Today was our first day of school. I woke up to find Nudge and Fudge squealing in a corner. They had become good friends since Max's flock came. "What are you guys freaking out over?" I asked.
"Oh, Sil, you won't believe this!" Fudge said excitedly.
"Are you lying to me?" I asked, one eyebrow raised.
"No." Fudge said, seeming taken aback and confused.
"Then I'll believe you. What's up?" I asked.
"Nudge and the rest of her flock get to go to school with us too!" Fudge said excitedly.
"Oh. Joy." I said.
"You don't sound excited." Fudge said.
"Of course I'm excited." I answered.
"Didn't you say she doesn't normally say how she's feeling?" Nudge pointed out.
"Oh yeah." Fudge said. "Silver?"
"What?"
"Can...can Nudge and I help you get ready for school?" Fudge asked.
"No way. I can get ready by myself." I answered.
"Yes, but not the right way." Nudge said.
"Yeah, and we'll get Angel and Anita to help us if we need to. There's force in numbers." Fudge said.
"Fine! Fine. Just, no make up." I answered.
"We make no promises." Fudge said with an evil grin. Then they both stepped closer to me, and closer, and closer, until I was in the bathroom.
Thirty minutes later I came out in my uniform. Along with some concealer, blush, eyeliner, and a little mascara. Too much? YES! Did it matter to Nudge and Fudge? NO!
When I walked out of the bathroom, all conversation stopped and everyone looked at me. Cue disappearing act.
"Come on, Silver, let us see what Fudge and Nudge did to you." Bones said.
I sighed and became visible again. "Wow Silver, you look really pretty!" Anita said.
"Yeah, Silver, you clean up nicely." Danny commented. Anita had sent him a picture of what I looked like to his mind.
"Not bad." Fang said.
"See Silver! You look good! If only Max were as...cooperative." Nudge said.
I glared at them before I walked to a corner of the room and sat in a chair. Did you notice that Bones didn't say anything? I did. He talked with Max the whole time. You know what? I. Don't. Care. I don't! At all! Bones can go jump off a cliff, and I wouldn't care!
You wouldn't care because he'd have wings and could catch himself.
Fang! Would you stop that.
Nah. It's fun.
Not for me it isn't. Bones keeps ignoring me more and more. And instead, he's talking to Max more and more.
Why don't you just tell him you like him?
BECAUSE I DON'T!
You tell yourself that.
This is ridiculous. The only reason I was upset over Bones ignoring me is because he needs to focus on the crew, not Max's pretty brown eyes!
So, I went to school in a bad mood. Did I mention it was a bad mood? Yeah.
"Ok." said the lady who was supposed to show us to our classes after she had dropped Anita, Angel, Sonny, Gazzy, Fudge, and Nudge off at their classes. "You guys will be here." And me, Max, Bones, Fang, Iggy, and Danny walked into a classroom full of other people. Who all looked up at us as we walked in. It took all my will power not to fade out then and there.
"Mr. Carcass? These are your new students." the lady said. I didn't take the time to learn her name. But something other than the lady's name drew my attention. Carcass? Isn't that what you call the body of a dead animal? Who has a name like that?
"Aw, thank you, Ms. Hunna." the teacher said, turning around. Oh, someone like that. Ok, I hated Mr. Carcass on the spot. His hair was thinning, his teeth were crooked, he had beady little eyes, and he sent the vibes of the kind of person that makes you wonder why they ever became a teacher. Ms. Hunna left.
"Ok, you kids, to the back of the classroom. Your late." Mr. Carcass said as soon as Ms. Hunna left.
"Late? We didn't even know we'd be in this class until about two minutes ago!" Max protested.
"Too bad. No favoritism. You six in the back."
We all shuffled to the back. People were staring at us. I noticed that many guys were staring at me. Good or bad? No idea. But I also noticed that many girls were staring at Bones. I already hated more than half my classmates. What a good start.
Mr. Carcass' class ended up being biology. Then there was math, algebra, and history before lunch. At lunch me, Danny, Iggy, Bones, Max, and Fang sat at the same table. The school had given us the same schedules so we wouldn't feel lonely. How thoughtful. Cue sarcasm.
