Author's Note:

I'm sorry about the dismal length of the last chapter, but I wanted to get something out that day. I had it written out on paper, and two pages in my micro writing, it's really small, translates to three quarters of a page in type. It is to be hoped that this one will be longer. I also apologize for the lack of suspense leading from Max's death to Fang meeting up with her again, but I didn't have any ideas of what to do with Fang, after all there were no mysterious circumstances surrounding her death, and he was positive that she was truly killed. In any spare time I have, I may add some flash back chapters of the three years between Max's death and the reunion. Please review, or email me:

Chapter 3

Since You've Been Gone

"Fang!" Bryan called as I bolted down the street after Max.

"Max…" I said breathlessly. The girl wheeled around, looking like she was ready to kill me.

Her expression softened and she squealed "Hey Fang, I've missed you." I didn't know what to say, so I just kept looking at her, wondering if she would suddenly disappear, maybe I was just really, really drunk; so drunk that I felt sober. Maybe I was hallucinating.

She looked at me funny and said, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Max, you've been dead for three years Max,"

"Oh yeah," she said, a look of remembrance on her face. "I wasn't dead; I just needed to do something…" She furrowed her brow like she was trying to remember something. Dang, she looked so cute when she was bothered.

"What were you doing for three years, and how did you survive, we buried you, and where have you been?" I was spouting off questions like some kind of fountain that spouts questions incredibly fast. Shut up, I'm not good at metaphors.

She laughed and said, "Whoa, slow down fang. You never used to speak this much. I was… well I… I went to… I think I… Fang, I can't remember." She was looking at me with a look of fear. Max never looks scared. "All I remember is that it was something really important."

Bryan walked finally caught up to me. He took one look at Max and pulled her into a hug. "Max, how are you still alive?" he asked, "You've been dead for three years."

"Well, I was dead, but then this voice told me that I needed do something really important, I just can't remember what," Max said.

Bryan took a step back and looked at her, the same look of fear in his eyes as he had seen in Max's eyes only moments earlier. "Was it The Voice Max?" He asked. Max's voice hadn't said anything to her in about 5 years, ever since that time that the voice had led us into a death trap and we had killed the person who spoke as it, after we had forced him to destroy his broadcast equipment that is.

"No, it was a guys voice, but it was warm and welcoming, like someone who wants to help you. He said, 'Max, you aren't done yet' he asked me to do something important, something to help save the world. I just can't remember what it was. I woke up in the forest sanctuary. Once I did what he asked me, he said that I could go back to being dead, or back to my family, friends, and flock. So I chose to go back to you," Max replied.

I was about to say something when Max cried out and doubled over. "What's happening Max!" I asked franticly. Max tried to reply, and ended up puking right into the plants on the sidewalk. "Max!" I yelled, earning me some strange looks.

Max stood up, wiping the corner of her mouth off. "I'm fine, Fang I love you," Max giggled, her voice airy. Something was wrong.

"Max, what were you doing that took three years?" I asked. I was worried now, this was almost a different Max.

The smile slid from Max's face and I recognized her scowl. This was the 'you have stopped amusing me and now I may need to kick your ass' scowl. I didn't have a chance to get any point across anymore, Max would just come up with a smart comment and refuse to see reason. God, I love her, she's so cute when she's angry.

"Fang, I told you I don't remember what happened or what I did!" Max spat at me. She had gotten taller, and was only a few inches shorter than me.

"Sorry Max..." I muttered. I loved Max, but she can get really annoying at some points.

"Max, lets go back to the house, everyone will want to see you," Bryan said. He was trying to salvage the situation, but what would happen when she got there? I weighed the options of what would happen. 1, Max would be welcomed back with open arms. 2, nobody believes Max is back. 3, someone tries to kill Max, fails, and gets killed. I really hoped for option 1.

"Okay," Max said, the smile returning to her face. What was up with her? Was this a side effect from being dead for some amount of time, or had she just become bipolar? Hopefully, she'd be back to normal Max soon. We started walking down the street.

"Fang..." a small voice murmured next to me. It sounded like honey, music, and flowers all at the same time, it was so beautiful. Damn, I needed to get a hold of myself. What was I doing, writing poetry? Max took my hand, and I glanced over at her, she was looking up at me, her eyes hopeful.

"Yeah Max..." I murmured back.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you" she said. Was this really Max? I had no clue, she sure wasn't acting like Max.

"It's okay Max, I don't care" I said.

"Fang..." she murmured again.

"What Max?" I asked

"I can't believe you fell for that. You're getting soft Fang," she said, punching me in my shoulder. She was laughing, and I didn't show the pain that that punch had caused. My whole arm was numb. This was good pain though, because I knew MYMax was back, the Max I know and love.

"Max..." I whispered.

"Yeah Fang?" Max replied, she looked up at me warily, like I was making fun of her.

"Never leave me again, ever," I said, staring deep into her eyes. She looked up at me with a smirk. Before I could come up with a witty retort, she grabbed me roughly and started kissing me like there was no tomorrow. After what seemed like an hour, she pulled away. We were both gasping for air.

"Maximum ride, you never cease to amaze me," I said, laughing. Max smiled, took my hand, and we walked down the street to where Bryan was standing. When we caught up to him he was at a table outside of starbucks.

"Anyone want something to drink?" he asked.

"Yeah, I haven't had coffee in years," Max said.

"I'm thirsty," I said. I knew that some kind of hangover would start soon, and coffee would help counter that.

We walked into the empty starbucks and headed towards the preppy looking cashier. He was wearing a sweater-vest and had his blonde hair emo style, except it didn't cover his eyes, just went diagonal.

Max started to order before I cut her off. I pulled out my iPhone, and pulled up Bryan, Max, and I's favorite orders. I had programed in Max's because I liked it too, and it was something to remember her by. The cashier's eyes widened as he saw the order, but wrote some stuff on the cup and gave us a look. The look clearly said, "Douche bags." We all looked at each other, and burst into a fit of laughter. We paid with my credit card and sat down in some overstuffed arm chairs.

It was just like old times.

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Sorry this chapter took so long. Please review!