Name: Function
Author: Luna's Horcrux
Rating: T
Warnings: Mild Language, Genetic Mutation
Genre: Family, Friendship, Drama, Science Fiction
Characters: Anne W., Jeb B., Valencia M., Iggy, Fang, Max, Maya, Ari, Nudge, Ella, Gazzy, Angel
Pairings: Fang/Max, Nudge/Ari, Iggy/Ella
Summary: Max and Iggy Batchelder, the eldest of the "Flock", struggle to support their younger siblings, and get their brother, Ari, out of juvenile hall. Meanwhile, Max must deal with Fang Walker, who is ever interested in learning all of the Batchelder family secrets. Still they must juggle searching for their missing father, Jeb, and the threat of their mother figure, Valencia Martinez, dying of cancer.
Author's Note: I know, I know, I should be trying to turn MEYOSCS into something, but that's going nowhere. So here's a new story I've been considering for awhile. I hope you all like it, but know that updates may not be very often.
Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride. It belongs to James Patterson and his publishing company, and possibly whoever might be making a movie out of this story.
It happened on a day in November.
I remember thinking nothing of getting called to the main office over the intercom, along with my older brother, Iggy. I probably had just gotten busted for skipping class to take Angel to ballet again. What I didn't understand, was why there were five police officers in the office.
"We don't know where he is," the woman said. She was holding my hand, trying to be comforting. "What I need to know, is if this happens a lot to you, and your brother. I need to know if he goes missing often."
I gulped, looking out the window at the road. It was a chilly day. Gazzy's coat got stolen from him by the school bully, Benny Ashford, and we weren't able to do anything to get it back. So I'd given him my jacket, and tried to ignore the goosebumps as I walked him and Angel to school.
The woman was still looking at me, waiting for an answer. I wondered what Iggy was saying. I sighed, "he's busy with work sometimes. He has to leave, and go on trips. He leaves notes, usually. Iggy and I are in charge. It's nothing new."
The woman nodded. "I see," she said. She wrote something down on a clipboard. "And, would you say that your father going missing, has anything to do with your brother, Ari, being in juvenile hall?"
"Why do you care? Why does anyone care? He has kleptomania. Iggy and I have told you people this a thousand times. He needs the medication, and if you'd just up his dosage of SSRI than he'd be doing a lot better, but you had to put him in juvenile hall. Honestly, what is wrong with you people. You're just like Ms. Thomas, she's convinced he is just a bad kid, but he's not. He's more than that. If you would just-"
"Ms. Batchelder, I appreciate your enthusiasm on this issue but I do not wish to restart this ever going argument! I need you to answer the question, or I will ask your younger sister and brother!"
"Fine! Yes, it does have to do with Jeb. It always has to do with him. He's hardly ever home, and when he is, all he does is hand Iggy the cash for the month. He does what he does, and that's how it's been since I was 11 or 12 years old."
Now we were in court, and the judge was trying to decide where to put us. Jeb hadn't shown up, he was still gone. So we'd appeared with Valencia (Maya's and my mom, but not the other flock members') and Ella, my 12 year old half sister.
The judge didn't want to place us in foster care. Since Maya was ignorant of all of this, since she was attending West Ladies Academy, and Ari was in juvenile hall, it was just Iggy, Valencia and I. We were dressed in our best clothes.
You kind of have to envision a hispanic woman who's decked out in a black blazer, a white blouse, grey dress pants, and black pumps that matched the blazer perfectly. Even her hair looked nice, in a fancy updo that consisted of braids that tied into a bun. She looked good, for someone who was dying of cancer.
Iggy and I looked like crap. Complete and utter crap, I tell you. Of course, now you're listening. Just because I used a bad word.
Iggy had on a plaid button up shirt. It was ripped in the sleeve. He had on grey skinny jeans that had multiple stains. Add messy hair, dark circles around the eyes and bruises from accidentally walking into walls, and you get the picture.
I looked pretty much the same as Iggy, expect I had on a white Tee and an old jean jacket of Valencia's. My wavy hair was hacked off at the shoulders, ratty sneakers, and I had on black leggings.
Angel and Gazzy were sitting down, looking up at the judge with big eyes. Angel was in a pale pink tutu with sparkly white leggings and a hot pink sweater.
Gazzy was wearing shorts (in winter, I know), and the only shirt that didn't say something about explosions and guts. It said that Taco-Cat spelled backwards was Taco-Cat.*
"Since it would cause anxiety for all of you to be moved to separate homes, we will have a social worker, Anne Walker, visiting you every saturday to make sure you are doing alright. Provided of course, that Valencia Martinez stays with you on all weekends."
It could've gone better, I supposed. Of course, it could've gone worse.
* My little sister, who is turning 10 years old next month, has a shirt like that. She got it from Justice, so I don't own that slogan, either. That belongs to Justice, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind the free advertising.
I know you all hate it when people beg for reviews, but my account has been kind of slow lately. I'd really appreciate a review or two. You know what I mean? I'm sure those of you who are fellow writers understand my case. Anyways, please? (Sorry for begging, but I'm not sorry).
-Luna's Horcrux