-EDIT-so, in case you guys aren't aware by now, I've been editing some earlier chapters and fixing a few minor spelling/grammar issues and adding some stuff to fit in with the story LATER. So I hope you enjoy the improved version. Thanks, -Ivyflightislistening, April 24, 2011
XXXXX
Bubbley-chan! I love it how much you review, it's great. Feel free to suggest anything you'd like, I'll pay attention.
girlyoudontknow-I LOVE fireflies by Owl City! Haha that would've been great.
Charlie Ride-thank you! That means a lot.
Wolfen91-Sorry for the wait… but thanks anyway!
Fhhfhjtb-yes… and I'm sorry for that-here's the next chapter!
MaxRideRox-sorry for the wait, but thank you!
For Narnia!
Haha, my soccer team did that for a cheer today, it was fantastic.
XXXXX
Note: link for the dress that was the inspiration for Max's can be found on my profile under the story info section.
As I suspected, we never found a Lord of the Rings dress. However, despite having to model dresses for an hour before we decided on one, bought it, and met up with mom and the boys, I was relatively happy with the events of the day. As Nudge had predicted, we hadn't found a dress anywhere close to the one she had drawn, but I had chosen the simplest one I could find. Originally I had been going for a basic long black dress that covered me and had what Nudge described as a "mermaid skirt" but it was tough to run in, so I went with my second choice. It was the color of the sky right before, a dark blue, and ended just above my knees. It was wrapped a little too tightly along my torso, making me seem… girly, I guess. As in, actually possessive of a few curves here and there, and a waist. Needless to say, Ella and the girls were thrilled. It also had no shoulder straps. The last six inches flared out in a little fan, and I had avoided look in mirrors while wearing it. However, it won out because of the lack of sparkles and shine and I could run in it. Needless to say, the attendants in the dressing room were a little confused. We met up with the boys and we all joined together under the unspoken rule that we would not mention the events that we had experienced that day.
"We're back!" I called as I began to empty the remaining contents of our cooler (mostly empty juice pouches), and mom, home before Ella what with lacrosse practice and everything, hurried in from outside. She had some fresh carrots in one hands, the perfect shade of orange, if a little dirt smudged. The girls immediately ran over to her, describing in complete detail the day's events, accentuating exactly how pretty I looked in my dress. Blushing, I hurried out of the cramped kitchen and into Iggy.
"Last I checked," he said mildly, picking himself up off the floor. "I was the blind kid."
"I'm surprised you didn't hear me coming." I retorted, rubbing my arm.
"Where are you hurrying off to?"
He shrugged, tres casuale. "Meeting Ella at practice. She's walking home, thought I'd join her." Though his face was a calm mask, I caught a small flicker in his eyes. "Do you think she'll mind?" Now I detected a bit off worry in his tone-he wasn't thinking about the bullies, but that she wanted to walk home alone. I grinned.
"'Course not. You're friends, right? That's what friends do. Do you want…?"
"Angel's coming."
"Oh." I shifted to the side to step around him, just as he did, then to the others side, and impatiently put my hands on his shoulders and rotated him in the narrow hall. "There."
He smiled, but just as I had gotten free of the bird mess in the hall, I tripped over Total, landing face first on the not-so-soft carpet.
"Total!" I snarled at the same time that he barked my name, none to happy.
"Max," Nudge looked on from the kitchen door. "Do you think this means you're expiring?" She snickered. "I mean, being genetically enhanced and all-"
"Oh hush." I snapped, but couldn't help the uncomfortable prickle on the back of my neck. Quickly, before there could be any more obstructions in the hall, I hurried out the front door. Granted, that didn't keep me from hearing Total's shouted profanities about being treated degradingly. I really think he needs his own Oprah episode, if anyone can help him can to terms with his being a dog, Oprah can. I mean, he's marrying-
"Total," I turned in the doorway, planting a sickly sweet smile on my face. He spun around to face me, spitting in fury.
"You heard, then, did you?" He accused me. "You wouldn't trip over Angel! You wouldn't trip over Nudge! Are you really so insulting as to call me a 'dog' and stamp me even further into the ground?"
"Are you saying you're not a dog?" My eyebrows knit in mock confusion. "Because, just for future reference, inter-species marriage is illegal."
