Chapter three
"Ah! Squirrels can't invade the carnival! They can't! Stupid guava!" I gasped, trying to sit up and banging my head on something hard.
Fang was bent over me. He rubbed his forehead.
"You're awake, good. Now shut up."
"Fang? Why's it so fucking dark? I mean-oops, where's Angel?" I asked, pressing two fingers to the stinging lump on the back of my head.
"Angel? Probably in her room. Sleeping. I hope so," answered Nudge.
"Nudge? Where are we?" I asked, looking around and seeing… absolutely nothing.
"Max? Is that you?" my mom said. I heard her heels click around a corner, and the lights flashed on.
"Oh, you're all right!" she gasped with relief.
"Yeah, um, what-" the memories came flooding back to me.
"Nudge! Are you-"
"Max. Be patient," my mom said, turning Ella's bedside lamp on. Where was Ella? This was her room, wasn't it?
"Nudge," my mom whipped on rubber gloves and held up a syringe," turn."
Nudge rolled on to her stomach, the mattress under her sinking down.
"Fang," she snapped, "look away."
He already was as mom rolled Nudge's shirt up and slid a syringe into her back, next to it. Then she carefully pulled it out.
"There. Fang, get up here," she said.
Fang sat down on the edge of the bed. He took his shirt off and laid down.
Oh, shit, I think I was hyperventilating. Fang heard it and turned his head to smirk at me. I stuck out my tongue.
"All right. Max, get up here," mom said, reaching for the third needle. I got up and lifted my t-shirt over my head, letting mom's cool fingers prod at the thing.
"Crap," I muttered under my breath as the shirt fell off the edge.
"Okay, you're done," mom said.
I sat up and noticed a set of white teeth grinning at me in the shadows. I was going to kill him. Slowly.
Mom dropped the three darts into a pan. Yeah, you heard me, darts, with little pouches of who-knows-what at the ends.
"You should go sit down, you're going to be a little woozy after I injected you with-"
"Oh, god mom," I whispered, reaching out and grabbing her arm." You didn't inject me with the same stuff…"
"As when you were getting the chip removed? Yes."
"I should go to bed," I said. Before I start spilling my guts about Fang again, I tacked on in my head.
I went to my room and laid down until I felt better.
"Max? Can I come in?" asked Ella.
"Go ahead," I called. She sat down at the edge of my bed.
"So, who are we inviting to the party?" she said, cutting to the chase.
"Juliette, Nelly, Ashley," I started.
"Lucas, Jake, and Rebecca," Ella counted off on her fingers.
"Maybe Cassidy and Lynn?" I asked. They sat with us at lunch sometimes.
"Sure. And Nikki and her boyfriend," added Ella.
"Ten people, along with us and the Flock, and anyone else we happen to see next week. Sound like enough?" I laughed.
"Perfect," Ella sighed.
"Don't you have a date?" I said, glancing at the clock.
"Oh, hell, you're right. Shoot. Um, come help me find what to wear," she stood.
"Right because my fashion sense has improved 0% since we met," I rolled my eyes. It was true, though.
Ella reached into the closet, brushing Nudge's stuff aside.
"This shirt, with these shorts, and… those shoes. And these sunglasses," I added, handing her my selection. Her eyes widened.
"Max, that's perfect!" Ella said, changing quickly and looking at herself in the full-body mirror in awe.
"What are you wearing?" called Nudge form down the hall. She'd heard us.
"Black denim shorts with a little chain, faded lavender t-shirt, long-chain gold necklace with the huge gold heart, jumbo DC sunglasses, straw high-heeled sandals, and I think I'll paint my nails zebra-striped," Ella listed.
I was going to say black shorts, purple shirt, heart necklace, big sunglasses, and sandals, but what do I know. Ella whipped out the nail polish and got to work on herself.
"There," she said, satisfied with the thin diagonal black and white stripes.
"Can we get going," I rolled my eyes, jingling the car keys. She nodded.
Guess what? I passed drivers ed.! I know right! Iggy paid me forty bucks. (Yeah, he bet that I couldn't do it.)
I still didn't have a car, though.
Ella grabbed her purse off the hook by her bedroom door and whipped out her cell phone. She flipped out the keyboard and speed texted Jake. I shook my head.
