So this is my first story--Apples to Apples! I'm assuming that you know the instructions. If you don't, there is a link from my profile.
Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride, James Patterson does. I do not own Gepetto's, the toy store, and I do not own the game Apples to Apples. Wow, that's a lot I don't own. I must be poor.

Wings to Wings
Chapter One: Actually getting the game

The flock and I had decided to move in with my mom, at least for now. It couldn't be permanent, but it was summer. It had been two years since Itex was destroyed, and there were no more Erasers or Flyboys after us. We could afford a rest, right?

That's what I told myself. I didn't like it in the long run, but it was nice for now. I was sure that come September or so, when they tried to make us go to school, I was going to leave with my flock.

Mom had bought a bigger house, and she and Ella had moved out into more the countryside of Arizona. It wasn't too hot, though I would have loved it if we were near the beach. As it was, Nudge and Angel shared a room with Total and Akila, Iggy and the Gasman shared one, Fang, Ella, and I each had our own. And there was a guesthouse for when Jeb visited.

My room was really nice, on the second floor. My window looked out on the wonderful view of the landscape, and it was big enough—without a screen!—that I could easily jump out to go fly around.

That was really nice. We could fly around without being under observation, and nobody was around to see us but our family.

Family. It was nice. For now.

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Fang and I woke up one morning at the same time, and we went flying together. We drifted along the wind currents lazily, and I loved the wind blowing through my short hair.

"I think we should go to town and buy some games," I said abruptly.

Fang looked at me from where he was next to me. He shook his hair out of his face, and I raised my eyebrows. "What kind?"

He just loved talking, didn't he?

"Well, I don't know. Some board games, maybe," I replied, beating my wings and raising higher. Fang followed.

"Okay," Fang agreed. "Sounds good. Should we go now?" He made as if to fly to the town.

"We need money," I said. "And we need to tell Mom we're going."

Fang grinned. "It's odd, isn't it?
"Compared to what it used to be, yes."

We flew back to the house, and into the living room. It was neat that Mom had put in a glass wall on the first floor that we could go in and out of. It was usually open.

Mom was there cooking breakfast with Iggy in the kitchen. It still blew my mind that he was such a good cook, and it was funny that he could see whatever the colors were on things.

She and Iggy looked up at our arrival. Ella was sitting at the table doing a puzzle.

"Hey Fang, Max," Iggy said, nodding and going back to his cooking.

Mom shook her head. "Iggy, you're amazing. So Max and Fang, how is it out there?"

I shook my wings out and folded them in. Fang leaned against the back of the couch in the living room.

"It's nice and sunny," I said.

"You're so lucky you can fly," Ella sighed. She was fourteen now, the same age I had been when I met her.

I laughed. "It comes with some repercussions, Ella," I told her.

"Max wanted to borrow money to go to town to buy some board games," Fang said, not beating around the bush.

"That sounds like a good idea," Mom said. She inclined her head to where her purse was. "Take some from my wallet." She flipped the eggs in the pan as Iggy started scrambling some more. "Do you want breakfast first before you go?"

"The flock'll wake up and beg to come," Fang explained. "Easier to go now."

Mom nodded. "Good reasoning. Are you going to fly?"

"Jeez, 20 questions," I muttered as I grabbed some money. Fang chuckled. "Yeah, we'll fly. Our secret's out, so we can just go in public. Bye!"

I ran out the door and launched myself into the air, swinging around over the top of the house to go toward the town. Fang flew right below me.

"Did you bring a weapon of some sort?" Fang asked as we flew.

"Why?"

"To repel the crowds that are going to swarm around us as we go there," Fang said. "It's annoying."

"You know, you've started talking more lately," I said. I didn't mention that it was mostly to me. "It's interesting, knowing what you're thinking. And you never show that it's annoying."

Fang rolled over in the air, letting his wingtip whack me in the chest. I soared higher and laughed.

"I didn't bring anything," I answered. "Want to race?"

"No," Fang replied. "Want to have a stealth contest?"

"Fair point," I conceded. "But still…race ya!"

I hurtled forward through the air at what must have been close to 200 mph. It was awesome! I slowed down at the nearest town's perimeter and waited for Fang. I went higher up in the air so that the humans couldn't see me clearly.

Fang caught up soon, shaking his head. "That's not fair," he argued.

I shrugged. "All's fair in love and war." That popped out before I could stop it. I mentally smacked myself.

Fang grinned mischievously. "Oh, I had forgotten that you loved me this much," he teased, holding his arms out.

I launched myself at him, spinning as I went. It was a move we had made up flying in these open area.

Fang dodged it easily, grabbing my wings and holding me to him. "You just lost. Now let's go get some games." He dropped me and I glided down into town, still above the buildings. Fang was right above me this time.

