Suffice to say, the next few days were difficult. I was finding some extra food for Fang out of no where. I was going to and from school and dance class as usual. I was preparing for end of the year finals. I was making up excuses to keep Fang hidden from my parents and sister. And in an interesting turn of events, I'd managed to convince my parents to make the basement my new room instead of the tiny, crammed one on the top floor of our house.
Fang had managed to get through about half the books by a week after our introduction. So he already was beginning to believe my story and he was confused as to what it all meant. We deducted that the reason I was given the books and no one else in the entire country was, was because I was destined to be injected with whatever it was they injected me with by the Whitecoats. So they rigged the contest my parents had participated in, knowing that'd be their way to get to me. Though, so far, nothing had happened to me. For which I was very thankful.
And Fang made another deduction. If I was the only one in the world with these books, then one, we needed to seek out James Patterson and figure out who and what he really is. And two, we need Max and the flock. Fang kept Dr. Martinez's number with him at all times but hadn't dared go near a phone to test it. He was too afraid he'd have to talk to Max, and in turn, be forced to come back. He wasn't ready for that. So after a lot of arguing, I agreed to call the number and see if I could get Max and the others to come to my house for a 'visit.'
Fang and I were both freaking out. He wanted me to be the caller. But I had no idea what to say to my absolute favorite idol (fiction turned reality character) ever. And Fang was freaking out because he couldn't decide if he should hang around during Max's visit, and confront her, or leave for a while and come back once the flock left. He and I were torn in more ways then one. But we finally decided on a how to do it. I'd call up the number, explain the situation, and if Max needed proof that Fang was the one who told me to call, because I might give them a lead as to how to save the world… blah blah blah, I'd put Fang on the phone, but only briefly. He didn't want too much exposure to Max, the world's most fiercesome, kick-butt girl ever. Not because he didn't miss her, but because he still thought his leaving the flock was best for everyone. I tried to convince him otherwise, but he wouldn't have any of it. He's stubborn, no questions asked.
Anyways, so my sister went on her rain-check sleepover with Jenny, mom had to work late one night, and dad went for a bike ride for about 45 minutes. That gave us enough time to quickly call up Max at Dr. Martinez's house and figure out how we were going to meet up, and IF Max would allow us to meet up.
I dialed the number and shakily held the phone up to my ear. Fang nodded encouragingly, practically dripping with sweat from anxiety.
"Hello?" A woman with a Mexican accent answered on the other line.
"Um, hi, is this Dr. Martinez?" I asked nervously.
"Yes, who may I ask is this?"
"My name's Caitlin, and I know that this might sound kind of crazy. But I really need to talk to Max. Maximum Ride. It's urgent."
"Max?" She asked, sounding, surprised, confused and worrisome all at the same time.
"Yes. I have some really important information for her about everything. And I do mean EVERYTHING. Saving the world, how the flock was created, their whole life stories. And I also have Fang here with me."
Fang had been pretty stoic and doing okay during the first part of my conversation. But as soon as I mentioned his name, he gave me an evil scowl. I brushed it off and continued.
"Really!" She practically shouted. Then recomposed her voice and said, "I'm sorry to be rude, but could you please prove it?"
I held the phone to Fang's face and asked him to say something to Dr. M. "Hey Dr. M." he said. But that was it. I begged him silently to say something else, waving my arms all over the place as if to say, come on, she'll never believe just that, say SOMETHING else!
But the next thing I know, I hear screaming in the background. Dr. M is screaming and so is a young, girl voice. I'm guessing Angel, since she's the only one who could possibly know who's on the phone beside's Dr. M.
"Alright, alright. I'll go get Max. Please, I beg you. DON'T GO ANYWHERE. Just hang on a second, okay?" And I assume she and Angel have ran off to go tell Max.
A few seconds pass and I here a hoarse, confused, voice come on the phone. "Hello?" It answered.
"Um… Max? Is this Max?" I asked.
"Yes." She said quickly. "Who are YOU?" She asked accusingly.
"My name is Caitlin. I live in Naperville, Illinois, and I have information that you have GOT to hear. Oh, and I've also got Fang here at my house."
"WHAT! You KIDNAPPED FANG!" She screamed into the phone.
"No no no no! I didn't kidnap him. He's just here with me. Though, I'm guessing he's busy at this very moment. Look, I know this sounds crazy but please, will you hear me out; my whole story?" I begged her.
"Fine. I'm all ears." She said, finally sounding less harsh.
After explaining the whole situation to her, she pauses and I've almost thought she's hung up on me, but then I hear. "We have to meet up."
"That's exactly what I was thinking. You need to read the books. And honestly, I know Fang is here for me, but I could really use the whole flock's support and protection right now. If Whitecoats really are after me, I'm kind of afraid I'll be a target. And I'll be honest, I'm kind of scared. I don't know what was in the injection. It could be anything from a dud injection to a poison that'll take affect in another few days."
"You're right. Where do you live? I'll fly over tomorrow morning with the flock and we'll check things out. And you must understand, we can't stay with you forever. I don't even feel all that great staying with my mom all that long. It puts her and Ella in danger. So if things do go kind of wrong, and you grow a pair of wings from the injection, or you are a big lead on finding out what my destiny is or something, I'm going to insist you come with us. I don't know how, but you must. Do you understand?" She asked me.
I can't say I wasn't expecting this. But I didn't really take into consideration leaving my home to go with the flock. In any scenario, winged ones or otherwise. I'd have to come up with one heck of a creative excuse for my parents to let me go this summer, maybe longer, with the flock. Maybe I could say I want to go to camp with some new friends I made. Or maybe I could just tell them the truth? I don't know, but again, this is something that Fang and I will definitely be discussing later tonight.
So I told her the honest to God truth. "I'll do what I can. But if I have to leave, I have way more to leave behind than you do. So I want you to understand, that if I can't go, I seriously can't go. I have a family, a life to live here. Please be understanding." I begged her for the umpteenth time.
"We'll see. I'll talk to you tomorrow. What's your number, just in case we get lost?"
I gave her my number and said to meet me at my dance class after school, not at my house. Fang would meet us there later too. But I insisted we meet somewhere other than my house so that we wouldn't be caught by my parents. With that, we hung up and I turned to Fang and let out a loud sigh of relief. "Well that was fun!" I said as perkily as I could. Fang just rolled his eyes and put his head back in the next book he was reading. He was on the 5th book now, Max.