Sup? Right, so my second story. Let's see...

Maximum Martinez and Nick Ride both head to the same boarding school in California. They've never met before... or have they? Yeah, yeah, clique, whatever. Just... R&R? Rated T for swearing and minor violence.

Enjoy.

Max's POV

I was rudely awoken from my dream by my little sister, Ella. I groaned and threw a pillow at her.

"I'm telling Mom!" Ella screamed, dashing out of my room. I sat up, trying to recall my dream. I was... flying? Not on a plane, but in the open sky. I looked to my right in my dream and saw a boy, about my age. He wore all black, but his face was blurred. Wings sprouted from his back and he flew gracefully. But, I wasn't surprised by the sight. I felt my own wings move, and suddenly, I fell. I was falling. Then Ella woke me up.

I got up and stretched. It was just a dream. Just to be sure, I checked my back in the mirror. Nope. Smooth, tanned skin. No wings. What a shame.

I pulled on tight jeans and a blue tank top and ran my fingers through my hair. I wasn't really into the whole 15-year-old girly-girl thing, makeup and such. I was more sporty.

"Max, did you throw something at Ella?" my Mom demanded. Ella was sitting at the table, holding a hand over her eye. Drama queen. I sat down and helped myself to a giant plateful of bacon and eggs. I have a huge appetite, though I somehow never gain weight.

"Yup, a pillow." I sneered at Ella and shoveled food in my mouth.

"Gods, Max, take breaths when you eat!" Mom scolded me. Ella smirked at me and Mom took the chance to knock Ella's hand away from her eye. It was smooth, no mark. I mean, I threw a freaking pillow at her. And I don't know about you freaks, but I like my pillows soft and nonlethal. Mom sighed.

"Girls, can't you get along, just once?" Unknown to her, Ella and I were actually really close, but we hid it. I don't want to appear to be attached to her because of-

CRASH. Jeb stumbled downstairs, a mostly empty bottle of whiskey clutched in his right hand. The left was uselessly grasping at the handrail. He tripped into the kitchen and Mom went to help him up. He clung onto her, trying to grope her and trying to stand at the same time.

You need background information. I'm sorry. I'm Maximum Martinez, 15, female, 5'9", 98 lbs. I've got long, dirty blonde hair and I'm skinny, though I don't look like it. I'm not a bulimic or anorexic or anything, I'm just skinny. Ella tells me I'm really pretty, but seriously? I don't think so. I'm a kickass fighter, though, so don't cross me. I speak English (no really?) and sarcasm fluently.

Ella Martinez, 14, brown hair, brown eyes (like mine), 5'5", sweet smile and a girly-girl. I still love her, though. She wears makeup regularly and straightens her hair. She's a drama queen, and a wimp when it comes to roughhousing and fighting. Me? I love the adrenaline rush, though I don't purposely pick fights. They just happen often. I swear, if Ella was anything like me, my mom would live in the principle's office.

We're total opposites, yet we get along great when our parents aren't around. Jeb is the reason we're at each other's throats all the time, though. He's a major alcoholic, though Mom stays with him for some reason. He sometimes hurts us mentally, taking away what we treasure most. He stole Mom's heirlooms and destroyed anything relating to the time before they were married. He even burned her favorite stuffed animal, which is messed up. He sold my grandmother's wedding ring and earrings from Ella, which crushed her. We learned not to get attached to things, or people even. My very first boyfriend. Two days after I brought him over for dinner, he disappeared. I later found his favorite shell necklace in Jeb's room.

Anyways. Mom helped Jeb into a chair and he whacked her butt. Ella tried not to flinch and I gripped my fork so tight it started bending. Mom didn't do anything about it, just set a plate in front of Jeb and tried prying the bottle from his fat fingers. Jeb clung onto it, holding it to his chest.

"Jeb, honey, what did we say about drinking before breakfast?" Jeb scowled and released the bottle. Then he said in a not-too-subtle whisper, "Fine! But you'd better make it up to me tonight, or else!" Ella and I were both old enough to know what he meant.

Jeb turned to me, with a wicked smile on his face. "Maxie," he slurred. "Valencia (my Mom) and I have signed you up for a boarding school in California. You leave tomorrow, get packing! And don't think about skipping school today, even if it's your last day!" I gaped at him. Jeb didn't make empty threats.

"What, why?" I asked. "What have I done?" Jeb clearly didn't like being talked back to.

"Listen, brat!" he snarled. "I've had enough of you, your wisecracks and rebelliousness. You should be thankful anyone is willing to have you. You're nothing but a wannabe rebel who can't survive a day on her own!"

I looked to Mom, but she just nodded, tears pouring down her face. Ella starting crying silently, and Jeb sat back, satisfied with his work. I got up and pulled a suitcase out of the garage and started packing before I had to leave for school.

I looked out my window, praying I didn't have to go. I loved Arizona, and everything about it. The open spaces. The clear, unpolluted sky. Arizona was my home, even if the people here weren't very nice.

That's a wrap for now. Hope you liked it.