Author's notes: I'm really broadening my horizons lately. Usually it's just Twilight that I write for. But, I recently wrote a story for 'just listen' and I've had this idea for Maximum Ride ever since I finished reading the last book-- and before it actually. So if you want to read this, go ahead. If you have any questions, at all, just ask. Review please. I'm not going to be anticipating many reviews in this section because there are not as many stories as say for Twilight or Harry Potter. But this idea has been with me for a LONG time. So here it is!
Chapter One
A lot can happen in the period of three years. You can change physically to the point of unrecognition—not that I was unrecognizable, just cleaned up a bit. School can totally change you, for the better of course. I learned so much in the past three years that knowledge sometimes just seeped out of my ears. Seriously. I feel like an entirely different person now than I was when I was fourteen. I am happy, but it's not the happiest I have ever been. No. But I'm living.
The day everything changed…
Storm clouds hinted towards a hurricane from outside the windows. I only took a short glance before letting my attention fall on the large television screens on the far wall. Angel held her small fingers in my hand tightly, I would never let go of her. They could never take her away from me. I looked at Nudge as she stood beside me, her back straight. She was so brave, I wanted to cry. Iggy and the Gasman were behind us, leaning awkwardly against the conference tables. Fang was, well Fang was off on his own. As usual, his face blank of all emotion, just staring at the Uber- Director. As ugly as he was.
I had no idea what would happen next, but you do. So I am going to skip all the tiny details and tell you the stuff you don't now. Good enough?
Hurricane breaks the windows… yada yada yada. We get away, the Uber-Ugly Director dies (I killed him) and his little accomplice aka Gozen went buh-bye as well.
Okay, let's slip ahead to the part where we're sitting in the room talking about global warming. Oh, I just love conferences. It's the best part of my job. My job being Liaison of the Protection of Global Awareness. Something to do with making sure people know what is happening to this planet and all it's lovely creatures. Yea, everyone world wide knew who I was, my name, where I grew up, what special ahem powers I have.
You know how we found out that Fang could blend into his surroundings, Iggy could see large white objects, and Nudge could manipulate technology? Well, I didn't get a power. Something special of my own. The Voice doesn't count. No. I learned what my power was. Maybe a little to late. I'm just going to say that it has something to do with those headaches I kept getting. I get fewer of them now, but when I do, they are bad. One time I was out for five hours. I woke up -- in desperate need of some aspirin – and knowing exactly where the United States wanted to invade. And I was there to stop it. Alone.
Yup.
You see, the six of us kind of had a falling out just after we started school at the Lerner School for Gifted Children. We didn't like hate each other, no we talked and stuff. It's just that everyone met new people, new friends that they could start over with. It just worked. There were no questions asked. It just happened.
This all happened before the six of us found out we had an entirely new power. We could actually make our wings kind of… retract into our backs. It's weird, but Iggy found out one day that if he focused enough, he could almost shift so that his wings disappeared. I told him that it was impossible, but I looked and they were gone, only showing a faint shadow beneath the skin of his back. It took a lot of practice, believe me. And it hurts like hell, but I actually feel remotely normal when we do it. I mean I usually leave them out at school, because it gets uncomfortable after a while, but when I'm out in public. I kind of like to blend it. It's unlikely, being on TV all the time and everything, but still. People tend to leave me alone. I mean everyone.
My life in the twelfth grade…
I walked up the front steps and into the house. Dropping my bag on the floor, I took a deep breath while I kicked off my shoes. I sensed someone behind me. I turned my head, pulling out the earphones of my IPod.
"What?" I asked. Ella let out a frustrated breath.
"I said, do you want to go shopping at the M-A-L-L with me?"I smiled at her. She crossed her arms over her chest stubbornly.
"Yea, I wanna come!" Angel said, walking in behind me and throwing her bag down beside mine. "And I know you didn't invite me. I'm comin' anyway." She smiled, obviously reading Ella's mind.
"Fine. But we're not going into any toy shops." Ella said back, turning up her nose playfully.
"And no mind games with anyone. Got it?" I added. Angel stuck her tongue out at me. "Just let us go change out of our uniforms."
Half an hour later the three of us were walking down the corridor of the local mall. There were kids everywhere. School was out all over town, and the mall was kind of the place to be. And I really liked being where I would be seen. I think I liked the attention. Note to self: note the tragic downfall. I was actually lucky to have a lot of friends at school. I was president of the council, and captain of the rugby team, and the pep squad. Yea, this is everything that I wanted growing up. It also turns out that I have a voice. Not the one in my head, but an actual musical one! Ya. I learned how to play the guitar and the piano. It was like I already knew how, because it didn't take long.
Angel had her hand in mine, the other holding a bag from Toys-R-Us. Okay, she is really cute when she pouts.
"Hey, Max." A group of girls from the pep squad said as we walked by.
"Hey Trish, Allie." I grinned at them. Trish was a telekinesis and Allie was one of the experiments from the Institute, she had the nose of a kitten. But it actually suited her. It wasn't like the exact nose. It just kind of resembled it. She also figured out that she could shift most of her cat like traits into herself, making her look more human than she was.
"Time for beauty products." Ella chimed and we were both smiling as we turned into the small boutique. I had grabbed a basket and pretty well grabbed fifty bucks worth of beauty makers. I wasn't as beautiful as people said I was. So, I relied products to keep me going. Ella had only spent 13 dollars; she was ahead of me at the till. Angel came up beside me. I looked down at her hands, carrying another stuffed animal she found in the gift aisle. I tilted my head to the side. She curled her bottom lip.
"Fine." I moaned. She giggled and dropped it on the counter. I started placing the products on it as well, when I heard her voice behind me. Megan Tierce. Girl I hated more than anything. She absolutely worshipped me. It got on my nerves, because I knew she was shitting herself. She couldn't love anyone but her shoes. I cringed inwardly when she said my name.
"Hi, Max!" Her sweet voice echoed in my veins. Angel squeezed my hand and I turned around.
"Hi, Megan." I smiled, knowing it was fake. So did Fang. He could always read my mind. I glanced at him for the splitest of seconds. I couldn't tell what he was thinking. Meanwhile, Elle had unpacked my basket.
"Max… pay…" She said. I turned around, handing my charge card to the young guy at the cash register. He took it with a smile.
"Having a slumber party?" He asked, his blonde hair gelled back. It suited him.
"Pish Posh." I laughed. "This is all for me."
"Ahh." He said, blushing. I tapped my fingers on the counter. Elle nudged my side. I looked at her and she winked, before opening her mouth.
"Noo." I whispered. She just smiled.
"So. What's your name?" She asked the cashier.
"Jake."
"Hi. Jake. So, you wanna come to this party that Max is having at her house on Saturday?"
"I don't know. Probably not." He gave me my card back. I picked up my bag.
"I'm Max." I breathed, giving him a grin and the turn of the head.
"Well, in that case, give me your phone number, and I'll see what I can do." He winked. I laughed, then I became aware again of who was behind me. I blushed, and Jake obviously thought it was because of him. I wrote my name and number on the back of an old receipt.
"Call me before the party, maybe we can hang out."
"Awesome." I grabbed Angels hand again.
"Bye Fang." She waved.
"Bye." His voice struck me. I wanted to turn around, but I didn't. I kept walking. Not before I was out of earshot and heard Megan say.
"Baby? What ticked you off? I thought you were in a good mood."
"I am."
"No, you're not… you're.." And then I shut them out, I didn't want to hear anything else.
"So, who wants ice cream?" I asked. Angel jumped and led the way to Laura Secord, already pushing her nose up against the showcase. I smiled, like I always did when Angel acted like Angel.