Cafés ad Lattes
The sky was unsure as I was, this morning. As I landed in the parking lot of our school, grey clouds tried to push their way into the thick blanket of white clouds. The white quilt above my head had odd patches that pushed their way forward, as if trying to get a better view of the world. I curiously tilt my head towards the approaching grey, hoping I wouldn't be forced to call my mom to pick me up. I hate cars. Oddly, Gazzy had taken to an obsession, parading around the school, throwing car facts here and there, as if he invented General Motors.
Speaking of Gazzy, he was walking side by side with his newest girlfriend, Laney. She was cute, but somewhat disturbing in a bikini. Like the director, she's part turtle, and the skin on her back is tough as a shell, and she can fold into herself if startled. Gazzy, however, is fine with leaning close to her brown hair, whispering secrets and stroking her back. Laney giggled and playfully punched the Gasman. His face turned scarlet and they both leaned in for a passionate kiss. I rolled my eyes. My Flock was growing up way too quickly.
The bell rang and I nearly got tripped. But unlike the bullies I the Virgina school, this person (who had the resemblance to a stork) bent down and gave me a hand. These people have been in my position ( some even worse).
"I'm so sorry!" the girl stuttered, placing my notebook back into my hand.
"No problem," I said, waving her off and brushing my jeans.
(Side note. I've changed their grade levels! Angel is in 10th. Gazzy is in 7th and Iggy is in 8th with Nudge. Max and Fang are in 9th and Alida is placed in Preschool.)
"Max."
I whirled around to find Alida shuffling her feet sheepishly. In the past week, Dr. Martinez got her some school supplies and new outfits. Right now, she was wearing a short pink dress with black polka dots. Right below her chest is a black ribbon tied into a bow. Her black leggings got into little Mary Janes with socks. In the light, her hair looks dark brown, just dark enough to seem black. Her hair is in a loose, thin braid that runs across her forehead, as her other hair spills into it. Nudge had probably made her a waterfall braid again and she looked adorable. She was mine.
"You look amazing, Alida!" I cooed pulling her into the crowd, ignoring the fact we had become a road block for the students that cared to get into school.
She stares down, as if my gaze would burn a hole in her skin, and whispered, "Can you show me where my class is?"
"Of course!"
A smile dances across her dainty lips. I grab her hand. We began to walk, and already most of the people were inside. We rushed into the principal's office, where a secretary stares up at us, bored. She wasn't a mutant, only a really annoyed colleague of my mom's. You'd think she'd be grateful she is still alive.
"Can I help you? Mr. Cunnings is not in right now," the woman asked mechanically, as if she rehearsed this in her free time.
"My… friend is new and needs to know what where her class is," I answered.
"Alright. What's your name darling?" the secretary leaned over her desk.
Alida paled and fumbled with the ribbon on her dress. Her shoes become unbelievably interesting, as was the rugged floor. She opened her mouth, but closed it abruptly.
"Her name is Alida," I answered for her.
She nodded and sent me a grateful glance.
The woman typed at her computer and absentmindedly inquired, "Age?"
Alida looked down and tears began to brim.
"She's five,"
Yet again, Alida stared up, her tears disappearing.
"Max, lead Alida to room 145 behind the library. The teacher's name is Mr. Woler."
I nodded thankfully, and took Alida's hand. It gripped mine, as if I was her lifeline. It felt nice to have someone to take care of again. We went down the hall, my sneakers making an empty thud while Alida's shoes clicked across, as if she was a teacher already. With her free hand, she tucked her hair behind her ear and played with the hem of her tunic. As the woman instructed, we walked to the hall behind the library and found the tiny but adorable classroom. Alida peered into the room full of happy kids, and gulped, as if I was shoving he back into the School.
I kneeled in front ofher, and smoothed out her dress, fixed her hair a looked her in the eye.
"Alida. Listen to me. You are adorable and cute. You are smart and tough. You escaped from a high security lab, and you will not be shy in front of little munchkins like yourself. You got this."
She stared at me, as if I had told her to jump off a cliff in Greek. Then she puffed out her chest, and marched right into the room. I smiled as she introduced herself. I winked at her and she nodded. That's my cue.
