CH. 1. BIRTHDAY SURPRISES.
I woke up like I would any other day, but for whatever reason; I had a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach.
I got up early, before Jeb does, so I have time to do my very necessary routine.
I limped over to my closet, grabbed a random shirt and jeans, and went to the bathroom.
My names is Maximum Batchelder, but call me anything other than Max, you'll lose your ability to reproduce. One thing you should know about me is this; I'm abused. That came out rather blunt, didn't it? Let me explain.
You see, when I was about two, my mother completely abandoned me and my father, Jeb. We had to move to Virginia, Jeb claiming that Arizona reminds him too much of my mom. He was depressed for three years, and then he started drinking when I was five. It started with small slaps and shoves and a bit of verbal abuse here and there, but since I was so young I didn't understand some of what he was saying, but I knew it was bad.
In first grade, when the abuse had been going on for about a year, I tried talking to my school counselor, Anne Walker, about it and she said that she was going to do anything in her power to stop it. But the next day, she wasn't at school.
The principle made an announcement saying that Ms. Walker was found dead last night.
When I got home that day, Jeb was there waiting, and he was sober. He told me that he was the one who killed Anne. He then described the whole murder down to every single, gory, detail. He showed me her tongue, which he had cut off right before she died.
He told me that if I ever spoke to someone about the abuse, he would also cut out my tongue and keep it next to Anne's in the freezer. And ever since that day, I have never spoken a word, unless I was alone or Jeb was asleep or passed out.
The thing about Jeb is that he's smart, even when he's drunk. He knows not to kill me, or hurt me too bad, or else people would get suspicious.
The only thing I have left of my mom is her guitar. /images/I/717ffKHyA8L._SL1500_.jpg. That's the only time Jeb has ever talked about her, and it wasn't something bad. He said that she bought it before I was born, hoping that I would want to play it someday. And I did. For my tenth birthday, Jeb gave it to me, telling me the story also. That was one of the rare days where he was actually sober.
That was exactly six years ago, today. Yep, today is my sixteenth birthday. Most girls would be squealing with joy and excitement. But not me. Yes I am excited, but not for the reason you might think. I only have three more years until I can get out of my hellhole, and take my little brother, Ari, with me.
Ari is the single most adorable and innocent child you will ever meet. Well, technically, he's my half-brother. When I was nine Jeb hooked up with some random bimbo he met at a bar, then nine months later, Bata-bing, Bata-boom, Ari shows up at our doorstep. Now let me tell you, to say Jeb was mad, would be a huge understatement.
Ari is almost like an exact replica of Jeb. Same brown hair and blue eyes. The difference is that Ari's eyes are warm, kind and gentle. While Jeb's are cold, cruel and harsh. I suppose that I look like my mother in some ways, but I don't know. Jeb doesn't have any pictures of her anywhere. I have brown hair that's sun-streaked and dull brown eyes, but Ari begs to differ.
When I was done with my shower, I quickly got dressed and applied my foundation anywhere visible to cover up my bruises and scars.
I went downstairs and made breakfast for Jeb and put a glass of water and an Advil next to it. He was, no doubt, most likely hung-over.
I went back upstairs and got Ari up.
"Mornin', Max," he said groggily. I just smirked back. That's it, no smile or "good morning". I haven't smiled in ten years. Ari understood that I didn't like talking; only singing.
As he went to get dressed, I went back to my room, grabbed my guitar, and went out my window onto the roof that was over the garage. I sat down with my legs dangling over the edge.
It was still early in the morning, so the sun was just barely peaking over the horizon. I was so entranced by the beauty of it; I didn't notice the car pull up. As I was watching the sunrise, I unconsciously started playing and singing a song that I wrote last night…
(When She Cries by Britt Nicole)
Little girl, terrified
She'd leave her room if only bruises would heal
A home is no place to hide
Her heart is breaking from the pain that she feels
Every days the same, she fights to find her way
She hurts, she breaks, she hides and tries to pray
She wonders why
Does anyone ever hear her when she cries?
Today she's turning sixteen
Everyone singing but she can't seem to smile
They never get past arm's length
How could they act like everything is alright?
Pulling down her long sleeves
To cover all the memories the scars leave
She says, "Maybe making me bleed
Will be the answer that could wash the slate clean"
Every day's the same; she fights to find her way
She hurts, she breaks, she hides and tries to pray
She wonders why
Does anyone ever hear her when she cries?
