Hi guys! I hope you liked the last chapter... It was one of my favorites. I will continue to post regularly, but I've been having some serious writer's block, so be patient with me. Love you!

MAX'S POINT OF VIEW

Walking into school, I could feel the stares. I was almost certain they were from the fight yesterday, but it seemed a little more than that. Probably because I was the new kid, I guess. I walked with my head held high, knowing they'd get over it faster if I gave no reaction. I was pretty used to people staring; I never really fit in with the regular crowd. It didn't bother me much because I figured I'd be moving soon.

I yawned, readjusting my messenger bag. Last night Angel kept having night terrors and Heaven knows Anne wouldn't help her. I slept on the floor, comforting her when she woke up. Gaz would do it but he got sick of being awoken and slept in my bed. Putz. I rounded the corner and found none other than Fang standing near my locker. I smiled at him, waving. Once I got near, I raised my eyebrows.

"What's up, little duck?" I asked, using the terminology I often used with my siblings. If Fang noticed, he didn't show it.

"Thanks for helping Ella yesterday."

"Hey, no problem. Was my pleasure, seriously."

"Guess I owe you even more now, huh?"

"Guess so! I'm sure I can think of something humiliating for you to do to make up for it." Fang rolled his eyes, his mouth turned in a half smile.

"Maybe I'll make you recite a really long, sappy monologue," I threatened, wiggling my eyebrows. Fang, fittingly, said nothing. I laughed, linking my arms through Fang's companionably.

"I kid, I kid. But I would like to know: has this been a common occurrence?" I asked quietly, peeking at Fang's lowered dark eyes. He glanced at me and sighed, almost imperceptibly.

"People see Ella as arrogant, mostly because of the way she talks," he explained. I had to admit, she did talk a little...differently. It was distracting, to say the least.

"People get jealous," Fang added, shrugging as if that was a perfectly good explanation to what had happened.

"Why does she talk like that, Fang? You don't."

"She feels guilty. She thinks she needs to be perfect," he said, not meeting my eyes. I didn't get it. Why would she feel guilty? She didn't seem like the type who hurt anyone, let alone hurt anyone bad enough that she'd feel guilty about it.

"But that incident was a first."

"D'you think we'll have to worry about it anymore?" Fang hesitated before answering, his eye flitting around the hall while the gears in his head turned furiously. His voice was almost cautious, like he was afraid to know the answer.

"We?"

"Fang, let's be real here. Ella may need as much backup as she can get. And right now, you're injured and Iggy is, even if just a little, handicapped. I don't want to intrude, but Ella may need me as well, yknow? I wouldn't be saying that if it hadn't kept me up all night."

It was true. While I watched the clocks in Angel's room, I had come to the conclusion that I needed to do something. I was afraid for both of them and I knew I couldn't just wish them luck. I needed to help.

Fang nodded, accepting my proposal. While we walked, I was acutely aware of his slight limp and the crease in between his eyebrows whenever he stepped on one ankle, doing his best not to show that he was hurting. I adjusted my arm so Fang could put his weight on me without making it obvious that he was, hoping it would help. He went along with it, releasing a pent up breath when he leaned on me. I smiled. When we got to my classroom, I turned to him.

"RICE, Fang. Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. It'll help with swelling and pain," I instructed. His face remained impassive and I patted him on the back, turning towards my classroom and entering without another word.

FANG'S POINT OF VIEW

She walked away, her blonde hair brushing against my shoulder when she turned. I stood there a minute, just thinking. The returning pain in my ankle reminded me to get a move on and I did, heading to where Iggy was waiting in my English class. Even after years, Iggy refused to learn braille and I was always picked to help him out in the class. I'm pretty sure he did that just so we could have class together, as he could easily pick up braille without much help.

I sat next to him and he raised his hand. After pressing it to my currently scarring shoulder, Iggy brightened.

"Fang, dude! How's it hangin'?"

