A/N: DOUBLE DIGIT CHAPTERS! Yeeeeah.
Disclaimer: Read the others. It hasn't changed.
I was still a monster, but Fang insisted on keeping me around, even as we moved out of the park to a more secluded foresty area. I was on 24 hour watch, meaning Fang was watching me 23 hours a day, and Iggy was forced into listening for one hour while Fang slept. Even during the three hour flight to the cover of a canopy of trees, Fang kept a hand close to my wrist. I couldn't use my super speed without him coming with me.
I could tell the younger set was scared of me. I couldn't blame them, but I can't say that it didn't hurt to watch Nudge herd Gazzy and Angel away whenever I got too close. And that look she gave me—like I was some kind of monster. Come to think of it, they were all giving me the look. Angel, my baby, spared me. Fang obviously spared me. But even Iggy was permanently sour in my presence. Even Gazzy, my little trooper, stayed as far away as possible. I deserved it of course, but I wish I didn't have to see it.
I tried to be around as little as possible. I had to stay close by, because Fang wouldn't let me out of his sight and I wanted him to be there for the flock. I was never alone, really, but I felt lonelier than I could ever remember being. Fang tried to comfort me. He gave up trying to get the others to forgive me. Angel would catch my eye and send me small, sad smiles every once in a while.
Shane was a whole other story. No one had gotten to know him well, and it didn't help his case that I had skipped over him in my attack. It would make sense for us outcasts to stick together, and I could tell that's exactly what Shane wanted to do. But I couldn't bring myself to be near him. Why did I hurt the ones I love and spare the one I barely knew? I could tell the others were thinking it too, even Fang, who insisted that nothing I did that night meant anything. I wasn't myself. It was the School. You're not a monster Max. You're you. You can't have done this. It's not your fault. Excuses, excuses, excuses. It didn't matter why, I said, it happened, and it will happen again. I know it will. But he brushed off my concern like it was the craziest thing in the world. Yeah, almost as crazy as me morphing into a horrible murderer and almost killing all of my flock.
"Max?" A voice pulled me out of my thoughts. At first I couldn't tell who it was. I vaguely wondered why the Voice hadn't talked to me in a while. Did it have something to do with my transformation?
I turned around to see Fang. I sighed and dropped my eyes to the ground.
"What?" I could barely hear my own voice. Fang's expression held relief. He looked at me for a moment longer and then explained, "I couldn't find you." I continued to stare at the earth. It was silent for some time; I thought he probably left, albeit he never went far.
"Shane's gone," Fang finally muttered. I almost made the mistake of looking up at him. Catching myself, as well as the breath that had stopped in my throat in shock, I gave a small nod of understanding.
Don't you wonder why he's disappeared? I jumped slightly at the Voice's smooth…well, voice.
Does it really matter? I thought back bitterly, mostly to myself. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Fang watching me, trying to analyze what just happened. The Voice remained silent.
"Fang! Fang! Fa—oh," Nudge cut herself off—for once—when she saw me. Shaking her head a bit, she turned to Fang.
"Fang, we need more food." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Fang nod curtly.
"Okay. Why don't you get Iggy and fly to the nearest grocery store?" he suggested. I kept pretending I wasn't listening.
"Iggy's busy building something with Gazzy. Can't you come?" It was like she planned it for me. The perfect plan. If only Fang would agree.
"I don't know, Nudge. I'd really rather stay…" he trailed off.
"Oh, come on! She's not going anywhere," Nudge said, exasperated, then muttered, "Besides, who cares if she leaves?" Fang heard, and his eyes radiated fury. I took that as my sign to step in.
"Hold on! It's okay. Nudge is right. I won't go anywhere," I lied easily. If only he would trust me…just like he used to. Fang looked me up and down warily.
"I still don't know…" I rolled my eyes and pushed him a few feet towards Nudge.
"Really. It's fine," I stressed. Fang looked at me again, sighed in defeat.
"Okay Nudge. Let's go." It's funny, after all this, I was still the leader to Fang. Maybe I always would be. He didn't leave right away though. He stepped close to me and firmly grasped my shoulders in his hands.
"Promise me you won't leave." I looked him straight in the eye.
"I promise." Fang closed his eyes and breathed out through his nose, relief beginning to creep up onto his features. With my reassurance, he turned and left. I watched as he and Nudge unfurled their wings and soared gracefully into the sky. My mouth quirked up into a smile, and it stayed like that until they faded from my view.
And then I broke my promise.
A/N: Thanks again for reviews XD They are very...motivating.