Disclaimer: Sorry I didn't have one in Chapter 1, but my computer screwed up on me. Anyway…don't own Maximum Ride. But I do own this penny I just found! XD

Day one without Fang- Ella's POV

"Who wants to be on Max Watch tonight?" Iggy asked, taking out a pan from the kitchen. I quietly took my place at the table and waited for him to make breakfast so I could go to school.

"Max Watch? Do we need to be worried about her yet?" I mumbled sleepily.

"I'm just trying to stay on top of things now that he's gone," Iggy replied innocently. I sighed, and decided to just grab an apple on my way out.

"I'm going to school, Mom" I called. "Tell TotaI said bye, okay?" I heard a faint assent from the living room as I walked out the front door. Dylan was waiting for me in the car, the door already opened for me.

"Where's Max" he asked.

"Everything isn't about Max, you know," I snapped. He sighed and started the engine.

At school…

Max and I had second period gym together, so I knew I was guaranteed to see her whether she liked it or not. I found her in the locker room, turned away from me. Her back was slightly bent over, and she was in her P.E. uniform. She seemed to be staring in shock at something on the floor. I stood on my tiptoes and leaned around her to see a shiny black feather.

"Max…that isn't his," I whispered. There was no purple shine to its tip, which was how I knew. Max didn't move. I picked up the feather and threw it away. I heard her let out a breath the second it was out of sight. I pulled her along to the gym.

After school…

"Cookies for everyone!" Mom called out cheerily, setting the plate on the counter. Everyone stormed into the kitchen for their fill of chocolate chip cookies. Guess who hung back? Yep. The second Max came home she stomped into her bedroom and slammed the door shut. Dylan followed her, of course.

"Go away!" she screamed at him. Dylan knocked lightly, persistent.

"Come on, you can't be upset about this forever," he protested.

"It hasn't even been twenty four hours. Give her some time, man," Gazzy said through a mouthful of cookies. I wasn't in the mood for a sugary snack, so I went into my room to do my homework.

Nighttime- Max's POV

I really didn't want to go to sleep, so I stayed up half the night watching a horror/ sci-fi flick. My eyes began to droop halfway through. Before I knew it…I had fallen asleep.

I wandered through the house, opening every door and cabinet I could find. Where is he? Fang is hiding somewhere, I just knew it. I heard a ding behind me. I had a message on the computer.

Stop looking for me, Max. I'm not coming back. Nineteen years, three hundred sixty-four days left to go. I mean it.

-Fang

I gasped, refusing to believe. No! He said he'd be here, right? I ran down the hall and into his room, flopping onto his bed. There lay the note, in perfect condition. I tore it up into minuscule pieces and threw them out the window. I blinked, and the note reappeared, good as new.

"No! Fang, you can't leave me!" I shrieked into the silence. I launched myself out the window and took off into the dark night which was brighter than my heart. I poured on the speed, heading for the one place I knew to find him. That cliff…the hawks. He has to be there. He promised. When I got there, the place was empty. There was no holding back my reaction. I just couldn't bear it any longer.

"NOOOOO! FANG! PLEASE COME BACK!" I half screamed, half sobbed. My shriek was so loud that it tore at my throat and woke everyone up. Great, now they knew what I was really feeling. The first voice I heard was Mom's, soothing and sympathetic. Then Ella's, worried and exhausted. Nudge and Angel were next to calm me, comforting and familiar. Iggy was the only one who remained silent, so much like…him. I came to my senses eventually, opening my eyes and hesitantly looking at my family.

"Told you we needed Max Watch," he muttered, leaving the room. Dylan was there, of course, stroking my hair and whispering words of comfort. I ignored him.

"Sorry I woke you up," I mumbled. "You can leave now so I can try to get some sleep," Nobody moved, of course. Dylan fiercely stared me in the eyes, turquoise and brown. I suddenly found myself unable to find something to say.

"I-I…well, Dylan can stay," I stammered without thinking. He smiled, and waved for the others to leave. They obeyed at once.

"I knew you'd choose me," he said, practically smirking. He leaned in toward me, his lips pursed hopefully. I was still so hypnotized by his limitless sky colored eyes that I responded without a second thought.

Nice, you are following your destiny, the Voice approved. I ignored it. I just stopped thinking and…let myself go. When I got to pull myself away, that was when I acted. I slapped Dylan across the face with all the force I had. He spun around and landed on the floor, clutching his nose.

"You broke my nose, idiot!" he growled in a muffled voice.

A/N: Ha, got you for a minute there! You actually thought Max was going to enjoy it for real didn't you? Admit it…I had you fooled. For probably two seconds, but I still did. Enough chatter from me.

"Sorry, was I supposed to enjoy that?" I sneered. He crawled out of the room on his hands and knees, groaning. And this was the guy that fights like a machine, may I remind you. What a wimp of an Avian American. I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to think of nothing at all. I was asleep in seconds.