Yo,

Ok, so i know some of you have some questions. So i'm going to answer them... duh.

Firstly, When will Max find out about Nicks wings? (If he has wings) Well, sorry guys but you have to wait until chapter 25. Yes, i know it's forever away, but there are some megally awesome chapters in between.

Secondly, Do the rest of the flock come? YES! They do, but the real question is HOW. There is a bit of a twist in this story. It's not the average itex vs. flock battle, there is a bit more to it. :)

I hope you enjoy this chapter. Its pretty long.

Fly On...

Heart of Diamond

xoxooxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

It Takes Six to Save the World...

Chapter 14: Music Memories

Max POV

The three of us piled into Jeff's car. Yes, the crazy bomb maker had a licence. I never went for mine. Why? Because the careers didn't think it was necessary, until I was 18. That was when most of the foster kids went for their learners.

Then Nick didn't have his licence because he was grounded from his car for another 3 months.

But I'm sure Jeb and Nick could afford to live without having any licence.

"So where are we going?" I asked.

Nick sat in the back seat with me. Jeff looked behind him slightly to look at me. "Sorry, Max, you did ask for a surprise."

I narrowed my eyes and pointed to Nick. "I asked a surprise from him. I didn't expect you to get in on the surprise."

Nick gave me a look. "You know 'him' has a name?"

Yeah. Unsupportive emo brother.

Jeff glanced back at me. "Well, I am driving. I kind of need to know where I'm going."

The 'duh' at the end of the sentence was left unsaid.

I opened my mouth to retort, but I could think of nothing to say. I crossed my arms and glared at the back of the front passenger seat.

Nick snickered beside me. I glared at him, but his face had snapped back to its emotional state and he gave me a look that said you-want-something?

Yeah, to knock you brains out.

Though I don't think that would go down well in court.

As we drove through the outskirts of LA, I stared at the passing houses. Or should I say mansions. These were even bigger than Jeb and Nick's house. But these houses didn't have the giant oak tree lined dirt driveway which I have grown to love, or a third of the land that Jeb owned.

But these were still pretty amazing.

As I stared at the passing houses, my body relaxed. I wasn't sure whether it was because I was in awe of these amazing houses, or over the fact Nick was sitting less than a meter away from me.

So maybe it was on purpose that Jeff put some so called 'clothes for opp shop' boxes on the front passenger seat.

If there was anything in those boxes, it would be a little more radioactive than some clothes.

It was at that point I realised what street we were in. How could you not recognize the 20m tall palm trees either side of the road.

"Sunset Boulevard," I said. "We're in Sunset Boulevard."

Jeff chuckled, "Jees, took your time."

I laughed. It was a short laugh, but I was in shock. "Sunset Boulevard... no way. Like, every famous person lived in this street."

Jeff snorted. "I don't!"

I glared at him in the review mirror only causing him to laugh.

"Not everyone, but a couple, Shirley Temple, Jane Mansfield, Phil Collins to name a few. Oh and Arnold Schwarzenegger, but he lives at number 14,215. Did you know he brought out his neighbours house's and expanded his property to 5.5 acres..."

I tuned out and glanced at Nick. He was looking at me with a strange expression on his face. He was curious, yet had a small soft smile on his face. His dark eyes sparkled with a strange emotion.

He glanced and nodded to something behind me. "Madonna's house. Well, her driveway at least."

I spun around and looked out the window behind me. I frowned and pointed to the cement path leading into a driveway surrounded by green. "What just through there... Madonna lives just through there?"

I looked back at Nick. I must have had a gigantic smile on my face, because he chuckled. "Nice to know you're having a good time."

"Good time," I said, my eyes wide. "This is awesome!"

Nick chuckled again, but his gaze didn't leave me though. He continued to stare at me with that strange expression on his face.

His eyes flashed red.

It was strange, because this time, the flash lingered. I defiantly wasn't imagining it. There was defiantly something wrong with his eyes. Something almost... unnatural...

And the emotion that came with this flash was so different to the previous too. It wasn't hate or fear. I couldn't recognize exactly what it was. But it was so strong...

I saw Jeff grinning in the review mirror out of the corner of my eye. I snapped my head back to the front. Nick's expression changed and he was now giving death glares at the back of Jeff's neck.

It seemed I wasn't the only one about to kill Jeff.

