Chapter 31 – Importance
While this may come as a complete shock to some of you, I totally came to expect this before it even happened. If you have no idea what I'm referring to, go back and read the second last sentence from chapter 30 and then you'll see what I'm going to say next. Basically, I told Fang that I wanted a truce, and now he's under the tad belief that he beat me, when it was obvious that we'd tied. And, of course, since this was Fang we were talking about, he totally acted like a gentleman about the whole thing. And if you couldn't tell that was sarcasm than there is definitely something wrong with you.
I may sound a little harsh today, and even though this week had been pretty good, recent events had put me in a miserable mood. The goods were that I did finish my report for biology, and I had to admit that I was pretty impressed with my work. Using Fang as a helper for collecting information had definitely worked in my advantage. The guards at school had been very un-annoying, or rather not as involved as they normally were, which almost made it seem like nothing had changed. You know, if having burly, creepy guards around school was normal for all kids from a small town. And as an added bonus, James had managed to go an entire week without bomb making, evil scheming (that I know of), or even getting detention. I was so impressed that when I voiced my opinion I got him to blush and grin shyly. He had some charm, even if he used all of it for evil.
And please don't make any false assumptions. No, I'm not falling for him. I know him too well.
However, my week turned upside down the other day when Mom received a fateful phone call. She seemed a little shocked and genuinely excited, but I was a little skeptical. I didn't want to spy on the caller ID, but I assumed it was that Justin guy I met at the clinic. But she wasn't giddy enough for it to be him. We hadn't talked about that situation at all, and Fang hadn't had a second thought about it either. He wasn't as worried as I was.
Mom had shaken her head in amazement as she placed the phone in its doc. I'd raised an eyebrow. Fang and I were still in solitary confinement, so I was sprawled out on the couch and he was sitting on the floor. I'd felt his gaze on me and I instantly felt self-conscience.
"Ella, get in here," Mom had called. A few seconds passed before she loped down the steps, leaning over the railing to look at Mom.
"What's up?" she'd asked, looking from me to Fang to Mom.
"Jeb just called," Mom had responded, a tone of wonder in her voice. "He offered for us to join him on Thursday for a Thanksgiving Day meal." Oh, my God. It was worse than I ever could have imagined.
"Why?" I'd blatantly called out, suddenly feeling rage blaze through me. "Where did all of this come from?" Even Fang was tense; I knew he hated the guy almost as much as I did.
Mom had shrugged. "I don't know. He didn't really give me a reason."
If a psychopath asked you to enter an abandoned home with him for no reason, would you do it? I'd wondered.
"But you said 'no', right?" Ella had asked. She had a reason for not wanting to go. After all, we had different fathers. She had no relation to Jeb. Lucky girl.
Mom had sighed. "I couldn't turn him down…" Ella and I had groaned. "And besides, you'll get to see Ari again." She was talking to me, and I'd pursed my lips in consideration. It was true; I hadn't seen my half-brother in a while. He was a sweet seven-year-old, who I had no idea how he could have been related to Jeb. Me, on the other had, I could see the relation to.
"Really, how bad can it be?" The last time she'd asked that, Jeb had given me a "your destiny is to save the world" crap. I swore he reminded me of the Voice. I really didn't want to know how bad this could be.
So that brought us to today, the infamous Thanksgiving Day. While everyone in town was thinking of turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and football, I was thinking about ways of avoiding my crazy father. I know, some of you think that you have problems. Think of me and you'll suddenly realize how lovely your life is.
I was in my room, getting ready and "presentable", as Mom wanted all of us to be. My idea of the word was wearing un-crap-stained jeans and a clean, long-sleeved green shirt. It was comfortable and breathable… in case I need to run away at all. I mean, Jeb's home was a few miles from ours, and buses did run through our towns daily. I hoped they weren't on break today.
There was a knock on my door and I sighed. "Ella, tell Mom I'll be down soon." I ran over to the mirror and quickly weaved my hair into a long braid. It was getting darker now, almost brown. In a few weeks all traces of blond would be gone. Oh well, at least I didn't have to pay for highlights and dye jobs.
"Ella's still in the bathroom," a deep voice said, and I felt stupid for two reasons. One, I should have figured I'd be done before her and two, she would have just shouted her message without the bother of knocking. "Can I come in?"
"Whatever," muttered as I tied the end of my hair off. The door creaked open and in slinked the tall, thin figure of Fang. Like always, he'd been pretty quiet the past few days… except for when he'd rag on me about the prank war. He even told James that he'd won. Men are jerks and competition-obsessed. "What do you want?" I turned around to face him. He was wearing his usual— dark jeans and a gray buttoned shirt (one that I hadn't ruined). His dark, shoulder length hair was brushed back.
He leaned against the doorway. "I've been thinking," he began, watching me impassively.
I rolled my eyes. "Really? I'm so proud of you, Fang."
He ignored my comment. "We're going to Jeb's house, and he used to work with your mom."
"Yeah, so?"
"He worked with her… at Itex."
Oh. Well now that made sense. I hadn't looked at Fang's blog since I'd tried to gather information about him, but I could tell his search wasn't going too well. Itex was either very underground or in some serious trouble with the government that erased any traces of them. I knew what he was thinking about.
"You think you can find information there." It wasn't a question. I was simply saying what I saw in his eyes.
