((Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride, or any of the characters in this book. They all still belong to James Patterson, well, they still did when I last checked. Enjoy!
But I do own the plots, so PLEASE respect this story and the author and don't steal the plot(s).))
Chapter 8: Welcome to Australia!
"You hungry?" I looked up, shocked. I add completely forgotten what was happening.
"What?" I looked around and saw Max waving a choc-chip bar in front of my face.
"Earth to Fang? You home? I've been staying here for, like, 5 minutes." Oh. Opps. I stared at her, feeling like an idiot. I must have looked like one to.
"No? I'll come back when your home." She became to but it away.
"No, I'm home. Thanks." She threw it over to me and I opened it gladly. I was hungry, but I didn't realized it before. I had finished it in seconds.
"Wow, I was going to go halves. Never mind, it wouldn't have worked anyhow. I watched her open her own and sat down next to me, stepping over the drawing she had done in the dust.
"You know, I reckon I should buy you some paper and a pen. You're a good drawer." I was studying the drawing at our feet.
"Thanks! That would be cool. They, can you draw?" I shook my head.
"Possibly not. I don't do it much."
"Nether do I." She waved a dirty hand over the picture. That was true. But Max was good at everything.
"But that's not fair. You're good at everything you do. Drawing, leading, making little houses. Everything." She smiled up at me, then it fell off her face like water melting.
"Yeah, maybe. But not at heaps of things."
"Like?" I egged her on to hear the list. I new she would make on up.
"Oh, heaps! Cooking, writing, spelling, emotional stuff, sorting out my thoughts, seeing peoples lies and traps, holding myself together, getting out of trouble, not hurting myself or the flock. You know, stuff like that." I frowned.
"Yeah, right Max. And if you're not good at those things I'll eat my hat."
"I hope you're hungry." I frowned, not used to her answering back so quickly.
"Good, I'm not. You'll have to eat it for me. Your always hungry."
"So are you! Your stomach rumbled just before. That's way I gave you that snack! And you wolfed that down to!" I frowned at her.
"You're annoying, you know that?"
"Yes, it's one of the few things I am good at. Thanks for the compliment."
"No probs, anytime. I hand them out free."
"Good, because you look like you need a few."
"Oh, but that's what you're here for. Didn't they tell you that in the job interview?"
"No, I didn't read the job description. I thought I knew what I was getting in to."
"What a shame, you're stuck with me for a while yet."
"Good. Maybe after I can finally get a refund."
"No, they don't hand money out to mutants."
"Oh, so you've checked?"
"Saving you the hassle. It's won't happen again."
"No, 'cos they only let circus animals in once."
"So that's why you're sitting in a cargo plane? Couldn't afford first class?"
"No, I've gotta feed you."
"Hmm, must be hard."
"Oh, you've got no idea. At all."
"I try and put myself in your shoes very now and then."
"Really? Didn't notice."
"Good. Invisibility always was my strongest point."
"Yeah, those the sciences didn't what to scare the world.
"That's why they made you able to rack of at the speed of light."
"To escape you? No, I couldn't be that lucky."
"Never were hmm?"
"No, you follow me around. Is that why? Yep!"
"I was thinking the other way around."
"You think! Oh my goodness! It's a miracle! At last!"
"That's what I thought. What a disappointment."
"I hear your pain."
"'Cos my foot's so far you your-"
"Are you guys fighting-fighting or play fighting? It's getting worse? I'm starting to worry I'll have to call in security." We looked around and realized that everyone had been watching us like a tennis match. I would have put money on me, but that's my opinion.
"Please say play fighting," Gazzy threw in.
"Put your headphones back in," I told Iggy. He laughed and held up the machine.
"Batteries flat. What a shame. Hey, those were some pretty good insults from both parties. I'm surprised you kept your cool under Max's pressure. I would have popped before now." Iggy grinned at me."Yep, that's my Fang: able to withstand fire. Bullet-proof, disaster-proof. Well, no he's not disaster-proof. Cool as a cumber" Max patted me on the back. I could see under the act that she was actually pleased that we were all mucking around and enjoying ourselves. It made her job easier. I screwed up my nose at the mention of the cumber.
"Please don't associate me with that pointless vegetable." Max laughed.
"I don't like vegetables full stop." Nudge said, looking at Max.
"You and me both kid." Max said, laughing. I knew Max didn't like carrots. On the other hand, I liked them. I used to sit at the table dipping carrot sticks into peanut butter. That really grossed Max out.
