I don't own the Maximum Ride series, only Maria. I'm back! Thanks for the review! Sorry it's been so long, I was really busy.
Disclaimer: I only own Maria!
Chapter 1 The Journey Begins
A fourteen year old girl stood on top of a hill, smiling against the breeze as she scanned the area with her celeste blue eyes. She had her long, messy white-blond hair tied up into a high ponytail, which was pulled through the back hole of a black baseball cap, with the exception of shoulder length bangs that framed her angelic face and didn't reveal her ears. The girl wore a leather biker jacket, orange tank top, black jeans, and steel toed combat boots. Her phone suddenly vibrated, ruining the moment.
"Shit!" The girl glared down at her phone. "I'm gonna be late again!"
She grabbed her oversized duffel, threw it over her shoulder, slammed her helmet on and ran back to her bike.
Fang POV
This was such a waste of time. Maybe Max was finally losing it. There was seriously no point in hanging out at schools, but yet again, we had been enrolled. When I asked her, she said the voice told her to. At least the town was small. One school for every grade, so none of us would be separated. I sighed and walked into my first class.
"Glad to see you made it." The teacher, a woman in her late thirties, remarked sarcastically without looking up. "Take your seat, Ms. Frost."
"Weird." I comment. "I didn't think anyone could see through my disguise."
"Oh! I'm so sorry Mr. . . Mr . ?" The teacher gives me an apologetic look.
"Ride. Nick Ride." I nod to her.
"I'm sorry Mr. Ride, I just thought you were another student." The teacher explains. "It's fine." "Well, go ahead and find an empty desk."
She gestures to the class. I make my way to the back and take the window seat, noting that all the desk immediately near it are empty as well. The class, including the teacher, look at me with a mixture of horror, admiration, and . . .pity? Weird. A girl with wavy scarlet hair and bright green eyes raises her hand.
"Yes, Ms. Thompson?" The teacher answers.
"Can I warn the new student about that desk?" The redhead asks.
"Go ahead." The redhead stands up and turns to me.
"That's Maria's seat." The girl explains. "If you're sitting there when she shows up, you'll end up in the hospital like Jennifer and Andrew."
"Or maybe she'll let you off with a warning, since you're new." A student snickers and he sounds like he doesn't believe his own words.
The door opens at that very moment. A girl with white-blond hair that was in a style mine used to be in, pale blue eyes, and olive skin sort of struts into the room.
"Hey Mrs. Norris." The girl says cheerfully. "I missed you."
"Yeah, yeah." The teacher, Mrs. Norris, waves her off. "Just take a seat."
"Take it where?" The girl smirks.
"Just sit down." Mrs. Norris grits her teeth.
The girl's smirk disappears and her eyes narrow when they land on me. She walks over and stands over the desk.
"You're in my seat, newbie." She says calmly. "Move."
"What's the magic word?" I reply with a smirk, making her lips twitch in amusement.
"Abra cadabra." She mirrors my smirk.
"I guess I can accept that answer." I move to the seat right next to her's. "I'm Nick. You must be Maria. Can't see why everyone's so afraid of you. You're a bucket of sunshine."
"I think we'll get along just fine." Maria laughs. "You've got something no one else in this school has. Balls."
The male students look offended by this and the girls just roll their eyes. A few of the guys actually seem jealous.
Maria POV
'I've made a friend. . .' I think, internally snickering. 'Mom would die from happiness. Maybe I should invite him over. . .'
The bell rings, signaling lunch for grades eight through twelve. The lunches were divided three ways. Kindergarten to third grade, fourth to seventh grade, and eighth to twelfth grade. I find my usual table and pull out my homemade lunch. After a moment, some idiots decide to join me. I'm about to make a snide remark when I see who's there. Nick sits on my left, a boy with blond hair, pale skin, and eyes that stare at nothing sits on my right, a girl with golden brown hair, warm brown eyes, and tan skin sit across from me, next to a girl with light mocha skin, dark brown hair, and chocolate eyes.
"I didn't realize I was on babysitting duty today." I remark with a lopsided grin.
