AN: Hey, this is my first fanfic for me to put up here for everybody to see, so please excuse any mistakes. And, if any are seen, please tell me!!! And I have no idea if anyone will actually read this, so please, if you are, comment! I would love you!! Any suggestions for future chapter would also be greatly be appreciated!

Oh, yeah, Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, Angel, Ari, Voice, and any character created by JP is obviously not mine, because I'd be rich and not writing stories on here. I do own any new characters that I create, e.g. Joe.

Because of Ari

by JamieLynn Black

I'd battled super-powered subhumans; stopped delusional wanna-be dictators from taking over the world and killing nearly everyone in the process; I'd been deceived by many people who claimed to want to help me; all while keeping my family, my Flock together the whole time. Well, more or less. (But it wasn't really my fault at all, you see.) My point being, I've been through a lot. Way more than you could ever realize. But what I was going through now - it was more terrifying than anything else I've ever been through.

One word: PROM.

The very word strikes fear in my heart.

But, you see, I didn't have to go through it alone. Oh, no. I had two scheming, devious girls to convince (more like connive) me to do and buy ridiculous things. All for this - this - this dance designed either by a man for his own enjoyment (and, might I add, the girl's suffocation, discomfort, and beauty) or a girl with delusions of 'Prince Charmings' or 'love at first sight' or 'and they lived happily ever after' or 'fairy tales'. Because, believe me, very rarely does anything ever end happily. And I'm about as close as you can get to a fairy tale.

Let me explain, to those who don't already know. I'm Max. Maximum Ride, age 15, 98% human, 2% bird. You know, just your normal human-avian hybrid. Even have wings. I can fly. And there's nothing more freeing, more graceful, more beautiful, than flying. Well, unless if while you're flying you're being attacked by Erasers, or Flyboys, or anything with intentions of killing you. And get this, I'm not the only one that can fly. My family, my Flock, can, too. Besides me, there's Fang (15), Iggy (15 also), Nudge (12), Gazzy (9), and Angel (7). We were "science experiments" until we escaped from the 'School'. Ever since then, we've either been in hiding, or on the run. Which just recently changed about 7 months ago. We decided to try to tough it out, and bought a somewhat small house in Alaska. Well, maybe bought isn't the right word…. Now before you get any ideas, we did not steal it. (Can you even steal a house anyway?) Angel 'convinced' the owner to let us 'have' the house for free. Yeah, Angel has this weird freaky talent or ability to read peoples minds and even cough-control-cough them. It's one of those don't-ask-don't-tell situations.

Anyway, those two scheming, devious people, of course, are Nudge and Angel. Which makes my roll in this sick game that much harder (my roll being the naïve guinea pig). Nudge has this problem, see, she can't stop talking. We try to stop her, but it's just an impossible task. Many mad scientists have tried to shut her up to no avail. And with her problem, it confuses me all the more. And Nudge happens to be very fashion-oriented. Which, needless to say, I am not. And Angel, well, you know about Angel….. Who knows, she may be getting ready to brainwash me into buying this horrible pink fluffy nightmare of a dress.

Speaking of horrible pink fluffy nightmare…. "Oh my God, Max! You'd look amazing in this dress! It's soooooo cute! Oh, I wish I could go! But I'll still get to see you in this, which might just be good enough. It'll tide me over until I get to go to prom, I guess. Ohhhh, Max, you have to take a zillion pictures for me! Oh my gosh, you and Fang will look - "

But I cut her off. "Nudge, first of all, I would rather die than wear that dress. Second, you should be glad you can't go to the dance. Third, Fang and I aren't going together!"

That may have been a bit much, but if you expect to make me do something like this, you can't expect me not to complain.

Touchy about Fang, Max? the Voice said, as annoying as ever.

Welcome back. I was beginning to think you were gone. Guess I was wrong. Dangit, I was just getting my hopes up. I addressed the Voice, somewhat wryly.

But the Voice didn't respond after that. Oh, darn, and I really wanted his opinion on this dress. Not.

Angel and Nudge must have been in a silent conversation, because Nudge was gesturing without words.

Just because Fang hasn't asked you to go, doesn't mean he doesn't want to. Angel said totally nice and innocent-like.

I could have said that I didn't give a damn whether or not he asked me, but Angel could read my mind, so lying to her would have been pointless. Yeah, well, want to and did are two different things. I thought back.

Awww, come on, Max. Fang'll come around. And if he doesn't, Nudge and me have a plan. Angel said, rather un-innocently. Uh-oh, perfect, what on earth have they got planned?

Don't worry, Max. You know, you really worry too much. Why don't you try to relax? I mean, we've seen neither hide nor hair of Erasers, Flyboys, or mad scientists in a long time. Well, assuming Flyboys have hair.

Even though I knew Angel could read minds, I was still suprised when Angel addressed my hidden concern. We tried to settle down before, and you know how successful that ended. Note my sarcasm. Seven months without anything freaky, weird, and deadly was really starting to bug me. Not that I enjoy destroying whole corporations, verbal jousting with demented scientists (okay, so I like that part. So sue me), and fighting Flyboys with guns. But after 14 years of that stuff, not doing it just doesn't feel right. It's like I know something major is about to happen, but I have no idea what. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. God, do I hope I'm being paranoid.

"Relax, Max. You're heart is just like jumping jacks, Max. Your heart is beating with a crazy sound! Hear it pound!" Nudge burst out in singing. Oh, perfect, it's that one from that commercial that always gets stuck in my head. But despite everything, it actually helped me, in a crazy way that I don't really understand. I started laughing.

Just then, I heard a familiar voice call my name from behind me. Oh, crap. Please don't let him see me holding this dress, I begged God. Then I realized that somehow I was holding the horrible pink dress, without really realizing it.

"Hey, Max, watcha doin' here?" Joe, from school (not the School) said, displaying his million dollar smile, and I forgot all about mad scientists.

"Oh, hey, Joe! Oh, I'm, uhh, shopping. For - stuff. How about you?" I said, ever so smoothly, trying to give him my best smile in return.

Umm, Max? It was, of course, Angel.

Yeah? I replied in my mind, half-heartedly.

I think there's something you should know.... Angel started, but someone else interrupted her thoughts.

"Umm, Max, I was wondering if you want to go with me to prom?" A hopeful Joe asked.

AN: Okay, I have a question for you guys: do you want her to go to the prom with Joe or Fang? Cuz I'm not really sure. My original intentions were for Fang, but I'm starting to really like Joe now.

And if you have any questions, please ask! Thanks!!!!