Hey, everybody! This is a two – maybe three – shot made by yours truly, Cake. The idea came to me from a song (when does it not?) and I just knew I had to write this.
Disclaimer: I don't own MR or the song Just the Girl by The Click Five.
Ch. 1:
Max POV
I have to admit, being a Hollywood actress isn't necessarily easy. Booking jobs is hard shit, and just getting an audition is extraordinarily hard.
I walked down the street, Mocha Frappuccino in hand. So what if my manager, Lissa, says I'll get fat? Last time I checked I had a great metabolism, so what worry is there?
Feeling a vibration in my pocket, I dug my hand in it and fished out my phone. I hit the 'talk' button and placed the phone between my shoulder and my ear.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Max!" Lissa squealed and I flinched. The girl was my manager and my best friend, but she had a squeal that breaks glass.
I downed another sip of the Starbucks deliciousness. "What's up, Liss?"
"I got you an audition!" I could picture her beaming smile.
"Really, where?" I tried to calm myself.
"Where are you?" She asked.
I looked up. "Right outside the Barnes and Noble… about a block away from Starbucks."
"You know the Art Studio about a block down from Starbucks? That's where I am. It's in 5 minutes. I could barely get you in because of short notice. I suggest you book it, girl!" She hung up on me and I did as she told me to. I booked it.
I took off sprinting down the street, just trying to get to the studio on time.
As I finally saw the giant building, I checked my watch. I panted before looking at my reflection in the glass of the building. Smoothing my hair, I strutted into the building.
Lissa waved me over and I sat down next to her.
"Aren't you excited?" She giggled. I nodded and her smile grew. The only way I can describe having your best friend be your manager is awesome.
"Hello?" The mike sounded and I looked up to the stage to see a sight I was dumbfounded by. It was… Fang.
"Hi everyone. We're the Flock," He gestured to the smiling faces of Dylan, Sam, Gazzy, and Iggy. "And you're all here to audition to play a part in our new music video, right?" Most of the crowd responded.
"The Flock?" I whispered to Lissa.
She looked at me, shocked. "They're the newest break out band. This music video is going to be for their song 'Just the Girl.'" She finished.
I nodded throughout her explanation, though I was mostly just shocked that Fang and his crew had actually gotten anywhere.
I should explain this part, shouldn't I? I'll try to shorten this as much as I can. Fang and I… we're high school rivals. Not rivals through SAT scores or who is going to win Homecoming, but just… rivals. We have a swift hate-hate relationship. He stole my extra bra from my P.E. locker and hung it on the flagpole, and I told the entire school he had a crush on Brigid Tanner. I haven't seen him or his 'crew' since last year at our high school reunion.
"This is how it's going to work. Each of you is going to come up here, say your name and age, tell us some stuff about yourself, and then act out a scene with one of us from the music video." He paused. "Got it?"
The crowd of hopefuls responded with nods and cheers.
"Number 1, please." The manager, Monique was her name, called from the judges' area.
I watched girl after girl go up and either act well or make of fool of themselves. Since I was 57, I zoned out sometime after 23.
"Number 57?" Monique announced.
"That's you, Max!" Lissa whispered, making me jump.
"Oh- Oh! Here!" I shouted and ran up onstage.
I looked down at the judges, which consisted of the band and their manager. They were all looking at me, wide-eyed and in shock.
"Maximum Ride, 26." I announced. "And something about me is that quite honestly, I never thought I'd ever see any of you again." I smirked at Iggy's open jaw.
"Max." Fang said, regaining his composure. "You ready?"
I sat in my apartment that I rented with my little sister, Angel. I thought over my audition. I did pretty well, considering all I had to do was pretend to push someone in a pool.
I heard a knock on the door and jumped up to get it. I was dying of boredom, and I was too cheap to buy any good channels on the TV.
Surprisingly, behind the door stood Fang, Iggy, Dylan, Gazzy, Sam, Lissa, and Monique.
"Um… hi?" I said.
"You got the part, Max!" Lissa squealed. Once again, I flinched.
"What did I say about squealing, Liss?" I asked. Once again, she ignored me. The thing about the part sunk in. "Oh! Come in." I gestured to my apartment and they walked in.
Iggy flipped on my TV and tried to go to some expensive cable channel I didn't have.
"What gives?" He looked at me.
I crossed my arms. "When you start paying for it, you can watch it." He grumbled and went to talking with Dylan.
I looked around to see everyone was in conversation except Fang. Great.
I plopped down next to him. "So, how have you been, Fangles?" I used the pet name I knew that aggravated him the most. I gave it to him junior year.
"Just fine, Maxie." He responded.
"Miss me?" I asked.
He smirked. "Terribly." Sarcasm dripped off that one word. It hurt, but just a little. I was actually enjoying the banter though. It was familiar and dare I say it? Nice.
"What have you been doing?" I asked.
"I don't know… trying to make it big as a band, maybe?" He responded. I instantly felt stupid. Not that I'd ever admit it, of course.
I remained stoic. "I didn't know you guys existed till yesterday, actually." I admitted honestly.
"Ouch. That hurt, Maxie." Fang joked.
I shrugged. "It's true."
"Um… I think Nudge wants to talk to you." He announced suddenly.
"Nudge?" I asked.
"Monique." He clarified. I nodded and Monique took Fang's seat. The girl was gorgeous in all honesty. Black hair in perfect ringlets, smooth mocha skin, and warm brown eyes.
"Hi!" She chirped. "I'm Monique, but everyone calls me Nudge. You were great up there today. They all said they knew you from high school and I knew you just had to play the part in this video. I love music videos, don't you? They're so fun and exciting. And you're perfect for this one because Iggy told me that Fang said you were aetrhiuogg…" Fang slapped a hand over her mouth.
