So, been a little bit. Here's the next chapter!

"So, do you wanna take Señorita Levpravda up on her offer, or what?" Vinny Lee asked me on our way to my house.

I decided to let Vinny Lee come with me to help me with homework. She seemed the most knowledgeable about it and would probably come up with the answers better than I would. Besides, if there was anyone I wanted to bring home with me, it was Vinny Lee. Mom knew about her, so I was safe there.

"I'm not sure," I replied. "I want to, but do I really want to get her in more trouble?"

"Amiga," Vinny Lee said in reply, her tone playful, "she's already weird enough. Además, she said she's seen strange things. What if they're like our own?"

I had thought of that possibility, and it scared me. "Then what?"

"Then she knows what we go through. Otro ejemplo in favor of bringing her along."

"How does she do it, anyway?" I asked.

Vinny Lee frowned as if deep in thought. "Well, I mentioned it to Tails. He said it happens, yes, but it's not a common occurrence. But if you mean she hasn't run into our amigos –"

"That's exactly what I mean. Then she might not put a label on the monsters, as the avatars can. She might not know what they are."

I figured as much, but it felt weird putting it into words. I could tell there was something else about that foreign girl, Olga – the same something else we had. I also knew that just because Miss Levpravda had the gift, didn't necessarily mean she knew how to use it.

At least on the way back, I could keep my mind off that puzzle. The way back was quite crime-infested, like pretty much everywhere else in Philly. I broke up a fight between a kid and a man that happened when one of them called the other – actually, I didn't even care. I yelled at the kid, which felt better than it should have.

I also had to rush past certain monsters, who retreated at the sight of us. Probably they'd heard that we were chums with the avatars and were afraid we'd sic one on them. I didn't know. Nevertheless, I was grateful they stayed away from us. Heading home from school, the last thing I needed was another fight.

My house was in a nearby subdivision – large enough to suit a mother and the six Jorgman children at home. It was a nice enough place, but the concrete patio wasn't nearly good enough for my liking. (I like a little more green space in my front yard.)

Callie came out of the house, apparently having had little trouble getting home. She was attending Memphis Street Academy at present, but that looked like it might change, from her displeased expression. "Hey, Delaney!"

"Hi, Callie," I responded. "How'd it go at school?"

"Oh, fairly well," Callie said. I got the sense my sister was hiding something. "Is this your friend?"

See, I hadn't brought Vinny Lee to my place just yet. I kept meaning to, but frequently forgot. It wasn't exactly fair to her, but she took it in stride. Because Vinny Lee.

"Yeah," I said. "Vinny Lee – Callie. Callie – Vinny Lee."

"Whoa, nice casa," Vinny Lee said. "Like the azul. Fits with mi amiga quite nicely."

"Thanks, I guess," Callie responded nervously. I couldn't exactly blame her. Vinny Lee could be a little much.

I certainly appreciated the compliment to the house. The Jorgman place wasn't the most conspicuous, being in a subdivision and all, but that had been the whole point. No sense drawing attention to the fact that there were Hollywoodites in the burbs.

In fact, I'd rather not broadcast that Casey Jorgman's family was here at all. My dad had been a famous actor, which had caused some problems for anonymity. Here, we could make a fresh start, which is hard to do when you're surrounded by paparazzi and rabid admirers. Best we all disappear.

"Nice tote," Callie was saying to Vinny Lee, gesturing toward the bag she frequently carried with her. I'd never seen her without it. I knew she stashed a ton of items in there – such as her tools, snacks, and pretty much anything she could swipe off the ground and stow in it. My friend was so strange.

"Oh, gracias," Vinny Lee said. "It's for my crafting materials."

"Crafting materials?" Callie asked.

I shook my head. "I wouldn't ask," I told Callie. "She uses odd materials." Like recyclables, I finished in my head.

"Okay," my sister responded, not sure what to make of that.

"Hey, amiga, everything has a value, sí?" she responded. "Even the trash." She glanced around the neighborhood. "You must have la dolce vida here. No paparazzi, no press, no one bothering you – well, except for apparently the occasional motorcycle gang –"

"What?" Callie looked about as confused as I was. We didn't have motorcycle gangs around our suburb – not usually. But Vinny Lee had pretty good hearing, so there had to have been something.

I whipped around to where my friend had been standing.

I caught a roar in the distance. It did sound an awful lot like a motorcycle. But there was something more distinct about it, something I couldn't quite put my finger on.

"They don't usually bother this part of town," Callie said, sounding scared. "Are they really going to –?"

"Wouldn't worry about it," I said confidently.

Callie frowned as if glancing off in the distance. I realized she was looking in the direction I was. "Awfully fast for a motorcycle."

Now what was she talking about? I took a closer listen.

That was not a motorcycle. The runner looked too short to be riding. And that roar… I recognized it. Not the roar of a motorcycle engine, but the roar of a certain avatar breaking the sound barrier as he ran.

"Ah, cysnakes," I cursed.

I had not asked for Sonic to be here. I had not asked for his presence. And he had the nerve to show up here?

This was going to be a very long explanation.

"Delaney?" Callie asked. "What is going on?"

