A/N: The next chapter will involve scenes from the book, this is another made-up one. A few days ago I realised a lot more people are reading it than I thought. I have 14 reviews, but almost 1500 hits. Anyway, chapter:

Where's Max?

I was just finishing my breakfast when I heard footsteps behind me.

"Morning, love," said Max to me. Wait, WHAT? I spun round, my face actually showing a reaction for once. I saw Gazzy, Angel and Iggy laughing and realised Gazzy had used his extremely annoying voice ability. "Why are you laughing?" I asked Iggy, "You can't even see anything,"

"Angel sent my a picture of your face, and I've gotta say, you looked the most surprised I've ever seen," said Iggy, chuckling

"Why did you tell Gazzy?" I asked angrily, "You said you wouldn't!"

"Actually, I only said I wouldn't let Max find out," said Iggy, "and Gazzy won't tell will you?"

Gazzy shook his head.

I bore down on them "I swear to God," I said darkly, "If you tell anyone else, then you will seriously regret it." I sent Angel a picture of what exactly would happen and she turned to the others, "I'd listen to him guys," she said worriedly, "He's not joking,"

"Yeah fine," said Iggy, "Where is Max anyway? She's not usually a late riser and it's almost ten o'clock now."

"She's probably just enjoying the freedom of being able to have a lie-in," I said, "But I'll go and get her up." I marched up the stairs to Max's room. I waited outside for a moment to check if she was in the shower or anything but I couldn't hear anything so she must still be asleep or resting. I let my hand rest on the doorknob for a second before opening the door.

"Wakey, wakey," I said, walking in. Then I froze.

Her bed was empty, Max was gone.

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I recovered quickly, "Guys, Max is gone," I called, trying to keep the panic out of my voice, but not doing very well. The others stormed up the stairs, each looking as surprised as the last when they saw Max was gone. "Angel, can you hear Max's thoughts anywhere near here?"

She shook her head, "I can't hear her thoughts anywhere in the house," she said.

Oh sh-Crap. I thought, trying to refrain from swearing with Angel here. My only hope was that she went out for a fly and forgot to love a note. Without a word to anyone I flew out of Max's open window. I looked around but I couldn't see Max anywhere.

Oh God, what if she'd been shot? What if her body was somewhere below me right now? What would I do then? How could I live with myself knowing I hadn't told her I loved her?

My breathing was ragged, my movements becoming more ragged. I really hoped she was Ok.

I remembered Max's Mom saying that since the ninjas were unarmed, they probably wanted to capture us, I really hope that was true, if not, I couldn't live with myself.

I remembered how Angel had saved her from the suicide sniper. What if the same thing happened but there was no Angel? What if I got a quarter for every stupid rhetorical question I came up with? I felt an unfamiliar itching in my eyes and blinked a lot. I was never going to actually cry and I successfully fought back the tears. All I could hear at the moment was the traffic and the only thing in the sky was clouds.

When it became clear I wasn't going to find her, I gave one last look and zoomed back to the house. Max's Mom was questioning the others about what had happened and Jeb had a worried expression on his face. It'll be okay, said Angel's voice in my head.

WELL HOW DO YOU KNOW? I yelled in my head, and she flinched away from me. I ran down to the kitchen and sat down, trying to calm myself.

I hated this; I hated not being able to do anything but sit here. I wanted to go and rip someone's head off. The likelihood was that someone would claim responsibility for it and I couldn't wait for that moment. I would either kill him or die trying if Max was dead. I couldn't help pacing around the kitchen. The others joined me in the kitchen, all trying to keep calm, but not doing very well. The chances were either Max was kidnapped or... gone, or she would just fly in through the window as if nothing was wrong. Just as I felt I was about to smash the table from the tension Angel's head snapped up just before the doorbell rang.

Was it Max, coming back, or was it a bad guy coming to get us as well.

A/N: Find out, after the break. Next chapter involves some stuff from the book. As always I'd love reviews, and I'd like to thank maxride333 for giving over a third of the reviews (everyone cheer and clap). And sorry this is late, the thing wouldn't work yesterday. And what does OC mean?