Chapter 6

Fang's POV

We had been talking for the most part, well- she had been talking and I gave one worded responses. For the most part, I didn't want to say much at all because I was afraid I would get in too close. I still couldn't help but feel the betrayal that she had left me once before. Max could easily do it again. Besides, my mission was to kill her after all…but at the thought, my fists clenched. Max quickly noticed.

"What?" She asked, even though she had grown accustomed to the fact that I didn't speak much at all. I shrugged her off and let my hands relaxed. She yawned and unbeknownst to her actions, her head rolled to the side and just lightly rested on my shoulder. Umm… all right. The only action I was capable of was swallowing nervously.

I don't think she necessarily trusted me. Actually, she completely did not trust me at all hence why she was staying up the entire night on watch. I offered to watch alone but she declined that idea.

"Doyouthinkwerksidhfasd?" Max yawned out the last part so I had no idea as to what she said.

I laughed, "What?" The response that I gave her had actually taken awhile. I was focusing on the way her nose crinkled when she yawned and the perfect 'o' shape of her mouth. She laughed lightly as well. Then, all of a sudden, she shifted next to me and nuzzled her head against my shoulder as she tried to get comfortable. I had a good whiff of the coconut shampoo from when she had showered. Oh god…what was wrong with me?

"Do you think we'll be okay?" she asked. Half-asleep- that was why Max was asking such a question. Right from the time I had met her with that injured wing, before even that when we had cages next to each other, she was strong and incapable of being hurt. I knew her enough though to know that she was weak…when she allowed it to show.

I took it in though, the "we". Was I seriously part of the flock again? Would it be as if I had never left. "We'll be fine," I whispered, "I promise." Then, I heard a light snore and peered down at her, her eyelashes were kissing her red cheeks. I brushed my calloused thumb to push aside a piece of brown hair away from her face. Max snored again, it wasn't loud or ugly…it was quite cute. Geez, what was I doing?

Leaning against me would've been uncomfortable for her, so I slowly moved her (knowing she was a light sleeper so I had to be careful), I let her lay down with her head on my leg. I again pushed her hair away from her face. It was soft and it was beautiful (should I say that about someone I should hate). Now, it was aware from her and out of her way but again, I went to touch the strands that made my calloused fingers shake.

I heard giggling and looked up. The sun was up already. How much time had passed? I saw Angel sitting there staring right at me, my hand still stroking Max's hair. Then, movement at the farthest side of the cave revealed Iggy waking up. "What's going on?" He mumbled. I dropped my eyes to Max, thinking maybe he should be the one sitting here playing with her hair. He was Max's friend…possible boyfriend I still considered even though she had denied it. Was I feeling jealous about Iggy? Yes, in a way, he was more likely to get Max in the end. I'm just disappointment.

Knowing the rest were up, I shut my eyes and let sleep take me over. Hoping to get Max off my mind only to find that even in my dreams, she clouded them so much I was blinded to all else.

Max POV:

I woke up to the smell of fresh bacon…which surprisingly makes you forget that you are on the run because the man who saved you is now working to hunt you down. My first thought was who had thought to bring bacon. Then, the fact that I even had drool on the side of my cheek from sleeping…oh crap- I was sleeping. My eyes instantly opened as soon as I realized that I was not in my room meaning the comfy pillow was…

I lifted my eyes upward to see a chest, a head resting on a shoulder with shaggy black hair. His chest rose up and down slightly…we both fell asleep? Oh geez, we could've gotten the entire flock killed! How exactly did this happen? I rapt through my brain to try and gain back what had let this very strange position in which I was using Fang's leg as a headrest. And why haven't I moved yet? I sat up quickly, running a hand through my air, to hear giggling.

I stared over the cave to find the rest of the flock comfortably sitting around a small fire. I still can't believe I risked their lives for just a bit of shut eye and then Fang here fell asleep too. "He fell asleep once we woke up, Fang kept watch the entire time," Angel informed me. I rubbed my eyes and leaned back against the cave wall. You should've seen it Max…he was petting your hair while you slept. I tilted my head to look at Fang sleeping, his hands rested on his lap in tight fists, his face was as calm as an emotionless stone could get, and the strands of his black hair hung down.

I stretched my wings and arms before attempting to move over the fire. "Morning," I muttered, trying to shake off the very thought that I trusted Fang enough to fall asleep on him. "Smells good Iggy," I mentioned to see that he had his shoulder turned towards me. "Why are you so upset?" He grunted as a hand stuck in front of me holding pieces of bacon. I took up the offer and chose to ignore him.

Suddenly, someone was positioning themselves next to me. I moved my head to see Fang. As I took a bite of bacon, he leaned in and whispered in my ear, so close his lips brushed against my ear, "You drooled on my pants." I watched as he pointed to his jeans were there was an obvious stain on his left leg where I had been resting my head. "And you snore." I blushed and tried to hide that as well. Fang smirked at me as I handed him a piece of bacon.

"Uh-oh," Gazzy was suddenly saying, "Epic moment in history people. Max shared her food!" There was an applause of laughter and clapping. I laughed along with them while Fang smirked.

"Max," Angel stood up and came over to me. Instead of sitting next to me, she went to Fang and sat on his lap. Fang held up as she stared at me. "What are we going to do?"

"New York!" Nudge suddenly yelled with a smile. She had in her hand the papers that I had taken from Jeb's office. "There's some place called the Institute there. I say we check it out." There was silence followed by…

"Yeah! Let's go!" Gazzy was practically jumping down in excitement.

"I want to go see Broadway," Angel replied, "Can you take us?"

"Uh, we'll see," I answered.

We headed off shortly after breakfast. There was no time to waste after all. Just as we were twenty minutes in, I got a headache. I ignored it for about ten minutes before it hit me like a tsunami. Images flashed before my eyes and any memory of the ability to fly was lost upon me. I began to fall until strong arms caught me.

Then, everything went blank.