"Max!" Fang called, though it sounded more like an echo from my dreams. I didn't really process what was going on, until I felt Fang's hands on my waist, lifting me up on to the island. I grabbed his wrists and threw them down.

"What do you mean? Your mom's too nice to have cancer. She's like my second mom. I mean, she's . . . she's . . . Lucy!"

"Max," Fang said softly. "Bad things don't always happen to bad people." It was the sad truth, I couldn't deny it. I almost started crying. My eyes did tear up though and my lip trembled.

"Do Angel and Tommy know?" I asked.

"Sort of." He answered. "They know she's sick, but they don't know how bad it is." I broke into tears and Fang slid me off the counter, pulling me into his comforting embrace. I rested my head on his shoulder and my hand was clutched on to his shirt.

"But . . . why?" I was shaking.

"Max? Do you need to sit down?" Fang asked. I nodded my head and he guided me over to the bed-couch-thing. When we sat down, he put his arm around my shoulder. I wiped my nose with the blanket. Fang put two fingers under my chin and turned me to face him. He stroked my cheek with his thumb to wipe the tears away and I blushed. Why? I don't know.

"I'm gonna go take a shower." I said quickly. I stood up and darted upstairs to where my luxurious shower awaited. I turned the radio up really loud and got into the shower, letting the hot water wash away any thoughts about any subject. A song by Taylor Swift came on, Fifteen, actually. I sang along, putting all of my emotion into it.

I looked into Max's eyes and rubbed away a tear that had streaked down her face. I felt her cheeks heat up.

"I'm gonna go take a shower." She said frantically. And just like that, as quickly as we sat down, she was gone. I stared at the bracelet she gave me so long ago. A few minutes later, I heard the radio blasting Taylor Swift, and I could barely make out Max's voice. I hesitantly walked to the bathroom and pressed my ear to the door. Once I blocked out the sound of the shower and the radio, I heard Max's voice clear as day.

She was great, at worst.

I wrapped a clean, fresh towel around myself and squeezed out my hair in the sink. I threw on a pair of jeans and a T shirt, nothing special. Really. Fang was looking at me when I walked downstairs.

"What?" I asked him.

"Sing the first verse of Amazing Grace."

"What? No." I looked at him like he was crazy. "I'm not a good singer." I lied. Fang snorted.

"I heard you singing when you were in the shower. I already know you're a good singer." He told me.

"Then why do I need to sing again?" I argued.

"Just sing." He sighed. Then he looked into my eyes, almost as if he were pleading and placed his hands gingerly on my shoulders. "Please."

"Fine." I grumpily agreed.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

"There. Are you happy now?" I asked sarcastically.

"Very." Fang answered.

"Why did you need to hear me sing?"

"I had a crazy idea of how cool it would be if we had a band. Only if the others can play an instrument though."

"That's –"

"Weird. I know. Just . . . never mind. Forget I ever said that." He ran his hand though his hair and I grabbed his wrist.

"You do that when you're nervous." I assessed. "And I would actually love the idea of forming a band." He just shrugged. He really didn't talk as much as he used too. It kind of bothered me. "What's wrong?" I asked him.

"Nothing's . . . wrong."

"I know you're lying." I said truthfully.

"Fine . . . you caught me."

"So what's up?"

"I'm worried about my mom."

"Do you wanna go home?" I asked him.

"Yeah but . . . I still wanna hang out with you." I smiled at him and when I heard my sister come in the front door, I let go of Fang's hand.

"What's going on?" asked Ella.

"Fang is trying to figure out how he can hang out with me, but be at his house." I stared at him intently, waiting for him to figure it out. I already knew the solution, but I was gonna make him figure it out. Evil, aren't I?

"Why don't you just bring her to your house?" Ella pointed out and I shot her a look that said thank you for ruining my fun and games. She just shrugged.

"Oh. Wow. I am like . . . you know," He looked right at her. "that I was about to say that right? But no, you just had to say it first." He gave her one of his real smiles and she laughed.

"Yeah. You totally meant that." She rolled her eyes – something she learned from me, I'm proud to say. "Oh! Max, I meant to tell you. Nudge just got this cute little doggy named Total. He's like, a little black Scottie, and he's really hyper too. But he is just the sweetest thing."

"That's cool." I agreed. "When did they get him?"

"Two days ago. I'm gonna go upstairs and start my homework that I was supposed to get done over the weekend." She left the room. I laid back with my feet still on the ground and Fang laid down with me.

"Do we have any home work?"

"I don't know. I just got here less than a week ago. If we do have homework, we'll probably remember it on the way to school Monday morning." Said Fang.

"Do you wanna start riding with me to school? It would be easier on your mom." I offered and Fang looked over at me.

"Yeah. That'd be really nice. Thanks."

"Sure." I smiled as the fact dawned on me that Fang was back, here with me. I was finally home after all these years.