Chapter 2

Max POV

I woke up gasping. I took a deep breath as I realized that I wasn't dead, and looked around to see where I was. Then everything came back to me. I was in the room I was sharing with Ella, Nudge, and Angel at my mom's house. I looked around, hoping I hadn't woken anyone else up. Everyone appeared to still be asleep fortunately. Ella was in her bed, snoring quite loudly I might add. Nudge was all tangled up in a mess of sheets which had been laid on the floor by Ella's bed, and Angel was curled up in one of those neat circle chairs with Total curled up on her lap and Celeste gripped tightly in her arms. I was sleeping with a comforter and pillow in the corner across from Ella's bed and Oh. Ew! Gross! Ugh. I thought as I realized that I had been sweating in my sleep. I sighed and laid back down. This was the third time I had this dream this week, and every time I woke up feeling as if I hadn't gotten a wink of sleep. I blinked to try to help my eyes adjust better to the light that shining through the window. The clock read 7 AM, meaning the rest the Flock would be up soon. Groaning, I forced myself up out of my makeshift bed and headed for the door.

It had been 2 weeks since the incident with Mr. Chu in Hawaii, and The Flock and I had been more than happy to finally be able to stay somewhere other than a submarine. Plus, with my mom still recovering after that jerk grumpy Asian man took her captive, we were more than happy to come stay with her here in Arizona to help out around the house. Like I said, The girls and I (with the exception of Total being a male) were staying in Ella's room with her. The guys were sleeping in the guest room down the hall. She was pretty much her normal self again, but we didn't have anywhere else to go, so we were staying with her awhile longer; or until someone decided to show up and make our lives harder, then we would go back to life on the run. I shuddered. I hated thinking about having to be on the run again, not that it was all that bad, I just knew the younger ones would hate leaving. Goodbyes were always the hard part.

Don't think about that now Max! It's too early! Start the day on a more positive note. I told myself trying to look like I was in a good mood. I took a deep breath and that's when I remembered, I was soaked in sweat. Ugh. There was no way I could go downstairs smelling like this! Not unless I wanted to listen to Iggy going Wow Max! Trying out a new scent? and I guess it never was Gazzy all those times! all morning. And I do mean ALL morning. Or if I wanted to listen to Gazzy singing some sort of gross song about smelling bad. It seemed like he had a song for every gross matter in life. Remember the Constipation song? Well I sure do. And unfortunately, so does Gazzy! Plus, Fang would know something was wrong. He always seemed too, and I SO did not want to tell him about my horrific dream. I hadn't told him about it so far, and I didn't plan to. I had dreams about fights all the time, I'm sure this one wasn't any different. Or was it? I mean... we haven't fought erasers in along LONG time... No! Stop! Bad Max! I scolded myself. There was no need to worry over nothing.

I grabbed my clothes out of my bag and stepped into Ella's bathroom, closing the door gently behind me. I reached up and turned the shower on cold to help wake me up. I didn't want to take a long one, just enough that I didn't smell like a hog all day. Stepping out a dried off and put on my jeans and t-shirt, the usual, and made my way into the hallway. I quick check revealed that the guys were still sleeping. I had to fight to hold back a laugh attack as I noticed that Iggy had some how managed to roll off of the bed (where he had been sleeping) and onto the floor where Gazzy and Fang were sleeping with sheets and pillows. He was now curled up in a ball next to Gazzy, who was laying on his back with his arm thrown across Iggy's back. I snickered quietly. Aw! How cute! If I only I had a camera. I will never let them live this down! I thought smiling as I closed the door and headed down the stairs.

I turned the kitchen light on as I walked in. I guess my mom was still asleep too, making me the first one up, as usual. Instead of causing a riot by attempting to cook something, I figured it best if I just got cereal until mom or Iggy got up and made something. I grabbed the box of cheerios and poured some milk. I sat down to eat it, enjoying the silence that would end as soon as Nudge got up. I swear, if she had an off button, my life would be slightly more enjoyable. I love her so much, but she just talks way too much. I ate a spoonful of cereal just as I heard someone else enter the kitchen.

"Good morning Max." Fang said as he walked into the kitchen and sat down across from me.

"Mornin" I said through a spoonful of cereal. Fang smirked.

"Did you sleep well last night?" Fang asked casually. Ugh. I was hoping to avoid this question, seeing as I was still attempting to avoid any discussion of my dream. I just shrugged.

"I suppose so." I lied, shoving another spoonful into my mouth. I hoped he would believe me. But of course, this is Fang we're talking about, so he didn't.

He narrowed his eyes at me as if to say Don't you dare try to lie to me. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure." I said sarcastically. I could tell he was still unsure, so I quickly changed the subject. "So are you going to get yourself some breakfast or what?" I said teasingly. He grinned and shrugged.

"Why would I bother getting my own breakfast when I could just take yours?" He said grabbing my bowl and spoon.

"FANG!" I yelled jumping out of my chair and trying to grab my bowl. He dodged me and ran to the other side of the kitchen and took a sip out of the bowl, not using the spoon I might add.

"Oh ew. I don't want it now." I said playfully. That wasn't true, after eating desert rat during hard times I could care less, but I wasn't in the mood to try and tackle him for it. He chuckled and sat back down in his chair, eating my cereal. I sighed and walked over to the cabinet to get another bowl. This is going to be a long day.