The Angel Experience
By Holly-Batali
Disclaimer: I don't own Itex or the flock. I own Kat, all right?
Chapter Seventeen: Family
Kat waited for the flock on the dock by their favorite pier. She was better dressed now, with army surplus combat boots, faded jeans, a blue t-shirt, and her bucket hat. She still had her keychain.
She looked out over the water and breathed in heavily. It was so relaxing here, so peaceful. Now that she didn't have to worry about erasers anymore--she hoped--then she could do whatever she wanted. She had found a job already; working as housekeeper for a weathy couple with two kids and a penthouse appartment, where she would be staying! They had adopted her into their family--unoficially, of course--like she had always belonged there. They had enrolled her in Chinese School, where she could learn to read and write in Chinese and English, as well as science, math, geography, P.E., music, and (her favorite) zoology.
She could finally have a life of her own. Undetermined by scientists and schedules. She could do what she wanted to do, not what somebody else wanted her to do. Finally.
She opened her eyes and smiled as she heard the flock approach.
"Hey guys," she said with a smile. "Thanks for showing up. I now you guys are really busy, heading out and all."
"Pff," scoffed Max. "And not say bye to our best friend? As if! Get over here!" And with that, Nudge and Angel cannonballed into her, Kat-sandwiching her in a mutant-hug.
"Come with us!" begged Nudge. Angel just sniffled and burried her curly head in Kat's shirt.
"Can't," said Kat with a little laugh, feeling sad herself. "For one, I can't fly. For another, I've already got a new life going."
"Like what?" sniffled Gazzy, hugging her as well.
"I've got a new job, working as a housekeeper, where I can stay; and I'm working at an authentic Chinese store, down in a Chinatown area. It's just a few blocks from here. Plus, I'm going to be going to Chinese school. I'm really going to miss you guys though," she added, her voice cracking a little.
"You'll write to us, right?" Nudge asked as the three of them let go of Kat.
Kat laughed, but it was sad. "Can't do that either; unless they have postal service for flying bird kids. But you can write to me, okay? I'll try to stay in touch with you guys, I really will."
They nodded sadly, tearing up fast.
Iggy came up to Kat and said, "I'll make sure they write, 'kay? And thanks for letting me blow that place sky high; I needed that."
Kat laughed. "Yeah, so did I." She grabbed Iggy in a tight hug, and he hugged her back. "I'll miss you most," she whispered. "You're a lot more fun than Max. Maybe, if we see each other again, we can blow some more stuff up, 'kay?"
Iggy laughed and nodded. "Just say the word."
She moved to Fang next. "I just wanted to say, thanks for helping us out," he said. "One less Itex is a good thing."
Kat nodded and shook hands with him; he almost cracked a smile.
Only Max was left, and Kat moved on to her sadly.
"I'll miss you tons, Max." She said, a lump in her throat. "Even with your stupid rules, and being really bossy, and a control freak, and not letting Iggy and I torch the place. I'll still miss you."
Max laughed, and said again, "get over here." She gave Kat a huge hug, breathing shakily herself. "I've never met anyone else like us, who survived all the experiments and stuff. I'm really going to miss you," she whispered to Kat. "And you'd better keep in touch, 'cause we're going to need all the info we can get. Keep on a lookout for anything evil scientist-ish, okay?"
"I will," Kat laughed softly. "I'm really going to miss you guys," she said, then started crying, just a bit.
All of a sudden, she was a huge Kat sandwich, and everyone was hugging her. Even Fang put a hand on her shoulder. After lots of 'I'll miss you's and 'we'll write, every day's, they broke apart, and Kat looked at them all there together.
Family.
Her family.
"Well," she said with a deep breath. "How about one more fish and chips with coffee before we split up?" They laughed and together, the seven of them walked over to Elliot's.
Kat smiled to herself. A real family, a real life, and a real home.
Things were looking up.
As she got out her wallet to be ready to pay, her eyes fell on three things: the picture of her and Feng Chi together, when she was twelve; the picture of Feng Chi and his wife... and a picture of her family. Of her and the flock, on this very pier. Nudge had taken that picture, setting the camera on a tripod and putting it on timer.
Her family. All together. Her first full family.
The nightmare was finally over.
Authors Note: I don't know about you, put I like it. I am writing a sequel, called School's Out--For Now, so stay put and keep up with my crazy stuff. On my blog, (link at the bottom of my bio page) I will tell when I'm posting chapter one; or you can do Author Alert, or just check my bio page. That is, if you want to read it. Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed, everyone who kept up, and everyone who read it--all 1,603 of you! You are all SO awesome! I'm going to really miss this story; it was my first one, my baby. Well, fly on Max Ride fans! Fly on!