What the hell was that supposed to mean? "Balls in your court now", Yeh? Well no freaking duh! Of course the balls in my court, it never left! How the hell did he think that he ever had it in his court, that he was the one calling the shots, forcing play – he wasn't even close. Lets rethink about what Fang brought to the table for a minute, let's see... you getting anything? Cos I'm sure not!

I have been the one calling the shots this whole time, telling him how it is, telling him things straight!

He was the one who had to go all cryptic on me, sprouting some meaningful mumbo jumbo from his ass that helps no one! Is it really too much to ask for a boy to play it straight with a girl? Cut the crap and actually talk, like a normal human (well human-bird-boy but that's just details!) I swear it's like pulling teeth with Fang sometimes! If conversation continues like this, he is going to need to get a new name! One more fitting!

I never had the chance to express my views however because I was ever so rudely interrupted by Angel bursting through the door, Iggy and Nudge at her flanks. A woozy Gazzy stumbles in behind them half conscious, his eyes red and puffy from the lack of sleep! Let's just say that an ' I told you so' didn't cut it! His eyes went wide however when he concluded that I had not gone mad and was talking to myself (more like shouting) at half two in the freaking morning, but to his favourite person in the world. Ok, second favourite, I obviously had to be the first... but Fang was, and always had been the big brother Gazzy always looked up to (despite the obvious height thing people!)

Yes there was hugging, laughs, cheers, the whole shebang bla bla bla! Everyone crowded around Fang like he was the Prodigal Son returning from some mystical adventure they all wanted to hear about. Even Total, roused from his slumber barked happily at his heels. Everyone was happy...

Everyone but me...

Why was I the only one who could see things for the facts? Fang was no Prodigy. He had not been sent away on some dutiful quest to do good deeds. He left us. Why was I the only one who could remember that? Why was I the only one who cared?

As my Flock's little "Welcome home oh-lord-whom-we-owe-so-much" party continued, I looked at the scene with sad eyes. These guys were my family. My life. Yet they cast me aside when things took a turn for the worst, abandoned all hope in my leaderness, my maxness, when all I had done was be loyal to them. Yet when Fang returns, returns from blatantly betraying us...they welcome him back with open arms?

It just seemed off to me. And I needed some space to process it all.

Gently I opened the bedroom door and slid out without trying to make too much noise. Even if someone had heard they were too caught up with the 'Eights Wonder' to notice. Or care.

I decided to head to the roof, clear my mind, watch the city lights far away. With a single flap of my wings I landed on the shabby roof – slates missing here and there. Iggy could only win enough hands of poker to rent this place for a few nights. It was nice on the roof...quiet, with only the noise of the bussing city far away, and the sound of each flap from the birds miles above – only someone with enhanced hearing and spliced genes would have any hope at hearing such noises... know anyone?

I tried to tune out of it all. Out of the world. Out of anything distracting, and tried to focus only on my breathing. I tried to make sense of the night I had – of the night I was having.

A sudden noise came from behind me, instinct kicking in to whip me around in battle stance, arms extended in ready position ready to strike at the person who dare interrupt my meaningful glance into the distance!

'It's me' said Fang, hands raised like mine, but in surrender. I stood my ground not dropping my arms. As if the fact that it was him be any reason for me to. I would have once, without a moment's thought... but not now.

He walked past me and sat on the roof, dangling his legs over the edge and taking in the view. He tried to kill time by playing with his fingers and staring into the distance, deciding the best course of action to approach me. He settled with gently patting the roof next to him, a friendly reassuring smile pleading at me. My head told me to stand my ground, to send a clear message. But my stupid heart made me race over to him and practically sit on his lap! Trying to compose myself I shuffled away a few inches, and looked into my hands to avoid his face... although I already knew he was sniggering at my involuntary action. Smooth. Reallllll smooth max! I forced my brain to work again and it told me it would be best to stay quiet to avoid further embarrassment!

'I'm sorry about earlier... about all of this actually" I nodded. That was about all he was going to get from me tonight. I was going to make sure of it!

And then the unthinkable happened. Small talk. Fang was actually trying to make small talk! I never thought I would see the day Fang struggle so much to keep a one sided conversation going. Yet again I never thought I would see the day I saw Fang again full stop. "You all look good...you look good." He looked a little guilty when he said that, and he was right to. Sure I was good now. I had had months to recover and convince myself that Fang had left and deal with that fact , sure there was the crying, the ice cream eating, and yes the occasional I sang along to 'Am I not pretty enough' In the shower. But those days were far behind me (I hope), and for a while now I had been coping. Well, that's what the guys saw on the outside at least. If things went to plan my Flock would never see the mess I was on the inside. Yet again, my life is probably not the best poster modal for things going to plan... why should that start now?

"You didn't show when I asked you to. You know... we really needed you guys." Oh God how did I know he was going to bring that up sooner or later! Well let's put it this way Fang, if I had simply asked you to stay, would you have? I continued to stay silent, determined to not even give him the satisfaction of speech. "I mean, we were fine and all in the end... but it would have been nice."

He is referring to the time when he had just left m- I mean us. He had the nerve of phoning and asking for help with some 'Doomsday group thing' because his replacements were completely incapable of anything useful! I had flogged some witty insults down the line and then hung up – even if he really did need my help, nothing in that point of time could convince me to fly to his aid! I still remember the last thing I said to him – just three words. And no, not the three words you're thinking about, I was far to pissed to start shouting declarations. But replace the middle word with hate...and that's the last reminder of my voice Fang was left with. The last thing he heard me say. Until now that is.

He looked down at his hands again, finally giving up at the 'going oh so well' small at last! I swear if he started talking to me about the weather I would punch him! Finally the silence began to strain on my boredom scale, so keeping my head forward I peeked a glance of his face through the corner of my eye. Surprisingly he was no longer looking down at his own hands... but my own?

He studies each one of my fingers carefully, as if he was searching for something? Then it hit me. He was looking for something... something he would fail to find. When he finally accepted that I didn't have it, he looked back out to the city lights, something in his eyes telling me that he had expected me to keep it. No matter the circumstances.

"Angel filled me in on what our Flock has been getting up to – and Dylan". I smiled a little at that, although my eyes narrowed – just the way he said Dylan's name, as if Fang himself was somehow more a part of The Flock, excuse me, MY Flock, than Dylan was – even after everything he had done.

"She also said we could stick around with you guys for a while, you know, safety in numbers?"

Did she now! Well I was going to have a little chat with our resident angel about who ran things around here! I think we can all be certain that it sure as hell isn't her! Not after her last power mad quest for world domination!

'So what, you just not gonna talk to me now!" His eyes stayed focused, but his voice had become more rough, agitated with my lack of response. 'Well you know that really depends Fang' I felt like saying, 'Balls in my court remember well maybe I don't want to give it back!'

A long moment passed with neither of us looking at each other. Finally he sighed – defeated. HE was going to get nothing more from me tonight. He began to stand up, to rejoin the others inside, but turned at the last second and kissed me quickly on the cheek before I could react. Looking smug he leaped off the roof backwards into the darkness.

In the solitary peace of finally being on my own, I smiled. One of those small smiles out of the corner of a person's mouth intended for only themselves. One of my hands crept its way up to my neck, playing with a string loosely hung around it.

My fingers lightly traced the outline of a circular promise on the old piece of string, hidden away under the safety of my shirt, where it could never be hurt again.

Soooo, that's chapter three! Hope you like how the story is going so far, more should be on the way soon as exams are all over now (woop) but reviews always help as do bribes or mars bars!