Chapter 8: Jessica, Tyler and Edward
Max PoV
I walked into the lunch hall and straight away every eye in the room was on me.
"Hey! Max! Over here!" Nudge called to me from the other side of the canteen.
Angel appeared next to me, taking my hand and pulling me through the crowds. I smiled down at her, trying to ignore the stares that I felt boring into me.
"Hey sweetie. How was your morning?" I asked. Jeez. You'd think none of these kids had ever seen a genetically mutated bird kid before.
"It was really good. My teacher's really nice and she says she can't wait to meet you," She laughed at my thought. I grinned back at her.
We sat down at the table. All of the Flock but Fang were there, as well as Edward, Bella, Alice, two other girls and a boy. I smiled at the new people.
"Hi!" I immediately didn't like the girl who spoke. She was short, probably just over five feet, with wild curly black hair. She was far too cheerful and seemed to be assessing me with her eyes. They suddenly went from their evaluation of me to over my shoulder, widening in surprise as Fang materialized behind the seat next to mine.
I was pushed further into my dislike by the way she looked at Fang. Hungrily. Like he was a top designer purse, something to be owned and flaunted.
Fang merely nodded at the table in general and pulled out the seat next to me and slipping silently into it.
"Um, that's Tyler's seat, usually. You can sit next to me if you want," The girl had decided to fall further down the ranks. She was steadily nearing hate as she giggled flirtatiously at Fang, "I'm Jessica by the way," I was suddenly worried.
The emotion was wasted, as Fang didn't seem to hear. He was frowning at his rice pudding as if trying to blow it up with his eyes.
"You know," I teased in a voice too low for a normal human to hear, "If you want to blow it up, you should just ask Ig or Gaz."
He glanced up at my smiling face. His expression vanished to everyone else, but I could still see it in the ever so slight tightening around his eyes.
"What?" Angel suddenly asked, incredulous, "How could you not know?"
Fang shot her warning glare. She turned to me instead.
"Max? How could he not know?"
Ah. So he was still figuring it out. Good to know he's thinking about me.
"I don't know. Now eat your broccoli," I couldn't help smiling as she made a face, "Or no cookies tonight. Same goes for all of you," I included the rest in my mothering. They all started wolfing down their greens. I sat back, satisfied.
You had better have your story flawless by class this afternoon.
What? Why?
Well-
"Excuse me?" The Voice was interrupted. I turned to see a guy standing behind Fang's chair. Fang looked at him, "Um I'm sorry, but that's usually my seat."
The guy's eyes flicked to my face for a millisecond. They came right back and stayed there. He smiled at me. It was a strange smile.
'Max? Fang wouldn't like his thoughts about you. I don't either actually.' I looked at Angel as her sweet voice sounded in my head.
Edward got up, with a disgusted look in guy's direction and went to put his rubbish away.
My eyes went back to the creepy guy's face, then to Fang's.
"We were just about to leave anyway," I said quickly, pulling Fang out of his chair. I turned to go but was stopped by the guy.
"I'm Tyler," He said, "You're in my Spanish class. I'll save you a seat next to me?"
Bella saved me, "Sorry, Tyler. Max is sitting next to us."
I smiled gratefully at her and mouthed a thank you behind Tyler's back.
See, you're making friends already. I jumped, surprised and fell into Fang slightly.
Get Out Of My Head! Do You Have Any Idea How Rude That Is! I practically screamed at The Voice.
There was a crash behind me.
Edward had tripped, sending the contents of his tray flying everywhere. He was not even attempting to get up. He simply sat there, staring at me, mouth open.
"Edward!" Alice and Bella got up and rushed over to him. I started to help pick up the rubbish, but a look from Edward stopped me. It also scared me.
I froze, unable to tear my eyes from his stare. His eyes were gold. They didn't leave my face.
Fang took my hand, his face carefully controlled. He pulled me out to where the kids were running around. I could feel Edward's strange gold eyes on me all the way.
"Hey, Max," Nudge started rambling, "This school does like such good chips! I love chips! Don't you? Hey what happened to the chip that was in your arm? You know how you tried to cut it out. Did it hurt? Your Mom took it out though didn't she? Hey, di-"
She stopped when Iggy kicked her. She turned to him, mouth open, as if to say 'Oh no, you didn't' Then she ran after him. Angel and Gazzy ran after them. Fang led me over to a bench. We sat and watched the kids playing.
This is what childhood's meant to be like, I thought, Not running for your life from scary bird kid eating wolf things. It's my fault too. I should have destroyed the school ages ago.
I felt Fang's hand on my back. His arm slid round me.
"It's not your fault Max," He said so only I could hear, "It's the stupid School's fault."
I gawked at him, "How did you know?"
"I've told you before. I know everything,"
"Angel told you didn't she?" Ha! That wiped the arrogant smirk off his face.
Fang opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by the bell for class.
I walked to Spanish, an hour of promised boredom. We were all practically fluent; Jeb had taught us. Along with French, Italian, German, and Latin. Don't ask.
I walked in and once again every eye in the room was on me. The Tyler guy smiled at me.
I hugged my stuff closer to me and cursed my skirt as his eyes travelled from my face down to my legs, his eyebrows rising appreciatively.
"Hey Max!" Jessica called to me. She was sitting at the back of the class, next to Bella. I smiled at them in relief; well I smiled at Bella in relief, "Angela, can Max sit next to you so we can talk to her?"
"Sure," Angela said. She smiled at me. I liked her almost as much as I disliked Jessica. Almost.
At that moment the teacher walked in and shushed the class.
I sat down next to Angela, behind Bella and Jessica. As soon as the class began, Jessica turned round and the interrogation began.
