The flock and I had just landed somewhere in Virginia, not telling you where. We had flown a good 14 hours today, and covered a lot of land. So after we got some grub we would head off to bed. It had after all been a really long day.
We ended up dumpster diving, but hey the food isn't all that bad, and there's plenty of it. And what else can we do that's free? And doesn't involve Fangs rat cooking skills? See my point? Yeah.
"Max!" I had learned to dread it when Nudge called my name. It usually means one of two things, she's hungry. Or she wants to go shopping. I'm guessing it's the second one, as we just ate. "Tomorrow, can we go shopping!" she asked excitedly. I almost groaned. I really hated shopping. Next to her, Angel looked at me pleadingly.
"Well," I said, stalling. I looked to the boys, hoping that they would have something to say that could save me. But even as I looked, they got evil looks in their eyes and I knew that I was going shopping tomorrow.
Fang shrugged, and Iggy smiled evilly (I don't even know how he knows I'm looking.) and Gazzy, said: "sorry max." my shoulders slumped, so that was it. I was going shopping tomorrow.
I threw a look of loathing at Fang, but he only smirked. He knew how much I hated shopping, and now I had to go tomorrow. When he sensed my anger, his smirk turned to a grin.
I really don't know what to make of Fang, right now. I mean we had been best friends forever. Ever since we were put in the same cage at the school. And we were babies then, we had been inseparable ever since. But now, we were growing up and getting older. And I was really confused about him.
Fang was or had been my brother for the better part of my 15 years, and now all that I knew and had worked for, was about to crumble. We had all been scarred by the school. And all had different ways of handling it, me? I taught myself that loving was dangerous and letting someone in, gave them ammo against you. So I never loved anyone. Not after jeb left. And that was three years ago.
When we had to rescue angel from the school, after we got her back Ari and his troop of erasers attacked, they got Fang. I have to give Jeb credit for this one, he totally caught us off guard on that one. But also if it weren't for Jeb, Fang would have died. But as it was he was badly injured and almost did die. I kind of kissed him. I was so scared for him and for me. He was my best friend no matter what, and that would never change. I just hoped that he knew that. I am just so confused, he had always been there for me and I could trust him. But…could I really?
it was all so confusing, I mean we were supposed to be the only people that we could trust, each other. Right? I groaned and dropped my head into my hands. It was all to hard. Being a leader at 15 drains you, it all ages a girl. And I admit that I am hard to deal with and I can be a little overbearing. But I try as hard as I can, to keep us all alive and happy.
This was all that I had ever really had, a family and barley enough food to survive on. That was okay…for me. But these kids deserved so much more, a home and happiness. But with me all they had was a crazy dangerous life; they should have so much more. And now with all the Fang drama on my plate it made me finally see that I had to save them, no matter the cost.
And making Fang happy was the first step.
I looked up as Fang dropped his sweat shirt on my head. I now notice that it's just us two awake. The kids and Iggy were all snoring in the dirt. I almost laughed at the sight of Iggy, his butt up in the air and face pressed into the dirt. I guess that he was comfortable because he hadn't moved. So I left him to sleep. At least he wouldn't have to stick around to be conscious. Children all of them, and so lucky. They hadn't had to learn quite so early. I was so sorry for what happened to them.
Fang nudged my shoulder, making me looks into his coal black eyes. He was always so understanding and kind to me. We were well suited to be a family. But what kind of family is what I couldn't figure out. He looked at me blank as usual. He and I had always been able to read each other like a book, but now I could tell something was on his mind.
I looked up into his face, wondering what was on his mind. He never looked this troubled, that troubled me. I couldn't deal with him being hurt, in any way. It hurts too much to see him hurt. So I'll wait until he tells me what's on his mind, until then I'm content to wait in the warmth that rolls off of him.
"We…need to talk." Fang said, quietly. I don't want to know if I want to talk to him, because then we would have to talk about-feelings. And I don't have everything all figured out. I'm Maximum I'm supposed to have it all figured out, that's who I am. But when it came to un-family feelings for fang, well if I had those I could barley admit that to me, never mind him! I guess that the real problem is that I'm scared.
"About…?" I asked, hesitantly. I know what it's going to be about, but I'll play dumb so that maybe he won't say anything. I just needed time. But if I knew Fang, and I do then that wasn't going to happen. I watched from the corner of my eye as he raked his hand through his long black hair and sighed in frustration while gazing into the flames. He always looked so much like an angel when he was angry. So beautiful. I quickly shook my head, I shouldn't be thinking about Fang like that.
"Max, I just need you to hear me out, okay?" he asked, and from the way he's looking at me that he really does need this. Maybe he just needs someone to understand. So I would listen. Even if it was something I didn't want to hear. Because I'm just amazing like that.
"I know that you won't want to hear this, but you need to. I am so…tired of you running away from me, it's like I'm the bad guy. I don't want to be the bad guy! In fact, I want to be the hero. I want to be your hero, your max. Because you can't run around trying to save everyone else, when there's no one to save you."
