Thanks for all who read and/or reviewed last chapter! I was amazed that some people said it made them so sad-- made me feel good! Glad you all liked it!
Here's this… almost as long as the last chapter! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I think we've established by now that I don't own Maximum Ride, but I don't want to get sued, so I continue to put this up.
When I got back to our hotel room, Iggy was still waiting up. As he heard me come in, shutting the window softly behind me, he whispered, "How'd it go?"
I said nothing and crossed the room to my bed. As I crawled under the covers, he asked, "Fang?"
I turned on my side and stared at the plain white wall. I couldn't shake the feeling of Max's mouth on mine, her arms around me. It was like it was still happening, except that she wasn't here with me. "Go to sleep, Ig," I said quietly, barely moving my mouth. He understood, and I heard his mattress creak. Knowing I wouldn't be able to rest, I sat up and leaned back on my headboard. "I'll keep watch."
It was a long night. My thoughts were on Max and nothing else. Not for the first time, I wished I didn't love her like this. Wished it was something else that made me so happy, instead of something that I couldn't have.
Finally, I heard Dr. Martinez talking in the girls' room, and I got up to wake Iggy, then Gazzy, then Jeb. Standing over him and saying, "Hey, Jeb. Time to get up," felt so weird, as I remembered all the mornings Max had made me help her wake him up at the E-house-- even though I'd only stood by while she jumped on his bed.
The girls came over to about twenty minutes later, dressed and asking if we wanted to join them at IHOP. While we walked over there, and then while we ate, Max and I were intentionally avoiding each other's eye. Still, I couldn't help staring at her mouth, thinking about how only hours before, it had been on mine.
Man, I just wanted her out of my head. Why'd I have to go and fall for my best friend? Stupid, I thought. Stupid. Stupid.
Angel gazed at me with her huge blue eyes. Fang, you're not stupid.
I ducked my head, staring down at my She doesn't think of me as anything more than a friend. And I've probably messed that up now, too.
Max realized something last night, she thought back. While you were kissing her.
I resisted the urge to snort out loud. What, that she hates my guts?
No. She loves you.
My head snapped up, and Angel and I stared at each other from across the table. I couldn't think. This made no sense. What? I thought dumbly.
Max loves you. Angel nodded at me. She realized she loved you, and it scared her, and that's why she flew away.
I paused mid-chew. Geez. She was so used to devoting everything to the flock that she couldn't give herself one thing, one thing that made her feel good. I loved her and apparently she loved me and two halves make a whole; what was so hard about this?
I think you should give her time to get used to the idea, Angel thought, well, thoughtfully. Oh, good, I was getting love advice from a six-year-old. A six-year-old who knows what's going on in your wannabe girlfriend's head.
I looked at Angel for a moment, and then my mouth quirked up. Yeah. Thanks for that.
0000000000
Much to Max's dismay, we ended up going back to the Capitol Building for our other meeting. This time, I didn't sit beside her. Instead, I sat next to Angel, keeping myself busy by leading Iggy to his seat. As I sunk into mine, I couldn't help glancing over at Max. She looked determined, like no way in hell were these people getting the better of her. Her hair was a little messy, and I thought again how just last night, I'd been feeling the silkiness of it--
Meeting, Fang, I told myself. Forget Max right now. Meeting.
I made myself watch as some old guy with a smile on his face started off the meeting by announcing, "We have some exciting news. We've been allocated the funds to create a special school for you. The location hasn't been decided yet. Nor has it been decided whether you will be mainstreamed with other children." His smile widened, if that was possible. I wasn't buying it.
"Uh-huh," Max said sarcastically. Apparently she wasn't either.
Dr. Martinez stepped in, rather than having Max go off on America's leaders again. "I'm still unclear why the children can't just live in peace somewhere, in hiding."
Yeah. Tell it like it is, Dr. M.
"Well," a woman said, "you see, Ms. Martinez."
"Doctor," she interrupted, narrowing her eyes slightly. "Dr. Martinez."
"Ah, yes." The woman smiled politely. "Dr. Martinez."
Dr. Martinez kept going. "Like in the witness protection program. The government spends millions of dollars, so much time and energy, protecting witnesses who are often criminals themselves. Why can't you make the same effort to protect innocent children?"
Really, I'd rather take the flock and my Max and fly off to find another place to hide out in the mountains. But we were currently going along with these adults, so I stayed put. For the moment.
A second woman, older than the first, leaned toward us from across the table. "The witness protection program is limited in its scope and not intended to create a suitable environment for children. Which is why we were thinking more of a boarding-school situation, with appropriate guardians and teachers."
Boarding school? No. No, no, no.
The woman smiled, but it was forced. Totally phony. "It will be a most desirable situation, I assure you."
Jeb stepped in then. I half-expected Max to, but she was just watching everything warily. "We're not convinced that you understand the nature of these children. We're not sure why you believe yourselves to be the best judges of what would be best for them."
A woman who hadn't spoken yet raised her eyebrows. "None of us have been associated, however peripherally, with Itex or its various research branches." Jeb slunk back slightly at the words. "But we've made an extensive study of the situation, of the children, and of various rehabilitation systems that might be applicable here. Many of us are parents ourselves."
Rehab? What were these people smoking? At this point I wanted to bust out of here so bad my wings were twitching. I fought to keep them from bursting out of the slits in my shirt.
"But you're not their parents," Dr. Martinez told the woman incredulously.
"With all due respect, Dr. Martinez, neither are you, nor is Jeb Batchelder," another old guy said. "We understand the genetic component, as it's been explained to us. But the fact remains that these children have essentially grown up without any adult who could realistically be called a parental figure."
Enough of this. It was time to put all these adults in their place.
My eyes shifted to Max. She looked completely on guard, and completely pissed off. When she looked at me and met my eyes, she gave a small nod, letting me know that she was going to take care of it.
Turning away from me, she raised her hand, and the adults stared, surprised. She cleared her throat. "I need to say something."
As she took control, I relaxed considerably and sat back in my chair. This should be good.
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