The new chapter is finally up! Sorry about the three day delay. I didn't update for the same reason I am assuming it took you guys so long to read and review! Oh the joys of being a high school student! I tried to update as much as possible last weekend because I knew this week would be hectic. Anyway, I have had a one track mind these past few days, and sadly, my story was not my main focus. I have a huge basketball tournament starting tomorrow, so my team has been practicing nonstop. (Wish me luck! I really want to win this one!) Anywho… I have to admit I am a little disappointed by the lack of reviews. My account tracks how many views I have on this story and the number is huge. However, there are only 19 reviews. That makes me sad :( … how am I supposed to know if I am writing a story that people are enjoying if no one reviews? Also, I would like to give a thank you to the people who actually have reviewed. You make my writing worthwhile. Okay! I am officially done rambling! On with the story…. Enjoy and review!

KarleeRay

Walking into your own house after a long, grueling basketball practice and seeing your boyfriend and his ex sitting at your kitchen table doing homework, is enough to put your average human over the edge. However, I am far above average and I held my tongue as I walked into the kitchen and poured a glass of water.

"Hi Max!" Lissa chirps and I raise my eyebrows at her in acknowledgement. Fang gives me a careful half smile that I completely ignore, as I walk into the living room and plop down on the couch next to Iggy. From where I sit on the couch I have a perfect view of them, but I adjust my position slightly so it won't be so obvious that I have a freaking eagle eye trained on them. I dare Lissa to try something.

Iggy crinkles his nose, mockingly leaning away from me. "Long practice or something? You reek." He laughs and I quickly launch myself at him, wrapping him in an inescapable bear hug.

"How's that?" I ask, laughing as he pushes against me. By now, I can feel Fang and Lissa's gazes on us, but I don't really care about them at the moment.

Iggy stops fighting me and just as I begin to remove my arms from around him, he gives me a hard shove. I don't even have time to catch myself before falling off the couch and onto the hardwood floor. Instantly, I right myself.

"You are so dead," I growl, doing my absolute best not to let him hear the laugh in my voice. Iggy puts his hands up in surrender, grinning, but it does him no good. We're not even. He can't just push me and expect me not to retaliate.

With a playful roar, I tackle him to the ground, pinning his arms on either side of his head. Now, it may shock you to know this but, Iggy is majorly ticklish. I'm talking like this kid will get buck wild if you tickle him in the right places. Yes, Iggy, sarcastic, grumpy Iggy, is ticklish. I know. I was shocked too. Fortunately for me, I was the one to discover Iggy's weakness a couple years ago when we were locked in a wrestling match.

Without hesitation, I dig my fingers into his sides. Instantly, Iggy lets out a roar of uncontrollable laughter, bucking against me, trying to throw me off of him. I cackle, evilly.

"Please!" Iggy manages. "Stop! Max! Please!"

I make him suffer for just a tad longer, and then hop off of him. He stands angrily. "That was not a fair fight. You know I hate it when you do that!"

"I hate it when you push me," I retort, simply, trotting past him and to the stairs. Apparently, I need a shower because I "reek".

The steaming hot water does its job, relaxing my tense muscles. I sigh contentedly, stepping out of the shower and wrapping myself in a towel.

As I'm pulling on my t-shirt and shorts, it hits me that I left Fang and Lissa unattended. Crap. I was supposed to be watching them….so much for my "eagle eye".

I think about charging on down there, when an even smarter idea comes to me. I know. I know what you're all thinking. Spying is wrong. Whatever. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Fortunately, I am trained in the art of moving silently, so I have no problem getting down the stairs without letting them hear me. Once I am downstairs, though, things begin to get a bit trickier. How far can I go? Can I chance getting caught? If I do get caught…. Well, let's just not even go there. Besides, I don't plan to listen for long….

Finally, I settle on a place, standing against the wall that separates the kitchen from the living room. My raptor hearing can easily make out what they're saying.

"So… number 4 would be 668," I hear Fang murmur.

"Yeah… sure," Lissa replies, sounding like she could care less about the answers to her math. There's a moment of silence, and I hold my breath, not wanting Fang's sharp hearing to detect my presence.

"Can I ask you something?" Lissa says, breaking the silence and allowing me to breathe again.