"Hey Maria." Nick says. "This is my brother, Jeff, and my sisters, Max and Crystal. Guys, this is Maria."
"Nice to meet you." Max grins warmly at me.
"Hey, Nick." An annoying voice makes itself known. "Can I sit next to you?"
I don't miss the way Max clenches her jaw.
"Julia." I say coldly without looking her way. "I thought I told you to never to come near me. Leave. Now."
". . . . " I can't see her reaction, but she speaks after a couple of minutes of silence. "Yeah right! You can't hurt a hair on my head! One more offence and you'll be expelled! Meaning you'd have to move to a new town, since this is the only school for miles."
I grit my teeth. She's right, of course. If I got expelled, mom and I would have to move to a new town, or possibly, a new state altogether.
"I mean, it's not like you can just move in with your dad." Julia remarks. "Oh, that's right. He ditched your slut mom after he knocked her up."
I must black out for a moment, because the next thing I know, Max and Nick are holding me back from Julia, who's gained a broken nose and arm, and a busted lip. A bunch of teachers appear to try to handle the situation.
"I'm sorry, Maria." Mrs. Norris shakes her head in frustration. "But this is the last straw. Clean out your locker and leave the premises immediately."
"Mrs. Norris-!"
"No." She interrupts me. "You were warned. Can't you go a single day without getting into a fight?"
"Just wait till my father hears about this!" Julia screeched.
"We'll handle Julia." Mrs. Norris reassures me. "Just get home."
I nod, dejected. Mom would not be a happy camper.
"Do you need someone to help you?" Mrs. Norris asks.
"We'll help." Max inputs. "If you'll let us."
"Sure." The surprise shows on my face. "Thanks. It's this way."
The four of them follow me down the hall to my locker. I hardly ever used it, but I wanted to make sure that there was nothing in it.
"Maria Frost." Mr. Johnson, the principal of the school, came on the intercom. "Your uncle is at the front entrance to pick you up. Please report there immediately."
"Uncle?" I ask out loud.
"Is something wrong?" Max asks.
"My mom had me when she was a teenager." I explain. "Her family basically abandoned her to take care of me by herself when she decided to keep me. The deadbeat who got her pregnant, skipped town. My mom is the only family I know."
"That seems pretty sketchy." Jeff agrees.
My phone chooses that moment to ring. Mom's ring tone cuts through the hall. Anything I'm not by Lenka. I pull it out and hold it to my ear.
"Mom?" I ask.
"Not even close." A male voice answers. "Although she is here."
"Who the fuck is this?" I question him coldly.
"Now, now." He scolds me. "It took quite a long time to find you. If you want to see you mom again, you'll meet me at the local park. Don't tell anyone. And no cops. If you listen, your mom might live."
"Can I talk to her?" I grit my teeth.
"Of course." He answers.
"Maria?" My mom asks hesitantly. "Maria listen to me. Run. Run as far and as fast as you can! Don't worry about me, just go! Mari-"
"I think that's enough for now." The man's voice comes back on. "Three O'clock. Don't forget."
"Wait!" I keep him from hanging up. "What's your name?"
"Jeb Bachelor." The phone clicks off and the dial tone plays.
"Shit!" I slam the phone closed and shove it back into my pocket.
"What's up?" Nick asks.
"My mom got arrested." I lie easily. "Apparently, one of the new deputies thought it'd be cute to harass her. Fucking assholes! I have to go kick some ass. See you guys."
I shove my stuff into my duffel and throw it over my shoulder. Then I head for the parking lot to get my bike and leave.
Fang POV
"What do we do?" Max asks us.
"Stay out of it." I tell her. "It's none of our business."
Max nods reluctantly and we part ways to go to class.
Max POV
'Follow her.' The voice interrupts my thoughts.
'What?' I ask the voice. 'Why? It's none of-'
'Yes it is, Max.' The voice informs me. 'Think about it. Who else do you know that had a mother who was only a teenager at the time?'
'. . . Fang!' I realize. 'But what does that-'
'It doesn't matter!' The voice gets angry, something it hasn't done before. 'Follow her!'
