Chapter Eleven

Within the next couple of week's after the camping trip Mark moved away, and Fang and Lana moved houses. Lana had said she had wanted to have a fresh start. Not live in the house she lived in with her ex-husband. Fang didn't talk that much about his parents divorce. He wasn't happy about it, but he didn't look sad either.

Nudge dumped Daniel in those same weeks. We had court him with another girl on a date. We had gone to the same movie session as them by chance, and seen them kissing. All hell had let loose, Nudge had pored her coke over his head and thrown the bracelet he had given her at him. The other girl had left the cinemas with us. Her name was Shara, she and Nudge ended up becoming friends, funnily enough. She had thought she was Daniels only girlfriend too.

Ella continued to hang out with us. I was always sure to invite her after what she had said, and eventually it became a natural thing her being part of the group. She quickly become as close friends with Fang, Iggy, Gazzy, Angel and Nudge, as I was.

Ella started at our school the following year, when the twins were in year eight and the rest of us in year nine. She hung out with us at our 'spot' as well as with other kids in her year level. She was always sure to have friends in other year levels, unlike the rest of us who really just kept together, sure we had friends in other groups, but not as many as Ella.

We were still all busy with our extra activities after schools, but always made time for each other. Fang had his art classes, Gazzy still played footy, Ella played soccer, Angel and I started dance classes at Nudge's dance school-tho we were in a different class- and Iggy had cooking classes he started at the local community centre.

I had continued going to dance classes with Nudge for months before officially joining a class. I convinced Angel to do the same. Nudge had laughed hysterically while watching us on our first lesson. She had said she just couldn't believe her luck that I had agreed to start dance. What I didn't tell her was that I really loved dance. It was my one means of escape from the world. It was my out-let. And I had gotten quite good.

I practiced around my room and hired out a studio with Nudge and Angel to muck around in. Angel didn't like it the way Nudge and I did. She loved class, but didn't live dance 'like' Nudge and I ended up doing.

Age Fifteen

"Max! That was amazing!" Angel squealed, from where she is sitting crossed legged, leaning against the mirrors. I had just been practicing my solo dance. It's a modern contemporary dance, Amanda had choreographed. It was really hard to learn, and when Amanda had shown it to me I was convinced I would never be able to do it, but in time I picked it up, and with a whole lot of practice, managed to master it- if I do say so myself.

"Thanks." I say with a laugh.

"No really you should be in Nudge's class, not beginner's Contemporary and Ballet." She said as she tossed my drink bottle at me. I court it just before it hit my face, and fake scowled at her. She laughed.

"I wouldn't leave you." I say, passing it back to Angel, after taking a drink.

"Oh, don't let me hold you back. I have other friends in the class. You deserve to be in the higher class." Angel said looking at Nudge and raising an eyebrow.

"She's right Max. You're an incredible dancer- Which opens the question I wanted to ask you, oh so nicely. You know how I'm doing that competition dance with Kirsten the senior?"

"Yeah..." I say cautiously.

"Well she broke her leg!" Nudge said this as if she had won the lotto.

"Oh no. How?"

"Oh...fell off a ladder, or something- that's not important, the important thing is I need a new partner." Nudge said happily.

"Okay."

"You!" Nudge said pointing at me.

"Me?" I asked shocked.

"Yes you, my dear."

"What no...I mean I'm not good enough. And isn't this dance competition a really big deal, like you were really lucky to get it. You have to be really talented?" I asked.

"Yep. I talked to Amanda, said you'd be perfect. She said she's never seen a beginner pick up dance as fast as you have. You're the best in your class, you're better then the girls in my class too." Nudge said.

"It's true Max. You're a freak." Angel said with a chuckle. "You dance like you're weightless and there's nothing you can't do, you're fearless." She finished.

"I'm flatted, but I can't. I'm just not good enough, trust me." I say.

"Oh but you are." Nudge protested. "Right, Amanda?" I turn to where Nudge is looking and sure enough Amanda's standing behind me with a smile playing at the side of her mouth.

"You sure are good enough Max. I have never seen someone of your age dance like you. You and Nudge are my best dancers. You girls will win the competition… if you work hard and commit yourselves to the dance. Are you in Max?" Amanda said, as she pulled a CD out of her bag.

"She sure is!" Nudge answered for me, before I could say no.

"Great here's the music. Nudge you can teach her what you know so far and tomorrow we'll continue in your private class. Max, learn it, live it, love it. See you girls tomorrow. Bye Angel, Good class." Amanda waved briefly before walking out. By now all the other girls had already gone home.

"I can't learn the dance by tomorrow!" I said trying really hard not to freak out.

"Yes you can. We'll have to cancel our movie night with the other's." Nudge said.

