Hello and welcome back!! Sorry about the delay I had exams most of April and when I finally got a break my computer died!! I've only got it back online a couple of hours ago so forgive me.

I hope you like chapter 1. Chapter 2 will be here as soon as possible.

You are probably thinking Maximum's moon is just like new moon but with Max instead of Bella. In some places that may be the case but this will be a lot darker, blood shall flow in this book.

Until next time!

Lackofbetterchoice

xx

Maximum's Moon

Chapter 1

I gulped deep lungfuls of air. My brain was on hyperdrive; I was racing for my life. My one goal was to escape. Erasers snarled and growled close behind me, I willed my legs to go faster, crashing through underbrush and branches snapped at my body. I could feel blood dripping down my leg, but I easily ignored it, concentrating on moving faster. The dogs got closer.

I burst through the trees and arrived at the edge of a sheer cliff. I skidded to a halt only about a foot from the edge. The waves crashed below me but were drowned out by the wails of erasers. I didn't look behind me as I heard them crash into the clearing as well. I leaped into the air and quickly unfurled my wings. I pushed down hard, gaining as muchaltitude as possible before I looked back. I gasped in shock, my hunters weren't erasers. They were vampires.

I woke up with a jolt, sweat covered my face and I was breathing heavily. It took me a moment to realise where I was, and only then did I relax. Total didn't come running in, which was a good sign. It meant I wasn't screaming in my sleep again.

My bedroom window was wide open; I must have forgotten to close it after my night flight. The breeze coming through was welcome.

I hadn't had that dream in years. Not since I was fourteen, when the flock and I had only just started going on the run. I always had nightmares, some worse than others but I had forgotten about this one until now. Of course, it wasn't the exact same dream. Vampires...well you can't say my life is dull.

The sun was starting to come up over the horizon and light started to fill my bedroom. Even after five months of living here, my room was still pretty bare. Edward had insisted on getting me a new stereo though, which sat on the floor in the corner.

Edward, my vampire boyfriend.

That sentence still didn't seem real to me even after all this time, and it wasn't the vampire part, trust me. It was the boyfriend part. I'd only loved one other person like this and he died in my arms years ago. It seemed strange that one person could make me feel so happy and chase the nightmares away. I had managed to find two of them. Maybe God, if he does exist, doesn't completely hate me.

I got up and had breakfast, raiding the cupboards and fridge for whatever I could find. Jeb had gone away again, for longer this time. I really needed to learn how to cook. Esme was a better cook than me and she hadn't touched human food for over fifty years. When she realised I pretty much lived on take out, she bought at least ten different cook books. She is determined to try every recipe, much to Total's delight.

After taking the longest shower possib;e, I got dressed and decided to take the bike out for a while. I hadn't been able to ride it much because of the rain over the winter, but spring had finally started to kick in with March and the rain started to let up.

I had raided a nearby junk yard and modified an old broken down car that was at least forty years old to use in the winter. After a few modifications, it ran like new and could reach two hundred miles an hour. It still didn't have a back window though, which I constantly got in trouble for.

I rode the bike for over an hour, through the back lanes of the forest, leaping over bumps and using fallen trees as ramps. Rain still dripped from leaves and wet the grass even though it hadn't rained recently so I still got soaked. I only just made it in time for school after changing into some dry clothes and flying there. Edward waited on the edge of the parking lot.

I thought you wouldn't be coming in today," I said, landing lightly behind him. His arm wrapped around my waist as I pulled on my hoodie and started walking towards the school building. The sun was hiding behind some clouds at the moment but you never knew when it could appear again.

"It was a bit hot and miss for a while but then our personal weather girl said it would be fine,"

You never new, unless you were Alice.

"How was your hunting trip"

"Very successful," h gave m crooked grin, showing off his sharp teeth. His eyes were gold

"That's good"

"I came to see you during the night but you were asleep by the time I got there. I left the window open to keep you cool. You were burning up slightly," he put his hand on my forehead.

"I'm fine, you worry too much,"

"You worry too little," he replied and kissed me gently before taking my hand and pulling me towards the school. The bell had gone and we were going to be late. I didn't really care though.

As we walked through the parking lot people stared. No one had gotten used to me being with Edward. It didn't bother me as much though. I'd learned to ignore it.

Edward had swapped into three more of my classed after Christmas. I think he could have swapped into all of them if he wanted to, the principal loved him, but we decided that four classes was enough. They were also the classes he was tutoring me in now. I'd failed a lot of my Christmas tests. So much for Jeb's catch up summer school...

"Glad you could join us Miss Batcheldor, Mr. Cullen. Have a seat," Our Spanish teacher pointed tp two seats in the front. I was still getting used to being called Max Batcheldor. I didn't really like it to be honest.

As soon as the teacher turned his back, a small piece of paper fluttered on to my desk.

