ATTENTION! ATTENTION! ATTENTION! IMPORTANT A/N!

Ha-ha, sorry to do that to you, but I really do have something to say. To the Guest who reviewed, and basically to everyone. Someone mentioned that this was too much like the movie A Cinderella Story, and I 'couldn't steal from their favorite movie, girl!' I just wanted to reiterate the fact that I said from the very beginning this would be based off A Cinderella Story because I love that story so much. Just wanted it cleared up. :)

Ch. 17:

Max POV

When my house came into my sights, I heaved a sigh of relief through my tears. Well, quite honestly, it sounded more like a shuddered breath because I let it out through sobbing. Not to mention, crying and running? It takes a hell of a lot out of you.

I fumbled around for my keys, opened the door, and ran straight to my room. Or at least tried to.

Anne blocked my path, hands on hips, unnatural blond hair tied in a tight bun. "I just got a call from Brigid that you ran away from school early. What, you think you can just do that, you worthless little piece of-" She cut herself off. "You're grounded until the end of the school year, you have to do extra work shifts, you need to-" This time, she didn't cut herself off, but I did.

I gave her the worst death glare I could through my pathetic stream off tears and pushed past her, running up the stairs with more gusto than I knew I had left in me. Opening the door to my room, I immediately was drawn to my bed and collapsed on it.

I was pathetic, I knew, but I just didn't have it left in me to be 'strong' anymore. A girl can only take so much. The look on Fang's face replayed through my mind; one of shock and an unknown emotion. How disgusted he must be with me… just another one of his mindless followers with a stupid crush on him. The funniest thing is I was actually considering telling him, even after Iggy's rejection from Ella.

My phone buzzed repeatedly, my computer dinged with chat requests, but I refused to get off my bed, or as I now referred to it, my Cloud of Shame. I disregarded it as my door opened and someone else sat down next to me on my Cloud of Shame.

"Max?" A tentative voice I didn't recognize pondered. I lifted my head to see a worried-looking Lissa staring down at me.

"What?" I don't know what I expected my voice to sound like. Maybe hoarse from crying, or cold and icy from what I'd been through. Possibly stuttering from a lack of confidence, or maybe even lack of a voice at all. What I got was none of the above. My voice was void of emotion, robotic almost. After all that had happened, I should've sounded like I felt something. But I didn't. And that's enough to scare anyone.

Lissa disregarded my lack of feeling and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I thought I told you not to go." Lissa whispered.

"Well, you didn't count on the fact I'm an idiot." My sarcasm showed through and I snorted at my own stupidity.

"Max, you aren't stupid- you know you're not. I know how hard you study and how well you do in school."

"What are you hinting at Lissa?" I questioned. "You hate me. You loathe me. You've never shown me an ounce of kindness, not even when my father was alive for show." The mention of my father cut through me like a blade. "Where are you going with this kindness charade?"

She looked down. "I know I've been a bitch. I know I don't deserve to be forgiven. I mean, I've supported Brigid in all her endeavors, I've been her lackey, the one who goes and becomes her bitch at her beck and call. Damn, I would hate me, too. But I don't hate you, Max. You don't deserve the hand you've been dealt, and the other day when Brigid told me about her plan, I just snapped. I've been following her for too long. I don't want to be her sidekick, her bitchy shadow, any longer."

I stared at her in awe. Moments of silence.

"You know what endeavor means?"

She burst out laugh, and I couldn't help but pitch in a giggle or two. "That's all…" She gasped out through her laughs, "you got… from my speech?"

"Well no," I wiped at a tear that had formed this time from not sadness, but laughter. "I got the whole 'villain turned good guy' part two, but I decided to focus on the point that you weren't a bimbo."

"Oh, God no." She smirked. "You know that I'm acing AP History?" I shook my head. "That's an act I put on to keep Brigid looking smart and ring-leader-ish. Ella doesn't seem to mind the bimbo act, either." A smile began to tug at her lips. "Remember that one time when someone had written on Ella's math spiral 'What's the quadratic equation for bitch squared?' and she threw a fit?"

I nodded and laughed silently at the memory. "Of course, Nudge, Ange, and I laughed at that one for ages."

Lissa looked around. "Me." She whispered, trying to stifle her laughter.

"What?" My eyes widened. "You did that? You're psycho! Didn't you fear her undeniable wrath?"

"Pshh, no one expects a girl on the inside." I laughed again. I loved this new Lissa. Or this Lissa that had been here forever and had just been hidden- oh, whatever, she was just awesome in general. "You have no idea how many times I wanted to go over and hang out with your friends," She sighed. "You know what I mean? Just drop the social status."

"Well… kind of. But, wait a second." I came to a realization. "Since you're smart and all, does this mean you knew I wasn't serving you gourmet breakfasts, but really hot pockets?"

"I've wanted to call you out on that every single time." She grinned.

"I can burn water. You want me to risk trying to cook gourmet?" I asked, raising one eyebrow. "I have an idea." I said suddenly. "You're hanging with Nudge, Ange, and I. Let me call them and have them come over." I reached for my phone and she slapped my hand.

"Are you crazy?" She whispered. "They hate me!"

"They don't know you," I argued, "I thought you wanted to drop the social status?" She chewed on her bottom lip and nodded finally.

I grinned and grabbed my phone. Twenty four missed texts, fifteen from Nudge, and nine from Angel. Ten missed calls. I began to dial a number and smiled at Lissa.

I may have lost my shot with Fang, been publicly humiliated in front the entire school, and lost my chance at Stanford, but I knew now. I knew I would be alright. I had Nudge and Angel, I would have Iggy once I called him up and apologized, and I had Lissa.

Unexpected as it may be, I think Lissa was just what I needed. Because now, I have a chance at getting a sister.

After all these years, maybe family is just what I need to pick myself up again.

Yay! Now, don't kill me or tell me this was a filler chapter, because it was essential to the plot. Without this, you wouldn't know Lissa was good.

Anyway, what is your opinion on Lissa? How did I do with that?

This story is soon going to be drawing to a close, because as promised, it won't be very long.

Thoughts and comments are always appreciated!

~Cake.