Chapter Seven

Claustrophobia

I knocked furiously on the door to Fang's room. My shoulder stung. Bad. Fang answered it, replying my knock with a brisk "You don't have to break the door."

I glared at him. "We're leaving is place tomorrow morning. I just met up with some people downstairs." My eyes softened. "We need a decent place to live and all. We all need some answers. I think I've got them."

"What? You mean you want to go with the mind reading psycho freaks of Forks? They could be the work of the School, for all we know!" He kept his voice low, but I could see the frustration beneath his eyes.

"I was thinking of the flock the whole time!" I cried out, unable to keep calm anymore. "You can't blame me for wanting proper shelter, food and explanations!"

"Since when did we all need proper shelter and food?" Fang scoffed. "We've been runaways for our whole life! I thought you knew better than to trust people like this!"

"You don't have to come." I spat out. Turning around, I swiped my room card through the door handle. It clicked, as without another glance, I hopped in, my ankle still hurting, and slammed the door behind me. Nudge was sitting exactly where she was before I left. Angel was pacing back and forth beside the beds. The expressions they ad broke my heart. Oh, jeez, everyone in the frigging building must have heard.

"Sorry, guys." I whispered, sinking to the ground, then wrapping my arms around my legs. I buried my head in my knees, trying to solve the mass tangle of problems I've made. Instead of helping the flock, I'm making things worse.

"Stop blaming yourself for what's happening." The soft angelic voice of Angel came from my right. "It's not your fault. No one said life was going to be easy."

She was right. Of course she was.

"Thanks, sweetie." I said, swallowing down the lump in my throat. I attempted to smile, then got up and locked myself in the washroom.

I will not cry. I will not cry.

I've got sixteen years of practice. I didn't cry. Yay me.

I really hoped Fang didn't take what I said in the hall way seriously. I really hope he doesn't go again. I don't know why, but it's like I'm going through pre-teen again. I'm getting pissed at no apparent reason. I felt like my emotions were so well controlled just two days ago, and now, it's slipping a little at a time. I'm really going crazy, aren't I?

I splashed cold water on m face, hoping it would make me look better. The last thing I want to do is have the flock see me cry. They'll get scared.

"How's it going, Nudge?" I asked softly, rubbing her back gently.

She just shrugged, looking out the window. It was almost dark now. Time really goes by fast.

"I'll go get something to eat, how about that? Then, we can talk about… what you heard me and Fang talk about in the hall way." I smiled, but I think it came out as a grimace.

"Okay!" Angel replied enthusiastically. Oh, bless her for wanting me to feel better. She's such an angel!

I hate it that I'm so stubborn. Fang, too. If only one of us can apologize to each other. I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to split up again.

Bug you know what? As a leader, I'm supposed to do this kind of thing. So I took a deep breath, swallowed down that icky feeling you get in your chest when you're about to apologize, and walked awkwardly to Fang's room door. I knocked, lighter this time, hoping maybe he's out.

"Hey," Fang answered, looking like he just took a shower. The smell of shampoo filled the hall. He looked so cute with his hair wet and all.

Without a word, I took a step forward, and kissed him. I anxiously waited for him to do something, but thankfully, he didn't push me off. He kissed me back, and I swear, it's the best feeling.

'I'm sorry." I managed to gasp between kisses, my shoulder at the back of my mind.

"Me, too." He was kissing just as fierce. He led me inside the room, and closed the door. Eventually, though, we had to break apart. I noticed Iggy and Gazzy weren't there.

"Where are they?" I asked faintly, feeling light headed.

"Getting food. They should be in your room now, sharing the food with Nudge and Angel."

I smiled gratefully. Now that I've thought about it, I'm kinda hungry, too. "Let's go eat with them, then." I took his hand, and pulled him out of the room. He secured mine in his, following me.

I felt really giggly when I opened the door to my room. Like Fang ad said, they were all there, eating pizza. I smiled, flopping down beside Nudge, taking as slice of pepperoni. Fang sat down beside me, and grabbing a slice of cheese. The flock just stared at us, wondering what was going to happen. I looked at Fang, eating. He looked at me. I laughed.

"We're going to pack our bags after this, okay? Jane and Iko will help us." I said, smiling. My wound started to throb again. Just then came a knock on the door. I looked at Fang. He nodded, standing up, and answering it. I gasped to see the perfect female, Jane, outside.