I grunted, not really responding. Iggy, of course, was feeling great since my little sister had needed his 'manly strength' last night. It still sorta weirded me out.

But I wasn't going to say anything. It made Ella happy, as I kept reminding myself, so I just had to get used to it. Eventually.

The teacher assigned us to read a short story and annotate it. Which meant I would be reading it aloud while Iggy made vocal notes that I would write down. I knew the kids around would be a little put off at me reading out loud; they usually stared for a minute before getting over it. It was almost annoying that they found it so amazing I knew how to speak full sentences, but I did my best to ignore it. Just because I didn't speak much didn't mean I was incapable of it.

But...they weren't getting over it. They just kept staring at Iggy and I, like they were afraid we would bust out in cheesy show tunes and dance on the desktops. Iggy cocked his head, noticing my hesitation.

"What? Something up, dude?" he asked, his eyes full of sightless worry.

"People are staring, Ig. A lot." Iggy sat a bit straighter, listening hard. If there was gossip, he would hear it. Even if it was just a whisper across the room, his superhuman ears would pick up the basics.

"Max's fight got around. The idiots she fought...they want payback. They're going to jump her...during lunch. Something about...uh oh." Iggy listened, his face caught somewhere between horror and shock. I heard someone snigger, and Iggy winced.

"What? What, Iggy?" I asked, dying to know what was going on.

"They're going to make her 'an example', man. It's not good. They're going to gang up on her pretty bad. Too many for her to take. At least five, I'd guess. They're not going to be nice..." Iggy hinted, shaking his head.

"We have to do something," I said, panic starting to bubble in my stomach, though I didn't show it.

"How long till lunch?"

"Twenty minutes."

"I have a smoker. It could be ready in time..." Iggy proposed. He had become an expert in bombs and anything with fire. It was his passion, other than cooking, of course. Whenever I opposed his making of weapons he would always say 'I'm not a pyrotechnic or a pyromaniac. I prefer 'pyro-enthusiast'. I didn't want to take any risks, especially not here, but I did have an idea.

"You fill the place with smoke and I'll grab her. You think you can do that?" Iggy looked offended.

"Can I do that? Fang, please. I can fill the entire school with smoke."

"We just need the cafeteria. Plant it by us; Max will probably be there."

"And if she's not?"

"Cross your fingers, Ig."

Iggy excused himself and went to the restroom. Only then did I realize that if Max was near Ella then the thugs would probably get her in the cross fire. I texted Ella, trying to warn her.

Iggy and I are going to blow some steam. When the place gets filled, run for it.

I didn't want to give away what we were doing or she would try to talk us out of it.

I got excused for a drink and went to my locker, meeting Iggy after a few minutes. He was carrying a bundle with his gym shirt wrapped around it.

"This baby is timed. You stick it where you wanna; it'll go off all by itself," he instructed me, handing it over.

"Where will you be?"

"With Ella and you, duh."

"Get her out of there ASAP, you got it?"

"You kiddin? Everyone else will be blind, dude. I got the upper hand here."

We parted ways and I ran, making my way to the cafeteria. I put the bundle of gym clothes by the table Ella, Iggy and I usually sat at. I waited there, not wanting to leave the package alone just in case.

As soon as the bell rang, students starting filing in the room. Max sauntered in, her face showing carefully controlled anger. She walked up to me, sitting across from where I was currently seated.

"Stupid high schoolers. I've been getting little 'warnings' all morning. Why don't they just grow up?" she asked, rage showing in her brown eyes. I shrugged, not trusting myself to speak. Iggy and Ella filed in, holding hands and laughing. When they got close, Ella's eyes focused and she raised her eyebrows in a way that meant, 'you have a lot of explaining to do' while keeping her expression light as not to set anyone off.

Iggy must have told her what we had planned. Figures, he was totally wrapped around her finger. We all sat, talking. Just when I thought the boys wouldn't show, a group of them busted in, shouting.

