Realizations & Potato Chips (Mmm, Potato Chips)
Enjoying the thought of Fang and I yesterday, I sat on the couch at home watching the television. I had a bag of potato chips in my lap, sharing them with the Gasman and Angel. They were absorbed in the movie while I was off day dreaming about a certain boy with wings. And No- we did not do anything inappropriate- just kissing. Really good, lots of it kissing that is. I blushed when I remembered a mind reader was sitting next to me but Angel, when I turned to look at her, was still watching the show. Televisions- rotting the minds of our youth! Who would've thought that would come in handy?
Nudge was over at Fang's house on this Tuesday afternoon. Fang and her were going to look through Anne's laptop to see if they could find any information on what was being planned for us. I was waiting for his call (might not be a lively conversation with the boy of one word responses but I'll take it). Geez, did I have it bad or what? Fang just couldn't get out of my head. Stupid, good-looking, great-kissing, amazing-flyer, fast runner, sweet charmer, good-looking (I am aware that I said that already) best friend Fang. Get out of my head! Of course, that didn't work.
"Max?" An unexpected voice caught me off guard making me jump in the air and sending the chips everywhere. I stood up ready to fight as Angel and Gazzy did the same. Our intruder stood there, looking a bit faint and had a thin layer of sweat on her forehead. I dropped my fists staring into dark brown eyes filled with fear. "Angel, "Gazzy," my mother stuttered. I wondered how she knew their real names. Then I realized what happened.
My mother had finally remembered.
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Fang sat on a chair eating chips (sour cream and onion to be exact) watching over Nudge's shoulder. Fang had seen Nudge do this before- pulling out passwords like they were written down in front of her. The entire process only took her five minutes to log in. Now, they were searching the files for anything important.
Fang was thinking of Max though but not enough to be completely cut off from what Nudge was doing. Max- he couldn't get her out of his mind. She was perfectly imperect. The way she looked when she was angry, when she blushed in embarassement (which was rare), or how she could come up with some witty remark right on the spot while facing off a life or death situation. Then, he couldn't' forget the way she punched or fought but was so soft and gentle when she tucked the younger kids in bed, helped Igy without him knowing so as not to hurt his ego, or when she kissed Fang. He loved Max more than he had ever expected to love anyone.
"ZOMG," Nudge explained. Fang leaned forward to see what she was talking about. Under a file labeled Regenesis, Nudge was reading though a file about the flock without wings (not including Angel or Gazzy of course). He caught a line that said Experiment 8 that read "still very talkative, annoying, only interests are gossip and clothing." Nudge tightened her jaw, "That is not true."
Fang then saw a line but Nudge had scrowled past it. "Wait, go back." Then they found exactly what they were looking for.
"Experiment 1 (i.e. Maximum Ride) is to be placed in a normal, alternate reality, in which her flock members and enemies wil be placed. No knowledge of their past will be permitted to any flock members. We hope to discover any bond or connection to further explain why these designs relate to each other personally."
Another part read:
"Experiment 1 and Experiment 2 (i.e. Fang) seem to be drawn towards one another. A friendship with an underlying stronger feeling is clearly present. Exeriment 2 has cut off relations with Brigid Dwyer (scientist in genetic mutation). Strong connection between first two experiments. "Friendship" bond has occurred between Experiment 1,2,3, and 4. No recollections of past lives is present."
Fang frowned and his eyes narrowed at the words at the screen. Brigid—wasn't she supposed to be an environmentalist? Wasn't she supposed to be friends with the flock? Fang stood and walked away—too angry to stare at the screen.
Fang could suddenly see now why Max hated Brigid.
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"Mom, calm down." I had to push my hands into her shoulders in order for my mother to finally sit down. Calming down was an entirely different story. She raked her hands through her hair and impatiently stared at me.
"Max," she was shaking. "Your wings—do you still have them?" I opened up my wings a bit. Angel and Gazzy soon followed. Her eyes softened a bit, slightly comforted. "Well, at least they didn't cut them off." That's my mom, looking on the bright side. "How did they manage to hide your wings?"
"Chip," I pointed at my shoulder as she remembered the scar. "Angel and Gazzy got us all back except Iggy. We still need to help him." My mother nodded her head, a look of determination that I had inherited.
"All right, have him over as soon as possible." Then, with her memories intact, she stood up. "We have a lot to figure out before they realize your wings are back. Scientists, at least from what I recalled of the ones at the School or working with Mr. Chu, are a bit cocky for their own good." Angel and Gazzy giggled.
I smiled.
Did I ever mention that I have the greatest mom in the world?