***

I glanced at the clock in the corner of the room. Oh God, not now Nudge. Please?

Too bad Nudge couldn't hear my thoughts. She just kept talking. "I mean, I've always wanted to model, and this is such a dream for me, but I wouldn't dream of leaving the flock, I-"

Dr. Martinez walked in the room. "Max? Who is that?"

Yes, Dr. Martinez is talking to me. The name's Max. Maximum Ride. I know, weird name. Get over it.

"This lady from some teen magazine," I replied. "She wants Angel, Nudge, and I to all model for her magazine." I looked at Dr. Martinez pleadingly. "Please don't let her do it to me, Mom. I don't want to get outvoted."

Yes, I did just call Dr. Martinez my mother. Because that's who she is. She's like the most amazing mom in the entire world. Does your mom give you a kiss and tell you "go get 'em, sweetie" before you fly away to save the world? Didn't think so. And yes, I did just say fly away. More on that later.

Angel was sitting with her stuffed angel, Celeste, in the corner, watching the lady talk to Nudge curiously. Angel is possibly the cutest six-year-old girl to walk the planet. When those blue eyes look at you, you just want to say yes to everything. From personal experience, don't do it.

"Okay, you guys can keep chatting, but I'm getting out of here," I said, walking over to a nearby window and looking down to the ground two stories below, where Gazzy and Iggy were doing God knows what. I turned around to look at the lady. "And just for the record, I am not wearing any skirts or heels, and I am not walking down any stupid runway." I turned, opened the window, and jumped out before I could see Nudge's disappointed face.

As soon as I was out of the window, I shot my wings out, supporting me easily. Iggy, Gazzy, Nudge, Fang, Angel and I are not just normal kids. Nudge prefers to call us Avian American, but I just prefer to call us bird kids. The six of us (aka, the flock) grew up in a lab, (commonly referred to as the School) and had our DNA mixed together with DNA from birds. If you think that's weird, close this book now. It's only going to get weirder.

I landed on the ground below. Iggy looked up.

"How was the meeting?" he asked, looking at where my nose was. For a blind kid he was pretty good, but not that good.

I groaned and sat down between them. "Nudge is still talking her face off to the lady. I left."

Gazzy snickered. "Obviously."

I rolled my eyes, and looked down at the grass. Iggy and Gazzy were playing cards. "Who taught you guys how to play cards?"

"Ella," Iggy said casually. Gazzy and I looked at each other, amused. Iggy had a crush on Ella, my half sister and Dr. Martinez's daughter. We tried not to rub it in too much.

"What game is it?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Go Fish," Gazzy announced. "Iggy, got any eights?"

I blinked in surprise. "Isn't that the card game preschoolers play all the time?"

"Yup." Iggy handed Gazzy two eights, and looked at me. "Why?"

I snorted. "You guys seem a little old for that."

"Old for what?" Fang asked as he walked out from the shadows under a tree. I swear, sometimes he seems like more of a bat than a bird.

"We're playing go fish, Fang," Gazzy said. "Want to play with us?"

"Uh, no thanks," he said, flashing a half smile. My heart did a little turn. Jeez. Life would be easier if he never smiled.

Mom came out of the building with Nudge and Angel. "Hey guys," she said, smiling brightly. "I was thinking."

Gazzy looked at her cautiously. "About what?"

"You know, since this is your last day here for a while, we should do something fun."

"Fun like what?" Nudge asked curiously. "Cuz you know, going ice skating would be-"

Gazzy clamped a hand over her mouth. Mom looked amused, then continued. "I was thinking we could go out for dinner or something. We could all dress up and go to a fancy restaurant." She looked at me, her eyes sparkling. "It wouldn't hurt you to wear a dress for once."

Everyone turned to look at me. Why not, it might do you some good to girlify you for once.

Well hello, Voice. Nice to hear from you again. Yes, I do have a voice inside my head. One other than my thoughts. No, I'm not crazy.

I sighed. "What the heck, why not. Never again, though," I added as Nudge's face lit up.

***

Remind me why I let you talk me into this? I asked the Voice as Nudge left the room to get her makeup. She insisted on giving me a little makeover, "just for tonight". Yippee.

It would do you some good to do something just for fun. You haven't done that in a while.

And you call this fun? I sighed. Nudge came back into the room. "Here, only a few more things and you're finished," she said brightly.

After smothering me with lip-gloss and eyeliner, she was finally finished.

"Ooh Max," she gasped. "You look fabulous!"

I rolled my eyes and looked in the mirror. My eyes widened in shock. Thanks to Nudge, I looked like a beauty queen. I felt a blush begin to deepen on my cheeks, and I turned back to face her.

"No. I-I can't go out looking like this."

Nudge looked a little offended. "Why not?" she said defensively. "You look hot!"

"I-I'm sorry. I just can't." since when do I say sorry? Feeling a little vulnerable, I turned away and began wiping a little of the blush off my cheeks. I turned back to see Nudge's eyes filling with tears. I was shocked. The flock hardly ever cries. Especially not about silly things like makeup. But she looked distressed and upset.

I softened. I can't help it, I'm the motherly type. "Okay, I guess I can wear it. But just this once." She immediately brightened.

When I walked down the stairs, everyone getting their stuff together immediately stopped. Nudge was wearing a yellow dress that made her look gorgeous, and I shyly (yes, I felt like a total idiot) walked down the stairs in a blue top with a matching skirt. That was the most my mom could convince me to wear.

Angel stared. "Max you look beautiful," she said in awe. Angel was adorable, of course, in a pink dress with a matching bow in her hair.

I smiled, and my gaze met with Ella on the other side of the room. I didn't dare look at Fang.

Ella paused, and then rubbed her hands together. "Alright, let's get this party started!" she announced.

Everyone got together and loaded into the car. I grabbed my coat and turned around to see Fang right in front of me. Everyone else was in the car. Oh jeez.

"You look great," he said.

I fought to keep my jaw from dropping. Mr. Tight Mouth? Complimenting me?

"Uh, thanks," I said, and turned and walked to the door as quickly as I could, but he grabbed my elbow. I slowly turned around.

God, does he look good, I thought. His khaki pants and white shirt with the blue tie looked great with his dark hair. He came closer, and suddenly I smelled something. Axe? Oh God. Max, do NOT laugh. Not now, I told myself. But it was too late. The words already came out of my mouth.

"Are you wearing axe?"

Fang shrugged. "Maybe. So what?"

The laughter came out, ringing like bells. I couldn't help it. It was funny. But I suddenly saw the insecurity in his eyes, and I stopped. Even self-confident Fang can't be confident about everything.

"It smells great," I joked. He smirked, and we turned and went out the door.

***