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her head against Stosh's shoulder.
    "What about you and Luke?" Stosh asked. "What is going on there?"
    "I don't know," she responded. "So much has changed."
    She didn't mention her talk with Luke last night. She wasn't even sure where it had been headed since they were cut off by the attack from the Rogues.
    "We should go," she said suddenly, pushing herself up.
    Stosh stalled but finally stood up next to her.
    They climbed back up over the concrete hill and into the lot where the transport was parked. Sabine was sprinting toward them, and for a moment Ally's pulse raced. She and Stosh met Sabine and all three of them skidded to a stop.
    "Was there another attack?" Ally asked. She looked over Sabine's shoulder and spotted the transport. From here she could see Luke and Max standing a few feet from it, and neither of them were acting alarmed.
    "No." Sabine was almost breathless. She leaned on her knees for a second until she could talk again. "It's Max..."
    "What about him?" Ally started walking toward the transport, and Stosh and Sabine fell in step behind her.
    "He's going to take the serum," Sabine said from Ally's side.
    "What!" Ally cried out.
    Then she was running, and even though she was Ordinary, she was still moving faster than Stosh and Sabine. She knew at least Stosh could give her a run for her money, but he was holding back. Either for Sabine, or for fear of what would happen when they reached the transport.
    Luke and Max were standing close, both leaning to look at something. Ally reached Max and grabbed his arm, spinning him to face her.
    "Are you out of your mind?" Ally yelled at him. "You want to take the serum? You don't even know what it could do to you? If it even works, the effects could take months, and by then it might all be for nothing. What would Heath think?"
    Max crossed his arms over his chest and smirked at her. "So you do care?”
    "Well of course." She slapped his arm. "What is this all about?"
    "I don’t know what you’re hinting at," Max responded. “I just want to help.”
    Ally looked at Luke, who remained expressionless, and then back at Max.
    Stosh came to stand beside her and whispered, "I told you."
    "I'm not going to take it just yet," Max said. "I need to think about it."
    "Sabine, get in the cab," Ally spat out.
    "What, why?" Sabine said nervously.
    "Because it's my turn to drive, now that Lilla is out cold." She shot Luke what she hoped was an angry look. "And I don't want to look at either of these two right now."
    "One of us should be up front," Max said. "To watch out for Rogues."
    "I think I've proved I can handle myself when it comes to the Rogues," Ally responded.
    Max opened his mouth, most likely to speak about the previous night's events, but Ally silenced him with a look.
    Luke and Max seemed suddenly amused by the whole scene, and Stosh was creeping toward the transport slowly. Ally gathered the map off the ground and went to kick dirt over the small fire they had made in the middle of the lot. She strode to the left side of the transport and climbed in. Sabine joined her shortly, and then she heard the back door of the transport slam shut.
    "You know, you told me a few weeks ago that Willow said Max makes you feisty. He makes you different." Sabine waited until they were back on the road to speak up. "But I think that Luke makes you... you."
    "What does that mean?" Ally responded.
    Sabine shrugged. "I'm not sure, it just sounds right. When I picture you, I see Luke too. Maybe it is just because that’s how I first met you, but he fits into the puzzle.”
    "Who would you pick?" Ally asked. "If it were you?"
    Sabine stared out the window. "Are you saying you need to pick?"
    Ally sighed. "I'm not sure I want either of them right now."
    Sabine glanced at her from the other side of the cab. "Luke."
    Ally looked at her and Sabine smiled.
    "I think it's always been Luke, and Max is a distraction from the hurt you endured during the separation from him."
    "Maybe we should