Chapter 2:

Finding a Family

Part 1

I froze for a moment. I wasn't expecting the kiss. Sure, we'd kissed before (among other things), and our relationship was no secret, but Ihadn't been prepared for an ambush. I relaxed and kissed her back, if not with a little force. We pulled apart and just stood there, holding each other for a moment.

Maya looked up at me, "I have to go." She laughed at my alarmed expression. "I promised Star and Kate I'd go to the mall with them today."

I watched her walk away, white hair glistening in the sunlight like snow. 'White hair' you ask? Oh! That's right! I haven't told you how we all ended up here yet, have I? Well, it all started about two years ago…

. . . . . . . . . .

Two years ago…

"FAAAANG!"

I scowled. Why did Holden always have to be so energetic this early? Granted, it was almost noon, however, I'm not much of a morning person.

I was sitting under the table in the corner of our 3 bed hotel room in Chicago, IL. Yes, under the table. Hey, it was quiet and dark. I was updating my blog, when Holden came running in the room. He ran over to where I was trying to hide (not working, obviously), and started dragging me out of my little hidey-hole.

"Fang, why are hiding under the table? Come on, we're all going to that Japanese restaurant down the street. Come with us. I know you love sushi," he said as he dragged me out the door.

"Well, since you're not giving me a choice, I might as well join the party," I said sarcastically as we reached the bottom of the stairs where Ratchet, Maya, Star and Kate were all waiting for us.

"Hey, you actually managed to drag him out from underneath the table. Nice work, Starfish!" Ratchet said, giving the 14-year-old a high-five.

We headed to the restaurant and pick a place in the far back corner so that it was darker and quieter for Ratchet. Half an hour later, we were all eating and having a good time.

"Hey, Kate." I said, turning to look at her. "How are we on money?" I didn't want to start stealing from stores just to get food… again.

She pondered that for a second. "I'm not sure," she admitted. She turned to Ratchet. "Ratchet, how's our money supply? Ratchet? Ratchet!"

But Ratchet wasn't paying any attention. He was staring behind me, out of the restaurant's front windows.

"Ratchet, what's wrong?" I asked, looking over my shoulder trying to see whatever it was he was seeing. I was immediately concerned. Ratchet didn't just stare, stupefied at nothing. "Ratchet!" I said again when he didn't respond.

He stood suddenly. "Sorry, it's nothing. I have to go do something. I'll see you guys later." He all but ran out of the restaurant. We all stared after him, shocked by his sudden outburst. I wanted to rush out after him, but I didn't want him to think I didn't trust him. Besides, if he thought it was something serious, he wouldn't go out after it by himself. He was smarter than that. So I reluctantly sat back down when I realized I'd stood up.

Maya leaned across the table and whispered so that only the gang could hear her. "What do you think that was all about?" she asked in a worried voice.

I shrugged, "Who knows." I was reminded once again how different and independent she was from Max. She really was her own person. She'd been proving that over and over again in the past 3 years. I suddenly wondered what Max and the flock were doing right now. After we found Angel, a month after the bombing (when we thought she had died), the flock and my gang had said our goodbyes then gone our separate ways. I hadn't heard from them since.

I sighed and looked over my shoulder one last time, but Ratchet was already well out of sight.

. . . .

Ratchet wasn't sure what he was doing. He was standing under a tree, stalking a man with pitch black hair, olive skin and dark eyes, almost black. The others would think he was crazy, but he knew, he knew, that he hadn't been hallucinating when he looked out the window and saw a 45 year-old Fang sitting on a park bench a mile away. He needed to investigate, but he didn't want to tell Fang just yet, he'd been through enough the past two years. No, Ratchet needed to be sure before he told Fang. The man stood up, stretched, checked his watch and started down the road. Ratchet waited three minutes, and then followed.

. . . .

I was pacing the hotel room. I was agitated. Ratchet had just called and said that he wouldn't be coming back to the hotel room tonight. It was almost midnight and we hadn't heard anything from him since he ran out of the restaurant at noon. Twelve hours. Twelve! What the Hell? Something was definitely up, but he wasn't telling me. I needed to find out what it was, soon. I continued to pace the room another 5 minutes before Holden had had enough.

"WOULD YOU PLEASESITDOWN AND STOP PACING? YOU'RE DRIVING ME CRAZY!" he finally shouted in frustration.

I stopped dead in my tracks. I looked at him sheepishly. "Sorry," I apologized shyly.

Someone in the room next door banged on the wall. "Would you two shut up in there? We're trying to sleep!" a very tired and annoyed Star yelled through the wall. I glared at Holden.

"What?" he asked innocently. "I didn't do anything."

I grimaced. "Oh, never mind. Let's just go to bed. I'm exhausted."