Chapter 33

At dinner, we decided to talk about normal things. It was great, wonderful, and refreshing. The table was actually big enough to fit all of us bird kids along with Total, Ella, and my mom. We planned the future. You know- the one after I save the world.

My mom asked us what our names would be…our fake names until people realized we were the flying bird kids. She wanted to know what names we would have if we went back to school, which was totally up to us.

Even I said that would be cool.

Maximum Ride- hero of the world?

No, regular student with wings.

I asked to be Max Martinez, just so people would know that Ella and I were sisters. My mom smiled and said that'd be nice.

Gazzy asked to be Captain Underpants. I found that a very suitable name and warning for anyone who might ask but my mom rolled her eyes. "No," she replied, "Real sounding names." So Gazzy went with Clark Kent, we figured that there was at least one other kid out there with that name.

Iggy wanted something really cool to "impress the ladies" as he put it. I remember this part of dinner because I was drinking water when he said that and I'm afraid to say that some of that water found its way out my nose. I swear he was going to say James Bond after he pulled out that first line. Instead, he chose Ian but just as he was thinking of a last name, Gazzy suggested Kent for him too. So, Iggy went with that just so he could be Gazzy's big brother. Believe it or not, they could be sort of related, except Iggy's eyes were a lot brighter and his hair even blonder than Gazzy or Angel.

Nudge, well, she enjoyed this the most. She went through several names for about five minutes switching between Monique and Chantal. I had to stuff my mouth with food not to rush her because she was smiling and being Nudge again. Her mind was off of Angel for the moment and I didn't want to interrupt that. Finally, she decided her name would be Monique Chantal Locke. It suited her, there were a lot of syllables to be said in that name.

Fang, well, he didn't get to chose. Everyone just said his name would be Nick as usual. And then, when it came to last names, I suggest Jonas as a joke. Fang sent me an I-will-kill-you look for that. I gave a triumphant smile when everyone started laughing and decided without his permission that would be his name. So, America, you now have a second Nick Jonas…and one of them is very displeased about it.

Angel would pick her name when she got back to us, which I prayed with all of my heart would be soon.

I was in the kitchen then, helping my mom with the dishes. Everyone else was getting settled in whereas I was smart enough to know that I needed to remain packed. Once this was over, this could be my house but until then, I had to get ready to move.

My mom and I made a pretty good team. She washed and I dried. She passed me a plate and smiled at me, "You seem pretty all right Max, for being captured and then escaping two days ago."

I gave her a smile as I dried the plate with a blue towel and placed it on the rack. "That's me, Maximum Ride, pretty all right is my motto." My mother smiled as she handed me a bowl. "Thanks for everything Mom, you don't have to take care of us. The flock and I, we always manage to get by."

Her brown eyes glared at me, "Max, there's more to life than always getting by. Wouldn't you like worrying about normal things? School, Homework, Boys," she trailed off on the boy part which made me nervous. I didn't look up at her like she wanted. Instead, I continued drying the bowl. I failed to notice that the bowl was already dry.

"Maximum Ride," my mother started to scold me so I stared up at her. She sighed and gave me a smile. She then shook her head, "Never mind. You're happy and not stupid." I blushed wondering how much she knew. She couldn't have known about last night which was still replaying in my head. I was glad no one here could read my mind.

We finished the last of the dishes. I handed her the towel so she could dry her hands. "Mom," she stared up at me, "Do you really want all of us because I have to warn you now, it's the flock or no flock. And I'm in the flock."

She gave me a smile, "I always knew that about you. I chose the flock Max because I would like to be a part of your family. This isn't about you joining mine. It's the other way around." She was right after all. There's nothing closer of a family than my flock. We had our ups and downs but very few could join us. It takes a lot to have a new member. Total was probably the most successful out of them all because he was always with us now.

"Goodnight," I hugged her, so thankful for all that she did and will do. No one had ever promised me the whole world (a kind that I didn't have to save). She was offering me the happiness that I always wanted.

