Okay, sorry it took so long to update, but I've been really busy this week. Homework, then volleyball, and all that stuff. And, though I hate to admit it, I have a little bit of writer's block. So, I'm just going to make it up as I go along… hope you like it!:) And I'm sorry about any mistakes or weird sounding sentences, just tell me if you see something I need to change.:) Reviews are much loved!!

Disclaimer: James Patterson owns Max, and her flock, and all previous situations not included in this story. I only own the plot and my characters.

I kicked a rock, and it flew about fifty yards. But now my toe hurt. It was much better than the mental pain, though. I had flown about an hour, normal speed, and south of Colorado. I had ended up near the border of Texas. It was warm and humid here, and it made my hair frizzy. But the heat was better than the Colorado cold. It helped me think.

I was thinking about everything: Fang, Gazzy, Iggy, Zeke, our home, Nudge, Angel… and so on. I had been here about two hours, not including the flight here. I was walking around a small park, and through a tiny town with gravel roads all around. I kicked another rock, and it flew high into the air.

No matter how far you fly, you can't run away from your problems, Max. Of course, the Voice chooses now to interfere.

Technically, I'm not running away from anything. I'm flying away from it.

Max, you can't escape them. They're your family, and no matter how hard you try, they're always going to come back around.

What if I didn't want them around? Would they disappear then?

And of course, the Voice didn't answer. I sighed and kicked another rock. Maybe I should head back now, or else it'll be dark when I get home…

I sighed again, this time sinking down onto a log that was on the side of the road.

Why did it have to be me that got wings grafted into their back? Why couldn't it have been someone else getting chased by Erasers? Did I have to stay in this lifestyle with not knowing if I was going to sleep in my bed the next night? I didn't think I could handle it anymore.

You are who you are, Max. Never forget that. People love you and wouldn't want life any other way.

I never said you could go all fortune cookie on me. Not that you were ever anything other than cookie-man…

Don't be so childish Max. People count on you for their lives, don't let them down.

What's that supposed to mean?

No answer. Of course. I sighed, yelling as I let out my breath in a big whoosh. I sat on the log for about five more minutes, and then finally decided to go home. I jumped up and flipped out my 14-foot wings, and took to the cool sky, a smile on my face. It was always so peaceful to be up in the air, only you and the occasional bird, and the clouds, the air, your thoughts… your friends, your life, your decisions…

Your family. I switched to hyper-speed. Nudge, Angel, Aaron, Alex… Zeke. Fang. Iggy. Gasman. They were my family, and I wouldn't let them be left alone. I was their leader, and I was going to take care of them. But I had to find Fang, Ig, and Gaz first. I missed them. Especially Fang. Though I wouldn't admit it, I loved him. I always had. And that's why I couldn't kiss Zeke. Fang was still the dominant person in my heart. And I would find him. No matter what.

Fang POV

As soon as I got out of the shower, I told Gasman where we were going. It was 3 o'clock, and I was going to see Max.

"What?! We're going to see Max and Nudge and Angel!! No way! I haven't seen them in so long! Angel! My little sister! I haven't seen her in two years!! I can't wait! What should I wear, Fang? Something nice, something casual, something… I don't know, happy? Dark? Strange?" Gazzy was almost as bad as Nudge when he got excited. I chuckled.

"Whatever you want, Gaz. Probably something casual… whatever you think you should wear, kid." I smiled at him, and his face lit up like he was a five year old on Christmas. He ran off to his room. Such a cute kid. I put on my black jeans and a black T-shirt, as usual, and started brushing my teeth. I couldn't wait to see Max, and Angel, and even Nudge. Maybe even their new friends. Well, maybe not the kid from the theatre, but that was inevitable. If they were Max's friends, then so be it.

I was jumping up and down on the inside, and that was extremely rare. Like Max would never be a ballerina, I was never a jumpy person. So it was a little scary to me, that I would be so excited over this. Yet, I hadn't seen them in two years, so I guess it was appropriate… the phone rang. I picked it up.

"Yes, Ig?"

"Hey, man, when are we meeting Max and Nudge and company? 'Cuz I'm kind of stuck here at work and I can't get off until 4 at least… think I could still make it? I really don't want to be late… I really miss them dude. You know?" Iggy could talk a lot too. I chuckled.

"Yeah, Iggy, you could make it. But it'd probably be fine if you were a little late, and all… Yeah. I know Ig. We all miss them. That's why we're going to see them, right?"

"Yeah, sure, man. Hey, I got to go, we got some customers. So I'll call you if I'm going to be late or not, okay? I know the address, and I'll just meet you there at about 5. See you then, man." I could hear the smile in his voice. I chuckled.

"Yeah, man, see you then. Bye." I hung up, and went to go finish getting ready.

When I was done, about 20 minutes later, Gazzy and I headed out. We followed our sense of direction to their little house in the suburbs, and we finally landed on the dead end f the street next to them. It was about 4:45, and I was ready to see Max and Angel, and Nudge again. Gazzy and I walked up to the doorstep.

"You ready, Gaz?" I asked him. He was pretty grown up, for a ten-year-old. He smiled hugely, and nodded excitedly. I smiled back, and took the last step forward to the door.

And I rang the doorbell.

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