Just saying, Angel got out of the explosion and stuff without being caught, so this is after Fang, but Angel is with the Flock..s. It never mentions in the books how old Ratchet, Star, Kate and Ratchet are, so I'm going to say that they're all 15 except Ratchet who seems a little older just cause he was in a gang... idk XD os here are the ages:
Max, Fang, Maya, Iggy, Star, Kate, Dylan: 15
Ratchet:16
Holden: 14
Nudge:12
Gazzy: 9
Angel: 7
"Leksi!" My mum yelled up the stairs at me. I was thankful I'd decided to shut my door that night. "Leksi wake up!" she yelled, sounding closer this time. I shoved my head under my pillow and sprawled out, making myself look asleep. The door flew open and I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping she'd leave me to 'sleep' a little longer.
She sighed and I thought I heard her turn, instead the pillow was thrown off my head. "Leksi for goodness' sake wake up!"
I groaned, and pretended that she'd woken me up. "Meh... What time is it?" I yawned, adding just the right effect. f course, I already knew the answer to this question: far too early to be awake.
"It's almost eleven. Come on, get up. You've slept long enough. Besides, I've got great news!" she smiled the I'm-so-proud-of-you-even-though-you-don't-know-why-yet-because-I-went-into-your-mail-and-read-what-was-not-mine-but-I-don't-feel-bad-about-it-what-so-ever-because-I'm-your-mother smile -yes, I have in fact begun recognizing those looks, in great detail.
Oh great. Here she goes. I bet it's another thing about me getting a letter from the principle thanking me for a good 'world peace squad' idea. It's called getting in trouble and choosing that instead of detention! As if I'd actually do something like that...
"Oh Leksi I'm so proud of you! You got asked to go to a boarding school, in Longmont, Colorado. There is a little town there, in St. Vrain River Valley, and just outside of there, on a beautiful campus, is your boarding school, St. Vrain's Academy for Gifted Adolescents." She exclaimed. "It's a really great opportunity for you Leksi."
I sighed. All I'd ever wanted was to be normal. It's kind of hard to do that when you know you have something wrong with you. It's just something the doctors don't get. I've had wierd bones all my life. They said that they'd never be able to hold my weight, they were wrong. Just because they're hollow doesn't mean anything. I also have muscles that are formed more like cats, or as much like a cat's as they can be without me being four-legged. I can see alot better than everyone I know in the dark, which is why nobody'd ever play hide and go seek in the dark with me, if I was it. They can't figure out why I have a hollow in my back, that's pretty big. They can't figure out why I have pains in my back and in my tailbone. I guess all I'd ever wanted was for all this to just stop.
"But I don't want to stand out more than I already do!" I cried.
"Leks, all these kids will have the same talents as you. The playing field will be level." she smiled. "It'll be just like you've always wanted." her green eyes pleaded with me, and I had to look away. She'd also called me 'Leks'. She only called me that when something meant a ton to her.
"Fine." This day just keeps getting better and better. "I'll do it."
She jumped up, off my purple duvet, her gold, wavy hair, just a little darker than my own, bounced, gleaming in the fluorescents. She kissed my head and left the room, her willowy figure disappearing down the stairs.
"What did I just agree to?" I asked myself, looking at the dark purple walls, and the pile of papers and notebooks, messily thrown around the filing cabinet. I went over and scooped them up, putting them back into their proper places, in the metal cabinet. It'd been my father's for work, until a few years back, and then he'd given it to me, insisting that grey does in fact go with purple. It does... just not a giant grey cabinet, looking ancient, and then the new oak dresser across the room from my bed, and the oak sidetable, to the right of the bed, when you look at it from the door. Then there's my closet, with a white sliding door, across from the filing cabinet, and then my white door, just beside my dresser. I don't have a desk.
"Lunch is ready!" Mum called from downstairs. I looked at the clock and blanched. It was already 11:45. I guess dwelling in the things that you dislike about yourself, and basically all the bad things in your life, you can get a little consumed, and time can, apparently, pass really fast.
"Coming!" I called, looking down at my stuff.
When I got downstairs I grinned when I saw grilled marble cheese sandwiches. My grin quickly turned into a frown when i realized that this was probably bribery, just so I wouldn't change my mind. I looked outside at the snow sparkling in the sunlight. It looked so nice out. And then of course you'd go outside and freeze your limbs off if you didn't have a jacket. Of course, that's Canada for you.
I jumped onto a stool and almost fell off the back. Normal for me. The marble counter top was cool on my arms. I grabbed some Ketchup and swirted a giant glob onto my plate. It was Christmas break right now, December 26th to be exact. School starts the seventh of January.
"When does this boarding school start, anyways?" I asked.
"You're leaving in four days." Mum answered, not meeting my eyes.
I did the best spit-take in the history of spit-takes then. It sprayed everywhere, even getting all the way to the fridge. As a bonus, it missed me compoletely, no after-shock, backlash, got on me. And Mum didn't get hit either, thank goodness. She'd freak if she had.
"I'm what!"I shrieked.
