Disclaimer: I don't own the Maximum Ride series or it's basic plot. I only own my own characters (who pretty much make up the whole story so HA!)
Taking Flight
Ryan liked mornings like this. Cold and misty. It reminded him of his parents. When he was little, they would take him to the park on mornings like this. But they were gone. They had died a year ago in a car crash. He remembered the call they got from the hospital. His mother had died on impact, but his dad died at the hospital. He hated that place. He hated that day. December 21st, the day he became an orphan. He wished it had never happened. Worst of all, it was coming up. In three days, it would be the anniversary of his parent's death. Everyone was in a bad mood, and Ryan had no doubt that it was related to the upcoming date.
He lived with his siblings, they were all different ages. Max was 19, almost 20, he was the oldest and in charge. Ryan was the second oldest at 17. Jimmy was 16. And his sister, Emily, was 15. They lived in a five bedroom house. He and Jimmy shared a room, and no one used their parents' room. They had a small kitchen with a table, and a den with two couches and a reclining chair, and an extra room. They weren't exactly rich. Max had a 7:00 A.M.-11:00A.M. Job at a Waffle House, and a 1:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M. job the movie theater. Jimmy was a part-time cashier at a Rite-Aid. Ryan worked as a shelf stocker at a grocery store, so all together they could pay bills and buy food, clothes, ECT, and still have some money left over, but they couldn't buy a bigger house, and they only had one car.
Ryan was pulled out of his day dreaming by Emily calling his name.
"Ryan," she said slightly annoyed.
"Huh?" Ryan snapped out of his thoughts
"Are you," she asked.
"What," he asked confused.
"Where you even listening to me?"
"No, what did you say?"
"Sam is driving Jimmy and me to school, are you gonna ride with us?"
"Oh, no I'm picking Dia up at her house."
"Aww how cute," Jimmy said as he walked into the kitchen.
"Shut up," Ryan said. Dia had been his friend since he was ten, but they were just friends.
"Hey Emily, Sam's here, ready to go," Jimmy asked Emily.
"Yeah, let me get my bag," she said, walking into the den.
After they left, Ryan sat alone. Max had disappeared to who knows where. Looking at the clock, he decided it was time to leave. He grabbed his bag and was about to walk out the door, when the phone rang.
"Hello," he said as he put it to his ear.
"Hey, it's me."
"Dia? I was just heading over to pick you up."
"Don't bother, I'm sick."
"Oh, why didn't you call earlier?"
"I was hoping it would pass."
"Oh, well I hope you feel better."
"Thanks, me too, see ya' later."
"See ya', bye."
'Well,' he though, 'Since I don't have to pick Dia up, I guess I don't need the car.' He always did like walking to school on mornings like this, so he started back out the door.
As he walked, Ryan enjoyed the scenery. Though there was not much to enjoy. His neighborhood was pretty old and beat up. But the neighbors were nice, and there wasn't much yard work. Ryan noticed a stray cat dart across the street and into an alley way. As he passed by it, he looked down the alley. He didn't know what he expected to see, maybe the cat perched on the wooden fence, or just a littered alley way. But he didn't expect to see a young girl, about Emily's age, sitting with her back against the wall. Ryan stopped and looked at her. She looked like she might have been hurt.
"Hey, are you okay," he asked. She didn't move.
"Hey," he said a little louder.
The girl obviously heard him that time. She quickly jumped to her feet. Her clothes were dirty and beat up, with tears and holes in them. She wore a short sleeve shirt and jeans with holes in the knees, very strange considering the cold weather. She looked dirty, tired and hungry.
"Um, hello, are you okay, do you need help," Ryan asked. He couldn't help noticing the look in her eyes. Like a trapped animal.
"Do you need help," he asked again, walking forward, hoping for an answer. She backed away.
"It's ok, I just want to help," he was still trying to get an answer. But she just backed away more. She tripped backwards over an empty wooden crate. Ryan walked forward holding out his hand.
"Are you ok," he asked, waiting for her to take his hand. She just quickly stood up and ran past him. He turned around just in time to see her disappear around the corner.
By the time he got to school, Ryan was late. Not that it mattered; he could have not been at school at all and still have learned as much as he did that day. He spent homeroom, math, and Spanish thinking about the girl he saw in the alley and why she was out on the streets. At lunch he went to sit with his friends. Jimmy was sitting with his girlfriend, Alice. Emily was with her friends.
"Well if it isn't Mr. I'm-to-good-to-pay-attention-so-I'll- just-daydream-all-day," called his friend Alex as he sat down.
