NEW STORY! I NO OWN ANYONE/THING EXCEPT FOR THE TEACHERS, DEAR DAKOTA AND CASSANDRA!

Chapter One

Max POV

Dear Dakota,

I have this guy problem. We just started dating, but he just won't leave me alone! I really liked him at first, but now it's getting really annoying. The problem is that I don't want to hurt him by breaking up with him. What do I do?

HELP,

Lost in Love.

Dear Lost,

I only have 800 words on here, so I can't tell you as easily as I can tell the others, but I promise to help you out by posting my answer in the paper in a week or two, okay?

Love,

Dakota.

That's where it began; the school newspaper. You see, I'm 'Dear Dakota.' I help kids who email me at my Dakota account with pleads for relationship help. But honestly, Lost in Love's freaking perplexed me. I mean, how am I supposed to know how to break up with a guy without hurting him?

And then it came to me.

You can't.

But he can sure as heck break up with you.

I started typing up my report immediately: One hundred easy things to lose a guy in ten days. I smiled at it, pleased with myself. Now, I just need a guy...

Fang POV

"Sorry Lissa, we just weren't right for each other." I apologized as she broke down in tears. Ugh. I hated it when they did that when I broke up with them. I mean, God, do they want to cause a scene? I removed my hand from the locker behind her head and stroked her hair a little. "I really am sorry." I whispered and she nodded pathetically, looking up at me sadly.

"But-but…it's only b-been a w-w-w-week!" She sobbed and I sighed. It had only been a week, but she was pretty protective over me, fighting any girl that I even looked at, basically, and it was getting incredibly annoying.

"Lissa, we've got to get to class now; are you sure you'll be okay?" I asked tenderly, used to the waterworks. She smiled, nodding, wiping away her tears. "Great." I said with a dazzling smile as the bell rang and I walked off, feeling her gaze on my back as Iggy, my step-brother, appeared next to me, shaking his head in disappointment.

"What?" I asked and he rolled his eyes, pointing back at Lissa as she sobbed to her friends. Suddenly, she whipped out her phone and started texting. Her friends were nodding and agreeing with whatever she was doing.

"That's what, Fang! Have you ever had a relationship longer than ten freaking days?" He asked and I shook my head slowly. Stopping to open my locker, I rolled my eyes, smirking at him.

"We both know very well that commitment isn't in my vocabulary, Iggy," I replied smoothly, and he facepalmed. Chuckling, I took out the stuff I needed for the next class and my notebook before closing my locker door.

"Of course, I forgot," He said sarcastically, rolling his eyes again as we continued down the hallway to homeroom. "I doubt you could, anyways." His words were laced with a challenge, and I couldn't help it. I stopped, looking at him questioningly.

"Could what?" I asked and Iggy smirked, stopping as well. My cautious curiosity was a rare thing, and he enjoyed every minute it.

"Date a girl for more than ten days." He replied and I snorted, but I felt like there was something coming. A catch, or, even better, a bet.

"Of course I can, Iggy." I said, rolling my eyes, but he just shook his head, repeating over and over, "No way, man, no way."

I raised an eyebrow. "Wanna bet on it?" I asked and he nodded.

"Of course," He replied and shook my hand, wiggling his eyebrows. "Five hundred to the winner sound good?" My naïve step-brother asked, and I smirked, nodding.

"Five hundred to the winner, agreed." We went our separate ways and I thought about the bet, looking around for the right girl. Hmmm…I need a girl that won't be afraid of commitment but isn't clingy either…

Max POV

I glanced around, looking for a guy that's single and isn't that committed to relationships for my column. So far, it wasn't working. Most players had a girl on their arm, since Homecoming was coming up.

Suddenly, Fang Ride walked down the hall, and a big, red, blinking arrow appeared over his head in my mind. Bingo.

Luckily for me, he had broken up with Lissa this morning, and so he was up for grabs. How did I know this? Lissa had already sent Dakota an email about it.

