"Let's get down to business people." I slapped some sheets of music down onto the coffee table. We were all at my house in my basement trying to put together our playlist for the Saturday. It was Monday afternoon and the whole gang was at my house. Whenever our band has something big coming up we always want everybody's opinions. The more the merrier.

And since they were so many of us we always have a barbecue to help us with the process.

We were all sprawled out over the furniture and the floor.

"First order of business: roll call. Who the heck isn't here?" I looked around at all the faces in my living room.

"Looks like everyone is here. Alright next let us refer to Alex for any updates for this Saturday." I gestured to Alex and plopped down on the couch.

"You guys go on at 9:30 but need to be there by seven to check in and make sure all the equipment is up and running. Soundchecks and whatnot. You each get only two free tickets, including me, for anyone you want to bring so that will only get in about ten of you guys. The rest will need to pay. Entrance fee is only five dollars so that's only 50 bucks altogether since ALL of you will be attending in support. Am I right?"

There was a chorus of 'yes' and 'yup'.

"That is all." Alex declared dramatically.

"Next order of business: what songs are we doing? I've had some ideas but I don't know. What do you guys think?" I asked.

"Fan favorites obviously." Iggy said.

"Yeah, That's What You Get is a crowd favorite. Put that one on the list." Gazzy ordered.

"You mean the blank piece of paper?" I asked sarcastically. Dylan rolled his eyes.

"How many songs do we get to do? I'm guessing the most we can do is maybe ten." I looked at Alex for clarification. She nodded.

"I think we should have two new songs. Let's give the people more to love." Iggy joked. I rolled my eyes and scribbled it down.

After much deliberation we finally came up with out set:

That's What You Get (Paramore)

Kiss With a Fist (Florence and the Machine)

Anklebiters (Paramore)

Chelsea Dagger (The Fratellis)

Homecoming (Hey Monday)

New Song (Now by Paramore)

New Song (Last Hope by Paramore)

"Let's get writing!" I proclaimed dramatically, jumping up from the couch. I grabbed a new piece of paper and slammed it down onto the coffee table.

30 minutes later….

I slammed my head against the coffee table.

"No a single one of you has any clue what to write about? Not even a semblance of an idea? Truly nada?!" I groaned.

"I'm too full of meat to think." Jacob groaned. I threw a crumpled piece of paper at him.

"What about a love song? You don't write a lot of those, Max." Brigid offered.

"That's because Max has a face only a mother could love." Iggy grumbled. I shoved him off the couch.

Nudge rolled her eyes. "Let me rephrase. Max, why don't you write a love song that's happy."

I scoffed at her. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm emotionally incapable."

"Anything you could write about love itself is something I'd pay to hear." Iggy rolled away from my punch.

"The fans will love it! More than 80% of the music these days is all about love. Get with the flow, Max."

"No."

"Why not?!"

"Some of our songs already talk about love."

JJ rolled her eyes. "Not nicely. That's the point she's trying to make."

I arched an eyebrow. "Well, that's the best I can do."

"We can't force her to write something she doesn't want to. How about a slow song? You don't do those often," Alex offered.

I mulled it over. "I guess I could do that…."

"We can do one new slower song and one upbeat." Gazzy added.

Iggy nodded. "We'll do that."

"I still don't understand why Max can't write about love!" Nudge whined. Matt and Tyler shook their heads at her.

Leave it alone, Matt mouthed.

Back off, Tyler furiously shook his head at her.

"Enough about stupid love!" I snapped. Nudge gawked at me. She looked to the girls and jerked her head upstairs before grabbing my arm to tug me up there.

Nudge marched me up the stairs and into my room and held the door open for the rest of the girls. One by one the girls all piled in, arranging themselves comfortably. Tess, Alex, Brigid, and Becca headed straight to my couch and Ella and Isabelle sat in my ottomans while the rest of them flopped onto my bed. Nudge looked at me innocently and patted the spot next to her on the bed.

I awkwardly sat down.

"So, Max. Why the sudden reaction? You fancy anyone?" Nudge giggled. I glared at her.

"Really?"

"Just answer the question."

I rolled my eyes. "No."

"Why not?"

