Chapter Two:
Present… October 22th… 10 a.m. One year after Max was abandoned… Max's apartment… New York City, New York… Max POV…
The light streamed even brighter through my thin curtains as I finally awakened from my dream world. Groaning, I roll over and try to fall back asleep but to no avail, I am awake. I lazily get up and walk over to my large closet to look for something comfortable to wear. Deciding on some sweatpants, a cozy sweatshirt, and socks, I slide them on and walk to the kitchen where my phone is charging. Five missed calls. Two from Jeb and three from Lindsay. Don't they know that I usually am not up this early? 10 a.m. is sooooo early for me!
I call Lindsay first as I look through my fridge for something I am in the mood for. After about four rings Lindsay picks up.
"Lin, you should know better than to call me so early. You should be surprised that I am even up right now." I heard a sigh on the other end as I pulled out some fruit.
"Can you come to the cafe? I have some super crazy news and no, I cannot say over the phone." I glared at the floor and placed the fruit back in the fridge.
"Fine. I'll be there in five minutes." I hand up and grab my keys to my car. Being too lazy to change, I walk out of the apartment building in my cozy clothes and out to my car. After five minutes of driving, I stopped a block from the cafe. I get out and start heading towards the building slowly knowing that the wait was slowly killing Lin.
When I walk inside the cafe, I smile when I see Lin impatiently pacing near our spot next to the bookshelf. She heard the doorbell ring and when she saw it was me, she immediately ran over and literally dragged me over to the secluded corner.
I frowned when she seemed slightly nervous and at unease. "Are you okay, Lin?" We sat down and she turned to me.
"No!" She cried quite loudly. I shifted uncomfortably when I saw people's heads snap up in our direction. "Didn't you hear?"
I frowned and shook my head. What is she talking about? "God, girl, you need to watch more of the news channel. Anyway, I saw that your flock -Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Angel, Gazzy and Total- went missing. Apparently they were about to make a record deal with some music producer about three days ago but they never made it to the signing. They were kidnapped!" She practically proclaimed to the whole cafe. Luckily, no one was really listening. My eyes bulged slightly but otherwise my face was emotionless.
"So? Why does this concern me? You remember what they did right?"
"Yeah, yeah. I just thought you wanted to know." She glanced at me a little worried. I guess my face looked a little mad.
"Well, I don't care about them! They destroyed me! So, I literally don't care if they were kidnapped! And since when were they musicians? They can't even play! I bet they didn't even receive a record deal! I bet it was just a stupid trap and they are so blind that they couldn't see it! Stupid Fang. Stupid Iggy. Stupid Nudge! Stupid Gazzy! Stupid Angel. And stupid Total!" By the time I was done, I was seething. You guys are probably wondering why I was yelling about the flock like that. And probably why I now have something against the flock. Well, I don't want to talk about it so you are going to have to wait and find out!
Now, Lin was sitting uncomfortably next to me. I soften a bit. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have burst like that but seriously Lin, you should know better than to talk about the flock." She nodded and I smiled slightly. Before another word could be said though, my phone buzzed in my hand. I looked down to see that Jeb was yet again, calling me. Sighing, I answered the phone.
"What?" I snapped. What? I still have some of the old Max in me when it comes to Jeb.
"You are to leave for your assignment tonight at midnight. Meet Anne and I at HQ at 11:30. Don't be late. This is your biggest mission yet."
I rolled my eyes but otherwise didn't say anything I would regret. "Alright, whatever. I'll be there. How long will I be gone?"
"Two weeks. I already called your school so you don't have to make up the work when you get back."
"Well, it's not like I don't know the material already anyways. Alright. Bye" I hung up and turned back to Lin. "I'll be gone for the next two weeks. I am leaving tonight."
She pouted slightly. "I hate it when you leave. You know that school is terrible without you! We are the losers of the school and we need to stick together!" I swear she gets her over dramaticness from Iggy.
I sighed but smiled. "You'll be fine! It's not like I have not been gone longer! Besides, there is Amy."
She scrunched her nose in disgust and I laughed. "How about I go get changed and we can go do something fun today. Sounds good?"
She smiled and nodded. I smiled too and got up to leave. "I'll be back in tenish minutes."
Present… October 22th… 8:00 p.m… One year after Max was abandoned… Max's apartment… New York City, New York… Max POV…
I couldn't stand it anymore. Here I am, sitting at the kitchen table with my laptop open up to the Google page with the words The Flock missing typed in. For the past few hours since I got home, I couldn't help but think about the flock getting kidnapped. I knew that I shouldn't have thought about it but my curiosity got the best of me. So here I am, debating for the final time if I should hit the search button. Biting my lip hard but not hard enough to draw blood, I close my eyes and hit the button. A few articles came up and I hit the first one. The words: Inside Look in the Flock's LivesBelow the title is a picture of the flock that looks like it was taken a few months ago at some lake. Shaking slightly, I scroll down and begin reading.
