I was sleep deprived. I always had to wake up at four in the morning to be able to be at school at nine. I know a lot of you are thinking that I should fly away or tell the police but sadly, I forgot how to fly. Ever since Jeb's wife died, I haven't been aloud to fly (since she loved to watch me) and Jeb has kept me so busy with everything that I haven't even had time to sneak out; I'd be too exhausted. As for the police . . . they were Jeb's friends. Before I knew that, I did try to tell on him. But they just laughed and said, "Yeah, right. Come on girlie, we've been friends with Jeb since he moved here. He doesn't have a wife, let alone a daughter." Then I finally realized that his wife died before we moved here and I had already been a secret by that point. I remember when Jeb started acting weird. He was still nice at that point, just mourning. He asked me what name I liked. He named me Maxine Batchelder and I like being called Max, so I changed it to Maximum and I chose my last name to be Ride because of Sally Ride. He enrolled me in school with that name.
Okay, enough with the explanations, I just get carried away sometimes. I'm pretty good at keeping secrets but if I tell you one, I tell you all of them.
So anyway, I got in the shower and exactly five minutes later, the water turned off. Jeb put a timer on the shower so I couldn't "use more water than needed"; it would automatically turn off. I would alternate my shower days; I'd shave one day and wash my hair the next. So I washed my hair and got dressed in a long-sleeved shirt, shorts and converse. I grabbed my binder and ran downstairs to make Jeb breakfast. But first, I grabbed a small bowl of cereal. It was five by the time I had Jeb's breakfast made. He sleepily came downstairs and sat in front of his plate.
"Did you get a good night's rest?" I asked him.
"What do you care?" He asked like it wasn't his fault that I hated him.
"Well, you are my dad." I said sweetly. "Where's Jessica?"
"I dumped her somewhere around three in the morning and I told her to leave." He explained nonchalantly. I nodded and went upstairs to get the sheets. I started the laundry and then cleaned up the breakfast mess. Once that was done, Jeb went upstairs to get ready for work. I had to wait for him to leave before I was aloud to finish getting ready and I wasn't aloud to sit on the furniture. As I stood there waiting, I tried to unfold my wings. It took me a moment but once they were extended, I let out a long sigh. I heard Jeb start making his way downstairs and I folded in my wings as quickly as I could, but I didn't do it fast enough and he saw the tips of my feathers. He stomped over to me and grabbed my arm, yanking me toward him. He pulled back his hand into a fist and was about to punch me when I let out a small whimper. He dropped his hand and smiled, happy that I was afraid of him and that he had control over me. Then he twisted my arm until my shoulder popped out of it socket.
"Go to school, bitch. Oh, and if you're late coming home and making me dinner, I might just have to hurt you." He threatened.
"Yes sir. That's reasonable sir." Jeb left the house and drove off in his Ferrari Enzo while I grabbed my binder and started heading out the door. I turned on the alarm, locked up the house, and started walking to school.
I was late to school, like always but my first period teacher was cool so she didn't freak out or ask for a late pass. I rolled up my sleeve to look for the handprint as I walked down the hallway and then popped my shoulder back into place. It felt better but it was still sore. I was glad I was able to pop it back in place. If I didn't, it would've completely healed wrong by lunch. I let out a deep breath and walked around the corner, only to have someone run into my shoulder.
"Watch it!" I yelled dropping all my stuff. I got on my knees and began to pick it up.
"You watch it!" I heard a male voice say. "I'm just trying to find my new classes. The school decided to switch my entire schedule to honors classes since I was too smart for regular classes." He sounded smug.
"Great for you." I said sarcastically. "But I've been in honors classes this whole year." I stood back up, expecting to see some kind of nerd, but I saw a kid taller than me with dark hair and dark eyes. He was glaring at me so I glared back. I brushed past him and kept going to my class.
"Hey!" He called. "Wait up!" He ran up to me and grabbed my arm. I immediately pulled away and kept walking. He easily kept in step with me which pissed me off even more than it should. "I'm Fang by the way."
"Great." I said sounding bored.
"Aren't you going to tell me your name?" He asked.
"It would just be a waste of time." I explained. "I'd love to keep talking but this is my class." I stepped inside the classroom before . . . Fang could answer. Fang, what a stupid name! My teacher looked at me and called me over. The rest of the class was pretty noisy, like always, so they didn't notice.
"Why are you late today?" She asked.
"My alarm clock went off late." I lied.
"You need to fix that alarm; this is the ninth time this month."
"Yes ma'am." I said sweetly. Then I sat down and began working on the latest assignment.