I walked upstairs and unlocked my locker. I grabbed my books and checked my watch. About 15 more minutes of first period. Whatever. I slammed the locker shut and adjusted the bag on my shoulder and the books in my arms.
"..and by 1546, oh, Maximum!"
I had walked in in the middle of a sentence. Miss Junie looked outraged and stomped over to me. A few kids muttered amongst themselves and Fang (God help me) smirked.
"Miss Junie, I apologize. The newest member of our community, Alida, needed to be escorted to her class. I must have lost track of time," I explained as I slid into my seat next to Fang.
She looked me over, as if my hoodie held the answers. Her breath escaped between her lips with and exasperated sigh. Miss Junie walked back over to her desk and took out a stack of worksheets. She looked through them and handed me three.
"You have ditched class four times this month. Here are the assignments from class. You also missed a project and two group activities. Thus, you must come to my room for lunch to make this work up."
I groaned inwardly. Fang looked as if he would die from joy on the spot. A few students shot my sympathetic looks. I seemed to be popular for my ditching skills. I took the paper, sighed, and opened my binder. No use struggling. It would result in yet another month of detention. The last thing I needed was to sit inside while the spring breeze outside called for my wings. Speaking of wings, I can just open them I class. I stretched them onto the desk behind me that was currently empty. Might as well be ready for the day.
I was let out early from Math class to pick up Alida. With a brief stop by locker, I'm on my way. My backpack hang on my shoulders, threatening to cut my circulation. I would rather carry Akila around then this stupid textbook nightmare. Not like anyone cares.
The classroom door is closed and locked, as if these kids would try to escape. Then again, one of them could goes on a tantrum anytime someone mentions a word that starts with y. It's kind of creepy. The door had little butterflies flying everywhere, with a sign that read 'Kindergarteners Rule!' I rolled my eyes and looked into the room. All of the kids sat at their desks, backpacks placed neatly beside them. Teachers were collecting wrappers from the apple sauces they had handed out. Alida looked up, saw me, and waved. Her dress had made it through the day without a stain. If I could publically embrace the fact she was my daughter, I would have whipped out my camera and started taking pictures. I need help.
The bell rang (I swear it was late) finally rang, rattling my brains in the process. Students poured out of classrooms like a tidal wave. Some scurried out, waved goodbye to their friends, and ran off. Others wandered off in groups, as if their shoulders were super glued together. The little kids, however, slowly got up, took turn hugging the teacher, then walked outside. Alida was the only one who didn't seem robotic. She hugged her teacher quickly and ran over, flinging her thin arms around my neck. I drop my back and hug her as well.
"Alida!" my mom called from behind.
She was supposed to meet us outside, but I guess anxiety got the best of her. She swooped her out from me, twirling her around and around. A few exiting students cast us odd lances, but otherwise minded their own business. Alida giggled and shrieked like a banshee on it birthday. Her dress swirled around her, as if she was floating in a pool.
After being laced onto the ground, Alida hugged my mom and whispered something that broke my heart.
"Momma!" she squealed, nestling herself into my mom's jacket.
"I have to go," I announced, getting up and walking away before anyone could respond.
"Max..!" my mom called after me but I cut her off with a rushed, "Rery promised to walk home with me!"
I raced outside, tears threatening to brim over. I wanted her to say that to me and hug me, not my mother…. At that minute, I was seriously considering going back and strangling my mother. The thought slipped away as my tears. Luckily, no one was there to see my outburst. I shifted my backpack to my wings could pop out. Before I could gain any speed to lift off, a gentle hand stroked my feathers.
I smacked the goth kid himself is the head with my backpack. It hit with all its textbook and binder force smack in the nose. A satisfying trickle of blood came out, but this time, I wouldn't offer him any steak.
"How dare you come crawling back to me you ungrateful mutant!" I scream, ignoring the stares from teachers leaving the building.
Fang seemed to be enjoying this. That little piece of scum!
"You think this is so funny!" my old tears coming back. "I entrusted you with something and you just run out!"
His hand gently squeezes my shoulder and his lips meet mine. I try hard to resist, but I met in his arms. A sense of urgency is felt through our lips. Who's it is is hard to tell, but I lean in and wrap my arms around his waist. The passionate lock ends with a muffled pop! and we lean into each other. His hand strokes m hair and he whispers his 'I'm sorry's' and 'Forgive me's.' I nod after each one, until he comes to the last one.
