Brat Pack

First, I was extremely disappointed because my flock found out I was going to a party. Ella and Iggy weren't even aware of it which made my mom nervous.

I wore the typical jeans and a blue shirt with a windbreaker Nudge had made for me. I waited for Bobby in the kitchen, complete with the works fit for six bird kids, two humans, and a talking dog.

"Max, I can't believe you get to go to a party!" Nudge slumped in the chair that was set up at the island. Her hair pulled back. She wore a Nudge original which is all she ever wore since she was free of saving the world and had time to make new clothes.

"I'm jealous," Angel said leaning over a piece of homework she had gotten. For once, she was stumped because she couldn't see the answers in her classmates' heads. I sat on her hand a long scar that Brigid had made. I grinded my teeth knowing that the red-headed traitor was still out there. I might be crazy but I knew she was still alive. She had run from the fight, the coward.

"You're on another date Max?" Gazzy made a face before turning towards his new bomb experiment.

"Gazzy," I warned him. "Do that outside. Remember the last explosion?" I felt good, real good, Maximum Ride good. I could save another world good.

Iggy was laughing beside me, "Now, I'm not going cause I wasn't invited but, if I were you," he nodded his head towards Fang who was sitting in the living room watching the television. "I'd expect an uninvited guest."

Then, I was back to broken Max, going to have another mental break down Max. I hated that just the sight of him could do that to me. I gotta admit sometimes it's pretty sad.

"I'm not worried," I whispered looking up at the clock. Bobby should be here soon. I ran a hand nervously through my hair. This would be my first time with just Bobby and his friends at a party. This would be my first time at a party.

I looked at my flock.

Sometimes, it's like we're our own brat pack.

Then, I heard a horn honk.

Angel and Nudge squealed in excitement for me because to them it was a sign that I was all right if I was going on a date.

Ella and Iggy waved goodbye.

Gazzy set off a little spark on his machine and then smiled up at me.

I walked to the front door.

And not once did I look at the living room where he sat.

"Cause I don't want to get stuck in here, you know?" Bobby sat beside me and I watched as a large group of kids were dancing to the radio of someone's car. We were in the forest by a lake. A few had gone off to skinny dip.

It took Bobby some convincing that I wasn't going to do that.

He had a beer in his hand.

He was a little wasted.

Which was fine with me, because I could handle him if he got out of control.

"When I am thirty four, I don't want to be talking about high school years. I've hated this town." I nodded my head not really listened. We sat on a log by the campfire.

Someone turned off the radio and a few kids stepped into the light of the fire with instruments. They began some song. One screamed into the mike, "Say oh oh get on the floor. Dance till you got no more."

"Max?" Bobby slurred my name a bit.

"Hmm?" I asked, wondering what fun was in sitting here while listening to someone complain? It was normal though. Normal, I needed to focus on that.

Bobby placed his hand on my leg and I smacked it. He pulled away and growled. I don't care if I'm Maximum Ride or not, nobody can take that. Bobby shook his hand, "Fuck," he yelled. I noticed a few people stared. "You weren't like that with Fang."

I stood up and stared at him, "You don't know anything about that!" My hands curled into fists. How did he know? Nobody could've told him.

I went to storm off into the woods but Bobby followed me. He grabbed my wrist and made me turn. I backed off and held up my fists. "I always love fighting a good fight, Bobby. Don't think I'm lying."

I heard the band in the background, "This ain't where it's at. My friends will second that." Bobby eyes were harsher now. His shaggy brown hair stuck up in patches that made him look crazy

"Just tell me how you know," I told him, "And I won't kick your sorry, skinny, conceded ass back to last week Bobby." I was ready to drop my windbreaker and fly off.

He knew what I was referring too.

I saw his eyes light up.

"Who do you think told me?"

Fang would never, I thought.

"What did he say?" I demanded.

"Enough to know he wasn't lying," Bobby suggested. I dropped my fists and shook my head. Bobby stepped closer to me, "I'm sorry." He placed a hand on my shoulder.

That's when I through an up cut punch right into his stomach. I heard him loose his breath as he dropped to the ground. I don't care if he's human and I have super bird-kid strength. He was asking for it.

I ran off until I made it safely down the street.

I looked up at the stars. Only in the country like this do you realize how small you are. There are so many stars, so many. I wonder how many of them had Maximum Rides (I know, you can't really live on stars blah, blah, blah).

I hugged my arms, feeling sorry for myself.

But what do you expect me to do? Smile?

No and I had my reasons.

I saved the world and in result three people died very close to me.

I had a mental breakdown just last week and another felt like coming right about now.

Fang didn't love me, he broke up with me and hurt me.

I wanted him back even though he didn't want me back.

I let out a sigh. So much for the wonderful, amazing, super hero Maximum Ride everyone though I was.

Then, a car pulled up along side me.

Iggy was right after all.

"Come on Max," he pleaded.

I looked over, I should've known better.

-----------

Song is "Brat Pack" by Rocket Summer.

Next is "Five Minutes to Midnight" by Boys Like Girls.

Lovers of Fax, don't get your hopes up…just yet. Sorry, but it has to be this way.

-----------

Five Minutes to Midnight

Max is beautiful when she's angry Fang admitted as he pulled up the car Dr. Martinez let him borrow. Her eyes narrowed. Brown eyes that made his lungs fill up with smoke.

It's time to roll down the windows. She has her arms crossed to protect herself. "Give it up Max, it's five minutes to midnight." She stopped in her place.

