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Nick. Nobody’s gonna stop him when he’s got his mind set on something. I had to go in with him and Dean.”
    “I don’t want you taking risks like that.”
    “I had to help,” she said.
    Suddenly, Buddy ran up to Max to tattle. “Why the heck are you working with an imbecile like that Nick for?” he complained. “The kid’s crazy. He and that Lucas almost got us killed! He’s insane and oughtta be locked up. He knew the building was caving in, and he had no regard for our safety or anybody else’s.”
    Max cocked a brow in confusion and glanced over at Nick and then Lucas.
    “You’re still alive, aren’t you?” I asked. I then held up the bag Lucas had given me to carry. “Not only that, but we got what we came for.”
    “Really?” Max asked, flabbergasted, his eyes widening. “You got the notes, the research?”
    Nick nodded. “Yup. Humanity finally has a real glimmer of hope now. We just have to get this to the right people.”
    “How can we ever thank you?” Max said. “Had you not went in, we wouldn’t have these notes. It was a huge risk, but it paid off. You’re heroes, all of you. Your names will go down in all the history books.”
    Nick’s gaze narrowed. “No, that title belongs to the scientist who created the cure, back in Ohio.”
    I nodded. “Yeah, he’s the true hero. None of this would be possible without him.”
    We all nodded in agreement, knowing that Doc had made the real difference in the battle against the zombie virus.
    “There couldn’t be better news,” Max said.
    “What about the gang?” Asia asked. “Are they still messing with you?”
    “Nope. We wiped most of them out,” Max answered. “There are a few left, but we’ll regroup tomorrow and come up with a plan to get rid of them. For now, I think a celebration is in order.”
    We hurried into our vehicles and drove back to the apartment complex, excitedly rehashing our victory stories and enjoying the music someone was blasting from a CD player. There was laughing and crying, and we all had a few battle scars inside and out, but it was a day no one would ever forget. In the end, every bruise would be worth it, because we had, for all intents and purposes, saved humankind. It was only a matter of time before the world would be healed. 

Chapter 7
    W e sat outside at picnic tables, ready for a celebratory feast.
    Max walked toward us, carrying a lopsided cake. “Today isn’t just about our victory,” he said. “Today is all about Dean.”
    Heat rose to my face, and my cheeks burned red. I didn’t want the limelight, and certainly not when we had so much else to celebrate besides my eighteenth birthday.
    Max began lighting the candles. “Happy birthday, Dean,” he said. “You’re a man now, and not just because Uncle Sam says so. You’ve proved it in every way.”
    “I really thought everyone would forget,” I said sheepishly.
    “Not a chance,” Asia said, smiling. “How could we, when cake is involved?”
    Kate hugged me. “We’d never forget your birthday.”
    Val kissed me on the cheek. “Happy birthday, little brother.”
    I smiled. “You guys shouldn’t have. But how’d you manage to make a cake?”
    “I made it!” Grandma said, giving me a big hug. “Can you believe I actually found some vanilla frosting at the market? Sorry ‘bout the candles,” she said, pointing at them. “They only had a few, and none of them matched.”
    “Thank you,” I replied. “You’ve really outdone yourself.”
    “It even surprised me,” Max said.
    “You know the drill. Blow ‘em out and make a wish,” Claire coaxed.
    Nick wrapped his arm around her. “Yeah...and make it good.”
    Asia grinned. “Make it count.”
    “Wait,” Lucas said. “Aren’t we supposed to sing to the birthday boy first?”
    Embarrassed, I shook my head. “Lucas, you really don’t have to—”
    Grandma held up a hand to stop me. “Definitely! I’ll lead. I used to be a Broadway singer, if y’all can believe