Note: I'd like to take a moment to thank everyone for the awesome support :) Yall are the reason why I write literally and practically everyday, much to my parents' dismay hah. (And to show my thanks, there's a lil something down for you all the way below! But you must read first!) I had a lot of fun writing this one and I have to admit, I got real hyped towards the end so I didn't bother to edit it much! And just for you guys, this one's longer than usual [w/o the ANs it has over 5,000 words, almost twice as many as I usually have... sorry, I do feel like it's an accomplishment(: ] Yay!

Chapter Eleven – Nemo Nisi Per Amicitiam Cognoscitur (No One Learns Except by Friendship)

-Addie-

My leg hurt. A lot.

I was lounging on my bed, surrounded by fluffy, colorful pillows. The leg that had just come out of the cast was propped up on one of them and it felt sore. Though I wore pajama pants, I knew that underneath the cloth was a poor withered limb, atrophied from lack of use. I desperately wanted to get in the water and regain some muscle but I knew I wouldn't be able to even walk normally for days, maybe a week.

There was a literature book and some schoolwork beside me, untouched and ignored. I should've been studying for the final exams I had to take before the seniors' last day and graduation, but it was all far from my mind. In my lap was my sketchbook, worn from years of use. I had decided that I needed to draw something and get my mind off things. I'd first tried to do flowers, birds, and a few eyes, attempting to remember even how to hold some of the art materials. Ever since Joshua had died, I'd barely touched them let alone taken them out from the back of my closet.

Now I was staring at a blank page, wondering what I could draw next. I looked at the boxes of materials, skimming the colors and waiting for a jolt of inspiration. Over the years I'd collected almost every type from old school crayons to bamboo pens and oil pastels. Whatever kind of details I wanted, even if I wasn't good at it, I could have just by choosing the right material.

Absentmindedly, my hand groped for something—a pen, maybe—and put it to paper as the face faded into my mind's eye. I had never been very good at sketching from memory but I did my best, starting off with the basic oval shape and then eventually adding in details. The only other people I'd drawn were sometimes strangers like random women or kids when I sat in the cart at Wal-Mart while Mom and Dad shopped. As I got older, I used time in class to sketch the teacher or someone sitting next to me. Those had been trial drawings, pieces of paper I'd eventually throw away. But now, I wanted to get this specific one right.

In truth, I was waiting for Alex to get home. I'd been dying to speak to him alone ever since making up with my parents earlier and while he'd been at headquarters, I'd been rehearsing in my head over and over different things to say. I let him into my thoughts as I drew, thinking back to when we'd first met.

"That boy could be a supermodel," Arianna had said to me during Alex's first week. Though the comment had humored me, I couldn't deny that he was an attractive guy. But I didn't want to use the words hot or even cute… they were exact and defined physical appearance. Sitting here in the safety and privacy of my room, I knew that what drew me towards him was abstruse and unseen to the naked eye.

I used long, quick strokes, curling several strands of hair at the ends like they were supposed to be. Whenever Alex was around, I always felt the need to comfort him, to reassure him that he was more than he let himself think or be. At the same time, I had this undeniable sense of safety, a necessity I had more or less felt since the day David came to our door. And now I felt bare and exposed, more than any swimsuit model would feel.

The sound of voices made me stop, my pen stuck to the page. I recognized the muffled voice of my mother. I listened as soft footsteps came up the stairs and I expected Alex's door to open and close; instead, there was a light knock on my half-open door and his blond-haired head appeared. Seeing Alex, I quickly flipped over the sketchpad. "Hi. You're back." I silently hoped I didn't sound like I was guilty of something.

His eyes flickered towards the pad and then back up to my face. I noted how dark and solemn they were, wishing I could somehow transfer them to the half-finished profile I'd been drawing. I could conjure up imaginary eyes and draw them, but I'd never been able to master making replicas of a real person's. "Hey. I was just wondering if you'd managed to write down the physics homework."

"Oh. Yeah, it's right here." I dug through the papers beside me as he entered the room and walked to the foot of my bed. My heart was hammering away and for some reason I was unable to look at him directly.

"Thanks. I'll get it back to you in a minute," he said, taking the homework and turning back to the door. Part of me was urging me to say it but I didn't know how to start. Should I wait until he comes back?...

"I'm sorry, Alex," I blurted without thinking. He stopped and turned around again.

His eyebrows knitted together. "What?"

