Fang POV

I had to find out what was up with this Serena chick. It's like she could read my mind or something. That, or she was working for some kind of psycho who wants us dead and was spying on us. Hey, it probably sounds far-fetched to you, but in my world, it happens all the time.

I tried to get her to talk in Chemistry, but she kept changing the subject. Then Max barged in as soon as it looked like I might have gotten some answers. And what was up with this meat head coach for a teacher? No talking? What, you afraid you might have to discipline a couple of high school sophomores? Yeah, I could tell this class was gonna be a load of fun.

I thought I was gonna explode from all the freaking tension forming between Serena and me, when the bell finally rang.

I turned to Serena to confront her again, but she was already bolting out of the room.

"See you guys tomorrow!" she yelled back. I just stared after her, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. I needed answers.

And I knew just where to get them.

Max POV

Alright, it's official.

I HATE art. With a passion. I mean, it's only the first day of school, and our fruity art teacher lays down a piece of paper in front of us and tells us to draw what we think art is. What am I supposed to do with that? I don't know what art is. I suck at drawing.

So I'm just sitting there, staring at my paper, while everyone else is drawing their rendition of art, when Ms. Higgens (said fruity art teacher) walks up to my table and says, "Ms. Ride? What seems to be the problem?"

"Uhm... nothing." I reply.

"Then why aren't you drawing?"

"Because I can't."

"What do you mean you can't?"

"I can't draw." She really know how to get on someone's nerves, doesn't she.

"Of course you can."

"No, I can't. I suck at drawing."

"But that doesn't mean you can't draw, now does it?" she said, and walked away.

I glanced across the table at Fang, who was smirking slightly.

"Okay, if you think my lack of talent is so funny, let's see your masterpiece!" I said to him. He pushed his paper over to me, and I mentally gasped.

It was... me. Sitting at the desk looking at my piece of paper, like I was just doing. It was really good too. The boy had some talent. I looked up at him.

"You drew me?" I asked, kind of shocked and flattered at the same time. He shrugged.

"You were just sitting there, so why not." he replied. "Besides... who said art had to look good anyway." he said with a smirk.

"What?! You are such a jerk!" I yelled, and reached across the table to punch him. Then I remembered we were in a classroom and sat back down. Later, I thought, and glared at him.

"Calm down." he said. "I was joking." Yeah, whatever. I was still gonna kick his butt when we got home.

After sitting there for a couple more minutes, I decided something was better than nothing, so I drew a stick figure on my paper. An awesome stick figure, if I do say so myself. Then he looked kind of lonely, so I drew him a stick figure dog. Then a car. And of course, my stick figure needed somewhere to live, so I drew him a house. Pretty soon, I had a whole stick town for my little stick dude. Oh, and I named him Carl.

Yeah, I was bored, shut up.

"See, Max. You can draw." I jumped at the sound of a voice addressing me. Whoa! Where the hell did she come from? I looked up to see Ms. Higgens standing over me, examining my stick town. "You seem to have an apt for, erm, stick drawings, I see." she said and walked away again.

"Nice stick man." Fang said, eying my paper.

"His name is Carl." I said defensively. Fang just looked at me as if to say "okaaaay...". Then the bell rang.

Thank God.

Fang POV

After art was over, I set out to find Serena. I started with the cafeteria, since I had lunch that period, but she wasn't there. So I went to the Office.

"Hello, young man. May I help you." said the lady when I walked in. It wasn't the same one that was there this morning.

"Yeah, uhm, I need to know what class one of my friends is in right now."

"Alright, can you give me his name?"

"Her name. It's Serena."

"Serena Who?"

"Uhh... I don't know... but she's a sophomore." How many Serena's could there be in the sophomore class?

"Well, there's only one sophomore named Serena. Serena Natrass. She's in room 120 right now."

"Alright, thanks."

"No problem." she said as I was walking out.

I found room 120 easily. It was right around the corner. I knocked on the door a couple times and the teacher answered the door.

"Yes? Do you need something?" she asked.

"Yeah, I need to talk to Serena. It'll only take a second."

