Hello everybody! Long time no see! Sorry I disappeared. To answer some of your questions, yes I was on vaca. First at a friend's cottage and then I went to South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore, Devil's tower…stuff like that. I went to Sturgis! I have never, ever, ever, EVER seen so many motorcycles in my LIFE! I asked to get a tattoo there. I bet you can see where that went.

But anywho! Thanks for putting up with me! Enjoy!

I (as always) owe nothing but the story line. And again, sorry for any stupid mistakes. Sorry, sorry, sorry!

Okay NOW you can enjoy…:)

I Have The Worse Luck Ever

I spent the rest of the show glowering, only half-heartedly clapping at the end of a song and sitting when a song pushed all my wrong buttons.

Nudge and Ella were oblivious to me, obviously. They were too wrapped up in Nick Walker's pathetic show of talent.

I (also obviously) was in a bad mood. But, now that I think about it, when am I NOT in a bad mood? So what would you call my current mood then? Normal?

Depressingly, that's what it sounds like.

But anyways. The show continued despite my temper tantrums, with lovesick girls screaming in my ears and Nick singing his crap. But, to give him a little credit, he did call up a girl from the crowd, just like he said he would.

Ella and Nudge were practically in tears.

"Max," Nudge wailed, throwing her arms around me. "He didn't call my name!"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, it does appear to be that way," I said into her ear over the screams of the crowd. She gave me a look but continued to sniffle. Ella was in the same condition but she had a more sympathetic friend to complain to.

I was just happy it wasn't me.

By the time the last song ended, I was tired, fed up, and done playing nice. I had a sickening ache in my stomach but I couldn't figure out why. My head pounded and my feet hurt from the ridiculous heels I was wearing…I made a solemn vow that I would never go to another Nick Walker concert ever, ever, EVER again.

"And that's a wrap guys! Peace out!" Nick Walker held out the peace sign, blew a couple kisses then walked off the stage.

The crowd screamed until Nick disappeared then everyone started filing out of the auditorium.

"OH MY WORD MAX THAT WAS AMAZING! Wasn't that amazing? I can't believe you got to dance with him! Wasn't his dougie hot? Oh my word, I think I'm going to DIE! Die I tell you!"

I rolled my eyes at Nudge's outburst while Ella nodded and screeched in agreement.

"Come on you guys, let's blow this—"

I was cut off by a cold hand lightly touching my shoulder. "Party at Club 9, Starwalk Ave. Nick Walker will be there. Spread the news."

Then he disappeared.

Oh yeah, like THAT was going to happen.

I glanced to see if Nudge or Ella noticed. Nudge was still blabbering on but Ella was looking at me quizzically.

"Who was it? What did he want?" She yelled, following the crowd out into the hall.

"I have no freaking clue and it doesn't matter," I told her firmly.

"MAX!" She complained, shaking my arm. Nudge looked confused.

"What? What happened? What's going on?"

"Nothing," I snapped. "Let's go."

"No," said Ella stubbornly. "I'm staying RIGHT HERE until you tell me EXACTLY what's going on."

I rolled my eyes. "Don't be stupid, Ella. You'll get trampled."

She gave me her famous, trademark glare/smirk/attitude thing which most guys think is sexy. (Why they tell me this, I don't know)

"Watch me," she said firmly.

I covered my face with my hands and shrieked in frustration. I just wanted to go home! Why couldn't they understand that? What was so impossibly hard to get? But I knew they wouldn't drop it until they knew.

"Fine, whatever. The guy said there was a party. Okay? Happy? Now let's go before I kill someone."

Nudge shrieked. "OH MY GOSH MAX WE HAVE TO GO!"

"Over my freaking dead body," I replied.

"Max what the heck is wrong with you? Of course we have to go!"

Sighing in frustration, I pushed the double doors open and walked out onto the sidewalk. Nudge and Ella followed and right then I made an executive decision.

"Fine. Go."

Nudge and Ella's mouths dropped open.

"You're agreeing? Just like that?" Nudge asked, looking suspicious.

"Yes," I answered impatiently. "Go. I'll take a taxi home."

"What?" Ella shrieked. "We aren't just going to leave you!"

I rolled my eyes. "If you want to go to this seemingly incredible party then yes, you will. Besides I have to get home at twelve."

I checked my phone and it read 11:15.

"And you're sure?" Ella asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I shrugged. "It's your funeral."

They both shrieked and gave me hugs, ignoring my comment. "See ya later, Max! Love you!"

I gave a halfhearted wave and watched them walk to the car with newfound calmness.

'Cause really? How hard is it to get a taxi in Los Angeles?

~3~

Much harder than I previously had thought. And I knew, from that moment on, that I had the worst luck in the whole entire freaking world.

Cuz I am just that special.

You see, not only was a taxi unavailable (apparently the taxi company wouldn't have driven out to Long Beach anyways); my phone was dead, everyone was pretty much gone and it was 11:46.

I was so freaking dead I could already see Fiona at my funeral, fake tears running down her ugly face, smirking under a black netted veil.

Taking off my high heels, I sat on the street curb, totally and completely pissed, for reasons previously stated.

But there was one more thing that had me seeing red…one more thing that made me so mad I could practically hear my blood boil. And I wasn't only mad at myself, but at Nick Walker…Ella…Nudge. The whole world.

I finally figured out why I was so queasy.

Yep. When I dougied. Everyone saw me and, sadly, that includes my lovely stepfamily.

See? Told ya I have the worst luck ever.

~3~

Now anyone can see that I am the victim in this situation. For starters I was practically dragged to the concert against my own free will (in a dress no less), then, Nick, being the (insert naughty word of your choice here) he is, had the audacity to call me up on stage. And of course, none of this would have been possible without the evilness and cruelty of my stepmother who made it her job to torment me and make sure that I have the absolute worse childhood ever.

On top of all of that, my car was gone. My only source of transportation, my only means of freedom…gone.

And honestly, all I could see was my stepsisters laughing at me and my misfortune.

I stared at the streetlights lining the road and tried to focus. How could I get home? Besides walking, of course, which would be a last resort. I could try and find the club but I had no ideas of where to look. Los Angeles was full of clubs.

I heard the civic center's doors open and I turned around in surprise.

Well what'd'ya know. My arch nemesis. Who also happens to be number one on my list to kill.

How convenient.

Haha, cliff hanger! You know what you have to do. :D

Also….HAPPY ALMOST NEVERMORE DAY! I'm going to B&N tomorrow morning to get it. :D I'M SO NERVOUS! GAH! I swear…if he screws ANYTHING up...i will cry. First I'll burn the book. But then I'll cry…

Peace, Love and NEVERMORE ~ d-and-s86