"It's been a while," you said, as you walked side by side with Ben, "How have you been?"

"Good, I guess," Ben said, shrugging with his hands inside his pants pockets, you expression sadden, looking at the boy, "Are you still mad at me, for leaving without any warning...?" you asked, finding the pavement more interesting at the moment.

"Nah, but it was a bummer when you left, I'm cool with it now," he said.

You manage to a small smile, "Ya...sorry about that."

While walking to Mr.Smoothy, Ben filled you in on what's been going on while you were gone, about Kevin you never thought would be a good guy, was dating Gwen (who went to college early) and left.

Ben even talked about his new partner, Rook Blonko, "Can't wait to meet him." you smiled, as you got your smoothie. Your ears perked up when your friend mentioned Max.

"Wait, Max still lives here?" when you got a weird look from Ben, you knew exactly what he was thinking, "I didn't think Max hit the bucket just yet, I'm just happy, I just wanted to talk to him, and see how he's doing."

You chewed on your straw, its a habit of your when you were done with your drinks.

"My mom....while we back, said that my dad was an alien from space, and said I have some kind of freakish power or whatever that I control or something, he had something to do with the fire incident, remember."

"Your hand was on fire, and without a scratch. How can I forget that?" he asked, almost spilling over his drink.

You surprisingly felt a lot better, almost like a burden you've been caring all this time, was finally lifted off your shoulders.

"Ben, do you know where Max is by any chance?" you remembered visiting HQ at least once when you were younger but forgot where it was "I want to talk to him about the whole me being a hybrid thing and to see for myself."

"Sure-" "Great!" You got up, all ready to head out, "Let's go!" I ran ahead without thinking.

"Doofus! You don't even know where it is!" Ben yelled from, causing the (h/c) hair girl stopped dead in her tracks, realizing her silly mistake.

"Oops, my by..." you chuckled nervously, "Your right, so why don't you show me, Mr.Smarty pants?" you let Ben lead the way at you both cleared out.

You had your hands behind your back, humming to yourself, as Ben walked ahead.

"Ben..." you spoke up again, not really caring if you kept pestering the boy, you both had a lot to catch up on, not to mention questions to be answered.

You never thought you'll miss the boy this much, all that wait was totally worth it. "I missed you, like..a lot," you said, dramatically raising your arms wide.

"Don't say that so casually...doofus," Ben said, you only smiled.

"Hey! Admit it! You missed me too! You missed the sweet Lil'  me!" You teased, picking up your paste to catch up with him.

"You?Sweet? The first time you traveled with us, you bashed a robot, with a shovel, when we were ten, and your still a shortie-"  "I'm the average height for my age now," you stated, cutting Ben off. "The only reason it doesn't bother me as much as it did back then, is because you had a growth spurt, ad its naturally that you're taller now, but..only a few inches!"

"I'm still going to call you bean sprout," Ben said, without looking at you.

You grinned mischievously, as you walked "And I'm going to call you Greenie to annoy the heck out of you!"

End of chapter