Disclaimer: I don't own anything, sadly. It's all JP.

TLM ~ Chapter 9 ~

~Fang POV~

What? Totally not what I was expecting...

"Um, cool." Is that really what I said about it? Jeez… "So anyway," I tried to change the subject, "my friends, Iggy and Ella, were planning on coming over today, before I knew you guys'd be here, so -"

"Oh we don't mind at all!" Nudge talked for her friends, not letting me finish, "I love meeting new people! Are they nice? They sound cool! Where did Ikky get a name like that? Whempphmm-" Angel slapped her hand over Nudge's lips.

"Lick me all you want!" She cried in triumph, "I'm not letting go!"

Ignoring that and shrugging, I said, "Umm, Iggy, picked his own name, don't ask why. He had it when I met him…But yeah, they'll be here in a couple hours. Do you guys have any clothes or something you need to change into? You can use the showers."

Nudge mumbled behind Angel's hand and Max's eyes lit up. "A shower sounds fantastic!" She pushed away her empty plate of food and turned to go upstairs. "And again, thank you so much for everything you've done for us."

~XXXXXXOXXXXXX~

~Max POV~

There was a loud knock on Fang's huge, fancy door. Nudge, Angel, and I watched from the kitchen, snacking on some crackers, while Fang walked over to the door. The butler beat him there to answer it, although I couldn't tell you why he needed someone to do that for him, it's not very hard. He opened it slowly and dramatically. I'd imagine that would get very boring after a while.

Two people, a girl whom I assumed to be Ella and a boy whom I assumed to be Iggy, walked in casually.

"Hey, Fang!" The boy greeted. He was tall and lanky, very pale, and had reddish hair. Fang just nodded, the man of many words.

"Hi, Fang!" The girl echoed. I had to do a double take when I saw her, but I couldn't figure out why she puzzled me. She had dark black hair and tan skin, but I just couldn't place her familiarity; all the people I knew were wacky old nut bars.

I think she felt my eyes on her because she turned around and saw us, smiling warmly, but confusion clouded her soft eyes.

"Oh, hello!" She said, "I'm Ella, Fang's friend, and this is Iggy." She said, pointing to the blonde one.

"Oh yeah," Fang jumped in, leading his friends over to us, "guys, this is Max, Nudge, and Angel. They're staying with me for a little bit. And," he turned to us and pointed out his friends, "this is Ella, and this is Iggy."

"HI!" Of course Nudge started first, although I certainly didn't want to start, so I had no problem with it, "My name's Nudge! I'm 15! OMG Ella, your hair is like, so gorgeous, oh, and I just absolutely adore your outfit! I can tell already, we're going to be great fre-mphahasdmg-" Angel's hand saved their ears. Nudge didn't have any allowed time to say hi to Iggy, so she waved at him and he waved back with a goofy enthusiasm.

"Well hi, Nudge! I'm 15, as well. Thank you and thanks! I love yours too! And I hope so!" Ella responded to every sentence Nudge said; she seemed nice, but I still couldn't place her and it was really ticking me off.

Angel, Ella, Iggy, and I exchanged greetings while Fang and Nudge stayed pretty quiet, as long as you don't count Nudge's constant protesting and moans against Angel.

Iggy started munching on some of Fang's crackers while we discussed plans for the day; Ella, Nudge, and Angel wanted to go to the park, Iggy wanted to watch a movie, and Fang and I didn't really care. We decided on both - movie, then park. I've never been to a park before… or really ever watched a movie either, for that matter.

~XXXXXXOXXXXXX~

I don't really know what the movie we watched was called, something about food, but all I know was that it involved a lot of intense fighting, which I really liked, and some intense kissing, which wasn't as fun to watch.

~Fang POV~

The Hunger Games was really amusing to watch, or rather to watch other people watch, if that made sense, because I don't think Max had ever seen it before. She couldn't figure out who was good and who was bad, and cheered really loudly every time there was a fight seen, no matter who won.

Anyway, we were on the way to the park, walking down the sidewalk when a young couple walked by, a dog on the leash in the girl's hands.

~Max POV~

When we were strolling towards the park, a cute little puppy walked by, his ears flopping. I started to think about the time when I lived with my mom, dad, and little sister, when our family was whole and life was good.

We had a little puppy, too. He was a German shepherd and only a few months old when my dad stole me away. My little sister and I used to chase him around the house on our stubby little legs, laughing and smiling without a single care.

I suddenly came to a realization that made my feet stop, causing Nudge to run into me.

"Are you ok, Max? You look a little weird.." Nudge asked me.

"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine, sorry!" I laughed it off, hoping not to sound too fake.

I knew Nudge bought it when her conversation resumed behind me.

My little sister and I used to chase our puppy around the house on our little stubby legs.

My little sister and I.

My little sister, Ella, one year younger than me, the baby version of my mom.

The Ella right behind me.

~XXXXXXOXXXXXX~

Ok, I Don't even know how to begin to apologize! I am so so so sorry!

I am just so not on top of things, and don't even have a good excuse):

Anyways, I hope you like it, I wrote it pretty fast, and I just want to say I love all of you guys so much for coming back to read this story 333

Also a shout out to Jaclyn F, and everyone else who continued to remind me to get off my butt and do something, you guys made me very happy(:

~YoungAndBored