An explanation I never got to give, because right then Sonic the Hedgehog skidded to a stop in front of the driveway – our driveway – and walked up to us.

He had the nerve to look totally handsome, as usual. His blue quills raked back in an aerodynamic curve. His black leather jacket and blue jeans easily put the style of the biker gangs of the '50s to shame and paired with his white gloves and trademark red and white shoes, was a true sign of good taste in clothes – in my opinion, at least. When his sleeve rode up, I could catch his two-tone watch. The white stripe down his throat – unique to his avatar form – was quite striking against his blue throat and the black collar of his jacket. His emerald green eyes shone with the old daredevil light, like, I'm on an adventure! Wanna come?

"Oh, my god," Callie gasped. "You didn't tell me you were friends with Sonic!"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," I replied, suppressing the urge to strangle the hedgehog. I already knew it wouldn't hurt him that much, him being an avatar and all. Those guys tended to laugh off simple injuries like getting choked out. But I was ticked off that Sonic would show up right here. Right now. How was I supposed to explain this to my mom?

Speak of the devil – Mom came out of the house, holding onto a dishrag. She must've just finished up with the dishes and caught the streak heading at our house. She'd ask about it, I knew. I'd just have to stall that off.

"What is –?" Mom began, but I cut her off.

"Not much," I said. "Just a runner." I shot Sonic a withering look.

He must've picked up the hint, because he retreated a little farther away – to the edge of the patio, in fact. Another few steps and he'd be totally out of sight. Luckily for him and me, Mom had redirected her attention to my friend – the one I'd meant to bring.

"And who's this, Delaney?" she asked me, but Vinny Lee cut in.

"Soy Vinny Lee," she said, spinning as she did. She did so much twirling, I was surprised she hadn't gotten dizzy. But even if she did, who'd really know the difference? "DJ's amiga."

Delaney? Sonic mouthed. I hadn't mentioned my real name to him. Not that I'd wanted to.

Call me that again and I'll take away your watch, I mouthed back. Hey, I had to have some way to keep him in line. You learn pretty early on that death threats don't exactly work with an avatar.

"DJ?" Mom asked Vinny Lee.

"It's the nickname I've been going by," I said. I figured that was enough explanation for her.

Mom's lip curled. I guess she could tell that I was holding something back, but she didn't press. "Well then," she said. "And this is the girl you've been telling me about? José's daughter? Well, she's welcome here."

"Mom –" Callie began. She wanted to tell Mom about Sonic. I knew even before she spoke. But she'd cut off my mom, which was a bit more of a pressing issue for the latter. (She doesn't like her children talking over her.)

"Callista, don't interrupt." Mom swept Callie off to the side. "Vinny Lee, I've made the acquaintance of your father. He believes that you could use my company. And if I trust anyone –"

"Mom, there's a –"

"Callie!" I whispered to my sister. I didn't want Callie blowing my cover. Then again, it's pretty hard to keep that cover when the secret is literally on your front lawn. And once again, she was talking over Mom.

"– I trust DJ," Mom finished, completely ignoring Callie this time. "She's got a lot of sense. My golden girl. If there's anyone I'd have you hang out with, it's my DJ."

"Uh, thanks, Mom," I said, my face getting hot all of a sudden. How is it that moms can go from amazing to totally embarrassing in two seconds flat?

"Sí," Vinny Lee said in reply. "Girl is pretty stubborn. And smart."

"Good sense," Mom said. "That's what I always value in my kids –"

Clank.

Oh, crud. Courtney had left the trimmers out. Again. That girl was so darn forgetful it wasn't even funny. And Sonic's shoe buckles had hit them. I'd forgive it if this wasn't the first time Sonic had given away his position through those buckles.

"What was –?" Mom started in the direction of the clank. Sonic backed up until he hit the hedge – which, alas, was about as far as he could go without leaving a Sonic-shaped hole in the bush. Luckily or unluckily, Mom's eyes fell on the trimmers first. "Courtney," she growled. "I swear, that girl –"

Then her eyes fell on Sonic.

Multiple expressions flashed across her face – surprise, bewilderment, confusion, awe.

I tried to tell her it was nothing. I really did. But somehow my voice failed me. "Mom –"

"Great – Caesar's – ghost," Mom choked out at last. Then she approached Sonic, glancing at him in absolute awe. She then extended out her hand to touch his quills. A tender gesture? No. She was trying to make sure that this was for real, that she wasn't hallucinating.

Sonic brushed her hand away. "Hey. Only Amy's allowed to do that."

Mom stepped back. I guess the swat was enough to convince her my hedgehog was real. She then extended her hand again – this time to shake Sonic's own. "I'm Liz Jorgman. Del – DJ's mother."

"Sonic the Hedgehog," Sonic said, smiling and shaking her hand with all the charms of a Sirensong, whether he meant to turn on the charm or not. (The guy was quite hard to resist, even in the games.) "DJ's in good hands."

Mom frowned. "So you know her?"

I stepped up to my mom. "Like I told Callie, you wouldn't have believed me if I told you."

"Fair point." Mom headed up to the doorway. "Anyone up for dinner?"

Well, that was a nice change of direction. Verse for the update: Isaiah 57:16. Stay tuned!