"I was just thinking a lot," he defended himself.
"Not about school I'm sure," Alex replied.
"Yeah, what's been going on in that head of yours," asked Tristy, Alex's girlfriend.
"Well, there was this girl….." Ryan was interrupted by his friend, Sam.
"Oooo, somebody's got a crush," he teased.
"Real mature Samuel," Tristy snapped, "So who is the lucky girl?"
"I didn't say I liked her, I don't even know who she is, besides, she looked about Emily's age," Ryan replied.
"Oh, so, where did you meet her," Alex asked.
"An alley way….." Ryan started.
"Well that's promising," Sam interrupted.
"Would you let me talk," Ryan snapped, "Anyway, I saw her in an alley and asked her if she was okay, she freaked out and ran away. I think she might have been homeless."
"Whoa, that's kinda sad, homeless at that young age, poor girl," said Tristy.
"Yeah, I wonder where she went, she could get hurt on the streets," Alex added.
"I know, that's what I'm afraid of, but she didn't look too friendly," Ryan said.
"Maybe something happened to her or something," Tristy said.
"I don't know, keep an eye out, she's gotta be somewhere, maybe there's a shelter or something that can help her," Ryan said. Just then the bell rang, lunch was over, and Ryan was thinking more about the girl then ever.
Ryan could have taken a ride home with Sam, Emily and Jimmy, but he wanted to walk, just in case the mysterious girl was still around. He felt sorry for her, living on the streets at such a young age. He wondered why she ran from him. Where did she even come from? Why wasn't she at home with her parents? Maybe she was an outlaw! Maybe she was hiding from the law!
Ryan shook those thoughts from his head. Though, there was something different about the girl. There had been a determined and wild look in her eyes, but there had also been fear and sadness.
He finally reach his house and set his stuff down inside. He went to his room to do his homework, they always seemed to pile it up right before the holidays. After he was done with his schoolwork, there wasn't much to do but kick back and watch T.V. It was too cold to do anything outside. Flipping through the channels, he saw a weather man talking. He watched for a little while.
"We should be getting some snow flurries from the north followed by….."
Ryan didn't bother listening to the rest, he continued flipping through channels when he saw Animal Planet. There was a show on about how some pet owners neglect there pets. There was a clip of a dog chained to a post out in a yard covered in snow with some lady doing a voiceover. He wasn't listening to what she was saying. He was too busy thinking about a teenage girl wandering the streets during a snow storm. He looked out the window. The sunlight was fading and snow was starting to come down.
"Hey Ryan," Emily called from her room.
"Yeah," he called back.
"Can you explain this homework to me?"
"Sure, be right there," he replied. He went to help his little sister.
The next day was the same old usual stuff. Ryan got up, ate breakfast, and got ready for school. He called Dia's house to ask if she was feeling any better, her mother said she had a sore throat and couldn't go to school today. He drove Jimmy and Emily to school. During lunch, he asked his if anyone had seen the girl. None of them had.
After school, he got home, did his homework, ate dinner, and went to bed. He knew that tomorrow was going to be a miserable day.
When his alarm clock went off the next day, he felt like just ignoring it. He slid out of bed, got dressed and ready for the day. When he got to the kitchen, he saw Emily sitting at the table. She looked upset, he couldn't blame her. Jimmy came into the kitchen, followed by Max.
"I'm taking off work early today," Max announced. Everyone nodded to show they had heard him.
No one said anything until Max had gone to work, ridding his bicycle as usual.
"It's almost like he doesn't even care," Jimmy said. They all knew what he was talking about.
"He does, he's just trying to take it well, for us," Ryan said.
"Jimmy, you know it hurts him just as much," Emily came in.
"Yeah, I know, but it ever since Mom and Dad died, he hasn't been the same. It's like he doesn't have any emotion anymore. I know he's trying to be strong, but a little feeling wouldn't hurt," Jimmy said. They nodded in agreement. When they went outside, they saw that it had started to snow heavily.
Ryan drove them to school. The day went as usual. At lunch Ryan was a lot quieter than he normally was. No one asked him about it though. They all knew why.
Finally the last school bell rang and Christmas break began. They wouldn't have to go back to school until after New Years. Maybe a break from school was what Ryan needed to clear his head. He met Jimmy and Emily in the parking lot. He drove them home.
They pulled up in the drive way the same time Max rode up on his bicycle.
"How was school," he asked.
"The usual," Emily replied.
"Fine," said Jimmy.
