So I've got some people asking whether this is a fax story. I'm fairly sure I wrote the answer a few chapters ago, but in case you didn't catch it, yes this is fax. :) Dylan's okay, I guess, but him and Max are like oil and water, ya know? They don't mix. Anyway.

"What do you think happened to that Dylan kid?" Maya asked Fang. He shrugged, thinking that the appropriate response would be "Who cares?". He didn't say anything, though.

Maya quickly lost interest in the topic. "I can't believe she's gotten an expiration date. Can you?"

Fang said nothing.

"Sheesh, will you talk?" Maya laughed, the laugh Fang loved. He smiled slightly, but it was almost painful to. She quickly lost her grin as well as she studied Fang. "Did you know about this beforehand?"

"No," Fang lied.

Maya studied him for a moment more, and finally seemed to accept his answer. "Huh." Max probably wouldn't have. She would have pursued it, asking if he was lying. But Maya wasn't like that. She was a lot more laid back.

Night had fallen; it was around nine o' clock. Before Fang had gone for a walk with Maya, the group had found a great restaurant to eat at, a restaurant the flock normally would have been excited about. But not today. Today, Gazzy had pushed his food around his plate, Nudge had dabbed her eyes on a napkin the whole time, and Iggy had just... sat there, his eyes looking more empty than usual. Fang had tried his best to comfort them, but he was no Max when it came to the flock. Max could be a great mother.

And other times, she could be a soul mate.

The thought had randomly popped into Fang's head, and he tried to push it away as he Maya rounded another corner and headed back to the restaurant but couldn't. God, Max was so... complicated. Probably the most complex person he'd ever met. And with so many personalities.

One moment she was strong, the next moment she was vulnerable. One moment she was emotionless, the next she was expressive. One moment she was hateful, the next she was compassionate. One moment she was violent, the next moment unwilling to kill. One moment clumsy, the next graceful. One moment she was a mother, the next she was a... soul mate. Well, not to him. Not anymore, probably not ever.

Maya was different.

She had one personality, and Fang could expect what she might do or say. He'd never been able to predict what Max would do, because she was so... Dynamic.

"You're thinking about something," Maya observed. "That's a first."

And yet Maya was the same.

It was all confusing, and Fang pushed his feelings away. He offered Maya a very small smile. She tilted her head, smiling back.

A strand of hair fell over her face. The colour of her hair was... was... dirty blond. That was the only thing Fang could think of to describe the colour, yet it was grossly inadequate to describe the beauty of it. He couldn't help himself. He pushed the runaway strand behind her ear.

They'd stopped in the middle of the sidewalk at this point, just staring at each other. Maya's face was unreadable, her eyes soft and welcoming. Fang had no idea what he looked like, but he was gazing at Maya and couldn't seem to wrench himself away.

He didn't realize how close they were until a truck's horn blared and they both sprang away from each other. Maya laughed shakily, avoiding his gaze. Fang coughed.

Luckily, he was spared from saying anything because he spotted a figure in the sky, flying the same way that Maya did. Max was back.

She landed in a tree far enough away to avoid too much suspicion, and jumped down and strode over. Her hair was blown around by the wind, her cheeks pink. She'd probably been flying in overdrive for a while.

"I couldn't find him," she said, her eyes downcast. "I don't know where he is." She angrily wiped a tear in her eye away. "They're in this restaurant, right?" Without waiting for an answer, she walked away from them and into the restaurant.

"God, she's moody," commented Maya, crossing her arms. "Shall we go in?" She smiled up at Fang. She was beautiful, he mused. Not so hard, like Max was. Unassuming, while Max was suspicious of everyone. Even herself, sometimes.

"Yeah," he nodded. It was dark around them; only a few cars moving around. Very suddenly, Maya reached up and kissed his cheek. Very softly. Sat back on her heels, smiling shyly but sweetly. Fang felt this face heat up; he could feel where she'd put her lips like it was a burn. He didn't know what to think.

"Let's go, then," Maya said softly. They finally went into the restaurant, and nobody would be able to tell that Fang's mind was whirling.

R & R guys! I know this chapter is kinda just Fang and Maya but the next few chapters are makin' this interesting. And you'll soon find out what Dylan was doing at the DG Utah headquarters. Thanks guys, I couldn't do this without you! :D