Part 15 (1/2)

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.”

”Try me,” said the pretty Asian girl. ”Let's arm wrestle.”

”Um, I can hack most computers,” Nudge said mildly.

”I'm fast enough to steal any computer we'd need,” said the blonde.

Gazzy didn't miss a beat and said, ”Fast enough to dodge this? this?” then sent a forkful of mashed potatoes flying through the air. Fast Girl dodged it easily, but then Gazzy snapped his fork to the left, flinging a glob right at... wait for it... Maya. And it hit her in the face. I couldn't believe my eyes.

”Oops,” Gazzy said with a nervous grin. ”My bad.”

Maya wiped off her cheek and stood up, flas.h.i.+ng a look that could kill. She grabbed the basket of rolls and began pelting Gazzy with them, lightning fast.

Gazzy laughed and ducked, taking no offense. ”Food fight!” he cried happily.

Immediately, the uncivilized h.e.l.lions in my flock and the free-wheeling punks in Fang's gang let all their inhibitions go. Nudge tossed her milk shake at the blond girl. The scrawny kid mashed his hamburger in Iggy's face. It fell to the floor, and Total dropped on it like a small, black avenging angel. Angel methodically dipped fries in ketchup and launched them at anyone she could. Fang and I were waving our arms and shouting for them to stop, but they were well beyond hearing us. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw some security guards starting to make their way over to our table. Just like old times.

And then it hit me: things had actually been fairly peaceful with Fang and me apart. Horrible and heartbreaking but quiet. Now that we were in the same room, all heck was breaking loose. Maybe we were were better off apart? Maybe the whole freaking world was better when we were apart? better off apart? Maybe the whole freaking world was better when we were apart?

”Guys!” I shouted. I was about to tell my flock to do an up-and-away before we all got arrested, and then, all of a sudden, Dylan jumped up on a chair.

And he started to sing.

55.

I'D SEEN THE effect of Dylan's singing before. It would stop a rabid dog in its tracks. And it had the same effect now.

”When I look in your eyes, I see the ocean,” he sang, and the food fight started moving in slow motion.

”When I look in your heart, I see myself.When we're apart, I'm just a shadow.Can't you see, oh can't you see,We were meant to be...”

Glancing around quickly, I saw that the kids had stopped, freezing in position as if they were playing statue. The security guards had stopped too, and were standing still, listening to Dylan, mesmerized by his beautiful voice. The diners who had been fleeing the chaos paused and turned around. Then Dylan locked his eyes on mine.

”You and me, we're a team,” he crooned.

”You and me, we're a dream...Is this real? Are you what you seem?I can tell you, you can count on me.Can't you see, oh can't you see,We were meant to be...”

I can't describe the effect his voice had on me-it was like soothing honey, calming my nerves. And it wasn't just me-people were clapping, the food fight was forgotten, the security guards were beaming as if they expected Dylan to whip out an engagement ring and pop the question.

The only person decidedly not not mesmerized and charmed was... Fang. He watched Dylan solemnly, not angry, not tense. But definitely not like honey had just dripped all over his heart. mesmerized and charmed was... Fang. He watched Dylan solemnly, not angry, not tense. But definitely not like honey had just dripped all over his heart.

Dylan reached down, took a rosebud from the vase on the table, held it out to me, and smiled. His stunningly good looks made me weak.

”Let's get out of here,” he said.

I couldn't even speak. I took the rosebud and made my way carefully through the tables out of the restaurant, while behind us people clapped. I didn't even glance back to see if anyone was coming with us.

Dylan pushed through the revolving door, then we were out in the balmy San Diego air. I turned to him.

”Thank-” I began to say, but he gently put his hand on my neck, bent down, and kissed me, smothering my words.

”I'm here for you,” he said intently, looking into my eyes.

And I couldn't speak.

56.

I RESTED MY head drowsily against a soft pillow, feeling the m.u.f.fled roar of the jet's engines. In just a few short hours, so much had come together: Fang had figured out that the Doomsday Group's headquarters were in Paris-one of my favorite cities. We'd called on our benevolent sponsor, Nino Pierpont, who just happened to be one of the richest men in the world, and now we were in one of his many private jets, heading to Europe. My flock could fly fast but not as fast as a jet. Besides, few of Fang's gang could fly, even though Star could run really fast.

I'd picked a seat in a corner, grabbed a blanket and pillow, and curled up, exhausted, only half listening to the murmur of voices in the background. The flock and Fang's gang were-right now, at least-tentatively getting along. But that definitely wouldn't last-Gazzy had suggested a game of poker.

”Yeah, and so Max and Dylan are supposed to, like, go to Germany and have kids together,” I heard Gazzy say.

My eyes popped open and I bolted upright.

”What?” Fang said, his voice icy.

”Gazzy!” I yelled.

Wide blue eyes looked at me in surprise, then back at Fang's stoic face. ”Oh. Was I not supposed to say anything?” Gazzy asked.

”What is he talking about?” Fang demanded, glaring at me, then Dylan.

”Nothing. Just some crazy stuff that Dr. Hans came up with, in some hallucination,” I said, squinting at Gazzy.

”Go off and have kids?” Fang demanded. I saw Maya watching him, her eyes studying his face.