Yeah, Fang deserved to be my test subject.

I slammed my locker shut, jogging up to him. "So, Fang, do you remember what homework we had for Calc? I forget." I asked him and he blinked, looking down at me in surprise, eyes scanning my body from head to toe and a smirk appearing slowly on his face.

"Nope," He said simply and I faked a convincing sigh of frustration. Fang raised an eyebrow at me. I should be an actress if journalism doesn't work out for me.

"Mr. Burns will kill me if I miss another assignment, or at least make me do a test. Or something equally as torturous." I said with a scrunched up nose, making him chuckle.

"You do know he posts it on the internet, right?" Fang asked and I facepalmed before pointing at him, laughing airily.

"I forgot. As always. Thanks for the reminder-I need a brain sometimes." I joked before waggling my fingers at him, taking a step back. "Well, bye, and say hi to Angel and Gazzy for me, kay?" I asked and he nodded, smiling at me before I walked into ELA.

And mission 'Lose a Guy in Ten Days' may commence. I thought before Cassandra, my twin, best friend and co-newpaperer-person sat next to me, smiling deviously, an eyebrow quirked.

"So…you and Fang Ride?" She asked, wiggling her eyebrows. I slapped her arm. Glancing around, I leaned in. She knew the outline of my plan already, but not the exact list.

"It's for L.O.L." I muttered to her and her jaw basically hit the desk, eyes widening. It was rather funny, really.

"WHAT?" She screamed in my face making the whole class turn to us and I shushed her as the teacher walked in. Cass quieted down. "He's your test subject?" She asked in a hushed whisper and I nodded vigorously, eyes sparkling.

"Brilliant, right?" I asked, happy to be talking about Dear Dakota with someone for once. (Cass was the only one who knew about the whole 'Dear Dakota' thing since she's the publisher and editor…and the supervisor...Yeah, not many people signed up for the school news.)

"Brilliantly stupid!" She whispered, looking around to make sure no one heard, lowering her voice even more. "Max. He'll find out about Dear Dakota. He'll expose you and everyone will want to kill you. Do you really want that?"

I smirked. "He won't tell." Cassandra blinked at how sure I was. She seemed a little wary, even. And she had reason to be, considering my track record.

"How do you know?" She asked and I chuckled, thinking about my idea. I was sure it would work. He wouldn't tell that he was my test subject, and I would help that girl, get revenge for Lissa and all of his other exes, AND have some fun.

"Trust me, he won't want anyone to know he did anything on that list." Cass looked slightly scared (read; amused, worried and terrified) at my words and expression before laughing a little, imagining what I had come up with.

"Wait…is it based on…?" She asked and I nodded. "It's based on the essay we did in fresh year on what test we'd put a guy through before dating him." Arch's eyes widened as she sat back in her seat, looking at me in amusement mixed with admiration. "You're so devious." She said in an awed tone and I smirked. "Of course! You were right! It's brilliant!"

"Maximum, Cassandra, you might be able to talk amongst yourselves in such a gossipy manner in the school newspaper but it will not be allowed here. Get to work! Now!" Mrs. What's-Her-Name snapped. We looked at each other as we hunched over our papers and winked, smirking, the plan forming in both of our minds.

Fang POV

"Maximum Martinez." She should have been the first girl to pop into my mind. My type (except slightly more modest), not clingy, into commitment…Yeah. She was perfect. And that's exactly what I told my brother. "She's perfect for it! All I need to do now is-"

He cut me off, eyes narrowed as he slammed his locker shut. "No. She's one of my best friends. I won't let you hurt her." He snapped, looking extremely mad.

We started walking to lunch. "That's assuming I lose." I pointed out, shooting him a look that made him roll his eyes.

"And you will. I know you man. Plus, you'd break up with her the minute the bet is done, if you won," Iggy replied and I opened my mouth to reply when Max and a girl I was assuming was the famous Cassandra (Iggy's girlfriend and other best friend.) They had started dating a few weeks ago, and I hadn't really been able to meet her yet.

