.:Incredible:. - Maximum Ride

Incredible.

That’s the one word I can use to describe the feeling I get when I’m flying, soaring, through the air.

It didn’t really matter when or where I was flying, as long as there were no Erasers shooting steel bullets up at me. When it’s just me and the sky, I feel as if I could just keep on going forever. Or at least I wish I could. I know I’d have to eat at some point, and some sleep would be necessary.

But right now, I didn’t need anything to keep me going. The flock and I had recently eaten, right after we had awoken. We had decided that today would be the day that we would find The Institute. Fang and I had taken to the sky, unsure of what direction start our search. Back in the city, we had left poor Iggy to handle our four younger members. I can’t recall why we had done that, but its how it worked out.

After about an hour of flying, I began to worry. Fang and I had no luck so far with our search, and I wasn’t completely sure about the well being of Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy and my Angel. I didn’t feel too uneasy, just guilty. Poor Iggy; those three kids must be pulling him in all directions. I made a mental note to make it up to him, before he created a bomb for me.

We kept on flying.

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The sun began setting. I flapped my wings harder, faster. It couldn’t be the end of the day yet. It just couldn’t be. We hadn’t found any sign of The Institute yet. Today was going to be the day that I finally accomplished something. It wasn’t fair!

I growled. I know, I know. It’s animalistic. It’s childish. And it’s the only way to describe how I felt.

I could feel Fang’s eyes on me. I knew his head was still forwards too. That’s just the type of guy I knew him to be. Caring, but not too eager to show it.

He said nothing.

I said nothing.

It’s not like we always needed to talk to know what the other thought. And I’m sure that my grunt had explained everything I felt like saying with fewer words.

The sunset was breathtaking.

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I kept flying. I felt exhaustion taking over my body, but still I pushed on. I felt Fang’s eyes on me once again, and I frowned further. My muscles ached, and my head pounded.

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Then it happened. Without warning, that semi-regular explosion of pain erupted inside my head again. Against by will, I let out a cry of anguish. I couldn’t help but think I was forgetting something in my pain.

Oh, yeah.

I wasn’t flying.

But trust me; you wouldn’t be in the air if you were experiencing the same wave of pain I was receiving.

My hands were wrapped around my head, shaking, hurting.

Falling didn’t feel so bad. Except for the fact that it felt like imminent death, and it sounded like a tornado.

But other than that, it didn’t feel so bad.

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I’m not sure how long I was falling, but it couldn’t have been that long. I hadn’t hit the Earth yet, so it must have only been a few seconds. Still, it felt like an eternity.

The pain was distracting and excruciating. I really thought that this would be the one that killed me. The fireworks behind my eyes were consecutive and plentiful. Crap, why is it always me?

After a few more seconds of free falling, I realized that part of the noise that I was hearing was my own voice. I was whimpered softly while I mad e my descent to the ground, and occasionally I let out a curse or two.

Again, I’m not sure how long I was falling, but soon I felt strong, lean arms wrap around my curled up body. I cracked an open a millimeter, it not able to move more than that.

Fang.

Who else? He was always the one around when this happened. And he was the only one with me now. I watched him or another minute, before closing my eyes as another wave of pain washed through me.

“Max…?” Fang asked, slowly, carefully. Again, I cracked an eye open slightly. I saw his expressive eyes and the concern in them.
“… It’s happening again, isn’t it?” he asked again. I managed a very small nod, another pitiful whimper escaping my lips.

Well, if my head wanted to explode, it would be quite nice if it did it soon. I don’t know how much torture I can take.

But, as usual, the pain began to subside. And I really wished it hadn’t.

I wish I could just die now, or at least pass out.

I wish that I could hold in my pain, instead of letting everyone see. Especially Fang.

Fang… He was different than the rest. He was always calm, cool, collected. I would never admit it, but I was jealous of his ability to stay stoic during the most dangerous situations.

I finally noticed that I could move again. Why could I never figure out the exact moment that it happened?

The arms around me tightened, and I felt Fang’s hot breath on my face. Eww.

“Max… Are you okay, Max?” he asked, his voice low and unsure. My eyes fluttered open slowly, to meet the beautiful ones of Fang. Wait… Did I just say ‘beautiful’ about his eyes? Must be a side effect of the pain. Yeah. That’s it.

“Y-yeah. I’m fine…” I replied, my voice cracking. Crap. I hated feeling defenseless and pitiful. I noticed that we were no longer flying, but we were resting on the high branches of a very tall tree.

“Huh. Well, that’s good to hear. I was getting wo-…” Fang cut himself off. Weird. Normally when he had something to say, it was important, and he’d say it no matter what. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to have some blackmail over him for future references.

“Hmm? What was that, Fang?” I asked innocently, raising my eyebrows. This should be fun.

“I said, I was getting worried that my legs were going to fall off. Man, you’re heavy. Did you gain weight?” He asked, amusement and suppressed laughter in his voice. Darn boy. I slapped him on the shoulder lightly, glaring as I moved off his lap.

“You have a death wish or something?” I asked, still glowering. Maybe Iggy would make me a bomb after all. One I could use on Fang.

“No… Not a death wish… But I do have a wish.” He mumbled in response, eyes glued intently to his worn sneakers. I rolled my eyes. The sooner we get this done with, the sooner we could head back to the rest of the flock. I really needed to see them soon, to see them okay. I needed to know that the Erasers hadn’t gotten them.

“What is that?” I asked, closing my eyes and leaning against the tree. I heard Fang take a deep, shuddering breath.

And then it happened.

Soft lips found my own, and my eyes shot open in shock. All I saw was Fang’s dark hair and pale face. I let out a muffled squeal out of surprise, and felt him move back. I stared in disbelief at the boy. I could tell my face was flushed, and I knew it looked awful on my skin. I didn’t care so much about how I looked when I glanced at Fang.

The normally proud, strong, stoic boy I knew was now leaned forwards, head in his hands and arms on his legs. Disappointment and hurt flashed over his features. I cringed. I hadn’t meant for it to come off like that. I had liked – no loved – the kiss. It had just been a surprise. Now to tell him that.

“Fang… I-I…” Crap. I’m doing it again. I made a mental note to bang my head into a wall later.

“What?” Typical.

Now to find the right words….

“Can we try that over?” I cringed, hoping that he wouldn’t play stupid. I had probably just ruined the best moment of the rest of my existence. I glanced over at Fang, feeling ashamed.

He was standing up and stretching. He stared down at me, his eyes hidden underneath his long bangs. The air was tense, and everything around us was silent. Not even a rustle of the leaves in the wind.

“Stand up,” Fang commanded, not answering my question. Well, that question was productive.

I stood obediently, wondering why I was taking orders from him now. I was supposed to be the leader; I was the one who was to give the orders. Taking them ruined that role I had grown used to.

“Well…?” I asked, frowning. It seemed like that was all I did since we started this search for the Institute and Angel. I stared down at the ground below. We weren’t that far up, considering I’ve been much higher.

My eyes shot to look at him as one arm trapped me against the tree. Sure, I had the other way to get out, but seriously. Who would want to? Our eyes met, and I could hardly remember to breath. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. In… Oh, who cares anymore?

I gulped. Was this really what I wanted?

“You sure you want a retry? You only get one.” He mocked, as if reading my mind. I’m going to keep him away from Angel for now on. We don’t need two of them running around in our group of six.

No words were exchanged.

None were needed.

Fang leaned down, and once again, our lips met. It was perfect.

It was as if fireworks were going off behind my eyes again. Only this time it was…

Incredible.