"Wow. I'm confused. Fang, how did you throw comebacks to Max as fast as she was throwing them to you? Have you got a new skill? 'Cos you'll need one to do what you just did. Ha Max! You got owned!" Gazzy seemed delighted at this, so we let him be. For 5 seconds anyway.
"That's it. No more TV for you." Gazzy scowled.
"Hey, you're like a male species of Max!" We all turned to Nudge who had just realized she had said it out loud.
"I meant, nothing. It was Angel!" I gave her a look that should have shrived her up.
"I'm sorry," she squeaked, hiding behind Iggy, who was laughing.
"Nudge I will-" I felt the plane slow and looked at Max. Nudge scurried away like a cockroach into her hiding spot. I would squash her like one too. I tightened my eyes and smiled, looking away from Max.
The plane hit the runway several minutes later. We were all hiding in our spots we had found, wanting for the plane to be unloaded. We were we? And why the heck was it so bloody hot? It would have to be, like, 40 decrees or something! Hot! I heard the cargo door locks click and a second later the door fell to the ground with a huge 'clang.' I rubbed my ears, which were now very painful.
"Oi, watch it, ya coot! That's costs big bucks you moron!" The man who had yelled it sounded like he had never been to school in his life. Nether had we, put we had proper grammar skills. This guy sounded like he was at lest 30. The man that had spoken came into view, carrying a can of alcohol. Great. He was short, just under Iggy, who was tall for a 14 year old boy. He had a huge stomach, awarded to him for years of drinking. He was tanned, wrinkly from the sun and bearded, which was braided and looked bloody stupid. He was bald at the top of his head, compelling the look. We supported a blue, ripped singlet and shorts way to tight. That had to be so uncomfortable.
"Max?" I whispered to the shadow lying next to me.
"What Fang?"
"Please, if I live that long, make me shave ok?" I saw the lump nod.
"It wouldn't suit you anyway."
"What! Shave? Are you insane?" Iggy wriggled closer to me on my other side.
"Chicks see it has cool, like you're not young enough to be their baby brother, even if you are." I rolled my eyes. Yeah, as if I was going to look like that for any girl. Yeah right.
"I see it as foul, dirty, stupid and like you're old enough to be her grandpa." Max stuffed a laugh.
"I don't know who told you that Iggy. I would kiss that! I agree with Fang. How many times does he wash that? Eww!"
"It's a sign of manhood, you're a chick, you wouldn't understand. Hey Fang?"
"Iggy. I'm. Not. Going. To. Look. Like. That. Ok?"
"Sure. But when you're older-"
"I'm older then you."
"So. You act like Gazzy sometimes!" I didn't replied, watching the man.
"Fang? I'm sorry if I hurt you're feelings. Or something. But-" I stood up in full view of the man.
"Fang, are you nuts?" Max tugged at my leg. I took a small step back so the light was only on my top half, highlighting my wings, with I unfurled.
"Shit man! There's a freakin' demon on this plane! Shit, I'm out of here!" The fat man jumped into a 4x4 parked a few meters away.
"Jump in the fourby you tool!" The other man, who was skinny and lean, but same as the other man. Bearded and dirty. I heard the tires spin and the 4x4 speed of, the driver or passenger didn't look back.
"Fang! You idiot! You could have got us all killed." I shook my head.
"They would've only killed me."
"Oh, that makes me feel so much better," Max stood up and stood by me, our shoulders touching.
"You can be such a tool sometimes Fang." Max felt me sigh.
"Gazzy, If I ever hear that come out of your mouth, or anyone's I will close it myself. Yeah?" Gazzy nodded. I wiped my head on my sleeve, feeling the heat bounce of the runway.
"Let's move flock," Max instructed, moving forward. We stepped out on to what I guess was Australian soil.
We unfurled our wings and flew into the air, not looking back at the plane. We landed a short distance away in near-by bush land.
"Ok, now what?" I looked at Max, watching her to see if she knew yet. I saw that she didn't.
"Um, have so lunch?" Nudge jumped up, grabbing the nearest backpack."Hey! That's mine!" I rolled my eyes. It was a backpack wasn't it? Why fight over it. I flew up to a branch, getting off the hot ground. Again I wiped my head on my sleeve. Did I say it was hot? Yeah? Well you're hearing it again just in case you didn't get it the first, what? 3 times?
"Yo, Max, jump up here. It's not as hot as the ground." She nodded.
"Ok guys, pick a tree." She flew up on to my branch, then jumped up on to the one above me. "Take a nap, I'll wake you in a few." Until she decided what to do, or until the Voice told her what to do. Take you're pick. I myself bet the Voice. We watched the flock fall asleep after a much needed rest, to get rid of the jet lag.