Chapter 35

"Fang, Gazzy, Iggy, Nudge get over here!" I commanded the flock the next morning.

"Your highness called us," Fang teased me.

"Are any of you busy this week?" I asked them.

"Max, its Tuesday we don't have plans," Gazzy pointed out.

"Well you do now," I smiled.

"Are we hanging out at the mansion again?" Iggy asked hopefully.

"No, we're working," I corrected him.

"Working!" Nudge, Gazzy, Iggy and Fang exclaimed in disbelief.

"Nancy is cleaning up so that she can get ready to open her horse centre and we're helping her," I explained.

"Was there a please in there somewhere?" Iggy asked me.

"You really wanna go there?" I dared him.

"So Saturday or Sunday?" He quickly asked.

"That's what I thought,"

"Alright fine," Gazzy sighed.

"Whatever," Fang shrugged.

"Count me in!" Nudge squealed with excitement.

So it was settled the flock (excluding Ari and Angel) were going to help out on the weekend. Damn I'm good.

"Hi, Max," David said to me which was weird because David never talks to me.

"Um hi," I said back. He smiled at me and walked away.

"Hey, Max!" Sam said cheerfully.

"Hey, Sam," I smiled.

Once again as soon as Lissa walked up Fang seemed to get really nervous. I couldn't understand it so at recess I decided to interrogate him.

"What the hell is that?" I demanded of Fang.

"Ok, Max, I can't answer you unless I know what you're talking about," Fang pointed out.

"You getting all nervous whenever Lissa is around," I glared at him.

"Max, wouldn't you? She sticks to me like glue," Fang pointed out. "I mean she's nice and everything but she's clingy,"

"Oh ok," I shrugged and went to walk off but Fang had a hold of my arm.

"No, no, no just a minute there Martinez, why did you want to know anyways?" Fang demanded.

"I don't know I was curious, you know me," I shrugged.

"It's more than that," Fang told me.

"Who knows Fang, now let go of me!" I demanded.

"Ok, ok fine," Fang obliged and released me from captivity.

I wasn't jealous I was over Fang I was just worried about him and curious. Lissa seemed nice enough, maybe a little overbearing but nice. Fang would no what he was doing… who am I kidding? Fang was the most oblivious person that I knew especially when it came to girls.

As Fang and I went to join the flock David came up behind me and put his arm around me. Fang's eyes almost popped out of his head and I was speechless. Before I could even say anything though he'd let me go and disappeared. It wasn't long before Sam came up to me and did the same thing.

"Whoa, no touchy," I informed him as I spun out of his arm and I swear I saw Fang smile with relief. Sam looked at me in shock and Fang and I burst out laughing.

"What's so funny and why don't I know about it?" Nudge asked us.

"Oh nothing," I told her.

"I'll tell you later," I heard Fang whisper to her and I couldn't help but smile.

Sam stayed by my side all day and while he did that Fang distanced himself from me.

"Fang, are you ok?" I asked him after school.

"Just fine," Fang told me through gritted teeth.

"Fang…"

"I've got to go, I'll see you tomorrow," Fang told me and walked off.

"Fang," I called out but he ignored me.

I head Iggy come up behind me.

"What was that all about?" I asked Iggy desperately.

"I thought you were the one that had him all figured out," Iggy pointed out.

"Don't start!" I snapped.

"Max, Fang hasn't been able to get near you for two days," Iggy said as if it were obvious.

"That's not true," I disagreed.

"Max, think about it Sam is always with you, I'm not saying it's your fault but it seems that Sam likes you and sees Fang as a threat," Iggy suggested.

"Iggy, that's just ridiculous," I scoffed.

"I'm just telling you what I see and what I'm seeing is Sam trying to get Fang out of the way, all I'm saying, Max, is keep an eye out," Iggy warned me.

"Iggy, Sam's known me for not even a week," I reminded him.

"Max, I'm a guy and whatever you're not going to believe me anyway," Iggy sighed.

"Alright I'll keep an eye out but Sam is just a friend, Ig," I agreed.

