I'm actually so proud that even though I have like one reader (and I'm pretty sure it's my sister) I've still pressed on and made it to chapter 20. Yes, I still have a long way to go still. Yes, it's taken me like two years but SO WHAT. At least I made it this far. So here's to the big 2-0!

Read on,

-Ally

* * *

[ UNEDITED ]

Meg kindly let me off the hook for the rest of be nice to Zedd" week.

Probably mostly because apparently he's kinda mad about the whole thing. Not that I care at all.

And also partly because I think my humiliation the other night was "nice" enough.

The image of my lips on Zedd's pops into my head and I shiver in disgust, banging my head on one of my bed posts.

"Literally the worst things that's ever happened to me." I groan under my breath, closing my eyes and squeezing them shut in hopes that I'll suddenly forget and this awful burden will be lightened.

No such luck.

I stare out my window, not surprised to see that Aze isn't there. Even though as far as I know he isn't upset about the accident, he's kept his distance. Which I appreciate. I don't think I can handle my jumbled feelings about him right now on top of everything else.

Cora has promptly and bluntly told me on more than one occasion that I'm being overly dramatic and I need to get over it.

Of course I got angry and yelled something about her having a crush on Aze and that she'd be happy if this whole thing ruined our relationship (whatever it may be). She didn't take that lightly and reacted in silence.

And more silence.

And more silence.

I haven't spoken to her since and I feel completely awful about it. But of course I can't bring myself to tell her that because I'm being stupid and stubborn.

She's right of course. The whole thing can be easily fixed if I just confront the situation, apologize to everyone and allow everything to go back to normal but...pride is a horrible thing.

Garrett's been no help at all either.

Every time I step downstairs and he happens to be there and makes kissy faces at me and remarks about me and Zedd's bickering at the beginning of the summer.

"I though you said you'd rather lick a toilet plunger than kiss him." He says.

And,"Oh I'll just run over and get Gerald Walter for you so he can give you that kiss he owes you." Is another one of his favorites.

I try and tell him that what happened did not count as a real kiss because one; it was not intentional and he didn't kiss back. And two; it was with Zedd. I think the latter is reason enough.

Luckily, he's with Meg today at some water park or something.

If anyone should be getting teased around here it's him. I don't know why I'm always the center of everyone's prying and abuse.

With a sigh I fall onto the couch. I'm bored, I'm angry and I'm embarrassed. I'm also feeling rather salty because I've been cooped up in this house for days.

So if anyone crosses my path they will most definitely regret it.

"I need to do something." I speak out my thoughts out loud.

I'm suffering from a severe case of cabin fever and it's hecka unbearable. Plus, I've got some serious anger built up and I need a way of getting it out.

* * *

"Hmm...black or white? Black." I touch the box with the big black leather covered sack inside, "or white." I touch the box with the white big leather covered sack.

Such a big decision.

"I think I can help." A gruff voice speaks behind me.

"What the..." I spin around to see a guy way shorter than me. I'm talkin' midget status here. No offense to him but yeah it's the truth.

My eyes gravitate toward the overly long gray beard on his face and the blue ugly jumpsuit he's wearing. His hand rests on the handle of a mop that's obviously too big for him.

"Oh. It's just the janitor." I breathe in relief, glad that some unimportant person didn't try and speak to me because come on, I'm awesome.

"Just the janitor?" He gasps, acting all offended.

"Um...yeah. And why are you talking to me?"

"I saw that you're having a hard time picking out a punching bag." He points to the two boxes I had previously been debating between.

"Uh yeah. So?"

"So I think I can help with you're problem." He shrugs, leaning on the long wooden handle.

I look around to see if I can find any cameras. "Am I being punked? Is this one of those what would you do tv shows? Oh my gosh I'm on tv! Hi mom!" I wave rapidly as I search for the cameras.

"Shut up kid you're not on television." He snaps, "GOSH since when are kids so idiotic." He mumbles.

"Hey! At least I'm not a midget!" I stick my tongue out.

He takes a deep breath and releases it before looking back at me, my eyes set in a glare.

"Like I said. I'm just trying to help."

