Maximum Ride: Forevermore

Chapter Three

When my face turns red, it's usually as a result from getting majorly angry or worked up in a fist fight. I do not blush. But this time, I was pretty sure I was blushing. Hard. I scrambled to my feet with the grace of a newborn chick, wings fluttering and arms flailing. Ever the lady.

"So she is," Fang smiled, beyond amused, folding his arms and looking smug. I hated him. Kind of.

"I can explain," I started, but then I trailed off. Lucy's eyes were glittering with amusement, her lips puckered in a way that resembled someone who was trying not to laugh. If 'someone' was a model. My face reddened again, but this time, it was anger. "Or you could explain what you're doing on my porch?"

Lucy shrugged and smiled again, sending my rage-o-meter from 'mild hatred' to 'boiling hot'. "I heard you were unconscious. Otherwise, I would have knocked." Fang snickered lightly, and Fang didn't snicker often. I shot him a look that silenced him quickly. No one outsmarted Maximum Ride.

"Look, blondie," I started forward, trying to keep my cool and failing miserably. "I've had a rough couple of days - no, scrap that, years - and I've been just dying to let my stress out on someone, particularly little, New Gen blondes who show up on my doorstep with my boyfriend." Fang winced, and now I was sure I'd gone over the top. Whatever - it felt good.  "So next time you go fluttering your wings in someone's direction, make sure it's not someone who's already taken by a semi-conscious, semi-insane girlfriend who's just about ready to rip your blonde little head -"

"Max," Fang said sharply, cutting me off. I could tell by the edge in his voice I'd gone too far, and for once, he was right. He turned to Lucy. "We'll discuss the Rebuilding Scheme tomorrow morning, ok? And thanks again for today."

"No problem," Lucy said quietly, though she'd paled dramatically. I grinned, smug. "See you in the morning." She leaned over and pecked him on the cheek - no, not literally pecked. You guys take the whole 'bird kid' thing too far sometimes. Fang flushed slightly and went rigid, but only enough for someone who'd known him all his life could see. Someone like me.

"It was nice to meet you, Max," Lucy nodded. "Sorry about the misinterpretation. I won't show up uninvited again."

"You better not," I snapped, half-heartedly. I held Lucy's gaze, feeling Fang's eyes burn into me. I ignored him. Lucy nodded again silently and then unfurled her wings, taking off with real, angelic grace, leaving Fang and I alone on the branch. Refusing to meet his eyes, I looked out over the dust-coated village, watching people go by and wondering if it was normal to think saving the world was easier than boyfriend drama.

"Didn't know you were the jealous type, Max," Fang stated, but I could hear the undertone of anger in his voice. No, not anger - disapproval.

Fleetingly, I caught his eye. "At least she isn't a redhead."

He frowned, moving towards me, but I took a step back. He sighed loudly. "You wanna tell me what that was about?"

Looking down, I wondered if I did. Then I sighed too. "It's been a long day." With that I retreated into my home, looking around at the four walls that had seemed like paradise not so long ago.