Max 1: Intros People.
Ok. Here's the lay down. My name is Maximum Ride, a.k.a, Max, and I've been on the run with my flock, my family, for I don't even know how long. By the way, I'm fourteen, am supposed to save the world, and I'm the leader of my flock. In the flock there is Fang who is fourteen, but only a few months younger than me. Fang pulls off the strong and silent type very well. Next comes Iggy, who's fourteen like Fang and I but a few months younger than Fang. He's blind but the best cook we've ever met. How can a blind kid know how to cook so well? You're looking at the wrong person for that answer. Then there's Nudge, who's eleven and can absorb information from computers just by touching them. Finally, there's Gasman, a.k.a. Gazzy, who's eight and Angel who's six. They are the only true blood related siblings among us. Gazzy has a wonderful little gift that lets him mimic any voice he's heard before. I've lost count of how many fights Gazzy's almost started with that little "gift" he has. Angel is starting to creep me out with her powers. She can read minds and she's starting to control people with her mind. And she's only six! Jeez!
We're on the run from a man whom we all at one time trusted and loved. A man that made me feel special and important, and had saved us all from a horrible place that we all called the School and who we had thought had been dead for two years. Jeb Batchelder. That name still makes me choke up every time I hear it. The name makes me choke up with anger. He was like the father we never had and then he goes and betrays us by going to work with the evil genetic scientists, a.k.a. whitecoats. And on top of all that, we have the devil's hell-hounds on our tails twenty-four seven. We think they might be tracking us by the chip I found in my forearm on an x-ray so many months ago.
Well Fang and I were still leaning against each other, so I quickly slid away, my face heating up. That's another thing that has me confused. My feelings for Fang. I haven't been able to figure out whether or not I love him. But, I guess I'll let things play out and see what happens over time. Who knows? Maybe I do love him, and maybe I don't. But, God, do I hope I don't. Who knows what that would do to the flock.
I was shocked out of my senses when Fang puts his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close to him. He did it right in front of the flock who was waking up from our loud laughing. I sat there for a few moments, not knowing what to do.
Go with the flow, Max, my irritating Voice said. Yes, I have a voice in my head. No, I'm not crazy. Though I am starting to suspect... So I decide to go with the flow and sit there like that with Fang as the younger kids start to go back to sleep. I don't know why, but I was getting an overwhelming feeling that I didn't want this to end. Whoa! Wait a minute! Fang is like my... brother. Nothing more. Right?
Not true. You have feelings for him. Just admit it, the Voice said calmly. No I don't! Or maybe I do... I don't know... it's all just too confusing... At that very same moment, Fang stands up and holds out his hand and says,
"Wanna go for a walk?"
I take his hand and say, "Sure. Let me just tell Iggy." I silently crawl over to where Iggy's laying and shake him awake. I tap him twice on the hand, meaning you're in charge until I get back. He nodded and asked fuzzily, "Where're you going?"
"Taking a walk with Fang."
"Oh, my, God!! He's actually going through with it!" Iggy said as excitement made his voice rise. That got me wondering. I shot a glance at Fang to realize that he already started walking.
"Through with what?" as I got frustrated because a series of stabbing glances didn't work on Iggy.
"Nothing. You guys go. I got everything under control here." Iggy said quickly as he sat up cross-legged and turned towards the other sleeping kids. My mind was still focused on the first thing he said. Was Fang planning something? A prank I bet. Best to keep my guard up and make sure that they don't get their way.
I started jogging towards Fang so I could catch up and saw that he was fiddling with something in his hands. He was nervous as hell because of the expression on his face. I've known Fang for so long that I can just tell these type of things with him. But here's the thing that really has me going. Fang is never nervous. Not about anything. So why is he so shaky? Why is he so sweaty, hot and a bunch of other things? You got me.
When Fang finally notices me walking towards him, he shoves the little thing in his pocket and flashes me one of his rare smiles. It felt like I had won all the money in the world. He said nervously, "You cold?"
"A little but I'm okay." I said, trying to conceal my shivering without much success. I also wasn't about to let my guard down either. Fang starts taking off his jacket that he snagged before we had left Anne's. More on that later. My jacket had been destroyed by an Eraser, so I didn't have one. I took his jacket and put it on happily. I have to admit, I am shivering it is so cold out here.
"Are you sure I can wear your jacket? Aren't you going to be cold?" I said as I looked at him and shivered.
"No. I'll be fine. I knew you were lying through your teeth when you said you'd be okay." Fang said as he grinned at me.
"Oh really. And how did you know that?" I said as I returned his grin.
"'Cause you were shivering." we started laughing together. I love hearing Fang laugh. It sounds like the perfect song is playing. Hey! It may be corny but that was all I could think of to compare his laugh to!
"I'm sorry about the Red-Haired-Wonder, Max." Fang said, which once again, shocked me right out of my senses. Two times in one day. Fang was on a role.
"It's okay. I'm sorry about Sam and pushing you." What was I saying?why am I sorry? Maybe for pushing him, but not for Sam. Why are we even apologizing to each other in the first place?
"It's okay and I probably deserved the push. I don't even know what I liked about her to tell you the truth." Fang said with a nervous chuckle. I was completely dumbfounded.
"Then why did you kiss her?! Why were you acting like an 'item'?!" I said as my voice rose with irritation and anger. Whoa Max! Calm down. What's in the past is done. Nothing can change that.
"I don't know. I thought I liked her. But I guess I didn't. I guess it was the moment, the feeling of the moment, the compulsion, that made me kiss her. I was an idiot. But let me make up for that," and at that very same moment, he grabs my shoulders and turns me so that I'm facing him. I looked into his eyes and saw it. Love.
