Hello. I know I haven't updated in over a month. To be perfectly honest, I totally forgot I was even writing this story until yesterday. I will add this chapter, which I believe is shorter than usual, and then give you a sneak peek at upcoming chapters…
But if I don't get enough reviews telling me what I need to fix or how I should continue, then I'm going to end this story with this chapter. I don't have the time or effort to put into writing this story anymore, unless there's a vast amount of people wanting me to continue. Just a heads-up. And here is chapter 23:
Max POV:
…Let them in…
I opened the door to find four kids piled on top of each other, trying to see through the crack at the bottom of the door. It was quite a sight to see, them looking up at me guiltily, like a child caught taking from a cookie jar. Fang walked up behind me; put his arms around my waist, chuckling softly.
"Come in," I said shortly, still deciding whether to be mad or amused. I was, however, happy to see them become so normal in the short time we've been together. Nudge and Angel sat quietly on my self-proclaimed bed, while Iggy and Gazzy plopped down noisily on Fang's- messing up the neatly folded sheets in the process. I sighed heavily; some things never change. Myself, followed closely by Fang, went to stand in front of the T.V. The younger (or in Iggy's case, less mature,) kids stared intently at me; as if what I was about to say could determine their point of existence.
"So," I began, self-conscious now that I had their full attention. "Tomorrow we're heading back to New York. We'll leave late, like 6 or 7 p.m. That'll give Jeff time to alert the press and whatever else he needs to do. Expect a lot of people taking pictures and asking questions." Nudge squealed in delight, and Angel's eyes widened in excitement. "I want all of you to ignore the paparazzi as best you can. Once we get out of the car, you're not to say a word until we're all safely past security and in my room. No exceptions." Both girls' faces dropped dramatically, but the guys looked relieved. Iggy hated crowds as much as Fang and I, and I know Gazzy's always been a little camera shy. "It's for all of your safety and security. We don't need any stories flying around; I want to keep all of you as secret as possible."
I received various responses; all complying with what I explained was to happen, before continuing. "With the rest of tonight and until tomorrow afternoon, you're free to do as you please." Everyone burst into excited chatter, as I expected. "But!" I added loudly, forcing them to quiet down. "You have to check in here, with me, every forty five minutes. I need to see and hear that you are perfectly fine. We'll start packing up our rooms at five. Meet here to go over flight patterns and eat dinner at four. We will all go down to breakfast at ten tomorrow morning. I expect all of you in bed by ten tonight. That's in two hours. Questions?" I asked, noticing that Nudge looked like she was about to hyperventilate. "Can we go swimming?"
Ah. The dreaded question. In truth, it was possible for them to go swimming without being noticed. I had discovered a way of hiding our wings, and they were totally capable of actually staying afloat. The real issue was if I wanted them to know that I was capable of that. Telling them would result in uncomfortable questions, the answers to which would be even more painful and most likely cause disappointment from them. They didn't know how long I stayed at the school. I never told them about how I gave in…Would they resent me for my weakness?
"Yeah, you all can go swimming. I can hide your wings, just come up here before you head for the pool." Nudge started to speak, no doubt asking how I hid their wings, but I cut her off. "I'll explain it as I go through the process with each of you. Now off to bed!" They all scurried out without further question, leaving me with a confused-looking Fang alone in our hotel room. (not like that sickos!)
"How…?" He asked finally, after several minutes of silence. I sighed again (I've been doing that a lot lately) and gave him a look that said it was difficult to explain. "I was experimented on, at the school." I started, and he cringed at the mention of its name. "They tested a whole bunch of crap on me. I let them," I shifted uncomfortably as I confessed that, hyper-aware that Fang was watching me, most likely concerned and confused at my plight. "You all were dead, from what I knew and saw. There was no point to get out, I had nowhere to go. I had no point in life without my family; without you." A tear fell down my face, but Fang kissed it away before it had a chance to drop, or for any more to follow.
"I know, Max. I get it. I felt the same way when I thought I had lost you. I just can't imagine you letting them test on you willingly- ever." I sunk back on the headboard, exhausted both physically and mentally. Fang followed my example and lazily put his arm around my shoulders; as if it was totally natural for him to show such outward signs of affection. Despite the tense situation, I couldn't help but appreciate how different he acted around me than with anyone else. It made me feel special (AN: ha-ha. Special) I sighed again, wanting just to sit with him in tranquil silence; knowing that I couldn't drop the subject where we just left it. "They did the usual, only ten times more vigorously and frequently. I hated it, but I felt like I deserved it for… you know." He squeezed my shoulders, as if to prove yet again that he really was here with me: alive.
"But everything they did made me improve somehow. Made me faster, stronger, better- it was like I was a robot on auto pilot, learning from what I cold already do. I stayed so long only because they made me feel invincible, like I felt with…with you." I smiled at him, a gesture only half-hearted, before finishing my story "I left when I realized that I was only there to escape the pain of loosing you. I realized that I could do better than that, that you would expect better from me, so I went to New York. The rest is history." Fang hugged me yet again, and I felt a huge weight lift from my shoulders. He accepted me.
"They infused in all of us the ability to hide our wi9ngs. It's painful at first, but after you practice a few times its easy. You're basically folding them into your shoulder blades. It's uncomfortable at first only because we've never utilized the ability.
So concluding chapter 23. Here's a paragraph from a few chapters ahead that I wrote to give you an idea as to where I'll be going with the story:
Max POV:
Fang and I hadn't really talked since we got back to the studio. It was hard going to bed by myself last night. The next day we all sat down for breakfast, and as I reached for the newspaper I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling I had between us. I wasn't even sure why I was avoiding him, or vice versa. However, all of these questions were put on hold as I read the FrontPage headline:
Maximum Ride- back and better than ever! With a new man?
Below the heading was a picture of me getting out of the van upon our arrival, Fang's hand protectively around my waist. So much for lying low and relaxing for awhile…
REVIEW OR I WILL CONCLUDE THIS STORY AS INCOMPLETE!
I'm dead serious. I want reviews if I'm going to continue…
KTHNXBYE,
-Bergatron100