Spy Games

Chapter 4

"Maybe it's your body odor."

"I don't have body odor."

"Fang, we live on a tropical island. We all have body odor."

He just groaned, rolling onto his back. "I dunno, Iggy. Max normally likes my smell. Or at least she's never said anything. And I still have that body wash from when we left the island last time. I use it."

"Hmmm. Maybe it's your hair." Iggy bit into the fruit in his hand before speaking with his mouth full. "What's your hair like right now?"

"Not long, really, but not shaven anymore." Fang shook his head before running a hand through his hair. "Max likes it like this. At least she used to."

"Maybe she likes it shaved now."

"Maybe."

"Or styled. You could try a Mohawk."

"I dunno. That's kinda permanent, you know?" Fang stretched slightly, his back tight as ever. "If she doesn't like it, I'm screwed."

"Maybe it's your facial hair."

"I hardly have any facial hair!"

"That's probably the problem. Nudge told me that Dylan's rocking a sick beard these days."

He blinked. "Nudge said this?"

"Not those exact words."

"The stupid prick hardly has a goatee. That's what he's going for, I think." Fang shook his head. "Besides, Max isn't into Dylan. She's into me."

"Correction. She was into you."

The two teens were out on a more secluded part of the beach. Fang had gone there to be alone early that morning, but his back started spasming and he couldn't get up. Iggy found him there when he was taking his daily walk around the beach with Gazzy. He had sent the younger boy away before going to console his friend.

"I just don't get it. We've slept up on that cliff together every night. Every night! And when she's off the island, busy with stuff, I sleep alone. That's the only time I'm alone." Fang closed his eyes. "We're in love, Iggy. Love."

"Alright, chill."

"No, I won't chill. I love Max. I-"

"Have you been drinking?"

"…Stay on topic, Iggy."

"You were, weren't you?"

"Only a little."

"You've been in our stash, haven't you?" The blind man frowned. "Fang-"

"I'm in mourning." Fang groaned. "I'm injured, my girl don't love me anymore, I can hardly work. What's the point anymore? What's the freaking point?"

"You get really depressed when you drink."

"I mean, God, I'd throw myself into the ocean and drown if I didn't have gills."

"Why rob society of the amazingness that is Fang?"

"That's another reason."

"I was being sarcastic."

"Aren't you funny?" Fang shook his head. "This is my life, you know."

"Fang, she didn't sleep up on the cliff with you one time. Chill. You act like the two of you don't fight all the time."

"We don't fight, Iggy, we get into little arguments. And we always make up before bed."

"How much do you make up?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like have you guys…uh…has your situation changed since we last talked about it?"

"Oh." Fang scratched the back of his neck. "Uh, no. Not really. We still fool around, but-"

"Maybe that's what she wants."

Fang frowned. "That? Like the literal that?"

"Yeah. I mean, what else can it be?"

"If she wanted that, wouldn't she have wanted to be alone last night?"

"Maybe she thinks that you don't want it."

"Ha. Hardly. I doubt it. How could she not know?"

"I don't know. I don't have that problem," Iggy said with a slight shrug.

"God, shut up. I know. I don't care about what you and Ella do. At all. God."

"I'm trying to help."

Fang was quiet for a moment. "You think that's what she wants then? For me to like…seduce her or something?"

"Sure."

"…I dunno, Ig. I mean, if Max wanted that, couldn't she just, like, come out and say it?"

"Maybe she's embarrassed."

"I guess so."

"So sober up, buddy." Iggy took another bite of his fruit. "You're gonna have a busy day today."

"Aye-aye."

"-hasn't shown up for work. I assumed it was 'cause he was hurt or whatever. I mean, he did work in the labs yesterday. Maybe you should try there, Max."

"Alright," I sighed as the guy in front of me went back to chopping wood. "Thanks, Kris. If Fang does show up though, can you send him my way? After work, I mean?"

"Of course."

"Thanks." Walking away from the people building huts, I started to head down the path towards the labs in the caves. I doubted Fang was down there working, but on the off chance he was, it was a good chance to catch up with him. I'd blown him off last night and was starting to feel kinda bad.

"Hey, Mom," I greeted when I found her. She didn't even look back at me, just continued studying something in her microscope. Figuring she was busy, I took a stool and sat down, waiting.

"Hi, Max," she greeted the second she had written all the things down she needed before turning to look at me. "What's up?"

"Has Fang come down here to work today?" I asked, looking around the cavern. The scientists did a good job with this place, I'd give them that much. "Or been around here?"

"Not today, no. It's still early though, Max."

"I've been looking for him, but I haven't seen him anywhere."

"Is something a matter, honey?"

"…Fang and I are sort of fighting."

"Oh."

"I think he's still mad at me because I slept in the hut with the girls last night."

She glanced at me before going back to her clipboard. "Well, Max, I've told you before that I don't agree with what you and Fang are doing up there in that cave anyways."

"Cliff. We only sleep in the cave if it's raining."

"Max-"

"Mom, you know that we're not doing anything anyways. Not that at least."

"Still. I don't think you should tempt yourselves in-"

"I just wanted to know if you've seen Fang," I said, standing now. "And since you haven't-"

"What are the two of you fighting over anyways, Max?"

I sighed, standing there for a moment. "Nothing, really."

"Max-"

"Ella thought that Iggy was cheating on her, so we spied on him-"

"You what? You girls don't need to be-"

"-until Angel ruined it and Iggy admitted that he wasn't cheating on Ella and they made up. Then Angel told me all about how Fang was hanging out with her when these two…chicks showed up and he ditched her for them."

