hey guys!!!

okay, first of all, i just wanted to say I'M SOO SORRY for not updating. i was gone all weekend and i've been super-super busy so yeah. but you probably don't really want excuses. i know how you feel. I can't STAND it when people don't update fast enough. so i'm sorry times a thousand!

but here's the next chapter soo yeah enjoy!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

"Oh…hello." The guy's tone did a complete 360.

I considered him. He was tall, about 18, with messy blonde hair and perfectly straight teeth. Hmm. Those gorgeous snappers wouldn't last
five minutes in a Eraser fight.

I raised my eyebrows and slapped my credit card down on the counter. "Two rooms, three beds each."

The guy's eyes widened and he started to say something but faltered.

I stared him down, daring the kid to cross me. But I guess that wasn't what he had in mind.

"You're staying here?" He asked incredulously, a slight Southern accent decorating his words. "At—at the Coon Dog Crossroads?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, the name could use some revising."

He grinned, showing off his pearly whites. "I'll second that."

At that moment, the rest of the flock crowded through the door, grumbling and whining crankily. Fang took one look at me and walked calmly
over to the front desk where I was standing.

"Can we get those rooms now." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. Give me the rooms or I'll squish you like the annoying bug that you
are. To answer any questions you may have, yes, I am fluent in Fang-speak. It's an acquired skill.

The guy shrugged. "Depends. You gonna get your butt out of my way so I can finish talking?" Ouch. Poor Hillybillly Hank is going to regret that one.

I saw Fang's jaw clench. "Oh, I'll tell you where I—"

"Okay, you know what buddy," I interrupted before things got ugly. "This is my family you're talking to. You don't mess with my family. I'd be a little
more careful if I were you. Now can we have the rooms, or not? 'Cause I think I saw a Buffalo Bungalows around the corner…"

The guy narrowed his eyes, then gave up and sighed, replying in a defeated tone. "Fine. Room numbers are 19 and 20. Here's your keys."

I snatched them from his hand and gave him one last glare before stalking away.

As we were climbing the stairs to get to our rooms, Angel tapped me. "Hey, Max?" She yawned.

"Mmm?"

"The word 'hot' means pretty, right?" Fang faltered mid-step beside me before steeling himself and fell back a little to walk with Iggy. Oh, great.
As if I didn't already have enough to deal with.

"Umm, yes it does. Where did you hear that, Ange?"

She started skipping. "Oh, just in that mean guy's head. He was thinking about how 'hot' you are and what you would be doing in a town like this."

I blushed. Crap. I'm so not use to attention from guys. And I'd really prefer it stayed that way. Much less drama and all that junk.

"Wait. Did you say 'mean', Angel?"

"Yep." She nodded her head, her curls bouncing. "He was thinking mean stuff about Fang and how it was too bad he was your boyfriend and—"

"Okay, thanks, sweetie." I said quickly, and took the last few steps towards the doors.

The rooms were decorated with a country theme and cowboys rode their bucking broncos across the rusty brown wallpaper. Iggy wrinkled his nose
when he felt the color.

"Ew. Diarreah-colored."

I looked at him disgustedly. "Um, Ig? How would you happen to know what color diarreah is? Do I even want to know?"

He shrugged, and his usual grin came back. "Lucky guess."

"Let's order pizza!" Gazzy exclaimed from his perch on the bed, clutching the room phone in his hands. "What's the number, Nudge?" Oh, jeez…
And the fun just never ends!

"Umm, let's see. Is there even pizza in this town? This book is soooo confusing. Oooh, look, a Little Caesar's! Here it is! It's 867-5309. Hey that's
kind of a weird number, 'cause it's like 8-6-7 instead of 6-7—"

"Hey!" I shouted over all the racket. "Gazzy, give me that phone. Guys, get your pajamas on and take showers while I order the pizza. Girls in
this room, boys in the other."

The flock got busy doing (hopefully) what I told them to do. I grabbed the phone and punched in the pizza number, while rubbing my temples.
This whole relaxing thing is so stressful.

"Max." I looked up. Fang stood in front of me. Uh-oh.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

so there it is.

it is what it is. i can't change any thing now!! i've worked too hard!! i wrote this in like half an hour, but i don't really feel like writing more.

POPTART POINTS IF YOU CAN....

--figure out which oldies song i made a reference to (hint: it's about jenny)

--find the oxymoron in this chapter

--figure out what movie i got the name of the hotel from (this is really hard. i don't expect you to get this, but take a wild guess!)

ah. I just love making Fang jealous! he's so cute when he gets protective of max. lucky girl.

oh and don't forget to REVIEWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!

(tip: i will update sooner, the more reviews i get)

ciao! 3