"I'll ring them. I'm going to leave you two to it. Good luck Max!" Angel called out as she walked towards the door.

"I'll need it." I mumbled to myself. "Bye. Don't tell them why we're not there." I called out louder.

Angel just laughed. "I will." Angel yelled back.

Nudge walked over to the music player and put in the CD Amanda had given her in, and pressed play.

"We can just listen to it first." Nudge said sitting down in the middle of the floor. I walk over to her and sit myself next to her. I stretched my legs out in front of me.

"It's an amazing dance. It has strong sharp movements, yet it's smooth and flowing. You'll love it." Nudge says.

"Yeah, I've seen you and Kristin practising." I say.

I lean back on my elbows and listen to the music. It's Hallelujah, K.D Lang's version. We listen to about half the song before Nudge stops it.

"Come on, I'll show you it." Nudge says, standing up, she offers me a hand and I take it, he pulls me up as well.

"This is great." Nudge squealed. "Fang should start dancing as well, then you two can perform beautiful duets together and make people weep." Nudge joked.

"Haha." I said sacastically, but ended up laughing for real. Nudge smirked.

A couple hour's later Nudge had tought me the dance it wasn't the whole thing, not even close, but it was a start. It's an amazing dance. Amanda wins awards for her choreography. We were both sweating and breathing heatherly by the end of our dance session.

"Man. I need to get fit." I tell Nudge.

"It takes a lot of strength and stanima. We could start jogging before or after school?"

"Sound's good-" i was saying but was interrupted by Iggy.

"Hey hey hey." Iggy yells as he, Gazzy, Ella, Fang and a sheepish looking Angel walk into the studio.

"What are you guys going here?" Nudge asks surprized.

"Well since we couldn't have our movie night we thought we'de come here." Ella said, looking around the room. "So this is the place you've been spending all your time."

"So what's the thing we 'needed' to see Angel?" Gazzy asked.

"Max is going to dance with Nudge." Angel said excitedly. They don't know I dance yet, well not the boys. Iggy and Gazzy laughed and Fang raised an eyebrow.

"No she's not." Iggy said.

"It's true." Angel said.

"Max dancing? I'd have to see that to believe it!" Gazzy challenged.

"Go on Max." Nudge said.

"No. I'll tell you want. You guys can come to the dance competition in...? How long Nudge?" I said.

"Two months." She aswered.

"Two months, god." I say. "I didn't think it was until the end of the year."

"Mid year comps. You guys can come see for yourselfs." Nudge says grinning.

"What have I gotten myself into?" I mumbled under my breath.

"I can't believe you dance Max." Fang said smirking at me. I walk over to my bag where I left my drink bottle. Fang follows me over there. The other's sit in the middle of the room with Nudge, they are forming a circle.

"I never would have seen it coming." He told me.

"I like to mix things up, keep's me unpredictable."

I'm quite nervous being away from the other's with only Fang. He's just staring at me. A small smile on his lips.

"Hey, I know that look. What's the matter?" Fang ask me in a soft voice. I look over at the other's, there laughing at something Iggy said.

"Nothing." I say, when I look back at him. A loose piece of hair falls out from my ponytale and falls over my face. Fang lightly pushes it out of my face and tucks it behind my ear. I flinch when his fingers touch my skin. Fang frowns for a second, but it doesn't last long.

"Are you going to dance for me?" Fang asks.

"No way."

"Oh come on tiny dancer." He says smirking.

"You just love this don't you?"

"Yep." He says. The next thing that comes out of his mouth surprizes me beyond belief. "Blue jeans baby, L.A lady, seamstress for the band, pretty eyes, pirates smile, you marry a music man, ballerina, you must have seen her, dancing in the sand." He sings, and not badly, I must admit.

"Oh shut up!" I say laughing. I hit him in the chest with the back of my hand.

"Tiny dancer in my hand." He sings louder, he laughs at the look on my face- which is probably disbelief.

"You know I was thinking you and I should go out together. The Lantern Festivals this weekend. We could meet in Main Street Belgrave, thats where it is." Fang said.

"Like...like a date?" I asked. He is standing so close to me I have to crane my neck to look at his face, I settle on keeping my eye's on the shark tooth necklass around his neck.

"Yeah, like a date." Fang anwsers.

"Fang-"

"You'll have fun."

"But we're friends."

"So, is that not a good thing?"

"No.- well yes, but I don't want to ruin our friendship."

"We wont, don't worry."

"How can you be sure?"

"I just am. Look it's one date, if you don't have a good time, I'll never ask you again."

"Fine." I say smiling slightly.

"Fine." Fang repeats, he smiles a dazzling smile at me, before walking back over to the others.

Thank you for reading, and thanks to those of you who have reviewed and said some really amazing, kind things. I appreciate them all! Any comments and reviews appreciated. :)