Disclaimer: I claim no right to the Maximum Ride universe. Thank you for all your reviews. I want more. That is all.
Bright sunshine and cheerful birds ushered me into a waking state the next morning. I levered myself upright and groggily rubbed my eyes. To my great surprise, I felt awesome. There was no soreness or painful swelling on any part of my body, I had slept the entire night (thanks to Fang) and I was going to eat as soon as I found the desire to get to my feet.
Remembering it had rained last night, I dragged the quilt with me to the window and settled on the fluffy cushions. I pushed aside the curtains and cranked open one of the big windows. The breeze carried in the strangely light and thick scent of a newly cleansed planet. I've always loved the rain. Especially summer rain. I love the smell of freshly soaked grass, cool crisp air and even the forcibly cooled tarmac. Just something about it. I love the sound rain makes on the roof or on trashcan lids or as the tiny drops rupture on my skin. I love the way it feels, too, sluicing down my wings and rinsing me off, almost like Mother Nature herself is absolving me of responsibility, washing me clean.
A faint creak of the floorboards was my only warning before I got buried under an avalanche of clean hot clothes. I tilted my head to look up at Fang in shock.
"They were in my way," he explained. "When you're ready, I'll take you around town." He set the basket that had held my clothes on the window seat next to me and smirked his way out of the room.
As soon as the door was shut, I happily burrowed into the nest of cooling garments. I adore freshly washed and dried laundry, especially when it come straight from the dryer. We used to get in fights when we were kids about who got to get it thrown on them. The only thing that sucked about it was who ever won also had to fold it.. I guess I was stuck with this batch.
With great difficulty I dragged myself out of the warm haven and folded the clothes. Then I tugged my bed into some semblance of order and bounced downstairs to rustle up some grub.
To my great surprise the food fairies had come and left me a plate of freshly made eggs, toast and bacon with a glass each of milk and juice. I snickered at the thought of Fang in tights waving a magic wand. After all he already had the wings. I won't be able to look at him with a straight face for hours. Speaking of, he was nowhere to be found.
A faint shuddering groan echoed through the house and I heard the rush of water moving through the pipe. Ah-ha, mystery solved. And then my brain assaulted me with images of him under the spray, dark hair slicked back, skin reddening from the extreme heat of the water, water beading down his wings, dripping down his-
I shook my head to rid it of those thoughts but my face was already burning. Thank god Angel wasn't around. That would have been a shocker for her. I crammed more food into my mouth hoping that chewing would distract me from such thoughts.
It's all right to be curious, Max.
I choked. "Waugh!" I cried and clapped my hands over my ears. As if that works against an internal Voice. "Don't ever say anything like that again!" I huffed after clearing my throat of life threatening debris. Ouch, that hurt. I downed a glass of water and turned my death glare inward.
Well, you should have some fun while you can. We already know he likes you. And you definitely like him.
"Just stop!" I shrilled. May I take a moment to say that I have never 'shrilled' in my life. Imagine how I felt. "I don't need you playing matchmaker." I dropped back into my chair and vowed to finish my food without any further distractions. A quick glance at the clock told me that it was eleven thirteen am. Time to start my day.
I rinsed off my dishes, enough time to watch them later, and meandered back upstairs to ready myself for my first day in a new life.
Fifteen minutes later, Fang was still in the shower and I was standing at the foot of my bed trying to decide what to wear. First time I have ever EVER spent more than five minutes making my choice.
The green one.
The Voice had lots to say.
I rubbed my temples, hard. I already had tossed on jeans that were tighter than anything I have ever worn, thanks to Nudge, and a modified black tank top, but I figured that I should wear something over it. You know, to hide the wings. Just in case you forgot. But I didn't. Laid out on my bed were two almost identical tunics (that's what Nudge called them last night when we were flipping through a magazine), one a soft green and the other a bright sapphire blue.
To spite the Voice I pulled on the blue one.
But the green brings out your eyes.
"Do I care?" I asked it out loud. The answer? NO! I twisted my hair into a low bun and wrapped it with an elastic. A quick glance in the mirror show that I looked pretty good, if I do say so myself. Still pale, but sunshine can fix that.
I skipped back downstairs, passing Fang on the way and nearly tumbling down the rest of them. It's not like I haven't seen him naked before, and let me clarify that he wasn't naked this time, but last time it happened, we were twelve, I had to pee really bad and he hadn't locked the door when he got in the shower. I had thought it was Nudge. Imagine my surprise when he stepped out as I was walking in. Major trauma. The others laughed for days. Anyway, I digress.
And, last time I hadn't been a seventeen year old and he hadn't been ripped. Oh. My. GOD!
If one recalls, I was fourteen when I first started noticing that boys could be cute. That ended real quick when I took off to save the flock. And now here I am, three years later making the same discovery again. I think I hid it well. He was coming up the stairs in nothing but a towel and I was going down it fully dressed. My brain immediately focused on the lean muscle of his torso and all other function ceased. I would have tumbled to my death, not really, if not for his reflexes. I mumbled a quick thanks and ignored his little smile even as my pulse went wild. He just let me go and kept on up the stairs in nothing but a towel. I forced my eyes not to follow.
I shook off my reaction and wandered into the kitchen to let Total in because he was scratching at the sliding door. "Where have you been?"
"Morning to you, too," he huffed. That dog has some attitude. Good thing he hasn't changed. That was sarcastic by the way. He looked at me expectantly.
I glanced around and saw a pot of coffee on the counter. Damn Fang! I poured some into a saucer and set it on the table. Total hopped up and lapped at it.
"if you must know," he said when he had finished, "I go visit old people in the mornings during the week. It makes them happy and I get to see what will never happen to me."
I raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. And you do this out of the goodness of your little doggie heart?" no offense to Total, but I just couldn't see him deciding to go and do charity,
"Angel told me to do it. Iggy gave her the idea," he mumbled in a rush. I knew it.
I patted his head. "Just think of the comfort you give them."
"Whatever. They just like pulling my ears." He thought for a moment. "And give me treats. And it's really funny when I say things."
I rolled my eyes. Those poor people, as if they didn't have enough problems.
His ears perked up and he gave a short bark. "Someone's at the door," he said and I followed as he trotted through the house. He stopped at the door and sniffed through the cracks. Then he looked at me with an odd expression. If I didn't know better, I'd say it was sympathy and panic. Strange combination. So I opened the door.
A girl around my age stood there, her finger poised to press the doorbell. She didn't look Erasery and she seemed really surprised to see me. She looked too soft to be a threat with her lace trimmed vest, white button down and knee length pleated skirt. Plus she was wearing wedge sandals. Not the best to attack in. then again she could be lulling me into a false sense of security and just kick them off to go at it.
I really didn't think that they would have found me this fast.
She looked down to Total as he sniffed at her feet. "Hey Total," she chirped.
Excuse me?
"Um, is Nick home?" she asked me.
I was startled into saying yes.
"Is he okay? Nothing happened to him, right?" Her eyes widened in concern in her oval face.
I shook my head. "Um, no. He's fine." Real fine, if you know what I mean.
She nodded. I didn't move to invite her in. A knot was starting to form in the pit of my stomach.
"Well, I'm Ally." She stuck out her hand and I just looked at it. Her perky smile faded and her hand dropped back to her side. "Um, can I come in and wait for him then?"
I really wanted to say no. "Sure," I managed. "Total, could you?" He scowled. "Please?"
He trotted off to go tell Fang someone was looking for him. "Thank you," I called after him.
I stood back from the door and allowed her to step inside before I slammed the door shut. Somehow I knew that this wasn't something good.