Okay, so I was maybe avoiding Fang a little. A lot, if you thought about it. Which was totally stupid because we're best friends, so I thought. But can you blame me? He just left me, Nudge and Angel. It was also the fact that I had told him that I 'looooved' him. But in my defense, I was on Valium. It was the Valium speaking, possibly teaming up with my evil subconscious mind to ruin my life. But don't tell anyone I wrote this. That includes you Angel. Still, my life was too complicated even without a relationship. But sooner or later Fang was going to want to talk about this. So, I admit it, I was kind of freaking out at the moment. What if we broke up, couldn't stand to be around each other and ended up splitting up the flock again. That wouldn't and couldn't happen again, I'd be crushed.

"It's okay." My little mind reader, Angel, reassured me. "Fang will love you no matter what. And he will stay even if you two beak up."

"We're fourteen, Angel, nothing's going to be happening for a while." I told her, she didn't looked all that convinced, but I was too tired to care.

"Okay." She said, pretending to agree.

"Goodnight." I said, kissing her on the forehead and heading over to Gassy, who was already out cold. No need to change that. So I ruffled his hair and pulled his covers up.

I started walking over to my hotel room, whom I was sharing with Nudge. Which meant that I might not be getting to sleep soon, but it didn't matter anyways, I was going to have watch tonight anyways. But she had seemed a little calmer the last few days, maybe it was just her growing up. The whole experience with the flock splitting up had really opened her eyes to the harsh world it really is. And that you never be absolutely sure of anything. But then again, sleep isn't always all that great sometimes. I mean, there's nightmares that are either all too real or flashbacks from horrible experiences that you don't exactly want to remember. And the last time I fell asleep in a hotel, I woke up with my hands tied and my mouth gagged.

I stopped dead in my tracks. Iggy was covering up Nudge, who was out cold too. He was also sitting by her and stoking her hair.

What the heck? They're almost three years apart. Nudge was only eleven.

Eleven isn't all that young. Her real birthday is in a month, eleven is practically a teenager. What's so bad about them? Maybe there's nothing going on between them. Maybe Iggy's just acting as her big brother.

For some very odd reason that I still don't know to this day, I agreed with the voice. Even if there was something, Nudge was almost twelve, according to the voice. What would be so horribly wrong with them being together?

I just didn't want to see them getting hurt. And to see my Nudge growing up was just hard to think about. And her having a boyfriend (Sam didn't really count, that was one date) three years before I do is even sadder. I guess we'd just have to see how it went.

"Hey." I said.

He looked up at me, a little surprised, but he didn't seem jumpy. That's a good sign, right? I just going to go with yes there. Just let me relax a little.

"Don't worry about watch, okay?" I said. "I've got it tonight."

He seemed skeptical about it. "Okay, that's totally fine with me, but you're going to have to get past Fang with it." He advised.

I rolled my eyes, why did Fang have to be so damn difficult sometimes? I stalked into the boys room.

"I've got watch tonight." I told Fang, who was sitting at the table typing away on his laptop. He shook his head in objection.

"Max, sure we're all tired, but you need more sleep than anyone else."

"If this is because I'm a girl, you're so dead." I stifled a yawn. "I'm completely awake."

"I saw that." He knew me all too well. It was really irritating at times.

"I'm doing watch and no one's stopping me, got that?" I insisted.

He stood up from the chair he'd been sitting on. He'd had stood up so fast and forcefully that the chair had been moved back a couple of feet. He didn't look so happy.

"Face it, Max." He started. "I'm stronger than you, so I'll knock you out if I have to."

I stepped closer to him so we were only about a foot apart. I had to look up a bit to be able to see him. A few years ago, he'd been my height, now he was like 6'1 or 6'2. Which was a half a foot taller than him. Okay, maybe he had a point, but I wasn't going to admit that, considering I'm the leader.

"Why should you even care?" I snapped. "You left like you didn't even care about us."

"He was a killer, Max." He said. "I do care." His voice was quiet but dark, almost silent, but deadly.

"Was a killer. He risked his life to help save us, whether you like it or not, Fang." My voice was rising. "I guess you didn't care enough to realize that."

He stepped closer so our faces were only inches apart. I staggered backwards a half a step, but he only grabbed my arms and yanked me back. Now his forehead was touching mine. No matter how much I tried to squirm out his grasp, I couldn't. One hand was wrapped tightly around my waist, and the other was on my chin, making sure that I was looking at him. He was trying to send me a telepathic message. Too bad Angel was probably already asleep.

"I do care." He said, his eyes piercing holes into my soul. (there's a little poetry there) He was shaking me now.

Finally I managed to rip from his grip.

"Why'd you leave then?" I challenged.

He seemed at a loss for words. Now Fang always slacks in the words department, but he can always, always think of a snappy comeback. He never, ever at a loss for them. I guess there's a first time for everything.

"Fine." I gave in. "Take you damn watch."

I turned to go back to my room, brushing past Iggy on the why.

"Max" He started.

I whipped around and cut him off.

"It'll give some time to think about that answer. Maybe you'll decide to leave." I said icily.