Hey everyone! Here's the chapter when the Flock are reunited! I hope you enjoy! =)
Thanks to everyone who reviewed!
Chapter Three: Greetings
Fang got a phone call just as he was heading into the car. He assumed it would be Dr. Martinez, checking to see if his flight had arrived safely. But it turned out to be Lily.
"Hello?"
"Hi Nick, its Lily."
"Hey Lily. How are you?"
"Great. I had so much fun last night. The movie was shit but since you were there…it was okay." She laughed.
"That's great to hear. I had a lot of fun last night too, Lily." The car began driving off to the highway. His CSM representative/escort removed his New York Times magazine from his carry-on bag and began reading an article.
"Especially the kissing." Lily was probably smiling on the other end.
"Especially the kissing." They both laughed.
"So…I was wondering if maybe you would consider going with me to an outing around Central Park this Friday? We could walk around the Park and have lunch and maybe even a little shopping for me-"
"I would love too, but I'm going to be busy that day. I have a special writing seminar," he lied. "I'm really sorry, Lily."
Fang heard her sigh. "Alright. Maybe Saturday?"
"I would have to check. But I might be free," he lied.
"Alright. Well, I have to get some studying in. I'll see you soon, Nick."
"See you soon." Fang hung up and took a deep breath. Fang had nothing to do now but wait until he reached his family. His former family.
XXX
"What time is Fang coming?"
Iggy looked up from the Irish soda bread he was concocting and gazed in Angel's general direction.
"Pretty soon. Aren't you the psychic one?"
Angel rolled her eyes. "I don't know everything, Iggy. When's the soda bread gonna be ready? Fourty-five minutes, right?"
Iggy picked up his pan of soda bread and moved it towards the oven. He opened the door with one hand, balancing the pan, then pushed it into the oven. Closing the door, Iggy answered, "Fourty-five minutes. But you knew that already; I told you."
Angel smiled devilishly. "Just messing with you, Iggy."
"Right. Just messing with me." But now, Iggy was confused at what exactly Angel meant.
"Iggy! Angel! Fang is almost here!" Dr. Martinez peaked her head in the kitchen doorway, gesturing with her hands for them to move out of the room.
Iggy snorted. "I don't want to see him." Angel glared at him.
"Just come outside Iggy!" Dr. Martinez ran out of the room towards the bedrooms.
"Come on, Ig," said Angel pulling Iggy by the arm towards the front door of the Flock's mega suite.
"Why are you so anxious to see him?"
Angel looked up at him, frowning slightly. "Because, Iggy. Because."
XXX
"Flock! Report!" Max strode down the hallway towards the front door where Iggy and Angel already stood waiting.
"Report!" Max's voice was hollow and lifeless. Her eyes looked dead, and her skin looked almost like it was sagging. This was probably the worst she looked in three and a half years. Except for right after Fang left, of course.
"Iggy…Angel…Dylan…me…"
"Max, are you okay?" asked Angel.
Max looked down at her, and tried to smile. It looked more like a grimace. "Fine."
"You don't look fine." Max looked at her for one second, then tore her gaze back to the hallway. "Gazzy's here…Nudge! Report! Let's go!" Nudge burst out of one of the bedrooms, throwing a magazine backwards. She ran down the hall and nearly ran straight into Dylan. "Here!"
"Alright, that's everyone. Mom?" Dr. Martinez held a phone to her ear, whispering rapidly to someone.
"I understand. How long? Okay. Got it. Thanks Cory." She hung up, fixing her bun.
"Okay, everyone walk outside to the front of the building. Max, lead."
Instead of leading, Max ushered everyone out of the room. She needed to have a talk with her mom.
"Mom, why are we doing this?"
"Because," she smiled at her daughter. "I asked you to."
Max took a deep breath. "You know how I feel about him-"
"Max, I'm going to be there. I'll make sure nothing…bad happens."
Max looked into her mother's eyes. "Who was on the phone?"
Valencia licked her lips. "A neighbor. He told me that Ella is going to be here in a week."
"Who's Cory?" asked Max. A sparkle was coming back to her eyes. She looked smug.
"A neighbor, of course. Enough of this Max, let's go outside."
"When are you-"
"When will I what?"
Max looked taken aback. Her mother never used to be angry with her. Only recently, three months ago, had she become cruel and distant. And she had seemed just fine the other day.
"When are you going to tell him that he's not just here for his parents?" She folded her arms.
Valencia smiled at her daughter. "Soon, honey. Now let's go outside."
The knot in Max's stomach only twisted more.
XXX
The black Lincoln car, with a CSM bumper sticker on the back, pulled up to the curb. The driver, dressed in a blue polo shirt, black vest and jeans, got out of the car, and began unloading the luggage. The backseat car door opened. Max's heart felt like it was about to force its way out of her chest. The person stepped onto the curb.
Her heart stopped.
XXX
Fang's heart stopped as soon as he saw her.