I heard exclamations and saw people pointing at us, yelling. I smiled and waved to acknowledge them. Humans would never stop being surprised.

"Where's the toy shop?" I asked Fang, rolling over so I was upside down. It had taken much trial and error—and falls to learn to do that. Try doing that move—while talking—in a town. I heard more exclamations from down below.

"I don't know, Miss Show-off. What reason have I had to go into a toy shop here?" Fang asked.

I sighed. "Time to land and ask directions."

Fang groaned, but we both descended. I flipped over first, though, and we touched down on the sidewalk.

I looked around. Oh no. People were walking toward us—some running.

I folded in my wings. "Is this how celebrities feel?" I asked Fang.

"I assume. And we are celebrities."

I took a step back. And bumped into someone. I turned around. It was a mother, with a daughter of about eight or nine years. Angel's age.

"Excuse me," I said. "Sorry." Fang snickered from behind me.

"It's quite alright," the woman said. Her daughter was hiding behind her skirts.

I bent down, thinking of Angel some more. I looked at the girl, who blushed.

"Hi," I said. "I'm Max. Can you tell me where the toy store is? I'm getting a game for my siblings. One of them is your age. Her name's Angel."

"You have wings," the girl whispered. She stepped out from behind her mom. "I'm Ginger." I noticed her flaming red hair. "The toy store is that way." She pointed down a street to our left. "It's called Gepetto's."

"Thank you," I said, waving and smiling. I stood up and turned to face Fang. "Let's go."

We jogged down the street, tucking in our wings tighter. We crossed the street and headed down the one that Ginger had pointed to.

"You're quite the charmer," Fang said as soon as we were out of earshot of the girl.

"You need to stop with these…old references!" I scolded him. "It's like a Max Rolodex of embarrassing stories."

Fang nodded, pointing his finger at me. "Now that's a good name for it. The Max Rolodex of Embarrassing Stories. I'll publish that book someday."

I punched Fang's shoulder as we stopped in front of the toy store. We walked in and looked around.

There were games, stuffed animals, and toys galore. We headed over to the shelf of board games. There were card games next to it as well.

"What to get?" I asked Fang.

Fang shrugged. "Whatever looks good and fun, I say."

"You looking for a board game?" A boy's voice said. I turned around to see a teenager with really bad acne standing there. He had a nametag—an employee.

"Yes," I answered. I don't know why, but he gave me a bad vibe.

"I recommend the card games, actually. Like Apples to Apples." He grabbed a box that was red with apples all over it.

He explained how to play it.

I looked at Fang, who nodded. "I guess we'll take it," I said. I reached into my pocket for money.

The boy waved a hand. "For you, I'll pay for it. It's an honor to meet Maximum Ride, the girl with wings. You're famous."

"When's he going to get down on one knee and kiss your hand?" Fang muttered. "This is going in the rolodex."

I shot Fang the bird. He just grinned.

"And I'll give you the special game that just came in. Only one edition of it."

"What's that?" I asked suspiciously.

"It has extra cards that you can name yourself. It's more fun that way," the employee explained.

"Fine," I said. "Let's have it."

He swept me a bow…

An agonizing five minutes later, Fang and I were taking off from outside the shop.

"That was too good," Fang cracked up, holding his sides.

"Need me to hold you up while you fly?" I asked sarcastically, holding the game.

We flew back with no other eventful happenings. We returned through the door to find everyone having eaten. Fang and I grabbed something quick to eat as everyone else assembled at the table. Mom was gone, having driven into town to work already.

Ella read the instructions as Fang and I ate. (link from my profile to instructions, too long to go into in the story)

Nudge nodded enthusiastically. "It sounds great! I think it'll be really fun! And I'm really glad that you can play with us, Iggy. I mean, it might take longer, but still." Fang elbowed her.

Ella was at the head of the table, or rather we were gathered around our large "coffee" table in the living room. Why do they call it a coffee table? I mean, we don't drink coffee, Nudge would combust from all the caffeine, and Mom never even puts coffee on it.

I was on Ella's right, and Fang was next to me, then Nudge. We were all sitting on the couch. Iggy was sitting on a chair at the other end of the table, and Angel and Gazzy were sitting on cushions opposite me.

"Oh and Angel?" Angel looked up at me.

Stay out of our heads! I told her in my mind. She grinned.

"I'll try, Max," Angel promised.

"And no influencing the judge or anything."

"I'll try, Max."

I nodded, satisfied. "Then deal the cards, Ella."

How was it? Review please! If you have an idea, just PM me, and I might include it. And yes, there will be other things going on in here besides Apples to Apples. Faxness, teasing, the rolodex, and other funny stuff.