Running • Iggy

Control

I knew every little detail of them all, and for the first time, I was focusing on the positives of my memory. The fact I could remember every moment I had with every single one of them, every time we had laughed, played outside in newly fallen snow or ran around in the rain while Max screamed that we were going to get sick from the porch. I could remember every smile Fang had given to me, every time Nudge had wandered into my room at early hours of the morning because Angel had woken her up, every time Iggy joked around with me, every time Gazzy played football with me out in the clearings of our house, and every time Angel and I played with her stuffed animals at home.

Although it had its downsides, large ones at that, I felt truly grateful for the ability for the first time. Sure, I had appreciated it while I drew, but I'd never felt grateful for being genetically modified. Maybe I should feel grateful that I could remember my loved ones so clearly. I shouldn't feel grateful to the scientists for anything, but I should at least feel grateful I didn't end up as one of the suffering experiments back at the School.

I was snapped back into reality by Fang clicking his fingers in front of my face, his dark eyes studying my expression. "Were you listening?" Fang asked, low voice raising slightly on the question. "Like... At all? You haven't talked in 40 minutes." Fang admitted, sitting back into his position on the floor. I blinked in surprise. "No, sorry. I got caught up." I chuckled, noticing that Angel was sitting upright on her bed, smiling at me. She was drying her curly blonde hair with a towel, newly changed into fresh clothes. "You look extra pretty today Citrus." she said sweetly. "Thank you, you look even prettier though." I smiled at the young girl, who smiled back at me thankfully.

"What were you thinking about?" Gazzy asked curiously. "You were like, really gone" He informed me, his blue eyes shining. I felt Iggy tilt his head slightly, the way he did when he knew something the others didn't. That's another small detail I must've picked up on that the others haven't yet. "Nothing, Gaz." I smiled, stretching. I saw Max sit up from the corner of my eyes and smiled at her, using my arms to keep me in a sitting position.

"Morning, Max." I greeted her, and she looked up at me with tired eyes. It took a few seconds for her to register what I was wearing, her jaw dropping open. "Citrus- when did you become a fu- a model?" Max caught herself, noticing both Gazzy and Angel were awake, their matching blue eyes staring at the brunette in curiosity.

"Huh?" I asked, looking down at the too-tight clothes I wore. I guess they were pretty, I couldn't say the same for myself. "I remembered you looking pretty last year, vaguely- you wore that tighter top one day when it was really warm, but you look stunning." She gawked. "I wanna look like you when I'm older!" Angel grinned, blue eyes sparkling at me in pure child-like joy.

"Um... Thanks." I responded quietly, but I didn't know exactly how to respond beyond that. I wasn't pretty, not at all. I was freakish, odd-looking, strange, whatever way you wanted to put my emerald green and gold eyes, my extremely bright ginger hair and my tiger stripes. The only thing that was remotely pretty on me was my wings, which weren't even my own, not technically. They came from another bird's DNA, an existing real-life bird, after all.

"I hate not being able to see." Iggy pouted. "I barely remember what Citrus looked like when we were 6, I have no idea what she looks like now." He mentioned, milky blue eyes unfocused as always. "I'm sorry, Igs." I said softly to the tall male sitting on the floor next to the ravenette, who changed the subject, focusing on the girl he was so obviously crushing on. "Max, the shower's all yours. You wanted to leave in an hour" He reminded the brunette, whose brown orbs flickered to the door, then to the floor like she normally does when she's thinking. "Alright, I'll be out soon." She smiled.