JP and SM own.

Max's POV

I landed in the trees fifty feet away from the clearing. Why? Because I wanted to check if there were any mysterious wolf creatures like the two we almost encountered earlier. I did a 360-degree scan but didn't see anything. I shrugged and headed towards the clearing.

The clearing was quiet, calm, and, best of all, empty. It was a wonderful place to think about, let's say, an insane company's plan to get rid of half the world's population? I had tried hard to forget about my "destiny to save the world" but it all came rushing back as I had headed out the hotel room door.

The Voice had said one thing to me that put a whole lotta stress on my bird kid shoulders: Don't forget your reason for existence, Max. The world still needs you.

I had frozen in place for a second or two, just long enough for Fang to notice.

Speaking of Fang, I was alerted to his presence by strong wing flaps and his light landing. He walked over to where I was staring blankly at the clouds.

"Max." Fang's hand was on my shoulder, reassuring but firm. Without saying a word, he knew what was going on. He knew I was stressed and worried and confused and angry and scared. There's a reason Fang is my best friend and second-in-command. "The kids need you to be strong. I need you to be strong. We'll try to help you figure this whole mess out.

"But…" Fang sighed. I was stunned into silence by how much he was talking.

"You're Maximum Ride. If you can't figure this out, no one can."

His hand slipped from my shoulder as he stepped away and snapped his wings out, leaving me alone in the meadow.

Or so I thought for about three minutes.

It was nothing an ordinary human could ever hear without help from technology. But I'm not what you'd call normal. I mean for Christ's sake, I have wings. Which now that I thought about it, were halfway outstretched. Well, that couldn't be good for my guest to see. They would either: A) Hunt me because I have wings; B) Freak out and call the cops because I have wings; C) Drag me back to the School because I have wings. Our options are never very good.

The footsteps pulled me away from my Nudge-like thought process. My body tensed as I used all my senses to gather information: Coming from behind me, about thirty feet; Lighter and more sure than any human I've ever heard before. So they either weren't fully human, not at all human, or a different kind of thing all together. Which in my nightmarish world, all three creatures are all too real, plus hundreds of other possibilities.

Adrenaline once again poured into my veins but I didn't give away that I heard them. That would give me the upper hand. I only heard one set of footsteps so it would be easier for me to fight whatever it was. If there was more than one, I would've flown out the second I heard them. But if I was being honest with myself, I really stayed because of a curiosity to know what was here…and a mysterious pull toward the thing in the woods wouldn't let me leave. My curiosity grew so much right then.

The footsteps stopped. Using my wonderfully helpful extra senses, I could tell they were fifteen feet away, just barely inside the tree line. I could hear them breathing lightly, distinctly human but their footsteps were too quiet and graceful to be a normal human. So I had no idea what on earth was behind me.

But being the one and only Maximum Ride, I wanted to know. So I opened my big fat mouth and said the first thing that came to mind, "I know you're there."

Very subtle, right?

When I didn't get a response, I got impatient. I'm not good with waiting.

I turned around slowly to face whoever was there. It took me less than a second to locate a guy standing fifteen feet away in the tree line. How awesome am I?

I was distracted by his appearance. It was a day that would chill any normal human, yet he was wearing cut off jeans and no shirt. Based on his black hair and tan skin, I'd say he was Native American. A very bare and muscled Native American.

I dragged my eyes away from his chest to meet his gaze. In that instant, when our eyes met for the first time, everything changed.

The pull became an invisible force dragging me toward the half naked Indian. With surprisingly steady knees, I took a step toward him. He mirrored my movement, walking into the sparse sunlight, which only seemed to highlight his Native American features.

We continued like that, slow step after slow step that seemed both too sluggish and too quick at the same time. When we were two feet apart, we stopped.

He gazed into my eyes wonderingly, while I stared back into his warm brown eyes.

"Who are you?"

That question normally sounded harsh and violent coming from me. But when I directed it at him now, I sounded soft and girly. Something in me had definitely changed. I wasn't sure what yet but…I think I liked it.

"My name is Jacob Black." His voice was strong and deep, a contrast to my too-vulnerable tone.

"Maximum Ride. But call me Max."

Jacob's gaze softened as he whispered Max almost reverently. Two hours ago, I would've decked any guy who said anything like that. But coming from Jacob, it caused butterflies to batter against the inside of my stomach. Which, just to let you know, has never happened to me before.

