Dresses, Dances, and Master Plans Revealed
Really, don't want to be here…at a dance while in a dress. I could already feel that something was bound to go wrong. I had my wings pressed into my back so tightly I might as well have been in a corset. Just as I was about to run my hand through my hair, I stopped, Ella had done some fancy half-ponytail only to tell me repeatedly not to screw it up.
Fang stood in a button-up black shirt and pants, pretty much his typical wear. He brought me to the corner of the room to watch as the rest of the crowd began to dance. Iggy and Nudge were among the dancing people, clearly enjoying themselves. I bit my lip and tried to flatten the skirt of the red dress. Not only was it strapless, but it went to above my knee and I was wearing heels. I may be a brilliant flyer but walking on the ground…not so well.
For those of you who were interested, here is how the asking me to the dance happened:
"So Max," Fang started as I had my head resting on his lap sitting on the couch at my house to watch some comedy.
"Yeah?" I had my knees propped up so that my heels were touching my butt. He had a hand on one of my knees. His thumb was tracing circles on the bumpy surface. Ever notice how weird knees can be?
"Dance coming," he replied. I watched him keep the eyes on the television. Was he nervous? The way he bit his lip for a moment seemed to say. "Going?" Then, he finally shifted his eyes to me and raised his eyebrows.
"Only with you," was my response. Geez, had I finally out smoothed talked him for once? He was the one always getting me tongue-tied. Finally! It happened.
He let out a breath of relief and smiled. "Cool," he responded. Then we turned back to the movie. I know, not so romantic, but it was how we did things.
"Nervous?" Fang whispered, wrapping an arm around my waist. He didn't even need an answer with the look I shot him. He smiled just as a slow song began. "Come on," he urged me. What? Didn't he say on his blog that he wanted to stay in the corner and not do anything? I wasn't completely convinced I wouldn't have to move my feet at all but now, he was practically dragging me across the floor.
"Wait," I hissed. I took off my high heels and tossed them aside. I was not going to risk losing the feeling in my toes for a two-minute dance that I'd fall during anyways if I wore the stupid shoes. "All right, just this once."
Fang and I stepped out into the middle of the dance floor. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me in close so that I could feel his chest moving up and down. Then, I placed my arms around his neck. Stupid school function, if this was just some random place that involved dancing, I could've kissed Fang. He was extremely good looking at the moment. Instead, I opted for resting my cheek on his shoulder and placing my nose by his neck so I could smell the cologne he had put on. His fingers were spread apart on the small of my back pressing each finger at different moments in time with the song.
"Happy?" He asked. He kissed the top of my head quickly enough so that none of the chaperones would notice…one of them was Jeb.
"Yes," I replied. "Worried?" He heard him laugh.
"Always when it comes to you," he whispered. Then, the song ended and another fast one started. Fang reached for my hand and pulled me away from the dancing masses of people before I starting punching anyone to get out from panic.
"Max!" Ella ran up to me. "Put your shoes on and come with me to the bathroom." She seemed to have a slurred speech. Had someone spiked the punch? Willingly, I put my shoes back on because she was my sister.
"I'll be back," I promised Fang. The look he gave me said that he knew. I always went back to him. Then, Ella grabbed my hand and dragged me into the bathroom. I watched as she began reapplying her make-up. I looked around to find that we were completely alone.
"Good dance huh?" Ella asked watching me as she put on new lip-stick. She had a dark blue dress that she looked really pretty. For a moment, I was kind of jealous that she was so comfortable in dresses and didn't have to fight for her entire life. "You're so lucky Max," Ella whispered.
"Huh?" Back to where I started, no words.
"You're this strong fighting girl with a boyfriend like Fang. Mom's always proud of you even though you aren't school smart but you're street smart. Everyone else wants to be you, even Brigid although she won't admit it. You're loyal to your friends. You make me look pathetic." Woah- where was this coming from?
"Ella, believe it or not, my life isn't that great." Ella turned to face me and hit her purse off the sink. Everything scattered on the ground as she glared at me.
She raised an accusing finger, "Your life isn't great? Then why do people ask me why I'm not more like you? Why can't I catch the hottest, most popular guy in school and get him to drop of the social status? Why can't I run a super fast mile or be gutsy enough to hit the most obnoxious girl in the world? Why can't I fly?" My heart stopped.
"Ella, you remember? You remember my wings?" Then, I watched as she shook her head.
"I always knew," she replied. Which meant one thing.
"You're working with them? You knew about all of this?" Ella gave a smile and before I could even respond was pulling something from the ground that I hadn't noticed fall out of her bag. She pushed a button and a knife jumped out. "Ella, you're my sister."
"You don't get it Max. Ever wonder why Mom would have a normal daughter and an experiment one? How about my dad? I'm an experiment too, just like you, but I never compared. My life was hell once you stepped into the picture. You were always everyone's favorite, especially back at the School." Then, Ella ran towards me faster than I had ever thought her possible.
I ran instinctively and hated once again that I was wearing these damn shoes. I made my way into the ball room and tried shaking my wings loose from my dress. Fang instantly saw me because he was watching for me. Catching the fact that I was running, he began too as well. Iggy and Nudge noticed as well. When we went to the exit of the gymnasium, Ella wasn't the only one chasing us. Brigid, Sam, and a few others were pushing down the rest of the students to get out at us.
My wings stretched out and I leaped into the air. Fang, Nudge, and Iggy followed. "Max! Ella's down there," Nudge called out as we put on the fastest speed we could manage without me leaving them too far behind.
"I know," I bit my lip and stared at my flock. "Let's get Angel and Gazzy. We're on the run again." I stared forward. Why do things happen the way they do. Everyone was staring at me waiting for a better answer as to why I just left my half-sister among the crowd…they obviously didn't see the knife.
"Ella's a traitor you guys. We aren't safe here anymore."