AN: Hello everyone! I'm finally updating! I'm SO sorry I took so long, life kind of got in the way. I'll try to update very often again, but I can't make any promises. :( Reviews DO encorage me to write, though. :P
Oh, and I apologize in advance if there are any errors. It's 11:40 PM, I've been getting very little sleep lately, and I've already taken my sleeping pill, so I'm EXHAUSTED. I get to sleep late tomorrow, though. :P I just forced myself to actually write, and wouldn't let myself go to bed until I did. Happy:P
DISCLAIMER: Maximum Ride belongs to James Patterson.
CLAIMER: Any new plot ideas and characters in this story are mine, unless otherwise noted.
Chapter Nineteen
"Alright, guys, pack your bags; we're going to Colorado!" I told the Flock with fake enthusiasm after finishing breakfast. Of course, my statement was met by groans.
"Come on, Max, we just destroyed the one in Washington; can't we get a break?" Nudge asked.
"We're leaving today, end of story," Fang said, ending their complaints. I wanted to tell the Flock that I wanted to give them a break, but that would mean telling them about the new Voice. I didn't want to burden them, and I still didn't trust Jayden and Serena with that information. The Flock half-heartedly agreed, and everyone headed over to the tree they had slept under the night before to grab their bag.
"Okay, let's go!" I called out once everyone was ready. We took a running start before jumping into the air, our powerful wings beating down hard.
That night we stayed in a hotel somewhere in Idaho, courtesy of the Maximum Ride Credit Card. I normally wouldn't stay in hotels this often (or ever,) but I felt terrible about forcing the Flock to keep destroying Itex, building after building.
Fine. Angel used her Bambi eyes.
Angel and Gazzy were already in bed asleep, so it was just us teenagers out in the living room area. Fang was sitting next to me on the couch, his arm wrapped around my waist. Nudge sat on my other side, glaring at Serena, who was sitting in the chair talking to Iggy, who was perched on the armrest. Jayden was sitting in the only remaining seat, the kitchen chair that he had dragged into the living room, glaring at Fang. Can we say awkward?
"So, Max, what's the deal? You've never wanted to save the world so badly before," Iggy said. I sighed; I hated lying to the Flock, but I couldn't tell them about the new Voice.
"I just want to hurry up and save the world so we can begin living in peace," I said, not looking into his eyes. Thankfully, he's blind, and didn't notice.
"The kids are exhausted," he pointed out.
"I thought we had settled this earlier?" Fang said.
"We settled it when the kids were around," Nudge said, tearing her eyes away from Iggy to look at Fang and me. "That's a lot different than settling it with the six of us."
"You are one of the kids, Nudge, and Jayden and Serena are new. Fang, Max, and I should be making this decision," Iggy shot back at her. Nudge looked down into her lap, her eyes watering. I was just about ready to slap Iggy in the face; how could he treat Nudge like that?
"Iggy," Fang warned, his voice low.
"Don't worry about it," Nudge quickly added, sniffing quietly. "He's right. It's getting late; I'm going to head to bed. 'Night guys." She stood up and stretched before heading into the room Angel was sleeping in, sending one more longing glance at Iggy before closing the door partway.
"What are the sleeping arrangements?" Iggy asked, looking down at Serena hopefully. She blushed under his gaze, looking down into her lap. Iggy's fingers played with her dark brown wings, lightly tracing the tan feathers mixed in.
"You'll be with Gazzy, and Serena and Jayden will have the pull-out bed," Fang said.
"What about you two?" Iggy asked, locking his sightless eyes with Fang's in a challenge. Iggy was turning into a teenage boy, that's for sure.
"The chair. We'll each be up half the night on watch, anyway."
"What, so you and Max can sleep together, but Serena and I can't?" Iggy asked, standing up from his place on the armrest.
"Iggy, relax. Fang and I are just getting the chair since one of us will be on watch at all times," I explained, trying to calm Iggy down. Jayden looked back and forth from Fang and I to Iggy and Serena. If you handed him some popcorn, you would've thought he was at the movies.
"Right, and I'm to believe that you two will be opposite sides of the room all night? Please," Iggy said, snorting. "I'm blind, not stupid. Although you two seem to forget that often."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Fang asked, standing up to cower over Iggy.
"It means that you and Max still treat me like a little kid! I'm as old as you are, I should be able to do whatever you do."
The room fell silent. I heard the kids shuffling in the adjoining rooms; we had probably woken them up with all the yelling.
"You're right, Iggy," Fang whispered, stepping closer to Iggy, making him take a step back. "We do treat you like a little kid. Do you know why?"
"Because I'm blind!" Iggy replied indignantly.
"No. Because you act like one. You were a completely oblivious to how much you hurt Nudge back there, and now you're trying to overrule Max and me. You are not the leader, so stop trying to be one."
Iggy looked down, ashamed about hurting Nudge. He tried to get away from the taller boy, but Fang wasn't done.
"You and Serena will not share a bed tonight, because we don't even know her. She could be with the School for all we know! If you want Max and me to treat you like an equal, then try growing up."
The room was silent after Fang's speech. Jayden, Serena, and I were simply sitting in shock, staring at the two brothers staring each other down.
"Screw you," Iggy spat. "I'm not letting you get in my way. Come on, Serena." The new girl looked up at the pale hand he extended to her. She hesitated, but then took it. "We'll be back in the morning."
With that, Iggy and Serena went over to the window and jumped out into the air, quickly blending in with the dark sky, "Idiots," Fang muttered.
"Relax, they'll be back," Jayden said, standing to join Fang and me at the sofa.
"A lot can happen between now and tomorrow," Fang replied, his voice low.
"Fang, stop it," I whispered, pulling on him arm slightly, not wanting another fight. "Let's just go to bed."
He looked down at me, his eyes immediately softening. "Alright. Jayden, you're in the other twin in Gazzy's room," he said.
"Hypocrite," Jayden muttered under his breath while walking over to Gazzy's room.
"What did you just say?" Fang asked, his voice murderous.
"I called you a hypocrite," Jayden replied, turning around to face Fang. "You won't let Iggy and Serena share a bed, yet you have no problem sharing one with Max."
"That's totally different."
"Sure it is," Jayden said. He slipped into the room, closing the door partway behind him. Fang let out a loud sigh, collapsing onto the couch.
"Fang, you need to get up so we can make the bed," I told him, slightly wary. He had really changed since we got him back; he was a lot more affectionate, but also more protective. Unfortunately for him, no one in the Flock liked this protectiveness, unless it was him protecting us against Itex.
"Right," Fang replied, standing up and helping me pull the bed out. In a few minutes, we had all of the sheets on the bed, which we quickly slipped under, exhausted.
"I'll take first watch," he offered. I nodded and settled against him, too tired to argue.
"We're still going to Colorado tomorrow, right?" Fang asked. He was sitting up, leaning against the couch part of the bed, my head resting in his lap. He fingers ran through my hair, causing me to become even sleepier than I had been.
"Yeah," I replied, my voice already slightly muffled by sleep.
"I'm sorry I overreacted," he whispered.
"We'll talk about it tomorrow, Fang. Let's just get to sleep for now." Fang was silent, and his hands stopped playing with my hair.
"'Night," I whispered, hoping that he wasn't too mad. He had definitely gotten on some of my nerves, but I still loved him.
"Good-night," he replied, leaning down and placing a soft kiss on my temple.
AN: Did you like it? Lot's of tension. :P It's also my longest chapter, at over 1,300 words. :P Please review, and again, I'm sorry!
Oh, and Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate it:P