Me: So, I guess that I did it right, so yea.

Iggy: Smooth Olivia. That's real smooth.

Me: Oh shut up! Anyone want to do the disclaimer? I'm tired of typing it, so one of you guys has to do it.

Max: What am I, your typing slave? No!

Iggy: Yea, I'm gonna have to pass on that.

Fang: No.

Gazzy: Busy!

Angel: Nah.

Nudge: I'll do it! So-Olivia-doesn't-own-Maximum-Ride-it's-owned-by-James-Patterson! She does own a great sense of fashion though.

Me: Wow, you even type fast! And thanks! Anyway, on with the story!

Ella POV

The door opened to find me staring at a girl about my age wearing the filthiest, most disgusting rags that I'd ever seen! My eyes nearly bugged out of my head at how tired and desperate she looked. I was suddenly grateful for everything my mother gave me. She caught me staring and I blushed.

"Uhh, hi, how can I help you?" She asked. Shouts and screams rose up in to background. Over all of them, a woman's rough voice yelled, "What's going' on here!" Suddenly, the girl that my mom and I had been staring at, was yanked backwards by her collar, while clutching at her throat. A slightly heavy woman screamed "Well, get out of here, you little rat!" The girl scrambled to her feet, was kicked by the woman, fell backwards, and ran away. The woman scowled at us through the doorway.

"What do you want?" she said gruffly.

"Well, we just moved here, and-" my mom started.

"Well that's too bad, we aren't a hotel!" The lady screamed.

"Jeez, I know! I just wanted to get to know our new neighbors, and maybe ask for directions to El Salmon Canyon Road. We've been driving all night. Also, what is this place? A torture chamber?" my mom screamed right back.

"No, it's an orphanage." The lady sneered. "I don't suppose you would be interested though, so go away!" However, my mom surprised us both by saying, "Actually, I am interested! Who was that girl that you were just torturing? I would like to adopt her."

The lady gaped at us. "But-but, she's the one no one wants! You don't want her."

"I think I do!" my mom said, seeming impatient. I hid a smile. I was getting a sister!

Max POV

I stayed in my room waiting for a beating from Jennifer. Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting…...…

After maybe an hour, Jennifer finally came, holding a ratty suitcase. I froze. This meant either she was going to hit me with it, or I got adopted. The first one sounded more likely, so I braced myself for a beating.

"Relax," she grumbled. "You actually got adopted." I gaped and then shook my head. I knew that she was mean, but this is a new low. Getting my hopes up for nothing. I became even sadder than before. She started tossing my few rags of clothing and an old stuffed animal in the trunk. She couldn't be…..serious, could she?

"No Max, don't get your hopes up. She's probably tricking you." Max thought sadly.

"Follow me, I'll take you to your new family." Max followed, just in case. She followed Jennifer into her office, where the girl and her mother from earlier sat. OH MY GOD! She was telling the truth.

"Now Max here, her parents died on a cruise 4 years ago, and she's been here ever since. No one likes her, she has no friends, on and on." Jennifer stated.

The girl covered her mouth with her hands, and the mom looked at me pityingly. I looked down, refusing to cry. The mom went my side of the desk, and gave me a big hug. At first, it was uncomfortable, but gradually, I hugged her back. I had gotten a family.