Disclaimer: If I was the great JP would I be writing a fanfiction? No.
"See you at the beach," she muttered in my direction. And then she took off. None of us would be able to catch up with her. God, she was amazing.
"What's up with Max?" Nudge asked.
"Nothing." I told her. "She just has a really bad headache."
"Is she mad at us?"The question came from Gazzy.
This time Angel answered for me, "No, she just needs to be alone." Gazzy nodded his head but he still looked worried. And to be honest I was worried too. This wasn't Max. I mean, it's not like any of us are normal but as far as normal goes for bird-kids Max just wasn't acting it.
The flight to the beach seemed pretty tense. Nudge tried to release some of the tension by blabbering on about some mindless reality show she'd seen at Anne's house. It didn't really help.
We were just coming up on the beach when my raptor vision caught something. Max kneeling in the sand using some sharp object to slice at her wrist. My mouth fell open in horror and heard some shocked gasps from behind me. I didn't even have time to think. I landed and skidded to a stop then ran over to a blood covered Max.
I dropped total in the sand and in three seconds flat I was panting over her shouting, "What the hell are you doing?" I grabbed her wrist and smacked her hand, making her drop the sharp object, which turned out to be a seashell . "Are you crazy?"
Then the rest of the flock came up behind me. I could hear Gazzy explaining the scene to Iggy. He sounded like he was about to cry. My stomach twisted painfully. Was Max trying to kill herself?!
"Want the chip out," she said brokenly. She looked ragged like all these years of torment had all come down on the at once. She looked down and didn't say another word.
"Look where your cutting!" I snapped. "You're going to bleed to death you idiot!" I was furious and shocked and, if I was being completely honest with myself, a little scared. I threw her down and a towel and some antiseptic out of my backpack. I dumped the antiseptic in to the cut and Max winced.
Nudge kneeled down next to Max. "Max, what were you doing?" She sounded just like Gazzy had.
I looked at Max. "I wanted the chip out." she whispered.
I started bandaging her arm. "Well forget it!" I snapped angrily. "The chip stays in. You don't get off that easy! You die when we die!" We all needed Max.
My face was probably hard and pale with anger. How could she do this? She looked up at me and managed out," I'm sorry." then she burst into tears.
My anger started to fade and was replaced with fear. yes the great emotionless Fang was afraid. The one person I actually depended on (not that I was about to admit that to anyone) had hit rock bottom.
I wrapped my arm my arms around her and gently pressed her head into my shoulder. Right now the only thing that mattered to me was comforting Max. She was finally breaking down from all the stress and I couldn't blame her. Sometimes I wondered if Max had it worse than the rest of us. She was the leader and she felt it was her job to keep not only her own life but five other lives intact. Physically and emotionally. I mean when something went terribly wrong I just pretended I didn't feel . Period. But Max had to pretend she felt differently. That's too much for anyone. Even the great Maximum Ride cannot and should not have to carry a weight so heavy on her shoulders.
Max pulled her wings in as the tentative hands of our family gently patted her back. "Shh shh" Nudge whispered.
"It's okay Max." Iggy soothed try to sound sure but only sounding like he was about to throw up. "Everything's okay."
Max nodded into my shoulder though I'm sure she didn't buy it.
I didn't say anything. I didn't feel the need too because sometimes I think Max really appreciates my "actions speak louder than words" attitude. So I just sat there and held her.