Hello, world.

I forgot to add this in the last chapter, aha, but double digits! Woo! Do you understand the significance of this event? We're ever so much closer to 100! But I'm not making my story that long, haha. I think I'll tell you all now, just so you know, that the final chapter should be around eighteen or nineteen. Remember that my chapters are always superlong, especially in the case of the last one, so it makes up for the smaller chapter amount.

Enjoy chapter eleven!

— Doughnuts: Deceiving, Distracting and Delicious —

'How far until the next stop?'

Lia yawns. 'Ten, maybe twenty minutes? I don't know.'

'Do you know if there's a town around there?'

'Should be. We're getting close to a big city, I think. The roads are getting busier. Busy roads mean close cities. Close cities mean bigger towns. Bigger towns mean sleep.'

'Good point,' I murmur. I rest my head on the back of my seat. 'Any left over burgers?'

'Nah. Well, there's one, but it's half-eaten and cold.' She draws a hand across her eyes. 'Hopefully there's a Walmart. They're quality.'

'True, dat.' I bop my head like a gangster, but the effect's lost in our sleepy haze.

The past couple of days have been the most fun I've had in what seems like ... forever. We went to beaches, played hide-and-seek in jungles, checked out hot boys, went shopping, and just hung out like normal teenage girls - something haven't experienced in a while. Lia's become one of my new best friends, and we've only known each other for two days. It's like we just ... connect.

Angel's visited me a lot. Being with her is enjoyable, and makes me feel like I'm with my family. I miss my mom, dad and brother, but whenever I'm with Angel it quenches that - for a time, at least.

Ella drops in sometimes, too. Not much, though. Not nearly as much as Ange. But she comes. The moment she first appeared I knew she was mad at me, and I've no doubt that some of that anger lingers. Yes, she treats me normally and we have fun, but she's still a little short with me. Angel stays when Ella's around so things don't get awkward; we know that they will sooner or later if she leaves.

But, of course, it's been as if Fang doesn't exist. The only mention of him now is in my memories.

Every time I think back to the two days I've spent so far, I'll think of laughter, though. I know that much.

'Lights.'

'Huh?' I look up from where I've been playing idly with my nails.

'Lights,' she repeats. 'Up ahead.' She scrapes a hand through her thick, dark brown hair. Streetlights cast shadows across her face and her olive skin appears a shade of electric yellow, highlighting the dark circles around her eyes. I probably don't look any better. We haven't been majoring in the sleep department recently.

I squint, my eyes spotting a town that glows with the most electricity I've seen in a while. 'Sweet!' I exclaim.

She grins and nods vigorously, but stops. Her eyes widen. 'Oh!'

I glance at Lia. 'Yeah?'

'I totally forgot! There're doughnuts in the back!'

'Oh, my God.' I groan, but I can't hide my giggles. I reach my arm into the back and fumble for the box that contains the (glorious) doughnuts. 'You're ridiculous,' I inform her as I slide open the lid, revealing the (delicious) contents.

'What flavors?'

'Chocolate, vanilla — mmm — sugar-coated, and one of the ones that's full of jam and topped with strawberry icing. What're they called?'

'Uh ...'

'Well, it's mine anyway. Which one do you want to start off with?'

'Chocolate!'

'Fine, fine ...' I grab it from the box and waved it tantalizingly in front of her face. 'Doughnut ...'

'Hey, stop it!' She giggles and swats a hand in front of her face, promptly grabbing the doughnut as she does so. She sinks her teeth into the dough, moaning in pleasure. 'I — am — in — heaven ...'

'Join the crew,' I gasp, once I have (or inhale) the first bite of mine. 'These are amazing! Where're they from?'

'I have absolutely no idea where I bought them. They just looked so yummy, and I had to,' she declares.

'Yeah —' I stop at the sound of a shattering, bloodcurdling scream. It's only afterwards that I realize it's mine.

In front of our car stands the cliche deer, and, lost in the wonders of the doughnuts, neither Lia nor I spot it until it's too late. She swerves sharply, and her sleek car speeds out of control — over a cliff.

'SHIT!' I shout. Lia's own screams almost drown out my senses (along with wild fear), but I shove the passenger door roughly open and push her through. Her shrieks intensify tenfold.

