“Max rocked back on his heels, shoving his hands into his pockets, and said, 'So. Juliet Cavanaugh. I assume my parents have been talking your ear off for the last however many months, telling you how awesome I am, and filling your head full of stories of my impressive talents in the kitchen.''Um. Not so much,' Jules said, shooting a glance at Danny, who shook his head and went back to his prep work.'No? I should take this opportunity to set the record straight, then.' Max heaved a deep sigh. 'It's all true.''What?''Everything they should've told you about me,' Max explained. 'And I don't know why they didn't, because it's all true. No exaggeration or family bias plays into it at all--I am the best chef in the entire world.”

“Deep, choking sobs that sounded like his soul was being torn apart. He clutched at his father and Max took his in his arms. "I am so sorry dad." Kyle sobbed. "And I forgive you because that is what fahters do" said Max”

“It doesn't matter how many they kill," I told him. "And it's not awesome-it's wrong.""Then why do you talk about them all the time?" asked Max."Because wrong is interesting.”

“How did you know to turn back?" I said.With his head still down, he said, "I waited for you.""But its a race. Why did you wait for me?"He lifted his head so that his eyes met mine. "I always wait for you." He took a deep breath, my ankle still in his hands. "I'm always waiting for you."In an embarrassingly breathless voice that didn't sound like my own, I said, "Because I'm so slow?"He smiled. "Yes. But not in the way that you think.”

“Yeah sure,why not?"i said,making a mental note to get a good look at his wings. For all I knew, they were remote-controlled and duct taped to his back.”-max”

“You know,' I called, 'you're the one that's going to have to explain to Max how you got your blender back.'I'll tell him I astral-projected. Butt-head.”