Disclaimer: I obviously don't own Maximum Ride because if I did I wouldn't be writing on fanfiction and there would be a character like me who starts dating Fang and well… 'Nough said.

Chapter 2

"This is amazing!" Dylan screeched, reminding Max how new he was at flying.

"Yeah. But you're just not used to it to yet." Max replied. Dylan shot Max a 'You're joking right' look and said, "You're honestly saying that flying gets LESS awesome?"

Max thought for a moment and smiled," Nah, I guess it doesn't. But with experience you'll learn to act a little more…err… discrete."

His entire face was flushed with excitement and his face had begun to seem like one big smile. For some reason Max loved the way he smiled and she wanted to be the one who made him smile like that. She shook her head free of the thought, realizing that she was so broken up about Fang that maybe she was imagining feelings but, they felt so… strong.

Max again ignored these thoughts. Dylan had taken notice to her deep thought and commented," Penny for your thoughts?"

Max smiled and replied," Now do you have a penny?"

Dylan faked digging through his pockets, but he stopped paying attention and swerved too close to Max, banging into her wing. Hard. Max crimpled her wing and dropped like a rock, unable to re-extend it due to the pain. (A/N I know it seems unrealistic but he's really strong and they were going superfast super-fast so…)

Suddenly Max wished she had chosen to fly higher so that she had more time to recover, or for Dylan to catch her. The ground seemed larger and Dylan seemed smaller. He had just figured out what had happened and was racing as fast as he could, but Max knew it wouldn't be fast enough. In a moment of desperation Max found herself calling for Fang, even though she knew he wouldn't come for her. She prepared her mind for the mind numbing (if she was lucky enough) pain that was to follow. When she could make out details in the ground below, she shut her eyes out of fear.

Suddenly, she felt a pair of strong arms wrap themselves around her and just as suddenly lay her on a pile of discolored leaves. Max opened her eyes to view her savior, but he was nowhere to be found. All Max could see was Dylan zoning in on her. Max brought herself to her feet and immediately felt pain ripple through her wing.

"Max! Max! Are you okay?" Dylan exclaimed, sprinting over to Max. His eyes were wide with panic, fear and… guilt?

"I'm just peachy Dyll. Thanks for asking." She replied, rolling her eyes.

"At least you're acting normal," he laughed nervously.

"I'm fine. My wing hurts, but I'll be fine. It could've been worse."

"And it's my fault. God, I'm so stupid! I should've…" he trailed off.

"Get over yourself for a minute, Mr. Rock star." She teased," In case you haven't noticed, I've been through worse. Let's focus on the real issue here."

"What's that?" he inquired curiously.

"Boy wonder who swooped down and stopped me from becoming an omelet." She replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Dylan flinched at the 'boy wonder' comment. After a minute, he said," Boy wonder? I thought you saved yourself. I didn't see anything."

Max frowned, deeply conflicted.

"But… I didn't. Someone grabbed me and carried me here."

"In midair?"

Max struggled to recall. In retrospect, she shouldn't have shut her eyes.

"Max. Did he catch you in midair?" Dylan repeated, sounding as if it was with the utmost importance.

"Yes. I think so. I shut my eyes, but it didn't feel like he was running."

"Did you see him?"

"Well… no. Not exactly. My eyes were shut and he just… disappeared." Max said, defeated.

"But you're sure he was there?"

Max doubted herself for a second. However, she quickly squashed that doubt. There is no way she flew here herself. "Positive." She said finally.

Dylan ran his hands through his hair roughly, out of frustration. "I watched you the whole way down and I didn't see anyone. But you did look weird when you were 'flying'. Like you were being carried."

"Alright. So he can fly. We know that much. He either turned invisible or flew really fast."

Dylan opened his mouth to say something, but he shut his mouth abruptly.

"What? Don't be shy. Lay it all out."

Dylan looked doubtful, but he said," Well couldn't Fang-"

"No." Max said abruptly.

"Max, I know it hurts to think about, but maybe-"Dylan tried again.

"I said no. He made it very clear that he wasn't coming back. He wouldn't just show up." Although Max wasn't so sure of anything right now.

Dylan looked at her sympathetically. He then said, gently," Okay. Fine. But who?"

"I don't know. Maybe a scientist. But I don't think we should tell the others yet. Not until we're sure."

"But-"

"No. I don't want to give Nudge or the others false hope. Just don't think about it around Angel."

He frowned but said," Sure. Whatever you say."

"Good. We only have one problem." Max said.

"What? What is it now?" he said exasperated.

"I can't fly home on this wing and you can't carry me."

Dylan looked offended and exclaimed, "What? Why? I could carry you."

Max snorted. "You can barely carry yourself, newbie."

"Oh." He replied.

"We could walk. It's not that far." Max suggested.

Dylan nodded enthusiastically. And they set off on foot, talking about Dylan's life before the flock.

"It was a lot of tests and whatnot. But it was all necessary." He added hastily.

"Hmm… That sounds pretty sucky." Dylan laughed.

He replied, "Well how about your life before you met me."

"Well… I and the others escaped from the school. We lived with Jeb for awhile. He left a few years before we got dragged back into the world of crazy scientists and pointy needles. But somehow we always got through it. Fang was always there for me. And he promised he always would-"her voice cracked and tears formed. She didn't know why, but for some reason she completely opened up to Dylan. Dylan stopped and faced her. She looked up into his eyes and was drawn to him by a mysterious force beyond her control.

"I'm sorry that happened to you." He whispered soothingly. He leaned down and kissed her softly. It was a nice kiss. Pleasant and sweet. Not passionate and fiery like-

Max pulled away suddenly. She was repulsed by the surge of want she experienced.

Dylan looked confused. Max said," I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that! I've gotta go."

She turned and ran. She started running and eventually she started flying. She ignored the pain in her wing and the tears in her eyes.

A/N: Hey guys! I'd like to thank my first two reviewers who were so nice to me, epicdisney and aberlasters! You guys rock. Please review if you're reading this. Help my oh-so delicate self esteem. Please review!