Cassandra was a brunette and honey blonde with auburn hints lighting her messy hair, which was slightly waved and untamed but in a hot way, the bangs falling into her chocolate brown eyes, which were glinting with confidence and amusement, the hazel around the rim making her big eyes seem prettier, her long eyelashes fluttering against her rosy cheeks. She had freckles dotting under her eyes and big, full strawberry-colored lips and a heart-shaped face. Her hourglass figure was hidden slightly by her loose tank top.

In the right hand corner of her mouth, she had a slight dimple, like that thing from Peter Pan that Angel always asked if she had. She was thin and agile, obviously a dancer. Iggy was pretty lucky, she was hot, had attitude, and wasn't clingy.

"Hey, Piggy, how're you doing?" Cassandra asked him teasingly, sliding her arm into his and he pecked her on the cheek, eyes narrowing at me. Max fake-gagged next to them as they laughed, rolling her eyes at me.

'Can you believe them?' She mouthed and I rolled my eyes back. 'I know, right?' She smiled at me and I half smiled back. This is easy.

Max POV

Cass was joking with and teasing Iggy endlessly, leaving Fang and I to talk. Which is probably the intent in her teasing, I noted with a mental eye roll. That girl has no shame. "So, Max," Fang started and I zoned back in, nodding.

"Hmm?" I acknowledged. "What is it, Fang?" He smiled at me, leaning against a locker. It was his classic move. I fought a smirk, looking up at him curiously.

"Wanna go out with me on Friday?" Fang asked and I nodded with a soft smile. He probably thought I was smiling because we were going out. But I was smiling because, wow, this was easier than I had hoped.

"But, can I choose the place?" I asked and he hesitated. "Pleeeease?" I begged, smiling hopefully at him and he sighed. Looking down at me, I saw something flash in his eyes as he nodded.

"Fine, fine. You can pick, but no pink. At all," He agreed and I rolled my eyes. He honestly knew nothing about me, did he? Of course not-he'd never bothered to even spend five minutes on me before today. I wonder what the change is?

I smirked, nodding and shaking his hand. "That's a no brainer, Fang. You have a deal. No pink whatsoever." That wasn't in my plans, anyway, hot stuff.

Dear Cass,

He asked me out! Commence Plan Lose A Guy In Ten Days.

I smiled at the email before pressing 'SEND.' Cass is going to love this! I thought, smiling at the library ceiling. She would, obviously, dress me up and tell me a bunch of facts that Iggy leaked about Fang that night. But I didn't find myself dreading it like all my other dates with Sam and Dylan.

I was smirking in anticipation.

Fang POV

"I'm suspicious. Max hates you. She wouldn't just say yes to going on a date with you." Iggy told me from the doorway as I got ready for our date.

I rolled my eyes, slipping on my black t-shirt. "Dude, it surprised me, too, but she did. She nodded and smiled and asked to pick the place," I stated, striding over to my bed side table for my iPod.

"Picking the place? Dude, that's not Max. I think she has ulterior motives," I smirked, raising an eyebrow and he chuckled, shaking his head at me. "Not that kind, the foils-your-side-of-the-bet kind," He replied and I rolled my eyes again, lying down on my bed.

"Dude, lay off, it's just a date," Iggy looked at me doubtfully. "A real date," I clarified and he snorted. He seriously seemed to be doubting my charm.

"Fang, you hurt her and, brother or not, you'll have to answer to me." He started to walk out before casting me a glance and an amused smirk. "And Cass, of course."

I chuckled. "YOU'RE SO WHIPPED!" I called after him and he flipped me off before shutting the door. Rolling my eyes, I grabbed my car keys and hopped down the stairs to my car, running my fingers through my hair. Max was driving, since she had picked the place, and she wouldn't tell me where.

Angel grabbed onto my hand, looking up at me with excited blue eyes. "You're going on a date with Maxie, right?" She asked, voice excited, also. I nodded, smiling, sitting back on my heels to look her in the eyes.

