I decided to write one more chapter (maybe more if I get more reviews) because people seemed to like it. So hope you guys like this one too!

Oh, and congrats to yourcool79 for guessing Nudge's news correctly!

Max POV

I couldn't look at Fang when Nudge led me back to our little campsite. No way. I still didn't know what to say to him: "Oh, yeah, I love you too!" No. Plus, I wasn't even sure I… Okay, so that's a lie. I'd figured out I loved him when he kissed me on that dock a couple months back; I was just in denial. See previously listed problems with a relationship between Fang and me.

I knew he was looking at me, just like I knew before that he'd been staring at my back. I could feel his dark eyes on my face.

I had to regain myself. "So, Nudge, what do you want to – Whoa."

Total was grinning at me, very smug. And attached to his back were two glossy black wings. Which of course immediately reminded me of a certain other flock member's black wings, and with that wonderful mental image came our last conversation. No, Max, I told myself. Focus.

Before I could react, Total rose into the air. He was actually flying, really flying. Sure, he'd been getting a few feet in the air since our venture to the frozen tundra of Antarctica, but his wings hadn't been able to lift him for more than a few seconds before. Now… Whoa, I say again.

"Isn't it wonderful?" Total said. "My wings are spectacular!"

"I'm so happy for you, Total!" Angel called to him, joining him in the air with a big hug.

"Well that's… great, Total," I said, surveying the rest of the camp. Iggy and the Gasman were watching Total too, but cards scattered in front of them; from the looks of it, they'd been playing War before this development. Angel was, of course, flying with Total, Nudge was next to me, and Fang was just standing by the fire, its light casting shadows across his face.

"See," Nudge bragged. "Now we don't have to carry Total around anymore! We can just focus on Akila, which won't be too bad, right? Maybe if we carried her between two of us, we could move faster. Then we could get to where we need to be quicker! Hey, where are we going, Max? Can we go to a mall somewhere? That would be so awesome!"

"We're on our way there," I lied. I had no idea where we were headed, just that it was away from Antarctica. And Brigid Dwyer.

Iggy and Gazzy had returned to their card match. "I win!" Gazzy said excitedly.

"How do I know you didn't cheat?" Iggy asked.

Gazzy grinned. "You don't."

"Alright, alright," I said, taking charge. "Time for bird kids to go to sleep."

A couple groans sounded in the camp, but Iggy and the Gasman started rolling out sleeping bags and Nudge put the empty food cans away. Total flew around us, too happy to help with putting up camp for the night.

Angel came up to me. "Max? Do you need to talk?"

"Huh?" I asked, distracted. Fang was across the fire, still watching me, and it was hard not to look at him or shout, "Stop staring at me!"

About Fang, Angel prompted in my mind. He's thinking about you, and I don't understand what he's thinking. He's sad, and usually he isn't sad when he thinks about you.

"What?" I said aloud, startled. Shoot. What do you mean he's sad? I asked non-verbally instead, definitely the smarter plan.

I don't know, that's why I'm asking.

Oh. It's nothing, honey. Just go to sleep.

Okay. She started walking to her sleeping bag, but then turned back around. Max?

Yeah?

You should tell him you love him. He really wants to know.

I gaped at her as she grinned angelically over her shoulder and went to her place. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Having a six-year-old mind-reader is a pain in the butt sometimes.

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