I looked at him, one eyebrow raised.
He shrugged. "She talks way too much. She would've gone on for an hour if I didn't stop her now." He removed his hand and Nudge glared. I couldn't help but wonder went Fang had said about me. Probably something insulting, though.
"So here is your recording of the song, your scenes, and the lyrics. Oh, my number is on the back of the lyric sheet." She handed me a CD and two sheets of paper.
I smiled and set them aside. We all sat and talked civilly for another 15 minutes.
Dylan came up to me and smiled. He was honestly the picture of the All-American guy. Blond hair, turquoise eyes, and the perfect smile. I may have a tiny preference for him because he was the only one who didn't take place in a single prank against me in high school.
"Hey." He began to strike a conversation.
I smiled genuinely. "Long time no see."
"I was wondering to if you wanted to have dinner with me?" He asked.
I blinked twice. "How very blunt of you." I announced.
He let out another award-winning smile. Well, he was cute…
"Sure." I said. What the hay? Who even cares?
Everyone but Lissa got up to leave after that. They all walked out, Fang being the last.
"Bye, Maxie." He smirked.
I smiled, sickly sweet. "Bye, Fangles." He shut the door.
I sighed once they were all gone and turned to Lissa.
"So…" She grinned.
"So what?" I asked. Hey, isn't that a P!nk song…
"So… what's up with you and Fang?" She asked.
"Me and Fang? Nothing is up with Fang and I." I said honestly.
She stared. "Oh, come on. You have pet names for each other, you tease each other mercilessly, you cannot say that is nothing."
"Yes, we do those things. We were high school rivals. He hung my bra on a flagpole, I let it slip about who he liked." I explained.
Lissa's eyes widened. "Did you do anything to him at your high school reunion?" She asked.
I stared at her. "Uh… yeah. I drenched him with water from the refreshment stand. Oh, and I told him that his band would never make it. Boy, was I wrong."
"Oh my gosh, Max! That song you're going to be in, it's about you! You two completely dig each other."
I scowled. "We do not." I said adamantly.
"Okay." She said. I looked up at her, surprised. She let that go surprisingly easily. "Then you won't mind if I ask Fang out tonight."
I felt something hit the bottom of my stomach. Oh god, what did I eat?
I managed to keep my voice steady. "Fine. I'm going on a date with Dylan anyway."
She nodded and walked out of my apartment.
Sighing, I picked up the CD and put it into my computer. I took out the lyrics sheet and just listened. I couldn't help myself as I picked out similarities in the song.
She's cold and she's cruel
But she knows what she's doin'
She pushed me in the pool
At our last school reunion
Pushed him in the pool? Drenched him with water? Similarity #1.
She laughs at my dreams
But I dream about her laughter
Laughs at his dreams. Whose the one who told him his band would get nowhere? Oh yes. That would be moi. Similarity #2.
Strange as it seems
She's the one I'm after
'cause she's bittersweet
She knocks me off of my feet
And I can't help myself
I don't want anyone else
She's a mystery
She's too much for me
But I keep comin' back for more
She's just the girl I'm lookin' for
She can't keep a secret
For more than an hour
Can't keep a secret? I was the one who let it spill about Brigid… Similarity #3.
She runs on 100 proof attitude power
I think this one speaks for itself. Similarity #4.
And the more she ignores me
The more I adore her
What can I do?
I'd do anything for her
'cause she's bittersweet
She knocks me off of my feet
And I can't help myself
I don't want anyone else
She's a mystery
She's too much for me
But I keep comin' back for more
She's just the girl I'm lookin' for
But when she sees it's me
On her caller ID
She won't pick up the phone
She'd rather be alone
Do you know how many of his phone calls I've ignored? I think at one point I put his number on block… Similarity #5.
But I can't give up just yet
Cause every word she's ever said
Is still ringin' in my head
Still ringin' in my head
She's cold and she's cruel
But she knows what she's doin'
Knows just what to say
So my whole day is ruined
I'm actually quite proud of this one. Similarity #6.
'cause she's bittersweet
She knocks me off of my feet
And I can't help myself
I don't want anyone else
She's a mystery
She's too much for me
But I keep comin' back for more
Cause she's bittersweet
She knocks me off of my feet
And I can't help myself
I don't want anyone else
She's a mystery
She's too much for me
But I keep comin' back for more
Oh, I keep comin' back for more
She's just the girl I'm lookin' for
Just the girl I'm lookin' for
Just the girl
I'm lookin' for
She's just the girl
I'm lookin' for
Just the girl
I'm lookin' for
Just the girl I'm lookin' for
My breath caught in my throat after listening to the entire song. This was Fang's relationship with me down to a tee.
I flipped the lyrics sheet over and dialed up Nudge's number.
"Hello?" Nudge answered.
"Hey, Nudge." I said.
"Oh, Max! What's up?" She asked nonchalantly.
I cleared my throat. "I was just wondering… do you know if Fang wrote this about… me?"
She laughed. "Oh, yeah! He wrote it for you about a year ago."
"A year ago…" I repeated. "I was just trying to prove a point to someone. Sorry."
I finished off my conversation with Nudge threw my phone down on my couch.
Great. I was trying to prove a point to someone, though. And I proved it. To myself. I proved that Fang liked me… a year ago. No longer. Which kind of sucks because now I know that I like him.
I sighed. I guess I'll have to cancel that date with Dylan.
Woot! That was long and took forever to type, but I thought this would be a great idea for a two-shot.
~Cake.