"You're-"
"I know what you said!" I snapped. "I just figured, it'd be after this year, not after this term! I don't even get to finish the year in my school!"
"Well it isn't, and this is the greatest opportunity! You'll never get anything like this again Elektra! The least you can do is take it!" she snapped back.
Ohh she called me Electra. Next comes the full name. Better cool her down.. don't want to waste her breath.. my middle names are... interesting.
"Okay. I give in. I'll do it. Whatever." I turned.
"Elektra Calista Phaedra Contos! Don't turn me into the bad guy! This is a great opportunity for you, and one day, you'll thank me for it." she called.
Oh here she goes, bringing out the whole name. Note how every freaking one of them is greek. And yet, at home, we speak english and french. Whatever.
"I'm sure I will." I said, my voice dripping sarcasm.
My mother steamed and tried not to yell. She hated yelling at me. I hated when she yelled at me, funnily enough. She finally just turned around, getting her spatula and pan, and just flipping the grilled cheese. "Go and pack."
I did just as she said, fuming inside.
*LINE*
*ANOTHER LINE*
The Flock, or Max's Flock, as it was now known, landed in the camp that my flock had set up. Of course, when I say my flock, I mean my group, seeing as Maya and I were the only ones in my group that had wings. Then of course there was Ratchet, the one who could see and hear better, and also had better reflexes, Star, who was wicked fast and Kate who was insane strong, and then Holden, the human starfish, who could regenerate limbs and breath underwater.
Max strode towards me, holding Dylan's hand, and each time I saw them, my heart ached. It was my fault that she'd gotten over me. I was the one who'd originally left her. She was happy, wasn't that what I'd wanted? She started walking towards me and my senses went into hyper alert.
"Where do you want to go?" she asked, swishing her hair in a way that made my heart ache.
"Well, my flock would love to see the rockies, and it'd be fantastic for those of us who can fly, to fly over them. We'll just need some warm jackets. It gets cold up there." I said, my face showing no expression.
"Cool. I'm sure the others'll be cool with that." she smiled, and walked away, going over to Dylan. She went on her tippy-toes and he leaned down, and their lips met. I looked away, the sight breaking my heart like it always did.
I turned away, walking over to Ratchet, Star, Kate and Holden. Maya was over with Iggy most likely. After a few weeks of the Flocks being together, they hit it off. So, now, they were like another Max and Dylan. Completely emotional and together and just... meh.
"So, we're going to the rockies!" I called over.
They all grinned and there was a whoop from Ratchet. "The rockies, perfect place for a romantic getaway." he winked at Kate and she blushed under her tan complexion. Her glossy black hair fell in front of her face, covering most of it, and she tried to tuck it behind her ears, but it just fell back in front of them again. Star just rolled her blue eyes and looked up at me, her blonde hair still perfect, like it always was. Holden was the only one who generally didn't flirt. Star would sometimes with Ratchet, or even with me, but not often.
"We fly tomorrow!" Max called and I nodded.
"Get some sleep." My flock nodded and all settled down, and I fell asleep to the setting of the sun.
*LINE*
*LINE*
The pain lanced through my back, and then down, at my tailbone, pounding and jabbing, going away, and giving the appearance of the end of the pain, only to come back worse. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I curled up into a small ball, and my mum rubbed my back lightly. We didn't know why this was happening, but it did, and it was horrid.
I looked at the clock, and could barely make out the numbers through the tears. It was 12:30 A.M. When the pains finally went away, it was 4:37, and I was exausted, and covered in sweat.
"Well, I might as well go and take a shower, before I need to leave for my 9:00 flight." I sighed.
*LINE*
*LINE*
"Up and at 'em guys! We've got four good hours of flying before we get to the rockies!" I called, and the others groaned.
"Go awaaaaaaaaaay!" Nudge cried.
"Give me another hour..." Iggy muttered and Gazzy grunted, affirming that.
I smacked them both upside the heads, and they got up, and Nudge jumped up quickly after she heard that. Angel was already up, which wasn't too surprising. Dylan was also ready to go, and I smiled up at him.
"At least one person listens."
He beamed back down at me, and leaned in. Our lips touched, and I smiled into his mouth. I pulled back after a few seconds, and winked.
"We need to go Dylan, I can't go contradicting my own orders." I whispered.
"Why not..." he whined quietly.
"Well this'll be alot more romantic in the rockies..." with that I left his side and walked over to the others, who were now ready to go, and I saw Fang's flock walking over.
"Okay, so Ratchet, Kate and Holden are going to be driving, like always, and Maya and I are going to be flying, and then Star's going to run underneath us." Fang said, not looking at me. He'd taking to looking past me when we talked, and I felt bad, because really, it was my fault. But I couldn't keep feeling bad. I'm happy with Dylan, and Fang'll find someone eventually... right?
"Let's go then." I said and took off.
*Line*
*Surprise surprise, another line!*
I looked at the white landscape as the car drove down the country lane, and tried to look happier than I felt. Why me? I half expected one of those voices you only hear in movies to say 'Because youu're special Leksi' but of course, that didn't happen.
