Chapter 11: Can't sleep? Have some sprite!
Max's POV
I lay awake in my bed, restless. I stared up at the ceiling. I couldn't rest. Something was nagging at me. I couldn't think straight and my breathing was soft and slow. The Saturday's had made it home safely, and soon after at the dinner table, I learned that they had sent the now, SECRET scientists on a wild goose chase.
My first thought was of Zak. He was so friendly. There wasn't any possible way he was kur, hat Sumerian beast. I thought of me. I was supposed to save the world from him. I wanted to save the world, but without killing someone who didn't even want to be like the way he was. He was a twelve-year old monster. He was my friend. Not close enough to be anywhere near to be part of the flock, but still someone I couldn't kill.
My thoughts were a mess in my mind. One thought after another. It wasn't fair for me to kill him. I was older stronger, and it just wouldn't be fair for his family. I needed a way for me to still save planet earth from him without the slaying of him. His family was so nice to us and sheltered us while we were figuring this thing out.
I looked out a small window the room had contained. I could just imagine the stars reflecting in my eyes. They twinkled up there like there was no tomorrow. Then my thoughts turned to Van Rook. Randomness set in with exhaustion, and I thought of how he was able to defeat me the first time. I had somewhere in the back of my mind thought there was going to be an attack. I just didn't expect that.
I rustled in the sheets and they made little crinkling sounds as I sat up. As beautiful as the stars were, I just didn't feel like flying tonight. I did a quick 180 of my surroundings. Angel was sound asleep in her top bunk, and Nudge was also asleep and peaceful. Ahhh, the only time for silence, I thought to myself. I got up half expecting the floor to creak. Nope, the floor was silent as I glided past the bunk beds and into the hall.
No one said I couldn't get out of bed at 1:00 in the morning. I glided into the dimly lit hall, and walked forward to where the kitchen room. Zak's automatic door was closed and I didn't bother to see if he was awake. I crept past Doc and Drew's room, and finally past Fang, Iggy, and Gazzy's room. I peaked in. I couldn't see Gazzy, but I heard him slightly snoring. Fang was peaceful. HE was still and unmoving except for some up and down motions of his back as he breathed. He was facing the window. I couldn't see his face, so I assumed it had a quiet expression.
Iggy was sleeping in the bottom bunk. It took me a minute to realize it, but with raptor eye vision, I could clearly see that Iggy had half his body off the bed. Let me tell you now, that had to be uncomfortable.
Fang's POV
At about one in the morning, I heard some slight footprints in the hall. I was worried and couldn't sleep. I was worried for Max. I kept facing the window. She was probably coming down the hall, unable to sleep herself. I decided to stay unnoticed and breathed regularly. I heard her peep around the door, and then I heard her leave. I can't read minds like Angel can but I sure could tell you she was worried about the saving the world thing. I must admit I was a little paranoid at that moment. There was something about Max moving around in the shadows that made her seem as dark as I.
I couldn't think straight. I didn't want to think about it. Then I decided to think about my life. No just more sadness. We had, had a deprived child hood. No new bikes for Christmas, storybooks, just the Internet, and violent TV shows. It was after this I decided to try again and sleep. This time letting go of all my current fears.
I did so too soon though. I felt a cold breath on my neck, and slowly turned to come face to face with me.
Max's POV
The glow coming from the end of the hall was growing brighter. I made sure to walk slowly for my eyes were already acclimated to the dark. As I neared the light, I decided to speed up a little. My eyes would eventually adjust again. I walked into the light of the kitchen which shown dully over the counter and at the counter sat Zak.
"Couldn't sleep?" he guessed.
"Yeah, I'm guessing you couldn't either."
"Yeah. I'm really tired, I just can't get to sleep."
He yawned.
"I hardly think drinking soda will do anything for that problem," I said gesturing towards the soda can.
"Well, I didn't want water, or milk, or etc. but soda seemed okay."
"I find when you're trying to go to bed soda isn't the best to turn to."
"Want some?"
"Why?"
"It's in the fridge."
"Okay."
"Sprite or coke?"
"Sprite."
I opened the refrigerator and felt the cool air pour on top of me.
"So how long have the secret scientists been after you?"
"A little while now."
I popped open the can just as Fang came lumbering in.
"Couldn't sleep?" we booth guessed. He slapped each other a high five.
"How'd ya know."
"Just a guess."
"Soda?"
"Yep."
He brought out some sprite.
"What a perfect middle o' the night drink."
"I know isn't it?"
"Remind me why we are drinking soda at…" He looked at his watch. How'd that get there?
"… At one thirty."
Over the past few days, his hair had been cut much shorter. In my opinion it made him look much better. He looked back at us flipping his hair. It was long enough to mostly cover his ears, but short enough that his ear lobes peeked out. It got longer in the back, and asked myself why Drew wasn't a hair stylist.
"Well?"
I broke free from my busy mind and answered his question.
"I have no idea."
We all laughed and then noticed it was still the middle of the night. We almost stopped laughing but continued on quietly. I loved it when fang laughed. It just swept my worries away.