I was woken by a cold hand on my wrist. "Max. Max, wake up! Wake up!" Angel pulled harder on my hand. "Angel. Stop pulling on me!" "Iggy said get up, 'cause it's breakfast time!"

I groaned. Looking around for my clock, I noticed that sunlight was streaming through the window, too much for it to be morning. "Angel. Angel, what time is it?" "Around noon, I think. Why?" Crap. Today was the day. The day I would see Fang.

In his letter, he had said to meet him at the cave where we first met the hawks. Today was that day. 10 years ago today, my best friend, boyfriend, and right wing man had left me behind. I had only seen him one time, a few months after he left, in Paris when Angel had been taken. I had told him that if he expected me to still be here in 20 years, then he was a total idiot. So he'd said ten. I hadn't really answered. But now that it was here, I had to go.

I leaped out of bed and started getting ready. I ran into the kitchen to inform everyone. "Guys, get dressed. Now." "Why?" 18 year-old Gazzy asked. "Because today is the day that we see Fang, remember?" Eyes widened around the room as they realized that I was right. Everyone flew into hyper gear, getting ready to see the boy that they all missed so much.

I walked into my room and looked at my clothes. I picked out one of those of the one shoulder drapey things. You know, the ones that have the tight bands around the hem, collar, and sleeves and are all drapey silk? It was purple. I slipped on my nicest hipster jeans, arranging them so they weren't wrinkled or crooked. The tight band around the hem of my shirt hugged my hips and was barely long enough to meet my jeans. When I moved, a little bit of skin showed through.

I slipped on a pair of little black flats, and slid a purple head band that matched my shirt into my hair, on the line where my bangs separated from the rest of my hair. Little black orbs went in my ears.

I looked in the mirror and smiled, arranging my hair over my shoulders. I was suddenly nervous.

I walked out, to find the flock neatly arranged in their best clothes. Angel was in a white dress with a blue waist band and headband and little white Penny Jane's, Nudge in the same outfit as me, only her shirt and headband were orange and she had silver hoop earrings. Iggy was in a white button up dress shirt, same as Gazzy, jeans, and tennis shoes. Dylan was in jeans, tennis shoes, and a black button up dress shirt.

I smiled. "You guys ready?" Every head bobbed. "Then let's do this!" And with that, we took off.

~Don't mind me, I'm just a line break!~

Nearly an hour later, we landed in the cliffs. Fang wasn't here. 'Oh lord. What if he doesn't come?' I thought to myself, beginning to stress out. I was on the verge of telling everyone to head home when a dark shape appeared in the sky. I knew it was him.

I began to shake as we watched the four figures float down at us.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Max, it'll be okay." Dylan said, stepping next to me. "What if he hates us? What is he's changed, and he doesn't want us anymore?" "Max." Dylan stepped up and took a hold of both my shoulders. "That will never happen. He loves you all too much." "If he loves us so much, then why did he leave in the first place?" I whispered hoarsely as the shapes came closer, taking on a humanoid shape.

"Max, you can't go there. Stay strong. For the kids." Suddenly I was tired of staying strong. I couldn't do it anymore. I had been strong my entire life. Why couldn't I break down, just once? I quickly banished that thought. Why couldn't I break down? 'Cause I was Maximum Freakin' Ride, that's why!

"Max. Max I'm scared." It was Angel's voice. I turned to look at them. "Why are you scared?" I asked. "It's just Fang. You know he won't hurt you." "What if he doesn't love us anymore?" Angel said in a small voice. I went to her. "Oh, honey. Honey, that could never happen. He loves you all, always. Nothing can change that." They all nodded, looking slightly reassured.

The shapes had features now. I carefully looked over each of them. My eyes found him. He looked exactly like I remembered. Shaggy black hair, black eyes, tall, skinny, and dark wings. Suddenly pain tore through me. I didn't know if I could face him.

As if sensing my apprehension, Dylan slipped an arm around my shoulders. "It'll be okay," He whispered softly. I nodded, squaring my shoulders and sliding away from Dylan's arm. It was time to man up.

I stepped back as the figures became people and came in to land on the craggy ledge.

He landed last, and slowly made his way to the front. Our eyes met for the first time in ten long years. He studied me, and I studied him.

He seemed different somehow. I didn't know. Not just older, but more reserved. Wise.

He stepped forward, and so did I.

Slowly, he stretched his hand across the gap between us. I did the same. Our fingers met in the middle, and electrical currents raced through me. I nearly gasped from the sheer shock of it. I hadn't felt this in….well, in ten years.

Our eyes me again, and he gave me a smile that nearly had me fainting. I'd forgotten how much of an effect he had on me. Looking at me looking at him, he smiled gently again and uttered a single word. "Max."