Just so you guys know, max has already gotten dressed, showered (not necessarily in that order, but you know what I mean:] )
just making sure that was clear!

So here's to the awesome reviewers! (not that the rest of you aren't awesome…you'd just be even MORE awesome if you reviewed!!! :D )

anyhoo, here's chapter 9 for ya!

A/N: the little mini-micro-rant max does about algebra... yeah that's a little shout-out from me... i HATE algebra... even though i'm in advanced... algebra is just... gahh! i hate it!! plus, it keeps me from writing and being on here!!! what's with that, i ask you???? anyway....

…REVIEWS ARE LOVED AND APPRECIATED!!...

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When I sat down at the breakfast table (yes! It's true! Maximum Ride is eating a traditional Continental breakfast! Will wonders ever cease?), all the conversation stopped.
At least they acknowledge my presence, right? Iggy winked at me. "Tut, tut. Sleeping coed, are we, Max? Our first night here and you're already breaking the rules."

I felt Fang's gaze turn to me, but I couldn't meet his eyes. "Yep, and rules won't be the only thing I break if you don't shut up, Iggy."

He raised his hands in a surrendering gesture. "Hey, don't let me cramp your style. I'm just a blind birdkid."

I rolled my eyes at him.

"She's rolling her eyes, Ig." Fang told him.

Iggy stuck his tongue out at me and I threw my muffin at him, much to the amusement of the rest of the flock (not so much Iggy). And with that, the chattering
conversation started again.

Ella, who was sitting next to me, elbowed me on the ribs. "Thank him," she whispered to me, making bobbing head gestures towards Fang. Thanks, Ella. Real subtle.

I gritted my teeth together. "Later, Ella."

She just grinned at me. "I'll be waiting."

I rolled my eyes, and gazed around the table. Nudge was explaining something, using elaborate hand gestures and lots of squealing; Angel was helping Total and

herself to more bacon, while Total rubbed his paws together, grinning greedily; Gazzy was trying to see how fast he could chug his orange juice (it was pretty fast.

We birdkids don't mess around when it comes to orange juice); Iggy was feeling different objects that Ella handed him, like the cereal boxes, milk cartons, and

Gazzy's tongue (that girl is one little devil, I tell you.); Mom was at the stove, frying more bacon and eggs; and Fang was chewing thoughtfully, while watching the

others' antics. It took me a second before I figured out that was exactly what I was doing too. I sighed. Sometimes I wish we could just stay like this, all together, a family, happy…

I was brought out of my thoughts when I heard a loud crash! came from upstairs.

I pushed back my chair and ran up to the bedrooms, Fang hot on my heels, and the rest of the flock behind him. I reached the room where the sound came from (it happened to be the guys' room), and tried the handle. It

was locked. I launched a kick at it, and it broke with a splintering crack, showering everyone in chunks of door. Oops. Sorry, guys. So much for privacy.

We resumed our fighting positions and burst into the room. When I saw what had happened, I couldn't help myself. I gasped. On each of the beds where Gazzy, Iggy, and Fang had been sleeping just half an hour ago, lay

huge chunks of plaster, which had fallen from the ceiling. Oh my…

I looked at Fang, who was staring at the scene in disbelief--well, the Fang version of disbelief. Miniscule widening of the eyes, mouth slightly parted—and mouthed Itex. He nodded and we pulled the kids away from the

bedroom, and every one except me, Iggy, and Fang went to their rooms to pack. We couldn't put Mom and Ella in danger. The three of us told Mom we'd back in half an hour, grabbed our jackets, and hit the wind. We landed

about a mile away, and after coming to a running stop, Iggy's sightless eyes were directed at Fang and I knowingly. "Itex, huh?"

I sighed. "We think. We honestly don't know for sure. We don't even know it was them who planted that bomb at the diner."

Fang nodded slowly. "I guess that's our plan, then."

Iggy wrinkled his nose. "More action, man? I thought you wanted to settle down somewhere."

