Angel (Maximum Ride 7)

I was so stunned I couldn’t think straight. I so did not agree that Fang had done the right thing by leaving. I don’t believe that I’ve ever flitted anywhere in my life. And how was I supposed to leave Dylan anywhere? I didn’t control him, and he seemed to have a homing device locked on me anyway.

I finally closed my mouth before I started swallowing bugs. “Throw him in your face? He’s stuck to me like glue! How could I not bring him with me? Besides, you’re the one posting cutesy videos of you and my stand-in online! How is that not throwing her in my face?”

“She’s not your stand-in!” Fang roared. “She’s a unique individual! It’s not her fault that she looks like you!”

In my whole life, I couldn’t remember being more furious with anyone who wasn’t a total enemy. I was practically spitting. “Well, it’s not my fault that Dylan imprinted on me! And you know what? He’s the only one who hasn’t left me! Why would I give that up?”

Fang’s face blanched, and even I was shocked at what I’d said. We simply stared at each other, rising and falling, the air currents lifting us like waves in the ocean.

Fang was breathing hard, his teeth clenched so tight that even his lips were white. I was so upset and pumped with adrenaline that I felt like I might throw up. Such a bummer that would be for anyone below me…

I don’t even know how long it was before Fang swallowed, coughed, and then said, “The Doomsday Group is bigger than this, bigger than us. Do you agree that we should both try to fight it?” His voice was a little ragged now but calmer.

I took several deep breaths. “It would probably be best if we both fought it,” I said stiffly.

Fang nodded, some of the color returning to his face. “Please tell Dylan to go back to Arizona. This isn’t a fight for newbies.”

And just like that, I was furious again. “Newbies!” I exclaimed. “Like your little team of high-schoolers down there? They can’t even freaking fly! At least Dylan can kick butt in battle! I’d trust him with my back before I’d trust any of the kids in the Fang Show!”

Fang opened his mouth to yell back but stopped himself with effort. “Maya is a good fighter,” he said finally.

“Yes, I am,” I said sharply.

Again his eyes blazed and his mouth opened, but again he controlled himself. He let out a deep breath. “She’s not you,” he said quietly. “She really is a different person.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m not asking Dylan to go.”

Fang’s fists clenched. “We need Maya on our side.”

Minutes of silence. If we hadn’t been two thousand feet in the air, we would have heard crickets chirping. I stared at him as if we were strangers, brown eyes looking into black.

“So… where does that leave us?” Fang said.

“It leaves us with Dylan and Maya, all of us fighting the DG together,” I said. “As revolting as that sounds.”

Fang nodded stiffly and held out one hand.

I almost snorted but reached out and shook it. We had an agreement.

And as we flew back down to the restaurant, all I could think was, What happened to us?

54

I WAS SWEATY and my hair tangled in knots by the time we walked back into the restaurant. So much for tidying up for this meeting! As we approached the table, I saw that our two groups seemed very… separate. No one was talking. They watched each other warily.

When I got closer, I heard Gazzy say, apropos of nothing, “We can fly.”

“So can we,” said Maya, eyeing Fang. “Well, some of us.”

“I can see really, really far,” said Dylan, not missing a chance to outdo Fang.

“Me too,” said the tough-looking guy, adjusting his Ray-Bans. “I can hear really far too. Whispers from a mile away and all.”

“Well, we can breathe underwater,” Angel offered, modestly avoiding any mention of the fact that she can also read minds.

“So can I,” said the pale kid. “I can regenerate and heal really fast.”

“We heal fast too,” Iggy countered. “And we’re really strong.”