Sorry if Fang seems like such a meanie.

MAX POV

"What was that all about? Is it possible that people can be meaner than Jeb?" Nudge's last question had a very good answer... just an answer I didn't possess. I didn't know how to answer her other question. I pleaded with my eyes at J.J., asking her to help me explain. She sighed.

I looked at my surroundings. I hadn't been paying attention to where we were headed. J.J. seemed to be off in her own world. We stood at the small fence that surrounded the school, useful for keeping two year olds in. Lush green grass brushed against my ankles. Bloomed flowers opened to the sun in delight. We were hidden by large, bushy shrub; surrounded by towering trees.

"Max?" Angel whispered. She seemed at peace, finally being able to relax from the pain. She curled in a tighter ball and snuggled against my chest.

"Yeah, honey?"

"Are we safe?" He tone raised into a squeak. She was scared. She was scared that I would abandon her again. She was scared that her old life would come back. She was terrified of the thin sheet of glass that protected her shattering into millions of tiny shards, never to be fixed.

I'm pretty sure I had the perfect answer for her. "So safe that nobody will ever hurt you again." It was the best answer I had.

"I'm glad you came back, Max. We both missed you." I felt a tear soak through my shirt. I lightly kissed the Angel's head and pulled Nudge into a tight hug, Angel squished between us. After a few seconds. I pulled Ella and J.J. in, too. After another several seconds I pulled away, Angel still in my arms. I wouldn't let her go. Not just yet.

"Okay, um, Nudge, What happened back there was nothing. That guy is just a freaking... bum." It was the only word I could think of with Angel still close enough to hear every word. "Oh! And I would like you to meet J.J., my best and only friend at this school, and Ella, your half-sister." Nudge's mouth dropped. I swear it mirrored my exact reaction from when I first found that I had a half-sister. Ella thought so, too, because she laughed out loud. She actually thought it was so funny that she ended up doubled over in laughter. Nudge shut her gob pretty quick.

Angel seemed to be asleep. She looked so cute while she was asleep. Even the noise Ella was making couldn't wake her.

It may not have woken Angel, but it did give away our little hiding place. To about half the school.

...

Fang hadn't been feeling himself lately. He hadn't had a girl in his arms or on his lips for just over a week now; he was unable to think of his life a week ago. It was a poor excuse for happiness. His grades were dropping incredibly fast because his mind would only remain on the same one thing.

Maybe that was why his teacher had called for him to stay behind.

Students squeezed out the door way, a race to get out of the classroom and to freedom. Fang slowly approached the teacher, Mrs Ward. "Fang, your outstanding class work has dropped quite a fair bit and I am awfully concerned," she said in her Canadian accent. "Is there something going on at home?"

"No. Just... something on my mind that won't go away." He didn't want to say another word. She didn't try the subject again.

Mrs Ward smiled at Fang. "Since you are the star student of the school, I was informed that there is an incident that needs your help for the next few weeks. You may leave now." The teacher moved her gaze back to a sheet of paper filled with mathematical questions.

Great, just what I needed. Some idiot that got in a huge amount of trouble to watch over as they fulfilled their punishments.

...

I dropped into a seat, then lifted Angel to settle in my lap. J.J. dropped in another chair and Nudge sat next to her in another seat. I hadn't met the school's principal yet but this was a fine way to do it, I guess. Mr Gee's beady eyes set me with a glare so hard it almost hurt to look at him.

Landing ourselves in the principal's office suddenly looked like an enormous mistake.

"You are going to receive a severe punishment that will last for a few weeks in a few moments..." I held in a loud groan and almost face palmed.

Did any of us deserve this? "Mr Gee, sir, it is Nudge's first day here. She hadn't heard of such rules. Please let her go with a warning." I had no excuse for me and J.J. With a glance at J.J. I knew she understood that I couldn't defend either of us. She seemed fine with it.

"Okay. Fine, then. The school's star student will watch over you and Jennifer and make sure you properly finish your punishments over the next few weeks."

J.J. eyes lit up in a reaction I knew too well and I suddenly very bad feeling about this, but didn't stop the comment, "Great. We have a well behaved nerd staring at our ass's while we die in misery."

A knock rattled the door right on queue. "Right on time," said Mr Gee, pleased. "You will start your first task right away." He paused a moment before calling, "Come in, Nicholas!"

And in walks Nicholas Walker. Fang.

Perfect. We'll have a well behaved nerdy player staring at our ass's while I die in excruciating misery and J.J. faints in the delight of having Fang's presence anywhere near her.