Sweetness

Iggy walked beside Ella, his arm draped over her shoulder. Her black hair smelled of coconut and her breath of bubblegum. She rested her head on his chest lightly without falling over.

He held her close.

He couldn't let go.

"Are you listening?" She asked and he gave her a light smile. He liked seeing her face.

Black tendrils of hair along perfectly curved cheeks.

Red lips so amazing to kiss.

Round brown eyes of curiosity glaring up at him.

"I love it when you're angry at me," he kissed the top of her head. At first, he was a freak walking down this halls but now, he was invisible. Ironically, no one could see him.

Ella grumbled something under her breath.

"All right, I'm listening." He told her.

They arrived at her locker and he placed her in front of it. Her back leaned against the purple locker that matched their school's color.

They were the Knights.

He wished they were the hawks or falcons.

They had bird kids after all.

"What happened between Fang and Max?" Ella asked, her eyes were on Max holding hands with Bobby Greene. "I mean, Bobby's a great guy and all, but he's not who belongs with Max."

Iggy narrowed his eyes at the two. "Listen, Ells, I don't know much about it. Sure, Fang's my best friend but I think you should've picked up by now that Fang is not the talkative kind of guy."

Ella frowned and crossed her arms, "Well, what do you know?" Iggy gave a smile and placed his hands over her head.

"Do you really want to know?" He had leaned in now, his lips teasing her and sinking into sweet uncertainty.

"Yes," she replied back, keeping her eyes on his icy blue.

"Well, remember when Max was kidnapped?" Ella nodded her head, "After we got her back, I got my sight back remember?" Ella again nodded her head, remembering. "First thing I see? You really want to know?"

"Of course," Ella replied, hoping it wasn't bad but he was amused by this, remembering it with every detail probably.

"I went to tell Fang, my best friend naturally. I walk in on Fang and Max and they are starch naked. Completely nude and a little sweaty." Ella's mouth dropped opened. Max had never said anything like that. "After that they were closer and happier but it wasn't enough."

"Why?" Ella hated this, Max and Fang not together especially after something like that.

Iggy shrugged, "Angel almost died, Max had to save the world, and you know Fang." Just then, Ella watched as he walked by, dark and surrounded by girls he didn't look at once let alone twice. "He never thinks he's good enough. He's got some secrets that go as far back as the School. Why he's quieter than the rest of us, the secrets he holds. Almost told me once."

"I need you to do something for me," Ella answered. Iggy, thinking she had moved on to another subject, kissed her light and grinned.

"So tell me what I need to do. I am at your command." Ella allowed him a kiss for that.

"Find out what happened," she placed her hand on Iggy's pale skin. His eyes saw she was serious. "Find out Fang's secrets. Please tell me you agree that they need to be together."

Iggy frowned, "I don't think we should meddle. Fang and Max always end up back together. It's what they do. They get together, break up, get together, and so on."

"Have they been separated for longer than a year before?" Ella asked just as the school bell rang. They had to get to class.

"Fine, I'll try," he told her just as they separated.

Because Ella was right.

Max and Fang might never be together again if they hadn't gotten together by now.

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Song is "Sweetness" by Jimmy Eat World

Next one is "Used To" by Daughtry

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Used To

We used to have this figured out.

Fang and I, we fit.

We were perfect.

Notice that all of that is past tense.

I walked along the road, I refused to take the bus. Bobby had offered to drive and I rejected that. I couldn't fly because I didn't want to anymore. I didn't want these stupid wings. Suddenly, I understood why Nudge wanted to get rid of hers.

The road is actually dirt, if you can believe that. Before, Ella would go to the school in the city but she asked to transfer to small town high to go with me. She was my best friend and she didn't even know what was going on.

I look around and I want Fang to be there.

God look at me, I never use to be this much of a sad, pathetic loser before.

Maybe because back then I had to worry about being a hero.

The walk is only fifteen minutes so I don't mind that my messenger bag is digging into my shoulder. I've dealt with worse.

Country life is nice I suppose. Especially when no one is chasing you.

I can hear the rustle of birds and animals but my instincts are telling me they're something else. M-Geeks, Erasers, Flyboys or maybe just another scientist wanting to use me in their taking over the world plot.

Hey, maybe it was Brigid, red-haired traitor of my past. I'd like to see her again. I'd give her butt a good kicking. And maybe, for old times sake, I'd be a little nice and not hit her face.

I find that I can breathe without a doubt now. No one needs Maximum Ride anymore to save the world. It's interesting, once having a life where you had no choice to now having all the possibilities in the world.

Maybe I'd be a chemist.

Or an astronaut.

I could be a writer.

Or an actress.

Well, maybe not an actress. But a stunt double would be pretty cool.

After I saved the world, the media had pounded us for a few months but my mom, who is the coolest, told them no. Good thing to because I was in no shape to talk to anyone.

I know what you're thinking. Poor Max, without Fang and wounded.

Puh-leaze, like I needed him.

All right so maybe I did.

I look around me and I want him to be there…all the time.

I wanted to kill him and kiss him at the same time.

But this was stronger than any of the times before because I had him once.

I had tasted him.

I had held him.

I had loved him.

Look around me, it's empty and I'm sad because I miss that love that we had.

I stopped to lean against the fence.

Alone, no cars or buses or people would ever pass by me here.

My shoulders hunched and my wings dropped. I covered my face and cried knowing here was the only safe place to do it. I couldn't cry in my room. The reason for these tears would hear me.

That's when someone stepped out of the woods and placed a hand on my shoulder. I stood up and backed away, shaking and afraid.

Blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail tucked underneath a red baseball hat, a yellow tank top, and ruined jeans. Wings beautiful and perfect like Angel's, white and heavenly.

Her blue eyes stared at me, "Max? Listen I came here to warn you." I took a step away from her. Mela, I had saved her from New York and then the prison Mr. Chu had in Arizona. I had left her at the SAFETY, where mutant kids like me hid if they had nowhere else to go.

I was scared to see her. She was brining along a lot of the past that hadn't been buried quite yet. "Max, I know what you've been though. I was warned that you weren't able to do this but you're the only one who can do it."

Can we get this back? No, I didn't want the past, even if it brought Fang back or made me sane again. I wanted this life with simple worries like what color dress I was going to wear to the Homecoming Dance. That was much nicer.

"You're safe for now, but be prepared Max, she's looking for you." Mela held her arms and shivered. "You and Fang and the rest of you. She's not out to keep you alive either."

"Who Mela?" I whispered knowing full well who she meant.

"Brigid," and then Mela took flight and flew away. Her message delivered and her score settled. She, in some way, had given me time.

Goodbye normal life, welcome old, scary life with a different twist.