"Yeah, I am." I murmured, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. Her eyes hardened, and she looked at me sternly, holding up her little fist. My eyebrows shot up.

"You hurt her, I hurt you, Fangy." My baby sister threatened, glaring at me. My eyes widening slightly, I nodded slowly. Then she smiled dazzlingly, fluttering her eyelashes at me and holding out her other hand, which held a necklace with an angel on it.

"Good. Now, give this to her, okay? Mommy told me to give it to you to give to a girl when," She paused, trying to quote it, "You really love her." Angel smiled up at me, shoving the necklace into my hands. "And you'll love Max!" I chuckled, nodding, stuffing it into my pocket and kissing her on the forehead before walking out the door.

"Mom, I'm going out with Max, be back in a few hours!" I called over my shoulder, jogging to my car without an answer. As I started it, I couldn't help but wonder what Max had planned for our date.

Max POV

I pulled up to the karaoke bar, and I swear all color drained from Fang's face. Biting back a laugh, I grinned at him. "Well, here we are-Angel and my favorite Disney Karaoke Bar!" He stared at it, eyes wide in disbelief. "Well? Come on!" I chirped, grabbing his hand and dragging him out of the car.

"Look," I said, opening the door with a grin, "No pink!" Little kids were running around and screaming, chasing each other with pirate swords. This is better than I thought! It took everything I had not to laugh at Fang's expression.

"This is worse than pink," He muttered, as a little boy ran up to us, wielding a sword. The little boy screamed, 'HIIIIYYYYYYAH!' and stabbed Fang in the leg, whacking him with the hilt. Now, the sword blades were plastic, so the stabbing was only a little painful, but the hilt was steel.

Holding his shin, Fang sure did curse like a sailor. This is my favorite article I have ever done. I thought cheerily, and I couldn't help but chuckle a little at Fang's face. He looked at me like I was the most insane person he had ever met. Shrugging, I dragged him to a table and made him sit.

Then, I jumped on stage and grabbed a mic, singing 'Dig A Little Deeper' from The Princess and the Frog. Fang's eyes widened as I danced around, getting the kids to calm down and sing with me.

After a few more songs and a lot more embarrassing Fang, I sat down and ordered as much pizza as I could. Sitting next to Fang, I took a big bite of my pizza, the sauce dripping onto his pants 'accidentally.' Staring at it, he looked like he wanted to die.

"Oh, God, Fang! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean-I'm so sorry!" I threw about a thousand napkins at him, and caused a huge scene. A few parents were laughing. Fang, eventually, got up and went to the bathroom to wash it off. I smirked, sitting back in my chair. This is going to be a piece of cake.

Fang POV

I banged my head against the wall. Max was insane. First, she dragged me to a Disney Musical Karaoke Bar, then, she sang songs from the musicals by heart, (while doing so, though, she looked incredibly cute, but that's not the point) and then she spilled enough pizza sauce on me to feed a family of giants for a year.

Rubbing at the sauce with some wet paper towels, I thought about it, and laughed. Yeah, me, Fang Ride, actually laughed. Max was…she was different, that was for sure. But this had to be the best date I'd had in a while. Usually, the girl was talking about stuff like make up and what Suzie said and stuff, but Max was actually being herself. It was…nice.

So I got up and walked back to our table, only to see Max crying and holding her phone in her hands. My eyes widened and I was immediately next to her. For some reason, her tears bothered me. "Max, what's wrong?" I whispered, rubbing circles in between her shoulder blades. Some of her flash-mob buddies were hugging her legs as she buried her face in my shoulder.

"M-m-my cat Fluffy….she-she was j-j-ju-st…" She sobbed harder, and I waited, eyebrows raised, to hear about Fluffy. "R-run ov-ov-er by a tr-r-ruck." Max mumbled, rubbing at her eyes. For some reason, I didn't care that she was making a scene as I stared into her puffy brown eyes.

