HEY! Please, please, review. This is my first story and I want to here your imput. Just a tap a few words! And flame is welcomed (sort of)

Disclamer- The only thing I own is a fish and some stickers.

6 YEARS LATER-LOTS HAVE CHANGEd

Prologue

You know how all those teenagers are embarrassed to be living with their mom at the age of 20 or 21? Well, I couldn't be more thrilled. And I'm not a normal teenager either. I'm the invincible Maximum Ride or Max or as I am known here, Maxine Martinez, using my mom's, Dr. Valencia Martinez, last name. Okay, for those of you who don't know about me and my flock-and I'm sure that is not a lot because I am just so popular-I'll give you the scoop.

Did I just say flock? You bet I did. They are my family, my best friends. There is Fang, and Iggy (he's blind) and they are both my age. Then there are Nudge (who attracts metal and can hack any computer) and the Gasman (who has something weird with his system) they are 17 and 14. Then there is Angel, my baby, she reads minds. When I was a baby, these wacked out scientists (or white coats) put avian DNA in me. That's right: I was an experiment. And to some, I probably still am. My mission was (or is or whatever) to SAVE THE WORLD! No pressure, right? Anyway, one of the scientists was good-or so we thought-and helped me and the rest of my flock escape from the lab. His name is Jeb Batchelder. He lived with us for two years, than vanished. We survived another two years until they found us. Erasers. Erasers are half human and half wolf. And get a load of this; those scientists I mentioned put avian DNA in the Erasers, giving them wings. Do I have wings? Uh, huh. We attract a lot of attention. Anyway, my flock and I have been on the run for a long time and there's a lot to tell. But all I'll talk about is Ari. Ari was my half brother and an Eraser. He is also Jeb's human son (Jeb's my dad) or he was until the white coats turned him into an Eraser. Long story short, Ari and I fought several times and just when he and I became friends, he died. Ari was only seven years old. But hey, I'm only 20 or 21 and I am supposed to save the world. I thought I was done saving the world until my Voice told me otherwise.

You know how everyone has a conscience? I've got one too but on top of that, I've got another voice in my head, other than my own. I don't know who it is or what it is but it drives me insane. I guess I am going to have to explain what I meant by saving the world. This was this company called Itex that wanted to destroy everyone on Earth. I destroyed it. Then I went down to Antarctica with my flock, trying to help with stopping global warming. Well, a little later, we got captured and had to leave but we returned a little later. What we did to help stop global warming was that we are a really good way to advertise things. So, we got a lot of important people to think more about global warming (and during this time, we almost died-again) and the friendly scientists told us we could go home. We stayed at my mom's for two to three years, going to this specific school and doing different things. Then we decided to explore the world a little. Well, the world is really big and we got kind of tired of being on the run a lot so after two years, we came back to Mom's. And we've been here for a year. A few things have happened: Ella and Iggy are together. I don't know how it happened but it did. He isn't the same now though. He doesn't make bombs with the Gasman anymore, which really bums Gazzy out. Gazzy has found a "friend" too. Her name is Lily. I've never met her, but it seems like he really likes her. The only problem is that he has told her about his wings. I don't like that too much, but like I said, he really, really likes her. We also ran into the Director a couple of months ago. She was threatened us. But we worked out a deal, which I will tell you about later

Chapter 1-Living with Mom

"I miss Total," Angel whined, and she doesn't do that very often. Oh God. Not this again.

"Yes, Angel," I told her. "We all do." Gazzy snorted. I shot him a look.

"Honey, he wanted to stay with Akila and the scientists couldn't afford to lose her." Angel sniffed.

"I know," she gulped down a sob. "But, we'll see him soon right?" I nodded.

"Hey, Nudge?" I called to her. Nudge had grown to be very pretty, with nicely curled, dark brown hair with blond streaks and big brown eyes. She was tall and slim.

Most boys at school were in love with her, despite that she talked a lot. Actually, she had talked less when we had returned to Mom's house. Maybe it had something to do with Iggy and Ella being together. I don't know why, but every time that she saw them together, she went quiet. Not a bad thing but still.

"What?" she called back, from the couch.

"Can you go get Iggy and Ella for dinner?"

"Oh, sure and how about after that, I go kill myself?" she said with fake enthusiasm. I sighed.

"Nudge…"

"Whatever." Nudge got up and stormed her way down the hall. We listened as she shoved Iggy's door open. "IGGY! ELLA! STOP MAKING OUT WITH EACH OTHER AND COME EAT YOUR FREAKING DINNER!" Everyone jumped as she slammed the door. Hard. As she came back into the kitchen, her face was red and angry.

