Fang POV

I don't really see what the big deal is. I mean, sure we're going back to school, which kinda sucks, but I don't understand why she acts like it's the end of the world. But then again, there are a lot of things I don't understand about Max. Maybe that's why she's so intriguing to me. But whatever. Now's really not the time to be thinking about this, seeing as she's standing right in front of me, refusing to go into the Abercrombie & Fitch Nudge had lead her to.

"Just come on! You'll love some of the stuff they have in here, I promise!" Nudge tried to assure.

"No. I'm not going in there." she said firmly.

"And why not?" I asked silently from where I was standing.

"Because I don't need to go back-to-school shopping. Why would somebody who's not going back to school need to do that. Because I'm not. Going back to school, I mean."

"I know what you mean. But why?

"Why what?"

I sighed, frustrated. "Why don't you want to go back to school?"

"There are.. I don't know, too many bad memories." she shot back.

"Like what?" I asked, challenging her. Her face got really red, and she wouldn't look me in the eyes for a while.

"Just... just... oh, I don't need to explain myself to you!" she shouted. "Jeesh, what is this, 20 questions or something?" she muttered while stalking away into the store.

"Yay! You decided to come in!" Nudge exclaimed excitedly. Max just sulked. God, she is so stubborn. But that's one of the things I love about her.

Max POV

Ugh! What is his problem? Why does he feel the need to question me on the whole school issue? So I don't wanna go back, shoot me!

"Why don't you want to go back to school?" he asked, his eyes boring into mine in a way that was making me nervous.

"There are... I don't know, too many bad memories." I shot at him, thinking it would suffice. But I guess he was feeling particularly inquisitive today because he shot back with "Like what?"

And for some stupid, goddamn reason, my mind went straight to the Red-Haired Wonder. How I caught Fang kissing her in the hallway... that one day... at school... and I realized that, besides the fact that it's just plain annoying, that was actually the main reason I didn't want to go back. What if there was another Red-Haired Wonder at our new school? Or what if her hair was black this time? What if he finds another girl that he wants... and it's not me? My face suddenly got very hot, and I knew I was blushing. Big time.

"Just... just... oh, I don't need to explain myself to you!" I yelled at him, before storming of into the store Nudge was previously coaxing me into shopping at. "Jeesh, what is this, 20 questions or something?" I muttered.

"Yay! You decided to come in!" she said.

"Yeah, Yeah, just pick me out some clothes and let's go." I humphed, clearly not wanting to be here.

"Sweet! I can't wait to pick out some super cute outfits! Oh, I know just what would work on you. Maybe a faded, ripped jean, and a cute light blue-"

"Knock yourself out, kid." I said, cutting her off. She took this as an invitation to start shopping. I took it as an opportunity to find the nearest seat and plot my butt into it. Unfortunately, all the seats in the tiny lounge area were taken, I came to find. I sighed, really wanting a place I could just sit and wait this out without having to go back outside and see Fang again.

"Uhm, excuse me?" I heard a voice behind me say. I turned around to see a boy who looked to be about my age getting up from his seat. "You can take my seat... uhm, if you want." he offered.

"Oh, no that's okay, I'll be fine." I assured him, but he was persistent.

"Well, I'm about to leave anyway, so you can have it." He smiled at me for a second, and I realized he was really cute. He had light, chocolate-y brown hair, and the most amazing green eyes I'd ever seen. He was tall, but not as tall as Fang. Maybe only a couple inches taller than me. Very cute indeed.

"Are you new in town? I've never seen you here before." he asked.

"No, I just... don't really go out often. I've lived here for almost a year though." I said.

"What school do you go to?"

"I'm going to Bellwood High this year."

"Really? That's where I go." He smiled again, and my stomach did that funny little flippy thing it does whenever Fang smiles at me. Except this wasn't Fang. This was... well some guy I just met at the mall. A charming guy though. And a gentleman, too, for offering his seat in the first place. "My name's Conner." he said, holding out his hand. "And you are?"

"Max." I took his hand and shook it firmly.

"Well I hope to see you at school on Monday, Max. Maybe we'll have some classes together."

"Yeah, maybe-" I was cut off by an all too familiar voice.

"Max?" Fang said questioningly. He addressed me, but was looking straight at Conner. Glaring, was probably a better word. The he peered down at my hand... which was for some reason still in Conner's. I snatched it away quickly.

"Er, Conner, this is my friend, Fa-"

"Nick." Fang said, cutting me off once again. I'd almost forgotten. The rest of the flock had "school names."

"Hey, Nick." Conner said, not seeming to be bothered by the awkward tension that was forming. "Are you going to Bellwood too?"

"Yes." he said, once again glaring at Conner.

"Uh, Nick, what are you doing in here. I thought you were waiting outside." I said, trying to direct his attention to me before he shot a hole through Conner's head with his death stare. What was his deal?

"Tiffany talked me into coming in here to buy me some clothes. But we're leaving now. So let's go." He said, doing that boring thing with his eyes again. And once again it was making me nervous.

"Uhm, okay... well, bye Conner." I said, trying to keep calm.

"Yeah, see ya at school , Max... Nick." He said before Fang grabbed my hand and practically drug me out of the store.

"What was that all about?! You nearly killed the guy with your 'Glare of Death.'" I shouted at him. Nudge had finished paying, so we were heading outside to meet mom with the car. I tried explaining to her that that wasn't necessary. That we had "other" means of transportation. But she was stuck on the whole "normal" thing.

"I don't like the way he was looking at you." he said quietly.

"You don't... wait what?" I was taken aback.

"You heard me." He said, even more silently. I didn't know whether to be pissed or flattered. So I settled with annoyed.

"Well, I hope you're happy. He'll probably be scared to talk to me at school now because of you." I retorted. Fang only smirked, as if sharing some kind of internal joke. I sighed for the millionth time that day. Oh, Fang. Why do you irk me so?