"I feel awful about the other night," I continued, trying to fight the lump that was forming in my throat. "I was insensitive and rude. We've had our differences in our jobs and missions, but that gave me no right to say what I did. I didn't realize that things had been so much harder for you… I can see now why you have your mixed feelings about MI6 and being an agent. I can't be angry at you for that. I'm sorry. I really am." It nearly took all my strength to look up at him.

I felt my cheeks grow warm as he gazed at me. Then he said, "I am too. Sorry, I mean. You're an ambitious person—there's nothing wrong with that."

"Alex…" I started but he shook his head and went on.

"You're right about saving lives, though. I guess I've sort of overlooked that and the fact that I'm still alive," Alex explained. He sat down on my bed. "To be honest, I'm jealous of you and I admire you at the same time. You want to help people and make the world a better place. Not many people are like that… You're one of a kind, you could say."

He smiled then and I had to do the same. "If it makes you feel better, you might be the toughest person I know, other than my mom of course," I laughed. Then I tilted my head. "Well, actually, that's debatable." He laughed with me and briefly, I felt good.

"I should tell you something," Alex said suddenly, watching me. I waited patiently as he took a deep breath and looked down at the physics homework. "My parents died when I was small. Very small, only two months old. My uncle Ian… I told you about him. An assassin named Yassen Gregorovich killed him just after I turned fourteen." He glanced at me. "I never told you about Jack though."

"Your roommate?"

He shook his head. "No, a different one. Her name was Jack Starbright. She was our housekeeper and one of my closest friends, like a surrogate sister. She died two years ago… killed during my last mission."

I bit my lip, wondering if there was a way I could make him feel better. "What was she like?" I asked softly.

That was when he smiled and a bud of hope blossomed in my chest. "She was great. She was always there for me… Every time I came home from an assignment there she was, sighing about the fresh bruises and threatening to do something about it…" I watched him as he spoke, seeing a light in his eyes that had been absent when he'd first arrived. He told me a lot about the woman, eventually moving on to Tom Harris and Sabina Pleasure, his current best friends. I could tell by the way he snorted about Tom and grinned about Sabina that they were the closest thing he had to family. Though the thought saddened me, it also made me glad to know that he had good people in his life.

"What happened?" I asked, keeping my voice neutral, when he mentioned that he and Sabina had once been more than friends.

"This was around the time Jack passed away and Mrs. Jones said I could live with the Pleasures. I was a wreck then; I didn't think I could handle even walking down the street without breaking down."

"Why didn't you go to San Francisco?"

He shrugged. "Despite the horrible things I'd been through, I couldn't bring myself to really leave London forever."

I nodded and sighed, fiddling with the corner of the sketchbook. "I'd love to visit the UK. I haven't been anywhere outside of the country besides Spain and that was when I was four."

Alex looked at me and said, "I'd love to have you visit."

I smiled and then realized what that meant. For the past hour we'd been talking and exchanging stories, I had completely forgotten that eventually he'd have to go back home. After getting so used to having him next door, I wasn't ready to see him leave.

"Well, I should get started on homework," he said, standing from my bed.

"You could come in here if you want," I suggested.

He glanced at the art materials around me and laughed lightly. "It's okay. You look busy and you wouldn't want me bothering you with boring physics questions." He didn't know how wrong he was.

"Okay." I tried not to show my disappointment and nodded at the paper he was holding. "Just give that to me tomorrow. I'm all finished. You could copy off it if you want."

Stopping in the doorway, Alex turned back to me with the ghost of a smile on his lips. "Thanks. Good night." He gave a little wave and left.

Sighing, I lay back on my pillows and thought hard. This had been the most at ease I'd felt with anyone in a long time… any boy, that is. That was probably why I'd even considered going back to drawing in the first place. Then I remembered the sketchpad. I turned it over and looked at the page, where the blank, eyeless face of Alex Rider stared back at me.

-Alex-

We didn't hear from Kylie and her family all weekend… at least not until Sunday night. Saturday was spent doing homework (I'd never actually done those physics problems) and hanging around the house with Addie while today I'd helped Joseph clear out the garage. We had brought out several flower pots and lawn chairs since the weather was warming up. Minutes ago, Margot had come home from the grocery store with baking materials and I was going to help Addie bake a cake. She wanted to bring a few pieces to school tomorrow for some friends and I couldn't help but tease her about the unexpected act of kindness. I'd never made that many meals before and she had her fair share of experience, more in the desserts area. We'd been sitting at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, waiting for Margot. I stared at the mint green walls with the white cupboards and the shiny modern appliances. That was when the phone call came.

