Disclaimer: Maximum Ride is property of James Patterson. The plot is property of Cassandra Jones.

This is an Alternate Universe fanfiction.

I sat on the large blanket in the back of the bus. It was so strange to me, sitting back here. So much room. The sky was starry and dark, and for the first time in a long time, I was so happy to be in Japanese. Emily, Nick, and J.J. sat in the back of the bus with me. We talked. It was always easier to talk to Nick when there were others around. The subject of our conversation? Teeth. I kid you not.

I laughed, slightly embarrassed, "My teeth are horrible!" I cried, "They're all crooked. I don't want braces, though. Besides, I've grown attached to my snaggle tooth."

Emily responded but I didn't hear her. J.J. giggled and said something to Emily while giving me a playful nudge. Again, her words were just white noise. Nick sat across from me, he said nothing. As was to be expected. His wry smile made me grin. What was he thinking about?

I turned to ask Emily what she'd said when I saw him move. He got up on his knees and came closer to the three of us. It wasn't until it occurred to me that his hand was at my shoulder that I saw what was to follow. He bent over me and put his mouth over mine.

I tell you this now so you don't get confused. It was not a kiss. He did not kiss me. I may not know what a kiss feels like, but trust me, that wasn't it. You know how people do CPR? And how that's not the same as kissing? Well, it's like that. His mouth was over mine but he wasn't kissing me. He just set it there. There was pressure on my lips but nothing more.

I could feel the shock of my two friends. What was going on? What was he doing? And why?

I gasped sitting up and clutching my chest. I was sweating all over but I felt so cold. I looked around my room and let out a sigh of relief, realizing what had just happened was all a dream. In my inspection, my eyes fell on the arm draped casually over my waist. I looked back to the boy to whom the arm belonged. I smiled at him affectionately. I could hardly believe he was still asleep, what with my episode just now. I closed my eyes and flopped back down on the bed with another long sigh. "What's up?" Fang asked. I flinched. Not completely asleep, I guess.

"It's nothing," I lied. Why bother lying? He'd find out anyway. "I'll tell you in the morning." Nuzzling my side, he made a muffled grunt of approval. I ran my hand through his hair and tried to get back to sleep. School tomorrow.

FREEZE FRAME!

My name is Max. Maximum, actually. Maximum Ride. I am the oldest of five children. Youngest to oldest: Gazzy (Gunther), 1; Angel, 3; Ari (Arnold), 7; and Ella, 15. Angel, Gazzy and I are all from the same two parents, however, in the time that our parents were "separated," Ella and Ari were born. Ari, my father's, Ella, my mother's. Eventually, Jeb and Valencia, my parents and the guardians of my family, came to their senses and remarried, thus producing the round face bundles of joy I know to be Angel and Gazzy.

J.J. is my best friend. She and I are sophomores in high school and have been friends since eighth grade, which, I hate to say, is a very short time comparatively.

Emily is another good friend of mine. She and I sing, draw, and speak Japanese together. We'd probably have more classes together, but she's a senior. I'm going to miss her when she goes off to college next year. I envy her facial expressions, habitual gesticulations, intelligence, work ethic, and enthusiasm. I don't think we hang out nearly enough.

Fang is my husband.

Okay, yeah, I thought that might confuse you.

Fang and I "met" in seventh grade at a middle school play that a few of my friends took part in. He's about a year older than me. 6'1", brown eyes, black hair, good sense of humour, understanding, slouch from hanging around me who is almost two feet shorter, black wings. I know, I know, there we go again with the surprises. You see, I need to put "met" in quotations because technically I created Fang. He's my imaginary friend.

Now wait a second, it really isn't that weird. . . Okay, so I lied, it's totally freaky. But that's not the point. I mean, I understand that there's no way he's really there. That I'm "in love" with a figment of my imagination. But... I mean, sometimes... There's no way it's me. It's Fang. He's there. He's real. And I know. I've heard him, actually heard him. And other's have, too! (He's quite the snorer) I've felt his hand on my arm. I've seen him standing in my living room. I know he's there. I don't know how I know. I just do.

We didn't start out "lovers." We got married in eighth grade and now it just feels weird to take my ring off. What can I say? I love that boy.

Oh right, right. But you're all probably curious as to who this "Nick" character is.

Well, that's pretty simple. He and I met when I was in eighth grade. He's a couple inches shy of six foot.

. . . Also... he has brown eyes, black hair... he slouches when he walks... He's got a pretty well developed sense of humour...

He looks just like Fang.

And... I think, just a few seconds ago, I realized for the first time, in how much trouble I was going to be in over the next year.