Disclaimer: You know that I'm not James Patterson, so let's get on with it.

Alright, I forgot who to thank, but I think you include Sparkleglitz01 and FAXloverTOtheMAX. All I have heard is more fax, more fax and someone requesting a kiss, so I need you all to remember that there's a dance coming.

Max POV

When we got to school, I was apprehensive. This was the first time Fang and I would be acting like a couple. Plus, I now know what it signifies to be wearing his shirt and two days in a row, no less.

Everyone came into detention in the same relative order, give or take a few people. Once again, Sam began talking to me. He said, "So who is your twin? Did you come with your sister Ella?"

Wow. I didn't realize how thick he is. Fang growled, "She came as my twin."

"Oh. Well, I'm going to go sit."

He really did seem kind of helpless. Then, I sat and Fang went to tell the teacher something.

Aaron came in a little earlier than yesterday. He spotted me sitting by Iggy and came to talk to us. He said, "Gosh, your group of kids sure get themselves into trouble. I heard that it was you who set off the bomb, Jeff." Iggy smiled in a self satisfied way. Then Aaron turned to me and said, "I also heard that you and Sam are over. I was wondering if you wanted to go to the dance with me."

I've had enough of him. I told him, "Not if you were the last guy on earth and I had to date you or jump into a pool of sharks. Besides, I have a boyfriend." I shoved his books off the desk and pretended not to hear when Iggy burst into laughter.

Then Fang came back and Aaron said, "YOU!"

Fang replied, "Me."

After that Aaron retreated to the other side of the room and the silence of detention began.

By the end of the day I was in a surprisingly good mood. Unfortunately, I'm Maximum Ride, so something had to happen.

We were flying home when a painfully familiar lumpy, moving cloud appeared on the horizon, moving toward us quickly. I called out, "Flyboys! Five o'clock! Fang guard my side, Iggy and Gazzy drop down, Angel and Nudge head up! Go!"

They obeyed with the wordless quiet of obedience.

Soon, the flyboys were on us and we were swept up into fierce, but refreshing fighting. It felt good to just punch and kick without the threat of detention. We were outnumbered, three to one, but what we lacked in numbers was made up in skill as usual.

I kicked my opponent in the metal face and flipped completely upside down for a moment as I brought my fist around in a follow up. Seconds later I battered it in completely. Now, I looked up for the others. Fang was easily over powering his flyboy, Angel and Nudge were teamed up. Iggy was fighting while Gazzy was removing something from the other boy's back pack.

Suddenly, my head whipped around on my neck as a shattering blow through me sideways, I still hadn't recovered when metal claws raked my shoulder. After that, I gained control of myself and launched a counter attack. However, I hadn't completely demolished the flyboy when I heard Iggy shout, "Get away, now!"

When I hear him say something like that I know that a big explosion is about to occur. I beat my wings hard and got myself out of the way just in time.

BOOM!

Well, at least that took care of the rest of the flyboys who weren't able to get out as fast as us bird-kids. I yelled, "Flock report!" My voice came out surprisingly week and raspy and with the adrenaline gone I realized how much my shoulder hurt.

The first to reply was Angel, "Fine, but a few feathers got torn out."

Next was nudge, "Just a little bumped up, but bruises never killed anyone." That's my girl.

Gazzy said, "That was a great explosion!"

Iggy said, "Might be something up with my left wrist, but I'm okay."

Fang told me, "I'm more worried about you. I'm not blind. One of them got you in the shoulder. Let's land."

I snapped, "No! I'll be okay. Let's just get back to my Mom's house. I'm the leader, so what I say goes. Don't worry about me." It really was painful, but my mom is a vet; she can help me and the flock won't even know I suffered. Besides I don't want to show weakness.

In the end it wound up being me, Fang, Ella and my mom in her bedroom while my "wound" was taken care of. Apparently it was pretty deep and infected. I guess that flyboy was rusty.

Fang said, "So you can yell at me when I don't tell you about injury, but not vise versa? I don't think so, max." He grabbed my hand, then added, "Just don't pass out. It'll be okay."

I grimaced and gritted my teeth as more antibiotic was put on my bloody shoulder. A few minutes later, my mom finished putting the bandage on. She said, "Fang, could you please go in the hallway for a moment?"

He grunted, "Why?"

I sighed, "Fang, I know you would like to see me without a shirt on, but I can assure that that would go against my mom's rules."

"Oh." He retreated to the hallway.

Instantly, my mom said, "Alright, what's going on between you two? I know you aren't just friends. Are you official or not?"

I gaped. She continued, "Just don't break the rules. That goes for you, too, Miss Ella. I heard Iggy ask you to the high school dance."

I think Ella and I probably looked the same at that moment. Then, we nodded and smiled at each other. For a few seconds it felt a little like it did when I first met them. The next instant, I was putting my shirt on and we called Fang back in.

He stood over me in an odd protective stance. My mom laughed and said, "Official." I smiled. Some things just can't be denied.

Do you want me to jump right to the dance? That would be my second to last chapter. Well, have a happy Thanksgiving if you live in the US.

Review! If you want I'll edit the action or add more.