Black Rose

Chapter 1

Max POV

"I need you to do something," I said to Jeb. He looked up from his desk, taken back by seeing me there.

"Maximum, I didn't know you were here. It's great to see you. It's been too long. You've grown to be a beautiful young lady."

I rolled my eyes. Whatever, I've heard that way too many times already. It's gotten really old. "I want you to do something for me."

He looked at me curiously. I still haven't gotten my trust back for him completely but it has been a little bit better. "And what would that be?" He asked.

"I want you to use your connections and find a surgeon or whatever to operate on Iggy's eyes. I want him to see again." I said in a voice that said you-can't-make-me-change-my-mind-or-push-me-away.

Jeb smiled at me and asked, "What makes you think something can be done to fix it? His eyesight has been ruined."

"I know, you can fix it and/or try to. You know a bunch of crazy scientists -- pick one. Surely one of them can try."

"This could be a good life lesson," Jeb said while leaning back in his chair. Okay, WTF?! What does he mean by that!? "In life Maximum, nothing is free."

"I got my wings for free…didn't even have to ask," I mumbled. Jeb just gave me a look. "So here's a proposition. I'll do Iggy's surgery (find someone to do it) but you have to … go to school." Again with the WTF?! Who does he think he is kidding! "Maximum..."

"It's MAX!" I shout in irritation.

"Max, you and the flock need some education to survive in the outside world. It'll help you blend. Plus, you can choose wherever you want to go too and I'll arrange it and pay for it. In fact, I'll pay for everything you need."

Now his offer sounded good at the parts 'I'll pay for everything.' But I hate school and I never want to go back. But on the other hand, I came here to help Iggy. If I just have to go to school for a while so Iggy can have his eyesight then in a heartbeat I'd do it.

"Fine. You got a deal." I grumbled.

Okay, let me catch you up. The flock and I had been on the run and saving the world for about a year or so. After that we were just drifting wherever the wind took us. We dropped by moms about a year ago and have been there ever since. The flock d the whole big family, have a mom thing (at least a real one), and I have, too. Well, it's Iggy's sweet 16th birthday and I wanted to get him something special and personally from me…something that only I could give. That's how I got the idea of surgery for him. Now that your all caught up, let's jump back to mom's house.

I opened the front door, thinking of how I was going to tell them. I already told Iggy about the idea for surgery to see if he even wanted it but no one else knew. Won't they be shocked! Total met me at the front door.

"I'm supposed to stop you from eating them all." He said while stopping me from walking to the kitchen. I took a deep breath. "Cookies." I breathed out. Well let's just say, Total can't stop me when I want cookies. I jumped over him and was at the counter in two seconds flat; I WAS stopped by Fang. He knew I was coming and had all the cookies wrapped in some napkins and was holding them. I started glaring at him.

"Give me the cookies!" I demanded in a cold voice. He just smiled and headed for the stairs. Uh-uh, is he taking MY cookies; they're freshly baked too! I tackled him to the ground wary of how the cookies were. He was on his stomach and I was on his back. I was trying to hold him down while attempting to get the cookies. Of course, the kids heard us and came to watch the show. Nudge described us to Iggy and he said while smiling, "You're 16 and you're acting like 6. Angel is better than you two…and she's 8." I looked up at them for a split second and launched again for the cookies. Nudge just bent down and got the cookies from Fang and handed them to me. "Bless you child." I told her. Fang looked disappointed and just stood up. Angel giggled and said, "Fang liked you chasing him and on top of him."

I was still on the floor, savoring the sweet cookies, and truthfully I had gotten used to these confessions from Angel about Fang. Oh, I forgot to tell you earlier. Fang and I have been going out for almost a year now. It just happened. I have no idea. One minute I'm leaning against him (casually) watching a movie in the family room at night and the next we're making out and are official. It was a good night. Oh, another thing I forgot to mention, Iggy likes Ella and she sooo likes him back (I sound like a preppy school girl…eww…soon I'll be one…*shudder- my life sucks). And in case you're slow…our ages- in order: Angel-8, Gasman-10, Nudge-13, Ella-15, Iggy, Fang, and Me-16. I can't believe my baby's are that old already. Surprisingly, as Nudge grew up, she shut up. No joke, she has gotten better at her ramblings. (I love it!)

"Since, you all are here. I guess I can tell you." I said while standing up. "The reason I left was to find Jeb. Iggy already knows this because I went to Jeb for Iggy's birthday present from me. Jeb is going to get a friend of his to do surgery on Iggy's eyes. He'll be able to see again hopefully." I was letting it sink in and trying to figure out who was going to say something first. My guess was Ella but I was wrong. It was Nudge.

"OMG! Iggy that's soooo awesome! You'll be able to see again! You won't be the last one to know what's going on anymore!" She is improving, I swear.

"Iggy, how do you feel about it?" I asked him.

He bent his head down and smiled. "That's great," he said simply.

"I'm so excited for you!" Ella said then jumped up and wrapped her arms around Iggy's neck. I don't think he was expecting that, but he liked it (he was blushing). I was smiling and Fang whispered in my ear, "Your hot when you smile." I love it when he whispers in my ear. He also has the tendency to say things like that. "What did Jeb say about the surgery?" He asked.

"I was getting to that. I made a proposition with him." All eyes turned to me looking expectantly. I took a breath, "In order to get Iggy's surgery…we're going to school."

A/N: I love this story. I think it's going to be better than my last *knocks on wood ^_^ I hoped you enjoyed the first chapter…. later in the story I'll incorporate why I call this story "Black Rose". I love love love that name and it so just clicked and everything fell in place.

Review and give me feed back because of have more ready to be posted, but I need to know how you all like it.