A/N: First of all, thank you for everyone who reviewed or added my story to their subscriptions. I was like ZOMG when I checked my email:
Zezemi - thanks for the commenting on the grammar. Microsoft Word does a lot of things ;D. And I guess having an English teacher that makes you write a lot of essays does that, too.
Xx-ThisSucks-xX
Paper Aeroplanes
Jezebel Strike
20 Toes
PEACELOVINGIRL
MaximumRideFanAddict - I know, title-making is definitely not one of my strengths. Any suggestions? IDK why seven is lucky though.
.Midnight
XxDDxX - Max is really attractive there, but she's either a bit insecure about herself or oblivious to that fact. I will try not to make Max OOC in the next chapter, though I had to do this one so my story could work.
DISCLAIMER: "Mine" is not really something I use to describe MR.
"Mom, I'm home!" I said, closing the front door and making my way to the kitchen, where the smell of freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies were making its way to my nose. Ah, Nirvana.
"Just in time, Max." She said as she put a fresh batch of cookies onto a plate. I grabbed one and chewed. Sometimes I wonder how come my mom and I are related, since we don't look alike. Valencia Ride is tall and has fair, white skin that was really smooth. Her shiny, black hair was pulled back. She was still wearing the white lab coat that she wore to work at the local animal shelter (She's a vet, if you hadn't guessed yet!). It sometimes surprises me when random guys asks if my "sister" is still single, since we don't have anything in common when it comes to looks, although Angel insists that I have her eyes. My mom, with eyes the color of unbarfed chocolates? No way.
"What do you think?" she asked almost nervously.
"It's always great, mom!" my 12-year-old brother, the Gasman (we call him that for a reason you might not want to know) said as he entered the kitchen, our dog, Total following closely behind. He grabbed a cookie and ate it in one bite.
"Pig," I teased. He glared at me before grabbing a couple more cookies then leaving, Total at his heels.
"How was school?" She asked.
I shrugged, and then grabbed another cookie. "Okay, I guess." My mom is pretty and can cook. I'm hideous and can make any meal explode, even if I follow the instructions.
She instantly read my face. "I told you, honey, you're just a late bloomer." She said, setting down a glass of milk in front of me.
"I know mom." I replied. "But it is sort of hard to believe."
She nodded. "I know. But you're still pretty, no matter what."
I almost snorted. Me? Pretty? Yeah, right. I'm pretty, and you could go to the sun without burning if you went there at night.
"I should really have the girls over sometime," I said, reaching for what might be my tenth cookie. "I bet they miss these."
My mom grinned, and then headed for the sink to start cleaning up.
"Mom, when is dad coming back?" I asked out of the blue.
My dad, Jeb Ride, is a scientist. He's working across the Atlantic, for some fancy cosmetics company over at Paris. I got more of his genes, although I didn't get the good-in-Math-and-Science one. The last time I saw him in person was seven years ago. Nowadays we Skype each other at least once a week, where he helps me with my homework to make up for lost bonding time. He does the same thing with Gazzy, too.
She turned off the faucet and leaned against the counter top. "I don't really know, Max. But I know that he does want to go back here and that he misses all of us. He just wants a good future for both of you, don't you know that?"
"Well, he's a scientist. He could get a job here that was just as high-paying. Or maybe he could work for the American branch of that company."
Mom returned to her dishes. "The pay is higher there, since it's the main branch. And he's one of his department's top employees. I think he's about to get a promotion, and that might not work if he switches to the American branch on his own."
My mom made sense, I had to admit. "But what about Gazzy? The kid needs a father figure if he's going to be a man someday."
"We have Skype. Your dad will be always there for Gazzy, even if not in person."
And even if he has a ten-hour shift before that so we have a calling schedule. I mentally added. I wasn't really mad at my dad, I just missed him. But Paris was six, maybe seven or eight hours ahead of us? It was hard to call without either of us being tired and international calls on my cellphone cost a lot. He was too busy to check his emails, or to even write letters. So communication was limited.
"I don't know; I just miss dad a lot. Seven years is a pretty long time. Don't you miss him too?"
She sighed "I do. Always."
"How was school, kiddo?" Dad asked, the screen slightly shifting so I could get a better view of him.
It was almost ten in the evening here. But it was already around 5AM the next day in Paris. We were once again in another Skype call, and from his expression on the screen. I could tell he was pretty psyched to talk to me.
I shrugged. "Fine, I guess. Does having your English teacher make you read all one-thousand-plus pages of Gone with the Wind okay?"
He laughed. "Don't worry. I think the movie has enough information for you, though it's pretty long, too. How's the Gasman, by the way?"
"Pretty good. So far, he hasn't dropped any bombs." I grinned. My brother and his digestive system, well, they sort of clash, which explains his "special talent". Mom even had to ground him so he couldn't release it during the elementary talent show a couple of years ago. "Mom's good too. You just missed a couple of batches a while ago."
"Chocolate chip?" he asked.
"Why wouldn't it be?" I replied and we laughed.
"Well, how's life in general? You still hang out with the Ella, Nudge, and Angel?"
"As usual. Nothing much changed in them, although I swear Nudge is even more obsessed with fashion and making me over."
He smiled. "You could use one. It would be nice to see something change in you, at least. Not that anything needs changing."
I groaned, and I heard him chuckle.
"So how's your love life?" He asked. "Any guy in particular?"
I groaned again. "Da-ad."
"Come on, Max. You're already a teenager. I wouldn't be mad at you if you liked someone, it's natural."
It was sort of true. And there were a lot of times I told dad a couple of secrets that my friends didn't know. "Well," I said, making my voice lower, in case Gazzy heard. "There is this one guy in my Music class."
"Go on," he urged.
"Some people say he's emo because he's always in black, but I don't think he is. More like-"
"Shy?" He interrupted, and I nodded.
"He plays a lot of instruments. And he lives somewhere in Jamie's neighborhood." I said, referring to my cousin that knew his family. "Of course, she doesn't know about what I feel for him."
Dad smiled. "He sounds like a good guy."
"Yeah, but, well... He's totally out of my league."
"Why would he be?"
"Well, look at me. I'm not exactly the type that guys go all crazy about. And it's not like he knows me."
"Then maybe he'll like you just for who you are. And make him know you better. He's in one of your classes, so it's not that hard."
I smiled. "You're right." Instantly, my mind turned on and started brainstorming.
"Sleep through it, Max." Dad said, reading my expression. "I hear you've been sleep deprived these days. Not thinking of him too much, I hope?"
I laughed. "No, dad. And yeah, you're right. I should get some sleep. Goodnight, dad."
"Goodnight, Max." He said, and I reluctantly ended the call.
Dad was right, actually. It was already close to eleven, and I was feeling pretty tired. I changed in a tank top and some comfy pajama pants. Then I turned off the lights, shut my eyes, and willed myself to sleep and think of a plan. Getting to know him better was worth a shot.
A/N: I have to notify you guys that I will be gone for two days, but I might be able to update tomorrow if we don't leave early. Do you think my chapters are still too short? Do you think most of it are just fillers (because they look like they are to me, I guess)? Do you have questions about the chapter? Review =D
