Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride. James Patterson does.

Chapter Two

Before I could blink myself and the flock was quickly shoved onto a sleek jet. Saying goodbye to Ella and my mom was hard. I'm getting so used to seeing them every day that they are almost becoming members of the flock.

"Just promise me you will call and let me know what is going on," my mom quickly says to me as we hug and say goodbye. "And listen to Jeb." I suddenly break off from the hug and look at her with 'You gotta be kidding me' written on my face. She sighs, "I know you don't completely trust him, but he really wants to look after you and the flock."

I shrug and promise to call her. 'You should listen to her. Jeb makes stupid mistakes but he really wants the best for you.' My Voice in my head finally makes an appearance.

I look at Jeb who is sitting comfortably a couple seats away from me. 'Yeah…okay Jeb whatever you say.' I say with sarcasm.

'This isn't Jeb.'

I grunt and then shout, "Jeb I know that it's you so cut it out!"

He jumps and looks at me, "What are you talking about Max?" He seems shocked.

'I told you.' The Voice mocks me.

'Okay then who are you?!' I ask in my head.

'That is not important. What is important is this mission. Stay focus and beware of strangers.'

'Of course it's important!!' I nearly shout this. Of course I get no response. I finally get a chance to really look around the jet. Everybody is staring at me. Jeb regains his composure and says, "Max, clam down and just listen to what your Voice has to say."

"Of course, you would say that because it's you after all," I retort.

"Not that time," he says and then shakes his head leans back in the seat and closes his eyes. I never noticed this before but Jeb's hair was going greyer and he was starting to show some age. Everybody stopped looking at me once they had realized that my outburst was due to my unknown Voice. Angel and Nudge sit next each other and start to chat about the animals they would like to see once in Africa. Iggy and the Gasman start whispering and Total snuggles up next Angel getting ready to sleep, no doubt. I look to Fang who is looking at me with a worried look on his face.

"What?" I ask him. He slowly starts to smile.

"Don't worry so much," he says, "you'll get wrinkles." I sit down next to him and was about to joke along with him when his eyes stopped me. They look serious and intense. "Relax, please."

I open my mouth to say something but his hand covers it. "No. Relax." He leans back in his chair to demonstrate. I pout and then decide to make the best of this jet ride. I curl up next to him and put my head on his shoulder. I feel his smile on the top my head and my body loosens up. Ah, yeah, this is perfect. I really do love him for making me focus on what I need but at the same time giving me my independence.

'Treasure this Max you never know what may come your way.'

I sigh in response and soon fall in a peaceful sleep.

'Max wake up!' I snap awake and turn around and look at Angel.

"What's wrong!?" Angel smiles at me.

"Nothing," she says sweetly, "I just wanted to try waking you up that way." She gives me an innocent look and then says, "Besides, we are almost there."

I turn around. 'Next time only do that if there is an emergency, please.'

'Okay.' I hear Angel start to try to wake up Nudge and Total.

"Wha' time iss't?" I look at Fang and smile. I must have woken him up when I snapped awake.

"Sorry," I whisper, "I don't what time it is. But we are almost there." Fang nods and starts to drift off. I elbow him, "Hey! I'm up so you're up!" He then pretends to not have heard me and falls on top of me like I was a cushion. I laugh, "Fang…come on now." He smiles but his eyes are still closed. "Okay fine." I then proceed to push off me but instead he rolls off the adjoined seats and takes me with him. I land right on top of him.

"Ouch," he says, while rubbing the back of his head. "Nothing like a good knock on the head to wake up a guy."

"Oh, I'm sorry," I say sarcastically, "want me to kiss it and make it better?" I smirk at him.

"Hey would you two cut it out!! I don't like seeing that when I first wake up," Iggy, the blind jokester.

Fang and I laugh and go back to our seats. We both look out the window and gasp. It was absolutely beautiful. Words cannot describe the scenery. We could see the terrain of Africa, mixtures of brown, green, and blue. Using our advanced raptor vision we saw lions chasing after a herd of antelope. "Wow, so beautiful," I say looking downward.

"Yes," I look in the reflection of the window and see Fang looking at me instead of outside. I blush and turn around.

"Stop that," I say my blush reddening. Fang gives me one of his rare smiles and leans down and kisses me lightly on the lips. I snuggle against his chest and listen to his heart beat. Freeze time now, please.