Okay… sorry that it's been forever, but I lost the notebook (I know, I'm old fashioned) that contained this chapter, and I've been looking for it…then I stopped…then I needed a pencil…then I went on vacation…then I came back…and there it was! Sweet!

Oh, and, by the way, the song naked isn't pervy. It's actually really sweet, and because I'm such a sop, I almost cried when I first heard it.

Naked/Name

"I'm sorry." That wouldn't even be able to begin to cover it, but a journey of one thousand miles begins with one step. Your lucky numbers are 2, 6, 17, 27, and 30.

"It will be a while before I can forgive you."

"I know."

He eyed the distance between us. "You could lesson the time by scotching closer." I inched toward him. "Keep coming, keep coming…" When I got within arms reach, (for him- I wouldn't be able to reach that far) he grabbed me, and, before I could do anything about it, he sat me on his lap.

"That's better."

I grunted. It may have been better, but I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that. He laughed, as if he knew what I was thinking.

"What made you join a band?"

"I formed it, actually. What made you get a job at a bar?"

"You first."

"You owe me." He smirked, aware that he could get me to tell him almost anything right now.

"I was getting tired of not eating, now answer my question." He raised an eyebrow. "Please?" His mouth twitched.

"For me, it was just a wait to try to reach out to you."

"Oh-"I was going to tell him how beautiful the songs were, and how much I appreciated them, but I was interrupted by my stomach growling loudly. You forgot supper, the voice said snidely, and you don't have any money for groceries. Shut up, voice.

He looked at my stomach. "Was that your stomach?" I nodded. "When was the last time you ate?"

I thought back, trying to remember. "Supper, last night." He got a sort of mad look on his face.

"Why?" I looked away, not wanting to tell him. "You owe me."

"Keep that up, I won't owe you anymore!"

"Max!"

"Fine! Okay...Ispentallofmyfoodmoneyonacomputersothaticouldfollowyourblog-andknowthatyouwerealive."

"Okay…now could you repeat that, only audibly?"

"I spent all my money."
"On…?"

"A computer."

"For what reason?" He looked skeptical.

"So I could follow the flock by your blog."

"I stopped writing that blog."

"I know. I figured out afterwards. Turns out the computer was non-refundable. Who'd a thunk?"

He moved me onto the couch, then stood up. I looked at him questioningly, and he held out a hand to help me up. I stood up, unassisted, and he reached for my hand.

"Take us back to the bar- Iggy's making supper tonight, and I left my car at the bar."

"Take a deep breath," I warned him. I closed my eyes and jumped into the alley where we put our trash behind the bar. I made to withdraw my hand from Fang's, but he didn't let go. Or act like he noticed me pulling back my hand. Or act like teleporting was any different than walking.

"Not a first time jumper?" I had to know how he was so calm.

"Second time." Which reminds me…

"How did you get into my apartment?"

"I was holding your hand when you teleported."
"Seriously?"

"Yeah. Then I went invisible and watched your t.v.-which has really sucky reception, by the way- until you noticed me."

"Do you have any other powers you'd care to tell me about?"

"Yup! I can fly!"

"Wow! That's amazing! I wish I could fly!"

"Do you have any other new powers- besides irony and teleportation, anyway?"

I just grinned mischievously then started walking towards the parking lot. Fang took a minute, but he soon followed. (His hand attached to mine forced him to come with me.)

We were sitting in the driveway in front of an extremely large, expensive looking house.

You know in those movies with the beautiful woman that starts to hyperventilate before going to sing on stage, and it turns out she had nothing to be worried about because she brought down the house with her killer singing awesomeness?

I could so relate to her. Well, except for the beautiful part. And the going to sing on stage. And the not having anything to worry about. Oh-and the being a great singer part. And the part about bringing down the house with my killer singing awesomeness. Apart from that, I felt exactly the same.

So, basically, we've arrived at the conclusion that I am a female older than her teens that is hyperventilating. What fun! (A/N Placing that last quote is much more difficult-100 virtual hugs to the person able to say the book and the words around it.)

"I can't do this, Fang." He looked over at me from the driver's seat, surprised.

"Do what?"

"Go in there. Meet them."

"Why not?"

"Because I left so they could have a better life. What if they don't understand that? What if they hate me? Seeing me could scar them emotionally until they're a body with jello brains that does basic functions of life, but never talks, never get to know anyone. Then, not only would I be responsible for their horrible childhoods, but I would be the cause of a vacant life of no feeling, and you should feel free to stop me any time now, Fang."

"But it's so much fun listening to you babble." He smiled, but he was giving me a 'is she crazy after all?' look. "Come on, Max. Let's go inside."

"I can't."

He took a deep breath, thinking, then blew it all out hard. "We have another gig. Come to it, and we'll see where we are after that."

"That sounds…reasonable." And it did. Plus, I would be able to watch my flock- You're flock? - stupid voice- from afar. Ooh! And I could listen to the music! Yeah! Score! (mental arm actions)

"Okay. Just let me go in and tell them I'll meet them there." He walked up to the door, pausing to look back at me and smile. (A/N That made me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside; one, two, three- awww!)

Fang leaned into the mike. "This song seems oddly applicable for tonight. Hope you like it."

Yeah I'm fadin'
And I call out
No one hears me
Never been, never felt, never thought I'd say a word

Weighed down
Safe now

You're naked inside your fear
You can't take back all those years
The shots in the dark from empty guns
Are never heard by anyone
Never heard by anyone

Yeah I'm hiding
in the fallout
Now I'm wasted
They don't need me, don't want me, don't hear a word I say

Weighed down
Safe now

You're naked inside your fear
You can't take back all those years
The shots in the dark from empty guns
Are never heard by anyone
Never heard by anyone

Inside your head
No one's there
And I don't think I'll ever be
And I don't care

You're naked inside your fear
You can't take back all those years
The shots in the dark from empty guns
Are never heard by anyone
Never heard by anyone
By anyone
By anyone

He stepped back to the middle of the stage, bringing the mike with him, then set up on a stool. He talked briefly with Iggy, gave Angel a meaningful look, then said into the mike, "This is for an old friend."

He sat back and started playing his acoustic guitar. After a few measures, Iggy came in with the drums, followed by Gazzy on bass.

And even though the moment passed me by
I still can't turn away
Cause all the dreams you never thought you'd lose
Got tossed along the way
And letters that you never meant to send
Get lost or thrown away

And now we're grown up orphans
That never knew their names
We don't belong to no one
That's a shame
But if you could hide beside me
Maybe for a while
And I won't tell no one your name

And I won't tell em your name

Scars are souvenirs you never lose
The past is never far
Did you lose yourself somewhere out there
Did you get to be a star
And don't it make you sad to know that life
Is more than who we are

You grew up way too fast
And now there's nothing to believe
And reruns all become our history
A tired song keeps playing on a tired radio
And I won't tell no one your name
And I won't tell em your name

I think about you all the time
But I don't need the same
It's lonely where you are come back down
And I won't tell em your name

"Hope you guys liked us- that last song was literally made up as we went."

Fang had kept eye contact with me the whole time- he had seen me crying. (A/N: I'm such a wuss, I cried first time I heard name. there you go. Me in a nut shell)

Okay. I know that was uncharacteristically long for me, so maybe people could uncharacteristically give me more reviews than normal? Plz? Come on, it was five pages on word…my fingers are cramping…ow!