Sorry about the late update. I don't have an excuse like I was sick or a relative died or my best friend was in rehab. Nope, I was just being lazy. Forgive me?

(happy birthday reader8176!)

"Who the heck is Stevie Rae?" I asked, not bothering to question the blood part. Vampires=blood. Or something like that.

"Er, she's my undead best friend." Zoey replied hastily before Aphrodite and I could get into another argument about my intelligence.

"Who's as scary as hell." Aphrodite added. That's not the weird part, from my few hours here, I figured everything she said was a put down or just plain stupid. The weird part was the fact that she sounded dead serious. Yup, I'd say it's as weird as Fang giggling.

…

Ick, never mind. It's almost as weird as Fang giggling.

"Oh," I replied. "Her." Yeah, Zoey already explained everything to me but how was I supposed to remember all their names? I barely remember the names of anyone in my life, let alone hers. Actually, I gave them nicknames in my head. So sue me. 'Stevie Rae' was 'Zombie Girl'…not that I was going to tell them that.

Hurriedly, Zoey grabbed a HUGE bag and moved her stuff into it. I watched her, feeling another yawn coming. Why did teenage girls lug around those ridiculous purses? I mean, you can't go wrong with a sturdy backpack. Plus, Zoey was pretty much a complete idiot for telling me everything that happened to her. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't going to hurt her, but who tells a complete stranger their life story?

Trust is a great gift. You're very lucky Zoey gifted you. The Voice told me, sounding sooooo creative.

Zoey bustled into the bathroom, muttering something about covering her mark. I nodded and pretended I understood while basically scream thinking at the Voice.

Well apparently I'm not a very giving person. I could almost imagine my heavy black sarcasm dripping from the words like ink.

After giving the room a disdainful glare, Aphrodite perched onto Zoey's bed like a snobby queen. Thankfully, she didn't say anything to me or else I'd probably rip her throat out without Zoey here to play peacekeeper.

Zoey burst out of the bathroom with a smooth, unmarked forehead. To a normal human eye that is. I, being the oh-so-special bird kid that I am, could see the tiniest difference between her make up and skin. Since I learn from my mistakes, I didn't comment on the difference.

Aren't you proud of me? I know that I am.

Aphrodite stood up and shot a glance at me. "She's not coming."

"She can hear you." I said pointedly, glaring at the life sized Barbie doll. Zoey's eyes flickered from Aphrodite to me and she nodded.

"Max, you can't come." Zoey sounded apologetic, but firm.

I took that as a 'You can come as long as Aphrodite and I don't find out.'

"Fine, fine." I muttered, sounding, gasp, agreeable. But little did they know that they've just acquired a very talented stalker. "I'll just nap or something."

Zoey trotted out the door in a rush. Of course, Ms. Barbie Doll Extreme couldn't leave as humbly. No, she had to smirk at me and exit with a dramatic hair flip. It took every ounce of my almost nonexistent patience not to rip her pretty little head off.

Total, surprisingly, was nowhere to be seen. For a second, I worried about him being kidnapped by Erasers. But he was probably wandering around in the ladies' restroom or something. Note to self: Give Total a three hour lecture on his…attraction to human women. He was a DOG for heaven's sake. Not to mention the fact that he had Akila.

Aphrodite and Zoey's footsteps got farther away and I decided to start my little journey. I made my steps as light as feathers (haha, some more bird kid humor for ya) and followed them. Frowning, Zoey turned around and rubbed her neck. Seeing nothing, she moved foreword.

I had to smother my giggles from behind the plant I was hiding in. Can you spell cliché? All I needed was some sunglasses and abracadabra! I'd be the corny hero of some silly movie.

Concentrate Max! The Voice commanded me.

Rolling my eyes, I silently caught up with my prey. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just calm down Voice.

Five minutes later, everything was going fine. I had to duck behind whatever was available every time one of them turned around, but I didn't get caught. Aphrodite whirled around quickly, scanning the park around her. Her eyes passed the shrub that was blocking me from her view and she shrugged.

"What are you hiding from?" A low voice whispered in my ear and I jumped back in surprise from the close proximity.

"Stop doing that Fang." I muttered, tracking Zoey and Aphrodite with my eyes. They made a left turn down some downtown street.

"Do what? Breath?" His whisper held a hint of amusement in it and I nodded.

"Stop sneaking up on me." I hissed, shooting Fang a glare. He examined me calmly in his usual black attire but his eyes were brighter than normal. Behind him, the Flock sat huddled around me. Total was snuggled up to Angel's thin frame and she was petting him lightly. So that's where the dumb dog was. Well, I don't have to waste three hours of my life anymore.

Wait…Fang? And the Flock?

"Oh my god!" I exclaimed and threw my arms around him in a very un-Max-like gesture. He smirked at me and his obsidian eyes sparkled.

"About time you noticed." He replied.

I hope you forgive this lazy author and revive! Please, please, please review! :3 It might give me the initiative to get the next chapter up quicker ;)