"You, er-you wanna talk about it?" I asked, voice low, and she smiled, nodding. But even as she opened her mouth, I could tell this was going to take a while.

Max POV

Okay, time to fess up-I didn't have a cat named Fluffy. Never have, never will. Cass is allergic. But it was part of the article, so, yeah. Plus, Fang was actually being sweet about it. It was kind of…weird.

"So, then Fluffy walked up to the Husky and hissed at him, and clawed him, and then ended up…" We've been talking about Fluffy's heroics for an hour. Fang looked like he thought I was the most insane chick ever.

"So, uh, Max…" He was trying to change the subject. Mentally, I smirked, but on the outside I'm innocently nodding and slurping my soda. "Do you like-"

"Ooh, look, the next song is from The Lady and The Tramp!" I squealed, flinging my arm out, soda still in hand. The liquid fell onto Fang's pants. Okay, this is the most fun I've had in years.

I forced my eyes to widen, and I gasped. "OH, not AGAIN! I'm so sorry Fang! I don't know what's come over me tonight-I'm being such a klutz!" I exclaimed, as my face turned red from the held-back laughter. Which was good, 'cause it looked like I was blushing.

Fang shrugged, sighing. "Maybe we should just go home. I need to change." My eyes widened, and I shook my head wildly. But I had already anticipated this, his wanting to leave. Considering the article, I wanted him to. But I wanted to scare him off so he'd never come back.

"No, please, Fang! We haven't nearly had enough time to talk!" I pleaded, and as he looked down at my face, he hesitated. "Please? Fang, just a little while longer? Then you can go home and change." He was silent. "Please?" I added quietly, and Fang broke.

"Fine. What do you want to do?" He asked, smiling slightly, as if anticipating something crazy. Knowing me, it was always smart to expect my craziness and face it head-on. But, obviously, Fang was surprised by my next words.

"How about you sing the next song?" I asked, voice excited, and his eyes widened. Then, he nodded, shrugging with a sigh. "Yeah! Thank you!" Throwing my arms around him, I squeezed as hard as I could. Wow, this is so easy.

He hugged me back for moment, and I felt sparks. We both pulled away as he walked up to sing 'Be Our Guest.' Wow, I can't believe he didn't even fight it. That's bad. It's like…he's becoming whipped. That's bad, bad, bad, bad, bad. But I couldn't help the smile on my face.

Fang POV

I'm insane. I'm worse than Max. This is bad. Really bad. I thought as we drove to Max's. I had just sung 'Be Our Guest,' 'Why Should I Worry?' and 'My Sweet Evangeline.' It was so unlike me. It was Max. She was ruining me. I needed to stop seeing her. Now. And I probably would, if it wasn't for the bet.

But, still, I couldn't help glancing at her with a tiny smile as she sang along to the radio. She seemed more blissful now, her craziness subsided. Stupidly enough…I kind of missed it.

I pulled up to her house, and climbed out of the car, opening her door for her and walking up with her to her porch. She shot me smile, and I leaned in to give her a kiss just as she ran inside and slammed the door in my face. Ouch. Way to hurt a guy's ego.

Author's POV

Chapter On:

The 1st Date!

1. Go to the Disney Musical Karaoke Bar for your date.

2. Sing and dance and embarrass your boyfriend as much as possible.

3. Order a lot of pizza and 'accidently' spill some sauce on him.

4. Talk about your dead cat, even if they don't exist. Sob a little.

5. Cut him off whenever he's about to change the subject away from said dead cat.

6. Spill soda on his pants.

7. Ask him to stay a little longer before he goes back home to change.

8. Beg until he says yes.

9. Make him sing a Disney Song. Or three.

10. Slam the door in his face once you get home, possibly breaking his nose.

Only ninety more to go. ;)

Did you liiiiike? I know I shouldn't have posted this until the others were done, but...I COULDN'T HELP IT, OKAY?

Review?

~Anna Ride