Mom looked at me. "Is that the end of the story?"

"Mom, he was with two girls. Alone."

"I thought you knew that he had friends on this island."

"Friends is one thing. Wanting to be alone with some redhead-"

"Here we go."

"What?"

"I've heard this one before," Mom said, going back to her papers once more. "That girl, in Virginia was it?"

"You don't' have to sound so put out," I said, frowning. "You're the one who asks about my life."

She just sighed. "Max, Fang likes you. A lot."

"I know."

"And you guys are young. It's only natural that Fang would-"

"It is not 'natural' to cheat on someone. If he doesn't want to be with me, then he shouldn't be with me. It's that easy to say that you don't want to be with someone. That easy. And if he-"

"Max, I'm very busy today. Perhaps we can talk over dinner tonight?"

"Dinner will be too late, Mom," I complained. "I have to find out if Fang's cheating on me now."

"What's going to happen between now and dinner?"

"I don't know! Anything could happen. Fang and those girls could-"

"Would you calm down? Please? Take a deep breath." She shook her head. "Honestly, Max, it's kind of disheartening to see you act this way. And over a boy no less."

"Fang's not a boy, Mom."

"Oh?"

"I mean, he's just not some boy. He's…he's…"

"He's a distraction."

"From?"

"Your work. You're a very important person. Far more important than you get credit for these days." She shook her head. "I just don't want to see you knocked up young and spending all your time with Fang. That's not the life that was envisioned for you."

"Yeah, because that one was made for Dylan, not Fang, right?"

"There are a lot of factors to add in."

"Mom."

"Max, all I'm saying is that you're very emotional right now for some reason. And over what? Fang being alone with two girls? Sweetie, you live on an island full of other people. Young people. If the two of you are going to get jealous every time something like this happens, perhaps you need to look into if you're mature enough for a serious relationship."

"I guess you're right."

"Now can we finish this later? I honestly am busy."

"Yeah, okay."

"Thank you."

After leaving the labs, I immediately ran into Nudge and Ella. Or, well, they were waiting for me at the entrance was more like it.

"See?" Ella asked, nodding at me. "I told you, Nudge, that she'd be in the labs. Working no doubt."

"Work, work, work. That's all you ever do. No wonder Fang's cheating on-"

"Shut up." I walked passed the two of them, shaking my head. "We don't know that."

"Of course we know that. How could we not know that?" Nudge was quick to follow me. I swear, no matter how bad I am to this girl, I just can't get rid of her. God. "So now that we know that, we need to spy on Fang to-"

"If we already know it, why would we need to spy?"

"Whose side are you on, Ella?" Nudge frowned at her as she trailed along behind.

"Have either of you done any of your work for the week?" I asked finally. "Because if not, I will have to punish-"

"Max, Max, Max. Can you not focus on something else for a change? Please?"

"Work is important. If everyone doesn't pull their weight-"

"Are you calling us fat?"

"Nudge, honestly, you're just so…slow sometimes."

She frowned at me. "You're rude. You know that?"

"I'm rude? You're the one telling me that my boyfriend is cheating on me!"

"Actually, Angel did that. I'm just driving it home so that we can play spies again." She bounced slightly. "That was so much fun."

"Yeah, yeah." I just kept walking. "So much fun. You didn't get stuck with Ms. Whiny Pants."

"I can hear you," Ella complained. "And you come up with the lamest insults, by the way."

"Oh, shut up," I said as we finally made it to the main beach where everyone hung out.

I quickly picked out Angel and the Gasman, each hanging out with their separate group of friends. I just liked to check on them a couple times a day, make sure they were okay. I know that they thought they were independent and everything, but I just didn't like not knowing if someone was picking on them or bullying them. They're still the youngest members of the Flock, after all.

"Where are we going?" Nudge asked as we continued down the beach. "Max?"

"We aren't going anywhere. I'm going to be alone for awhile."

"Ooh, we'll tag along."

"Nudge-"

"Max, we just want to help you figure all this stuff with Fang out is all," Ella spoke up. "Swear."

I glanced back at the two of them, sighing. Did I trust them? Not a chance. However, I didn't have much to do that day. I had already fulfilled my weekly duties and though I usually would go above and beyond that, I just wasn't up for it. Not knowing my relationship with was in jeopardy.

"Fine, I concede," I said finally, much to the enjoyment of the two younger teens. "But don't either of you annoy me. Understood?"

"Loud and clear," Ella said.

"Over and out," Nudge added on.

"Oh," I groaned, headed for the forest now. "It's gonna be a long day…"

So I was sitting here writing this and I couldn't stop thinking about where they all slept in Island Time. Random, I know, but I cannot for the life of me remember. Did they sleep in huts? Caves? Did Max and Fang sleep alone, like in this story? Or did I just never mention it? I know it's only been like, what, a year, but I can't remember. Please, someone remind me if you know or else it's gonna eat away at me until I reread that story. I beg of you. I remember later in the story they were all, like, sleeping on the ships and shit because of zombies, but in the beginning, was it mentioned? It doesn't matter, I know, but it's bothering me. I will, like, be up all night hooked on that story which I know is lame, reading your own stories, but I can't help it sometimes. (Does that sound conceited? Or, like, arrogant? I didn't mean it that way if it did. Seriously.)

And that only pertained to the people that read any of my other stories, so for the rest of you, I hope that the next chapter of this will be up some time either later in the day or tomorrow. So thanks for all the reviews. I don't get a lot of reviews these days, and I always like it when I do get some.