So, I know that I promised not to neglect my other story for this one…but I like this one so much more *Looks Sheepish*. I'll get to it though. Today, I've been having a Peter Pan marathon (It's my senior year and I've been searching desperately for Neverland) so don't be surprised if some of that reflects in this.

P.S. I'm sorry if they're a bit OOC. Max is still kinda recovering, she'll get her violent fighting spirit back soon. She's still kinda got it, but she won't FIGHT yet. She's still sick at the thought of hitting another human being for now, because of Walter. Fang's just trying to look out for her.

Disclaimer: I do not own Max, Iggy, Fang, Nudge, Gazzy, Angel, Peter, Wendy, or Tink :( What do I own????

Max POV

I followed Fang to our lockers, which were conveniently across the hall from the class. Standing in front of our lockers was a redheaded girl, in our grade, and she was pacing angrily. Fang sighed and rolled his eyes before walking ahead of me.

"Fang! Where have you been?!? I've been waiting by myself for forever! Ugh, you boys can be so- WHO IS SHE?!?!?!" She shrieked, pointing –and glaring- at our hands which had at some point intertwined again in the hallway.

"Honestly Lissa, it's none of your business, but this is my best friend Max." Again, he greeted me as his best friend. If so, why did it take him so long to find me? The question was itching at me. Lissa scowled, grabbed Fang's arm, and ripped his hand from mine.

"Of course it's my business! You're my boyfriend, and you're canoodling with this slut!" I clenched my fists in anger. Who did this girl think she was? I took a step forward to show my thoughts on the matter, but Fang beat me to it.

"I am not your boyfriend. No one says canoodling anymore. And do not, I mean do not ever, call Max a slut."

"You mean, you're dumping me for this whore?" She whined.

"Max is not a whore," he growled, "and I'm not breaking up with you. We were never dating. We kissed, once, because you practically threw yourself at me. That does not make me your property."

"You stole him from me you brat!" Lissa accused, getting into my face. "What did I ever do to you? What kind of person are you?" I silently thanked Fang's mom for getting me a haircut, and let my bangs fall into my face. I shouldn't get into a fight on my first day. "Aw, do I scare you?" She sneered.

I hit her before I could stop to actually think about it. It was reflex. She was in my face, and I was defending myself. I pulled my arm back and punched her, hard, in the gut. She doubled over with and 'oof' and I stalked off and into homeroom. So, I didn't punch her. It'd been too long since I'd physically fought back. I had no doubt that I could hurt her, but the thought of hitting someone else after watching Walter smack my family around, nearly made me throw up. I did turn on my heel and stalk to homeroom though.

"Lissa, you mistake quiet for fearful. It's not the same thing. Don't mess with Max. I'm pretty sure she could beat even me in a fistfight." With that he followed me into History.

He sat down, and gestured at the desk beside him. "Max, I'm sorry about her. She has issues." I shrugged, hiding my still clenched fists under the table. "She sure got you riled up though, maybe I should bring her around more often." He added with a smirk. I raised my eyebrows.

"Miss Ride?" It was a teacher, standing behind me. I held back a gulp. Did she know that I punched someone on my first day back? She put a stack of all the books I would need for the day on my desk. "Welcome to my class. If you need anything just ask. Now, I've heard this not-speaking foolishness and I will not put up with in my class. If you need something, or if I call on you, you will promptly speak up." She didn't even bother to tell me her name, and as she finished her –not going to be met- orders she shuffled away towards the front of the room.

The teacher didn't call on me, not that I would follow give into her demands if she did. I'd been commanded to speak many times, and it hadn't worked on me yet. The class went by rather quickly, and as the bell rang I jumped up and followed the map I'd memorized without a word to Fang. Since he'd rescued me, I'd been following him around like a lost puppy, and it was time to prove that I didn't need him.

Halfway down the hallway, I was lost and already missed him terribly. Someone that I couldn't see shoved me roughly and I was sent sprawling. I smashed into the lockers, letting them break my fall. By the hard impact on the side of my face against the locker doors, I knew I would have a colorful bruise. Counted I was off my guard; the person that shoved me still must have been very large or very strong.

I took a deep breath and bent to pick up my books. A foot cut into my vision and kicked my math book down the hall. I glanced up to see a big guy, smirking, and trying with all of his might to loom over me. I reached for another book, and he kicked it down the hall as well.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I kick your books? What a terrible accident." He didn't look as remorseful as I thought he should. I weighed the option of knocking some real sorry into that thick skull of his. He looked at me for a second and a dark smile landed on his face. I tried to resist rolling my eyes. "Man, you're really pretty. I'm sorry that I knocked your books down the hall. I'm Ari. Say you'll be my girlfriend, and I'll go get them for you."

Think happy thoughts, Max. Happy thoughts. Happy thoughts. Happy thoughts.

I ignored him as best I could. I grabbed whatever books were left near me as fast as I could, and pushed past him and down the hall. I finally collected them back into my arms when a rough push sent them flying again.

Great! Just what I need, another bully! I thought angrily in the direction of my books.

"Oh, don't scowl. It'll ruin your pretty face." I took a deep breath to steady myself and picked my books up again. As soon as they were off the ground, Ari grabbed them and threw them down the hall. One unlucky boy got hit in the back of the leg with one of them. "Just say yes. It's not that hard."

Well aren't you the clever one?! What a stud-ly charmer! Just bully me into saying yes. What a plan! Don't act like a gentleman and win me over the right way, just treat me like crap and order me what to do! I'd had enough of people like him. I wanted to scream. I wanted to grab my books and chuck them at his head. I wanted to punch him in the face. I didn't do any of the things I wanted. I scurried down the hall, like a good little student drone, and picked my books up again.

I put my head down and made a few untraceable turns. I searched around the hallway I'd stopped in. I didn't see Ari anywhere. I also seemed to be lost.

I was starting to really hate school.

AW I really wanted to put Iggy in this chapter. I almost had her think that Iggy kicked her books down the hall, but I just couldn't make Iggy be that petty. I was also going to have Ari be nice at first, because in the books –as a child- he did follow her around all the time. So, I did a compromise, now Ari is being mean and hitting on her.

Still not sure how to incorporate Gazzy. What do you think? Should he be their age, Iggy's younger brother, or something else?

I had so much more planned for this chapter too, but it's late and I plan on writing tomorrow.

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