Again, no guest star. And why don't we check up on Fang?

WARNING: Much sarcasm.

Chapter 10

Fang POV

I make my way down stairs and to the front of the building. I go across the road to the middle school. Arian immediately spots me. Shouldering her bag, she makes her way over to me.

"Hey, Fang!" She greets.

"Hey, Arian." I answer, messing up her hair.

Arian shakes her head and moves away from me, fixing her hair. I laugh a little, then turn toward the forest and start walking, Arian in tow. She starts talking about her day. I nod and answer her every once and awhile, but my mind is somewhere else.

We get a little ways into the forest and take off.

I just can't wrap my mind around the fact that there are other bird-kids. I thought that they had died. I thought they had killed them. But... they didn't. Now that I think about it, I start to remember them. I remember talking to Max through the cages. I remember hearing Max comfort the younger ones. My nightmares of the school have been replaced by memories of the early flock. They're all blurry and unclear, but they're there. They're jumbled. But there.

Arian and I land lightly on the roof, folding in our wings. I see Zlayde's bright red truck, which we call the Little Red Pony, due to the sticker of the horse on the back window. I pull myself into my room through my window as Zlayde manuvers around our parent's cars.

"Dad's back home from meeting with the publishers!" I hear Arian say. Soon after, I hear her footsteps pounding as she runs down the hallway, down the stairs, and to the living room.

"Mariangela!" I hear my fathers' voice.

I open my door and make my way down stairs. There I see my father, jet black hair and eyes that shift color, tall frame filling the doorway as Arian hugs him. He looks up and sees me.

"Fang, how are you, my son?" His voice is light and happy, reminding my of Zlayde.

I nod. "Good. How'd the meeting go."

"Very well. My book is going to be published soon." My father answers. I hear Zlayde walk down the stairs behind me. "Ah, Zlayde. Hello!"

My family is, to say the least, very... odd. But I'm sure you already guessed that.

Mother walks out of her "art studio," which is just the sunroom, paint on her hands. "Callin, didn't you get the kids presents?"

Father looks at Zlayde and I. "I don't think they're kids any more. But, of course." He turns and walks out to his car.

I, having the weakest relationship with Father, turn around and go back upstairs.

"Fang, where are you going?"

"I have homework." I my answer. Once in my room, I open my window and fly out.

*.*.*. Back at school; Kai POV .*.*.*

I laugh as Iggy trips and falls while reenacting his angry character thing. I sense Max's energy behind me. But it's... off. Something just isn't right. I turn around to see Max standing there.

She looks around, as if to see if anyone will hear. Which I doubt. I mean, it is drama class. And everyone is very loud.

"What's the problem, Max?" I ask.

"Kai?" Max looks a little... distant, maybe?

"Yeah, that's my name." I answer sarcastically, acting like nothing is wrong.

"Can we talk outside for a few minutes?" She just seems so... off. Something is wrong, I know it. I just can't seem to place it...

"I don't think anyone's going to hear us in here, but whatever." I say, still staying expressionless.

Max's response is to turn on her heel and walk toward the door, checking behind her every few seconds to see that I'm still following. Yeah, because it's totally me to just leave something be when I am suspicious of it or it seems like something big is about to happen.

Sarcasm.

I follow the slightly jittery Max out of the Drama House, where the theater, costume room, practice room, and everything else related to drama is. We go through the back exit, for some reason. The leader of the Flock is much less her leaderly self at the moment.

"Kai... Do you remember the School?" Max says suddenly.

I stop, take a deep breath. The School. How could I forget the place that I had spent ten years of my young life in? The place where I was terrorized? The place that my nightmares take place in. Even though I know that I am no longer in the School, and that I never will be again, I shudder.

Why in the world would Max bring this up? She should know more than any of us that the School still haunts the Flock. Sure, I've never even mentioned the School since we escaped. I never even acknowledged it. I ignored it. But forgotten it? No way. And forgiven it? You can throw those thoughts out the door, and I should slap you just for thinking about thinking it. Oh, gosh. I thought it.

...

...

Now, looking at that, I realize that... well... I should stay away from any thoughts of the School. They just makes me start to rant. And ranting isn't good.

...

And I'm ranting again!

Greaaaaaat.

I swallow, but I don't let my emotions show. "You mean that place I grew up in? No, not at all." I answer sarcastically.

Max doesn't roll her eyes, which surprises me greatly. Usually she would snort, roll her eyes, and say, "Stop with the sarcasm, Kai."

No. Instead, she looks at me calmly and says, "I... I think we need to go back."

Whaaaaat? What could it be that Max is proposing? Hmm...

Why am I wondering? I already know! But you guys don't, so you'll have to wait for the next chapter.

Thanks for reading,

May you keep a strong heart and a steady mind,

-KaiAmazonKnightley