Chapter 4
"Max? MAX!" Hands grabbed my shoulders, gripping them roughly, shaking them. Behind my eyelids I saw Eraser grins, and I struggled against whoever it was who was invading my space.
"Away," I groaned feebly. A sharp slap across the face jolted me awake, and I looked up into Fang's dark eyes, wide with something that looked like fear.
Startled, I sat up and whipped my head around, meeting the eyes of the rest of my Flock, except for Iggy of course, who stared stoically straight ahead.
I felt my face: it was as smooth as a baby's bottom (ughh), without any indication of having morphed. Relieved, but somewhat terrified, I sank back into my seat, eyes large with wonder.
"Was I dreaming?"
"More like having a nightmare," Fang commented briskly.
"No freaking duh," I snapped, irritated and annoyed with something I had yet to pinpoint. Probably my own paranoid self.
I didn't feel a single pang of regret as I noticed Fang's taut jaw and thin line of mouth. I was just tired, to put it simply. Tired of everything. Sometimes I secretly wished I would morph into an Eraser so Fang would kill me and I wouldn't have to live with the fear of maybe. Maybe I'll turn into an Eraser. Maybe we'll survive. Maybe Fang and I will finally get together… Whoa, what the hey? Where did THAT come from? I've got to stop letting my sub-conscious sneak into my brain. What's thought from the heart stays in the heart. No getting mushy on yourself, Max. That's just what the Flock would need; a leader worried more over her love affairs than SURVIVING.
Heat must have flushed my cheeks to a brilliant scarlet red, because I could feel Fang's questioning eyes lingering on them, causing me to turn even a brighter shade. Garr, I feel like such a weenie.
"WHAT?" I barked at him, embarrassment turning my cheeks an even brighter shade of red. Bearing with humiliation is not my strong thing, as you can see.
His eyes widened with surprise, but then it was gone, and he glared right back at me. "What's your problem?" he shot. "Have a problem with CONCERN?"
Then he turned and stalked off to the back of the plane.
"What happened NOW?" Iggy interrupted impatiently.
"Nothing," I lied jadedly, "Just go back to sleep."
As the others sat back, rubbing sleep back into their eyes, I debated about whether I should go after him or not. He may have just gone to the washroom or something. No need to follow him around like a lovesick puppy. But something else inside of me told me that wasn't the case. Grudgingly, although slightly nervous, I got up and followed Fang's trail of grumpiness.
I didn't find him anywhere on the plane. Trying not to panic, I ran towards the very back, where the cargo door was slightly ajar, letting in the rushing wind from outside. Gut told me to check the roof. Squeezing through the opening so as not to let in too much cold air, I snapped open my wings as the wind crashed against my face, sucking my breath away. The draft from the plane propelled me downwards, but I fought it and managed to stay on course. Flying in an arc to avoid anymore downdrafts, I let my keen eyesight rove along, searching for a tall, mutant flying freak boy with dark hair and eyes, and olive skin. Shouldn't be too hard to find, right? Right.
I found him about two seconds later, unless my ability to keep track of time had fled along with my empathy. He was huddled on the smooth back of the plane, wings slightly unfurled to keep him balanced. I settled down beside him, mimicking the way he sat so that I didn't get blown away.
"What's up?" I asked quietly, something new for me.
He was silent. What, now he was giving me the silent treatment? I thought I'd never understand humans, but right now I was having a VERY difficult time figuring out my own "species". What was it with guys, anyhow?
Suddenly an image of Fang kissing the Red Haired Wonder back in Virginia popped up in my head, and my stomach tightened. I should have been giving him the silent treatment. But then the memory of him kissing me, and me, the idiot, running away like a stricken drunk appeared. I guess he had enough excuses to treat me like dirt. Did that mean I was going to take it? Nope.
"Listen, what is wrong?" I pressed tiredly, noting that I felt like garbage and probably smelled like garbage as well. "You can shut up after you tell me what the heck is wrong!"
He turned to me, his dark eyes even darker with anger. "What, don't you know? It's you."