The past year, the flock has seemed to grow and change. We have managed to see what their new different lives have been like but we haven't heard anything about Max the past year. What happened to her? We asked the flock during an interview right before we heard about their record deal with a famous music producer, Danny David. Nudge (13) and Angel (8) started crying, Gazzy (10) and Iggy (16) were close to tears, Total appeared slightly angry, and Fang (16) was emotionless as we approached the topic. Apparently, it is a very sensitive subject.
Fang: (shifted slightly uncomfortable) This topic isn't really something we like to talk about. We haven't really thought much about her over the past year.
Reporter: I completely understand but the six of you have been in the spotlight over the past year and we have heard nothing or seen Max in a year. The public and your fans are just curious as to what happened to her.
Iggy: Well, for the sake of the public and dear fans (he smiled at the camera) we will tell you guys. Unfortunately, during an attack from Flyboys, Max didn't survive.
WHAT THE FREAK! THEY KICK ME OUT AND NOW THEY SAY I AM DEAD! OH, THEY ARE SOOO DEAD! Now, I am seething. How could they?
Reporter: Oh, no! Would you care to elaborate or is it too much to talk about?"
Iggy: No, no, it is quite fine. I think it is finally time we face reality and accept that she is gone. But, she will forever be loved and missed by us.
OH HELL NO! LIES! ALL FREAKING LIES!
Reporter: Of course. We have a few more questions about the topic. What was your relationship with Max? Fang, would you like to go first?
Fang: (sits up straighter and nods) Max and I have been best friends since we met when we were about three years old. We were always bickering but we cared very much for one another. We dated for about four months before her tragic death. I will forever love her.
STUPID FREAKING FANG! LIES! YOU NEVER FREAKING LOVED ME! I should turn away from the article now but I am already too far into the abyss of lies. I need to know what happened to them and what they think of me now that I am apparently 'dead'.
Iggy: She was a leader and a very dear friend. Also a terrible cook. I'll miss her pouting when I yell at her to get out of the kitchen.
Nudge: She was like a mother to me. She basically raised me. I'll miss having someone like her around.
Gazzy: She was also like a mother to me. I'll miss her ability to disobey orders.
Angel: Max always called me her 'baby'. She basically raised me and I looked up to her. She will forever be in my mind helping me along in life.
God, where do they come up with this stuff? Ok, some of it is true but the rest is ALL LIES. They don't miss me and they know that I am alive.
Reporter: Now, what are your true thoughts about Max? Now that she is gone, what do you want to say that you never got to say. So, answer the first question and for the second think of something that you have always wanted to tell her but were afraid to. Don't be afraid, it's not like she'll come back from her grave.
OH HELL I WILL! I WILL COME BACK FROM MY 'DEATH' AND KILL THESE TRAITORS! MARK MY WORDS! MARK MY WORDS!
(The flock shifted slightly and looked at each other before responding).
Iggy: My true thoughts about Max? Well, I always thought that sometimes she was overly bossy. Yeah, I get it. She was the leader and we basically gave her the job but sometimes she took it too far. She could also get super annoying sometimes and I don't think she ever realized it. One thing that really pissed me off though was when Max pretended to have a plan when she really didn't. Something I always wanted to say to her face but was afraid for her reaction? Ummm, I have to think about this one. I guess something I always wanted to shout to her bossy face would be: PISS OFF, MAX. YOU DON'T HAVE A PLAN AND I DON'T THINK YOU EVER DID. YOU KNOW, YOU COULD HAVE ASKED FOR OUR HELP! BUT NOPE! JUST GOT TO DO IT YOURSELF!
Ouch, those words kinda hurt. I never knew he knew that I never really had a plan. Well, sometimes I would have a plan but not all the time. Was I really overly bossy and annoying? If possible, my heart broke a little more.
Reporter: (slightly startled) Very interesting, Iggy. Nudge?
Nudge: (hesitated) Well, I think my true thoughts about Max would be that she was too tense and uptight.
Gee, Nudge, I wonder why! It's not like I was protecting you stupid idiots, myself and the whole freaking world! Ha, look at that. I guess I still got some of my old Max sarcasm still left in me.
She was always too paranoid. Well, we were all super paranoid but I really think her extra paranoia got to her head a little. Like, sometimes I don't think she was entirely stable.
WELL HELL I WASN'T STABLE YOU LITTLE DEVIL PERSON! Ugh, I can't believe I am still reading this article that is literally destroying me even more than I already am.
Something I always wanted to say to hear? Ummmmmmmmmmm. Uhhhh, that is a tough one. There is a lot I have always wanted to say to Max. Well, I guess I'll say this: Take a chill pill, Max. You need to chillax and stop being so paranoid. If you would calm down we could be having more fun and actually being kids for once!
Well, gee, Nudge! I wonder why I was sooooo paranoid! Oh, that's right! Erasers! Devil scientists! Flyboys! M-geeks! Whatever else in this damn world wanted to experiment and kill us! Looks like old Max is slowly coming back!