"Algebra was killer." Iggy said.
"I know. How are we supposed to know that A² + B² = C²? That still doesn't make sense to me." Max said.
"You understood it, didn't you Sil?" Bones asked.
"Um...yes." I answered.
"How?" Fang asked. You barely tell, but there was a hint of confusion and awe in his voice.
"She's always been like that. Surfing the internet for more than the latest shopping crazes, and reading books about things other than fairy princesses." Danny answered.
"I especially like math." I added.
"Impressive." Iggy said. "You have to tutor me sometime because I think the only question I got right on that math sheet was NAME HERE." I laughed, and I saw Bones look at me in confusion. It was rare that anyone but him or Danny got me to laugh. Especially someone I rarely knew. I ignored his questioning look. He was allowed to have new friends without apparent reason, and I couldn't? Too bad for him 'cause that didn't fly with me.
All of a sudden a preppy red head sat next to us. "Hey Bones! Fang!" she said, completely ignoring the rest of us. "So, Fang, wanna go out?" she asked.
"I have a girlfriend." Fang answered simply.
"So back off." Max said harshly.
"O key-dokey." she said, before turning to Bones. "What about you? Wanna go out?"
"What's your name anyway?" I asked. Normally I didn't speak unless spoken to, but this girl had stepped on a nerve. Which one? I don't know, but I felt it.
She looked at me as if she just realized I was there. "Lissa." she said, before looking at Bones eagerly. "So, what do you say?" she asked.
"Um, I guess?" Bones said it like a question.
"Cool! See you tomorrow. Five o' clock. Cafe outside of the mall." then she bounced back to her friends.
"What was that about?" Bones said, almost to himself.
"What? You don't like girls throwing themselves at you? Could've fooled me." I said icily.
"Silver, is something wrong?" Danny asked.
"Nothing. Nothing at all." I replied. "I'm just going to go to the library."
I left.
Third person POV with M,F,B,D, and I
"Does she always do that?" Iggy asked once Silver had left.
"No. I don't know what's going on with her." Bones said.
"Isn't it obvious? She likes you, and you pissed her off by saying yes to that Lissa person." Fang said.
"What? No she doesn't. I've kissed her only once, but she never showed any sign of liking me other than as a friend." Bones said.
"Dude, are you the blind one here?" Danny said. "She totally likes you. Not me. Plus, I've realized that I don't like her like that. The kiss was a fluke."
"You kissed her?" Max asked.
"Yeah. Total experiment." Danny said.
"The point is that Silver doesn't like me." Bones said. "She never has, and she never will, and I'll just be deluding myself if I think any different. So why not go out with this Lissa person?" Bones said.
"You're trying to make her jealous" Iggy said, a smirk forming on his lips.
"Am not." Bones said.
"You know, I think it'll work." Danny said.
"Yeah, she's been pretty jealous over how much time you've been spending with Max. And Max has a boyfriend, think about if you went out with a free girl." Fang said.
"She has not." Bones disagreed.
"Oh yeah. And two days ago? You totally messed her up when you said goodnight to Max, and not her." Fang added.
"Oh my god. I didn't mean to do that." Bones said.
"Hey, what was your reaction to what Anita made you hear from Silver's head?" Fang asked.
"What did Anita make him hear?" Max asked.
"Oh, Silver was going on and on about how hot Bones is, how gorgeous his eyes are, how much she loved the sound of his voice and so on." Fang answered.
"Bones! How could you have said yes to that girl knowing that Silver thought that way about you?" Max asked, almost angrily.
"Because. Anita also let me hear when Silver totally denied liking me. Silver's one to hide her feelings, but not outright lie about them." Bones said.
"Dude, you are blinder than Danny or I." Iggy said. "She may not normally lie, but I think she's fallen bad for you, and still hasn't admitted it to herself."
"That was deep, Ig, but also untrue." Bones said.
"You guys are in such denial I think the world's started spinning backwards." Max commented.
"I'm in no denial. I like her. But she doesn't like me back." Bones said.