I stared at him for a moment, wondering if this was what everyone was always missing about Fang. This was the side of him, that only one person, one lucky person would ever know. And he had chosen me to be that person. I had no idea what to say, but I didn't have to say anything, he wasn't finished.
"You're always chasing after the kids, being a sister, a friend, and a mom all in one. I have no idea how you do it, but somehow you do, and you do a great job. But I know you, and sometimes you need something too. Even though you don't want to admit it. And I know that, because I've always been that person. But if I really try to help, you push me away. You need a max. And I'm that person, I'm your Max."
I could feel tears prickling my eyes, and I try to hold them back. But I know that I'm failing. I can't believe he knows that I really do need him. No one else does, they all think that I can get by with no one, and nothing. But that's not true. I need them all, especially fang. I have always needed Fang. And I always will.
"And you can say that you don't need me as much as you want. But I know the truth! And I'm not gonna let you say that you don't Love me! Because both me and you know that that's not true! Okay! I love you, Maximum Ride!" he cut off, breathing heavy, his eyes shone in the light of the fire, and suddenly I can see that he's right. I do love him. I always have.
I stared at him, not saying anything. And he stared back, as his breathing slowed… his black eyes unreadable. I want so bad to take him in my arms, but I know that if I do, I have given up and broken down. But…what if it was worth it? And if I didn't have to be so scared? Should I? Could I? What about the Flock?
I opened my mouth to say, what? I don't really know. He just pored out his heart and soul, so what I said was crazy and risky. But at the same time, it was just so right. "I know, and I love you too." his eyes grew a fraction wider. The Fang version of complete shock. I almost laughed, but just then 50 erasers dropped down around us. The noise effectively woke up the flock.
"Well, lookie what we have here!" the leader called out, his voice was mocking and cruel. I thought I knew that voice from somewhere… I just couldn't remember where. "It's the love birds, and there little chickadees!" the rest of his troop burst out in grotesque laughter, laughter that made my skin crawl and bile to rise in my throat.
Before I could leap to my feet, the leader grabbed my hair and yanked me to my feet, earning a hiss of pain. Fang leaped forward in anger, his eyes burned with fear and pain, almost as though he knew that we would be torn apart. Before he could reach us, he was kicked down. Angel was staring at the leader, trying to make him let me go, but it had no affect on him.
"What are you?" she asked in quiet horror. Her big blue eyes frozen wide, on her smudged dirty face, you could see the look of shock. The others looked back to the leader; he now wore a smug smile. As though he knew coming in that this would happen, as though he was prepared for a mind controlling 6 year old. Was that even possible? In our lives…maybe. I don't even know anymore.
"Me, kid I'm quite literally your worst nightmare. And I'm here for one reason and one reason only." his voice is filled with malice. There is no mercy and I expect none. I have just realized who he is. And somehow this doesn't surprise me. how could it? I mean really, but…ewe.
"What do you want, Sam?" I asked hissing. His fist slackened for a moment, almost as though he's shocked that I've put it together so quickly. But then his fist tightens and I'm dangling off the ground, looking into his pretty hazel eyes. The very boy that I had had my first date with now, held me above the ground about to hurt me more than ever. And I wasn't afraid. I spit in his face.
"I asked what you wanted, dog breath." I hissed angrily. His eyes widened, obviously he hadn't heard about my whole, uncooperative thing. What a shame. He wiped his face, and glared at me, if I hadn't grown up with Fang's death glares I would totally be peeing my pants right now.
Oh well, now I just had to get them away from my family. So I stared back with just as much fire and anger. I must have looked like an angel of destruction, with my wings slightly spread behind me and my eyes burning holes into him. before he realized what happened he flinched. And seeming angry with himself he pulled out and looked me in the eyes, reaching into his pocket he pulled out a huge envelope stuffed so that the flap barley closed.
"Money." he growled. Then nodding his head toward the flock that had been silent for all this time, "For them." my eyes widened, what did they want from me? Max, promise me something… I hear angel in my head. Depends sweetie, what is it? I asked. She swallowed thickly, that you'll always come back to us? She asked. I looked over to her, "Always." I whispered.
"Okay, now listen up. You come with us, and your pathetic flock gets to live, alone in peace. With money even! Do what we say and no one gets hurt, okay Maxi?" Sam finished, looking down at me with an air of superiority. One that he's used to.
I'm thinking of our chances of escaping when he mumbles. "I'm not like your dear dead brother, Max. I do exactly what I'm told. At any cost. So come on and come with us. Ad no one gets hurt." he smirked. But he had no affect on me. I really could care less about Sam.
But if I could give my flock, the one thing that we had been fighting for, forever. How could I pass that up? They deserved it. And it was worth giving me up for. If I could I could give them one last thing, this would be it.
"Fine." a gasp rose up from the flock, and yelling and screaming echoed around the forest. It was sad, angel dropped to her knees and cried. But made no move to stop me or the other erasers as they dragged me away, from the only family I had ever known…and the only man that I would ever love.
"see boys, I told you! I'm the best, after all who else could capture the great and mighty. Maximum Ride."