Max's Independence Day

I gazed at the fireworks from the top of a skyscraper. Anne and Fang were at my side.

When the fireworks had first started, Total had disappeared into the hotel Nicole was staying in, complaining that the noise was too much for him to bear. Angel and Nudge had followed. Soon, Gazzy had gone to bed and Iggy had followed suit.

"We have a long flight ahead. You guys should sleep, too," he'd advised, but Fang and I wanted to stay outside.

"Why did you guys go so far away?" Anne asked. When we left her house, we flew back to our old place in the desert, surprised to find it still standing. But it was far away, so we'd mailed a letter to Anne asking her to meet us in Georgia. That way, we wouldn't have to fly as long.

Of course, we didn't put a return address on that letter. Nor did we call.

Calls could be traced, and we didn't know what other enemies like Lissa were out there. We didn't want to run into any enemies we didn't know.

In response to Anne's question, I shrugged.

A spark of light caught my eye. It bounded into the air, disappeared for a millisecond, then returned with a loud bang as it flashed iridescent purple.

I pitied Total- that had been the loudest bang so far, and it had caused several car alarms to go off only to add to the din.

But it was still a spectacular show.

Suddenly, I had the urge to show off.

"Ever wonder what it's like to fly through fireworks?" I said.

Fang saw me stand up.

"Max…" he said cautiously.

I jumped off the roof, wings already spread. I tilted my wings to one side, and zoomed.

First I angled downward, towards where the 'works were being set off.

One was lit already and it exploded upward. I flew right beside it.

Then it stopped, losing its momentum and hanging in the air.

I continued shooting past it.

Then it exploded.

I couldn't tell, apart from a scary moment when my hair caught fire. But it fizzled out quickly, and as far as I could tell the fire had only reached the tips. I didn't hear an explosion either, because the wind rushing past my ears drowned out anything but the frantic beating of my heart.

I returned to the roof.

"Whoa," said Fang. He was speechless. Anne, however, was not.

"That was so cool! You were, like, whoosh and the fireworks went bang, and it exploded with you in the middle! That was so cool!"

She continued jabbering. I was beginning to wonder when she had switched places with Nudge when she said something troubling.

"Can I try it?"

Five minutes later, she was rushing upward, fireworks exploding at her feet.

It did look pretty cool. And fun.

"Aww, I wanna try!"

Gazzy had flown up to the roof. His fascination with explosions never seemed to leave him. Iggy had followed him up.

"Er, unless you've developed supersonic speed like Max and Anne, I would have to advise against it," said Fang.

Gazzy pouted while Iggy smirked.

We watched Anne play around for a few more minutes, then she came back.

"We should get to bed. Long trip," Iggy repeated. Even Anne was yawning.

"All right. See you guys downstairs," I said.

They flew off and disappeared from view.

Now it was just me and Fang.

"Happy independence day," I said to Fang.

We kissed while fireworks went off at the edge of our vision.

Fang stopped for another moment to say it back.

Then we continued.

Happy 4th of July!