A/N: This is a story that has been bouncing around in my head for a while. It's my first fanfic ever, so please give only constructive criticism. Thanks!
The first day of school is always the worst. I know there are lots of kids who love the first day back at school, new classes, teachers, school supplies, and clothes. They're all idiots.
School isn't really so bad for me, I'm smart and get good grades without working too hard, but it's all pointless. When are we going to use any of it in real life?
Anyway, I should introduce myself first. My name's Max, short for Maximum. Actually, my birth certificate says Maxine Ride Batchelder, but when I was little for some reason I thought Max was short for Maximum, and I've been Maximum ever since.
I'm fourteen, so today I will be starting 9th grade at our local highschool. I'm not exactly looking forward to it. The only bright spot is Fang and Iggy will be there with me.
A little bit about Fang and Iggy:
No, those aren't their real names. Iggy's actually called James Griffiths, and Fang is really Nick Walker. They nicknamed themselves when they were small, like I named myself Maximum. I guess we're all just weird like that.
Fang is my closest friend, which I guess is a bit disloyal to Iggy, but it's true. We've lived on the same street for as long as we can remember, and been best friends that entire time. I'm older than Fang by two months, and Iggy by six months so I've always been the leader. My parents have this hilarious video of all of us playing in the park when we're about three. The entire time I'm telling the boys exactly what to do, and they actually listen. The highlight is when I decide that Fang is going to be a dog and make him roll over and then pat him on the head. Fang will never forgive me for that.
Anyway, now that you know who I am I guess I should get to the real story.
My alarm went off at 7:00 this morning, a painful reminder that summer was over and I could no longer sleep in. I drag myself downstairs, still in my pajamas, to eat some breakfast.
Mom's already up, passing my little brother and sister plates of scrambled eggs.
"Grr,"my brother snarls, attacking his eggs. He's only seven, and going through a wolf phase. I blame Mom for letting him watch a TV special about wolves in the wild.
"Ari, you can pretend to be a wolf after breakfast. At the table, we're going to be humans," my mom says patiently. Ari nods agreeably and picks up his fork.
We eat breakfast quietly, mostly because my mom isn't stupid enough to try to start a conversation with either me or Ella at this ungodly hour. When I notice Ella nearing her last bites, I quickly shovel the rest of my food into my mouth and swallow.
"First shower!" I call, throwing my dishes in the sink.
"What? Noo, Max!" Ella whines. "Your showers take forever!"
I shrug and head up the stairs as Ella turns beseechingly to Mom. Mom looks between us and shrugs in a what do you expect me to do? motion.
"Less than ten minutes this time Max," she calls up the stairs. Ella glares at me and puts her plate next to mine in the sink.
We actually get along pretty well, Ella and I. It's kind of necessary when you share a room as small as ours. Ella must have inherited Mom's patience, because I'm not exactly know for domestic cleanliness.
I shower quickly and towel dry my hair, not caring if it stays wet. Getting dressed is an annoying process, mostly because it reminds me that every other freshman girl will be putting lots of thought into their outfits, and sizing up everyone else. Feeling a tad rebellious, I throw on some jeans, a white t-shirt, and a simple gray hoodie. All my new books sit at the end of my bed, and I stuff them into my plain black backpack. Mom offered to get me a new backpack for this year, but I didn't want to. I've had this bag since sixth grade, and it's still perfectly good. When the seams start ripping, I'll get a new backpack.
In the time it takes me to get my stuff together, Ella has showered, blowdried her hair, and put on the outfit she laid out last night. She's wearing a skirt - an actual skirt - and a stylish pink sweater. Yes, my sister is one of those people: she's looked forward to starting school again. She's especially excited about seventh grade because she gets to start changing classes.
"Are you ready to go?" Ella asks cheerily.
I glance at the clock. It's only 7:30. "School doesn't start for another half-hour."
"I know, but I want to get there early. And it's a ten minute walk to my school, fifteen minutes to yours."
"Fine," I growl. I really do love my sister, but I just don't understand what she likes about school.
As if she's reading my thoughts, Ella says, "I don't understand why you don't like school. At least you're good at it."
She's right. Ella's not stupid, not by a long shot, but she does have to work pretty hard to get the grades she wants. I got really lucky to have schoolwork be so easy for me.
"It's not the work," I say, even though we've had this discussion many times. "It's the people." Translated, that means "I suck at socializing."
Ella rolls her eyes. "It's not like you don't have friends."
"I have more enemies. And have you seen my shoes?"
"You left them by the front door," Ella replies picking up her already packed, turquoise backpack.
I race downstairs but find only one sneaker by the front door. I pull it on and limp around the kitchen looking for the other shoe. Finally, I find it under the table, clamped between the teeth of my demented brother.
Ari growls as I snatch my shoe from him. "Wolves don't chew on shoes," I tell him.
"That's not a shoe, it's a rabbit."
"Maybe your shoes are rabbits, but my shoes are definitely not rabbits." Yes I sounded completely ridiculous.
"Can I go to school with you?" Ari asks, abruptly changing the subject.
"You don't start until tomorrow," I remind him. "Tomorrow we'll all walk to school together okay?"
I stand up and walk to the door where Ella is waiting without giving him a chance to answer.
