Well, after sixteen solid chapters of partyin', I think I'm gonna try to put some substance in. Just a little bit.

Chapter 17: Personal Investments

MAXIMUM RIDE

We decided to bunk down at Dr. Martinez's for a day or two. It was about lunchtime when the Voice piped up again.

What are you doing here, Max?

Oh, hey, Voice. How's it goin'?

What are you doing here, Max?

Off the top of my head, I'd say I'm eating lunch. I'm guessing that's not the answer you're looking for.

The Voice gave another of its real-or-perceived sighs. I sent you to Modesto for a reason, Maximum. The friends you made there are vital to your future.

So, my future is partyin'? I like the sound of that.

No, Max. The thread of your life is intertwined with many others. Perhaps you haven't noticed, but the world is not yet saved. The flock must join forces with their kin.

Our kin? I don't see a kinship there. The most useful thing that happened there was learning that we fit the legal definition of "monsters". Other than that, we've got Nudge with her new boyfriend, which has just made her withdraw from the family; Iggy being all bitter, and mostly everyone letting their guard down. Explain to me how that's helpful to us.

Monsters, Max. The protection of the planet lies with monsters.

Uh-huh. Yeah, I'm gonna tune you out now.

Nudge bounded downstairs. "Hell-oh, family!" she said. "Notice you haven't seen me all morning? I was IM-ing with Aaron!"

"Yeah?" Iggy said. "I bet you can't do it all afternoon, too."

"Iggy!" I scolded.

"Well, can you blame me?" he retorted. "When she's not talking to Aaron, she's talking about him. 'Ooh, Aaron, I love him so much, he's such a good kisser, blah, blah, yada, yada, yada…'"

"Okay, first of all," Fang said, "the Nudge impression, dead-on."

"Oh, ha-ha."

"And second, you're being way too bitter, Ig. You're fourteen years old. You're not gonna find your soul mate at this age."

"You two have," Iggy snapped. "And, you know, werewolves bond for life, so there goes Nudge."

"Aaron hasn't imprinted on me, if that's what you're talking about," Nudge countered. "But that doesn't mean anything, because he's not a wolf anymore."

"I don't care!" Iggy exploded. "You see this?" He clamped his mouth shut and pointed to it. "Huh? You see this, Nudge? Try it sometime! It's awesome!"

"Iggy, don't—"

"I want what you all have, damn it! Somebody, anybody, as long as they're mine!"

I took charge. "Iggy," I said. "Relax! And what the hell do you mean, what we all have?"

"Please," he retorted. "Listen, Max, I know you're always trying to prove that you're not actually a girl, but get over yourself. You've got this dude you've known your whole life who wants to be with you, you don't care. You're tossing it away. I have fucking NOTHING!" He pounded his fist to the table.

Dr. Martinez rushed in. "What's going on in here?" she demanded.

"It's okay, Mom," I muttered. "Iggy's just a bit upset."

"Right," Iggy snarled. "I'm gonna go fly around. I'll catch you guys later."

"If you think for an instant that I'm going to let you fly off alone—" I began.

"Shut up," he growled. "You have no control over me." He ran out the door and spread his wings.

"Boys, go after him," I said quickly. Gazzy and Fang pursued him. The girls looked up at me.

"Is this my fault?" Nudge asked.

"No, baby," I assured her. "It's nobody's fault. Iggy's just…" I raised my arm hopelessly. "I don't know, Nudge. I guess he feels lonely."

"Well, I guess I'll have to stop seeing Aaron," she muttered.

"No, Nudge," I said sternly. "You do what you like. Maybe just refrain from talking about it until Iggy calms down… but he has no right to make you stop if you really like this boy."

"I do," Nudge whispered. "I like him a lot… but I hate making Iggy feel that way."

"It's okay, Nudge," I said quickly. "The boys will calm him down… I hope." I really, really hope.