"Max," Angel wandered up to me and tugged on my arm. I glanced away from the newest set of demon brain-attack pictures that I had set up in mom's room across her bed. I had spent the last hour trying to figure something, anything, out that would help me, to no avail. Meanwhile, Iggy had been teaching Fang and Ella how to make Eggplant Parmesan for dinner, and Gaz, Nudge, and said blonde cherub had gotten into a bleach fight. Thanks to them, my brain was to fried to figure out anything from the drawings even if it was written out in plain English. Not to mention my formerly dark blue shirt changing to a tie-dyed sky blue bleach mess. Mom and I had nearly yelled ourselves hoarse after that incident.
Needless to say, I was not that happy with her.
"Celeste," she held up the bleach-stained teddy bear in her other hand. "Nudge, Gazzy, and I want to play charades. Ella said she'd play, and made Iggy play too. Fang just looked at me with that…" She raised her eyebrows, her eyes completely blank but still managing to master the 'you want me to play charades? Yeah, no,' face, typical of Fang. "Look. You know? But then I said I would make sure he got stuck in my next bleach fight and he agreed."
"So it's just me." I turned my eyes back to the drawings until she tugged my arm again.
"Fine." I grumbled, getting up off the rumpled bed. "Charades, of all things." I muttered to myself. "How do you even play charades? I bet it has something to do with cards and complex directions in Spanish…"
"Max, save the muttering for near-death situations." Iggy reminded me as I took my place beside the others outside. Dusk was falling by now, but six hyperactive mutants and one only slightly less hyperactive human stuck indoors is a recipe for disaster. The bleach fight had been enough for me. "You'll wear yourself out."
"I'm already worn out." I grumped. "How do you even play charades?"
"It's easy, Max." Ella assured me with a grin. "You pick a card, then because we lost the board and directions ages ago, you choose your favorite word. See?" She held up a card with six words on one side.
Bathroom.
Bungee Jumping.
Skateboarding.
Michael Jackson.
Dog.
Filmmaker.
"So if it were my turn," she explained after I had interrupted her with "I knew there were cards!" "I would choose a word, then act it out. You would all have to guess what it was, and you get a point each time you get it right. Technically, you're not supposed to talk, but it's more fun if you do. If the words are crap," she shrugged. "Make up your own, it just has to be something we would all know."
"I know I don't only speak for myself when I say that I suck at acting." I pulled a face, sharing a kill-me-now look with Fang.
"I wanna go first!" Gazzy exclaimed. "Here, Ella, give me the card basket-wait, never mind! I've got one!" He jumped around, looking at the rest of us with eight-year-old excitement. "Okay," he unfolded his wings dramatically. Then, he proceeded to strut around the circle with his arms crossed.
After a few moments, he turned and stomped his foot, then he opened his mouth and began a pitch-perfect imitation of me.
"How many times do I have to tell you? I don't care how awesome it looks when you mix hydrogen peroxide with ammonium and sulfur! I care about cookies and practicing my spitting techniques for whenever I next see Jeb." Then, he froze, his eyes wide like a deer in the headlights, leaving us all cracking up, but completely confused. Suddenly he jumped to the side, mimicked Iggy's voice for a second and said, "Max?" Then he jumped back to where he had been a moment before, and waved the imaginary Iggy away. "Don't worry, it's just the Voice! It says we should all be good little children for the government, so I mentally flicked it off!"
Even Fang, who as you all know is Mr. Personality, was reduced to maniacal laughter by the end of Gazzy's little rant. Nudge jumped up, begging for her own turn once we finally settled down, and chose a card.
She held up one finger, provoking the conclusion that it was one word. Then, she pointed to herself, jabbing her finger at her chest a few times. Fang explained to Iggy what she was doing with a knit brow, trying to figure out what she meant. Pursing her lips, Nudge then mimicked holding two things and pouring the one into the other.
"Lemonade? Drinking something? Pouring juice?" Gazzy guessed, making her shake her head, then turn to pretend to write something down.
"You're pouring lemonade then writing a confession that you drank it all." Said Angel. "That's it-no? Darnit."
"What am I?" Nudge demanded, jumping up and down in irritation as it still remained that none of us could guess. "What are Max and Fang and Iggy and Gazzy and Angel and Total?"
"Crazy." Ella summed up with a grin. "You're depicting a crazy person!"
"Very funny." I punched her lightly, but just to be sure, glanced at Nudge, who shook her head.