"We're here Miss." the driver called back to me. He was older, maybe around forty, and his hair was peppered with grey. He had a kind face, and a smile that made his face crease.
I got out and walked around back, and smiled when he lifted out my luggadge. "Thank you." I handed him the money, and turned to look at the school. It was huge. It was built like a stadium, shaped like an O, except it had a small outdoor hall that lead to a courtyard, with benches, and trees. There were eight floor, the lower ones looking like school classrooms and the higher ones looking like dorm rooms. Behind the school were the Rockies. They were gorgeous. The sunlight sparkled off the new snow on them and it took my breath away. There was an iced over lake to the right of the school, closer to the rockies, and I decieded to go over to it.
When I got to the end of the school, I realized that there was another part of the building, attatched by a long straight part, and then going into a regular school building shape, except six times bigger, at least. This thing was at least the size of three football fields.
"How in hell am I supposed to get from one end to another, if my classes happen to be on opposite ends..." I wondered.
"Simple. You have fifteen minutes to get from one class to another." said a masculine voice from behind me.
I whirled to see a kid a couple of years older than me, maybe seventeen, standing there, in the the snow. He had white blonde hair, and icy blue eyes, and a face that looked like it had been taken from a fashion magazine. He was about 5'11'', so not too tall, but a decent hight, since I'm a fairly short person. That is, if you consider 5'6'' to be short. Which I do.
"Can I ask why you're out here?" I asked, folding my arms across my chest, letting my suitcases sit on the snow, hoping they wouldn't get wet. Oh well.
He threw his head back and laughed. "I could ask you the same thing Goldie Locks."
"Yes but I was here first, so you're only reason could be following me, so if I were you, I'd make up a better reason quick." I glared. Getting pissy with the hot guy. Nice.
He held up his hands, in an I-surrender gesture, and grinned. "Let's just say I wanted to be the first to meet the beautiful new girl." he winked.
I had the urge to roll my eyes. That, or melt. Which was really wierd, since I'm not really one of those huge fall-for-any-guy-that-walks-up type. So I just rolled my eyes. "That stuff doesn't work on me bud."
"My names not bud, it's Jared. And don't lie sweetheart, we both know it's working." He walked closer, now only about a foot away from me.
I swallowed and took a step backwards, and slipped on some ice, and reached out instinctively for something, and grabbed his hand. His other arm magically appeared around my waist, and I was pulled almost all the way up by him, but he stopped before I was truly standing. Our faces were inches apart and his warm breath was hitting my face, and his eyes were swirling, now dark midnight blue. What in the hell..?
"What is your name?" he asked, and I almost melted. It was as if he'd only used a teeny bit of sexy before, and now it was full blown sensuality.
"Leski." I trembled, aching from being so close to him.
"And why are you here Leksi?" he smiled, making me lose control of my legs completely, and my whole weight being held up by him.
"B-bec-c-c-cause I'm s-special." I said, aching for him. His hair was tickling my nose and it was driving me crazy. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU! My mind screamed but I completely ignored it.
"Do you know why you're special? And it's not because you're smart Leksi." he purred again.
"Because I have a-air sac-c-cs and light-t-t-ter bones then h-humans." I stuttered. It was getting dark outside, the sun just barely peaking over the horizon, but it sparkled off the snow, making almost as bright as midday.
"Good girl Leksi." he said, his voice back to normal. He kissed me, on the lips, for no reason whatsoever, and I did the Leksi thing. I kneed him.
"What the hell were you-" I was cut off by a pain in my lower back, and in my tailbone. It very quickly got worse then I'd ever felt, and I was seeing black spots, and I heard a screaming in the distance that I soon realized was my own. I saw Jared smiling faintly, standing over me, not doing anything. Jerk.
*LINE*
*LINE*
I looked down when I heard the scream of the girl, and swooped down, figuring Max, Dylan, Maya and the rest of the Flock would follow. I came into view of a school after a few seconds of diving and I flew as fast as I could to the girl. She sounded like she was being torchered or murdered or something equally as gruesome.
I came into sight of some colourful suitcases, and a boy, a few years older than me, with white blonde hair and blue eyes, staring down at the girl, doing nothing. The girl was beautiful, or as beautiful as you could be when you were in so much pain that you were crying and screaming. Her long, curly, golden hair was flared around her and eyes were closed, so I couldn't see their colour. I swooped down and picked her up, suprised at how light she was. She was small, but she weighed as much as Nudge, which wasn't much.
I saw the others swoop down and each pick up a piece of luggage, leaving an angry teenage boy standing there flipping us off, and yelling. He obviously wanted her for something. And I wouldn't let that happen. That's a promise.
So this is my first Maximum Ride fic, that's not a One-shot, so please be nice if I didn't get the characters right, or if you don't like the way I did something... and Jared is an O.C., so that's not a spoiler... and PLEASE REVIEW! I know it's annoying when we ask you to but it really makes us authors feel better about ourselves when we get nice reviews :) so you know... my self esteem could use a little boosting if you know whatt I mean... ;) REVIEW!