I've got a surprise for you

I gave Edward a worried look, before writing back,

If it's expensive, I don't want it.

Edward rolled his eyes and smiled.

You'll like it, trust me.

Alice met us outside the room after class, grinning like mad.

"Why so happy?" I asked suspiciously. I had learned over the monthsthat when Alice grins at me, it usually involves a makeover of some description.

"Oh, no reason," she answered, sharing a not-subtle-look with Edward. Now I was definitely scared.

"Okay, What's this surprise?" I asked Edward.

"I can't tell you, it'll spoil it," he replied.

"Edward you know I don't like surprises,"

"Well' you better get used to them," Alice replied, dragging Edward off in the other direction before I could say anything more.

I walked on my own to English and was met at the door by Mike.

"Hey Max, how's it going?" he leaned against the door way, with his arms crossed trying to seem casual, but his eyes gave away his delight in seeing me. His hair had had been gelled into a careful disarray. I didn't need to think too hard to work out who inspired that look.

"It's going good, you?" I stepped past him and went to my desk.

"Good, good,"

Suddenly Jessica stalked past him with a glare and almost slammed her books down on her desk. She sat down scowling in our direction.

"Things aren't going well with Jessica, I'm guessing,"

Mike looked in surprise, "How'd you know?" It seemed that Mike hadn't even noticed Jessica had come in or he did notice and didn't care.

"Intuition," I muttered and thankfully the teacher came in then.

The day sped past and I found it hard to pay attention. In the back of my mind I worried what the surprise was. I couldn't think of any special occasion coming up. I asked once or twice hoping that Edward would cave but he stayed strong with a little help fro Alice.

Eventually the last class ended and I found Edward outside the door. I said goodbye to Mike but he paid no attention to it. It seemed people either ignored me or stared at me when I was with Edward.

"you hungry?" Edward asked.

"I usually am," the fod portions they give at school barely kept me going through the day. Jeb had given me these special bars to eat to stop me getting hungry but I'd run out and had to wait until he gets back from work.

"Well, I am going to make you dinner and then we shall go up to my house and reveal your surprise,"

Yes, even Edward was a better cook than me, and he hadn't touched human food longer than Esme. I put cooking on my to-do list.

"Alright," I sighed in defeat and follored the car home from the air. I needed to stretch my wings out.

Edward arrived home before me, as I took a little detour when I found some thermals. When I had arrived he had dinner already prepared. He must have premade it.

"I hope you like it," Edward revealed lasagne. My stomach grumbled in appreciation.

"Thanks," I said and sat down. Before Edward could get me some cutlery, I raised my hand to stop him and slowly the fork and knife floated above me, and dropped in to my hands.

I smiled smugly, being a mutant does have its advantages sometimes.

"I wonder where Total is," I said between mouthfuls.

"Why?" Edward asked.

"I was wondering, making sure he's not leaping off buildings or something,"

"Would he?"

I shrugged, "He's done it before,"

"He's tried to kill himself?" Edward was horrified.

"No, no, no," I laughed, "when he first got his wings. He was so excited he started leaping of buildings in the middle of the day,"

"Oh right," Edwards voice was quiet and thoughtful.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked.

"That's my line," he replied, ignoring my question. I raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, I was thinking about how easy you guys have it. All humans have to do if jump off something high and gravity does the rest,"

"Why?" I was horrified.

"Suicide was just something I had to think about once,"

"When?"

"The...incident,"

"Oh,"

I touched the back of my neck, as a reflex. Jeb said that we were out of the hot zone. If my expiration date hadn't appeared by now it probably would never appear. The first couple of weeks after the attack were full of tests and examinations. I was in pain a lot but I always refused morphine and just took non-drowsy pain killers when I need them. My body was changing and at first I was fine but the further along I got the worse it was. Eventually though, we pushed through and I had almost complete control over my new powers and my instincts.

"Of course, if you did die I would avenge your killers but then what?"

"You'd go back to whatever you did before you met me," I replied. I had stopped eating; I had lost my appetite.

"I wouldn't be able to, and so there is no other option,"

"There is always another option, Edward," I said through gritted teeth.

Edward didn't answer.

"What would you do anyway If you did decide?" I was honestly curious in what he was thinking of, how could he even consider suicide? How could he do it? It's not like his family would tear him apart and burn him.

"I was going to provoke the Volturi. You don't provoke the Volturi unless you want to die," Edward murmured.

"You shouldn't think about things like that," I replied.

"I don't need to. You're still alive," he said and then sighed, "If it weren't for me, all that may not have happened. You came here for a normal life and look what I've brought you, crazed vampires intent on killing you,"

"I realised a long time ago that I'm not meant to have a normal life,"

"I just confirmed it for you then," he half smiled and suddenly got up. "I think it's time for your surprise,"

I walked through the front door, and a large bang went off making me jump about a over foot in the air and start hyperventilating. Suddenly, Emmet burst into the hall way.

