The Question

Me, Fang, Iggy, Gazzy, Nudge, Angel, Elle and Dr Martinez (mum) sat at the table eating our dinner. I could feel Angel’s gaze come up over me and Fang every now and then. I looked up at Fang and he shrugged as he went to eat another mouthful. Mum glanced up from her food,
“So what did you guys do today at school?”
There was a mumble of answers from the group in-between mouthfuls.

Soon we had pretty much finished our food so mum went into the kitchen to get the apple pie she had made. Shortly after she left Angel spoke up.
“Max, if you and Fang had babies would they have wings like us?”
I choked on the last bit of my food while Fang like usual took his last bit without showing any change of emotion. Quickly I got myself together,
“Um, I’m not sure Angel.”
Angel shrugged, happy with my answer. I glanced across at Fang and noticed a tiny smile at the edge of his lips. I kicked him under the table.

Thankfully a moment later mum entered the room holding the pie.
“Who wants some apple pie?” She asked smiling oblivious to the tension growing in the air. The younger kids called out for some, forgetting whatever they thought after Angels, um can we say ‘unexpected’ question. Elle stood up and helped hand out the plates of dessert smiling at me; I could see the laughter in her eyes. “No” I mouthed at her and then started eating. See this is what happened when you stopped running for your life. You go to school and then get asked weird questions because a primary teacher’s decided to teach her class about the birds and the bees.

After dinner we headed up to our rooms to go to bed. I did my rounds saying goodnight to everyone when I bumped into Fang who had just left the bathroom. I closed Angel’s door and almost jumped in surprise when I heard Fangs voice.
“They probably would you know.” He said in a non-fussed voice. I looked at him slightly confused. “Have wings,” Fang filled in and I instantly remembered what he was talking about. “Because the labs altered it in our DNA.”
I nodded.
“Right, yeah of course. Well I don’t think we’ll be testing that out anytime soon, if ever.” The last sentence seemed to slip out of my mouth before I could stop it, but I swear I saw a quick flash of disappointment on Fang’s face at my last comment before he gave me a cheeky grin.
“Yeah you’ve already got this lot to look after.” Mischief ran across his eyes, “Although if you really wanted to know I could ask Jeb.”
My mouth gaped open for a second before I quickly shut it.
“Ah no thanks. And it wasn’t my question, Angel asked remember?”
Fang shrugged but a smile pulled at the side of his mouth.
“Whatever, bathroom’s free if you want it but I don’t think there’s any hot water left.”
I nodded then shrugged as I got to the bathroom door,
“Eh we’ve had worse. Night.”
Fang walked over to his room and gave me a wave of his hand.
“Night… mum.”
Closing the door I rolled my eyes; as if that would ever happen.
“Maybe you have feelings for him,” said the Voice. “People grow up, have kids of their own. Think about it.”
Great now the Voice in my head was having a say in this. Suddenly my eyes bolted open remembering Jeb was the voice, not to mention my dad. Can we say “Eew”?
“Ok I thought we agreed on no more mind talkie stuff unless I was on the run from the School again? And plus gross you’re so not meant to say stuff like that.”
“I have before and it was you who agreed on that.”
“Whatever just get out of my head I have to go for a shower.”
“Ok I’ll be home soon.”
“Mhm,” I answered before the Voice left my mind in peace.