"Max, would you mind if I skipped dinner?" she asked, fist clenched. "'Cause, I'm not hungry and I need to some time to think a little. Please?" I stared at her.

"Alright, but Nudge, I want to talk a little later, okay?" Nudge mumbled something and left. I could see her take off from the window.

"What's with Nudge?" Fang asked coming out from the shadows. I jumped and turned to him.

"DON'T do that. I am not sure." Fang sat down beside me and stared at my hand, which was perched on the table ledge. He was staring at, specifically, the fourth finger on my left hand. My engagement ring. Oh yeah. Umm, did I mention that I was going to get married?

"So, two months, huh?" he muttered, eyes downcast.

"Yup," I said, also looking down. I couldn't look at his pupils; that's where the pain would be.

"When are you going to see Ron?" he asked. Ron was my 'fiancé'. Big whoop.

"In a few weeks."

"That's what I thought," he grimaced slightly. Fang was usually the coolest guy I've ever met, but ever since this 'marriage' thing, his shell was cracking. I sighed.

"Fang we've been through this," I told him for not the first, not the second, but millionth time. "I do not love him. But he is the Director's son and if I don't do what she says-" I couldn't go on. My heart hurt at the thought of Fang watching me walk down the aisle in a fluffy white dress. I was about to say something else when Iggy and Ella came in looking flushed.

"What's up with Nudge?" Iggy asked us. We all shrugged than remembered he was blind.

"No idea," I said.

"What's for dinner?" Ella asked, plopping down on Iggy's lap.

"Pizza," I said and everyone cheered. I passed out the pieces to everyone and sat down. I took a bite of the cheese and sighed. It felt so good to be able to eat pizza and not fear your life. Once, my flock ordered a pizza and there was a bomb in it. So, this was good. Don't worry; I've already checked it for explosives.

"This is good pizza," Fang mumbled. Everyone nodded. I ate than cleared my plate happily.

"Where's Mom?" Ella asked.

"I think that she went shopping or something. I don't know. She just told me to order pizza," I said. My eyes went to the window. Nudge still wasn't back yet. This isn't good, I thought.

"Max, tomorrow, I'm going to be gone early because Lily and I are going out for a fly," the Gasman said. I turn to him, stomach jumping.

"Gazzy…" I began but he cut me off.

"I know what you are going to say but save your breath. I like Lily a lot and I trust her. She's not an Eraser and I've already shown her my wings," Gazzy spoke quickly so I wouldn't interrupt him. I sighed for about the hundredth time today.

"Alright, Gasman, but I want to meet this girl. Bring her by tomorrow," I told him. Iggy nodded.

"Yeah, I want to meet the girl that has Gazzy all riled up," he said. The Gasman turned bright red and Ella laughed. Iggy 'looked' at her happily and said, "Okay, I'm done." Ella nodded and together, they left the room.

"Fang, you're in charge for the time being. I'm going to try to find Nudge," I informed him and as I left, I heard Gazzy let one go and everyone still there groaning. I smiled to myself. I took off into the air, my wings beating powerfully. In the air, I felt strong and adrenalines fill my veins, like in fight. Except, this time, there weren't a bunch of Erasers trying to kill me and I wasn't about to die, so I liked this adrenaline.

Where could she be? I thought and I than I heard the Voice. I hadn't heard it in a while. It's probably been about a week since it had annoyed me last.

She is sitting on top of the big tree that you will see in about thirteen yards, the voice chimed in. And I do not annoy you, I simply-

Yeah, yeah whatever, I cut it off and continued flying. It went silent.

Soaring through the sky, I spotted the big tree and a brown figure on top of it. Nudge. I swooped down and landed next to her.

"Nudge, what's going on?" I asked her. She turned to me and I could see that her brown cheeks were soaked with tears.

"Nothing," she sniffed, looking at her bare feet, and I knew that she was lying.

"Honey…" I said, trying to persuade her to trust me.

"Fine, its Iggy and Ella," she confessed and I saw tears in her eyes. As they began to fall, I wiped them away with my thumb.

"It's weird," Nudge continued. "Every time that I see them together, I get really hot, than cold, and than like I'm going to throw up. And sometimes, I feel really mad at Ella. And than mad at Iggy, for liking her and not-" She stopped talking and bowed her head. I put one arm around her.

