A/N: Holy HoHo's! Three chapters in four days! And Chapter 21: my lucky number! You guys deserve it though, after my two month absence.

The AN below is, again, important. Surprise surprise.

So without further ado...

The next couple of days were as awkward as humanly possible. Fang and I avoided each other with all of our power. We barely spoke, and when we had to, it was always polite and noncommittal. And yet nobody else picked up on the thick tension that hung in the air whenever Fang and I were in a room together.

I wake up late the third morning after the Incident. The kitchen's deserted by the time I stumble out of the bedroom I share with Max. A note sits on the counter:

Ro,

We've all gone over to the park for a picnic lunch- Max seems to think we need to have a "family-bonding" day. Meet us there when you're ready.

Nudge

An unexpected fortune. Still yawning, I stretch my arms over my head. It's nice to have the apartment to myself- I feel independent. The cabinets slide open easily, and I lose myself in rooting through numerous cereal boxes and teabags to find the good stuff. Since the place came fully furnished, we've even got a 1-Cup Coffee Maker.

"Ah-hah!" I say triumphantly, holding up the hot-chocolate triumphantly. I grab some cold pizza from the fridge as I pass, then flick on the radio. The typical ads play, but as I start the hot chocolate, a familiar song comes on. I hum along.

It's all your fault/ you called me beautiful/ you turned me out and now I can't go back/ I hold my breath/ because you were perfect/ but I'm running out of air/ and it's not fair.

Alright, I love the song, but it's kind of hitting home right now. I switch the channel.

I keep remembering the summer night/And the conversation breaking up the mood/ I didn't want to tell you you were right/ Like the seasons changing, oh, I felt it to.

Honestly, it's like the radio stations are trying to screw with me. Click. The music now is soft and gorgeous. "Oh, this is a good one!" I say. The microwave beeps, and I take out my food, waiting for the chorus. I have to sing along.

"All I know is we said hello

And your eyes looking like coming home.

All I know is a simple name.

Everything has changed.

All I know is you held the door.

You'll be mine and I'll be yours.

All I know since yesterday is everything has changed."

That's another fantastic benefit to being home alone. I can sing in the shorts and tank top I wear for pajamas and not worry at all.

I grab my hot chocolate and pizza, turning to make my way to the island to eat. That's when I nearly pour cocoa down Fang's black t-shirt.

"Oh," I say. I didn't hear him come downstairs. "Hi."

I edge my way around him. Our arms brush as I pass, and we both lean away from each other as if electrocuted. I set my food down on the counter and clear my throat. Fang turns to look at me, eyes unreadable. Quickly I stuff a bite of gooey microwaved leftovers in my mouth. The radio continues to play in the background. I'm tempted to retreat to my bedroom. No, Aurora. You are a strong, powerful young woman. You can deal with the awkward post-almost-kiss phase with Fang. Hopefully that's true.

I focus my attention on eating, keeping my eyes glued to the food still on my plate. That's also when I realize Fang might have heard me sing. Maybe not. Maybe he just came downstairs. Yeah, but most likely not.

Fang moves around the kitchen slowly, systematically pulling out cereal and filling a bowl to the brim with Frosted Flakes and milk. I watch from the corner of my eye. He sits as well, on the opposite side of the counter. I clear my throat again.

"Eh-hm. I, uh… I thought you'd be at the park already," I say. The silence was killing me.

Fang glances up at me for a moment before shrugging and turning back to his cereal. I try again. "So… how's the blog going?"

"Okay, I guess."

"That's good."

There's another long pause. "How about them Mets?" This time Fang doesn't look up, just smiles wryly into his bowl.

"Look, Rory, I don't mean to be rude, but could we just not talk?" He doesn't look me in the eyes for an instant as he speaks.

I nod furiously. "Definitely."

The radio seems overly loud now. I can hear some strange woman singing about doing what you want with her body. I stab at the channel flipper. When a nice, safe country station comes on, I stand to dump my stuff in the sink. The song that was on before ends, and a new one starts.

Are you gonna kiss me or not?/ Are we gonna do this or what?/ I think you know I like you a lot/ but you're about to kiss your shot/ are you gonna kiss me or not?

"How about the radio just goes off for now." I say to myself, smacking at the machine to make it shut up. Fang's hand reaches over and flips the off switch.

" Cool. Okay. Thanks. I'm just going to go upstairs and get changed," I say. "Although you probably didn't need to know that."

My face is red from shame and defeat. I turn to rush upstairs. Just as I'm halfway there, I hear my name.

"Rory." Fang looks at me now, penetratingly. There's a brief pause as he collects his thoughts. My stomach turns, thousands of possibilities for how this conversation could go ripping through my mind. Finally, he just drops his head. "I'm sorry."

I watch to see if that's going to be it. When I don't say anything, Fang looks up at my face to see my reaction. We lock gazes, and I consider what to do. There are things I should say too. Instead, I just hop up the stairs and disappear into my room.

§ª§ª§

Fang is still waiting for me when I get back downstairs. I can't say I was expecting that. He looks anywhere but me.

"I, ah, figured you wouldn't remember where the park is," he says. He's right, too. "We should go, though."

I nod, moving past him to the door, keeping a deliberate space between us. Ugh. Why are we doing this? It was an almost kiss. One I ran away from.

Okay, we'll just let it stay awkward. Great plan.

We leave the apartment, Fang locking the door behind us. It's a nice day today, warm and sunny. All of the rain from last night has disappeared. As we walk, we pass families on walks, and couples holding hands. When we reach the park, I even see a smiling duo taking wedding photos beside a beautiful pond.

