Chapter 6
In the sky, faces strained with worry, Total absorbing our thoughts. Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Nothing could be better actually!
So just shut up and listen to what I have to say.
We flew in silence, though Angel kept asking,
"Do you seem him? Max do you see him?" She tugged on my arm again and I sighed, rolling my eyes slightly.
"No Angel, I haven't seen him yet…" I repeated. She had asked soooo many times, it grew tiring after a while. I forced another smile, and one of Fang's twisted grins headed my direction. Crap. Don't make eye contact, don't do it…Shoot. Way to ruin a perfectly bad mood. My hair whipped around my face, silent wings beating in rhythm with her own.
"We'll find her Ange, calm down though…" My tones were soothing and I ran one hand over her blond hair, eyes retreating back to the ground again.
"Hear that?" My head whipped around to see Iggy, who seemed to be having no trouble with hearing something that was not yet audible to us.
"Is it him!" I could practically hear Angel's heart slamming against her rib cage with excitement…Or was it fear? She glanced in my direction. Shoot. That girl needed to stop reading people's minds.
"Or some other mutant dog that can talk human, I'm guessing 'Yes' it is him…" I almost glared at him. How could he joke with things like that right now of all times? My gaze took no affect on him, and I could see him again trying to locate the missing Total.
"Due North-east, I suppose we better turn around, no?" He suggested. In a quick motion I angled my wing slightly, now heading the direction of the excited yips Iggy must've been talking about.
"I hear him!" Angel cried, and in a matter of seconds was plunging down towards a park he could have either fell down at, or we left him there. Either way it didn't matter…
I folded my wings in quickly, feeling like a bullet that had just been shot out of a gun as I poured on the speed, adrenaline coursing through my body. I snapped out my wings again, and if it was possible to run inches off the ground, it was exactly what I was doing at this very moment. I fell in contact with the ground, running towards a fallen Angel. (Can't I make jokes every now and then?)
Angel was hugging Total so tight that it looked like his eyeballs might fall out of his head. He was licking her cheek furiously, wriggling around to allow himself to breathe.
"You forgot about me!" he cried, tears spilling down his face and making dark spots in his fur.
"I'm sorry Total!" Angel cried, Nudge having now collapsed beside her, stroking parts of Total's fur she could feel, but most of Angel's skin covered him as she rocked him back and forth, her sobs now down to muffled whimpers.
"Don't do it again," he teased, tones sounding serious all at the same time. Fang was watching in a ghostly silence, his eyes scanning the faces. Face was grim, jaw set at an awkward angle when he glanced up at me, waiting for his 'leader' to start talking.
"Ok guys, before Erasers totally ruin this 'family affair' we're having here, I suggest we get moving…" My hands were shoved into the jean pants I had on, wings handing limply as I watched the whole scene unfold. Angel slowly stood up, pushing herself off the ground with one hand, while Total continued to bark, this time not wanting to be left behind. Gazzy was scooping up Total in his arms, while Nudge smiled away, just happy to have him back.
"Can we stop somewhere to rest Max?" Angel rubbed a dirty sleeve across her eyes, wiping away wet streaks on her skin.
"Where can we go sweetie? We're out of money…" I watched her intently, loose strands of hair whipping at my face.
"Not entirely…" What did she mean not entirely? If she had gotten something this was news. Nudge suddenly shifted her weight uncomfortably, now staring at the ground.
"Not entirely?" I repeated, eyes still locked on Nudge.
"I kinda…'found' some money in my pocket…" she said guiltily. So she had it the whole time. Aha. I see now.
"You 'found' some money? How long have you had it?" My arms folded over my chest and I stared her down. That should make her say something. If it didn't, what else would? Iggy was making his way towards Nudge, able to locate her voice. He gently put a hand on her shoulder.
"How long have you had this money Nudge?" His tones were more caring then my harsh ones. His eyes weren't really looking at her though, kind of past her feet. But how was Iggy supposed to know where her face was?
"A long time…I was saving up for something…I'm really sorry…" And what exactly was that something you ask? School. I won't bore you with the whole story of getting her to say it, but she wanted to get a teacher or something that would help her. When we could find time to have a teacher start tutoring Nudge I have no idea.
"But don't you remember how the last school turned out?" Fang put in, and I shot him a glance, so he looked towards the ground instantly.
"Nudge I think food's a little more important than school, don't you?" Total wagged his tail slightly, watching Nudge still.
"I think it's a great idea," he put in, trying to cheer her up slightly. Yeah, well that's because he could eat a twig and not care less.
"I guess…" Her voice trailed off and she stroked Total's fur, glancing at each of us. She guessed!Well that was nice, later I'd have to tell her not to 'guess' about those kinds of things…
"I'm sure we'll find a McDonalds or something when we cross the border, but right now I don't think we're even close to one." Me again. I was still in the same posture, 'evil' glare, arms folded over my chest. But hey, who really cares right? You're looking for the action, but this dang writer told me I should stretch everything out.
"What state are we in?" Gazzy finally spoke. It was warmer here, so maybe you were close to Cali already.
"No clue…" It was Fang. Gazzy wasn't talking to him, but oh well! He had answered just the same. My wings spread out as I stretched for a moment, planning my next move.
"We'll figure out at the McDonalds," My voice was teasing. Like we'd find any restraunt within one hundred miles of here. We were in freaking nowhere land…