Gazzy: I always thought that Max needed to act more her age than someone who is like a 30-year-old woman with two crazy kids, a terribly busy job, and still single.
Ahhh, gee, thanks, Gaz! That totally didn't hurt my feelings! Yeah, you know what! Whatever! It's not like I freaking care what my used-to-be-family truly thinks about me! Oh, yeah, old Max is back and has something to say to these little monsters with no feelings towards the person who raised them!
She needs to loosen up a bit and actually have fun for once! And if I had to say something to Max it will probably be something similar to what Nudge said.
Angel: My true thoughts? Well, I have had a lot of true thoughts about Max especially since I can read minds. I may be eight-years-old but I am soooo mature since I heard minds. (Some of the flock rolled their eyes at this comment). I am also very opinionated for my age so I have a lot to say on this matter. Yeah sure, Max raised me since I was born and she has loved me but my feelings have changed since Max failed to protect me!
UGHHHHHHH! OK SO YEAH, MAYBE I DIDN'T SAVE YOU IN TIME BUT IT YOU WHO WANTED TO GO OUTSIDE THAT DAY!
What I really think? Well, I think Max was super cocky and a terrible leader in certain situations. I think if we had a different leader, Max would be alive right now. But, it is a shame that we all agreed to make her leader. Yeah, sure, it looked like a good idea back when we were living freely in Colorado but we really should have known better. She never let us have the lives we wanted and it was ALL about her ALL the freaking TIME! And I hated it! She was selfish and only wanted us to follow her around like faithful pets so she could thrust us into danger so she could FREAKING save the world! She could have done that by herself but nooooooo! She had to tag us along! WE could have been living a normal life while Max went out and got her butt whooped trying to be this mighty hero!
(Everyone stared at Angel (who was seething by the end of her rant) in shock and maybe a little hurt? What is going on with the flock?)
Against my will, a few tears slid down my face. All lies! Everyone knows that's not true and I am pretty sure the flock knows it too. But, how could Angel even THINK that? It hurts. It hurts badly. Reluctantly, I continue reading. What does Fang think of me?
Fang: My true thoughts? Well, she was my best friend, first love, and the only person who could actually read me but I agree with what everyone says. But in reality, she was just my best friend and the whole love thing? Just a little crush. I have nothing else to say.
Yeah, so he didn't say much as usual but him saying that he agrees with everyone? Now, that stings. 'Just a little crush'? That hurt even worse. I thought we had something. I guess not. I continued reading. Why I continued? I will never know.
Reporter: Wow, I was not expecting that. This is very interesting. One more question about Max then we can move on to why we brought you here for an interview. So, if you could change one thing about Max; what would it be?
Fang: Her annoying attitude.
EXCUSE ME?
Iggy: Her not being a terrible cook.
Ok, not terrible.
Nudge: Her tomboyness. She needs to be more girly.
Of course.
Gazzy: Having her be more carefree and fun.
Not terrible either.
Angel: her being leader.
Ohhhhh, Angel is soooooo going to get it. Serves them all right! Being kidnapped and hopefully tortured. Wow, really evil scientist thoughts there Max.
Throughout this whole interaction, Total the walking/flying/mutant dog had no comment.
Reporter: So, each of you, tell us about what you guys did after Max sadly died.
Fang: Well, we all kind of split off but decided to stay in touch and meet up every month. I moved into a beach house in L.A. and got a job as a computer programmer. I make pretty good money. I continued writing in my blog that has become quite popular since I started it back while on the run. I picked up guitar as a hobby and turns out I am a natural.
Iggy: I moved back in with my parents. We found them while on the run but they were using me for publicity and money. I decided to give them a second chance and turns out, they agreed to never do it again. I am happily living with them, attending school, working as a chef at a local restaurant, and picked up singing. Apparently, I have natural talent but I suck at writing songs.
Nudge: Finally, after a little computer hacking, I found my parents in Florida near Disneyworld! How lucky am I! After all these years, I could have been having so much fun with friends on all the different rides! I attend school, am quite popular, and enjoy piano, songwriting, and dancing.
Gazzy: Angel and I found our parents in Oregon. There, we attend school. I play baseball, track, and I am quickly learning how to play the bass.
Angel: Like Gazzy said, we live in Oregon. Since I am so smart and NOT CHEATING I have skipped a few grades in school. I have lots of friends and enjoy swimming and track. I am learning to sing and play guitar.
Reporter: Well, that is all we have for today! Thank you so much for giving us some interesting gossip and we appreciate you coming out!
I quickly exited out of that article and clicked the next one. The heading was: Record Deal or Trap? The Flock (minus Max who is sadly dead) Gets Kidnapped! It looks like it was updating a few hours ago. Oh, this should be good. Checking the time, I see that it is already ten. Yikes! I need to pack. Sighing, I close my laptop and start heading to my room to pack. I guess I'll have to wait to read the next article.
So? What did you guys think? I know, the flock may have been harsh but I was on a role! I hoped you liked the chapter and the next one will be coming out soon!
-Kath