In the aftermath of the fighting, Ari looks over at Max.

"You know, I used to hate you. My father was always looking at you. I wished he would look at me. And he did. When I made a detailed plan to kidnap you. "

"When you were still in the body of a child, I didn't have complicated feelings about you, Ari. You were my little brother. When you became an eraser, I was terrified. When I killed you, I was in a panic. And then Jeb told me that I had killed my brother."

"WHAT!"

"Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction. I don't know what to think of it. Was he telling the truth?"

"I don't know? I don't remember him mentioning that. But… ever since I became an eraser, my memory has been all over the place… or maybe it has been since I came back from the dead. I can't tell. Sometimes I forget how to do basic stuff, like write my name. "

"Is that why you don't believe me about the Nintendo DS?"

"Probably. It doesn't feel real to me. "

There is silence between them.

"You know, I once had freaky hallucinations, or hopefully dreams, that I was walking around as a Max-eraser."

Ari stares at her, wondering where this confession is going.

"You and I were always alone ,Max. No matter how many other people are around."

Max stares at him.

"You kidnapped me. I didn't have a choice about that."

"Even before that. We were always different, Max. Special."

"Is that why you kidnapped me?"

" I wanted you to like me. The last time you had seen me, you looked at me like you hated me."

"Ari, we were trying to kill each- other. "

"I know! It's been awhile since our last serious attempt." He paused and tilted his head.

"Does that make us friends now?"

Max paused too. "I don't know? I haven't exactly had a friend who wasn't a sibling before?"

Ari laughs. "You just told me that Jeb said you were my sister! You still don't have a friend who isn't a sibling."

They both laugh at that.

"Wait, maybe that Sam guy? Or were you more than friends?" "

Max has to ask "Who?"

Ari looks at her. "You got ice cream with him, and kissed him on the porch?"

Max blushes "Wait, Why do you know that last bit?"

Instead of answering the question, Ari begins to sing.

"Max and Sammy kissin on the porch. Hide-ing out be-hind the door!"

"That rhyme was terrible. Get back here!"

Max chases after Ari, leaving broken machinery parts behind them.


"Something has always bugged me." Max admits when she catches up to Ari. "Why was there a clone of me?"

Ari looks at Max "Dad has always been obsessed with you. He left me behind to go be with you. He's been stalking you. He helped me abduct you. I wouldn't be surprised if he has more clones of you, but no matter how many other kids or clones he has, none of them will be as good as you are to him. I HATE IT! I HATED YOU for it!"

Ari takes a breath. "But as usual, he didn't care about me."

They walk for a bit, in the heavy silence. Finally, Ari breaks it.

"Max, when we got out and went to the library, why did you catch me up on Pokemon the Hack, instead of checking on Fang's blog?"

Max stops, and wishes she could still fly, and escape this conversation. That's embarrassing.

"I forgot."

"You forgot?"

"I forgot Fang had a blog."

Ari's howl of laughter is more literal than most, given he is part wolf.

Max's blush flushes up her ears and down her neck. " Shut up. " She mutters.

Ari keeps laughing.

"We . …Really … Are. .Friends ….Max." He chokes out between the laughter.

"I'll shut you up." Max promised darkly.

And once again, the fight is on again.