"There has to be something. If not on Itex, than something about his past. Doctors always keep records of their pasts. Diplomas, certificates, anything. Even old textbooks and medical encyclopedias. Maybe he has special sections marked off."
"And this applies to me how?" I crossed the room to grab a jacket from my closet.
"He has an office in his home?"
"Yeah. I'm guessing you need me to show you around." He nodded, and I sighed. "Fang… I'm not sure I want to be involved with this."
"Why? Are you afraid?"
Again, this touched a nerve on my total fabulousness. I could handle taunting, flirting, and even the physical pain, but if someone challenged my bravery I got defensive. "Of course not. I'm just not sure your search is necessary."
Max.
Ugh, go away!
"I don't care what you think. I know what I'm doing and if you won't help me I might discover a hidden passageway that will lead me to a dungeon underground."
"Hey, if you find one let me know. Maybe it will help get Jeb arrested."
You should help him, Max. He's trying to help your Cause and you're ignoring him.
Why is it so important?
Everything is a part of the Big Picture.
"Thanks for nothing," I muttered.
"What?"
"Uh, nothing." His eyebrows raised in acknowledgement of the Voice.
"So, are you in?"
"Yeah, I guess so," I sighed. I wasn't happy about it, but if I could get the Voice off my case for a little while than that was something.
Good for you. You're finally accepting your destiny.
Yeah, yeah, when I find out whatever the hell it is, I'll prove that it wasn't all it's cracked up to be.
Sorry I didn't feel like checking over this chapter, so if there are any mistakes I apologize. Don't have too much time to spend on reviews. I want to discuss (well, I guess it isn't a discussion since it's one-sided) about this story with everyone. And no, it's not as bad as it sounds. The first thing I wanted to say is that the poll is officially closed, and thank you to all 29 of you who voted. Results are up for you to see. As promised, I will post my feelings on the options, but that will come later.
The next thing is, I don't know how many of you checked my story updates before, but I posted the possible names for the Not So Normal sequels. I think they'll be called "Anything But Easy" and then "Made to Overcome". My next poll will be about those titles so be sure to tell me what you think of them. I have a very brief summary (like, one that you'd use to describe your story on the website) for the second book, and if you want me to post it I will next chapter. Be sure to tell me if you want to see it while you review!!
So, like I said before, this A/N is gonna be long because I'm giving my opinions on the options on my previous poll. Most of them were just fillers because they are situations that happen in like every other fanfiction I see and I wanted an honest opinion on them because, frankly, we need something different to happen. Here you go, my opinion on the options:
1. A member of the flock dying: Never really a consideration. I don't think I could kill a member of the flock... at least in this story.
2. Introducing more bird-kids: NO! Definitely no. I learned my lesson from trying to write a somewhat original story about non-flock members. The flock is the way it is, and I don't intend on adding anyone, or even other animal-bird crosses. So sorry Total fans, but he will be in the way he should be.
3. A minor character dying: Definitely still a consideration. I don't know who yet... or even if I will. I don't have serious plots developed for the sequels so anything can happen.
4. Max going out with another guy: Eh... I really don't see that happening. Max isn't the "going out" type. Except, you know, for Fang she'll make an exception.
5. Introducing a Brigid/Lissa character: As referred to in one chapter (I forget which one) when a girl tried flirting with Fang he wasn't interested. And he only likes Max. Imagine when he realizes he loves her! ( :X No one heard that from me). So, yeah, I despise Brigid and Lissa so I'm not adding anyone like them.
6. Going enviornmental and all that jazz: As you can see from that alone, I'm not interested in the Green movement. I know that keeping the planet healthy is important, but the extents that people are going through to do so seems a little... extreme. I'd have no idea how to write it in, anyway.
7. A flock member going bad: Also a possibility. I know some of you were saying that you can't break their bond, you have have to realize that they don't exactly have the same bond the flock in the story had. 1) they didn't grow up in the School together and 2) they never lived like a family. Their relationship isn't the same, so someone could definitely go bad.
8. Fang moving out of the Martinez home: Well, this is also a possibility. Mostly because of the awkward tension later on in the series, when Dr. M finds out that they have feelings for each other. She won't want to risk anything bad happening. It might seem like a Fax killer, but it also may save them from the next option I'm going to talk about.
9. Max and Fang having sex: Ah, yes, the dreaded option. I've been wanting to explain the question in a way that people may not have seen earlier. First of all, I'm not going to make them have sex in this book, or in any book in the series. You guys know me; I don't do things like everyone else. If they did have sex, I wouldn't have included a crazy, mutant bird-kid spawn. If I ever included a sex scene in a story, I wouldn't make them get pregnant. And even if I did, I would twist it like making their child human or something.
I totally agree with everyone who thinks they're too young, even though in the last book they'll be sixteen. That's still too young. Period. I'm sixteen now (almost seventeen, yippee!) and I know I'm still not mature enough for sex, and I'm more mature than a lot of kids my age. So are Max and Fang. And by being mature, they know it would never fit into their lives. Now, I may have them consider it, or, like, talk about it, but it's not gonna happen.
Okay, I feel so much better getting this off my chest. Now you guys can (sort of) see where I was coming from with these options. Nothing is final, and anything can change. So be sure to review and check out the new poll tomorrow night. That's it. I'm out.