"Same old," Ryan answered.
'Jimmy was right,' Ryan thought, 'Max had been changed since Mom and Dad died.' He remembered when Max was well connected to his siblings. He remembered him always being upbeat, pleasant, he liked to joke around every now and again, now he hardly ever asked what was going on at school and he was always serious. He just wasn't any fun anymore.
After finishing his homework, Ryan decided to take a walk to clear his thoughts. He walked pasted buildings and businesses. He kept his hands in his pockets of his coat the keep them warm. It was still snowing a little. Every now and then, he would pass someone on the sidewalk, but not many people were out walking around. It wasn't long before Ryan came to a steel rod gate.
The sign at the top said, 'Oak Wood Cemetery'. It was the place where his parents were buried. He walked through the open gates and through the rows of headstones, until he reach a well kept plot. There was a picture of his parents on the two headstones. In small fancy letters the names Debbie and Greg Philips were engraved on each stone. Below there names were the words, 'Loving parents and wonderful friends. We will miss you,' followed by date of death. If he had thought about it, Ryan would have bought fresh flowers for the vase that was put there, but to tell the truth, he hadn't even planned of going there, that's just where he ended up.
Looking around, Ryan noticed how peaceful it was here. Snow covered grounds, big oak trees, not a person in sight. That's when he saw a small figure some distance away, leaning against a headstone, with their head down. The person didn't appear to be wearing a coat of any kind. Out of curiosity, Ryan walked a little closer to the row they were sitting in. He was about five rows away from them. The person looked like they were asleep. Walking closer, he could see that they had long reddish-brown hair, worn blue jeans, and a tattered old t-shirt. Realization hit him, it was the girl from the alley way. He walked up closer to her, to where he was about five feet away. She still didn't look up or even move. She had snow in her hair and on her clothes. She had probably been there a couple of hours. He knelt down and poked her shoulder. She moved a little and look up. Fear flicked in her eyes, and she quickly stood up, only to have her stiff legs give out. She stumbled and fell back on the ground.
"Wait," Ryan said quickly. He kept his kneeling position. "What are you doing here," he asked. She just kept staring at him. "Aren't you cold," he asked. She said nothing and kept staring. "Can you talk," he asked, thinking that she might not even understand what he was saying. She nodded slowly. "Here," he said, he took off his coat and handed it to her. She looked at it for a while before taking it. "I think there is a shelter near here, I can take you to it if you want," he said.
"No,' she said quickly, with fear in her voice.
"They could help you," Ryan insisted.
"No they couldn't," she said quietly.
"Well, you can't stay out here. There is a snow storm coming in tonight," Ryan said.
"I'll manage," the girl replied.
"What are you doing out here anyway, why aren't you home," Ryan asked.
"I don't have a home," she answered.
"What's your name," Ryan asked.
"Sarah," she said.
"Oh," Ryan said, "…Do you have a last name?"
"No," she said bluntly.
"Oh, okay. So, where did you come from?" Ryan asked. She didn't answer.
"Well," Ryan said, "I can't just leave you out here."
"Why not," she asked.
"Because, you'll freeze if I do," Ryan answered.
"What do you care," she asked.
"I can't just leave you here to die, how would I sleep at night?" he said
"Laying down I assume," she said, sarcastically answering his rhetorical question. Ryan ignored the girl's remark.
"I could let you stay with me and my family for a little while," he offered. He knew he couldn't let her stay out there to freeze. But from what she said, it was almost like he was the first person to offer to help her.
"Why are you so worried about me? Why do you even care so much? You don't even know me," She said.
"Because it's the right thing to do," he answered as he stood up. He held out his hand to her. She only stared at it. Still refusing his hand, she stood up and brushed the snow off of herself.
"Well, since you are bent on helping me, I'll take your offer," she said.
Ryan smiled, but suddenly realized that it was a pretty long walk back to the house, and it was getting dark. He knew Tristy's house was close by. No doubt she would give them a ride home.
"We'll have to get a ride from a friend of mine," he told her.
She nodded. They walked in silence until he reach Tristy's house. He rang the doorbell and waited. About ten seconds later, Tristy's little brother, Donny, opened the door.
"Hey, is Tristy home," Ryan asked him.
"Yeah, she's in her room," Donny answered. He turned and yelled, "Tristy, some people are here to see you!" they heard a door open and Tristy walked into view.
"Ryan?" she said, "what are you doing out in this weather?"
"I need a ride to my house, can you drive us?" he asked.