"There has been some complication." She said in her childish, sweet voice. "We must leave now."

"Now?" I repeated. I managed to stand up with my ankle hurting again. "Why? Who?"

"We can explain later. First, we must go to the airport." She looked at us. "You can fly, can't you? Take off, now. I suppose you know where Forks Airlines are? Go!"

"But-" I protested, but she was already gone. Where is she going to take us? I looked at the rest, them at me. "Well, what are you waiting for? You heard her! Get your bags!"

Then everyone all at once got up. Iggy, and Gazzy rushed out of my door. Fang gave me a quick nod, then followed them. Good thing we don't really unpack. We just stuffed stuff in our backpacks, and flung them over our shoulders. Well, except for me.

I opened the window to as far as it can go, then jumped. My wings unfurled, and took off. I saw below three cars, a black truck, a yellow Porsche, and a green van outside the hotel. People below were fighting. Then, the green van drove off, and the other two cars quickly followed them.

"What's going on?" I heard Fang's voice beside me. I shook my head, trying to focus on not injuring my shoulder. Fang, with concern in his eyes, kept pace with me, not that it was so hard to do. It was like he was expecting me to drop any second now.

The green van below us drove faster. We sped up, too, until my shoulder couldn't take it anymore. Fang, still beside me, put his hands around my waist, and carried me, while still fly really fast. I sighed, feeling helpless.

"Report!" I said, feeling exhausted.

"Here," I heard Iggy say above me.

"Here," Nudge replied, above me, too.

"I'm here," Angel said on my right.

"Same." Gazzy said on my left.

"Good," I murmured, before letting my eye lids drop. I have no idea why I was so tired. Even though I tried me hardest to keep awake, my brain got the better of me, and shut down

xx

When I woke up again, I couldn't remember where I was. The big sound of engines filled where ever I was. I realize my shoulder was numb, as were my ankles. I tried to wiggle my wings, but I couldn't feel them. Then, anxiety stroke.

"Max, relax." I heard Fang murmur beside me in my ear. Oh, Fang was here. I'm glad. My anxiousness disappeared.

"It's so wonderful and interesting, how you use your powers." I heard the sweet voice of Jane say from the behind. I forced my eyes opened, as saw Fang, on my left, give a glare at someone behind us.

Then, I realized I was sitting on a rather comfortable chair. I looked at my right, and saw a small oval window. It was clear outside, not like the cloudy weather Forks had. I looked around, and claustrophobia closed in on me. We were on an airplane. I snapped up, looking around. Me and Fang were sitting at the first row, Jane and Iko second. I could see, on the other side of the isle, Iggy and Nudge, looking out of the window, murmuring quietly together, and laughing occasionally sitting on the first row, and Gazzy and Angel, sleeping peacefully, on the second. The seats were big, and comfortable, in a shade of comforting green. There was a curtain behind the second row.

"We're the only ones in business class, don't worry." Jane assured us, smiling. "I managed to fix your injuries, and make them feel better, just for now. Don't worry, go back to sleep, we'll be arriving in Volterra very soon."

Go back to sleep? I nodded, slumping back and closing me eyes. But I couldn't go back to my deep slumber. I was too anxious. Where was Volterra? Somewhere in Europe? It's going to be forever until we land! What are we going to do there?

Fang rubbed the small of my back gently. I sighed, content, and tried harder to shut down my brain. It didn't work.

"Can I have something to eat?" I mumbled, sitting up again.

"Of course. I'll get everyone one something." Jane said, getting up. Iko followed her.

I turned to Fang. "She said something about using powers?"

"I was forcing her to go back and forth with her emotions. Nothing to worry about." He said lightly. "You okay? You were out for three hours."

I nodded. It was quite suspicious, how Fang just changed the subject. No matter, I don't mind. It's not like I want to argue again.

For the rest of the trip, I was restless. I couldn't stop fidgeting. I'm really doubting myself, if I've made the right choice, trusting these people like this. I needed to talk to Angel, and see if she picked up on anything. As soon as I get a chance to talk to her in private, I'll ask her.

-x-x-x-x-

Alright, so the chapter's not that long. Sorry, guys. I need your thoughts for this:

Should Max & Co. know about the vampireness?

Send in the reviews!!

xx

Cat