Chapter 1
Max's P.O.V.
"Whoo hoo!"
"Great job, Gazzy!"
"Yeah, awesome!"
Everyone cheered (except for Fang, who just managed a small smile) for Gazzy, who bowed after his amazing play with his imitating voice. We were in New York (again, mainly because the Flock had liked it so much there) sitting on a couch in a ratty little motel on the edge of bankruptcy. But I wasn't the one to complain, since each of us had our own room for a ridiculously cheap price. We were all happy, 'cause we haven't even had a whiff of Erasers in the area for over 4 weeks! That was pretty amazing, since I had that stupid tracking microchip in my arm. I was sure they were planning something, but I couldn't let the Flock know I was worried, especially the little ones. I was pretty good at hiding my emotions, except from Fang. He could always see through me like an open book.
"Max?" a timid voice called out, and I was immediately zapped back to reality. It was Angel who had said my name, and was worriedly looking at me.
"What?"
"You totally blanked out," Fang replied for her, finally getting up from the wall he had been leaning on for Gazzy's show. "We've been calling your name, like, seven times."
"Oh," I mumbled, trying to hide my blush. "Um, I was just thinking of something."
"Well, she looked like a fish while doing it," Fang murmured to Iggy, who was trying hard not to laugh.
After I had punched his arm, Fang brushed his dark hair out of his eyes, his, deep, dark, chocolate brown eyes . . . . . .
Max, snap out of it! I scolded myself. I had been having these weird thoughts about him lately, and it had been so confusing . . . . . . . .
Hello, Maximum Ride.
Geez, you're back again, Voice?
Yes, I am. But I am here to remind you of something.
By the way, do you have like, a proper name or something? 'Cause just calling you "Voice" seems kind of weird. . . . .
That is not important now Maximum. I have to remind you, do NOT get too close to Fang.
"WHAT? What do you mean, not too close to Fang?" I practically shouted, then realized I had spoken aloud.
Iggy and the Gasman were laughing, Angel took her eyes away from Celeste to stare at me, Nudge looked at me like she thought I was crazy, and even Total was looking confused. Fang was the only one who looked calm, but he was probably screaming inside.
"Uh, um, I mean . . . ." I said, blushing the colour of a ripe tomato. "Uh, it's just that—"
"AHAHAHAHA, MAX LIKES FANG! MAX AND FANG SITTING IN A TREE, K-I-S-S—" Gazzy sang.
"Shut up! I don't like Fang!" I said a bit too harshly to Gazzy, and he stopped immediately, staring at me with sad blue eyes.
"Oh, Gazzy, I didn't really mean that, honest," I murmured, going over to him to give him a quick hug. "Um, the shut up part, I mean." I said too quickly, after realizing how what that sounded like. Gazzy gave a brief smile, and I think I saw Fang smirking. That was when, unfortunately, a whole pack of Erasers burst through the windows.