It lasted eighteen seconds. Addie didn't get to say much besides asking Kylie frantically if she was okay and the next thing I knew, her face had gone pale as she stared at the wall. I got this insane urge to wave a hand before her eyes but her parents entered, having heard the phone ring. They stopped at the sight of Addie and looked at me alarmingly.

"Addie, what happened? Who was that?" Joseph asked, approaching us.

"It was Kylie." She blinked once and looked around at us. "Her family's going to Florida tonight. They'll be gone for a week." I saw the understanding in Joseph and Margot's eyes as they exchanged glances but said nothing. It looked like David had followed through and taken my advice; the CIA had told the Abrams family the truth and nothing but it, offering them a short vacation to escape and recover from their shock on the beach.

"How about that cake?" I found myself saying. "It might take all night for me to learn how to crack an egg."

Addie managed to smile a bit as her parents proceeded to give her encouraging comments before leaving. "Expect a slight mess if you ever come in," she said to them.

"They aren't helping?" I was surprised.

"I've managed on my own," she replied, standing from the bar. "Besides, Mom's a great cook and Dad… well, the only thing he can cook up is one hell of a good computer program." She laughed as she started rearranging bowls and ingredients.

I followed her. "Where does that leave me?" I asked, watching her.

Addie didn't look at me but she grinned, saying, "Let's just say that there's hope for you. Now look over those directions so you get a basic idea of what to do… Oh! I almost forgot." She strode over to the pantry and pulled out an apron. "This is for you." To my horror, it was incredibly frilly and pink. I almost choked at the three words written in large cursive:

Kiss the Cook. With hearts floating around them.

"You're mad!"

"No, I'm thoroughly enjoying myself and you haven't even put it on!" Addie laughed and started towards me.

I held my hands out, backing away. "You are not putting that thing on me."

She didn't stop. "What? I think pink would look good on you. Real men do wear pink."

"Well then, I don't want to be a man!" I protested, knocking my back into the counter.

"Come on, Alex, just this one time!"

"No!"

"Yes. Please?" she begged and I swear I saw her stomp her foot.

After another minute of that, I was standing in the kitchen in a t-shirt and sweatpants wearing a pink frilly apron advertising the cook as a suggestive character. It wasn't that bad, really, until Addie yelled for her parents and took pictures of me on her phone, giggling like a little girl. I had to admit that it was funny but I made a mental note to get her back.

"Just think of this cooking experience as your initiation," Addie snickered. "And wearing the apron is the hazing ritual."

What had first started out as an innocent cooking lesson with the occasional "You're doing it wrong!" soon turned into a food war. After what had felt like half a day, we'd managed to finally put the cake in the oven, Addie giving me exaggerated minute details on how to turn it on and set it to the right temperature… jokingly, of course. I knew she was being hard on me for fun.

The wait for the cake started off on the subject of homework and school. We traded stories about our friends and childhood memories and I realized how easy it was to talk to her. We were both leaning against the counter and our faces were only a mere foot away. When the timer was down to the last few minutes, Addie had me make the frosting myself. I whisked and beat while she watched and criticized. Without stopping to think, I reached over and swiped some flour off the counter, then touched a finger to Addie's face.

She jerked back and narrowed her eyes, turning ever so slowly to face me. "What was that for?" Her voice was low and menacing but she was trying not to laugh.

I shrugged nonchalantly. "I thought I'd get you back for that day at the beach… and for making me wear this ridiculous apron."

A knowing look crossed her face and she grinned. "You want help with that?" Those were the words I'd said when she'd thrown sand at me a week ago.

I started to decline when her hand whipped out of nowhere, rubbing cocoa on my face. Before I knew it we were laughing and attacking each other with leftover ingredients. Initially I was worried about making a mess and possibly knocking something over, but that was forgotten the moment Addie threw a small square stick of butter. It smacked me in the chest, luckily landing on the apron, and slid down a few centimeters before falling to the linoleum floor. We both stopped and looked at each other…

The wooden spoon in a bowl was covered in thick, creamy frosting. I sprang for it just as Addie went for more flour. I ducked to avoid the handfuls being tossed at me but some of it landed in my mouth as I laughed aloud, catching her arm with the spoon. The dark frosting contrasted with her tan skin and she licked it off, pretending to contemplate its taste. I wasn't sure for how long we kept it up but I didn't pay much attention; I was having too much fun.

