Maximum Ride: Trust, Love, and Family

Hey guys! I know my other two stories haven't been that great, but I guarantee that you will like this one more. I really would like reviews, too. And even if it's boring at some parts, just keep reading. I'll update this story again tomorrow, depending on how many reviews! So review, review, and review some more. Thnx! 

XO- Katyi

Chapter 1: My Life Since Then [Max's POV]

It has been three years; three years of hardship, work, and struggle. But now it is finally over, and Itex is gone forever. It has been over, actually, for a year and a half, but now, there is still one problem: Iggy, Gazzy, and Fang aren't here to share the glory—or be part of the family for that matter. They are somewhere else, a place I am not even aware of, but I do not care, because they left me…and they tore my flock apart. And I blame Fang, who I now refer to as him or he—that is, in the event that I have to talk about him to comfort the younger ones, a.k.a.- Nudge [14], Angel [almost 9], and my…daughter, Rosanna, or better known as Rosie [2].

Just to get something straight—Rosie is not biologically my child. Angel found her one day, a few weeks after we destroyed the last Itex branch in Japan. She has wings, but we don't know who her parents are; it's not as if we can get a DNA test done…life just isn't that simple, no matter how normal it is now. And so I decided to adopt her, taking the role as her real mother, not the mother/sister/best friend I was to Nudge and Angel.

Rosie looks a bit like Nudge, and perhaps a little like me, which is why I love her all the more. She has my brown eyes, or close enough, and her hair is a dark chestnut shade, with lighter brown highlights, like Nudge, and it falls in soft ringlets to her chest. It makes her look, from behind, Mexican or, maybe, Spanish. But her skin tone…it isn't like mine or like Nudge's, and it certainly implies that she is not Mexican or Spanish. No, her skin tone is pale, like a sheet of fresh ice. It makes her look almost lifeless, because only the dead are that pallid. If it weren't for the flame red color in her cheeks, I'd be worried. But she is healthy as a horse, and happier than any child I have ever seen. She calls me 'mommy', which I love too. But there is something about her features—something so familiar, yet so distant…it is a…mystery, so to speak. But eventually I'll just be able to look at her and not flinch with surprise at the reminders that are written in her face and body language. And in her personality, too, which is bright and happy most of the time, but stubborn and silent at other moments. It's so strange…I just can't get over it. But she is my daughter, and I will love her, with my whole heart, forever.

So, back to the rest of my story…

After taking down the Itex and adopting Rosie, we headed for my mom's, where she helped us get jobs—or, jobs for me and Nudge, rather, for we are the only ones old enough to actually have jobs—and she also threw in a bunch of money so that we could buy a cheap old house a few blocks away from her. Then Nudge, Angel, my mom, Ella, and I fixed the place up with the money my mom had been saving up to put us in school [I thoroughly objected to that, with Angel following my lead. Nudge decided that she wanted to, so we let her, because, I wouldn't want to ruin her life even more now that everything is wonderful and almost…normal. But public school was her choice, because she wanted us to have more money for remodeling the house. What a great kid.]

And now, a year later, we are living in a two level house, with a forest for a backyard, and a pond in the middle of it, and Nudge is now in 8th grade, which means graduation. I might even cry. And yes, you heard correct; the great Maximum Ride will cry. Hey, that is only because I'm so proud…or maybe it's because I'm so happy…I'm not sure. But whatever the reason, I'll be there, sobbing my eyes out, yet as strong and cool as before.

I guess you could say life is great, and it is. But, at some points, it feels like there is a giant hole in my chest, growing bigger and bigger. And then, it feels like I'm hollow. I only feel like this when my thoughts are with him and the other two. It hurts like hell, and feels worse than being torn apart. My mom knows what they did to me, and although she doesn't want to blame it on him entirely, she does go along with my mood and judgment, for she is almost as angry with them as I am.

The only thing that can patch me up, though, is my friends. I have made four excellent friends—two girls, and two boys: Jake [17], Natalie [17], Grace [16], and Mike [16]. They are like replacements to the three that left me, and between Jake and I, sometimes I feel something…more than friendship. And I'm okay with that. Because he is my safe harbor and I trust him more than I do anyone else, for he picked me back up when I was down, and he does love me—he told me once. He makes me happy, so I'm taking our "more than friends thing" one step at a time. And I am really hoping it will grow into something more. And a plus about him—he is who Rosie calls "daddy", even though I correct her, telling her to call him Jake. That just makes it easier and better, though. The only thing I'm not sure with his is the fact that I don't know if I love him as much as he loves me. But for now, that's okay, and he seems to accept it. But maybe one day we will be together, because I do love him, even though I would never tell him. But I think he knows…and right now, that's good enough for me.

The group is all human, but they know of our secret, which they think is amazing. It's wonderful to know that I'm accepted and loved by someone other than my family. They all attend school, and even though they are older than Nudge and Angel, they still act like best friends to them. And when they aren't at school or their jobs, they hang out with us…it is sooo perfectly wonderful.

So life is great. Bottom line. I'm happy, and so is the rest of my new Flock. The only thing I fear, and I feel like this will happen soon, is that they will return. And if that were to happen…well, I wouldn't know what to do…I feel them coming though…and I know they are…

I'll be ready.

So??? What did you think? Love it? Hate it? Review and tell me! And give me ideas for the next chapter, too. I was thinking of having Fang and the gang returning, then big decisions, and maybe a little…hmm…maybe some…FAX!!! And then there was going to be the twist with Jake, Max's new friend. And maybe a little denial and fury from Max unleashed upon Fang… You tell me what you want, okay? Good. Hope you liked it, and….REVIEW! ;]

XO-Katyi