I sighed. "Just for the record, if we ever do settle down, I'd like to be able to not worry about our lives being in danger every second of the day."

Fang folded his arms across his broad chest. "I'm with Max."

Iggy sighed. "Oh, fine. So, where to, Captain?"

I groaned. "That's the problem. The voice is still MIA. I don't know when it's coming back…or if it's coming back at all."

Fang ran his hands through his longish dark hair. "Well, that's helpful. They couldn't even give us a hint? No, that'd be too easy…"

Iggy and I exchanged looks—or in Iggy's case, direction of looks.

"Um, Fang? There is another option," I reminded him.

Fang's jaw tightened. "No, Max. No way."

Iggy groaned. "Come on, dude. It'll just be for like half an hour. It's totally worth it if we can get any information."

"Yeah," I agreed. "And you know that Jeb isn't my favorite person either, Fang. But you don't see me whining about it."

Fang smirked. "Right. You just threaten his authority and mock him to his face every chance you get."

Iggy made a face. "Can we please reach a decision here so I can go home? I could make a list of reasons why staying here is a baaaad idea."

I sighed. "You're right, Ig."

Fang turned away from us. "I'm not going to Jeb for help." I heard him say determinedly.

"Fine," I snapped. "I will."

"Reason number one," Iggy recited. "By staying here, we're just putting Max's mom and Ella in more danger-"

"Max," Fang growled. "You can't go there alone."

"Yes," I said, stepping forward. "I can." Uh oh. This is starting to sound familiar.

"-Reason number 2," Iggy continued. "I still have to pack-"

"Max," Fang said again. "I'm asking you, please do not go there."

"Fang," I said, leveling his gaze. "That's not a question, and I'm telling you that I'm the leader and I'll go if I want to."

"Reason number three: I'm freezing my freaking wings off, and even though listening to your lovers' quarrels is extremely amusing, I-"

"Shut up, Iggy!" Fang and I yelled at the same time.

He sniffed and blew on his hands to warm them up. "Fine. But I'm heading back to the house." And with that, he took off and flew back towards the house, shivering. (And in case you're not familiar with mutant math, here's what we have so far: one birdgirl plus two birdboys equals three birdkids. Three birdkids minus one birdboy equals one grumpy birdgirl and one grumpy birdboy. All in all, we end up with two birdkids. Really, I don't know why schools never add this to their curriculum. It makes so much more sense than the crap called algebra they tried to teach me... )

I rolled my eyes. "He's a soldier."

Fang gave me a ghost of a smile, then sighed. "Why do we always fight about this, Max?"

I closed my eyes and leaned against a tree. "I don't know…I don't like it though…"

"Me, too." Fang agreed, coming over to stand in front of me, resting his arm on the trunk above my head. I tried to ignore how close his face was to mine…

"Max," he said slowly. "If you want to go to Jeb, that's-" He gritted his teeth. "-That's…alright with me. You're the one in charge, I'm just second in command."

I opened my eyes to smile at him. "And don't you forget it."

He smiled back, and leaned in closer, so that our foreheads were touching. "I won't." And then, so quick I wasn't sure if it actually happened, he kissed my cheek.

My face started burning and I looked down. I hate all this mushy, touchy-feely stuff. But when I dared to glance back up at him, his intent gaze caught mine immediately.

"What?" I asked defensively. Did I have some food on my face that no one bothered to tell me about? Did I have a huge zit? Was there a-

"You didn't run away," Fang said, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

I looked down again, embarrassed. "Oh. Well, if you really want me too…"

Fang grinned. "No, I have a better idea."

"Wha-" I started to say, but was cut off when Fang's mouth landed on mine. Oh. My. Freaking. Hark. This was amazing. It was terrible, but amazing at the
same time. Wait a second, I told myself. This is not cool. Me and Fang? This would never work. But my body had a different idea. I mean, seriously. Who listens to their
brains anymore? And you know I'm never one to be left behind on a fashion trend… Okay, seriously, what am I do-

Hello, Max.

The Voice was back.