Chapter 36
We studied the new building in Death Valley for weeks, until mid-October, to make sure we had a plan. I had a hard time being so patient but my mom had convinced me if we were going to take them down we had to be solid proof. Iggy implanted bugs on the outside of their building so we could listen in for important information. We flew around the building (within a good distance to see it without being caught). They were talking about a drop off at a cliff. Tomorrow, Mr. Chu was going down.
I was in the convenient store talking to Mela because I knew our house line wasn't safe. "They mentioned that the cliff overlooks the ocean and is surrounded by forest so they can't be seen. Mr. Chu and Brigid will be there for sure. We're following them from the Death Valley building." Mela and a few other kids from SAFETY had made their way and were staying at a hotel waiting for my command.
I secretly hoped to see the scientist with the black hair and cold eyes. I felt as if I had seen him before. "What time?" Mela was prepared to get revenge like the others. I was prepared to get this whole saving the world over. I leaned against the phone booth and observed the room making sure no one else could hear my whispers. When I heard beeping I grabbed another dime and slip it into the slot for the fifth or sixth time.
"May be a trap," I warned her. Most likely this call was being traced or bugged. The kid behind the cash register was looking at me every now and then. He had shaggy brown hair and intense green eyes. He was kind of cute. "We'll be at the safe house. Meet us there as soon as possible. You know where it is."
Then I hung up and went to the only worker in the entire store. "Why do you keep staring at me?" The kid lifted his head from the comic book he was reading. He was about my age from the looks of it. I witnessed as he blushed.
"Um," he murmured looking me up and down. I narrowed my eyes, disliking him already. He was nothing like Fang but watched as he stared at me brought the heartbreaker to mind. But I'm fine- no worries- I shed all the tears I had for him and I've moved on. "You're really cute and you come in almost every day. You're Maximum Ride aren't you?"
I sighed, stupid publicity thing that Fang had dragged us into. Now everyone knew who I was. "No, I'm not," but he didn't believe me, "Seriously, I'm nobody worth wasting time over." I turned to head towards the door, smacking the counter with my hand. I heard him scramble to stand up. I pushed open the glass door and the bell rang as it always did to my annoyance. I hated that I was feeling sorry for myself. It was real pathetic.
"Wait," the cashier called out. I stopped and turned around. He leaned over the counter so he could see me and I almost laughed at how ridiculous he looked. "Where's your boyfriend?" I guess he had been there the first day, the only time Fang came with me. I hadn't noticed him before.
I frowned and glared at him, the cashier guy I mean. He was honestly curious, just making normal conversation even though he saw the wings on my back. "He's not my boyfriend." Fang and I never did talk about what we were. To me, he felt like something more than a boyfriend but don't expect me to say that out loud. "He never was."
I saw the questions on the cashier's face. Before he could say anything I raised a hand to shut him up. I saw his name tag on his shirt, it read Bobby Greene.
"Don't bother, I don't get it either."
Flying home, I saw the flock resting on the front porch. Iggy and Ella were holding hands and occasionally kissing. Gazzy was playing with a Tonk truck as Nudge comber her hair. My mom sat in a chair with Total watching the sky for me. Fang was sitting on the steps, he was looking down at his hands.
I hated that my heart sped up in hope that Fang had changed his mind. My brain was scolding me for being so stupid. I landed there to see everyone else smiling sadly at me. Was I that obviously hurt?
The past two weeks had really affected everyone. I don't know if I could handle living here with all the tension between Fang and me. But, if the flock wanted this, I would deal.
"Mela is on her way," I informed them. I wasn't going to tell them that I had called the hospital and Jeb hadn't picked up. He may have been really tired and didn't hear the phone ring.
Oh, who was I kidding? I was panicking.
Just then I heard the crunch of wheels on our gravel driveway. I turned with my fists in the air ready to kill any M-Geek that jumped out of the blue van that was now in my view. The side door flung open and I witnessed my entire world come back together.
Blonde curls.
Blue eyes.
Wide smile.
Bear with wings in hand.
White wings.
My baby.
My Angel.
I ran towards her as Jeb stepped out of the car as well. She was alive. She was all right. "Max?" Angel seemed worried when my tears hit her shoulder. My arms wrapped around her and I lifted her in the air. She was so fragile and surreal at the moment. "What's wrong?" She was asking me and I wondered why. And that's when I remembered. Angel couldn't read minds anymore.
I wiped my eyes as I put her back down on the ground. "We have a room for you but Ari's using it." She smiled up at me and as if she could still read my mind, she fluttered her wings so she went a few inches in the sky. She could still fly. "Ready to fight tomorrow?" She seemed as strong and ready as any day. I didn't want her fighting but she would want as much a part in this like the rest of us.
She smiled wide and nodded her head. "I'm ready Max but I don't think Ari needs my room anymore." Her eyes stared around me and I heard small footsteps behind me. I spun on my heels and there he stood.
Ari, in the white clothes from the prison still, walked towards me and tripped. I easily caught him in my arms and hugged him, my brother. "I heard your thoughts. I figured you might need me." He wrapped shaking arms around my neck. I watched as Angel ran to the flock and began to hug them. Ari had walked past them to me. It was as if he was the Eraser Ari still, the copy of his DNA trained to kill us, and not the innocent seven-year-old boy that he was.
"Ari!" I heard Jeb and I backed off. Jeb was smiling wide as he wrapped his arms around his son. Ari hugged him just as lovingly and strong as when he hugged me. "Why did you make me leave Ari? I would've taken you?"
"I'm sorry Daddy," he whispered. I had never seen Ari act like the child that he was. I wondered how he was handling the world, so large for him now and possibly scary. I saw real tears in Jeb's face. "I missed you," Jeb whispered.
Suddenly, Angel was tugging at my hand and my feathers. "Max," she motioned that I should let her whisper in her ear. I bent down beside her and she cupped her hands around my ear and whispered, "Are you and Fang in a fight?"
Good, five minutes and I had him out of my head. I stared at Angel as she innocently waited. I shook my head, "It's too complicated sweetie." She pouted, wishing she could read my mind. I was kind of grateful that she couldn't at the moment. Fang's harsh words were replaying in my head. Angel crossed her arms and stared at me. I sighed.
"We can't worry about this now, Angel. We've got a world to save tomorrow."