The Girl Who Had Wings

Chapter 20

The next morning I wake up to an ache in my wing and a cramped neck because I fell asleep at the windowsill. The half melted snow glistened in the morning sunlight and the leafless branches stood defiant against the pale sky above. I could hear the pots and pans knocking one another as my mother got ready to make breakfast. I feel like it's been forever since I saw a certain pair of hazel green eyes though I know it only had to be around a week.
      I began to make my way down the stairs when I heard the door open and shut before a chair was pulled out and a figure sat in it. I entered the kitchen and saw Natali in one of the bar stools at the counter while behind the counter my mother was pulling out ingredients for chocolate chip pancakes.
      "Hey Natali you're here early," I say before looking at the clock.
      "Yeah, if you consider almost 11:00 early," she snorts before looking over at my mother and asking politely how long the pancakes should take.
      "Not long Natali, don't worry," and both my mother and I laugh at that as Natali smiles before turning to me.
      She looks at me a long time, probably noticing how my appearance has gradually gotten worse as the days go by. The dark circles under my eyes have started to make me look like a raccoon, and my golden caramel hair that has some horrible knots in it that will take a ton of time to get out. My wings have been  droopy and weak with the pain of my injury worsening with each sudden movement near the wounded area and my brown eyes dull and void of any emotion except for rare moments. Everyone around me could see it, even the kids at school who couldn't even see why I'd wince at sudden movements randomly, or so they thought.
      "Man Grace, you look awful."
      "But—" I try to explain.
      "Which is why I've come up with a plan to help you go save Max." I stare at her in disbelief before turning it to a glare as a smirk plays on her face. I know what she's thinking about and I'm praying she won't say anything in front of my mother or I'll never hear the end of it.

>>><<<

      Later after a breakfast, well lunch, of chocolate chip pancakes with Natali she drags me up back to my room to tell me the plan she made.
      "Ok the plan is pretty simple," she states first while pulling out her phone and going to where she had it was written down.
      "First we make sure you have everything you need because, well, preparing is essential. Next you go and retrace your footsteps from that day and make your way back to the place that you where taken, his father's hideout if you will. Then find a way in without anyone noticing and make your way to where Max is being held. Get him out of whatever's holding him, we'll pack a ton of lock picking materials for you, and both of you get out of there unnoticed. Make your way back here and voila, Max is safe, you're happy again, and I have brought my ship together!" She looked so excited and I was actually very proud of her for coming up with a full plan like that with only  information I gave her. Going over the plan in my head, her last words registered in my head.
      "Wait, your ship. You've shipped us," I asked her in embarrassment.
      "Of course I shipped you guys, I still haven't figured out a good ship name because Grax and Mace don't sound too good. What's his last name?"
      I answered immediately since I remember finding out his last name during one of our games of twenty questions right after he asked about mine.
     "It's Andrews," she took that and was silent for a few seconds before jumping up.
      "I've got it! Your ship name is Fosdrews!" She was ecstatic and jumping around the room while doing a happy dance. She continued chanting her ship name for Max and I before I leaped off the bed to slap my hand over her mouth so that my mother wouldn't hear.
      Once she quieted down we sat back down on my bed, she was still giggling out of pure joy. The rest of the day we went around my house talking about what we had to do and gathering the things we needed to make the plan successful.
      After Natali finally left I ate dinner and began to think about we were going to try to pull off tomorrow. Eventually I got tired and drifted off to sleep.

Max's P.O.V.

      I've been here for who knows how long but I don't try to keep track of time anymore since I know I'll just forget when I start thinking about her. He better not be hurting her anywhere in here or I won't be so cooperative when he comes in and starts threatening me.
All I've had to pass the time is an old musty tennis ball that I was able to hide in here from last time he threw me in here and the sound of it bouncing against stone is going to drive me crazy. Wall, floor, hand, wall, floor, hand, wall, floor, hand. I keep doing it to distract my thoughts but I can't stop myself anymore.
      Her warm brown eyes with gold flecks filled with warmth and laughter every time we were together and her smile would light up any room she walked into. One of my favorite memories of her is when we went to get ice cream and she got ice cream on her nose. We couldn't stop laughing as she tried to lick it with her tongue and wasn't able to reach it. After she put her tongue back in her mouth, a goofy smile still on her face, I leaned over and wiped it off with my finger, a wide grin almost identical to hers on my face.
      I found myself smiling at the memory before realizing how tired I was. I tried yet again to get comfy before drifting off, thinking of my Grace.

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So... yeah is been a long time and I'm so sorry, I've had so much to do with school, sports since lacrosse started up recently, and I've had a horrible case of writers block. I hope you guys like this chapter and aren't mad that it took awhile.

Hugs and Thank YOU❤️

- TorTor