((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 13: Between a Rock and a Hard place

"With what?" The rest of the flock were back in the clearing. They couldn't see us through the trees, but I could hear them telling each other about how I had 'saved the day.' Great.

"The stupid, girly giggling. What's with it? And the girly attitude all of a sudden? Help me out there Max, I'm way confused." I watched her. She froze, facing away from me, bending down to get a pack. She sat down and didn't look at me. I'm confused! Anyone help me understand girls? Please? Before I kill myself with a stick and a large rock.

When Max finally spoke, I had to sit down with her to hear it. I sat down next to her, my leg against her back. Hey, it was nice and warm. Way warm, being in Australia.

"Don't you like it?" Wow! What? Huh, did I miss something? No, I don't thing so.

"Wada mean?" She didn't look at me.

"I don't Fang. I thought I might see something. It was just an experiment." Suddenly it all made sense. I moaned to myself.

"What!"

"Max, Max, Max, what am I ever going to do with you?"

"What!"

"You don't have to change for me. Is this what this is about?" There was a pause.

"No!" Bad liar Max. You always have been.

"Yeah, right. You don't have to change for me. I like you as Max, not Madonna. Ok?"

"I can't believe we're having this conversation! Hey, isn't it meant to be the other way around?"

"Ok then. Go right ahead." I waved her on.

"Fine. I was just…scared you didn't like me, so I was just…testing things out. I failed miserably. You can read my like a book, see right through me. I forgot about that."

"Max?"

"Yeah Fang?"

"You're talking crap again." I didn't like to mess around, I went straight to the truth. I knew this bugged Nudge off, but oh well. Nudge wasn't here.

"Fang, I'm so glad you-" She went so quiet I had to lean into her to hear. She didn't seem to mind. "Kissed me back. I was worried I'd scared to off. I mean, last time you kissed me, I flew off. I hope you don't mind?" I shook my head.

I heard footsteps so I turned around, hoping it didn't look like we were talking about us. I screwed up my nose. It was Iggy, phew.

"What are you guys doing down here?" He grinned. "Why does everybody always send the blind guy?"

"For bait." I stood up and helped Max. She smiled at me and I smiled back, sending her into those stupid giggles. Iggy raised an eyebrow at me.

"I don't know!"

"Anyway, Jazz asked me to come get you guys. He wants to show us something. Unless Mr. I'm-his-best-friend has all ready seen it?" I nodded, not bothering to tell him. He knew. I looked over at Max, who looked hurt. She didn't realize I was watching her.

"Seen what?" Iggy shrugged at Max.

We walked into the clearing as Jazz stood up, and nodded at me.

"Sorry guys. Um, yeah, I wanted to show you something." He unfurled his black wings.

"Holy S-"

"Gazzy! Don't even think about it!"

"Sorry. I was about to say…snake!"

"I'm not stupid!"

"Sure?"

"Fang!" I grinned, unable to help myself.

Again she giggled, making me frown. Nudge giggled at her, then Angel giggled for the heck of it. What was with girls and giggling? Was it a requirement? God help me.

"Sorry guys I didn't tell you later. It's just…I wanted to protect you. You're were more of a family to me then anyone else. Sorry." And that everyone, is how Jazz is different to me-He specks his feelings. I don't. Got it?

"Oh my! They're beautiful!"

"They're like Fangs! Except bigger!"

"Wow! You should have said something Jazz!" Max smiled. "They're really nice wings."

"They're better then Fangs!" I faked a scowl at Gazzy who laughed.

"They are hey?" I guess that shocked everyone. Max smiled.

"Ok guys. Sorry to rain on you're parade Jazz but I think we should move out, find somewhere else to stay for a while."

"I know somewhere about 4 miles from here. I've been hiding there for a year before I saw you guys fly over head."

"So, you followed us?" Jazz nodded down at Nudge, who was staring in awe at his wings.

"um, I guess." I grinned.

"Put simply."

"Yeah." Jazz folding his wings back in and helped Gazzy up.

"So, are we flying to this place?" Jazz grinned.

"Heck yeah!" Gazzy cheered.

"Cool" Max stopped laughing mid way and turned to me.

"What?"

"Are you always so emotionless?"

"Umm?"

"Yes, you are!" She grinned at me and, fearing the giggling would start again, I looked away quickly. I glanced back at her. She looked really hurt. Oops. Mental note to self: Tell Max I'm sorry later.

"Fang? Are you even awake?" Max was waving her hand in front of my face. Everyone else was already up.

"I'll see you up there."

"Max, wait!" She kept flying, even though I knew she heard me. I sighed and looked up. Jazz had flown up to Max and the flock where turning in circles, waiting for me. Jazz looked like me so much up there, I guess. It sorta made we feel weird to see him up there. I frowned, trying to figure out what it was.

I took off and joined them.

"I was being to wonder if you where going to come up."

"So was I," I muttered under my breath. Max looked shocked.

"What?"

"Nothing! I didn't say anything." Because the wind was on my side, she wasn't sure if I was telling the truth or not. Of corse I was! Not.

"Are you alright?" I looked up to see Max watching me intently. I pursed my lips. "You've been acting weird ever since…" She trailed off, leaving me to fill in the rest.

Act weird for that long? How weird? Why doesn't anybody ever tell me these things?

"She just did," Angel said helpfully. As 'bout as helpful as an ashtray on a motorbike.

"Thank you Angel," I muttered, my words again lost in the wind.

We landing about 2 hours later for a snack break. Whatever a 'snack' meant for us.

The land around us was simular to Arizona, but different. It was green, but hot and dry. I studied the area around us for something to do.

Max wasn't talking to me, Nudge and Angel were whispering something away from the rest of the flock, Gazzy and Iggy were planning something evil together also away from the flock. Jazz was talking to Max.

"I'm going for a small walk ok?" Max looked up but didn't say anything. I shrugged and turned around, walking into the dry bush. It wasn't long before I couldn't hear the flock talking. What was with Max? What I said, or done, to hurt her?

I sighed heavily and looked up at the sky through the trees. I wanted to fly, to be up in the sky. But there was no gap big enough for me to get through, even if I did get airborne. The bush was thick and pressing in on me. I heard a eagle and looked up, still walking. Then I heard a snap and I fell.

I opened my eyes and could see the sky through the trees. I could see dirt walls, about 2 meters high surrounding my. I could easily fly out. If there wasn't a steel net over the entry. I turned my head to the left and found a rat nibbling away on a huge cockroach. I rolled my eyes.

Great. I turned my head to the right. And almost had a heart attack. There was a massive spike, about half a meter high. I had narrowly missed it by about 2 centimetres. My shoulder was just touching. It was clean so it was only newly placed. I breathed out, claming my heart. I thought I was going to faint at first.

But then everything Jazz had said came rushing back like a bad memory. The Whitecoats had been trying hard to make what I did. This trap was for me.

"Frick you, you pigs! You'll never, ever touch me! Never!" I yelled as loud as I could. I screamed it actually. I've never screamed so loud in all my life. I felt kinda proud and whished Max could hear it. She'd have a field day. I knew that my face was red. Then I heard movement above.

"Max?" Then an Easer's ugly face peered down at me, laughing. Jeb's face popped up next to it.