"I haven't found anyone emotionally ready to handle my awesomeness full time." Nudge smacked me upside the head.

"OW!" I rubbed my head and glared at her.

"Why don't you like dating?" JJ asked. I sighed.

"I don't want to get serious with anyone because I'm focused so much on the band."

Silence.

"What do you mean?" Alex asked.

"The band takes up all my free time. If I'm not doing homework, I'm at band practice. If I'm not at band practice, I'm performing. What little time I have left goes to you guys."

"You could date someone from the band!" Brigid said. I laughed at her.

"I'm pretty sure Gazzy and Iggy are called for." Ella and Nudge blushed.

"What about Dylan?"

Cue the stares.

I awkwardly cleared my throat. "No offense, but I don't think so. I know he's your brother and everything but nah."

"I still think you should give him a chance." Brigid sang teasingly. I laughed dryly.

"Is that why you seem to be more interested in flings?" Becca asked.

"That makes me sound slutty! Don't say it like that!" I threw a pillow at her.

"You know what she meant! Answer the poorly phrased question." Angel got all in my face.

"Ok, yeah. It's easier to meet a guy one night and flirt and hang out than it is to try a full time relationship with problems and commitments…..ugh." I fake gagged.

"This might be harder than I thought." Tess declared.

"Well, this has been fun. Trust me, it really has, but I think I'm just gonna-" I ran out of the room.

I ran to the downstairs bathroom and jumped out the window. I quickly shut it and dropped to the floor in a heap.

Phew. I closed my eyes contentedly.

Someone kicked my foot. My eyes flew open and I sat up like a board.

Fang stood over me, eyebrows raised and a phone pressed to his ear.

"Later, mom. You too." He hung up and slipped his phone back into his pocket. He looked at me imploringly.

I sighed. "My love life is none of their concern."

He sat down next to me. Silence ensued.

"You're not gonna ask for details?" I looked at him.

He shook his head. "You'll tell me eventually." I scoffed at his answer. I frowned at the truth in his words.

"I don't know how to write a love song." I sighed. "I have little to no experience so I don't understand how Nudge thought I could write about it."

He thought for a moment. "Write what you know."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Not all love songs are wholly about love. Work with what you know."

I looked at him surprised. That's brilliant! My face split into a wide smile.

"You're smarter than you look, Fangtard," I laughed. He rolled his eyes at me.

In the light of the moment I decided to ask him something that had been nagging at me.

"Do you like my friends? You feel comfortable?" I really wanted him to like them. I didn't know what I'd do if he didn't.

He nodded. "Not sure about Dylan. He rubs me the wrong the way." I frowned.

"How so?"

"I can't tell why yet."

Hmph. "Well, he's alright for a ladies man. He's actually pretty sweet when you get to know him."

He shrugged. We sat in silence after just sitting next to each other.

This is what I'll always love about Fang. We could sit next to each other for hours on end and it would never feel awkward. He made me feel safe and utterly comfortable with myself and while, he never voiced his thoughts on the matter, I know I made him feel the same. There was just something so utterly satisfying about the feeling of peacefulness he could give me.

We sat together in my backyard leaning against the side of my house. But I wanted to know more about him. I hadn't seen him in so long and I didn't really know about his life in Arizona. Sure, I knew things he was doing like the clubs and sports and everything.

But I didn't know any of his friends or life with his parents. I didn't know any of his favorite spots and where he liked to go for his favorite food. All the little stuff that I love to know about a person, I had no idea about for him.

"Tell me about your friends." I ordered. He quirked his eyebrow at my question but answered anyway.

"One of my best friends over there is Holden. Cool guy. Doesn't have much confidence.," he answered.

I frowned. "Is he ugly?"

He chuckled. "No. Just a bit skinny and pale. Takes the blame for stuff because they made him. I met him in detention."

My eyebrows rose in surprise. "You were in detention?" He slightly chuckled.

"Yeah."

"What the heck for? Were you tardy to class because you were helping the librarian carry some books? Were you helping a freshman find their way?" I teased. There was no way Fang got detention from being a bad boy. There was a catch.

"Some teacher was giving a girl a hard time. I said something to him and he didn't like it."