"Night Max," she whispered back. Then, I was heading upstairs towards my room. I was about to open the door to my room when I looked at the door on the wall to my right. I went there first.

He had the lights on, he was shirtless and laying on his stomach on the bed across the room from me. He had opened the window lightly to give a breeze. Fang looked up and saw me, giving me a quick, small smile that he was known for. My eyes observed scars on his back, ones much older than all the rest. They went back to the School. I could tell.

I watched as he tossed a paper into the corner. I looked at it quickly before looking back at him. Fang just shrugged. I stared at him, "How are you going to sleep with the lights on?" I shut the lights before he could respond. The moon was shining through the window so I could see enough.

I slipped off the jeans and tee shirt I had changed into when I got here. I threw out the white clothes of the prison. I made my way over to him. He moved over in his bed so he was leaning against the wall. I lay down. "Don't you want to spend the first night in your room?" He whispered although the way he pulled me up against him suggested he didn't want me to go to my room.

I loved my room. It had blue walls and a bed right by the window, sort of the way like Fang's was. I had a bookcase and a dresser. There was a desk too. Everyone's room was pretty much the same in general though.

Fang's room was dark green and his comforter a dark blue. It fit him perfectly.

I nuzzled my head into his shoulder and he laughed, "I just want to be with you." I took in a deep breath of him. He smelled of cologne. I wondered if it was the same kind Gazzy and Iggy had found and decided it would make them seem older if they doused themselves in it.

I reached my hand under Fang's arm and traced the scars on his back. I felt him go rigid and stare at me. "They're from the School are they?" I felt him shiver at the name before shutting his eyes and slowly nodding his head.

"Max," he begged. "I-" I kissed him so he didn't have to say anything else. He didn't want to talk about it, just like I didn't want to talk about Angel. Still, I wondered how he ended up with those scars.

I remembered the School, as much as I didn't want to. Fang shared a cage right near mine. He never spoke, not once. The scientists that came for me and the rest of the flock never came for Fang. Another man did someone who never spoke but I don't recall his face.

When Jeb released me, he started working on the rest of the flock. I went to unlock Fang's cage when Jeb told me not to. I recalled staring through the fence to see him curled up in the dark corner with his black wings protecting him. "He's one of us." I responded. I opened the cage and I had to coax him out. He couldn't talk. Jeb had taught the rest of us but not him. It would take living at the house with Jeb that Fang finally started speaking.

"Max?" He asked, placing his forehead against mine. A breeze blew in through the window and soothed me. Autumn was on its way. I blinked and stared up at him. There was always something different about Fang. It had been there from the beginning. I just couldn't exactly say what.

"Hmm?" I asked. I lay on my side facing him and vice versa. He had one hand on my waist and the other was playing with my hair. One of his large black wings extended over us and kept us protected.

"Are you all done with your nightmares?" He asked. He felt warm as my hands traced the scar. The color was paler than the rest of his skin and drew across his chest. I thought about his question. I had slept through the day into the night after escaping. When I woke up, him and I- well, yeah. Brigid had said two nights.

"One more night," I whispered. He frowned at that but didn't say anything else. "Do you like the idea of living here, after all of this?"

He smiled, "Normal would be different. Interesting, too. And if it means, more nights like this then, I'm always okay with that." I smiled back at him. And then he frowned, "But what is with the name?" He moaned and I started laughing. He pulled me in closer and messed up my hair with his hand.

Playing along I asked quietly, "How-um-did you get the-" He seemed to understand what I was talking about. The thing that made sure babies didn't happen.

"As a joke, Iggy gave me a pack after you kissed me on the submarine." I rolled my eyes. Iggy would do that.

"Oh," I blushed and laughed at the same time."Fang?" He released me a bit so I could see him. "I don't feel like falling asleep with the nightmares, not yet."

My feet intertwined with his and he smiled. "You're cold," he whispered. He kissed my neck just to tease me. "I can fix that," he murmured into my ear. I laughed and he raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure about that?" He nodded his head as he kissed me fully this time.