"And not…" I was happy that she was confiding in me. Nudge looked up at me with these big brown eyes.

"And not…me," she said and began to sob. I frowned. Nudge likes Iggy? This was a new development.

"And it's so strange because he's like my brother and he only likes me as a friend. And I didn't used to care but now… and I'm so stupid! He's never going to like me! Did you feel like this when Fang was with Brigid? Or Lissa? Never mind that's your business, but you and Fang aren't together right now, though right? Because you're engaged to Ron. Why are you getting married to Ron? He's an idiot! And he's mean. When we met him, I was sure that you would hate him. Why are you-" I cut here off before she could ask me I wanted to dye my hair green. Did I say that Nudge talks a lot?

"Nudge, maybe you should tell Iggy how you feel," I advised. Oh, yes. Me, the fountain of romantic wisdom. God.

"He'd just laugh at me," she whispered. I shook my head.

"Iggy wouldn't laugh at you. Besides, you are beautiful and smart and a bunch of other good things," I told her. She lowered her gaze but I could see her embarrassment and pleasure. My heart welled up and I squeezed her shoulders.

"You never know, he might have feelings for you."

"Oh, I don't know."

"Nudge, just promise me that you'll give it a try. It doesn't matter when but, just try," I countered. She looked up at me and nodded.

"Good, now let's go," I said, but Nudge was already flying off. A laugh escaped me and I zoomed after her. Soon, we were back at my mom's house. Everyone was sitting in the living room; Iggy on the small chair with Ella on his lap; Fang on the

couch; Gazzy on a beanbag next to Iggy's chair; Angel in the wooden rocking chair; and Mom at her feet. I took the spot next to Fang and Nudge the chair next to me. Angel looked at the both of us and I heard her voice in my head.

MAX, DO YOU KNOW NOW?

Know what now?

THAT NUDGE IS IN LOVE WITH IGGY!

Angel! Have you been reading Nudge's mind without her permission?

There was silence.

MAYBE A LITTLE.

Angel, this is Nudge's business. Let here take care of it. But, I'm just curious, what does Iggy think about Nudge?

WELL, HE THINKS THAT SHE TALKS A LOT, BUT THAT SHE IS THE SWEETEST AND MOST SELFLESS PERSON THAT HE HAS EVER MET.

I whistled in my mind.

HE'S ALSO SAD THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN HER FACE. BUT HE THINKS THAT HER SKIN IS REALLY PRETTY.

Angel, what do you mean that he has never seen her face?

IT MEANS EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE. HE BECAME BLIND BEFORE HE EVER MET HER.

Well, why don't you just show him what she looks like?

I DID BUT THAT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO. I HAVE AN IDEA. WHY DON'T I SHOW HIM WHAT EVERYONE IN THE FLOCK LOOKS LIKE!

Good idea, Angel.

GREAT! I'LL DO THAT SOME TIME!

Then, she was gone from my mind. Iggy shifted Ella in his lap and kissed her. Nudge went stiff next to me and I patted her hand. Nudge shut her eyes than opened her fist and rotated her hand to the right. She kept doing this and to my surprise, the screws from Ella and Iggy's chair unscrewed themselves. They shot from their holes, coming flying into her hand and she quickly put them in her pocket. I shot her a look that said, you did not just do that. She smirked. Iggy leaned to kiss Ella deeper and the chair collapsed. Everyone gasped, except me, Angel, and Nudge.

"What the…" Ella didn't finish her thought as she and Iggy stood up, looking confused and embarrassed. Nudge casually went over there and pretended to check the damage, but I saw her drop the screws underneath their holes.

"Hey look," she said innocently enough and everyone came over to see what she was pointing at. My mom was shaking her head.

"That's very strange. This chair is new," she said, scratching her head. Angel was laughing into her palm. The Gasman glanced at her and she just shook her head. As I looked at the wooden chair in pieces on the floor and Iggy and Ella, I had to bite my lip to keep from giggling. A small squeak escaped my mouth and Fang stared at me curiously.

"Well, I think that we should just go to bed," Nudge advised and after saying good night to everyone, escaped to her room, shoulders shaking with laughter. Everyone parted, even Ella and Iggy, who kissed for a while than sighing went to their rooms. I yawned and was about to fall onto the couch when Fang pulled me up in his arms and carried me to my room. He dumped me gently onto the bed and for a few minutes we just stared at each other, than I motioned for him to lie down. After a few minutes hesitation, he dropped beside me. I put my head in his neck and fell asleep to the rhythm of his breathing.