"Happy birthday!" he bellowed, grabbing me in a bear hug. Streamers fell from the air on top of us.

I was too shocked to speak. I just looked around wide eyed with my mouth hanging open. A banner had been placed on every door way in every colour imaginable. Glitter and streamers covered the entire sitting room. The rest of the Cullen's all stood around a large table in the middle of the room, covered in a sparkly blue table cloth, with a giant chocolate cake, probably bigger than my head. Rosalie stood a little way from them, she didn't smile but she didn't glare either. She still didn't trust me.

"Emmet I told you not to set off the party poppers when she came in! You'll freak her out!" Alice appeared beside me. She put her arm around my shoulder and led me slowly into the sitting room.

"Oh what's a party popper going to do," he sent off another one behind. I didn't jump this time but it made me flinch a little.

"Emmet..." Edward warned him, and wrapped his arm around my waist pulling me close from Alice. He whispered in my ear, "sorry, that probably wasn't the best way to start the night,"

"I'm fine," I replied, still slightly in shock from the scene in front of me, "whose bir-?"

"It's yours, idiot!" Total stepped forward. Ah so he was in on it as well.

I was brought forward by Alice and Edward to have a look at the cake. It had thick white icing saying 'Happy birthday Max'.

"I don't even know when my birthday is, I didn't even know I had a birthday. Did you guys just pick a random day or something?" I mumbled, I started to feel embarrassed with all the attention.

"No, we called Jeb and your mother. They were shocked because according to them...you never wanted to know or celebrate your birthday before?" Edward raised an eyebrow.

He was right I didn't want to know. With the rest of the flock I'd picked a random day to be my birthday and over the years I had forgotten what it was and didn't really care.

Suddenly I was overcome with emotion; the people around me had accepted me into their family with such ease. I wanted to cry, but I just about kept myself under control luckily, though I think Edward may have suspected I was losing it, and brought my attention to a giant card about half the size of me in the corner, which they'd all signed. He had turned me away long enough to banish tears from my eyes.

Esme threw her arms around me; she looked like she'd be crying if she could, "When we found out that you didn't even know when your birthday was, we made it our mission to find out and make up for all the ones you missed,"

"I wanted to through you a huge surprise party, invite the whole town, but somebody wouldn't let me." Alice glared at Edward and I gave him a look of gratitude.

"How old am I anyway?" I asked when Esme finally released me.

"Eighteen, Max. Congrats you are officially the first mutant who has ever reached adulthood," Total said.

Edwards face fell a little, worried how I'd react to that news. Everyone else's showed surprise. I still hadn't told everyone about my past. I rolled my eyes at Total and laughed, picking him up.

"So it turns out you should technically be in our year," Emmet said.

"Em, I'll stay where I am, thanks." If I moved up I'll fail even more classes.

"Come on, come on, let's open your presents!" Alice exclaimed, practically bouncing off the walls. She ran out of the room.

"I get presents?" I was surprised and horrified, how much money are they spending on me now?

"Of course!" She replied and coming back, carrying variously sized covered objects. She shoved one into my hands, "That one's from your mother and Ella,"

"You got them in on this as well?" I said, tearing at the paper. It was a camera and a photo album. On the inside cover, it said, 'I'm so happy you're getting along so well in Forks, maybe you could document it? Mum and Ella'

"We also got Jeb," Alice said shoving more and more objects into my hands.

I spent maybe half an hour going through the gifts I really didn't deserve. Alice and Rosalie had given me range of different clothes, from dresses to jeans to shoes and sandals, pretty much a whole new wardrobe.

"I looked through your closet and almost everything you own is either torn or has blood stain on it. You need these clothes and I am getting you into one of these dresses," Alice said.

"Thanks Alice, Rosalie," I tried not to think of the day Alice gets me into a dress. It was way too scary.

Emmet and Jasper had bought me a new back window and front seats for my car. Emmet told me I should install them as soon as possible before I could even say thank you. "I dread to think what's living in the seats you picked up in the yard," he said

My favourite present do far was definitely Jeb's though. It was a retractable knife that could attach itself to my arm. The others were a little horrified when I opened it but I liked it. There was also a note saying, 'Saw this and thought of you, I hope you never half to use it. Happy birthday'. It was so Jeb to get me a weapon for a gift. He knew that I had broken my last blade when I was taking out Itex on my own. I was surprised he remembered.

"This is from Carlisle and Esme," Alice handed the small package to me and I thanked them, putting my finger and the paper and jerking the tape off. Suddenly a small stinging sensation appeared on the top of my finger. I looked down and a single drop of blood oozed out of my finger and fell to the floor.

It all happened very quickly then.