Chapter 1

Overview: Max, Fang, and Iggy are 16. Nudge is 13. Gazzy is 10. Angel is 8. This is as if they had never had wings, as if there parents had never donated them. As if the School had been found out before Max was born and shut it down. Itex is still there though o.0 Fang is Nick, Iggy is James, Nudge is Monique, Gazzy is Dominic and Angel is Angel. Max lives with Dr. Martinez in AZ. Jeb had been captured with the rest of the whitecoats at the school and put in jail. So Max was born. A year later Valencia (Dr. Martinez) met some guy and had Ella. Then the guy died of cancer. So it was Max, Ella and Valencia. Max's last name is Martinez, too. i think thats about it=) Enjoy!

Max's POV

I woke up at 4am sweating. Nightmare, i thought, shaking my head. Weird, i'd had...wings?

"Max?"

A voice came out of the darkness. My younger (by 13 monthes) sister Ella.

"Yeah?" i replied.

"What time does your flight leave?" she asked, softly.

"At 1:00pm as you very well know," I whispered back, smiling.

I was leaving for a New York Boarding School today. My mom was tranferring to a new animal hospital and she had more hours than ever. Also she was moving to Wyoming. I couldnt believe it. She said the move would be to hectic for me and Ella so Ella was staying with her fathers parents. They didnt want me, or as they put it, couldn't handle a 16 year old adolescence. Ella was 15, but whatever. I didnt wanna stay with rich snobby old people. So Mom decided to find one of the best schools in the country. Not really. It was just that she had a sister there who would visit me on the weekends.

"I dont wanna go with Grandma and Pa. I wanna go with you!" Ella said earnestly.

"You cant," i mumbled, already falling back asleep.

"Max? MAX!" Ella whisper yelled.

But i was already asleep.

~*~::~*~

"....and a toothbrush? Did u remember shorts? i hope u didnt pack a lot of them. It gets cold in the winter. But...." my mom hadnt stopped for the past 1/2 hour.

We were on our way to the airport. I had two suitcases and a carryon.
"....sure you packed enough? 2 suitcases doesnt seem like a lot?" she stopped for a breath.

I cut in, "Mom the dorm has a washing machine. Plus i have that credit card, remember. For emergencies. Not that i'd count clothes as an emergency."

We all laughed.

My mom pulled into the airport parking lot. We all got out.

***30 minutes later***

"Oh my poor baby!! On a plane to NY by herself!" my mom was bawling. We were at the security checkpoint. The police officer at the desk was eyeing us.

"Mom, sshh. It's ok, I gotta go though. Do you want me to miss my plane?" I rubbed her back as she sobbed uncontrollably on my shoulder.

I gently extracted myself from her embrace and hugged Ella. I kissed my moms cheek and walked forward. I didnt even have tears in my eyes. I've always prided myself on never crying. I rarely even got emotional. I hated weepy people, despised them even. But not my mom. She was the best.

I walked through security and turned back. My mom and Ella waved. Ella had tears streaming silently down her cheeks.

***30 minutes later***

I got on the plane and sat down next this emo kid. He was dressed all in black. Next to him, in the window seat was a tall girl with curly black hair and creamy chocolate skin. Mr. Emo was listening to an I-Pod and just glanced at me when I sat down.

"is this seat taken?" i asked.

The girl leaned around Mr. Emo and said, "Nope. I came from California then we flew to Idaho and Mr. Emo here got on. He hasnt talked the whole flight. Didnt even say hi or anything. Is that rude do u think? i'm on my way to New York. Obviously. Thats the last stop so it wouldnt be good if i had to go anywhere else. I'm Monique, by the way. I dont know what his name is. I've been calling him Mr. Emo. I mean he came in with his i-pod on and hasnt said a word."

"Well thats great. I'm Max," i said.

I poked Mr. Emo. He pulled out an earbud, and looked at me, annoyed.

"What?"

I'm Monique," Monique said, holding out her hand. "And this is Max."

He didnt shake her hand, just stared at her then looked back at me.

"Nick. My friends call me Fang. Dont ask," he said, and put the earbud back in.

Monique looked a little offended. But apparently she shook it off because she continued talking to me at high speed.

"Where are you going when we get there? Do you know how long the flight is?"

"Um im going to a boarding school called New York's Finest Vocational,'' i said. "And the flight is 4 1/2 hours long," i added quickly.

"COOL! I'm going there too!" she resumed her, ah, monologue.

I pulled out a book and started reading....

***4 1/2 hours later***

Monique had fallen asleep and was slouched against the window.

Unfortunately for me, so had Mr. Emo/Fang/Nick.

His head was resting lightly on my shoulder and he was snoring quietly in my ear.

I started to ease myself out from under him when suddenly he jerked awake and the pilot's voice said,"You may begin to exit the plane."

I jumped out of my seat and grabbed my bag. I could feel my cheeks turning red. I glanced at Fang and saw that the tips of his ears had turned bright red. otherwise he have no indication of knowing he had fallen asleep on my shoulder.

I leaned over him and tapped Monique awake.

"Do you know where we're going when we get off the plane to get to the school?" i asked her.

Nick looked at me, confused, "Thought u guys just met?"

"We did," i replied. "Unlike you we decided to get to know each other on the ride down."

Monique slid past him and we left the plane, and him.