"Help with what, Grumpy, I'm just trying to pick out the punching bag that will best match the picture of Zedd I have l picked out." I reply smugly, imagining my first hitting that stupid red head's face over and over and over and over and -

"Oh I see what this is all about." He sighs, his breath wafting over to me in a dark evil cloud.

"Ew you hobo brush your teeth once a year will ya?" I cough, waving my hand in front of my face.

He rolls his bloodshot eyes. "This is about a boy."

"Uh duh."

"Listen honey -"

"Don't call me honey you creep. Go away."

"- just because this boy doesn't like you, that doesn't mean it's okay to go out and buy a punching back on a whim and stick his face on it." He speaks gently.

My face contorts into a disgusted grimace. "Eww what the heck. Uh no I don't like Zedd. I hate him and I also hate him." I smile a big fake smile before swiftly turning around, ignoring the random stranger.

"Violence doesn't solve anything." He speaks.

"Your mom doesn't solve everything."

"Now you listen here young lady -" I hear him step towards me and I spin around, my arms folded.

"Shut up you midget! You're ugly and your breath smells like death! Get away from me or I'll scream!"

His face turns purple, his fists clenched at his sides and suddenly the broom drops to the floor.

My eyes widen and I slowly walk backwards, down the isle of the store.

"O-okay mom I'm coming!" I yell to my "mom" giving him an apologetic look. "Sorry you'll have to beat me up another time."

I run through the store, pushing past people as I go. I hear the janitors footsteps behind me and I run even harder, whining loudly.

"I hate running - OOMF." The wind gets knocked right out of my lungs as I run into someone. Hard.

"Ow what the - oh it's you." The person bites out.

I fight for breath, my hand on my chest as I sit on the floor, staring up at the ceiling.

The midget. He's after me.

My eyes widen and I force air into my lungs and use all of my strength to get up off of the floor.

My eyes meet with the person I colliding with.

"Ew. Why are you not not here." I grumble.

"You ran into me. Brat." Zedd rolls his eyes, folding his arms over his broad chest.

"Jerk."

"Baby."

"Pouche-bag."

"Ew what the heck does that even mean." He sneers.

"Ew you." I stick my poke pit my tongue.

"Ew your mom."

"Ew your face."

"Ew your existence."

"Ew your -"

"There you are!" I'm cut off by a voice behind me.

My eyes widen and a scream escapes me as I flee from the scene, taking off down the isle and into the open.

I run as fast as I can, looking for a hiding place or a dark isle where no one will be able to see him. Specifically Midget the Devil back there.

I hear someone else's huffing and my heart jumps in fear before I realize the person isn't four foot one.

"Why are we running?" Zedd breathes as come to a halt in the party section.

"I'm running from a psychotic janitor slash midget ax maniac. I don't know why you're running." I growl, folding my arms over my chest.

He straightens, standing at full height, his ugly red hair falling over his ugly forehead. His hazel eyes set in a glare.

"Well excuse me for getting scared and running when you screamed at the top of your lungs in the middle of a grocery store and took off running. I thought I was about to get shot or something." Zedd explains crossly.

"Well maybe if your weren't such a baby you'd stay behind and protect people instead of running away." I smirk.

"Please. I would do that in an actual emergency. This was over something stupid." He tried defending himself, eyes darting this way and that.

I scoff. "You said it yourself you thought something dangerous was going on. Which there is by the way."

His eyebrows furrow and he begins looking around. "What were we running from again?" He slows begins to look around the corner but I lunge forward and grab his arm, pulling him back.

"Stop! He's going to see you!"

"Who's going to see me!" He argues.

I let out a growl. "The crazy janitor slash midget guy. I already told you. Geez since when do you have short term memory loss."

"Every time you start speaking." He mocks.

"Whatever." I roll my eyes.

We stand there in awkward silence and after about two minutes of it I'm almost ready to sacrifice my life and get killed by Midget the Devil in order to escape it.

He clears his throat. "Meg asked me to apologize but I don't want to."

"Good to know." I snap.

He glares at me, his lips pursed and before I know it, his hand is grabbing a can of silly string off of the shelf and it's being prayed across the isle at me. After a few seconds I'm covered in the green sticky substance.

I stand there frozen, my hands up in shock. "What. The. Heck."

