You guys are probably sticking pins in a Snaily doll right now! I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sorry I haven't been able to update! I've kind of been at a dead end, trying to figure out what I needed to write to get the story moving where I want it to. Plus, I've had camp and endless play rehearsals, so I'm surprised I'm even able to BREATHE right now. But anyway, I hope you like this chapter. Hopefully it was worth the wait.

!ediR mumixaM nwo t'nod I taht tniop eht teg t'nod ylsuoivbo syug uoy ecnis esrever ni ti etirw d'I derugif I :remialcsiD

We landed near the pond by Anne's house. Actually, Gazzy dive bombed into it, which didn't surprise me.

"GAAAAHHH!!! IT'S COLD!!!" he screamed, running out. He was drenched from head to toe.

"Well, what do you expect, Goofus?" I asked. "It's freakin' January!"

Iggy was laughing his head off, and soon Nudge and Angel joined in. Gazzy stuck his tongue out at all of them. Then, in a creepy imitation of the wicked witch from The Wizard of Oz, he yelled, "I will get you! And your little dog, too!" At that last part he pointed at Total, who growled.

Fang rolled his eyes at me, and I grinned.

"Well, let's head inside. And let Goofus von Goofus here dry off." I jabbed my thumb at Gazzy. All the flock headed inside, and we all hurried to what used to be our rooms. And you want to know the scary part?

Nothing had changed. I swear, nothing.

And why was it scary? Because it was the first thing in my life that hadn't changed. Something that I'd left and was able to come back to. It scared the heck out of me.

Fang seemed to notice. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked. I looked at my hands, which had turned chalky.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just creeped out," I said. He nodded and headed upstairs. I followed him a few minutes later. I walked into my room and plopped down on the bed. I cringed. It was so normal!

The sun was still shining outside, even though it felt like it should be going down by now.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. I jumped up, but I heard Fang's voice. "I got it!" he called.

"Fine, but let me know when you're done!" I said. Hey, who knows who it could be?

I felt hot, so I went into the bathroom to splash some water on my face. Oh heck, my toothbrush was still there! Hey, might as well put it to good use. I also decided to take a shower. A nice, long, shower.

An hour and a half later, when I finished, and Fang still hadn't called up, I started getting worried. Well, not worried. More curious. Fang could take care of himself. Was it some sort of solicitor who wouldn't go away? Well, that's what I told myself. I desperately hoped that it wasn't Erasers or something.

I decided to go down there and check it out, under the guise that I was getting a glass of milk. I headed down stairs and into the kitchen. The front door happened to be near there. The sun had gone down most of the way, and there was only a rim of light along the horizon. I saw it through the window.

And also, I saw exactly what I'd never wanted to see in a million years.

And no, it wasn't Erasers. It was Lissa, clinging to Fang like static. She was kissing him, of course. And, if I was not mistaken...he was kissing her back.

I couldn't stop myself. I marched over to the door and swung it open. Lissa heard and broke apart, unwrapping her arms from around Fang's neck.

Considering the circumstances, I think I did pretty well. I didn't punch her face in and I didn't crack her head open with the metal decorative cowbell on a porch railing. But my lips were tingling with anger and my fingers felt rusted into place.

"Hello...Lissa," I said.

Her eyes widened innocently. "Oh! Hi, Max," she said sweetly. "We were just...catching up."

"Yes, I saw. Right where you left off," I said tightly. She might have noticed my anger, because she backed up a couple of steps.

"Do you mind if Fang comes in now?" I asked, smiling, even though it hurt my jaws a lot to do so.

"Oh, yeah, sure," Lissa said. "But Fang, there's this new movie out and I wondered if you wanted to go see it with me tomorrow?"

"He'll get back to you on that," I said quickly. She nodded, and to my horror, she kissed him one more time before galloping down the driveway and out of sight.

"Max--" Fang started.

"How could you?" I asked stiffly. "How dare you?" I couldn't yell; I was too angry. And he noticed.

"I swear it's not what you think!" he said, holding up his hands. I wasn't buying it.

"Yeah, you really tried to push her away, but she used her mind control powers on you and forced you to kiss her back!" My volume rose as I spoke, and soon I'd reached triple eruption.

"Max!" he yelled. "Just listen to me!" He seemed really angry now, too. His eyes were wide and his jaw was set tight. His hands had curled into fists.

"What is there to listen to? It was all too obvious what happened!" I yelled.

"No it--"

"Why don't you just go with her to that movie tomorrow night? I'm sure your girlfriend won't mind!" I yelled.

"Maybe I will!" Fang shouted back. I couldn't take it anymore. I hurled my fist right into his jaw. He stared at me, stunned.

"Max..."

I strode to the edge of the porch. "I hate you," I said, quiet again. Then I took off, traveling at top speed, into the night sky.