This is the dark before the dawn
The storm before the peace
Don't be afraid cause seasons change
And God is watching over you, He hears you
And every day's the same; she fights to find her way
She hurts, she breaks, she hides and tries to pray
She'll be just fine
'Cause I know He hears her when she cries
Every days the same, she fights to find her way
She hurts, she breaks, she hides and tries to pray
She'll be just fine
'Cause I know He hears her when she cries
She'll be just fine
'Cause I know He hears her when she cries
When I strung the last note, I saw a car across the street that I've never seen before. Probably just one of the neighbors, I thought.
"Maxi," Ari said as he came out his window and sat next to me (his window is right next to mine). "Can you sing to me?"
(Save You by Simple Plan)
Take a breath, I pull myself together
Just another step until I reach the door
You'll never know the way it tears me up inside to see you
I wish that I could tell you something to take it all away
Sometimes I wish I could save you
And there's so many things that I want you to know
I won't give up till it's over
If it takes you forever I want you to know
When I hear your voice it's drowning in whispers
It's just skin and bones; it's nothing left to take
And no matter what I do I can't make you feel better
If I only I could find the answer to help me understand
Sometimes I wish I could save you
And there's so many things that I want you to know
I won't give up till it's over
If it takes you forever I want you to know
That if you fall, stumble down I'll pick you up off the ground
If you lose faith in you I'll give you strength to pull through
Tell me you won't give up 'cause I'll be waiting
If you fall you know I'll be there for you
If only I could find the answer to take it all away
Sometimes I wish I could save you
And there's so many things that I want you to know
I won't give up till it's over
If it takes you forever I want you to know
I wish I could save you, I want you to know
I wish I could save you
"I love you, Maxi."
"I love you, too, munchkin." Ari giggled at that. Ari is the only one who is allowed to call me Maxi. He is also the only one I talk around.
"Excuse me?!" we heard a shout below. We looked down and saw a middle-aged Hispanic looking woman. I jumped down from the roof and went over to meet here. Now, you may be wondering, "How did she do that? Didn't she say she was limping some time ago?" Well, you see, there's a thing called a trash bin, and I managed to land on it and got to the ground from there.
"Hi, my name is Valencia Martinez. Do Jeb and Maximum Batchelder live here?" I eyed her suspiciously, but nodded anyway. "Are you Maximum?" I nodded again. Relief and joy were the only emotions on her face for about two seconds, and then she turned around towards the car, and waved her hand franticly. A girl who looked exactly like her, but about two years younger than me came out and ran towards us.
"Max, may I call you Max? This is my daughter Ella. May we please come inside?" I turned around to look up at Ari and whistled Rue's whistle from my favorite book series The Hunger Games, don't judge! Ari quickly grabbed my guitar and headed back inside. The four note whistle was our secret code, for if we had unexpected visitors, to clean up the place.
I turned back around at the people, held my finger in the universal, one moment please, gesture. After about two minutes, I nodded and headed to the door the confused people following. I grabbed the spare key and unlocked the door.
The first thing that hit me was the smell of alcohol, I didn't gag at it though, since I was used to it. But Valencia and Ella weren't, so they cringed.
As we entered the living room, I noticed that there was much less bottles. Of course Ari wouldn't have enough time to get them all cleaned up that fast, but he still did an incredible job.
Ari was standing in the middle of the room, a bit out of breath with a few small cuts on his hands.
"Would it be alright if we sit down?" Val (I decided to call her that) asked. I, once again, simply nodded. So, we sat.
Me and Ari had a secret language that we use with our hands, so I used that for Ari to speak for me. He doesn't complain, he never does, he understands.
"What's your name? We never got it," Val asked Ari. He looked at me, and I nodded.
"Ari," he replied.
"Nice to meet you, Ari. My name is Valencia, but you can call me Val, and this is my daughter Ella." Ella waved.
I said 'I'll be back with the first-aid kit' with my hands to Ari. He nodded in response. I ran, painfully I might add, silently to the main bathroom, grabbed the kit, and went back to the living room, only to be met by awkward silence.
I kneeled in front of Ari and started wrapping his hands, like I had so many times before. Val and Ella sat and watched as if hypnotized.
I wanted to comment on that so badly, but I learned the hard way to hold my tongue. So I had Ari say it for me.
He giggled before saying, "Why don't you take a picture, it'll last longer?" Val and Ella quickly closed their mouths and looked away when they realized they were staring.
"Max," Val began after I finished wrapping Ari's hands. "There is something important I need to tell you." I raised my eyebrows at her, signaling her to continue.
"Max…I'm your mother."
Thanks for reading! This is my first fanfic, so go easy on me... Please, no flames, but critism welcomed.
Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride or any of the songs protrayed in this story.