"Alright, hold on." she walked back into the room. I waited for a few seconds and Serena walked out. Her eyes widened when she saw me.

"Nick! What are you doing here?" she asked nervously.

"I wanted to ask you something." I replied. She looked really nervous at first, but relaxed after a moment.

"Alright, what is it?"

"Would you like to come to my house for dinner tonight?" I asked quickly, before I could change my mind.

"I'd love to." she said with a smile. "But, uhm, is it okay if Conner comes too? Since we kind of live together..." she asked warily, as if she knew how I'd feel about it. I had half the mind to say no, but I really needed this to happen. I needed answers.

"Yeah, I guess." I said.

"Okay, so what time should we be there?"

"Seven." I said and handed her a slip of paper. "Here's my address."

"Thanks." she said. "I should probably get back to class. See you tonight F-" she paused. "Uhh, Nick!" she said quickly. "Bye!" she said as she shut the door behind her.

There is definitely something up with her. And tonight I was gonna find out what.

I headed back to the cafeteria and found Max and Iggy sitting at a table in the back.

"Where have you been?" Max asked immediately after I sat down.

"I had to talk to someone." I replied.

"Who?" she asked.

"Nobody. Where's our lunch money?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Here." she said handing me a five dollar bill. "We each got five bucks for lunch, but uhh..." she glanced at some kids tray at the table next to us. "I think I'm gonna wait until we get home to eat." she said. I had to agree. The lunch looked like it was fresh.

Fresh out of someone else's stomach.

"What does it look like?" Ig asked.

"Barf." Max and I both said at the same time. Then we chuckled. It's like our brains are on the same wave sometimes.

"Alright, I second Max's motion to eat at home then. Maybe we could go out to dinner?" Iggy said.

"No." I said a little too quickly. Max narrowed her eyes at me.

"Why not? There's a new pizza place down the street." she said, challenging me to disagree with her.

"Because we uhh... we're having guests over for dinner tonight." I said.

"What? Who? It's the first day of school! And since when are you the king of all things social?" she yelled. Why was she in such a bad mood today?

"I invited Serena to dinner tonight." I looked her straight in the eye and said. Once again I saw many emotions flurry across her face until it landed on pissed off.

"Serena?" She said with mock calmness. "Oh you mean the girl you've been throwing yourself all over since we got here today?" she leaned forward to glare at me.

"Does that bother you?" I leaned even closer and said. Then we stared at each other for a good five seconds, our faces just inches apart.

"Alright, WAYYY too much tension at this table right now." Iggy finally said, breaking up our little staring contest. Max just crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, staring at something on the other side of the cafeteria.

"Besides," I said, looking back at Max. "Conner will be there too. So you shouldn't have much to complain about." She just looked at me, her face expressionless, stood up, grabbed her bags and walked away.

Oh yeah, Fang. Way to go, lady killer.

Max POV

I couldn't believe it. Fang had actually found another girl. And it was only the first frickin day of school! But she must've really done something for him, considering the fact that he's already invited her over for dinner tonight. Well, Conner too, but still. He probably had no choice but to invite him too because they're cousins.

And so now I'm sitting here in what could possibly be the most boring class ever with nothing else to do but think about how Fang has already found a girl.

But why should that bother me? I mean, I'm the one who always runs away whenever he tries to make a move. But it's not because I don't like him. Hell, I could even venture as far as to say that I'm in love with him. It's because I'm scared. We've been such good friends all these years, and if we actually get together and it doesn't work out, then what? Not only have I lost my best friend, but just think about what that could do to the flock. I know I have, and it's not a pretty picture. We've already split up once and you bet your ass its never happening again. I'd rather fight off a million disgusting Erasers than have to go through that again. In fact, I rather fight off a million disgusting Erasers than even be here right now in this stupid high school.

Yeah, I know right. Deadly Erasers? No problem. High school? Oh crap. You can see how my brain probably doesn't run on the same wave as most other teenagers around the world.

Luckily, the bell rang just then. It was finally time to go home. That was a comforting fact, up until the point where I remembered what exactly was supposed to be going down tonight. Dinner. With Serena.

Boy, this is gonna be a fun night.

Not.