Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN MAXIMUM RIDE. THERE'S NO WAY IN HECK I CAN DREAM UP OF SUCH A CREATIVE SERIES.
Chapter 1-Leaving Home

Fang/James's POV (6 years ago)

Numb with shock, I slowly looked up into Maxi's tear-filled eyes. Wow, that sounds cliché. But don't blame me-I lost my best friend that day 7 long years ago. Anyways… back to memory lane….

"Maxi, you can't go! Stay here with me and Iggy and Nudge and Gazzy!"

"James, I'm really sorry! I can't believe…" Maxi's voice cracked. "I can't believe Daddy died. And you know I'll leave Angel."

"MAX! We have to go now honey! The plane to Oceanside won't wait! Say bye to James and let's go!" Dr. M shouted from the car.

"Wait. Maxi, you're leaving today?" I asked nervously. Maxi just whimpered and nodded slowly. "Oh Maxi." I felt my heart break and gently pulled her into a hug. That's when Max completely broke down and started bawling into my shoulder. "Shhhhh… It's okay." I tried to comfort her. "I won't ever, ever forget you." Max sniffled.

"MAX! We have to go! 1 minute more and then I'M LEAVING!"

Max slowly lifted her head. I almost started crying myself when I saw her face. She looked so helpless. Maxi is the toughest and strongest girl I know. I've only seen her cry twice even though we've been friends since birth for more than 9 years. Maxi didn't cry when her real mom Brigid slapped her in the face and swore at her after Mr. Jeb and Brigid got divorced. She didn't even cry when she was climbing the tree in my backyard and fell. (This, in case you were wondering, resulted in 5 leg bone fractures and 1 broken arm.) Sure, we fight all the time (understatement of the century) but no one knows more about me than Maxi. I'd seen that face every day of my life. I had seen it filthy with caked-on dirt from digging around in the forest, bruised after accidently tripping onto a briar patch, laughing at my jokes, snarling at our enemies, sleeping peacefully at our sleepovers, telling lies with total sincerity to get away with cookie stealing, looking down at him with light in her eyes, that communication between them…

Suddenly, I remembered something. My bracelet! More specifically, the thick black bracelet that I spent hours making last night. I even got Mom to sew in Dad's old Air Force wings on the side.* I don't even know why I made it. Intuition that my best friend since birth is leaving I guess?

I carefully took it off and tied it on Maxi's small wrist. "Here, Maxi! Don't forget to wear it next year when you're graduating 5th grade at your new school! I'll be thinking of you the entire time." I tried to smile through my tears that were about to fall. "I bet you'll be surfing like a pro next time I see you. Go enjoy California for me!"

"MAXIMUM ARTEMIS RIDE!" Dr. M screamed one last time from the car.

"Bye James. I'll miss you." Maxi wiggled out of my bear hug and ran outside to her mom's white convertible.

That's when I stopped repeating my "STAY STRONG. DON'T CRY. STAY STRONG. DON'T CRY." mantra and let all my tears drop. I already missed her and she hasn't even been gone 5 minutes. How was I going to last summer and 5th grade? I don't even know when or if she's coming back. Who was I supposed to tell everything to now? Who was gonna be my best friend, my supporter, and my partner in crime?

Max POV

I kept staring at Fang's house until we turned the corner. I still can't believe my life is completely destroyed! My dad died trying to save someone in the lab he was working in during Hurricane Katrina. He was gone all the time and I barely even see him at home… but he's still my dad. Stupid hurricane. Stupid scientists who have to go to New Orleans for work. Ughhhh. Why is this happening? Now we're literally moving across the country to Oceanside, California. Home of conceited, mean, annoying, and shallow people. The exact opposite of Paradise Falls, Michigan. And the killer thing is, I have no one to complain to or cry on since I left Fang. Fang was my right-hand man, my best friend, the one who always, always had my back. He'd die to save me, and I won't hesitate to throw myself in a front of a train for him. I ended up sobbing to myself in the car to the airport with Angel leaning against my shoulder.

YAY! I'm finally done with my first ever chapter in my first ever story on fanfiction! J

1-I know this is supposed to be Fang's memory but I need Max's point of view too.
2-I stopped myself from swearing in this chapter (no promises on the future chapters ;) because Fang and Max are only 10 years old in 4th grade.
3-Fang is James. He changed his name later. I don't know why yet.
4-The wings in the bracelet are like the wings that pilots wear on planes. I have no clue if the Air Force actually has that.
5-Read my brother's fanfiction too pweez? = SHAMELESS ADVERTISING RIGHT THERE. The title is Artemis Fowl: The Devil. Look under Author Inkblot98's stories. It's his first one too.
READ AND REVIEW PLEASE! :D

Magic-Wings-Forever (Tina)