Okay, this is my first fanfic, and it's kinda boring at first but it'll get exciting later. J And I wrote this at 3:30 in the morning, so sorry if it sux. I'll post Chapt. 2 up soon. Please please please review! Anyways, Enjoy!! :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride. (Duh. :P)
Chapter 1
I stared in complete horror at my hands. What had she done to me? This was the far scariest experiment that had ever been performed on me. Ever. And the results weren't pretty.And believe me, I've been in some pretty scary situations before.
"You look like you're about to cry," Ella informed me. "Like your face is all red and everything."
I glared at her. Couldn't she see that I was in a very distressing and painful situation? I looked down at my hands, stricken.
"You painted my nails," I hissed.
"But they look really cute!" Ella pointed out cheerfully. My eyes practically bugged out of their sockets.
"They're bloodred! It looks like my fingers are bleeding," I said in my most disbelieving tone.
"No, you're wrong." She crossed her arms in front of her chest. "It's candy apple red."
I rolled my eyes. "And you couldn't have tried out your new nail polish on Nudge Angel, Iggy, or Gazzy? Or Fang?" I added on as an afterthought.
Ella shrugged. "Angel's out back watching Total and Magnolia, Nudge is downstairs kicking Iggy's and Gazzy's butt at Call of Duty and Fang is out picking plums for Mom with her basket."
She gave me an innocent smile. I gave her my meanest look, and believe me, it's not something I use lightly.
Suddenly, the phone rang. I heard three simultaneous voices yelling "I'll get it!" Then there was a crash, and strangely, the sound of a yowling cat, and a shriek. Then all was mysteriously silent. I raised my eyebrows, concerned. When the three younger bird kids were in a competition to reach the phone, all was fair game.
I gave Ella my 'I'll kill you later' look, then scrambled downstairs quickly to find Nudge, Gazzy, and Iggy sitting in front of the TV, controllers and a Xbox spread out across the floor. I surveyed the room quickly, taking note of the damage. Nudge's hair looked a bit ruffled, but then it always was. Gazzy looked a little annoyed, but that was all. Dr. Martinez's prized glass table had a new scratch, running from one end down the side. I also searched for the cat, but nothing.
Angel was holding the phone to her ear, smiling victoriously. I shook my head. I really was going to have to talk to her about the whole 'mind controlling thing.' I watched Angel's brow furrow.
"Yes, she's here, would you like to speak to her?" She politely asked. It did my heart proud to see her so well mannered. Yep, and they had learned it all from me.
"Die, stinkball!" Gazzy yelled at the screen.
Angel skipped down to the kitchen where Dr. Martinez was cooking my favorite chocolate chip cookies, warm and crispy on the outside, yet chewy on the inside, and the fudgy goodness would melt in your mouth, leaving a sweet, tingling sensation- MUST STOP THINK ABOUT COOKIES.
I mentally berated myself. I had to stop myself before actual drool came out of my mouth.
I inadvertently watched Gazzy cackle delightedly. Nudge let out an evil giggle of her own. Suddenly I saw Iggy tense up, and instinctively I did too, years of being tracked and hunted making me instantly paranoid. I heard Dr. Martinez's low voice murmur into the phone. Even with my super good hearing, I couldn't understand what she was saying.
Her voice raised for a moment, and I made out the words "extremely difficult. My daughter-" then her voice was back to that soft murmur. Jeez. Talk about dangling the hook. I carefully picked my way through the wires and bird kids splayed across the carpet and made my way to Iggy. He sensed me coming and scooted over a bit to let me crouch down beside him on the sofa.
"You heard that?" I whispered so softly it was nearly inaudible.
He nodded almost imperceptibly at me, just a tilt of his chin. Iggy sat alert, listening to the conversation that my ears were straining to hear. He motioned for me to be quiet so he could listen. I rolled my eyes at him, and sighed when I realized my expression would be lost on him.