I sigh reluctantly and sneak out of the school. It doesn't make much of a difference, since I was already planning to follow her.
{``^^\~+ Skip +~/^^``}
Maria parks her bike and hops off, dropping her duffel. She had come to a park. I fly over and land on a tree branch where no one can see me, but I can see them. Erasers. A lot of them. And in the middle of them are . . . Ari and Jeb. Next to them is a woman who looks suspiciously like Fang, crying her eyes out.
"Mom!" Maria shouts and then gives Jeb a dangerous glare. "Let her go, you bastard!"
"In time, Maria. . ." Jeb steps forward. "You see, we've been trying to find you since you and your twin brother were born."
"My baby boy died!" The woman yells angrily. "The doctor told me so!"
I stifle a gasp. If what she says is true . .then . . .
'That's right. .' The voice says. 'That girl is Fang's sister.'
'Angel!' Max reaches out. 'Get the others and meet me at the park! Hurry!'
'On it!' Angel replies.
Maria POV
"And now . . ." The man, Jeb, says. "You're coming back with us. To where you were meant to be."
"I don't think so, Jeb." Max suddenly jumps out of a nearby tree and stands next to me. "You're not going to put a hand on her."
"Ahhh, Max." Jeb smiles at her. "Are you ready to surrender?"
"Like hell!" Max growls. "And it's 'Maximum' to you!"
"Max!" A little girl's voice calls. "We're here!"
I'm shocked to see five people flying above us. And all five have wings. Then I see something that makes me freeze. I look from Nick, to my mom, and back again. They could've been doppelgangers! My mom catches Jeb by surprise by kicking him in the crotch. She sprints over to me. I pull my jacket off and tie it around my waist before scoping her up and spreading my own pure white wings. Then I kick off the ground and into the air.
"You okay, mom?" I ask her, but she's just staring at Nick in shock.
He's staring back.
"Let's go!" Max is in the air too.
I look from my mom to Max and nod. Then I follow her, Nick, Crystal, Jeff, and the two unfamiliars through the sky.
{``^^\~+ Skip +~/^^``}
We land hours later at a house in Arizona. Although, we did stop at every state line, since I was the only one who could carry my mom. Max knocks on the door and a girl that somewhat looks like Max answers.
"Max!" The girl hugs her.
"Hey, Ella." Max smiles warmly at her. "Is mom home?"
"Yep!" Ella chirps. "She's making cookies! The chocolate chip kind!"
I follow Max and the rest of them inside.
"Holy crap, mom." I finally say. "You punched that guy right in the-"
"Maria!" My mom scolds me. "There are children here! Remember what happened when you babysat?!"
"Mom, it's fine." I chuckle. "At least they didn't know what I was thinking."
Max freezes and turns to the little girl with curly blond hair and bright blue eyes.
"It's okay, Max." The girl says. "I can't read her."
"Read her?" My mom asks nervously.
"I'm telepathic." She smiles at my mom.
My mom gives me a horrified look. I respond with an innocent one. A woman that looks a lot like Max and Ella enters then and sets a platter of cookies on the coffee table.
"How about we start from the beginning?" She says to Max, who nods.
{``^^\~+ One Explanation Later +~/^^``}
"And that's basically it." Max concludes.
"Can't you just do a bunch of ninja stealth stuff and take down each branch while freeing all the prisoners?" I ask her. "All you have to do is make sure all their research stuff is destroyed. Then blow up the buildings after."
"That's a great idea!" Gazzy exclaims.
Iggy high fives him. Max has a dumbfounded expression on her face.
"Why didn't I think of that?" Max slaps her forehead with the heel of her hand.
"Because it's dangerous." Fang comments. "Some, if not all of us, could die. Ms. Martinez, Ms. Frost, and Ella would have to move somewhere remote and lie low."
"Actually, I got a job offer up in Washington." Ms. Martinez says. "The three of us could move there. And when you're done, you can come live with us."
"Sounds like a plan." Max nods in approval.
Yeahhhh! That's it! Next chapter is gonna have character death. Just a heads up. Review or PM me! Sorry for making this take so long.