"Bones, I never knew you could be so daft." Danny said.
"Daft. What a big word Dan." Fang said.
"Yeah, been working on my vocabulary to impress the ladies." Danny said.
"Getting her jealous.." Iggy muttered. "Bones, you will totally have her in your arms by the end of the week."
"I'm not trying to make her jealous!" Bones nearly shouted. "Although," he said, "do you think it would work?"
"Definitely." Danny said.
"You guys are horrible. You shouldn't play with Silver's feelings like that. You didn't hear her thoughts these past few days." Fang said.
"I think it would work." Max added.
"Then it's settled. Operation hook up Bones and Silver is a go." Iggy said.
Silver POV
I hate Bones.
I hate Bones.
I hate Bones.
I stalked into the library angrily. I was tired of lying to myself. It was true. I like liked Bones. But he was going out with someone named Lissa! The bitch. And Bones...grrr. That's the only word I can think of and I've studied an SAT vocabulary book! I sat down at a table, and stared blankly at the tabletop.
"Hey. What are you looking at?" a male voice said from beside me.
I turned my head to look at him. "Nothing." He had bright green eyes, messy blonde hair, a slim but not weak build, and straight white teeth. He was barbie doll perfect and cute. Ew.
"So, I saw you in biology. My name's Daniel. Yours?" the guy-Daniel said.
"Um, Silver." I answered.
"Well, Silver, why are you sitting here so mad-looking?" he asked me.
"Because this guy that I like is going out with another girl and the worst part is that he liked me first, but I didn't like him, and now that I do, he's going out with someone else. She's a bitch and he's so...grrr!" Wow. I normally didn't get that worked up. But gosh dammit! I was...mad, sad, upset, and...lonely. I knew ten other people besides Bones, but I felt lonelier than I have in years.
"How about you meet me for a sandwich this afternoon at the deli by the library, and I'll take your mind off him?" Daniel asked.
"Fine!" I said before I had decided to even answer him. He had said "Cool." and left before I could process what I had said. I think I just agreed to a date. With someone I just met. Who wasn't Bones, or in anyway someone I would have ever gone out with originally. Someone slap me, I think I've gone insane.
So, in my last class of the day-science-I sat next to Bones. "Bones?" I asked.
"Yeah?" he answered, not even looking at me. I. Hate. Him. Just thought I'd throw that in there again.
"This afternoon you're in charge of the crew. I have a date." I answered casually, as if I wasn't freaking out over it.
"You? Have a date?" Bones asked, something flashing in his eyes. It went away before I could place where it was from.
"Yes. I think today's a good day since you have a date tomorrow, that way the crew won't be alone." I answered.
"Right. Ok. Good thinking." Bones replied before he went back to ignoring me. I. Hate. Him.
So, that's why, two hours later, I was at a deli hoping not to end up standing there alone and by myself, looking like an idiot. As I waited, I thought. Going out with Daniel might actually have been a better idea than I thought. I mean, just because Bones had moved on, and was dating someone else after making me like him didn't mean that I had to be like one of those stupid girls you read about in books who completely mopes around over the guy. Bones is just that: a stupid guy. There's nothing he has, that Daniel doesn't. Except for the eyes...and the wings...and the hair that- ok, stop. This is ridiculous. I don't need to think about anything. So instead, I turned my brain off for once, and stood there.
"You came." Daniel said, smiling, seeming genuinely glad that I showed up.
"I said I would, didn't I?" I said sarcastically. Ok, so, maybe I was trying to date someone, but sarcasm still was, and always will be my favorite type of conversation. Bones and I used to have sarcasm contests back at the Institution. No. Forget Bones, Silver.
"You did." Daniel replied. We sat at a table and Daniel ordered a tuna-ew-sandwhich with a side of lays potato chips, and I ordered a turkey sandwich on wheat bread with sun chips. "Do sun chips even have flavor? They look very...plain." Daniel asked.
"Of course. They're like the best chip on the planet." I answered.
"If you say so." Daniel said, but it was obvious he didn't believe me. Bones and I used to have arguments over potato chips all the time. Before he decided to be a j-e-r-k.