I finally heard a loud "Good bye," and my mom walked into the living room and placed the phone back on the receiver. She cleared her throat loudly, and we all turned to stare at her. I noticed Ella was standing at the foot of the stairs, and her gaze was shifting from our mom to-
I frowned. She wasn't really looking at me, more like somebody sitting right next to me. My eyebrow shot up.
Dr. Martinez smiled at all of us. "I have some news to tell you. Jeb called, but I'll tell you what he said when Fang gets back-"
The door swushed open, and Fang entered. I bit my lip at the sight of him, not because I wanted to run over and hug him and tell him I missed him, but because I was trying not to laugh. He was covered in splattered plums and was carrying a full basket at the crook of his elbow tied with a pink ribbon. It was pretty hilarious, let me tell you.
"Oh- thank you, Fang," Dr. Martinez hurried to get the basket from Fang, and placed it down next to her. I heard a small snicker, and Fang shot whoever a murderous glare that shut them up immediately.
"Well, you're right on time," Dr. Martinez told Fang. "If everybody could come to the dining room?..."
We all followed her into the large room already set for eight. Ella started to follow, but when she realized that she wasn't meant to hear it, she went back upstairs in a huff.
"So, what's crackin', Doc?" asked Total, putting his paws on the table.
My mom gave him a smile. "As I already told you, Jeb called, and he wanted for you to know that the CSM wants to organize an event that will spread more awareness about pollution, the ozone, etc."
Like nobody knew about the evils of Itex already? I could bet that there was not one person in the civilized world who hadn't heard about Itex, either from the CSM, Fang's Blog, or us, the flying bird kids. But since she was my mom, I kept myself from making that particular comment.
"The CSM had an idea to hold a public, live press conference where you all will be present, and Jeb and a few other scientists will explain what Itex is doing. It's pretty much similar to what you did in Mexico City, except no air shows."
"So we just stand there and look pretty?" Nudge asked.
Dr. Martinez nodded. "That's basically it. Of course, there will be a few reporters that want to ask you questions, and get more of the Antarctica story firsthand, but the CSM will coach you on what to say."
Nudge and Angel's eyes quickly turned to me, pleading. My stomach turned. The last time we were in Mexico City, we were surrounded by flashing cameras and people, so we weren't able to prepare for the attack from the M-Geeks. (M-Geeks. I love that name.) But I wasn't ready to go face the large, teeming crowd again. Not in a million years. It still gave me a claustrophobic feeling each time I thought about it.
"No. No way are we doing that again." I quickly averted my gaze from Nudge and Angel's big, begging eyes. One dose of the Bambi eyes then I would be a goner.
"Max-" Gazzy started, but I cut him off.
"No. We can't go. Remember what happened last time? And you guys know that the media and I don't really cozy up."
I looked at Fang for backup. He tossed his head to get the hair out of his eyes. His dark eyes met mine and I knew he was with me on this one. He knew everything about me, and our minds were so alike. Heck, no wonder I loved him-
I hadn't just thought that, had I? No way could that idea had come from me. There was a small cough from Iggy, and I realized that I had been staring at Fang for probably about ten billion minutes and everybody was looking at me. Angel was smiling hugely, having picked up on my last thought. I scowled at her. Little mind-reading brat. I looked everywhere but at Fang, and out of my peripheral vision I saw that the corner of his mouth was uplifted slightly.
"So," I said a little too loudly, and everybody jumped. Everybody but Fang, of course. "We can't risk this. We are not going to the live press conference, okay?"
"But Max-" Gazzy protested.
"No buts." I said firmly. "All we need is a bunch of Flyboys or M-Geeks or whatever the whitecoats dreamt up this time to come after us and try and kill us LIVE."
I pushed back my chair and walked to the door. I heard somebody mutter, "yeah, cause that would be the worst thing ever," and I stomped outside.
Okay so I've gotten up to chapt. 5 written. Please review!!!