Jeff turned into another street. "We are currently turning out of Sunset Boulevard and into Beverly Drive. This street is, of course, named after Beverly Hills the suburb..."

"What? Have we turned this car into some tour bus?" I asked.

Jeff glared at me. "Excuse me Madame, I appreciate your comments, but can you resist interrupting the tour guide."

Lord, help me. We have a crazy bomb making lunatic driving.

Nick glanced out the window. "Beverly Drive. Ray Bloger lived in this street," he mumbled.

I looked at him suggestively. He saw me and blushed slightly. He looked down nervously. "Well, um... he... he was the scarecrow in the... in the Wizard of Oz."

I snorted, holding back a laugh.

The Wizard of Oz was really his favourite movie.

Nick sent me a death glare that came with a warning of 'don't you dare'. But that little red tinge on his cheeks reddened. I couldn't believe he knows where the actors used to Live.

Not to mention Nick's blush was cute.

What? Max, this is your brother you're talking about. Shut. Up.

Jeff looked back at us. "Your right, he did too. And who's the guy who played the tin man? Jack..."

I knew this one. "Jack Harley?"

Jeff nodded. "That's right. Jack Harley, he also lived in this street. So does Wayne Rogers... um... that's all the famous people I could think of at the moment."

I glanced at Nick and fought back a laugh. He still had a red tinge to his face. God, Nick Batchelder was blushing. I wish I had a camera.

He looked at me and frowned giving me a clear 'shut up' face. I snorted a laugh. I mean come on. This emo has to have crush of Julie Garland or something.

"I think we need a song," Jeff said suddenly, switching on the radio.

...my daddy said stay away from Juliet,
and I was crying on the stair case,
begging you please don't go.

And I said, Romeo take me somewhere we could be alone,
I'll be waiting, all that's left to do is run,
you'll be the prince and I'll be the princess,
It's a love story, baby just say yes.

I glared at Jeff as he turned the radio on full blast. He even sung to the world, slight amusement at the tone of his voice. I wasn't the only one who was glaring. Nick's expression turned dark and any blush that remained disappeared.

I just ran through my list of 101 ways to torture Jeff Nicolson in my head (42: convince him that all beach bunnies are lesbians). I grinned evilly for a second and add to my list (102: cut volume circuit off on Jeff's radio so it stays on highest volume. 103: also jam a Miley Cyrus CD into his disc player and block the hole with super glue. 104: Fiddle with his car so every time he turned on the engine it played 'The Climb').

Nick looked at me strangely.

It was nearly sunset by the time we had takeaway Souvlakis and triple caramel sundaes with almond flakes and 4 kit kat sticks. We had spent most of the time just walking through the city.

Nick hung back and hardly said a word as Jeff became my tour guide and pointed out nearly every single building in LA giving it a name. Of course half I didn't remember.

I glanced back at Nick every now and then. He returned my gaze with a small smile on his emotionless face. I couldn't stare at him for too long though, or Jeff would stop talking and start pointing at all the chapels and churches that are best to get married in.

Of course, that was until I punched him in the gut.

I was about to take a bite out of my souvlaki when Nick stopped me. "Don't eat yet, we haven't gotten to the surprise."

I groaned. "But I'm hungry."

Nick rolled his eyes. "Trust me. You'll want to wait."

Jeff chuckled as he saw my pout.

We ran across the street, dodging the honking cars. Jeff and Nick were walking into a building. I stopped and looked up. "Um guys?"

They both turned and looked at me.

I pointed at the building subtly. "This is an apartment block."

The both smiled at me and waited. I sighed and followed them thought the roundabout doors.

Nick and Jeff silently walked through the foyer. I stared at the comfortable seating area and reception, wondering what the hell where doing here.

Of course, there was no point asking because I knew I wasn't going to get an answer.

Jeff pressed the up button for the elevator. Nick looked at me. "You ready?"

I rolled my eyes. "I have narrowed it down to two options. One, you have someone up stairs who is going to sell me for scientific experiments and two, your both going to throw me in room 1313."

"The first one is correct," Jeff pointed out as the elevator dinged open.

"Well, I did think that was the more realistic explanation," I said sarcastically. Nick snickered.

I was surprised when Jeff pressed the top story button. I gave them both suspicious looks.