"Yep."

"Do you ever think about that day? Back in Virginia… when you kissed me?" Lissa's asks, timidly, like she's not sure if this is a good idea. My jaw drops, and I literally have to stop myself from charging in there…. However, I want to hear Fang's answer. I know. I know. I said I trusted him and I do... but there's nothing wrong with gathering a bit of reassurance.

"Well…. Technically you kissed me…" Fang murmurs, sounding uncomfortable.

"Like it matters…. You didn't answer my question."

"I don't know, Lissa. It was a long time ago… besides, I'm with Max now," Fang says firmly, letting out a long breath. Dang right, you're with Max now.

"Well yeah but….didn't you feel something there? Something special? … Nevermind that. I know you did. It couldn't have been just me." There's a smile in Lissa's voice and I get a sick, awful feeling in my gut. Trusting my instincts and not really caring about getting caught at this point, I peek my head around the corner of the doorway just in time to see Lissa's red head swooping in towards Fang's. Their lips meet for one awful heart wrenching second, and then Fang quickly pushes her away, looking shocked.

I take this as a good time to make my grand entrance. Eyebrows raised, arms crossed firmly over my chest to keep from strangling Lissa, I saunter into the kitchen. Fang catches sight of me, and I see in his eyes that he knows I have witnessed what just happened.

"Max," He says, in a warning voice. He comes towards me, arms raised in surrender as if I'm a wild animal that needs to be contained before it can attack. I wave him off. Strangely, I am scarily calm. I will not explode. I'm angry, yes, but I finally have my proof. I was right all along. Lissa wanted to be more than just friends with my boyfriend.

A tense silence hangs over us all, both of them waiting to see what I will do.

Finally, I latch my eyes onto Lissa's, fixing her with the iciest glare that I can manage. "I think you should leave. Now." My voice is calm, yes, eerily so, but there's a dangerous tone to it also. Lissa gulps visibly, obviously surprised that I haven't torn her freaking head off. She begins to look embarrassed and shameful, but she quickly wipes those expressions off of her face, replacing them with an expression full of arrogance.

"When you change your mind, you know where to find me," she says as she sashays past Fang. I am not surprised in the least by her up-front manner, but Fang seems to be. My eyes cut sharply at her and she continues out of the kitchen. Moments later, I hear the front door slam shut.

I give Fang a solid once over, careful not to let my face give anything away, and then turn and walk out of the room.

I am sitting on the couch in the living room watching Criminal Minds all by myself when Fang works up the courage to come and talk to me. As he enters the room, I am careful to keep my eyes trained on the TV.

He carefully lies down on the open end of the couch, placing his head into my lap. "Are you mad at me?" He asks, softly.

I sigh. "No."

"Max, I swear, I had no idea. I swear, if I had known, I would-"

"I know," I murmur, smiling slightly. "Why do you think I'm not mad at you?"

He smiles, relaxing, and picks up my hand, placing kisses on each of my fingertips.

"Plus…. You got brownie points for pushing her away so quickly," I admit.

Fang laughs, and the sound is like music to my ears. He sobers up quickly, though, and then looks me dead in the eye. "I love you, Max."

My eyes shift back to the TV and stick there. "You aren't hanging out with her anymore," I state, simply.

He nods. "I know."

It's quiet for just a moment, and then I say. "I love you too, Fang."

He leans up, kissing me softly, and I spring up off of the couch, making his head fall back against the cushions. He looks at me in surprise.

"Yuck!" I exclaim, making a big show of wiping my lips and tongue off. "You have Lissa on your lips!" I am about 75% joking and 25% serious.

Fang rolls his eyes, standing up. "Fine. I'll go brush my teeth. Will that make you happy?"

Amusement sparks in his eyes when I nod my head vigorously. I follow him up the stairs, perching myself on the bathroom counter as he brushes away, and the second he rinses his mouth out, I am on him, kissing him fiercely. Our kisses are hungry, like we will never be able to get enough. Fang picks me up, setting me back down on the bathroom counter and coming to stand between my legs. I run a line of kisses from his lips, down his jaw, and to his neck, making him tremble in pleasure, and I can't help but smile against his lips. How about them apples, Lissa?