Night Flight

"I don't understand…. Are you some sort of experiment gone wrong?" the young waiter asked, eyeing Max's wings.

"Yes, except for the 'gone wrong' part," Max sighed. "Now can you please give us our drinks, so we can get out of this place?" She looked up at the ceiling warily. The waiter nodded quickly and ran to the back of the café to get the drinks.

"Max, calm down. I don't think anyone from the School is going to find us here," Fang reassured her from under the hood of his black hoodie.

"I know. I know. I just don't want to let my guard down. The last time I did, Ari and everyone else found us, remember?" Max whispered sharply.

"Uh here you go," the waiter boy rushed to the counter, almost slipping on the wet tiles, with their drinks. Max snatched them and handed one to Fang.

"Thanks," she said. Fang slapped a few dollars on the counter and with that the two mutants rushed out of the café into the night.

When they reached the end of the small parking lot, they took flight. Flying recklessly through the sky, Max was reminded why she loved flying so much. She loved the feeling of the breeze against her skin and the wind rushing through her hair. But most of all, she loved the view. She could see for miles and miles. She loved watching the rivers wind through cities and forests like strings. She loved how the city lights sparkled in the dark. She loved the way she felt, being able to see so much yet be so small. Being able to fly was one of the only reasons she kind of liked being a mutant (if kind of liking being a mutant is even possible). That and Fang. Oh Fang, sometimes her feelings for him were so confusing but she was glad to have him.

Tonight was the first time in a long time that Max and Fang had been able to go on one of their night flights. Just the two of them; the eldest of the flock.

Fang pointed to a cave on the side of a cliff. Max nodded and they landed. After checking to make sure the cave was empty, they sat down near the edge and let their feet dangle over the dark forest. They sat in silence for a while, sipping their drinks

"I'm scared," Fang said, breaking the quietness that had surrounded them.

"Of what?" Max asked looking at him.

"Losing you," he replied returning her gaze. "I mean the flock is great and I love them, but they're not you."

"C'mon Fang, you know me," Max teased. "I'm going to stick around and be a pain in your back-side as long as possible." Fang's lips curved up into the faintest of smiles. She rested her head on his shoulder. He sighed. Then he cupped her face in both hands and stared into her eyes. She stared back. Before Max knew what was happening, her best friend leaned in and kissed her. Heart leaping in her chest, she kissed him back. And for once, being a mutant freak wasn't so bad, because she had Fang.