I grinned up at him. "I knew it was something gallant. You're like some dark prince, Fangtard." He looked at me with his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

I gaped. "Fang! Has no one ever made that reference to you?" There was no way that not a single person has said that to him. Fang had all the traits of a prince except where the traditional prince would have light colored hair and eyes, Fang had dark features. I told him so but Fang was still skeptical.

I sighed. You win some you lose some.

I slumped against the wall when I bolted back up with a brilliant idea.

"I just remembered something that Nudge said." I said with a blinding smile. I was so hoping I didn't need to resort to the puppy eyes, but if need be, I would gladly do it. Fang warily looked at me. My smile grew.

"Take me for a ride?"

Fang hesitated. "You're mom ok with it?"

"I can't imagine why not."

Silence.

"Please."

"Ask her."

I grunted in annoyance. I held up a finger and ran inside to find my mom. I charged to her office and barged in.

"Mom, can I go for a ride on Fan's motorcycle with him?" I begged.

"Take a jacket." I smiled victoriously. I ran to my room to grab my my black hoodie and shove my feet in converse.

Fang was standing when I got back. "Let's do this, Fangles."

Fang swung a leg over and straddled his bike. He slipped a helmet on over his head before handing one to me. I slid mine on before slowly climbing on behind him.

Fang flipped his visor up. "Hold on tight to me."

My hands awkwardly hovered around his waist. Fang revved the engine and I practically leaped onto his back. My arms tightened around him and he flipped his visor down before driving out of his garage.

Nothing felt as incredible than that ride with him. The only moment that could rival this moment was the rush I feel when I'm drunk with the beat and drowning in lyrics, my body sweating with the body heat of everybody's excitement pulsing through my veins.

With the wind in my hair, the blur all around me, and with the comfort of Fang leading me I felt unstoppable. The cold bit at my hands where they clutched the front of Fang's jacket and it was such a delicious contrast with the heat of his back pressed against my chest.

It was too soon when we returned to Nudge's house. After we'd pulled to a stop I shakily climbed off. I carefully slid off my helmet and I smiled at him. He grabbed my helmet and put it to the side along with his.

"I'll walk you back."

I scoffed. "It's across the street." He shrugged.

"I can't stop you." I turned in the direction of my house.

We walked in silence across the street and up my front lawn. We turned and faced each other on my front porch.

I gave him a small smile. "Thanks for today."

The side of his mouth quirked up. "Anytime." I gave him a small wave before heading inside. I gently closed the door behind me and leaned against it. I tried to smother down my growing smile but epically failed.

"Hey, Max." My head snapped up to meet the hard gaze of Dylan.

"Dylan! What are you still doing here?" I blurted out. My smile was definitely gone now.

"I wanted to see you before I went. I wanted to ask you something."

I warily looked at him. "Go on."

"I was wondering if you, um, wanted to go out with me maybe?" Dylan looked down at me. I felt my stomach plummet.

Oh god, I really didn't want to do this.

I tried to prevent my face from grimacing but I'm pretty sure I failed miserably.

"I...Um." I uncomfortably laughed before gulping. The look in his eyes was steadily changing into something that I really didn't want to deal with. His smile wasn't there anymore.

"Look, Dyl I just, I mean, ugh! You know I don't date. It's just…. I don't do it. I'm sorry Dylan." I blurted out. I warily peeked at his expression.

He offered me a weak smile. "Sorry, I should have known better. I get it. I understand perfectly." He reached past me to open the door and I awkwardly stepped out of the way.

"Dylan!" He stopped and turned in the open doorway.

"Yeah?"

I hesitated. "Are we ok?"

He smiled then, but this smile unnerved me. This wasn't how Dylan usually looked at me and that most definitely was not how he smiles at his friends.

"Everything's perfect." The door slammed shut.

I stood there staring at the shut door. I slowly moved to the window and quietly slid aside the curtain. I stared out at his shadow slowly growing smaller and smaller until he disappeared. I leant my head against the window and sighed. Although I was glad I was honest about my feelings and turned him down, I felt odd. I tilted my face up to the moon's pearly glow and tried to contain my growing unease.

What had just happened?