"I want to be her father," he finally muttered.
If I were a different girl, with a different background before the world ended, I would have squeeled and jumped up and down. Instead, I gaped like an idiot. Smooth, Max, smooth. Thankfully, this time it wasn't my voice.
Now it will be!
Convenient timing, Jeb.
Thank you. I try to be punctual.
"Wow," I stuttered.
"Let us celebrate!" he announced, as if there was a crowd around him. "We do need to figure out how we're gonna break this to the Flock."
I nod dumbly. He offer to take my bag and I hand him the dumb-weight. He easily positioned it on one of his shoulders, allowing his dark, sequin like wings to extend to their full length. They were jaw dropping. I opened my own wings, which were messy and were in need of a good scrubbing. Still, Fang seemed to be utterly mesmerized by them. Almost as if he's never seen them before. Ok…
He took the lead, flying over the downtown portion of the island, where some small cafes, stores and parks stood bunched together. He dropped us off in a small and comfortable deli in a corner. It was practically empty except for a couple making cow eyes at each other. The place didn't look top notch, but I was ravenous. Anything that was edible at this point would do fine for me. Fang went up, ordered three sandwiches, a yogurt, water, a fruit bowl, a cheese platter and two cookies for dessert. He ordered himself the same, except for the water. Instead, he grabbed a can of soda.
"So?" he asked.
I heaped food into my mouth, almost like a vacuum. The first sandwich and half the cheese platter was gone by the time he opened his own yogurt. He made a point of gently opening a napkin, placing it beneath his utensils, lifting the fork carefully to stab one piece of cheese before slipping in slowly into his mouth.
"Come on Fang. I know you want to eat," I said.
He shrugged, grabbed a sandwich and wolfed it down in twenty seconds, tops. I gaped, but shook it off, focusing on alternating between my foods. The couple next to us has taken to cooing to each other.
"Maybe we come to my place afterwards..?" he asked, unsurely.
I shrugged indifferently as my sandwiches, fruit and cheese platter disappeared, leaving the ice cold yogurt. I gulped it down so fast, my brain shut down for a few seconds from the intense cold. As soon as I came around, I began to shiver.
"Do you need a jacket?" Fang asked, almost excited at the thought.
"A little bit.." I whispered through clenched teeth.
"I'll get you a latte!" he announced, as if he were saving me.
I rolled my eyes and watched him walk up the counter. He ordered it and paid the cashier and took the steaming cup. Fang walked over to the counter filled with sugars and straws. He waves to me, as if we just saw each other on the street. Fang points out the window, as if he suddenly became mute. I stared out, only to see a pizza parlor and a small chunk of a dentist's office.
"Wha…?" I began to ask, turning around in the process.
Fang makes me nearly jump out of my skin as he popped up on the chair, cup in hand. He shakes it gently, smirking.
"Stop that!" I exclaimed playfully, snatching my drink from his hand.
I take a swig, allowing the warm drink cascade down my throat. It oddly tastes like salt, but I ignore it. All I felt was the warmth growing from my stomach out. It blossomed like sapling, allowing each branch to warm my skin. I sighed heavily, feeling the urge to fall asleep.
As if reading my mind, Fang whispered, "Don't fight it."
I try to shake the fatigue and get a clear look at his head. Is it me, or is it flashing?
Fang's head, which began changing so rapidly, it resembled a disco ball, suddenly stopped. Instead of Fang was the one and only.
"Dylan…" I tried to yell, but it came out a muted mumble.
"Don't fight it…"
My vision swirled and sparkled, until Dylan's head was gone, and all I could see was black. Did I mention this was getting old? The last word I remember was me mental freaking out.
Crap.
Hey people of Fanficiona! I am currently in the process of adopting a story from Issi Herondale. Check her out! I'm finally updating and The Tale of Two Schools is next! It is the most popular one for me, but still no reviews in the past month. I would like some feedback, guesses, or just random comments! I'd like to thank the guest Cyborg for reading my entire story and reviewing! Also, some of you have commented that my words have random spaces. I have no idea how they happen, but I will try to fix it. I apologize, however. Thank you very much, and have a great day. Read on and virtual book! [~|~]