Jacob and I walked closer. Only a few inches separated us now. I could feel the electricity crackle in the air around us. His fingers reached up hesitantly, his warm eyes searching mine, trying to find something. I willed my eyes to tell him that everything was fine, way more than fine. Jacob's fingers softly brushed my cheek, cupping it in his warm hand. I leaned into it and lifted my hand up to cover his.

"Your skin is so warm." I spoke quietly. We hadn't broken eye contact since we first saw each other.

"There's so much I have to tell you. But…I don't know what to say. I've explained it before, once, but this is so much different." Jacob's expression made me feel like the most important person in his life. I felt so…so…loved, oddly enough.

At that thought, I realized something that shocked the hell out of me.

I loved Jacob.

But how? We just met!

I couldn't explain how, even to myself, I just felt. And what I felt was a deep, passionate love for Jacob Black. It was stronger than anything I had ever felt before.

I turned my face into the palm that was cupping my cheek and kissed his warm skin softly. Jacob brought his other hand up to brush away stray strands of my hair. I took a step closer to him and laid my hands against his chest. The hand that wasn't cupping my cheek slowly trailed down my bare arm, leaving goose bumps, and settled gently on my waist.

Jacob leaned down slowly. I was just under half a foot shorter than him, so I stood on my toes to reach him better. The electricity sizzled and crackled like madness around us.

Our lips touched in the sweetest kiss you could imagine and my world exploded into fireworks. His soft, warm mouth pressed against mine in a loving way as we slowly moved our lips against each other's. I slid my arms around his neck to reach his height better.

We broke apart after a minute. It was a kiss that belonged in fairy tale books, right before the line and they lived happily ever after.

Jacob wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me against his muscular body. He rested his forehead against mine and I smiled in happiness.

My curiosity was spiked again by a few things. "What were you saying before about needing to tell me something? And why haven't you mentioned my…wings yet?" I suddenly became very self-conscious about my wings. What if Jacob didn't like them? What would he say? I lowered my eyes to the ground.

Jacob planted a kiss on my forehead and gently pulled away. He sat against a rock and tugged me into his lap. I rested my head against his chest and waited.

"I'll tell you anything you want to know. I haven't said anything about your wings because I was waiting for you to say something. When I first saw them…I thought you were an angel. Can I…" Jacob spoke quietly and hesitated at the end.

Surprise covered my face as I looked up at him. One hand brushed my cheek while the other reached slightly toward my back. I never let people outside my mom, Ella, and the flock touch my wings. But I trusted Jacob fully and I loved him.

I extended my wings just far enough so they wouldn't hit him but he could still see them. Jacob kept his eyes locked with mine as he touched my wing for the first time. He stroked the feathers softly, amazement on his face as he stared at them.

I was so happy he wasn't repulsed by them that I started to cry. I ducked my head under his chin to hide my tears.

Jacob's hand rubbed soothing circles between my wings and he spoke quietly, "Max, what's wrong?"

I tried to speak around the lump in my throat. "Nothing is wrong. I'm just so happy you aren't freaked out by my wings." I laughed, embarrassed by my ridiculous tears. "I never cry like this. Normally I'm Ms. Tough Girl."

He lifted my chin up and kissed each of the tears away that had fallen. "Don't worry about it. I could never be disgusted or not like anything about you. I love you, Max."

I smiled so wide I could've been in a toothpaste commercial. "I love you too, Jacob."

His expression was one of pure joy and love as he leaned down to passionately kiss my lips. I couldn't remember a time in my life when I had felt as happy and adored as I did right then.

"I should tell you now." Jacob seemed worried about telling me. I switched my position so my knees were on either side of his hips and I was facing him. I placed my hand against his cheek and hoped he'd get that I was silently telling him not to worry.

Jacob looked into my eyes, smiled, and then told me everything. And I mean everything.

XXXXX

I am blown away by how many people have read and liked this story. Thank you so much!! I literally could not stop smiling and jumping up and down as I read all the emails! Again, THANK YOU!!!

Two more things!

One- Sorry this didn't come sooner. I had it all written and I was done editing but then I got allergic conjunctivitis. Which means, I had VERY blurry vision for days :( It really sucked. I still have blurry vision but its better!

Two- When I saw people from Ireland read this story, I freaked. Both my parents are 100% Irish so when I saw that… Oh God, it was so amazing. I screamed and ran to tell my sister! But I'm pretty sure she couldn't understand half of what I said.

Thank you (again) to all my wonderful, amazing, fantastic readers!

~Midnight Stripes