"Okay," she gasped, dropping the spatula in her hand. "Time out, time out." I relaxed from my stance, walking over to where she leaned against the fridge to catch her breath. Neither of us spoke—we just grinned. I was close enough to see that there was a smattering of a few freckles across her nose and her green eyes were framed by dark lashes. They were searching my face, making my skin tingle, but I shoved down the feeling of shyness swiftly threatening to overcome me.

I wiped off a drop of frosting from the spoon and dabbed it onto her nose, making her blink. She tried to look down at it, going cross-eyed. Then she was trying to lick it off, her tongue barely reaching the chocolate. I burst out into laughter at the comic picture as Addie snorted, attempting to keep a straight face as she struggled to do the seemingly impossible human trick. "I get to take a picture of that!" I exclaimed, digging in my pocket for my phone. And it wasn't long before we were at it again, the sight of her wild, food-covered face making my sides hurt with laughter.

"What on earth…?"

Margot and Joseph stood in the doorway leading to the living room, staring at us. I was on the floor, still holding the frosting-covered spoon and Addie was reaching into the cupboard that held sprinkles and various spices. Flour, frosting, egg yolk, salt, and much more coated our exposed skin, decorating us like the cooks gone wrong that we were. Some of it was in our hair and had managed to taint our clothes. The delicious smell of the cake still in the oven wafted through the room but it did little to appease the irritated adults.

"Alex, why are you on the floor?" Margot asked, incredulity coloring her voice.

"Oh." I quickly stood up and gestured at my feet. "Butter. I slipped on a bit of it."

Both of them continued to stare at me until Joseph collected himself. "Addie. What have you done? This place is an absolute mess!" His eyes were wide; I could see the looks of frustration and disbelief in them.

"I know, Dad, and I'm sorry." Addie looked overwhelmed with guilt as she wiped her hands together, stepping forward. "I didn't mean for it to get out of hand—we just, I don't know. We'll clean it up, I promise! I'm really sorry—"

He cut her off. "You told us to expect a slight mess." I suddenly remembered that those were the words Addie had said earlier but I didn't want to be indecent and laugh.

"This kitchen should be spotless by the time I come back," he demanded and left. Margot was shaking her head, her fingers coming up to rub her temples.

"Margot, I'm so sorry," I tried to apologize but she held up a hand.

"Just clean it up. Please." She sighed and turned around to leave.

Addie and I stood in silence. The positive, flighty feelings that had consumed me earlier were now replaced with remorse, an emotion I only knew too well. I had to wonder, all good things always came with a price, didn't they? A punishment for being happy, for once feeling like things could change. I took a deep breath and put the wooden spoon carefully into the sink. "Well, that was fun."

I looked up at Addie and was surprised to see her smiling widely. There seemed to be no trace of the embarrassed look she'd adopted seconds ago. I returned it, knowing there was no way I could resist the warm and ticklish feelings I got from her smile. "Hey, that's all that counts, right?" she asked, shrugging. I couldn't deny that I agreed with her.

The rest of the week passed much more quickly than I had expected. It all tumbled by in a blur of schoolwork, more frequent visits to the CIA headquarters, and, remarkably, Addie. On Monday our physics test results were handed out and we had both scored a very low B—we'd celebrated by devouring more chocolate cake that night. For the first few days, rumors about Kylie circulated through the school, some so absurd and offensive I couldn't even consider them. Of course, only her closest friends knew the truth, though their attempts to correct other students did little to alleviate the teenage love of gossip. A few nights I had to spend with David and Ben, who were also anxiously anticipating another attack *(1). When I wasn't worrying about Addie's life, I was spending time with her. Hanging out in our rooms, we started asking random questions to better know each other. One of the most particular things she told me remained on my mind nearly all week.

We'd been discussing our plans in the future and where we wanted to be in a few years. "I don't know what I want to do for sure, but I do know I want to help people," she had explained during what was supposed to be a quiet study session for calculus. "I could never be a surgeon or anything like that, though I wouldn't mind becoming a nurse. I've considered being a pediatrician or even a social worker."

"So that means the CIA is out of the question?"

"Not necessarily… Whatever it is, I hope my work makes a difference." And then Addie had given me a smile.

By Friday I knew I had to stop trying to convince myself that nothing was going to happen. In fact, I should've been terrified, especially since she and I were growing closer and her life was still on the line. But perhaps that was my conscience's way of defending itself—refusing to acknowledge the inevitable… or what I hoped wasn't the inevitable. I was in my room, looking over some homework problems while I turned all of this over in my mind. So absorbed, I didn't know Addie was there until there was a click.

