When I wake up I see the note instantly.

  its on my desk, I change into a pale green t-shirt and baggy jeans before opening it.

  ?????

  that's all it says, but I know what it means.

  I walk to Max's room down the hall.

  I knock on the door.

  "Anyone awake in thereeee" I ask

  "now I am you dumby" Max groaned from what I assumed to be her bed.

  I open the door and find her wrapped in a cocoon of bnkets.

  "I'll . . . give you a pass" I say looking at the feathers all around the room and the tips of wings poking out of the bnkets.

  Max sighed in relief and I close the door as I come in.

  "I went to the thing in the town" Max muttered "it was fun"

  "really? I think Sye was there too" I said

  "she was, and she kissed me" Max said wistfully "or maybe I kissed her, doesn't matter that much, who kissed who"

  "tell. me. everything." I yank one of the bnkets away from her

  "well . . . I was dancing and she said 'hello' so I said hi and asked her to dance and she said yes and we did, during the dance we kissed" Max said quickly, touching a new bracelet she must have gotten there.

  "what happened after that? just like hi, kissed you, bye, no biggie?" I ask.

  "we hung out after that and watched the fireworks" she shoved her face into her pillow "they were much bigger up close"

  "and did she recognize you?" I lean forward and rip her pillow away, trying to get her to focus.

  "nah, she didn't, and I didn't tell her it was me either" Max mumbled "now go away"

  "no, I'll stay here and watch you sleep, poking you occasionally" I say, crossing my arms "maybe inviting Sye in to watch with me"

  "goooooo AWAY!" Max shouted and I left ughing.

  I closed the door again on my way out and ran back to my room.

  I grab the key for my drawers and unlock the top one.

  I slide a glove on and pick up the small cup containing the poison.

  "today" I whisper and slip it into my pocket.