She was the furthest one away from him, but the first to catch his eye. He could've been dreaming. He thought this day would never come for twenty years; but here it was.
She was dressed in a white T-shirt with the faces of all four of the Beatles on it. She wore ripped dark blue skinny jeans, and worn blue Converses. Her tan, white-streaked, freckled wings were extended, but not to their full thirteen feet. She had her arms crossed, and she was looking at him with a mix of sadness, elation, and anger. He didn't know which she felt the most. Her blondish-brown hair had grown long, almost to her waist, and her chocolate brown eyes flared. She was beautiful.
She was Maximum Ride.
But something was wrong. And Fang knew it was because of him.
XXX
He was the furthest one from her. She had deliberately stayed as far away from the curb as her mother would let, but, of course, she was the first one to be noticed by him. Just her luck. She thought she would have had to wait twenty fucking years, but here he was, only three and a half years in.
He wore his usual black ensemble; black t-shirt with no design, black jeans with rips and holes in them, and black Nike sneakers. His jet black wings were fully extended to their fourteen feet. His dark eyes gleamed and his jet black hair blew in the wind. He looked tan as ever. He was handsome, striking as midnight.
He was Fang.
He looked great, rejuvenated; better than she had ever looked in the last three and a half years. Her heart sunk, imagining how much fun he must have had wherever he had gone. Without her.
But she could see it in his eyes; it hadn't been all fun and games.
Something was not right.
XXX
"Fang!" Nudge walked forward, but immediately hung back. She glanced back, as if wanting the Flock's approval. Max nodded solemnly, looking down. Nudge's face broke into a grin, and she ran forward to hug Fang. She threw her arms around him, and he, being his calm and introverted self, patted her lightly on the back. A wave of joy overthrew him as he realized maybe the Flock was somewhat happy to see him again.
"Fang!" she pulled back to examine his face. "Wow. Look at you!"
"Look at you. You've gotten so tall." He smiled.
"Fang! How've you been?" the Gasman ran forward and barreled him into a bear hug. He'd gotten a lot stronger.
"Okay, Gazzy, okay."
Angel stepped forward cautiously. She looked up at him. She was no longer a short, sweet n' evil seven-year-old. She was taller, prettier, and more mature. Less arrogant.
Fang understood her hesitation immediately. She wasn't sure if he hated her or not for getting him pretty much killed three and a half years ago, and partially making him separate with the rest of the Flock.
"It's okay," he said, leaning down and bringing her into a hug. "Hey Angel."
"Hi Fang." Her voice seemed like it was on the verge of breaking. She buried her head in his chest.
Fang looked up. There stood blind Iggy, looking straight into Fang's eyes.
"Iggy."
"Fang."
Iggy bit his lip. Angel separated from Fang. He stood and grasped Iggy's hand. Iggy pulled him into a bear hug more painful than Gazzy's.
"Why'd you leave, Fnick. Why'd you leave…"
Fang shut his eyes.
They separated. And finally, Fang's gaze fell to Dylan. His stomach churned in rage.
"Fang." He didn't sound rude, but polite.
"Dylan." Fang was impassive.
"Nice…nice to see you again."
Fang didn't answer.
Dylan walked forward and held out his hand. Fang looked down at it. He decided not to shake it, but at the last second, did. There was no reason to start anything now. Dylan looked at him head on. Fang's gaze fell first.
"Fang." Doctor Valencia Martinez strode forward and pulled him into a hug. She smelled of lavender. "It's great to see you again." She smiled warmly at him.
"You too, Dr. Martinez. Thanks for everything."
"It's no problem, honey."
The way she said "honey" made Fang's skin crawl.
Finally, Fang's gaze fell back to Max. She was studying her shoe, unaware that everyone was looking at her. Finally she looked up into Fang's eyes. Her eyes said four words to him.
Stay away from me.
Before Fang could walk forward and say hello, she turned her back on everyone and walked back into the CSM headquarters, her hair shining brightly in the wind.
XXX
"Have some more hot dogs, Fang."
"Thanks Nudge."
The entire Flock was together again. After their first greeting in three and a half years, the Flock had filed back into the building, where lunch was served in their mega-suite. All of them, plus Dr. Martinez, sat around the large circular table in the dining room. As it happened, the Flock had an entire floor to themselves, the top floor, in the CSM headquarters. It had everything from bedrooms to a game room to a sauna to an open-air, high ceilinged room where they could fly in their own home.
Fang took two more hot dogs off the plate and set it on his dish. He put ketchup, mustard, and relish all over his hot dogs, then dug in.
"So…Fang…where've you been for the last few years?" Nudge glanced at Max. Max was looking down at her dish, stony-faced, twirling her spaghetti around and around.
"Um," Fang glanced at Max. "New York."
"Cool!" said the Gasman. "I love that place! We should totally go back there!"
"What've you been doing?" asked Iggy.
"Um…working."