Our sandwiches came, and Daniel looked at me. "So, who was this guy?" he asked.
"His name was Bones. We used to be best friends, but lately we've been...distant from each other. I don't even know why. He's just been ignoring me." I answered.
"How could he ignore you? You are impossible to ignore." Daniel answered.
"Not really. He makes it look easy." I answered.
"Well, it's his loss and my gain then, huh?" Daniel said. Ok, so that made me smile, but...ok, so I really liked him. At least Daniel wasn't ignoring me. Like some people.
Third person POV back at the hotel:
Sonny, Gazzy, Nudge, Fudge, Angel, and Anita were on the other side of the room, playing gold fish. Fang, Iggy, Max, and Danny were on the other side, trying to convince Bones that it wasn't the end of the world.
"Bones, you'll be fine. I mean, Silver probably doesn't even like this guy, and is trying to make you jealous" Danny said encouragingly.
"Oh yeah? Fang what did you hear?" Bones asked.
"Um. Well, she believes that you actually like Lissa, and she's been trying to convince herself all say that you're not worth any of her time and trouble, and not to be some pathetic girl who freaks out because her best friend gets a girlfriend." Fang answered.
"Seriously? Told you guys. It would never work. Silver now thinks that I don't like her at all. Maybe I should just go tell her the truth." Bones said as he started to stand up.
"No way, dude." Iggy said. "You can't do that."
"Why not?" Bones asked.
"'Cause Silver will just be pissed because you were messing with her mind, and then she really will hate you." Iggy explained.
"You guys are over thinking this. Go up to Silver. Kiss her, confess your love for her, and move on with your life." Max said. As if it were that simple.
"It's not that simple! Silver can be very reasonable, but she's also the most stubborn person I know. Add that to the fact that she doesn't know how absolutely beautiful she is, and she'll never believe me. She'd just think that I was trying to trick her." Bones said.
"Beautiful? Dude, you have it bad. What's worse is that you're probably right." Danny said.
"She likes you dude. She's up to her ears in jealousy, but she keeps shoving it down, and not facing it. She's trying to convenience herself that she doesn't like you. All we have to do is get her to admit it to herself, and every puzzle piece will fall into place." Fang said.
"That was deep dude." Iggy said.
"Why does everyone keep saying 'dude'?" Max asked.
"Because dude is a manly word." Danny replied.
"Guys! You are not helping! Maybe I should just give up! Silver is never going to like me back, and I need to get over it. Maybe actually date Lissa." Bones said.
Fang shook his head. He knew from Silver's thoughts that both of them were completely over reacting. Silver was crazy about Bones, and vise versa, but both of them were too thickheaded to see it. "Ok, do what you want. But know this: I'll try to help you dude, but that's all I can do, and if you refuse to believe me, then I can't help you."
"I'm just...I'm going to go for a fly." Bones said. He left.
Silver's POV:
One thing about Daniel: he's nice, and stuff, but, god is he boring. I mean, we talked for a whole twenty minutes about football and who we think is going to win the Superbowl. I just did eeny meeny miney moe in my head and then just told him something. What do I care what a bunch of oversized ballerinas are going to do? I mean, it's not like they contribute a lot to society. Then we talked about math and algebra. Ok, that was fun, but then he got bored, and turned it back to sports. Now we were talking about tennis.
"I think Venus and Serena are the best players ever." Daniel said.
"No, you just think they look hot." I said. Daniel was also a little shallow.
"Maybe so, but you have to admit, they have a killer serve." Daniel said. '
"Ok..." I said. I had no idea what a serve was. Honestly, I didn't care either. So, it wasn't a perfect date, but I mean, it wasn't horrible.
"I had a really good time. We'll have to do this again sometime." Daniel said once we had finished eating and were outside the deli.
"Yeah. Sure." I said, then I left, not giving him a second glance. But I wasn't out of hearing range when I heard footsteps in his direction, and the voice of someone that I think was named Toby, or Tommy, or something. "Dude, you did great! She totally bought that!"