"Where's Max?"

"We're going to teach you a lesson!"

"Stop hiding!"

They spotted her and grinned, quickly making their way over to where we sat.

"Iggy? You ready?"

"Wait , dude. Two minutes."

Crap. Oblivious to our plan, Max stood to face the boys, her hands firmly on her hips, her mouth set into a sneer.

"What do you want? I thought I taught you a lesson yesterday. Already back for more?" she taunted, her voice harsh and in control. The boys made a semicircle around her, pinning her to the lunch table. Max didn't look intimidated. In fact, she looked furious, with an almost excited gleam in her eye. Max was tough, but there were probably seven or eight guys; I didn't think she could take them all herself.

"Iggy!" I warned, panic blossoming in my chest.

"Thirty seconds, man!" he replied, knowing we were just about out of time.

"Ig, take Ella and scram. I'll take Max," I instructed quietly. Iggy grabbed Ella's hand, sneaking off through the crowd. They didn't get very far before one of the boys recognized them. Three of them ganged up on Iggy, distracting him, while another boy snatched up Ella and threw her in the corner with Max. Max quickly put Ella behind her, shielding her protectively. The boys shoved each other, fighting over who gets to strike first. One lunged at Max clumsily and she grabbed his shoulders, ramming his head into the table next to her.

Once she had started the fight, the thugs all sprang into action. I saw them start to fight; each one going for a swing at the girls. Max was fighting back with everything she had, throwing defensive punches and kicks incredibly fast, keeping Ella out of harms way. But the crowd was closing in.

Just then, I loud bang sounded throughout the cafeteria and everything went gray. Iggy wasn't kidding about the smoke-it was everywhere. I scrambled over to where I had last seen Max, elbowing anyone in my way. I saw a flash of blonde hair and attempted to grab Max's shoulder, but she wasn't there! Where did she go? I ran forward, trying to find her before I almost tripped on something. It was a foot, barely peeking out form under the table. I looked down and found Max and Ella huddled underneath, hiding.

"Max! Ella! Come on!" I yelled, holding out my hand. I helped them both out from under the table and we ran, both Max and I clobbering anyone who got too close.

Smoke was pouring out the cafeteria doors and into the hallways. Max signaled for us to follow her, and we did, leaving the school and making our way through the parking lot. I caught sight of Iggy wandering through the parking lot, looking worried. Ella ran up to him, relieved.

"Iggy! Oh thank Heavens you are alright," Ella said happily. Iggy picked her up and hugged her, following after us to Max's truck. We all climbed in, panting.

"Good freaking Gandhi," Max breathed incredulously, "what was that?"

"That, dear Max, was what I call 'a smoker'," Iggy replied nonchalantly.

"You set that off?!"

"No, technically I built it. The smoker set itself off. It was timed," Iggy explained.

"But-"

"We knew they were going to jump you," I said, "so we intervened."

Max said nothing. She just shook her head and turned on the car, not telling us were she was going. A few minutes later we pulled up in front of a small, cozy looking house.

"This is my place. Y'all can chill here for a while. You have some explaining to do."

We started to file out when Max put her hand on my shoulder, stopping me. Ella didn't notice we hadn't left as she was currently describing to Iggy what the place looked like. Max sighed next to me, her face showing relief.

"Fang," she admitted, "I was really scared back there. I knew I couldn't hold off for very long, and with Ella there.." she didn't finish, since we both knew what would have happened.

"Thank you, Fang," she said, reaching over and hugging me. I stiffened, not knowing how to respond. But I realized just how scared I had been for Max and my sister, and I wrapped my arms around her tightly in response. We sat there, holding each other, for what seemed like a lifetime before Max turned away and got out of the car.

I didn't know what to think. Max was tough and deadly, but she was also human and imperfect. There was a gentle, caring side she didn't show often, that she was able to show me.

And to be honest, I felt pretty lucky.