She was lying on my bed, dressed in a shirt and black leggings. She must have gotten out of the shower because her blonde hair hung damp down her back and I could pick up a whiff of strawberries. In her hands was something black and white and boxy. I realized that it was a Polaroid camera as it ejected film from the little slot. Picking it up, she waved it around and grinned at my startled expression. "It's a OneStep SX-70," she explained in a voice that made her sound like she was doing a commercial. "Pretty, isn't it?" I took the camera from her. It was basically an "L" shape and on its white front was a single rainbow stripe. The shutter button was distinctly round and red.

Wordlessly, I brought it up to my face and snapped a photo of her going cross-eyed. I chuckled and then said, "Now give me a real smile." She pouted for a second but then sat up, crossing her legs and tilting her head, curving her lips into the smile I'd grown fond of. Looking at the film as it developed, I said, "Perfect." She flushed and reached for the camera.

"I get to keep this one of you." She held the photo of me bent over the desk in concentration. I rolled my eyes in mock exasperation.

"Then I get this one of you," I answered, pointing to the one I'd just taken.

"You are so welcome to it. I'm not a big fan of self-portraits." She smiled sheepishly. Then an unreadable look crossed her face. "We should take a picture of all of us together. You, me, and my parents… you know, before you leave."

I gazed at her, trying to think of what to say. "Don't you want Castillo to be captured?"

"Of course," she replied in what I thought was supposed to be a convincing tone. "But I doubt it'll be in the next few weeks or even months… And at the same time, no, I don't." She didn't have to explain what she meant; I felt the same way.

She stood up, cradling the camera carefully in her hands. "I'll see you in the morning," she said, smiling.

"Good night," I told her, smiling back.

Starting towards the door, she stopped and hesitated, as if there was something more she wanted to say, but then she threw me another smile—weaker this time—and left. I was alone with my thoughts again, staring at the spot where she'd lay on my bed. The faint smell of strawberries was gone and in its place was something bland and ordinary… empty. For the past few days, I'd contemplated this moment, weighed the pros and cons, and asked myself if it was even worth it. While the seemingly rational part of me went against the longing I felt, the stubborn part would say, What have you got to lose? And if I didn't seize the opportunity… I could have everything to lose, no matter how exaggerated it looked.

In an instant I was at Addie's door, mustering up the courage I knew I needed. When she didn't answer after a few knocks, I cautiously poked my head in, and what I saw next sent adrenaline through my veins with a good dose of fear. The covers of her bed were pulled back but no one was in it. Schoolwork and books were scattered on her desk. I saw that her window seat was open about an inch and if it wasn't for the slight breeze ruffling the curtains, I may not have noticed at all. My heart pounded in my chest as I walked over and examined it, racking my brain for possibilities. The brand new security devices had been damaged again, magnets from Addie's whiteboard preventing the alarm system from going off. The view outside consisted of nothing more than black shapes in the darkness; I could hardly see even the Audi and Range Rover in the driveway below.

And in the corner of my eye was a shadow walking down the street, away from the house. By the impatient walk of the figure, it was Addie. It had to be. But what the hell was she doing past ten on a Friday night? Really, what was she doing at all? Whatever it was, I couldn't let her leave alone.

I was glad to still be in my school clothes, though I guess it didn't really matter. With one last look behind me, strangely hoping for Margot or Joseph to find me, I took a deep breath. "Damn it," I muttered under my breath as I opened the window further. The cool night air greeted me and I stepped out onto the lower roof. Luckily it wasn't too steep and my Nikes had good enough traction to keep me from slipping on the shingles. The distance from the roof to the ground was roughly eight or nine feet but I managed to hang and land lightly on the balls of my feet. I looked back up at Addie's window, still thinking the light was going to come on and reveal her parents glaring down at me, asking what I was doing.

A quick glance told me that she was already several houses down the street, almost to the corner that turned the neighborhood off at ninety degrees. Intense physical therapy every day had gotten her walking well for someone who was expected to heal completely in the same time her leg was in a cast. At her rate, I wouldn't have been surprised if she started swimming in two weeks. Shaking the speculation from my mind, I took off after her.

