you and I fought? Look, I'm sorry, okay?"

"…"

"Fang? Come on, tell me what's wrong."

"…"

"Fine. I have to go to school. If you want to stop being a doof I'll be with James. Come find me," I snapped, not really angry. More worried. The doorbell rang. "That's him."

Fang tenses visibly. "It's just a doorbell Fang." I went to answer it.

"Morning beautiful," James grinned at me. He kissed my forehead. "You look back to normal. I like it."

"You do? I wasn't sure if-"

"Max, I like you for you. Not your clothes."

"Thanks. Fang are you sure you're okay?"

He nodded tersely.

"Okay…bye then. See you at school." As if on cue, Estelle's car pulled up. Fang passed me and headed to the car.

"Want to stop for breakfast first?" James asked.

"Do we have time?"

"Of course. There's always time for donuts."

"Okay."

We headed to Krazy Eddie's Donut Shop, a small family owned place with the BEST donuts in the area. (AN: Krazy Eddie's Donut Shop is in Mission Viejo, and get their donuts. They ROCK!)

At school, I looked for Fang but didn't see him. James and I kept looking after school. We finally found him back in my house, in his room. He was off in a corner with Estelle's arm around him. His hands were in his lap. He wasn't talking.

FANG

"Morning Nick," Estelle said cheerfully. She kissed me and pulled away. "What's wrong?"

I didn't answer.

"Are you mad at me?"

I shook my head furiously.

"Then why-oh. Oh no. Nick, are you…not talking again?"

I shrugged tightly.

"Oh Nick." She hugged me and I had to restrain myself from flinching. All I could think was, He's coming back. He's coming back. He's coming back. He's coming back. He found me. He found me. He found me.

"It's okay. You'll get through this. You did last time."

I shrugged.

MAX

I marched over. "I'll be right back," I told James.

"Is he okay?" James followed, looking concerned.

"I don't know."

"Nick, please tell me what's wrong. Write it down or-oh, thank God! Max! You can understand him! Please tell me what's wrong!"

"Es, calm down!" I took Fang by the chin and made him look up at me. "Hey! Get it together!"

His eyes were dull and frightened. I sighed. "I don't want to do this Fang." I smacked him hard across the cheek. "Get yourself together! What-is-wrong?"

His lower lip trembled and his eyes began to tear up. The tears leaked out all over his cheeks. I pulled him close. He leaned into me like I'd disappear, clinging to me. Estelle put a hand on his back and he flinched. She looked at him with pity and nodded her head towards the door at James. They crept out. Fang sobbed and sobbed until he couldn't cry anymore tears. He lay against me, gasping for breath. Estelle hurried in with a glass of water for him. I handed it to him and he gulped it down.

"Want to speak now?"

"I just…I just…I just….I….I…" he gasped again, starting to freak out. I shook his shoulder. He snapped out of it. "I'm scared."