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Chapter2:

MAX POV:

We landed in an abandoned parking lot, pulling our windbreakers over our wings. You know, the usual. We wandered around the small town for a bit, taking in everything. It was a cute town, with shops on either side of the street. Restaurants were located at every corner, with so much choice we weren't use to.

I took a big deep breath before consulting my flock, letting the anger fly loose. "Ok. What does everyone want?"

"Burgers!"

"Pizza!"

"I want to sit down somewhere and eat for a bit" Iggy told me lamely.

I nodded. "That's what were going to do. That little restaurant at the corner looks like it has burgers and pizza, as well as a good place to sit down and relax for a bit. Sound good?"

There were eager nods as my flocked looked up at me with wide eyes. "Ok, there it is then. Please act natural as you go in, okay?"

They nodded and then raced down the end of the street. I heard the jingle of the bell as the opened the door even from down the street. I jogged to keep up with them, ignoring Fang who was walking silently behind me.

What is wrong with him? What is wrong with me? Am I menstruating or something? Why are Fang and I so annoyed at each other?

That's probably for you and Fang to figure out, My Voice chipped in.

No freaking duh. Thanks anyway! I said with false cheerfulness.

It didn't respond, and I didn't expect it too.

I caught the door as it was swinging shut, and walked in, holding it open for Fang as he stepped inside behind me.

"Thanks" he murmured as he entered the restaurant.

"No problem" I murmured back, not even making eye contact.

The flock had already found seats, and caught our attention and waved us over. I smiled at their happiness, and joined them. I slid down into the booth and Fang slid in so he was across the table from me. If I looked up, the first thing I would see were his dark brown eyes.

A waiter joined us minutes later, and I had a brief flashback of the time we ate in New York. I hope this doesn't turn out as badly.

'Hello, I'm Dan, what would you like to drink this afternoon?"

I picked up my menu, looking at the drink and desserts menu. "I'll have an Iced Tea. Refills are free?"

Dan nodded. "yes, all refills are free."

I nodded. "Thanks. I'll have just the Iced Tea to start then."

He nodded and scribbled it down and then turned his attention to Angel, who was already smiling sweetly at him. He smiled at her, but it was a confused smile that said "what in the world is this little kid doing?" I shed a tear of sympathy for him. Welcome to my life.

"I'll have some Apple Juice."

He wrote it down and then moved on to Iggy. It went like that, until everyone was finished ordering.

"I'll have a milkshake," Gazzy said with wide eyes.

"Just water, please" Nudge said.

"I'll have a coke, please" Fang said, not even regarding his menu.

The waiter copied the last orders down and then left, leaving us alone.

"This is nice. Don't you think?"

I smiled warmly at Nudge and agreed. "Yes, I think its nice."I would be even more nice if Fang and I could sort out our issues, but I'm not greedy, so whatever.

The thing is, I didn't even think we had any issues. I had done a mental check in my head for the last few days, and I couldn't think of anything I had done wrong. It's probably just one of those days I told myself reassuringly. Just one of those, few days. Just one of those few days where Fang and I thought it was best not to talk to each other. Yeah, that was it.

The waiter came back with our drinks just then, and I was broken out of my train of thought. I handed Iggy, Gazzy and Angel there drinks, and then took mine and took a long sip out of it. Ah…that felt really good on the throat.

"Excuse me, are you ready to order?"

I nodded, my straw still in my mouth. Then I set it down and looked at the menu.

"I'll have the, um, roast beef sandwich. Make that two."

I looked up to see his expression, which was puzzled for a moment. He didn't tell us we couldn't order it however. Like somebody in New York…

The routine continued just as the drinks did. He asked each of us what we wanted, his eyes widening a fraction of an inch each time we ordered huge meals. At the end, though, he smiled and took our menus. Leaving us once again alone.

I sipped my drink casually, glancing up at Fang every few seconds. It was not hard to figure out the tension going on between us now. Angel sipped her drink casually as well, her eyes flickering back from Fang's face to mine, trying to sort things out. AKA trying to get into our mines. I had put a barrier up, and by the frustrated look on Angel's face, Fang had too.

No one was talking. They were waiting for Fang or I to break it. I wanted to talk to the kids. Ask them interesting questions, something to lighten the mood, but I didn't want to break first. I did however, realizing how much of a party pooper I was being, raining on their lunch.

"So…" I said, with a dramatic pause.

"Um…"spoke Nudge. Now that the silence was broken, nobody knew what to say.

"Can you fill us in on what's going on Max? With Itex and everything?" Angel asked, her big blue eyes staring up at me solemnly.

I nodded eagerly, grateful for a start in conversation.

"Well, we're going to see what Itex is up to, see if we can get a head start on this whole "destroy the world" crap."

"But why the School? Isn't the head of Itex in Germany?" Gazzy asked.

I nodded, taking a sip of my Iced Tea. "It is. However, the Voice told me they have files on Itex in the School,, and I want to go there first, before we head to Germany."

The flock nodded approvingly. Except Fang of course, he just sat there, silent as the night. Hey, pretty good metaphor there, eh?

Luckily the awkward silence was broken when Dan brought us our food.

"Here you go," he said, passing us our trays with the help of another waitress.

We all murmured thanks and then dug into our food like a bunch of wild hyenas.

Dan seemed shocked at first, then probably remembered he was staring at a bunch of complete and total strangers, and turned on his heel back to the kitchen.

I practically inhaled both my roast beef sandwiches, then drained two glasses of Iced Tea. Everyone else did the same. When we were finished, I waited for the bill and gave Dan my card. He took it, not being able to contain his eagerness. I waited until he brought it back, and then we sat up and headed to the door. Before I opened it however, I turned back to the flock, who knocked into me one by one, stimulating a domino affect.

"Does anyone need to use the bathroom?" I asked with concern.

They all shook their heads. "Are you sure?" I pressed.

"Positive, Max." Nudge replied, looking up at me and smiling.

"Fine. Lets go."