I kept a light jog, knowing that her trained ears would pick up the sound of my feet if I ran. I wasn't sure why I felt the need to be sneaky but I also wanted to know what was going on. What was it that brought her out of the house when she was still recovering from an injury? For a second I wondered if she was sneaking out to meet someone or go to a late night party… but that wasn't likely. I was only about twenty feet behind her as she rounded the corner, picking up her speed. Not wanting to lose her, I quickened my pace to keep up. After about ten seconds I reached the turn in the street, expecting to find her on the sidewalk—

It was empty. I stopped in my tracks, breathing heavily. Where had she gone? This was the same way we'd gone to take Riley home a few weeks ago; I could see his house. Most of the neighborhood was quiet, shut away as if they were hiding from something. I couldn't help but wonder if that was a sign.

Suddenly something grabbed my arm and reflexively I whirled around to bring my hands up. It was Addie and her eyes were wide with frustration. A few strands of hair escaped from behind her ear. "Alex!" she hissed. "What are you doing?" She looked down at my hands, which were held in a defensive position. "Stop that!"

I relaxed, staring at her. "What am I doing? I should be asking you that. It's half past ten!" I felt ridiculous whisper-shouting at her in a dark street.

"How did you find me?"

"I…" At first I thought about telling her the whole truth, right then and there, but it didn't feel right to have such a chat in the current situation. "I was going to ask you something but you weren't there. Your window was open."

She gazed at me and then closed her eyes, dropping her head. "Shit" I heard her whisper.

"Seriously, what are you doing out here?"

Taking a deep breath, she explained, "Derek texted me. He told me to meet him at the corner of this street and the next, down there." She pointed away from us in the direction I'd thought she was headed. "He said it was an emergency."

The sound of his name struck something in me but I ignored it. "He didn't say anything else?"

"Just that he was texting from a different phone, not his."

"Let me see it." She pulled out her phone and showed me the text. It did show up from a number with a different area code than Virginia's, not as Derek. "Whose phone could he be using?"

"I don't know, Alex," she answered, irritated. "If you'd let me, I'm going to see what he wants."

I took her elbow as she started past me. "But I'm not going to. I don't think it's a good idea."

"What if something happened to him?" Her voice cracked as desperation seeped into it. "Maybe he's alone, Alex. Maybe that's why he needs help! I'm his best friend; I can't just ignore—"

Without a second thought I grabbed her shoulders and kissed her. Her lips were frozen at first, shocked no doubt. But then I felt her melt into it, pressing closer and reaching to grip my shirt. Tiny fireworks exploded under my skin and for a minute I was lost as my mind clouded with nonsense and giddiness. Reluctantly I pulled away and looked into her eyes. They seemed even greener than ever and her cheeks were pink.

She was about to say something when there was a sound. I recognized the tone for a text and dug into my pocket, retrieving the Sidekick. After reading the brief message, I looked at Addie. "It's David. We have to get your parents and go to headquarters."

"What? Why?" she asked as I gently pulled her towards the street corner. I noticed that she sounded out of breath. "Is it Castillo?"

"Yes."

"And David wants me to come?"

"Yes." It was a lie, I knew that, but I had to keep her from leaving my side. I'd have to find a way to explain it to David once we got there, but that wasn't so important to me right now.

As we neared the corner, my ears picked up a low, rumbling sound. It was occasionally disturbed by a kind of crackling and snapping noises. Though it was faint, I knew it was near. Impulsively I walked faster, knowing Addie wouldn't have trouble keeping up. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew what the sound was but my brain refused to identify it. From the look on her face, I wasn't the only one who was suddenly feeling anxious. We rounded the corner and stopped abruptly in our tracks.

Just a few houses down was the Daniels's home. If there was someone here who didn't know where they lived, it would've been incredibly easy to point it out. It stood out, unmistakably swathed in a swirling cloak of orange. The rumbling and crackling noises were unusually loud from where we stood. I was vaguely aware of the small shadows surrounding it, moving shapes that escaped my understanding. And then the truth dawned on me, a shuddering awareness that pierced through the shock and fear like lightning through a cloud.

The house was on fire.

Note: *(1) Did anyone else notice that cool alliteration I did? Hahaha it wasn't even intentional! Just thought I'd be random and point that out :p

Reviews much appreciated- perhaps to give you incentive, I will say that I have a treat for anyone who does write one on this update (before the next chapter). If it's something more than "cool story bro" or "I liked it", I will most definitely PM you (have to be logged in please) a bit of a sneak peek from a future chapter. A warning though, it may be short and is subject to change. The general idea will remain but details, dialogue, and such might be different by the time I actually write it. I won't tell you from which chapter it will be but it is later in the story. You all certainly deserve it!

Thanks so much again, I hope you enjoyed this one (;