When we reached the top, it didn't stop there. Jeff pointed and we followed him. Our feet were silent as we walked across the carpet. It was when we reached the emergency exit did I groan.

"I hate you guys," I said simply crossing my hands. "You made me catch the elevator up, just so we could take the stairs down. That's pathetic."

Nick grinned at me as he opened the door. "Who said we were going down?"

Jeff jogged up ahead whistling 'Bo jangles' by Jerry Jeff Walker. I stared at Nick. He nodded his head, gesturing me to go upstairs. He closed the door behind us.

I walked up the stairs, Nick so close beside me our shoulders brushed. I felt my heart sped up slightly at the simple touch. My skin became so sensitive, my blood boiled under it.

I so badly wanted to…

Max. Go jump on your head and shut the hell up.

I pushed the top door open and was instantly greeted by the rays of the setting sun. I gasped without thinking.

It was like flying with no wings.

The view was incredible. The sky scrapers in front of us were rising into the sky, like gleaming towers of sliver. The golden rays of the sun gleamed through the gaps of the towering structures.

I stepped forward, almost hypnotised by the fabulous sight. In all my times of flying, I had never seen anything like this before.

I continued to step forward and spun around to take in the 360 view.

Opposite the city, stretched the Pacific Ocean. A bright pale blue. It sparkled with sliver lights and seemed like it could go on forever.

My wings strained against my strap without meaning too. I needed to fly. I needed to dive into the flat endless ocean.

"Max!"

I spun around. Across over to the southern side of the building, Jeff beckoned my over. I jogged over to where he stood and found three fold up bench chairs.

"We're eating dinner here?" I asked.

Jeff grinned at me and pointed down. I followed where he was pointing.

A stadium was across the road. It was huge. The crowds we're cheering like mad over something. But it wasn't a sporting game. It looked like...

"A concert?" I said. "We're sitting up here to watch a concert?"

Jeff laughed and gabbed one of the fold out chairs. "We have the best seat in the house."

I laughed happily and gabbed one of the chairs, also propping it up. Nick walked over, a pair of binoculars in his hand. He waved them up in the air. "You'll need these. There is no way you'd be able to see anything without binoculars."

True. If you were a human. I, on the other hand, had raptor vision. I could easily see into the concert stadium, but the last thing I wanted is my best friends to work out I wasn't exactly normal.

I nodded and pulled my souvlaki out of the plastic bag. I took a bite and hummed at the delicious taste that filled my mouth. "This is good."

Nick propped up his chair beside me and pulled out dinner. Jeff was already half way through his souvlaki.

We sat there in silence. I thought of how lucky I was. To be sitting here. Feeling like I was on top of the world.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!"

I sat up a little straighter. Hang on. Who's concert was it?

Nick had the binoculars. Like lightning, I snatched them out of his hands and brought them to my eyes. I focused in on the tiny presenter standing of the multi coloured stage.

"The Script!"

A roar erupted in the stadium. I felt the energy of the crowd hit me right down to the bone. It was such a thrill. I felt as if I could run a thousand miles. It was like I was drinking in the energy of the stadium. I slowly brought my binoculars down and gapped at Nick. Nick gave me an amused smile.

I pushed him in his chair lightly. Nick chuckled. "I thought you would like it."

"Of course, I like it." You're here!

Shut up, shut up, shut up...

Jeff leant over and snatched the binoculars away from me. He glanced through them and gave me a raised eyebrow. "You like The Script?"

I gave him a 'duh' look. "There one of my favourite bands."

Jeff shrugged. The music started then. The instant I heard the song, I grinned. "I love this song!"

(Science & Faith by The Script)

Tried to break her to a science
In an act of good defiance
I broke her heart.
There's a pull up on her theories
There's a watch her growing weary
I broke her heart.

I couldn't help but sing along to the song and humming to it as I ate. Jeff was tapping his foot.

The energy the whole stadium was giving off was unbelievable. I just felt so... alive.

Having heavy conversations
About the frivilous constellations of our souls. oh
We're just trying to find some meaning
In the things that we believe in
But we got some ways to go.
Of all of the things that she's ever said
She goes and says something that just knocks me dead.

I glanced at Nick. He was quietly eating his dinner. He looked at me his face full of happiness and... content. He caught my eye and smiled. I smiled back, but turned my mind and heart back to my dinner.

