Maximum Ride: If I Never Come Home Again

Slip-Up

Disclaimer: I don't own. All credit to James Patterson.

Chapter 7

I caught up with the Flock. They were all at school now, making lots of friends, and Gazzy was on the soccer team as goalie. Nudge joined lots of clubs and Angel was into theater and drama. Fang and Iggy didn’t do any extracurricular activities. They are all in high school, and loving it.

I was so happy that they got to live a normal life. As they were talking, I noticed that Jax looked sad. I guess he wanted what I had given the Flock, a normal life. My mom still worked as a vet, but took less hours so she could be home and take care of the Flock. I protested at first, but she said that it was what she wanted. Mom had always wanted to be more at home and involved with her family.

Fang kept looking at me, as though I would disappear and slip through his fingers at any moment. I would shoot him reassuring smiles, but he still stared. Angel sat next to me, curled into my side as they all told me stories of what they had been up to.

They told me how much they had missed me. Iggy and Gazzy didn’t make bombs, and Nudge stopped talking for a long time. Angel had cried a lot, and it was hard for Fang to get her to go to bed at night. She admitted that she still had nightmares sometimes about people hurting me.

I cried some more as they told me all of this. Some were sad tears, mainly when they said how much my absence had affected them, and some where happy tears, like when they told me all the things they did at school and friends that they have made. I listened to them go on and on until it was getting dark.

Mom made dinner, a huge Mexican feast. It was so good. And we had more cookies for dessert. It was so nice to be sitting at the table eating with my family. Little moments, like Gazzy throwing a spoonful of rice at Iggy or just sitting with them, I hadn’t really appreciated. But when that was taken away from me, and I was eating bland tasteless food on a steel tray alone in a cramped room, I realized how precious the moments were.

After I helped mom with the dishes, and Jax watched a movie with the Flock, it was time to go to bed.

“Max! You can stay here!” My mom protested, saddened that I was going.

“No, Jax and I have our own place to crash. It’s fine.” I smiled sweetly at mom and hugged her.

“Max please come back tomorrow.” Angel begged, as though she didn’t expect me to return. I felt my heart break at her sad face.

“Of course sweetie. I’ll be here first thing in the morning. I promise.” She reached out her fist, and I smiled and stacked mine on top. The rest of the Flock joined in, and Jax guessed that it was our thing and backed away smiling. We tapped each other’s fists and said goodnight. The younger ones raced up to bed. Iggy went to the living room to play some video games. Only Fang stood there.

“Max? Can I talk to you? Alone?” He said, his eyes shooting daggers as he said alone. Jax got the hint and went to the living room to hang out with Iggy. I was glad that he already felt comfortable with the Flock.

Fang led us outside and walked into the woods. A long time ago, my stomach would have been fluttering at the thought of being alone with Fang in the woods, but now it was still. He turned to me when we were hidden from the view of the house, and probably out of hearing range.

To my surprise he hugged me tight to him. I hugged him back. I had missed my second in command. We held each other for a long time.

“So what’s up with you and that Jax guy?” Fang asked me, leaning away but still holding me close. It was weird for me to see Fang so touchy. I guess he changed.