"I know right? Like I would ever ask someone like Silver Moon out. I can't believe you dared me to. I mean, please, she kept trying to talk about school. Who doesn't like to talk about football?" Daniel's voice said.
"I know, right man?" his friend said.
Great. I was a dare I really wanted to go back and kick his sorry butt, but I had other important things to take care of. Like the fact that it was seven o' clock, and I hadn't seem the crew since that morning.
I walked back to the hotel, and when I entered, Fudge and Nudge advanced on me. "OMG! I heard you were on a date! How was it?" Fudge asked.
"A date? No, it was a dare."I said angrily. Just because I hadn't grown particularly attached to Daniel didn't mean that I wasn't mad.
"What do you mean, Silver?" Nudge asked me.
"Daniel asked me out on a dare. I heard him and his friend talking." I answered.
"Oh, my god, the jerk!" Fudge said.
"Are you ok, Sil?" Anita asked.
I walked over to the loveseat and sat down next to Sonny. "I'm fine. Totally planning on a way to kick his butt inconspicuously, but fine." I answered. I counted my crew. 1, 2, 3, 4...where was Bones?
"Hey, guys, where'd Bones go?" I asked.
"Oh, he just went for a fly." Fang said.
I nodded. "Ok. Well, then we ne-" but I was interrupted by a boom, some screaming, a flashing light, and then silence.
"REPORT!" Max called out.
"Fine!" Nudge said.
"I think I have a splinter, but I'm fine." Iggy said.
"Fine." was repeated by Angel and Gazzy.
"Fang?" Max called out.
No answer.
I was under some drywall that had fallen, and coughing, I yelled, "Crew! Answer!"
"I'm fine!" were said everywhere. Bones wasn't there of course, so I had no idea where he was, and that was scary. Very scary, but I showed nothing as I walked over to Max and asked her, "Did you hear from Fang?"
"No." she said. "Everybody, search the debris!"
"You heard her!" I told my crew and everyone started looking through the mess. Gazzy found the remains of a bomb, and the roof had completely caved in. But there was no Fang.
"We have to find him. We have to find him..." Max was muttering to herself.
"Max...there's nothing here." Angel said gently.
"You!" Max said suddenly, looking at me with wide, almost crazed, eyes. "You can hear his thoughts! Where. Is. He?"
"Um..." I listened.
Dammit. I can't see. Those stupid...I wonder what they're called. Maybe-
Fang! Where are you?
I don't know! There was a BOOM! And someone threw something over my head.
But you're alive?
Yeah.
Good, 'cause Max if freaking out.
"He's alive. But he can't see where he is." I answered.
"Good. Keep tabs on his thoughts." Max said. "Everyone else, let's try to clean up a little until Silver gets us a lead."
I closed my eyes and I listened...
There was the sound of a sliding door. Fang felt someone being thrown in next to him. "Stay quiet!" said a gruff voice from across the...where ever he was. "This really sucks." came a voice from beside Fang. It sounded familiar...
I snapped my eyes opened. "What is it?" Max asked.
"Bones is with him." I said, my brain still trying to figure that out.
"What? Bones just went for a fly..." Danny said. "Silver, ask Fang to ask Bones what happened."
I nodded. Fang, ask Bones how he got there.
"How'd you get here?" Fang asked.
"I was flying. Then something shot out in front of me. I tried to swerve, but it attacked me. Then we were both falling. Something was thrown over my head, and it smelled weird...next thing I know I'm being thrown in here." Bones answered.
There you go.
"He was flying, and then someone attacked him, knocked him out, and threw him somewhere. Somewhere where Fang is." I said.
"This. Has. To. Be. The. Crappiest. Day. Ever." Fudge said, and I was too busy thinking about where Bones could be to tell her not to swear.
"Then we have to leave." Max said.
"We're going with you." I said.
"No way. My flock works alone." Max said.
"No." I answered in such a bold tone I surprised myself. "Bones is with Fang. You want to fine Fang. We want to find Bones. We're going with you. You need us. Without me, you'll have no way to figure out where to start looking."
"She has a point Max." Iggy said.
"Fine." Max ground out, obviously upset by that fact. We all started to pack. Again.