You won't find faith or hope down a telescope
You won't find heart and soul in the stars
You can break everything, got the chemicals?
But you can't explain a love like ours.

I glanced at Nick on those words. I couldn't help it. As much as my mind was trying to fight it, I had to sneak his a glance.

Nick was staring at the stadium. He had a frown on his face as if he was fighting with himself. Like he was trying to work something out.

I snapped my head back to the front. Your brother, he's your brother. He's human, you're not.

Ooohhhh
It's the way we feel, yeh this is real.
Ooohhhh
It's the way we feel, yeh this is real.

Jeff bundled his papers up and threw them off the building. I glared at him. "Litterer."

Jeff looked over the edge and shrugged, a trickster grin on his face. "Paper decomposes."

Nick leant forward to look at Jeff. "Gees, did you eat that in like 10 seconds?"

Jeff checked his watch. "One minute and 12 seconds actually. What can I say? I'm a hungry guy."

"The big stomach matches your big ego," I mumbled. Nick laughed. Jeff glared at me.

I tried pushing evolution
As the obvious conclusion of the start.
But it was all my own amusement
Saying love was an illusion of a hopeless heart.
Of all of the things that she's ever said
She goes and says something that knocks me dead.

You won't find faith or hope down a telescope
You won't find heart and soul in the stars
You can break everything, got the chemicals?
But you can't explain a love like ours.

I took the last bite of my souvlaki and threw my ball of paper over the edge.

Jeff was instantly on me. "Rebel!"

I glared at him and hit him on the head with my coke bottle.

Ooohhhh
It's the way we feel, yeh this is real.
Ooohhh
It's the way we feel, yeh this is real.

Of all of the things that she's ever said
She goes and says something that just knocks me dead.

As I dug into my sundae, trying to keep my mind off how close Nick was sitting next to me. Jeff was onto his second souvlaki, using the binoculars to watch the performance.

I... I had never felt like this before.

Every vibe... every cell of my body could sense Nick sitting next to me. Apart from the words of the song, all I could hear was Nick.

I just wanted to move closer to him. I wanted to brush my arm again his. To just...

I shovelled Ice-cream into my mouth and bit down on the icy cold mush to break my chain of thoughts.

You won't find faith or hope down a telescope
You won't find heart and soul in the stars
You can break everything, got the chemicals?
But you can't explain a love like ours.

Ooohhhh
It's the way we feel, yeh this is real
Ooohhhh
It's the way we feel, yeh this is real

I couldn't resist any longer. I had to look at him. I just had too.

I glanced across.

He was looking at me. All the puzzlement in his face beforehand had disappeared. Realisation now appeared on his face. A look that told me he had made up his mind... on something.

Nick smiled softly at me.

I sat on the second L on the Hollywood sign. It was about 3 in the morning. Who knows how long I had been sitting there. I've just sat there, trying to organize my emotions.

I've come up with nothing.

Not a thing.

'Cause whenever I thought of Nick, one thing got in the way.

I wasn't human.

I wasn't even mentally human. I was far more intelligent than normal 16 year old girls. I had the ability to make snap decisions. I had could logically work things out faster than any girl in year 10.

Not to mention, I had wings. I could snap a bone like a twig if I had the right grip. I could see the fine print of a newspaper 2 km if I focus in on it enough. I could hear a cockroach scuttle across the floor through closed doors and instantly know how fast it was going and how big it was. My sense of smell was strong enough that I could pinpoint each person's sent and memorize it like I was on auto pilot. Hell, I could find my way through a maze with my eye closed by just using a sense of smell and hearing.

Even if I wanted a normal human life, I already knew I never was going to get one.

I sighed and picked up the daisy I had collected. I almost felt like doing a cliché moment and pluck the petals of the daisy. I should follow my heart, I should follow my heart not.

My other hand snuck into my pocket and pulled out the twice-ly folded picture. I opened it up watched the repetitive movie of the mini me and mini Nick.

Would Nick have a normal life?

The pictures... they move.

But Nick probably couldn't see it. Maybe it was Just me. Just another weird and wonderful power I got with my wings.

I looked back down at LA again. The sparkling lights, the never ending noise.

Nick had the chance to live a normal life.

Something I would never be able to give to him.

xoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxxoxo

Sigh. Poor Max. Don't worry, i would fly to the moon before i would say they aren't getting together.