.max.

20 years. 20 years. Just keep breathing, Max. It's only 20 years.

Those words tore at my heart day and night. Fang had left me, Fang had left the flock. And I didn't understand why.

He said Dylan was meant for me. How could he be so blind? I loved him. Fang. My Fang; our Fang.

.angel.

Slowly, I creaked the door open to her room. Stepping in quietly, I saw the disgruntled silhouette lying on the bed. She was still in her dress from Total and Akila's wedding. The white satin was ruffled and browning, and her hair was in a horrid fright. In her hands were clutched two things: the note from him, and the ring he gave her.

Ever since Fang left Max hadn't left that bed. That was a month and a half ago. Max just stares at the ceiling, not eating, barely breathing. He's all she thinks about. Every day I come up here and peer in, reading her mind, but I'm blocked out by the wall of Fang Fang Fang Fang Fang Fang Fang Fang Fang. It's always the same. Then I'll go back downstairs, enter the living room full of eager faces, and shake my head.

Well, 'eager faces' isn't the right term anymore. They were eager. There's still some hope in Nudge's eyes, but it dies quickly.

We have been fairing. Iggy cooks, while the rest of us clean, check on Max, bring her food, do whatever we can.

It's like we lost two flock members instead of one.

I take a deep breath, still looking into the darkened room. "Max?" I whisper. Maybe this time she'll jump up, smile, mutter some dirty comment about Jeb, and have life go on as usual. But like every other time, I get no response.

My heart breaks as I see the piles of food we brought to her. Untouched. Blinking back tears I make my way downstairs. Everything seems… old. Maybe a move could help Max. Everything about this house is old. Okay, Iggy, down seven steps, shuffle to the right, the hole Gazzy made is still there, okay, now watch it, there's a spill. Three more, Ig, and then the creaky stair. Then take a right, down a few steps, and you're there. But even now Iggy had memorized the house.

Passing the kitchen, I make my way, slowly, into the living room, a hole in my chest, knowing the looks of desperation and hopelessness I'll receive. I hold my breath, step into the living room, and shake my head.

The empty feeling deepens as Nudge's heartbroken sobs echoed across the room.

.max.

Thirty-seven days, ten hours, twenty-four minutes. Thirty-seven days, ten hours, twenty-four minutes. Thirty-seven days, ten hours, twenty-three minutes. I keep repeating the numbers in my head. It's been thirty-seven days, ten hours, and twenty-three minutes, no, twenty-two minutes, since he left. I glanced at the clock. I only have… nineteen years, eleven months, fourteen days, twelve hours, and thirty-eight minutes until I can see Fang. Only that.

I looked at my hands. In them was the ring he gave me for our birthday, and his goodbye note. Re-reading the note for the one-millionth time, I felt hot tears begin to slide down my cheek.

To heck with Fang! I screamed in my head. He left you! You don't deserve him! Great. Being persuaded by a mysterious voice that very well may be leading me to my death? No problem. But tips on forgetting Fang? No thank you.

Max, you're wrong. Speak of the devil. Fang did leave you. You must take care of the flock. Fang would want you to. I snorted.

What, and forget he even existed? I loved him. Arguing wasn't worth it. I know the Voice was right. I was too weak to be the arguing type, today.

Voice or no voice, I pushed myself up onto my elbows, wincing at every movement. I swung my legs over the bed, and stood.

Tried to stand would fit better here.

After my third fall, I finally managed to shuffle to the door. Opening it, however, was another story.

.iggy.

"MAX!" Nudge shrieked. Right in my ear. She jumped up and ran towards the kitchen door, shrieking all the way.

"I may be blind, but I'm not deaf…" I muttered, but too stood, not even trying to hide my wide smile.

All to soon a chorus of "Max? Max! MAX!" broke out. Then we were all crying, and hugging, and one big happy family again.

"Hey, guys," Max croaked. She reached out and I could imagine her, ruffling Angel's hair, soothing a sobbing Nudge, patting a broken Gazzy's back, and kissing Fa- I sighed. Sometimes we got to caught up with Max we didn't realize Fang was gone.

Then Max reached out and tapped my hand twice.

"Hi, Max," I said. Max snorted.

"Actually, Iggy, that tap meant 'get-off-your-lazy-butt-and-make-me-some-food'. I mean, I have been on a diet…"

Everyone, including Max, laughed at that. It was so good to hear her laughter again.

Still smiling to myself, I went into the kitchen and opened the fridge.