"Part bird? Avian? Zoologist? Raptors?" I reeled off, trying to think of something that connected the seven of us. "Mutant? Flock? Gaggle? Murder?"
"Murder?"
"Of crows. Pride of lions. Sleuth of bears."
"C'mon!" Nudge badgered us. "What do scientists do? What's always associated with them?"
"White coats." Fang guessed dryly. "Being up there in the age department."
"You can't do aging." I reminded him.
"Nor can you do 'part bird.'" He shot back. "Murder works though."
"Meaning I need to find some cuffs?" I glanced sharply at him. " Just what are you implying, young man?"
"Cuffs would probably be sensible." Laughed Iggy. "In Fang's case, anyway. And a straightjacket."
"Experiment!" Ella declared triumphantly. "Scientists experiment on things! Right? That has to be it!"
Nudge clapped wildly as if Ella had just won the lottery, and I mentally berated myself for not realizing something as easy as 'experiment.' In the meantime, Ella picked a card from the box, frowned slightly, then ran up to the side of the house. Catching our eyes, she hit it multiple times.
"Losing brain cells." Fang smirked. She shook her head, and pointed to the street. After a few more moments of our failure, she jumped up with irritation, alternating between pointing at the road and the wall.
"It's really bad right now!"
"Wall Street." I rolled my eyes, remembering mom's newspapers she left lying around. I was completely kidding, of course, but to my extreme amazement, she ran over and tackled me with the excitement that I had gotten it.
"Seriously?" Iggy raised his eyebrows. "Wall Street? Isn't that, like, the economy or something?"
"I dunno." Gazzy grumped. "I think it has to be something we all know."
"Sorta," Ella nodded, releasing me from her grip. "But it is bad, isn't it?"
"Do I actually have to go?" I whined, not worried so much about the economy, but at the more pressing problem being that I couldn't act whatsoever and I didn't need any help making a fool of myself. Luckily, I was saved by mom calling us in for dinner (much to the disappointment of Nudge) and I was gone before she had the chance to make me sing a Michael Jackson song or something.
"MAXIMUM RIDE YOU GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT, YOUNG LADY!"
"I'm older than you!" I hollered back to Nudge, crossing her arms in mom's bedroom doorway. There was a foreboding makeup kit in one hand and a fistful of elastics in the other. Just as long as it wasn't a fistful of my hair. The days had passed much too quickly for my liking, and everyone in the house but the youngest three were prepping for our wonderful government party-thingie. I flung myself over the banister, sliding down the railing and tumbling to a halt just short of the wall.
Note to self: No aerobics in dresses.
"I haven't even finished your hair!"
"It's fine!" I hollered, picking up my black flats and hurrying into the kitchen. I nearly rammed into Iggy, who was tugging uncomfortably at his collared shirt and standing alone in the kitchen. Maybe mom had ostracized him for our safety-just glimpsing the bright colors of his dress clothes nearly blinded me.
"You're looking spiffy." I congratulated him, praying he couldn't hear the rustle of the silky fabric. No such luck. I swear the rustle of my knee-length skirt made his day.
"You know what, Max? I would pay to see Fang's face when he sees you, in a dress. Poor lovestruck-"
I gave his collar a good yank. "Hey!" He yelped, darting away and brushing at the electric blue top. "Watch the fabric. Dr. M helped me pick this out, and it even goes with my pants. Can you believe it?"
"Not really." Seeing as he must have gotten that outfit at Clowns and Sons Clothing Corporation. "But Fang had better not comment on this," I curled my lip. "Getup, if he wishes to keep his tongue."
Wisely, Iggy changed the subject. "What'd Nudge wrangle you into? I don't smell any makeup, and you haven't gone on any killing rampages yet so it can't be that racy."
"I'm wearing a, I'm not even kidding, "Fancy Ponytail" according to Nudge. I feel like I'm carrying a stack of books."
"Girls used to have to do that to improve their postures." Ella glided into the kitchen, walking gracefully in the heels that raised her height a good three inches so she was at least five foot one. She hated being short. She also managed to remove curlers from her hair and bat the curls around while walking like a runway model. Talented girl. Her dress, a stunning light purple was added just another color to the spectrum that Iggy and I provided (I the darker part of the rainbow, dark blues) and he the rest of it. She eyed me up and down, from my slightly curly hair to the tips of my bare feet. I hid the shoes behind my back.
