Rude Awakening

Fang and I sat in the cafeteria the next day after the huge blow out with Iggy. I wasn't proud of some of the things that I had said but that's not the point really. The point was- Iggy wanted nothing to do with Fang and I's plan to find out what the School wanted with us. Besides that, we had convinced him to stay with the group- if not for all us then at least for Nudge. That completely sucked him back in.

Iggy sat with Nudge in a one-way conversation. Nudge talked continuously while Iggy listened intently. I had also allowed him to not pretend to be blind. I was a leader- not a dictator. I couldn't make anyone do what they didn't want to do.

Ella, to my surprise, had taken Iggy's sudden attachment to Nudge quiet well. She didn't question it at all and admitted that she felt more like he was her friend than a boyfriend in the first place. It worked out too perfectly if you asked me.

"Relax," Fang murmured in my ear as I took a bite of the school pizza. I held back the common reaction to gag at the taste. Fang smirked. "Better," he commented. I laughed and hit my shoulder with his.

"Max?" I tilted my head towards Nudge to see her staring at me. I noticed the way she leaned into Iggy- I did the same thing with Fang. Maybe it was nice- when I tried dated Fang and Fang tried dated Brigid or when Iggy was with Ella- but this was how it was suppose to be. We were a different kind of species in a way. We were our own kind of people. We belonged together. "Why did you come to school later than us?"

"Max probably kicked a few M-Geeks and made it almost impossible for them to drug her up." Iggy winked at me and gave me a smile. I still could see how much he doubted Fang and me. I could still sense that he didn't trust our plan but he was fighting through it despite the fact. Still, he was happy with Nudge. He was with his real family.

"I don't remember honestly Nudge." In fact, I remembered everything except the large year gap in which the School had me. What had taken them so long? Nudge shrugged to my answer and then went back to talking to Iggy. I saw her smile while she spoke. Iggy's own face was bright with happiness. I turned to Fang, "He's happy enough not leave again right?"

"He'd never leave," Fang rested his arm around my waist and pulled me up to him. He let his fingers trail at my wings hidden perfectly underneath my windbreaker. At least it was getting later in the year and people wouldn't find my jacket strange. "Just scared is all, Max. We stick together, remember?"

Was he referring to the time in which we had separated? I suppose he was because that was the moment when I realized that the flock should never be separated- especially not Fang and I. "Of course, I remember." he pressed his nose and mouth into my hair. I felt him kiss me there and I bent my head to smile. "Before someone sees," I took his arm away from waist but, I maneuvered our hands to hold under the table. We were still trying to hide our relationship- although Fang was not making it easy.

"Why? They know," Fang whispered. "And if they don't, I want them to know." I blushed. "Max," he said my name in such a serious tone that sent shivers up my spine. "Come on." He was sort of begging. He wanted people to know about us. It was hard to pretend we weren't- especially after gym class when we played capture the flag and Fang had "tackled" me to get me out.

It's not inappropriate if we were just taking our time getting up.

"All right, if there's no hiding it than kiss me." I dared him with my eyes and he gave me one of the beautiful, amazing, rare Fang smiles that made my stomach flip over and over. "Come on Fang," and I couldn't even finish what I had to say because he was kissing me.

PDA is not something I'm a big fan of but for the moment, it was too amazing to kiss Fang right there in the moment was all I could think about. I tightened my hand on his before he let my hand go so he could hold my face. When he backed away he asked, "Anything else you need?" He joked. I gave him a smile.

"Whore," echoed into my super bird hearing. But then again, even Ella had heard with her normal ears. I just heard it louder than how it really was to normal people. I peered over my shoulder to see Brigid with her arms crossed as she glared at me.

I ignored her and turned my attention back to Fang. We shared a conversation that could last forever in one look. I was trying not to think about how she was the enemy. Once upon a time, I had considered her a friend, but ever since she was talking to Mr. Chu, I had completely lost any form of trust I had with her.

"I was talking to you Maximum Ride," Brigid came over and shoved me in the shoulder. I ignored her. Hey, I must be growing up. My younger self would've knocked her on the ground in an instant. "You're a slut. Thinking you can still Fang from me. How dare you! He's mine!"

"Brigid," I heard Fang growl and watched as he stood up. "Leave before you regret what you say." Fang narrowed his eyes. I bet he could've scared her more if he took his wings out (but we were in hiding). Still, she seemed a bit frightened by the way Fang was glaring harshly at her. "I choose Max."

Somehow, that computed with Brigid as, "I want you to kiss me."

Because right then, she threw herself at Fang.

She had managed to get her lips on his chin as he pulled away. That's when I lost it. She couldn't kiss Fang! He was mine! I know I sound like a clingy girlfriend but I reacted instantly. I pulled her towards me and with one swing managed to contact my fist with her face. The smack was so loud that the cafeteria went silent (and I hadn't even used my entire strength). Brigid collapsed on the ground holding her cheek. "What was that fore?" She was about to burst in tears.

"Sexual Harassment, it's not allowed in school."

Then, I allowed the lunchroom aide drag me to the principal's office.

I got three day suspension and Fang.

Sounded like a win-win for me.