I sat by myself at lunch like always and I didn't eat. Jeb never gave me money for lunch and I wasn't aloud to take anything from home. Skipping lunch was hard for me since I needed like 6,000 calories a day. It was ridiculous. I ate like a hobo while Jeb ate like a King. Actually, more like a dictator, emphasis on the dic. Anyway, I sat in my chair and clenched at my growling stomach while I looked around the cafeteria. People were together and laughing with their friends. I could have friends, but I didn't want to because it would put them in danger too.
I held my stomach and pictured it filling up with food. A few seconds later, I wasn't hungry. It's silly, I know, but it works. I saw that Fang kid pass by with one of his friends. He looked right at me, the empty seats around me, and the invisible tray of food, and he threw me an apple. I caught it and glared at him until he turned around and kept walking. I looked at the apple and contemplated eating it. I didn't want him to wonder why I didn't get lunch if I was hungry, but then I decided to eat it and if had to ask me any questions, I would come up with some kind of lie.
When I bit into the apple, it felt like I was getting a taste of heaven – without dying of course. This was the first time I had ever eaten lunch (if you could call it that) at school. I kept glancing out of the corner of my eye at Fang. Every few seconds he'd look at me, just to be sure I was eating. Frankly, it was quite creepy. But I did finish eating and I threw the apple core away before I headed to my next class. I hate to say it but . . . I was actually glad that he gave me something to eat.
I thought my day was pretty good, but of course it had to go downhill in seventh period. I think you can guess why. If not, then let's just say that someone had to show up. If you still don't get it, then I can't really help you and you're gonna have to figure it out on your own.
So basically, I walk into my class, Fang isn't there. I'm pretty much happy. I don't know what it is about him but I feel like he's gonna make the secret, that I've tried so hard to keep quiet, come out into the open. I look around the room to double check that he isn't there, and he comes strolling though the door. I was about ready to kill myself. The only good thing that happened in that class was that he was seated across the room from me. I think the teacher saw how I was glaring when he walked in. She was always looking after me and was the only one who knew I had wings (besides Jeb).
The class went by fairly quickly. All we had to do was read a chapter, do the chapter review at the end, and define the vocabulary. Okay, so it didn't go by too quickly. Anyway, at the end of the class, Ms. Ammon called me out to pick up the sheets for her while the rest of the class talked. When I brought them up to her, Fang decided to come up also . . . of course. Of freaking course! I handed the papers to Ms. Ammon while I glanced out of the corner of my eye at Fang to see what he was trying to pull. All he did was give her his schedule.
"You're supposed to sign this so I can turn it into the front office." She took the paper from him and scribbled down her initials. Ms. Ammon looked back up at me.
"Thank you Max. Oh, and I need to speak to you after class." She winked at me and handed Fang his schedule back. He was giving me a confused look when I turned and walked back to my seat. I knew that Ms. Ammon wanted to talk to me about my wings and Jeb, and Fang knew that something was going on. I wish she hadn't said that in front of him.
Once the class was over and everyone walked out the door, Ms. Ammon came and took a seat next to me.
"So Max," she began, "are you okay? Like, is Jeb hurting you badly?"
"He popped my arm out of its socket this morning but I was able to get it back into place by the time I got to school." I explained.
"Max that's horrible. You should really tell somebody about it."
"I already told you that I can't do that Ms. Ammon." I said exasperatedly. "Nobody even knows I have a dad except for you. Even his girlfriends think I'm his maid. Besides, I heal quickly so if I'm only mildly hurt and can fix it, I will. I don't want anyone involved because it would put them in danger. I'm already scared for you."
"Don't be." Ms. Ammon laughed. "I just think it's crazy that you're keeping everything a secret. Especially the wings. You could get all of those labs shut down if you tell someone."
"Yeah I could shut them down but that would leave me two choices. I'd either be a freakshow or I'd be put down like a rabid dog. Most likely, both." I sighed and flopped my head on to the table. "I don't know what to do Ms. Ammon. Just please keep everything a secret."
"I always have and I always will." She promised with a smile. We sat for a few minutes in silence until my head snapped up to look at the clock.
"Shit!" I yelled as I grabbed my binder. I had binder in hand and was rushing toward the door in less than two seconds.
"Max! Language!" Ms. Ammon shouted.
"Right, I'll work on it but I really gotta go. Bye!" I ran at full speed toward my house. If I wasn't alone and there was someone out there who loved me and was watching over me, Jeb would be home late.
Okay you guys i just wanna say that i am SO sorry i haven't posted in so long. i have been on vacation this entire time and was not aloud to bring my laptop. sorry (again) to keep you waiting but i hope you understand. if you don't and wanna send me bad comments go on ahead but please don't use curse words. BTW, Sam Worthington's birthday was yesterday (Jake Sully in AVATAR)! So yay for him! So, yeah, just leave a comment. The chapters on my other stories should be up soon. Thanks :D