The Long Way Home

deludedfreak

Chapter Ten: Let's Murder Him in His Sleep ('cuz we cool like dat)

Disclaimer: Mah… Do I even have to say it? I DON'T OWN MAXIMUM RIDE. Well, I do own two books. So… Uh… And I also own this. This… Thing. My insane love-child. And here's another chapter, duckies.

"Through the day as if on an ocean
Waiting here always failing to remember

Why we came came came
I wonder why we came
You talk to me as if from a distance
And I reply with impressions chosen
From another time time time"

-- Brian Eno "By this River"
(even though Mono sings a better version…o.o)

"So… How do you guys know each other?" Jeanine asks, eyes shifting back and forth between Fang and me.

Spearing a syrup-soaked piece of waffle with my fork, I answer before shoving it down my throat, "Childhood friends. Known each other since diapers, you know, that sort of thing."

Stealing a look at Fang, who was slowly picking at his scrambled eggs, I note that he hadn't ordered as much as he should have. And he hadn't said anything except to order his food and a cup of coffee.

I look at Jeanine now, chewing slowly. She seems out of it, like there is something else on her mind. And she is definitely not cheery and hyperactive, like normal. Whatever. It's better this way.

Her eyes flash as she leans forward to ask another question. "So your parents were friends?"

Fang's movements freeze for a brief moment before he takes a loud bite of his toast. I can feel his eyes on me, waiting for me to answer.

"I… guess you could say that," I tell her, wishing she'd stop asking about this, of all things. My brain is working slower than usual, and the lies seem to get stuck about halfway through, leaving me with a bunch of mumbo-jumbo.

See? Just there. That didn't even make sense.

And Fang was obviously no help.

Sighing loudly, I take a long sip of my orange juice, eying Jeanine warily, waiting for her next question. I try to steel myself for it, but it doesn't work.

"Does he talk much?" She asks, staring in you-know-who's direction. Rolling my eyes, I open my mouth to answer, but he cuts me off.

"No."

Fighting back a snort at Jeanine's surprised expression, I shove another piece of waffle down my throat to keep from making any noise. I almost choke myself in the process, which shuts me up.

The rest of the meal continues in silence, the few questions Jeanine asks answered readily by me. Fang does not speak again, and it is only after we are safely back in my dorm that he says anything.

"I'm going to call Monique now."

I nod, turning away from him. "Phone's somewhere around here."

I walk away, to my room, hoping to find something to do while in there. I'm not sure I really want to go to class today. In fact, I'm not going to go.

Falling face-first into my mattress, I try to organize my scattered thoughts- the things that happened yesterday, today, and five years ago. It's not very easy, and I soon find myself empty, void of thoughts and memories.

Lifting my head, I hear Fang hang up the phone, and his light footsteps coming down the hall towards my bedroom. Rolling over onto my back, he appears at the door.

"What'd she say?" I ask, curious.

He shrugs, looking at one of the Taylor Twins posters I have hung up on the wall.

"She sounded surprised, but that was about it."

"What did she say?" I repeat.

"She wanted to know where I was. I told her, and she asked if it was alright with you. Is it?" His dark eyes land on me for a moment before shifting back to the poster.

"Yes. Why do you think I let you sleep over if it wasn't?"

"I dunno. Maybe you were planning to murder me in my sleep."

I grin, looking at him. "Sure."

He smiles back, then points at the poster. "We saw them in New York that one time, right?"

I nod, looking up at it. "The first time we went there…"

Our eyes meet for a moment, but I immediately look away. An awkward silence fills the room before Fang breaks it, which is probably a first for him.

"I've gotta go. Monique says it's my turn to do laundry."

I close my eyes against the sudden feeling of loneliness overwhelming my mind. "Al- alright. I'll see- I'll see you later, then," I stammer out, mentally kicking myself over my stutter.

He nods, and disappears down the hallway.

It is only after he has left my dorm that I get up off my bed, wiping my eyes in frustration. After all this time, it's still pretty bad between us. The tension… Ugh.

Letting out an angry sigh, I check the clock. It's not late, so that means I have plenty of time to do whatever I want until I have to make myself presentable to society, which makes me wince. Can't I just stay inside for the rest of my life?

Making another frustrated sigh, I head for the kitchen, hoping to make some coffee and clear my mind.

But as I'm setting up the coffee maker, a splitting pain bursts in the back of my skull, forcing me down on my knees. Unable to think, unable to move, I let it take over me until I'm lying with my cheek pressed onto the cold tiles.

"Whoa… Are those stars I see?" I blink my eyes slowly, trying to bring back reality into my aching mind. No sooner had the words left my mouth than another spurt of pain staggers my thoughts, pushing anything coherent out the door. I whimper as I wait for it to pass.

When it does, I sit up slowly and painfully, fingers pressed to my temples, daring my dysfunctional brain to try it again, just try it, and be disappointed when I keel over and die from the shock.

As I try to gather my scattered thoughts, I find one that I wasn't sure was there before.

"Was that… A brain attack?" I whisper, my eyes widening.

The Voice doesn't have to tell me, but it does anyway.

Yes, Maximum. I'm back.

"Fuck," I curse.

A/N: Dood-a-loo… -ish happy for no apparent reason- It's probably because I got a lot of "lucky money" for Christmas. For those that don't know (and I am sure there are many out there that don't) lucky money is a Chinese custom. I don't know the specifics, but I'm half-Chinese, therefore, half of my family every year gives me at least 200 bucks every year. I think it has something to do with the Chinese New Year, where random strangers run up to people's houses and wish them a Happy New Year, and they get money. Kinda like Halloween, except better. WHOOT.

I can't write someone in pain for beans. Well, not physical pain. Anguish, haha, YES. I CAN do that. A brain attack? Did she even hurt herself?!

I should be going to bed right now…

I forgot to mention last chapter that I FINALLY bought Twilight. Yups, it is awesome. Still need to finish it though…

All I want for Christmas is a couple of reviews! A couple of reviews! tries to sing and fails miserably Imma go post this now.