SUBDIVISION SIXTEEN

I looked at Iggy and blink, staring at him as if I had heard wrong. He had to be kidding, right? Angel could not have run off with Ari… the same Ari who had tried to kill me so many times in the past. The Ari she had said loved me? No, not him. Anyone but him and I might be fine – but Ari?

I was having trouble breathing. The air was not making it to my brain – or in my body at all. I gasped, trying to breathe and Fang seemed to notice my panicking. Instinctually, he pulled me closer and into the safe cocoon his arms made up, wrapping his wings around me as he rubbed his hand around my back in circles, soothing my hyperventilating and cooing every now and then to calm me down.

After a couple moments of Fang doing this, I pulled my hands up and shoved on his chest, hard. Startled he was pushed backwards and into the wall, a look of shock coming up on his face. Pulling on my mask, I turned to face the others and looked at Iggy directly, “You are absolutely certain that is who you saw?” I was so happy with myself – my voice did not crack. Iggy nodded solemnly at me and I sighed, “Alright, we need to hold a meeting. Flock in the living room in five, Dr. Martinez and Ella may participate if they wish, but we need to decide what is to happen next. Now please, leave the room so I may change.”

I waited and watched as the Flock and the Martinezes filed out of the room… all of the others except for Fang, “What?” I snapped at Fang and he raised an eyebrow at me, looking at me as if I had asked a stupid question.

“Seriously Fang, what do you want?” Fang sighed and walked over, pulling me into a quick hug before he turned around and walked to the edge of the bed, sitting down with his back to me and coughing as if to say “get changed”.

“Oh Hell no! Not with you in here!” I spat the words as Fang as vehemently as I could and hardened my eyes, glaring at him as he turned his head and rolled his eyes at me, “If you think for a minute that I will change with you in here, you have another thing coming to you, Buddy!” I spat my words much like a five-year-old would, sticking my tongue out at the end to accentuate my meaning. After a moment, Fang turned back around and shrugged. It was obvious he was not planning on leaving.

Huffing I turned to the dresser and began to pull out clothes for myself, snarling over my shoulder in warning to the boy sitting behind me, “I swear, if you peek at me while I am changing I will kill you.”

Fang snorted.

Now, by this point I was really miffed. Yes, I did just say “miffed”. You know the emotion that was a mix between aggravated and peeved? Miffed. Anyways, I wasn’t entirely miffed by his presence, but the fact that he had just snorted made me even more miffed. What had he snorted at? Was he saying I could not fight with him and win? He did not think I could and would kill him? Or was he snorting at my statement because he did not think there was anything for him to peek at?! Whatever his reason it chagrined me even more. However, being the civilized leader that I am, I did not murder him where he sat. No, I was much more civilized than that. I huffed and turned my back to Fang so that even if he did peek there wouldn’t be much for him to look at.

Hastily, I pulled on a change of clothes – a pair of black Gloria Vanderbilt jeans and a Bon Jovi “Wanted Dead or Alive” t-shirt over a sports bra and boxers. Yes, I did say boxers. What? They are comfortable.  I pulled on a pair of black socks and my nice, newly broken-in (courtesy of Nudge) New Balance running shoes. Perfect for the girl on the run.

Once I was done changing, I walked around the side of the bed until I was in front of Fang, turning around to face him and proceeding to punch him in the gut, grinning as he “oof”’d before turning to walk out of the room. After a couple steps my head started spinning and I felt my body sway backwards. I closed my eyes and prepared or impact as I started falling, but I heard a sudden whooshing and then I was caught in a strong embrace – Fang’s arms once again holding me up. Stunned, I opened my eyes to see Fang looking down at me with worried eyes. Eyes that spoke to me more loudly than his words ever could, asking with a deafening silence if I was alright. Fighting back a blush I scurried up, into a standing  position – my face resting in an indignant look before becoming plain infuriated as I saw a teasing half-grin, one of the one I love so much, spread across his face, “What?!” I tried to snap at him, but my voice sounded more exasperated than indignant.

Immediately his grin spread more and he walked towards me, a dark angel trying to intimidate me into backing down. Obviously, I did just the opposite – stiffening, straightening, and walking forward to meet him; stepping closer until my chest pressed against his body and I stood on my tip-toes, glaring straight into his eyes, “What?” I repeated, and then any more words I might have said froze in my mouth as his hand came up to my cheek and he leaned down until his lips brushed the top of my ear.

“I’ll always be here to catch you when you fall.” The words came in a whisper that was barely audible, so quiet I thought I might have imagined it.

And then, suddenly, he was gone and I found myself stumbling forward a couple paces before catching my balance and turning about to see him, waiting for me in the doorway – his usual emotionless mask finally back in place after days of worry, and, for him, an abundance of speaking and emotions. Sighing, I let my stiff stance go and moseyed forwards to him, stopping to look him in the eye before passing him and starting down the hall to the living room, stopping before entering the room. Tension lingered in the air around the room and I immediately felt a change in my body. Uneasiness ran through my veins and my spine tingled. I didn’t want to step into that room and have to be strong Max again, but as Fang stepped up behind me and reached out to touch my shoulder I stepped forward, into the room, narrowly avoiding Fang’s touch and falling into the center of attention.

Carefully, as all eyes fell on me, I inconspicuously moved away from Fang, not wanting to be too close to him at the moment. Fang sighed quietly and found a seat next to Ella on the couch, boxing her in-between himself and Iggy as silence reigned over the room.. Finally, after a couple moments silence I sighed and began doing what I knew I had to… starting by speaking.