"Fang! We're double dating with Ella and Jake! Come on!" I shouted into the house. He came casually out from the kitchen and followed me to the minivan.
The second I parked, I threw the door open and rushed Ella out.
"Go! The movie starts in four minutes!"
We hurried to the lamppost.
"Hey, Jake," said Ella, flashing a smile.
"Hey. Do you want popcorn?" he asked as we started walking.
"Sure. I'll see you there." Ella smiled again and crossed the theater. We found seats toward the front. I leaned back.
"Would you stop kicking my seat," Ella said, annoyed, from in front of me.
"Sorry," I laughed.
Then, the lights dimmed. I saw Jake come in the side door. He glanced around and slipped something he was balancing on the tips his fingers-probably his wallet-into his pocket. Then he spotted us and sat down.
"So, what's this movie about?" whispered Ella.
Jake shrugged and started explaining.
"So," I whispered to Fang," what do you think?"
"Of the movie? It really sucks so far."
"No, smart one, of Ella and Jake," I rolled my eyes. He looked thoughtfully at them.
"I don't like it," he said. I opened my mouth to protest.
"She belongs with Iggy, and you know it," he whispered. He felt me freeze and put his arm around my shoulders comfortingly.
"I guess…" I muttered in defeat.
"Did you see that?" whispered Jake.
No, diptard, I spent twelve bucks to come stare at the floor.
I leaned forward intently with wide eyes and reached for more popcorn.
There was a chorus of screams and Ella buried her face in Jake's jacket. I watched the severed head explode all over a baby with mild interest.
I gasped and jumped up as something cold pricked me from behind. I turned-and stared at the empty seats behind us.
"What?" asked Fang.
"Something just stabbed me in the ass," I muttered, examining the seat. I was not sitting back down there," Make space."
Fang rolled his eyes. I sat down on his knees.
"I can' t see anything you know," he said.
I leaned back and put my head on his shoulder.
"Happy?" I whispered.
"Mm-hm."
The rest of the movie was basically a killing spree. It was called Massacre Manhattan, aka bloodbath city.
"They're the last humans," I mumbled, finding the popcorn bucket empty.
"Everyone else is either dead or the undead," Fang agreed.
"I'm going for more popcorn," I sighed, getting up.
"Like I said, this movie sucks," Fang got up behind me," I'm coming with you."
I shrugged and found the exit.
I stretched once we were out of the theater and walked up to the concession stand.
"Refill?" asked the guy behind the counter, turning.
"Matt?" I laughed, holding out the empty bucket.
"Max? What are you doing here?" he asked, reaching for the scooper.
"Seeing a movie, no duh. You work here?" I asked. Fang was standing back with a bored expression.
"Hey, F-Nick, do you have a dollar?" I asked.
"Sure," he said, searching his pockets and coming up with a worn wallet.
"Oh, by the way, did Ella text you about the party?" I picked up the bucket with my free arm, holding a wad of bills in the other.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, so no."
"We're having a party Friday. A sweet sixteen for both of us. You're invited, I guess."
He handed me my change and I turned to go.
"I'll come, I guess," he imitated me.
I nodded and found our seats again, just in time to see one of the last human girl's zombified dad slicing off half her foot.
"Ooh, harsh," I winced as he reared up the axe again.
I sat back down with Fang and watched the last fifteen minutes of the movie with little to no interest.
When the lights came back on Ella was pale and looked totally freaked out.
I sighed and stood back up.
"That was the scariest movie ever," gasped Ella.
"Really? Because my word was crappy," I muttered.
I unlocked the car door and threw the keys to Jake.
"What?" he asked, surprised.
"You're driving," I rolled my eyes. See if Ella could deal with that," Nick and I can walk."
Fang glanced at me with his If-by-walk-you-mean-fly expression. I nodded and we turned to go.
"Max," hissed Ella, grabbing my arm," He doesn't have a license."
I snorted. "You don't care about that. But I'll tell mom that you warned me if you guys get a ticket."
She gave me a quick hug and skipped over to the shotgun seat.
"All right, let's do this," I sighed, waving as the minivan left. My wings were itching to open up. We walked back around the theater and I unfurled my wings.
"Fuck!" I gasped as a stabbing pain ran up my back. I closed my wings back up, and it disappeared.
"Language," muttered Fang, catching me.
"Let's take the bus," I managed before I threw up.
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