I'm sick. I'm stuck at home with a 99.7 degree fever, but I have more time to write! Really slowly, at least since my brain is on 'turtle' mode. This chapter might be a little bit… jumbled up, but I didn't have any idea how it was going to go in the first place (either that or I forgot already)! Well, on the bright side, our family just put up our Christmas tree! We still need to add the ornaments, but oh well. :P We also set up Christmas lights, and I still need to buy all my friends presents! Sigh. 'Money makes the world go round' my butt. 'I'm broke' is more like it. Well, here's my gift to you (one of them at least ;)), so hope you like Chapter 20!

Disclaimer: James Patterson owns Maximum Ride. Must I say any more?

Chapter 20 (Yayyyy the age my sister's turning NEXT year :P)

Max POV

So I ended up in play detention. Partly because I never went to practice, partly because Fang and I were late to school today. And somehow, Fang got dragged in and was now being forced to watch everybody practice. Sucksssss!

"Places everybody!" the director, Mr. Bill, ordered, clapping his hands, for the zillionth time.

"CAN YOU JUST SHUT YOUR MOUTH."

That, of course, was me. I was wearing a red wig and had one of those gaudy fake flowers in the wig. My legs were also stuffed inside a "mermaid tail" (which was cut open at the bottom) and I was on roller skates. And falling over multiple times. Like a boss.

Fang, on the other hand (or side of the theatre), looked very amused whenever I looked at him. And boy, does he look more comfortable than I do. He was all laid-back in his seat and his feet on the chair in front of him while eating popcorn (where did he get that?). Lucky duck. He's lucky enough not to be in the play.

He caught my eye and I glared at him and he smirked back, and I might have growled a little since Flounder, some random sophomore, stared at me with a suspicious eye. Oh well.

"Ok my little chickadees! Scene 4 action!" Mr. Bill ordered, waving his hands at the stereo man for my 'great song debut,' as I like to call it.

Me and Flounder skated on stage from backstage left, and I adjusted my mic before I started to talk.

"Oh Flounder," I sighed, "I just can't see how a world with such wonderful things could be so…. ba-"

Right then, Iggy came bursting out from behind the curtains, toppling into me, causing me to fall, hit Flounder, and a smoke cloud that smelled of Gazzy's farts to drift its way on stage.

"Cu- oh god, what is that SMELL, Iggy?" the director said, coughing as he tried to shield his already watering eyes.

"It- always- fades- away- after- a- few- minutes," I said between coughs, feeling like a true mermaid, while I flopped on the floor.

"What- is- that- horrid- smell?" Flounder gasped, as he clung to the floor.

"A- mixture- of-" Iggy started.

"NOBODY NEEDS TO KNOW, IGGY," I interrupted.

"Is my brother here already?" Angel said quietly as she peeked out from backstage for Gazzy.

In the meantime, through my watering eyes, I saw Fang crouched behind some seats (protecting his popcorn too), laughing quietly while watching us suffer. I glared at him, only to get more of the mean gas in my eyes. Yeahhhh, he was definitely going to get it once we're home.

"Well that's finally over!" I said, stretching my arms and yawning as Fang, Iggy, Angel, Nudge, and Gazzy stepped out the auditorium into the fresh air.

"I thought you were wonderful," Angel said with a, well, angelic smile.

I kissed her cheek.

"Thank you, sweetie," I said, as she giggled.

"Dude! That was so awesome!" Gazzy cackled, who came to pick up Angel around the end of practice.

"Yeah, it was a mixture of-"

Right then, Iggy was cut off once more by a kitten prowling down the sidewalk, mewing loud enough to hear.

Angel immediately ran over.

"Kitty!" she squealed before I reached over and picked her up before she could pick the kitten up, which stopped in front of us and stared up at all of us. I bet it was thinking "one of these creatures smells like fish" or something.

"Don't touch animals that you don't know, Angel," I scolded. "And does anybody know who that is?"

"Its name is Sesame-" Fang started, as he reached towards the kitty.

"And how would you know that?" I said suspiciously, eyeing him.

"-according to his name tag," he said, pointing out a collar. Oh.

"Does it have rabies?" Gazzy questioned, straining from Iggy's grasp (he also wanted to pet it).

"Yeah it probably does. And then you'll die from a tiny kit-" Iggy said happily as Gazzy stared in horror, now trying to drag Iggy away from the tiny animal.

"It doesn't have rabies, Gazzy. I think. Don't trust Iggy," I assured him, putting him at ease.

In the meantime Nudge was blabbering some nonsense along the lines of "then the dog mooed" and "that printer looked funny!" How she does it? It's a mystery.

"Fang," I ordered catching his attention. "Does the tag have an address on it?"

He checked and shook his head. I sighed and the cat started licking her (I'm guessing) paw.

"Well then, we are going to keep it at home until we find the owner!" I announced, picking up the kitten and setting down Angel.

I was met with silence followed by an outburst of comments.

"What?" I heard Fang say. "What about Total?"

"Awww I want to!" Angel whined.

"NO! IT HAS RABINES!" Gazzy screamed.

"NOO IT'S GOING TO KILL US ALLLL," Iggy moaned, dropping to his knees, and releasing Gazzy.

"I wonder if grass can pee…" Nudge muttered.

The kitten stared.

"Ok, first of all, yes, we are keeping Sesame, Fang, and Total will have to deal with her the best he can," I said, emphasizing his name. "And I'm not sure if your mom would let you keep it, Ange. Gazzy, it's rabies and it does NOT have rabies. Iggy, I think it's more likely you'll kill us all, not a harmless kitty. Got it?"

"How do you know it's harmless?" Iggy muttered, crossing his arms in a pout.

"Because I do. Any more questions?" This time I met silence (not literally). "Then let's go!"

We all cheered, except for Gazzy who eyed the kitten suspiciously.

The kitty mewed in response. Oh the poor thing.

Sorry it was late! I have a concert literally in just two hours though, so I have to stop here for now. How's the name Sesame? It was the first thing that popped up in my head so I used it. I kinda made this chapter on the spot (like all the rest. :P) so I haven't actually read it yet so just PM me or something if something confused you. Capiche? Well, until next chapter my friends (ish)! R&R?