He stands there looking smug, an arrogant smile on his face. "Not so tough now are you Max?"

I let out an angry scream before lunging forward and grabbing my own can, popping off the lid and watching it fly across the floor and out of sight.

I press the top down, letting it fly out and onto Zedd, his eyes filled with hatred.

After several minutes of yelling insults, spraying silly string, running out of silly string, and picking a new one at random there no more on the shelf. He's pink, purple, and yellow and I'm completely covered in green, blue, and pink.

I breathe heavily as we glare at each other. "I hate you." I seethe first.

"Believe me I hate you more." He spits out venomously.

For some reason there's tug in my stomach but I push it down with anger and before I know it I'm running at him, tackling him to the floor.

"Ah!" He yells at I pin down his arms with a grunt.

I don't think about the fact that I'm touching the jerk. It just feels good to get out some pent up rage he's caused me to collect on his behalf.

I'm about to lift my hand and punch his lights out when his legs crosses over mine, unbalancing me.

With wide eyes I'm suddenly flipped over and with a grunt my back hits the floor and he's pinning down my tiny arms.

My chest goes up and down and I struggle against the strength of his arms.

"This isn't fair." I whine.

"You tackled me first. It's only fair I show you who's boss." He scoffs.

I roll my eyes. "Shut up. You sound like a stupid guy."

"I am a guy." He smirks.

I raise an eyebrow. "No you're an overgrown baby with muscles - pffft." I spit when a piece of silly string from his hair falls into my mouth.

I narrow my eyes as he fights a smile. Soon he's laughing so hard his face begins to turn abnormally red.

I try and keep a straight face but a string falls down and swiftly pokes him in the eye.

"Ow." He laughs even harder, using one forearm to hold himself up and the other hand to wipe it away.

The dam breaks and laughter spews out in a one big burst.

"You look so disgusting." I snort up at him.

"Yeah so do you." He chuckles, his hand picking a large lump of green silly string off of my forehead and holding it up so I can see it.

I laugh and he picks another gigantic string of pink and blue. I sit still while I continues to grab it out of my hair, ears, and off of my face.

I freeze when his hand grazes me cheek, for some reason my laughter fades and I don't find this very funny anymore.

My sudden silence catches his attention and his laughter dies down to a smile.

I don't think I've ever seen him smile around me.

It's really weird. I think I hate it.

Or maybe I don't.

Shut up yes I do.

His eyes move away from mine as he picks more sticky string out of my hair, his fingers pausing once around a strand of hair.

I watch my wide eyes as he swallows, dropping the hair and his eyes moving shakily to mine.

Nice they're on mine I can't look away.

The stupid things are like freaking magnets.

"Max." He says.

"What."

"You don't look as ugly as I usually think you do." He tells me, eyes wide.

"That's because I'm covered in silly string and you can barely see me." I reply half heartedly.

He blinks once, his eyes now almost foggy and before either of us know what's happening his stupid face is moving closer to mine.

And I just sit there like an idiot.

I lick my lips and he swallows, eyelids sliding downward slowly.

Everything moves in slow motion as his hand goes to the back of my neck and I silently wonder how he's even strong enough to hold himself up with one arm.

I try and tell myself to stop but my eyes blink three times before closing.

"Hey! You two, what do you think you're doing!"

Zedd practically jumps off of me and I scurry away from him and against the wall of the store.

"I-I um..." I try and speak but it's like my brain is clogged.

I feel like I'm in the twilight zone.

"We uh..." Zedd tries, his hand scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Forget it. Someone already reported you two to the police and they'll be here within minutes. I suggest you don't try and run." The man with a walky talky hanging on the belt loop of his pants speaks gruffly.

My eyes go to the tag on his shirt that clearly reads "manager" and I internally groan.

"Unbelievable." I hear Zedd curse under his breath and my nose scrunches at a bad word that comes out.

Ugh. Men.

"Look I'm sorry we just -"

"I don't want to hear it. The both of you have both vandalized and stolen from this store. You should be ashamed. You have about a minute to call your parents and tell them to meet you at the station." The man speaks quietly and I find myself hanging my head in shame.

But I can't help but wonder who turned us in...

My eyes narrow.

Midget the Devil.