AN: Not many, reviews on the first chapter… BUT THAT'S OKAY! I have faith. You'll review this chapter… RIGHT? :( And sorry if you thought Max was being totally out of character in that last chapter, but I just really like making Fang jealous… Is that bad? (Don't answer that…) Okay, well I'm gonna have to take a little bit from chapter 88 in the second book, but after that, I promise it will be all me! (Yeah, cuz I know you like me better than the actual JP, haha) Ok. Enough babbling. Here we go! 3! 2! 1! BLASTOFF!!!

………………………………………..Chapter 88…………………………………………

"Where to now?" the Gasman asked. We hovered in midair, our wings beating rhythmically, just hard enough to keep us in place. We'd kept a steady lookout, but so far no one seemed to be after us.

"We need to go back to Anne's," said Angel.

"Yeah, just real quick, to get some stuff," Nudge agreed.

"Actually," I said, "I hid our packs in the bat cave a few days ago. Just in case something like this happened. And I didn't forget to lift one of these," I added, waving one of Anne's countless credit cards in front of them. "She'll never miss it."

"Great," said the Gasman in relief. "That was really smart, Max."

"That's why they pay me the big bucks," I said. It was taking everything I had not to yell I told you so! But now wasn't the time. Later, when we were safe, then I would rub it in.

"We still have to go back to Anne's," Angel said urgently.

"Ange, we just can't take the risk of saying good-bye," I said.

"No," Angel said. "Total's there."

Oh, crap. I took two seconds to judge the likelihood of Angel leaving Total behind, which was none, and then Fang and I looked at each other and sighed.

"We'll try," I said, and I saw relief flood her face.

"Oh, thanks, Max!" she said. "We'll make it fast, I promise."

…………………………………….…My writing…………………………………………

I couldn't help but feel nervous as we flew towards Anne's house. I mean, the Erasers were probably swarming over there. If Total was still there, he better be staying inconspicuous.

About halfway there, we saw another figure coming towards us. A figure we recognized very well.

"IGGY!!!" we all yelled at once.

Oh my god, could it be him? I can't tell you how happy I was to see him.

He sped up, hearing us, and we noticed the little black squirming ball of fur in his arms.

"Total," Angel sighed, placing a little hand over her heart.

We all sped up, too, but I got there first. (Thanks to my super-speed, hehe.) We all revolved around him, wishing we could hug him, but knowing it impossible to do in the air.

"Iggy, oh, Iggy! We missed you so much!" Nudge squealed.

"Dude! Don't leave ever again!" Gazzy chortled.

"Good to have you back, Iggs," I said, making sure the smile was heard through my voice.

"IggyIggyIggyIggyIggyIggyIggy!" Angel chanted, giggling.

Even Fang said something, although it was just a "Good to see ya' man."

After all the laughing and greeting, we started coasting in the air, no general direction, just wanting to catch up with our well-missed member of the flock.

"So," I started, feeling a bit uncomfortable. "Why… Why… I mean… What happened? With your parents, I mean." Yep. I'm good at the whole casual interrogation thing.

Iggy took a deep breath, knowing that this was coming. "Well, they were really nice. I think they really care about me, but… They weren't very clear on the whole wings-stay-a-secret thing. They wanted interviews with new channels, newspapers, and magazines. And plus, I just missed you guys. A lot."

My heart squeezed. Poor Iggy! He had always dreamed about having parents, but when he finally found them, they were trying to sell him off to the media.

"Oh, Iggs, I'm so sorry," I breathed.

He nodded. "Yeah, I know. It sucks."

We were all quiet.

"What made you go back to Anne's?" Gazzy asked.

"To see you guys," Iggy said, in a no-duh type of voice. "I got there just when the Erasers did. I could hear their clumsy wings. A few spotted me, but I took them out easily. Total saw me, and so I figured we should get the heck out of there."

"Good thinking," I laughed.

"Oh, and another thing…" Iggy started. His eyebrows knit together. "Anne… Anne isn't who we thought she was."

I tensed. "What do you mean?"

"Jeb was there. Jeb was there with the Erasers, and he and Anne were arguing. They kept saying things like, 'You didn't follow my orders,' and 'This wasn't the plan'. I think… I think she's been working with them."

I smiled smugly to myself. I knew that there was something wrong with that woman.

No one said anything. I could tell that they were all disappointed; yet another adult that we had trusted, and who had betrayed us.

"It's alright, guys. At least we didn't accept that adoption offer." I tried to sound light-hearted, but in truth, I hated her for making my flock like this.

"So, how did you guys get away from the school?" Iggy asked.

"Sam helped us!" Nudge burst, giggling and flashing knowing smiles in my direction. I immediately colored.

Iggy glanced at Fang, which I didn't get, and anyways, how did he know where he was? Iggy was freaking blind!

He mumbled something to Fang who growled a low response that I couldn't hear. Whatever.

"Uhh… Max, where are we going?" Angel asked innocently.

"Oh, umm, I think maybe we should stop somewhere locally for a few days."

Five pairs of eyes looked at me in surprised.

"You want us to stay?" Nudge exclaimed.

I took a deep breath. "Well, the Erasers won't expect us to stay in the same place, so why not? We just stay somewhere nearby for a while, and when the coast is clear, we can leave."

Iggy nodded. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense," he mused. "Alright, I'm in."

Everyone else nodded in agreement. Fang shrugged.

"Okay. Then let's descend."

We glided down and scanned the near forest for any good spots for us to camp out. We decided on a spot under a big tree, where we would be well hidden.

While Fang and Gazzy started the fire, Angel lay down on the soft grass and closed her eyes. Nudge was filling Iggy in on all the oh-so-important gossip that he had missed in his absence of school.

With nothing to do, I sat down and rested my head on the thick trunk of the protective tree.

I couldn't help but think about today. A lot had happened: teachers with tasers, Erasers in vans, Anne and Jeb, Iggy coming back, Sam, Sam, Sam, Sam, Sam, Sam, Sam….

I glanced down at my forearm—his number was still there.

Should I call him? I mean, obviously not right now, but you know, eventually, when I had the time, should I?

I bit my lip. He was so sweet; I didn't want to disappoint him or worry him. I should call.

I decided that next time we were in town diving in a local dump (oh, the joys of being on the run again…) I would try to get to a payphone. Then, I would end it with Sam, and he wouldn't be able to call me back. He deserved better than a mutant freak with a bed reputation and the hots for another guy…

Wait, what?

Did I seriously just think that?

I glanced at Fang, my face heating up. He was still helping with the fire, bending over it, his hair sweeping over his eyes like it always does. He had grown really handsome, I'll admit, over the last few years. He didn't remind me of a kid anymore. But that doesn't mean that I'm falling all over him. No, I'm not that kind of girl. I wouldn't be like the Red Haired Wonder.

Then, my eyes widened as I thought of something else—Angel. She could read minds. And I just said that I had the hots for Fang. (Which, of course, I don't.) Slowly, my eyes turned on Angel. Thank God! She was asleep.

I let out my breath slowly, and let out a nervous laugh. Remember when my life used to be mostly centered around kicking Eraser-butt and keeping the flock safe? Well now I have to worry about stupid boy problems, sharing my brain with someone else (thanks, Voice), and all of those other things.

Life just keeps getting better and better.

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Okay, well uhh… thanks for reading? I would like you to review now, if you don't mind. You don't just walk into someone's house, admire all of their great decorations and furniture, and leave without complimenting them, do you? No! Well this is the exact same thing! (Sort of.) So you better review. Or I'm not inviting you back into my house. :)