Shocked she looked down at her watch while Fang took the moment to swing open the passenger door. She had taken longer than she planned and he knew it.

"You're coming home with me tonight," he called. Dr. Martinez wouldn't have let him go if Max wasn't going to be late for curfew.

She slid into the seat and took off her windbreaker. She shook out her wings. "We'll make the clock stop, don't worry, we'll get there in time."

He drove her back to their home. All the lights turned out so now all he could see was lit by the headlights of the car. "Let's head inside.

Max shook her head, "I don't want to go back, not just yet." Fang raised an eyebrow and stared at her. She had her head turned towards the window and was staring outside.

"Will you find another party, go and kiss and tell?" He joked, his hands on the steering wheel. Now, her eyes darted to glare at him.

"No, I figured that's what you'd be doing." Fang's mouth dropped open in shock. What was she talking about? "Bobby knew Fang, about us. Who do you think told him?"

"Max, I can't even stand the guy, why would I tell him about you and I? I never told a soul. You don't even know how important that is to me." He hit the steering wheel and accidentally set off the horn for one quick blare.

Max bit her lip but he heard the question that passed across her face. If it was so important to you then why did you break it off? He wished he had the courage to show her the list.

She leaned forward a bit, and he could see the slits in her shirt where her wings could stick out. He saw the skin on her back, a little of the space between her wings. He had kissed that spot with his lips before he screwed it all up.

Then, Max slid over and pressed her lips against his. He could tell she had been upset. She wasn't crying but he sensed she was close to it. Her tears were there on her lips if it made sense.

Instantly, he placed his hands just under the hem of her shirt. He shut his eyes and kissed her. He closed his eyes and felt the excitement of his skin touching hers again.

He loved her.

He could never get enough of her.

She seemed to know this and pressed more against him. Her hands found the strands of his dark hair and wrapped in them. She tasted sweet and amazing. Her hair smelled of strawberry, her favorite shampoo as he remembered. One of his hands went up to her face, to push her hair aside.

Knowing what he was doing, she lifted her neck so he could easily lean up and kiss her. He was weak and she was his medicine. One year without this, without Max. He kissed her jaw and she smiled when she realized he was teasing her.

Eventually, he was kissing her mouth again. Her lips parting. At first, his memories came to him, flashing in front of the darkness of his mind.

Max's eyes told him everything, she was ready for this. So he took her in his arms and slowly, removed her clothes. Their lips barely parting, if only for a second or two. That first time.

And then:

He laid on his stomach in silence. She walked in and he stared over his shoulders at her. For the first time, her eyes saw his back in the light and found the scars that had almost killed him when he was a child. Then, she turned off the lights and he heard her remove her clothing before slipping in next to him. He threw the crumbled note against the wall, ignoring it for the moment, feeling that it was false.

Fang opened his eyes and remembered just then the note. As much as the kissing was everything to him, he managed to stop her. "Max," his breathing was out of control and so was hers. He removed the hand that had inched up the inside of her shirt. He couldn't deny how badly he wanted this. She noticed it too.

Max leaned in again to try and change his mind. She was always good at that. He sat up straighter and turned away from her, "I need you more than just for tonight."

There it was, the unmistakable Maximum Ride anger. She narrowed her eyes, "You know you wanna just let go." Fang couldn't afford that, he couldn't risk her life. "Fang, I knew you were lying!" She hit his arm, "But I want to know what you're lying about. Either you never loved me and just wanted to sleep with me to see if I would or you never wanted to break up with me but did anyways!"

He didn't like either option. The first one was no where near the truth but the second one was the truth and would require him to show her the note. She would want to be involved but he knew better.

Max came to her conclusions and left, slamming the door shut before her. She flew up to the open window of her bedroom.

Fang exited and leaned against the truck.

His lips tingled with the taste and feel of her.

"I warned you, son." Fang opened his eyes and looked straight ahead.

There he stood, black hair tied back into a ponytail, unforgettable white cloak flapping against his legs, and an emotionless face he had learned to copy over time.

"Get the fuck out of here," Fang murmured. "I should've known you would be the one to hurt me like this."

"Hurt you?" The man laughed and shook his head, "I'm trying to SAVE you. Don't you understand that Maximum Ride is blinding you of your true talents and your destiny."

"I ran away from you for a reason, Abraham." Fang laughed even though he was frightened. The man whose name meant God, well, that would fit. He had after all, been a part of Fang's creation.

"You're meant to destroy the flock, you're the Judas among them. By laying with Maximum Ride like you have, she as damned you to hell. I think I just might need to kill."

Fang narrowed his eyes, "Don't get religious on me, father." Fang flicked his wings, "I believe I'm enough of a fallen angel that I was going to hell anyways. Matter of fact, I was born into it."

Max gave him heaven, she was everything.

"Last warning son, stay away from Maximum Ride or kill her. Her death will be a result of either of our hands. At least, I'm letting you chose."

Then, Fang watched as he walked away into the woods.

Max wasn't safe.

He would protect her.

If he had to kill Abraham, he would.

Then, Fang flew up to his room where he could hear Max's peaceful sleeping knowing she would have another nightmare soon enough. He lay on his back and was trapped within the hold memories of the School.

His past had caught up to him and he was afraid of what Max might think.

------------

Sorry but I can only guarantee that it will get worse before it even gets better. I'll update quickly though. I can at least promise that (evil laugh).