I'm so entranced by the gorgeous scenery, in fact, that I manage to trip over a small, fluffy, monstrosity of a dog.

I fall forward. There's no time to put out my hands to catch myself. The best I can do is try to turn so I won't land face-down.

Of course that doesn't happen though. Instead, Fang manages to catch me by the waist. It's like every single rom-com ever. Heroine is a total klutz and falls, only to have the main guy save her.

"Are you okay, Rory?" Fang asks. He's still holding me in a dip position, so I have to look up. God, I feel helpless.

"Awww!"

The loud squeal from next to us is startling. I'd completely forgotten that I was in the middle of a public park. I turn my head to see a group of tween girls staring at us with goofy smiles on their faces.

"He caught her!"

"That's so cute!"

"He's so handsome!"

"Such a gentleman!"

"Soooo romantic!"

"If this was a movie, it'd be raining, and they'd kiss now!"

All the girls squeal, then start chanting. "Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!" over and over.

Carefully, Fang stands me upright again, turning away from me. The girls all groan.

"Aww, come on. We're thirteen, give us something to work with!" says a pretty blond.

"Actually, I'm fourteen," a tall redhead says. She walks up to Fang. "I'm Zoe. You are…?"

Fang frowns. "Way too old for you." I nearly burst into laughter, but manage to stifle it. Then I notice something pawing at my ankle. Looking down, I watch as the black Scottie I tripped over scratches gently at my jeans.

"Oh, what'd you want?" I say. Stupid dog just heightened the awkwardness between Fang and I.

When he continues to pat me, I squat down to his level. "Go on, shoo! Get out of here? Don't you have an owner or something?"

He tilts his head at me, and I swear I see him smile. "Nope. That's who I'm trying to get to."

I scream and fall onto my butt, scrambling away from the talking dog. "Holy shit holy shit holy shit!" The dog laughs, a yipping little thing that creeps me out beyond belief. "I'm imagining it. That's got to be what it is."

"Not so, sweetheart," says the dog. "I'm all real."

"Oh my gosh."

It giggles again. I'm freaking out. This is it. I've finally gone round the bend. The whole Flock thing was probably a hallucination.

The dog stops laughing, grinning happily at something above my head. "Why, so good to see you again, Fang!"

"Total?"

"Ah, you still remember. I'm flattered."

I wiggle my way onto my feet, still a little scared. It's so unnatural, the way the dog's jaw moves. It basically just flaps up and down, with the lips forming sounds, just like a human. Very unsettling.

"Well, Angel will be happy to see you again."

Total sorts, his upper lip wrinkling. It's such an incredibly human movement. "She dropped me while I was asleep. Asleep! By the time I woke up and got my wings out, some little human girl had spotted me. I was her pet for six months." He shudders dramatically. "You don't know the things I've seen, the things I've done."

"How are you here in Houston then?" asks Fang. He crosses his arms, and I can see him trying to figure out if there's any way what the dog tells us isn't true.

"I ran away. Dude, I have wings. Plus, I have my connections. Friends on the streets, yada yada yada. Heard you guys came down to Houston." He looks at me. "I also heard you got a new flier."

"Let's go by everyone else. We can discuss the details later."

"Aw, c'mon, Fang! I want to meet your girlfriend."

"I'm not his—"

He holds up a paw to his own mouth. "Shh. Don't deny it."

"But I—"

"Shh!"

I throw my hands in the air. "Whatever."

Fang looks completely at ease. Of course, when doesn't he in public? The only times I've ever seen him look less than comfortable was when we were alone in the house this morning and at midnight on a damp street corner.

"Total, let's go." He walks off into the park in the same direction we were heading before. Total keeps step beside me.

"So, what's your name?" He asks me, tilting his head slightly.

"Um… Aurora. You can call me Ro."

"Naw, I like Aurora. It's a pretty name. You know what it means, right?" I nod. "Good. Not many people have that name. You're unique."

"Yeah, well not many dogs can talk. I'd say you're pretty damn unique yourself." Total laughs. It's not as creepy as before though. Stupid jerk was trying to freak me out.

Fang walks stiffly in front of us, not glancing back once. I can practically see him listening to the conversation though. Total paws at my leg, so I pick him up.

"What's Fang got stuck up his butt?" The dog asks, his voice softer so Fang won't hear.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

A/N: Total's back! I debated long and hard about whether to return the little guy to the story, but ended up going with it. Why not, eh?

Okay, here's the important part: I do have a concept for a sequel to this story. It is... unique. I think it could turn out pretty nice though. So, my question is: Do you guys want a sequel?

If it helps you make your decision, there will be stuff to expand on after the final chapter. It's gonna be a bit... untraditional. Not so much the whole Happily-Ever-After shtick for some, very happy for others. It depends on the reader. And the character.

Disclaimer: The first set of lyrics were from "It's All Your Fault" by Pink,

The second was "Hold My Heart" by Sara Bareillies,

The bit Ro sang was "Everything Has Changed" by Taylor Swift.

The bit referenced but not lyric-ed was "Do What You Want" By Lady Gaga,

And the last one, the one that freaked out Ro (I totally pictured her just having a heart attack and beating on that radio like nobody's business) was "Are Youn Gonna Kiss Me or Not" By Thompson Square.

Thanks all!

Quote of the Chapter:

"Live like you're here for a good time, not for a long time."