"What?" I practically snarled, but she just grinned. That is not usually the reaction I tried to get from my Threatening Voice Repertoire.
"Oh, I just can't wait until Fang gets a look at you. Though you better put the shoes and mom's gift on before he does, otherwise the look won't be complete."
What? "She got me a gift?" I asked, verging on hysterics and grabbing at Ella's bracelet'd arms. "But she already bought this stupid dress and whatever the boys are wearing and-"
"Max, chill. It's just a necklace of hers. The ladies in our family sort of share it. I didn't think you'd have a problem with giving it back at the end of tonight."
Crisis averted. I exhaled and pulled away, turning to see mom coming through the door. She smiled at me, and I wondered how I was related to his woman. She looked like the essence of elegant in a classy black dress with her hair up and a little makeup accentuating her coffee colored eyes. How was I related to her, again? I let her take my hands.
"I must say, this is a different look for you," she teased, knowing exactly how it would push my buttons. Ella giggled. "But I have something for you."
I allowed her to reach around my neck, a very uncomfortable experience, and clasp a necklace beneath my hair. I fingered it, looking at the orblike pearls. It probably would have suited mom's dress more than my own, because it was so eye catching. Why, again, did I agree to this?
"And then I have ties for the boys," she said, turning to Ig to hand him what I swear was the most ridiculous tie that has and will ever be created. Koi fish swam across the fabric, with glitter on their scales. Iggy practically died of happiness just brushing his fingers across it. "Fang! Stop dawdling."
I could hear his very soft footsteps on the stairs, only audible because of what I assumed were some fancy new shoes. "I'm not dawdling," he called, voice drawing steadily closer. "Just trying to figure out who invented shirts with so many buttons and wondering if they have a security system installed in their homes."
"Oh, don't complain. Just be glad they had black dress shirts. I can't even believe I got yours and Iggy's at the same store."
I figured this was about reason number 1,892,037 on Fang's list of things to be glad about. Thanks to his powers, he was hardly visible in the dark hallway until he took a step inside the kitchen, brightly lit. As I suspected, black dress shirt and pants, black dress shoes, and a black tie offered by my mother. He gave the thing a look that said No way in hell, but when she offered to tie it, grudgingly nodded.
"Does anyone else know how to tie one of these?" Iggy fingered his tie nervously as it loosened once again with the lightest touch. He had tried. And failed. Shaking her head, Ella pounced and quickly tied it with expert speed. I had to hide a smirk as it left Iggy blushing. He wasn't quite as smooth as he thought now, was he?
"I still think you should have worn a bowtie." Fang reminded him, as he tugged his necktie a little loser, still looking at his shiny shoes. Shoes that would be soon growing mold in a trashcan somewhere right next to my dress.
"You wear a bowtie, then!" Iggy snapped, not noticing the glare sent his way through messy black hair.
"I'll wear the bowtie." I offered. "Iggy can wear the dress and Fang the shoes, then Nudge can divide her makeup between you two." I was a bit surprised when Fang refrained from his usual response to a comment like this-a cold glare-and he instead bent to retie his shoes. At least Ella and mom appreciated my wit as the latter hustled us outside and toward the car.
I'm not going to bore you to tears (I nearly was) at the introductions, the comments on how mature we looked, the insufferable adults, or the interesting aroma from all the candles. After dessert (never, ever before) I managed to escape some clingy bureau guys and hurry across the slightly damp lawn. I caught sight of Ella and Iggy chatting quietly in a corner as the party began to meld into a dance. Not that the musicians weren't fabulous… but it was a dance. Need I say more?
Cursing the unbearable dress, I slipped the flats off and flopped down in the pine needles in a safe refuge of a clump of trees near the back of the park that the party was taking place. A violinist or something with strings was picking their way through a slow, mournful tune with occasional accompaniment from a piano. I sighed heavily, wondering just how long these things were supposed to be and how awkward it would be if I let my wings down, which until now had fitted somewhat comfortably under a light jacket. To heck with it. I took it off and tossed it to the ground.
"Please don't start muttering to yourself." I leaped to my feet somewhat clumsily and thanks to el Dress from Hell collapsed forward into someone.
"Damn it, Fang!" I huffed as he pushed me away quickly and disappeared into the shadows again. "Don't do that!"
"What?" He was looking away again, avoiding my eyes. "Make a simple request so you seem sane to anyone else that also may stumble over here? Besides, I was here first."