"Ok, I trust you," Iggy shrugged.

When Ella and I got home I decided I needed to talk to Mum about my problem.

"Mum, I need advice," I sighed.

"Ok, hun, what's up?" Mum asked me.

"Well there's this new guy at school, Sam and he seems nice but both Fang and Iggy think that he likes me. Sam spends a lot of time with me and I think he's unintentionally pushing Fang out and then Iggy told me to be careful and keep a look out," I explained.

"Honey, I think you're getting worked up over nothing, yes Fang could be being pushed out a bit but these things happen when people come into a group. I don't know Sam it's possible he likes you and it's possible that he doesn't and just wants a friend. Give it a bit and see what happens," Mum suggested.

"You're right, what's the big deal? In fact there's really nothing to be worried about," I agreed.

I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders and I felt like I could breathe again. I quickly ran around to Fang's house after realising that he took one of my books.

I walked in the house and once again by the time Fang came around the corner and spotted me I had Angel in my arms.

"I knew you'd come," Fang said when he saw me.

"What no 'Max'?" I asked mimicking Fang's shocked voice.

"I have one of your school books and there's no way that you're going to go a night without finishing your homework," Fang pointed out to me.

"Alright, wait did you take my book on purpose?" I demanded.

"Um," Fang began.

"Fang!" I exclaimed in horror.

"Max, don't get mad I wanted to talk to you," Fang tried to calm me down.

"Ok," I put Angel down and folded my arms waiting for him to start yapping.

"Do you like Sam?" He blurted out.

"What? Fang, you know I don't!" I told him in horror.

"I know I know it's just he's always around you," Fang pointed out.

"Fang, he's new he probably just wants a friend to hang out with," I said rubbing my temples. "Jeez, you and Iggy are a couple of girls,"

"I'm sorry," Fang apologised.

"Fang, listen to me nothing is going on with me and anyone!" I said firmly.

"I know," Fang sighed.

"Now, can I please go home and do my homework?" I begged.

"Don't you want a drink?" Fang asked.

"Fang, you want me to stay don't you?" I asked him as I eyed him curiously.

"Would you?" Fang asked desperately.

"Ok, come on we'll go and do our homework," I agreed. Fang rolled his eyes when I mentioned doing homework. "Hey you want me here then deal with the consequences,"

"I know, it's who you are and you're awesome," Fang grinned.

"Okay then," I agreed slowly. Fang was officially weirding me out. It was like someone had given him a brain transplant.

We did our Maths homework and I had Angel on my lap who had her stuffed bear in a tutu on her lap and her left fingers in her mouth. I'm normally the smart one but Maths was one of Fang's strengths so he had to help me out with long division which I didn't think I would ever understand with all the dropping of the numbers and the weird arrows thingys. I was good at Maths but my strengths lied in English and Art.

"Max, we've been doing homework for half an hour already can't we stop?" Fang begged.

"We have to finish besides we have two questions left," I pointed out. Another couple of minutes and we were finished.

"See was that so hard?" I asked him with a pouty face.

"Yes!" Fang said stubbornly.

"God you're a sook," I groaned.

"I am not!" Fang argued.

"You are to," I insisted.

"Not,"

"Are,"

"Not,"

"Are,"

Whilst Fang and I were arguing about something that I was obviously right about I heard Jane walk in the front door.

"I take it Max is here," I heard her ask Paul.

"Yeah, you can tell?" Paul laughed.

"Well he'd better keep her is all I can say," Jane told him. I stopped listening to their conversation and focused on wining the already obvious argument.

"Are to,"

"Am not!"

"Are to," Angel agreed. Fang gaped at her while I smiled at her and gave her a hug.

"There the toddler has spoken, I knew I liked this kid," I grinned.

"Traitor," Fang growled.

"Fang, be nice to your sister, because I really have to get going but um thanks for your help and next time don't take my things just so I will have to go and get them," I requested.

I kissed Angel on the cheek and said goodbye to Fang, Jane and Paul and headed home.