The cold, unforgiving wind sliced through my thinning sweatshirt like an ice dagger. It didn't help that I was soaked to the bone from the recent downpour of rain, although the temperature had dropped so much within the hour that I was surprised it wasn't snow. Of all the places to go during the winter, they picked New York. With a bag of food in my hand and nothing to look forward to but the flock's saddening faces, I made my way to the rooftop where we were staying. If only we were back at Mom's place, I thought. But of course the younger ones had overpowered me, wanting to take a trip to New York.
As I approached the building where the flock was waiting, I noticed a strange (but oddly cute) guy looking at me with a smirk. I tensed, and kept walking, but at the same time, I gave him a threatening stare that would of made a normal person back off. But this guy didn't care. He casually strolled over to me, grinning like the idiot he probably was.
"You look pretty down on your luck," he stated as if he were telling me the time of day.
"You will be if you don't back off," I retorted. He shrugged and stepped away, but still giving me this weird look, like he was trying to figure me out. I knew I would have to keep an eye on that creeper.
The flock was glad to see I was back and unharmed, but when Gazzy peeked into the plastic bag I had brought back, he was disappointed. "This is all?" he asked sadly, giving me a heartbreaking look while pulling out a box of saltine crackers and some peanut butter. I felt bad for him, but not so much for Nudge and Angel, who were also giving me downcast looks.
"You know I couldn't have bought the whole dang store if someone hadn't gone to the mall without my permission."
"It was nothing!" Nudge exclaimed, "Me and Angel just wanted to see what they had at Forever 21! You should have seen this amazing dress they had, it would've look fabulous on you! And they had this adorable mini-skirt, me and angel wanted to get them so we could match and--"
"You lost the credit card!"
"But it was an accident--"
"I had no idea where you were!"
"But the mini-skirts--"
"Nudge! Max!" Iggy snapped, "Cut it out! Nudge, Max is right, that was a stupid thing to do! Max, stop yelling at her about it, we're already stressed out enough!"
Nudge was close to tears, and I bet I looked pretty ticked off. The flock finished their sad meal in awkward silence, stacked fists, and called it a day. As everyone else found a somewhat comfortable spot to sleep, Fang came up to me.
"How much do we have left?" he quietly asked me.
"Are you talking about money, patience, or will to live?" I sighed, my exhaustion clearly heard in my voice.
"I was asking about money, but we can talk about the other two if you like," he muttered softly, reaching over to gently pull a piece of hair away from my face
"Well, then I have almost nothing," I replied, sitting down against the wall. Fang sat down with me.
"So the food issue?"
"Tomorrow, we'll get to eat at Le Fantaisie Dumpster," I answered with mock enthusiasm.
"And patience?"
"I'll make it," I said, closing my eyes and resting my head against the wall.
"Will to live?" he asked, he voice much softer.
I looked up and smiled at him. "I still have some of that left," I whispered. Fang grinned at me, flashing his white teeth, making my heart melt.
"How 'bout we head back to Dr. Martinez's house tomorrow?" he suggested, knowing me all too well. I only nodded, weary from the stressful day. Fang leaned over and kissed my forehead, then wrapped his arms around me to protect me from the cold. Sure that I would wake up tomorrow feeling a heck of a lot better, I was able to fall asleep with little to worry about.