Sorry I didn't update sooner! I had to fix my bad hair cut, go on vacation, I got sick, and now my air conditioner is broken. So here's the next chapter! To be honest, this story took a big turn at the end of the last chapter. Honestly, I thought they would go into the woods and make out or something. But anyways….
The tension was obvious when we reached the clearing. Fang brushed passed everyone, and went to where Iggy had made a plate of bacon and pancakes for us. For dinner. The flock was sitting in a semi-circle, starting with Iggy and ending with Nudge, who had changed into a "cute" night clothes outfit thing that was definitely not appropriate for the weather. And the fact we'd be sleeping in trees tonight. However, I didn't say anything, mostly because I didn't trust my voice to speak. Fang sat down next to Iggy and began eating, not looking at anyone. He was wrong, this might be "professional", but it sure wasn't how it used to be. I can't imagine how much he was hurting, literally, because he was more shut off than I'd ever seen him, and I've seen him shut off for almost 12 years.
Everyone ate in silence. Even Nudge has nothing to say, or was too afraid to say it. The tension hangs around us like.. Like really heavy tension. What can I say, I'm no poet.
Unfortunately, I was the one who eventually had to break the silence.
"We should probably get to bed, because um," I wavered when I saw Fang staring at me, his eyes literally boring holes into me. "We'll need to leave early tomorrow and we'll be flying all day." I put my fist in the middle of everyone, and everyone stacked them. I notice Fang takes care not to touch my hands.
"I'll take first watch," I continued, but Fang interrupted me.
"I can do it," he said bluntly, not at all like he's hurting, which is why I could tell he was. I nodded lamely, saying I would take the rest and turned towards the biggest tree. Nudge takes the one to my left, and Angel to my right. I notice Fang goes to the one farthest away from mine. Usually, we both sleep in the biggest tree, me on the higher big branch and him on the lower. It didn't feel right having him be so far away. Ignoring the thought, I laid my head down on the branch, making sure I wouldn't fall off. I close my eyes, and when I did, I heard Angel's voice in my head.
"Max, I think you and Fang should make up," she said sweetly. I sighed. She just didn't understand how difficult it was right now.
"Yes I do," she sounded offended at the though that she could not know something. "You know, he might understand, if you explained," No, no, he wouldn't understand, I couldn't take back everything that had happened.
"Angel, honey, I'm going to bed now. Good night," And so I fell asleep feeling like the cheesiest romantic sap in the world. Gosh, what is this world coming to?
LINE BREAK! SORRY FOR UNINTENTIONAL OOC EVERYONE IN LOVE IS!
I woke up feeling miserable, my head and heart aching. Opening my eyes, I saw that the reason I'd waken so early in the morning, was because Fang was shaking me awake. Still was, actually. I also realized he was barely even touching me. Not in a sweet, gentle way, but more of a sterile, you've-got-the-plague kind of way.
"I'm up, I'm up!" I groaned loudly, maybe a little too loudly. He looked at me for a long time and then turned and walked back to his tree.
"Your shift," he muttered emotionlessly.
I sat up, feeling more alert when I remembered we were still in danger, and my love life, as complicated as it was and is, was hardly a priority. I watched Fang climb into the tree and close his eyes, but I knew he wasn't sleeping . His body was tense and rigid, and I could see his jaw clenching. I sighed, trying not to feel sorry for myself by thinking of my responsibilities. Tommorrow, I thought to myself, I'd have to wake the others up early, or at least earlier than we have beeen recently, so that we could eat breakfast and be packed to go. I sighed again. Another day, and we'd be the Partridge family we weren't.
It didn't seem right for us to simply find a house and move into it, not with every complication we've had in the past couple of years. Freezing, I thought about all of the possible schemes Itex could be planning via Barbie's dream house. I mentally slapped myself repeatedly for being so stupid and not seeing this before.
Without thinking, I fluttered out of my tree and strode towards Fang. Midway, I stopped, remembering the reasons I didn't want to talk to Fang. So instead of being tortured with awkward dialogue, I walked over to Iggy and shook him awake. He looked at me through sleepy eyes and scowled comically.
"No Max, I will not cook bacon for you in the middle of the night." I rolled my eyes.
"I don't want bacon, but we need to talk," I said exasperated. He sat up and yawned, obviously not realizing the urgency of the conversation.
"Oh," he stated, "So this is about Fang."
"What?" I whisper-yelled , genuinely confused.
"Ok, so what you need-" Iggy continued, "Wait, you aren't here about Fang?" I was starting to get frustrated at this point.
"No Iggy, its about something important," I began.
"Glad to see how you feel about me, even if I'd rather you'd be direct," I heard Fang's unmistakable voice. I turned around quickly see him hovering slightly above the ground, arms crossed, looking as much like the Angel of Death as ever.
"Fang," I started, my voice on the edge of desperation, on the edge of begging. Oh, and heads up, I don't beg.
"Don't" he said calmly and then questioned, " What is so important then?" I stared him in the eyes and then looked away, realizing now was not the time to make things worse between us.
"It's the house," I said, not at all intimidated by Fang, "I think Itex is using it as a trap."
"Get over yourself, Max. Just because I'm right doesn't mean you have to-" I stopped listening after that, I felt like he'd slapped me. If anyone else said it, I wouldn't care, but Fang my best friend, second in command, and the guy I'd known before I knew myself. But before I could do something stupid, like hit him, I interrupted.
"Its not about that," I said.
He looked doubtful. "What is it about then?" He landed with a soft thud.
"It's about the flock's safety," I said, my voice rising. I took a small step towards Fang. He was not going to think he could scare me.
"Really? Because I think its for a different reason," said Fang. Meanwhile, Iggy was watching us go back and forth with wide eyes.
"Fang," I began softly, and then continued loudly, "Shut up. I've tried to explain to you several times, but since you obviously don't care to hear it, at least realize that I think the house is a trap because it doesn't make since that it would be easy for us to live there. It isn't about you. Believe it or not, my world doesn't revolve around you!"
Unfortunately, I may have screamed the last part and woken the rest of the flock up. They jumped out of their trees and were in fighting position in about 3 seconds. And to make matters worst, Fang really took what I said, or in this case yelled, to heart.
Now, if this was a soap opera, Fang and I would've been making out after that and then said some 'I love you' mumbo jumbo . But, since this obviously wasn't some sappy romance, Fang was more than a little upset. No, he was angry.
"Fine. You must be right, since you're the leader," he said very sarcastically, "So now what? Do we go play 'superhero's' again?" Everyone was staring at me. I assumed Angel filled Nudge, Gazzy, and Total what we were fighting about via mind-talk because they waited expectantly. Of course, not wanting to disapoint everyone without real facts, I shook my head, but took charge.
"No, we'll go to the house. But we'll be very careful, too. Everyone, get packed and we'll leave in ten. Got it?" Everyone nodded, even Fang. I sighed for what seemed the millionth time and went to get my backpack.
Ok, how was that? And please be honest! I'm not sure how I feel about. I either really like or really don't. But I guess either way it was necessary. Review please!
Tell me what you like about this story(entire story or chapter) and what you don't(same) and I'll include your name in the next chapter!