Crunch.

I wake up and see an Eraser standing over me. I jump up and kick him in the stomach, and he falls to the ground, wheezing.

"Oh my gosh, Ari, I'm sorry!" I say.

Oops.

"It's okay," he says, catching his breath.

"What's going on?" Iggy says, jumping out of the tree. Nudge snores loud.

"Total.." Angel mumbles in her sleep. "Total, where are you?"

I decide now would be a good time to call roll.

"Okay- roll. F- uh...Iggy?"

"Figgy's here," Iggy says.

"Iggy, I'm rolling my eyes," I inform him. He shrugs and starts digging in his pack.

"Nudge?"

"Here!" she chimes.

"Gazzy?" I ask.

Angel looks around.

"Gazzy?" she calls.

Oh no, how many are missing now?

"Gazzy!" I yell. "Angel?"

"Here," she whimpers.

"Total is still missing?" I ask.

"Yeah," she says and sniffles loudly.

"We need to get moving again," I say. "Or we'll never find Fang."

"What about Gazzy and Total!" she yells. "Were going to leave them?"

"The mission..."

"Screw the mission Max! I know you like Fang more than them, but we can't just leave them!"

"Angel, if they're missing, then that means they're at the school. And that's where were going."

"I'm staying," she says firmly.

"No. You're not. Were leaving now. Get your stuff and lets go. Don't make me drag you," I say, even more firmly.

"Fine. Whatever. Let's just forget about Total and Gazzy, and go save Fang because Max the leader loves him most."

"Oh really?" says a voice from behind me.

I spin around, fast, and freeze. I just stand there, staring at him.

"Fang!" Nudge screams and starts to run over to him.

"Nudge get over here," I say. She stops in her tracks and everyone comes over beside me.

"What? I'm not safe now?" he asks.

I glare at him. He frowns.

"Angel, get in his mind."

"What's going on? Angel, stay out of my mind."

He's thinking about...you.

Search his memory. Does he remember what happened after he ran off?

No. It's him, Max. It's really him.

I smile really big and run over to him.

"It's really you?" I ask.

"In the living flesh." I hug him and he seems a little embarrassed but hugs me back.