"How have you been working, Fang?" asked Dr. Martinez innocently. "I don't think you have a birth certificate or ID, I believe."
Fang's stomach churned. He knew they wouldn't tell, but he didn't want them to know that he had gotten a fake birth certificate, ID, driver's license, and everything else you needed in this world from a Math wiz in Chinatown.
Fang didn't answer. Valencia's brow furrowed, but she let the subject drop.
"What job, Fang?" asked Dylan. Everyone looked at him.
Fang decided not to start anything, and simply answer the question.
"Starbucks."
"The coffee place?" asked Iggy.
'"Mh-hmm."
"Awesome!" said Gazzy, biting into a piece of Iggy's Irish soda bread.
"Who works at Starbucks?" Fang heard a bang, then a set of feet walking down the corridor.
And in stepped Jeb, the Flock's former Father figure.
XXX
Jeb Batchelder smiled as he walked into the dining room, carrying a large bag with a box inside. He had on a white button-down shirt and sandy-colored corduroys. His blondish-brown hair had gone slightly gray. His face had gotten a few wrinkles, but overall he seemed healthy for his age.
"Hey Jeb," said the whole Flock.
Jeb set the box down on a side table, then stood next to Dr. Martinez. They shook hands, and exchanged pleasantries.
Jeb's gaze fell on Fang. He smiled, and walked over to him.
"Fang." They shook hands. "How are you?"
"Good."
"You just got in?"
"Yeah."
"Wonderful. The weather's going to be great all week I hear. Wonderful weather for flying."
Dr. Martinez cleared her throat, and took a sip of water. She raised her eyebrows at him.
"Well, we'll see about flying. So, how have you been?"
Fang was surprised. He didn't expect Jeb to be this courteous and kind.
"Okay. Been keeping busy."
"Wondeful." Jeb knew Fang enough that he wouldn't get much more out of him. He turned and walked towards a chair between Dr. Martinez and Max. He sat and glanced at his daughter. His brow furrowed.
"Are you alright Max-"
That's when she lost it.
XXX
"No, I'm not alright!" She stood up and wiped her face with her napkin.
"Everyone's acting so happy that F-Fang is back! Well, I'm not!" She raised her voice to a yell. "He left! Left us! Left the Flock! He said he would be gone for twenty fucking years!" She pointed her finger at him. He looked straight at her, as if to challenge her. She only got angrier.
"Max, sit down." said Dylan, pulling her down by the hand. She yanked it free, still staring at Fang. Only Fang.
"And now he's back to see his parents! What about Nudge? Gazzy? Angel? Their parents? Huh?" she glanced at Jeb and her mother.
"Max, stop-" Jeb commanded. But noobody could stop her.
"No! I won't stop! Because here he is, barely talking as usual, and everyone is treating him as if he's Sleeping Beauty returning after a hundred years? Are you shitting me?"
"You know what, who gives a fuck about him? Screw him, let him work at Starbucks! He doesn't deserve to be here! He doesn't need to be here! He could've stayed in a friggen hotel or something! He doesn't need to see us, I don't need to see him!" Max's eyes flared. No one stood up. No one stopped her. She never stopped looking at Fang.
"We let him off the hook? Pretend he's our own again? That is shit! He left! He didn't want to be with us! So let him be! Let him go! I'm the leader! We let him go and that's IT! He left ME!" She collapsed in her chair.
She took deep breaths and looked down. She brought her hand to her forehead. But she wasn't done yet.
Max looked back at Fang. "And I hate…I hate…I hate you, Fang. Get out of my life."
With that, she stormed out, leaving everyone behind in awestruck silence.
XXX
Angel spoke first. "Max is just…distraught." Angel looked up at him, with pure kindness in her eyes. She took his hand.
"Thanks Angel. But it's my-"
"She'll be fine, Fang," said Iggy with concern.
"Sometimes she gets like that-" began the Gasman.
"Gazzy!" said Angel.
"She doesn't mean it. Really, she doesn't," consoled Nudge. Her eyes were pleading with Fang to believe her.
"It'll be fine," said Dylan politely.
"I'll deal with her, Fang," said Valencia. Her tone of voice irked Fang.
"Okay." He would never show it, but Fang felt horrible that he had brought Max to that point. He felt horrible that this is what he had made happen. It also make him think that he shouldn't have left…
Jeb took a deep breath. "Well, I guess that ends lunch." As if programmed, everyone stood up and began cleaning up, eager to do something else. Everyone talked to Fang, even Dylan, telling him not to listen to Max. She didn't mean it.
After they cleaned up, the Flock showed him to where he would be sleeping. Along the way, no one could block out the loud, anguished sobs echoing from Max's room.
How was it? I'm not too sure I executed it right. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed and please review! Virtual cookies await you!
(::)
P.S.-There might be a few things that don't seem to be explained, but everything will be explained in the upcoming chapters. Stay tuned! ;)