Why, hello there! Welcome to the second chapter in my loverly Taxlight crossover. The disclaimer will pop up in 3…2…1…

Disclaimer: I am NOT JP or SM. I'm currently holed up in my room crying my eyes out while typing this because I just realized this fact. (T.T) Enjoy the story!

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Chapter Two

::Max's POV::

Beep…Beep…Beep…Crash!

It deserved it, was my only thought as I peeled my eyes open and poked Fang in the stomach. "Wakey, wakey." I teased, swinging my legs over the side of the bed.

Ten minutes and five sleepy bird-kids later, breakfast was well under way. I spoke up. "Okay, guys. This is it. Angel, no playing mind puppet; Gazzy, Iggy, no explosives; Nudge, please try to tone down on the chatter; Fang…well…just…be yourself…. He cracked a grin at me for that one.

After shoveling down plates of eggs and bacon (thanks Iggy!), we trekked out to the car. It was shiny, it was black, and I really didn't feel like driving today. "Do you guys just want to fly there?" I was met by varying levels of enthusiasm as we took off.

We landed in the small forest off of the parking lot filled with kids of every age. "Angel, Gazzy, you're over by the cafeteria. Meet us right here after school, 'kay?" I hugged them both and watched as they ran off.

The rest of us wandered to the main office to collect our new school stuff. Iggy, Fang, and I were in the same class for everything. But poor Iggy had to skip gym since he's blind and might hurt himself. Our schedule consisted of: English, Math, LA, Art, Lunch, Gym, and Biology. Fang and I both winced at the last one. It was rather touchy topic.

But we endured it all the way until lunch where things started to get interesting. We piled our trays and sat down at a table way out of the way of other people. The four of us discussed classes (boring since we had photographic memory), teachers (they're all the same!), and other students. No one seemed Itex-ish, but you never know.

Half-way through our chowing-down, I caught a glimpse of a group of six people maneuver their way over to another out-of-the-way table. They were pale, golden-eyed, and strikingly beautiful. I met Fang's eye; he saw them too.

There were three guys: a tall brown haired muscular one, a blonde, and a lanky red-head. And three girls: a tall blonde, a brunette, and a short black haired pixy-like one. Their trays of food remained untouched, their faces impassive unless they glanced at each other. Huh, odd…

I gently kicked Iggy under the table, earning his attention. I nodded towards the new crowd and saw him stare intently at his tray, trying to pick up on voices. "They…think we're odd…and that we're all paired up…like…them? They think that…we…might be…like them…dangerous…" Nudge leaned on Iggy's shoulder while Fang and I subtly shuffled closer together, elbows touching. This was important. These people were observant. The last thing we needed was to be guessed out by complete strangers.

The bell rang and we picked up our empty trays and tossed them on the pile. Nudge headed for Art, Iggy shuffled over to study hall, and Fang and I walked over to the gym.

The gym was big and open with a small track and basketball court. We walked over to the head coach. "So, you're the new kids? Well, you'll do, but I want no slacking off," the coach looked over our skinny arms and legs disdainfully. Huh, must have never seen a starving child.

We grabbed our gym clothes and headed off to the locker rooms, changing in the stalls so that our wings wouldn't be noticed. When we came out, the students were gathering in a small area, waiting for class to start. The coach walked up, "Hello class." A chorus of 'Hello's were heard with varying levels of enthusiasm. I noticed two of the six strangers from lunch: the bronze haired boy and brunette girl. "Today we have two new students: Max and Nick Ride." We just stood there stiffly while they sized us up—like they would be able to beat us in a fight. Fang and I smirked at the thought.

We started with running. We had to count the number of times we went around the track. The winner got a Hershey bar. "Race ya'" I whispered to Fang. He nodded as the whistle blew and we took off running. Fang and I were neck and neck, barely panting. The rest of the class was way behind except for the two pale strangers. They were eyeing us like we were an experiment. I shuddered at the thought and plowed on, inching farther and farther away from Fang. He smirked at me and we poured on the speed.

Two minutes and a shared Hershey bar later, Fang and I walked out of gym. We had tied, fricken tied. Ah, well. Just so long as we don't tell the rest of the Flock that we got chocolate and they didn't. I don't want to be killed in my sleep.

Biology was our last class. We were a little late but were just in time to hear the teacher say, "…studying DNA and Genetics." Well, crap.

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What do you think?! Is it too slow, too fast, do we need some more action? If you don't tell me I won't know what to put in here, and it takes about five seconds to review. Come on! I'll give you cookies!!

~*GrEy*~