At a loss for words, I proved my feminine side by snarling, at a loss for words. This did, however, earn a lip twitch from Mr. Dark and Silent, still avoiding me and leaning against another tree. Ready to huff off in the opposite direction, I took another step, and yet again found myself falling… and getting caught by hard arms.
"Don't you dare laugh." I attempted to find my footing while Fang let me borrow one arm to balance on. I was really thankful that Ella had let me borrow some black spandex, these sort of bathing suit-material shorts that you wear under shorts or skirts incase the wind is a little frisky or you're afraid of someone taking a peek. Or, in my case, excessive falling. "I'll stick you in one of these things, if I can't get a state representative in one first."
"They were bothering you, too?"
I glanced at him, but he was obviously trying to not look directly at my face, which was a bit… odd. I nodded stiffly, refusing any other comment.
"Can't believe I agreed to this." I muttered, mostly to myself as Fang helped me towards where the grass began and it was easier to walk. "Just another pointless endeavor that wasn't necessary-"
"It was nice that you allowed Nudge to play dress up." I nearly tripped again at the surprise that was Fang's comment.
"Yes." I snapped. "But-"
"You…" He spun me around to face him, me looking towards the dim lights in the distance, giving his dark frame only an outline. For the first time all evening, he met my eyes, expression soft. But the words seemed to stick in his throat, which was unusual, when he decided to speak.
"You look b-very pretty." He decided on, finishing in a rush. Then he seemed to realize what he had just admitted to and he seemed to wish he could rip the words back. "I, well, not that you normally aren't pretty, it's just different, pretty… Wow, I'm rambling. I'm pulling a Nudge. This is incredibly out of character and I think I'm going to stop now if you're not completely scared away. As per usual. Right. Quieting now."
'Out of character' pretty much summed it up.
For a moment, I felt a flash of annoyance. I wasn't Pretty Max or Feminine Max. I was Leader Max. Kick Butt to Help Her Family Max. Clothes, makeup, parties… these weren't my things. My brain gradually seemed to absorb exactly what he had said, though, and I didn't speak for a moment, all the while Fang was blinking excessively and looking anywhere but me.
I tried to find words, words for what was in truth so powerful a comment coming from Fang that I feel warm. If I was honest with myself, I realized I didn't mind so much when Fang called me 'pretty' just as I didn't mind when he touched my wings or sat closer than other people normally would.
I decided on a quick "thanks." Then I grinned at him, leaning forward to wrap my arms around his tall frame in a hug. My chin resting on his chest, I looked up at him. He hadn't moved at all, probably still getting over exactly what he had said.
"You know," I said quietly. "There're scarier things than you pulling a Nudge. Don't sweat it."
"Would dancing be scarier?" He asked softly, cupping my chin in one hand as he moved closer, if a bit hesitantly.
"…Yeah."
"Don't sweat it." He repeated my words, whispering them in my ear. "You're brave."
"I don't know how." I protested even as he took my hands in his and place them around his neck.
"Neither do I…but I think it goes something like this." His hands rested on my waist, and almost without effort, we began to sway in time to the soft melody coming from the party far away. At that moment, it seemed light years away, and even as the song ended we didn't stop. It was almost… peaceful. Just Fang and I. I rested my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat as much as the music. I felt him kiss the crown of my head, slightly exasperated with the effect this had on me.
Crazy hormonal teenager.
Crazy hormonal teenager with two left feet, consequently tripping over only other slightly less crazy but just as hormonal (I'd bet) teenager in the proximity.
"Thanks." I offered again as he caught me.
"Really, I don't think dresses are your thing."
"I agree. Ella can keep 'em."
As much as I wanted to get out of the dress, to throw it away and stamp on it after making the designer walk around in it (in front of People magazine) I couldn't help but still feel a little pride with Fang's comment.
For the first time in my life, I felt beautiful. Really, sort of like a star, and it wasn't half-bad.
"Well." I announced as I plopped down on the ground again after the song ended. "That wasn't too scary."
Fang just glanced at me, pulled the ponytail holder out of my hair so it fell down naturally around my ears as he leaned in to kiss me. Once I broke away, gasping for air, I grinned at him.
"As fantastic as this is, hit me if I ever agree to something like this again."
Fang flopped over on his back, looking up at the sky and smirked.
"No problem."