I launch out of the Porsche and spread out my wings, wincing as the muscles strain and the wind pushes harshly against them. Ignoring the pain, I shoot through the air to Lia's falling body. She twists and turns; her surprise at seeing me with wings makes her voice stop — and then double.

She was less than ten feet from the rocky bottom when I grab her under the armpits and fly higher, moving her so she was properly in my arms. My hair whips about my face, momentarily blinding me.

'Let me go!' Lia screams. 'LET — ME — GO!'

'Not if you want to fall to your death,' I snort.

'What the fuck are you?' she yells. 'Why do you have ... wings?'

I think up a fake story on the spot. It's not the best, but it'll do. 'I never met my actual parents. I grew up in a science lab in California, and they grafted wings onto my back. I was a captive there, experimented on and tortured, for years — until I escaped at the age of ten. I've been trying to live normally. I'm sorry. I know I should've told you sooner, but I was afraid you'd judge me.' After I've said it, I'm actually quite impressed with my lie. As if that would ever happen, though. Psh.

With a subtle jerk of shock, I realize Lia has tears in her eyes. 'That's so sad! Aw, Max, I'm sorry!'

'That's okay,' I sigh. Lia wraps her arms around my neck, but withdraws them when she figures out that it's not the best idea in midflight.

'Well,' she huffs, 'this sucks.'

'Yup.'

'My dad's gonna kill me. He paid for that car.'

'Yup.'

'And the doughnuts were in there, as well as all our stuff.'

'Yup.'

'Crap — our money, too!'

'Yup.'

'What're we gonna do?' She pauses. 'Don't you dare say yup.'

I grin down at her. 'I guess we'll just fly to Orlando instead, considering that'll be a hundred times quicker than driving. You'll be okay with Derek when we're there. Until then, we can just scavenge, but at this rate we'll arrive in Florida in a matter of hours, if that.'

'How will you know when we're there?'

Shrugging, I say, 'I have a surprisingly good sense of direction that may well have come with the wings. I'll fly below the clouds when I feel the need to, and we can descend when we're near Orlando.'

After a few seconds, I notice that Lia's having trouble breathing evenly. 'You okay?' I ask, a bit concerned.

'I'm actually terrified of heights,' she squeaks. 'I'll be okay, but don't you dare drop me!'

'Sure,' I say. 'It isn't that bad, though, once you're used to it. I mean, hey! We're above the clouds, and there's no plane involved. Impressive, eh?'

A tiny smile finds its way onto her face. 'I suppose.'

'See? Look around. This is amazing! And see over there?' I point to my left. 'A flock of eagles. We're just like them.'

Her smile grows. 'This is pretty cool ... can you go lower?'

I consent.

'Whoa!' she gasps, once the landscape is in view. 'It's ... it's ...'

'Amazing? Yeah, pretty much.' The nighttime keeps us from seeing the beautiful greens and blues of the forests and lakes, but instead it reveals us to the glowing lights from almost every building. The whole rainbow can be seen when you gaze at the cities, and the towns twinkle a golden, uplifting yellow.

'Wow ...' Lia's eyes are like golfballs. 'I can't believe you can just come up here and see this whenever you feel.'

I smile. 'Well, believe it. Now that you're with me, you can, too.'

'It feels weird to walk again. Is that just me?'

'Nope. It's mutual.'

Lia groans. 'I have jellylegs.'

'Ha, ha, ha, LOL —' I catch Lia's death stare and smother my grin. 'Sorry.'

'How far do we have to walk?' she asks, choosing to ignore my laughter.

'Not too far, but it's longer than five minutes. We had to land in a forest, or we'd be seen, seeing as Orlando is no small city.'

'Good point.' She grins. 'Brilliant logic, Maximum.'

I roll my eyes. 'Shut up.'

'Hehe. Lol ...'

'Hey!' We giggle, and she hits me playfully on the arm.

'So, are we bussing to Derek's?' she questions.

'I was thinking so, but don't bus tickets cost money? We don't really have any.'

'Well, yeah, but I've got about five dollars in my pocket. We can buy two one-way tickets with it, go to Derek's, and he can give us something to eat, yes?'

