Chapter 1

Max POV

The day after Fang left.

That JERK. If I ever see his perfect, stupid face again I will punch it to a pulp. No, actually I'll probably scream at him first. Then use him as a punch bag. Stupid, ex-best friend, ex-boyfriend JERK! I'm the amazing Maximum Ride. I don't shy from anything. Not even thinking the name Fang. Fang. Ohgodohgodohgod. Now I'm crying. Again. I don't cry when I get stuck with thousands of needles. I don't cry when most of my ribs get broken by a mutant freak. I don't cry when my flock mutiny on me. But I do cry when my best friend decides to leave. That's all I seem to be doing lately. Crying. Suddenly Fang leaves and I get all emotional.

Damn. I must be sniffing audibly. Nudge comes into my room, WITHOUT KNOCKING (note to self: scream at her later. And get like, a padlock on my door?) and puts her arms around me. God, I should be comforting her, not vice versa!

"I know you miss him, Max. We all do. I'm sorry." Nudge did sound miserable. Everyone seemed to be moping around now Fang had gone. Except Dylan. He walked around looking quite pleased with himself. Next time I saw that smile I would smack it right off his face and all the way to Canada.

" I know, sweetie," I said, wiping my eyes and taking her arms from around me. I stood up and went out of my room. Nudge was right behind. I went into the living room. Angel was fiddling with the sequins on her top. Gazzy was on the sofa looking depressed. Iggy was lying on the floor doing…nothing. Dylan was reading some stupid book in the corner. I ignored him.

"OK guys," I said, trying to sound cheerful. I had some cheering up to do. Time to go into leader/mommy mode: "Guys, this is ridiculous. Come on! Get some smiles on your faces!" Iggy, Gazzy, Nudge and Angel tried to smile. Patheticly. Dylan looked at me. I was so sick of him! Oh well. I plastered a sickly smile to my own face. "Who's up for a game of fly tag?" Silence. "Come on! Girls versus Boys!" I said, all encouraging and mommy like. Sighing I pulled Angel, Gazzy and Iggy up, and motioned to Nudge to follow. To my disapointment, Dylan folded his page and got up too. Oh well.

I ran onto the balcony and launched into the air, my huge, impressive brown wings opening and stroking strongly downwards. The others followed, and soon we were engrossed in a boys versus girls game of fly tag. So engrossed that we almost forgot about Fang. Almost. But not completely.