Me: Okie. First, I'll answer a few questions. (Even though I know you guys have PM, I'm really lazy, so...)

Kay Skie: Chapters? I HAVE NO IDEA. I got an idea for the plot, though.

faxness1234: YES READ THE HUNGER GAMES BEFORE IT COMES OUT IN THEATRES AND CRY WITH ME WHEN RUE DIES.

the12thcookie: Thank you for your EXTREMELY HELPFUL review:) My story was a cliché at first *shudders*, but I changed it, thanks!

Maya: Thanks to the rest of the reviewers, too.

Me: Yup. Oh, and everyone: WHAT DO I NOT OWN?

Imaginary audience: MAXIMUM RIDE! OH YEAH!

-:-

I grinned as I smelled Mom's handmade chocolate chip cookies. Emphasis on handmade. Those bought from supermarkets are absolutely inferior to Mom's.

Gazzy screamed when he saw me entering the kitchen. "Everyone! The cookie monster's here! Grab as many cookies as you can!" He grabbed fistfuls of cookies and stuffed them in his mouth. I rolled my eyes. I'm not that bad. Well, maybe I am a little greedy. Scratch that, a lot greedy. I grabbed two cookies and put them in my mouth, savouring the warm cookie.

You know Gazzy? Yeah, that guy who screamed? He's my little brother. My little pyromaniac brother. His name is really Zephyr, but he's nicknamed the Gasman by Mom and me, with appropriate reasons. Correction: My little pyromaniac brother that has digestive problem. That pretty much sums it up.

"Max, Gazzy's correct. Don't eat them all," Mom said as she bit into a cookie. I nodded, and reluctantly stopped taking more cookies.

"Oh, and Max?" I looked up, and she passed me a bag with books inside. "Can you pass this to Maria? It's quite important. You're going to the café later, aren't you?"

I took the bag and nodded. "Yup, of course." I went to a nearby café to do my homework there, since the espresso really perks me up. For some reason, I always feel drowsy in the afternoon. And as for Maria, she is Mom's friend, who owned the café.

"Can I come with you?" Gazzy piped up as he looked into the bag curiously. "The hot chocolate is awesome there."

"No, you can't. Mom has to tutor you, right?" Too bad, buddy.

He pouted, and I laughed. "Don't worry, I'll get you the hot chocolate."

-:-

I grabbed the file, bag and textbooks, and successfully manoeuvred so that I could open the door. "I'm going off, 'kay?"

A muffled 'yes' came out of Gazzy's room, and I also heard something like, "No, what is 8 times 8 plus 16?" followed by Gazzy making a frustrated noise. Poor guy. Maths had never been his best subject.

-:-

Fortunately, I was early enough, and there were about four tables left. There was one time when the café was so packed, I couldn't find a seat, so I had to stand there awkwardly waiting for a seat. While carrying tons of textbook and a thick file. So next time you're waiting for a seat, thank your lucky stars that you aren't carrying so many things like me. But if you are, oh well.

I dropped everything on the table and brought the bag along with me as I queued up for my life-saving espresso. When the person in front of me finally got the three cups of frappuccino he wanted, I stepped in front– and came face to face with a guy. Now you probably think I'm mad or something, like She's been in a girls school so long she surprised to see a guy! Um, no. The point is, this guy was the type of guy that Nudge would call a 'really hot guy'. Not in my opinion, though. Not really. He had jet black hair, onyx eyes and– I blinked. God. I sound like a stalker. Or some creepy obsessed fangirl. What the hell is wrong with me?

"I want a cup of espresso with tons of whipped cream, and fudge on top," I decided.

He frowned. "We don't serve that."

"I know, but just add whipped cream and fudge on top, noob. I like my coffee not bitter," I snapped. Come on, I still have a pile of homework to do!

Narrowing his eyes, he repeated, but coldly now, "We don't have that on our menu, miss." I rolled my eyes. Didn't he get it? The coffee was too bitter without the whipped cream and fudge. But I really needed the caffeine. And so the 'debate' in my head began.

Don't buy anything. Let them lose the money. That'll show him!

But I need the caffeine! Or else I won't be able to finish my homework!

Puh-lease. Which one's more important, your dignity or your grades? Huh?

I guess it's my dignity...

There! So just walk away and don't buy the coffee! Complain to Maria about this guy. Ask her to fire him for bad service.

That's a bit harsh, isn't it?

He humiliated you! Fine, don't fire him. Complain about him.

Okay, that sounds reasonable...

Meanwhile, that hot, wait, no, he's not hot. He's stupid. That stupid guy had been staring at me like I was crazy, with his eyebrow arched. "So...?"

"Never mind then. I won't buy from someone with this type of attitude." I knew that I was overreacting, but honestly? When my dignity is on the line, I'm willing to do anything.

Okay, now I just needed his name. Weird, why wasn't he wearing a name tag?

"Nick! Why the frick is the queue so long? Hurry up!" I heard someone shout from the kitchen. Oh, luck is on my side. Thank you, Lady Luck. Nick, you're going down.

It was just then that I remembered Mom's bag of books. Which were 'quite important'. Oh crap. Curse my forgetfulness. Better get this over with. Stupid 'important' books.

I shoved the bag to him, mumbling incoherently, "OhandpassthistoMaria," and I (tried to) strut away with grace (and failing. I hit a table on my way).

However, what confused me was that he was looking into the bag and murmuring, "So Mom really needed those books from Dr Martinez."

Then realisation struck me. Oh God. Maria was his mom? Okay, now I have a few problems: 1) Nick is Maria's son, and he can't get fired since he probably was just helping out, since he's 15, like me. 2) I don't have my damned espresso. Now I'm probably gonna fall asleep soon since we have ZERO coffee at home. 3) My dignity is gone. I don't know why, or how, but it is.

And this is all Nick's fault.

I hate him.

-:-

Me: It's stupid, really.

Maya: *pats* there, there.

Me: *perks up* But I like this story... I want a cup of Cappuccino!

Maya: You're weird.

Me: And proud of it.

Maya: She wants 7 reviews for this chapter.

Me: *bambi eyes* Pwease?