Wingless – Chapter 2
By MyNameIsCAL
Mom and Ella stuck around for a few days, thankfully keeping everyone occupied. My back ached, but according to Max there were only scars now. The doctor told me that after a while, the only way to overcome the pain was to move on, and I got the feeling that this was something I wasn't going to be able to kick right away.
I sat on the roof, watching the clouds go by slowly in the distance, my legs dangling from the edge of the roof. I could see Mom's minivan below, and I wondered how far it would be from here to there. It would have been so easy just to push off from the ledge, to let myself fall, dance with thrill for a few short seconds. I missed it already, being able to do that, the wind and the thin air.
"Fang?"
I didn't have to turn around to know it was Max. She sat beside me, weary eyed. I drew my arm around her, and she rested against me, eyes closed. She had been doing a lot of crying. The two of us had barely gotten any sleep. I wished there was more I could do for her, but she was crying for me, and there was little I could do, no matter how many times I told her I was going to be okay, she would never be convinced, and quite honestly, I was starting to feel like I was lying to myself.
"What's up?" I asked, kissing her forehead.
Max didn't answer for a long time. "Why are you torturing yourself?"
I frowned. "What makes you say that, Max?"
She shook her head. "Dylan won't leave me alone about you. He keeps saying that you should stop torturing yourself by sitting up here."
Dylan. He thought he could make things better all by himself, win Max over by trying to tell her how much trouble I was and how it was only going to get worse. It took a lot out of me not to want to bash his head in. The flock didn't stand for violence unless we needed it, and I knew that even I wouldn't stand for senseless beating, yet I could feel my blood boil when I thought about him, trying to take Max from me. Sure, Max and I had our rough patches, but I told myself that I wasn't going to screw things up anymore. This wasn't a game anymore.
But I couldn't let Max know about my insecurities of Dylan.
"It's peaceful up here," I told her. "The wind and the fresh air. It's the closest I'll get to flying now, so maybe this is me trying to accept everything."
She breathed in, eyes watery. "It…It is nice up here."
I gave her a small smile and she wrapped her arms around me. We stayed like that until Iggy came up, telling us that lunch was ready.
The days dragged on. I was sleeping alone now, and Max and I barely said anything to each other. Every time I'd go to comfort her, she'd run off crying. Maybe she needs space, Iggy told me. A little time to let everything sink in.
At least for the others, things carried on. Cooking, cleaning, keeping everything in order. I did my best with what I could because the pain came and went. Iggy usually made me watch the oven and check on boiling water or if everything was cooked fully. The only thing that bothered me was how close Dylan was getting to Max, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he was taking advantage of the situation.
"Fang, you know, you and Iggy and Max are only seventeen." Angel must have been reading my thoughts. "Well, almost eighteen. But still, it's not the end of the world. Max still cares about you lot, even though she seems like she's pushing you away. Dylan might end up helping her cope, don't jump to conclusions so quickly. Nothing at this moment in time is permanent."
I slouched into the armchair. "I'm guessing you know something we don't know. And you're not going to tell us because you're afraid we're gonna change things if we knew?"
"Well, you can't change what's going to happen." She frowned. "But you're stressing yourself out and making the pain worse. Take in a deep breath. Be thankful Jeb hasn't come after us again."
"Well, Dylan's definitely screwed up whatever Jeb had planned. I mean, obviously," Iggy said. "And she's right, Fang. Relax."
Dylan emerged from the ladder that led to the roof. He ran his fingers through his hair, as if he were trying to charm the rest of us into staring at him.
"We're going to go out for dinner. Max says we'll leave in an hour," he told us.
Angel rose off the couch first, and then Iggy followed suit, calling for Nudge. I went shortly after them, not wanting to be left alone with Max. Mom had left us the minivan, which meant we'd all be cramming into the car, and I got the feeling that I wasn't going to be sitting next to Max.
I was going to make this chapter longer, but I realized I mind as well put this up since by itself it can still be a chapter anyway. Thanks for reading and stay tuned! Once June rolls around, and summer is in full swing for me after finals, I will be updating more frequently.