'Yes.' I throw my hair into a loose bun. 'But you know I have to go. My home's in Arizona.'

Lia grimaces. 'I know. It sucks that you have to leave. You'll visit, right?'

'Right.'

Her finger presses into the doorbell, and we both hear the ring go through the house. Footsteps trample through, and then a shadow appears through the thickly-glassed window beside the door. The door itself opens, revealing a handsome young man with unruly blonde hair and a strong, broad-shouldered figure. His face immediately brightens when his brown eyes land upon Lia, and he pulls her into his arms at once.

'Derek!' she squeals. She leans in for a kiss, and I feel a twinge of jealousy at the connection between them. It disappears quickly, replaced with slight irritation; it's dreadfully obvious who's going to become the third wheel in this situation.

Thirty seconds later, they're still going at it (but it seems to include tongue, now. Ugh), with no regard to my presence.

I clear my throat loudly and purposefully. Neither of them break apart. I do it again, with the same result. The third time, I actually have some success.

Lia breaks away from the young man's mouth and looks at me. Her hair's tousled and her lips are red and swollen.

'Oh, Max!' she exclaims. I purse my lips, and she grins sheepishly, a blush coloring her cheeks. 'Uh, Max, this is Derek. Derek, this is Max. We came here together.'

Derek looks disappointed at the lack of female saliva entering his mouth, but he's polite enough. 'Hey,' he says gruffly, before turning and kissing Lia's neck.

Yeah. Reeal polite.

'Derek!' Lia scolds, but she doesn't hide her giggle. She pushes him away and takes his hand instead. 'May we come in?'

'Sure,' he says, turning and leading the way inside. I follow grumpily behind the couple.

'You hungry, babe?' he asks Lia, and I frown at his retreating back. What about Miss Max here, eh, BUD?

'I guess,' she replies. 'I don't have any of my stuff, though,' she adds. 'There was sort of an ... accident ... and we lost it all.' She grimaces. 'At least I'm staying here for a while.'

Derek grunts. 'What about her?' He jerks his thumb back to me, and I fully scowl.

'I'm leaving in a few. I'm only here because of Lia.' I turn my head to the side. 'You make me want to go faster, actually, so I'd better hurry.' I pulled my jacket tightly around me and took a few steps back the way we came. 'Later, Li.'

'Aw, no, Max!' she cries. She follows me back down the hallway and to the front door. 'Don't go so soon,' she pleads.

'I don't like him,' I state. 'I'm not going to question you, but just ... be careful, okay? I have a bad feeling about him.' And it's true. He doesn't seem right.

Lia looks at me curiously. Her hands take mine and squeeze. 'Okay, Max.' She glances back, and her eyes catch on Derek's form, fumbling about in the kitchen. A moment later, her eyes return to me. 'You be careful out there.'

My mouth twitches up into a half smile. 'I'll try.'

'Good.' She pulls me into a hug. 'Keep in contact. You know my number — just get a new phone and call me, alright? Don't get into trouble, you!' Her green eyes look sad.

'How can I get into more trouble than I already have?' I tease. With a sigh, I pull back and step out the door. 'Bye, Lia.'

'Bye,' she murmurs, and then the door closes, and she's gone. Left with not much choice, I walk back the way we came and launch into the air, away from watchful eyes. My hawklike wings beat the air around my body as I shoot through the sky, heading back home to who-knows-what.

How do you check the number of hits to your stories? This is a serious question, haha. I see people who say in their ANs, "Oh, yay, this story has 3 104 hits!" but I don't even know how you check! The one to answer correctly can get a prize :3.

Oh, and since you're all losers (kidding, kidding ...) and the only one who checked it out was MidnightStarlightxoxo, here's an excerpt from my HP drabble series. You don't have to know anything about HP to read these, actually. They don't mention names much.

She treated it like a game.

He would run after her just like all the other boys, gaze at her when he thought she and her friends weren't looking. He'd try to talk to her and try to express his feelings, but he was shy – it was how it had always been. And she was like a tongue of flame, licking up his body and filling him with heat and making sweat drip down his spine.

And then she'd walk away with a laugh and a flip of her hair, and she would score another point in this cruel game while he prepared himself for the next round.

Review!

- J