"Sure, let me get my keys," she said. She was always ready to help when someone needed it. They walked to her car. Sarah hesitated before getting in. As soon as the car door was closed, Tristy turn on the heater. After a few minutes, Tristy broke the silence.
"Who is this," she asked, referring to Sarah.
"This is Sarah, she's the girl I saw in the alley I was telling you about,"
Ryan answered.
"You must have been freezing out there," Tristy said.
"I'm use to it," Sarah replied flatly.
"You could have gone to a shelter," Tristy told her.
"I don't like homeless shelters," Sarah said.
"Why not?" Tristy asked.
"I just don't," Sarah replied, slightly defensive. Tristy decided that is was useless to try to start a conversation with the girl.
They sat in silence the rest of the way. When they got to Ryan's house, he got out followed by Sarah.
"Bye, see you later," Tristy called after them. Ryan waved and thanked her for the ride. He led Sarah to the door, and went inside.
"Sorry about the interrogation," he said, "Tristy just likes to talk." Sarah nodded.
He told her to stay in the kitchen while he went to talk to Max. While looking for Max, he saw Emily.
"Hey Em, do you know where Max is," he asked.
"Out looking for you, why?"
"Well..." he started.
"What did you do," she asked suspiciously.
"So you just assume I did something," Ryan asked.
"Yeah," Emily said matter-of-factly, "So what'd you do?"
Sighing he said, "Follow me", and led her into the kitchen. Sarah was standing in the same spot where he left her. She was looking around the kitchen, but pointed her attention toward them when they came in.
"Emily this is Sarah, I offered her to stay with us for a little while, to get out of the snow," Ryan explain.
"Hi," Emily said friendlily, "Um, Ryan, can I talk to you for a minute." She pulled him into the den.
"Are you nuts," she said in a loud whisper, "Max is gonna flip!"
"Emily, I know Max, he can be a stick in the sand, but he's not cruel," Ryan reasoned.
"Whatever, it's your funeral," she said as she walked back to her room.
As if on cue, Max walked in the front door.
"There you are," he said to Ryan, "We were worried."
"Max, I need to talk to you," Ryan said nervously.
"Sure, what is it," Max asked. Ryan didn't know where to begin, so he started from where he saw Sarah in the alley.
"So I told her I had to talk to you, but she's in the kitchen right now," He finished.
"Ok, well, as long as she's not dangerous, I guess she can stay here for a little while," Max said, he walked into the kitchen.
"Hello," Max said, extending his hand. Sarah just looked at it. Putting his hand back down, Max spoke. "I'm Max, Ryan's older brother. He told me he offered you to stay here for a little while." Sarah nodded. "I guess it's ok with me then," he continued, "So, um, how old are you," he asked awkwardly.
"I guess about 15," she replied quietly.
"Oh, and you don't know where your family is," asked Max. She shook her head. Max felt sorry for the girl.
Everyone came out to meet Sarah. She acted nervous around them. Ryan figured she would get used to them before long. After a while, everyone left to go to sleep. Max told her that she would have to sleep one the couch, and before he left, he reminded Ryan to get Sarah blankets out of the linen closet. He went to do so. When he got back, she had already fallen asleep lying on her stomach. He was about to put a blanket over her, when he noticed two perfectly cut vertical slit holes in the back of her t-shirt.
'That's odd,' he thought to himself. He decided not to worry about right now, and laid the blanket over her. Then he went to get ready for bed.
The next day, Emily and Ryan took Sarah to get new clothes. She wouldn't let them buy anything too expensive. She didn't want them to spend too much money on her. Dia, who was feeling better, came over to visit them and meet Sarah.
They decided to have a dinner where everyone actually ate with each other instead of different times and in different places.
After dinner, everyone went to do separate things. Jimmy was about to go to den to watch T.V. when he heard the backdoor open. He looked over to see Sarah walking outside.
"Hey Sarah, where are you going," he asked.
"I'm just going for a walk," she answered.
"This late?" he asked.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine," she insisted.
"Maybe I should come with you," he said, starting to get up.
"No," Sarah said quickly, "I mean, I use to live out there you know," she explained.
"Fine," Jimmy answered, "just don't get hurt". Sarah nodded and walked out the door. Jimmy knew there was something she wasn't telling them, and it worried him. But she wouldn't tell them anything on her own. They didn't want to just flat out ask, it was obvious she didn't want to talk about whatever it was.
Author's note: Well, it may not be very well written, but I wrote this a while ago. So the first few chapters are going to be a little shaky, but it'll get better, I promise!