AN: I don't own MR, or any of the songs in this story, unless mentioned otherwise.
(Max's POV)
"Shut up! You're not my dad!" I yelled at Jeb. My "family" had finally figured out about the record deal, and they were pissed. But I'd already signed the contract, so there was nothing they could do about it. Jeb and I had gotten into this huge fight. I slammed my door shut.
I angrily paced around my room, wanting to just break something so bad. I wanted to run downstairs and punch Jeb in the face. He was the one that ruined my family anyways, because my mom was stupid enough to have an affair with him. He's just a lying, dictating, (insert cussword of your choice here).
Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore. I grabbed the keys to my 2009 mustang. It was black, with red racing stripes. I jumped into the car and drove over to my dad's house. I just needed to get away. I pulled into the drive way and came right in, not even bothering to knock. I had when Mom and Dad first divorced, but it just hadn't seemed right. He was still my family. Everyone here was much more of a family to me than the others.
My dad was in the living room, which, unfortunately, the front door opened up into. He took one look at my face, and his own hardened. "What happened?" he asked. Dr. M and the kids were sitting next to him. Is it wrong that I considered her more of a mother than Mom ever was? Is it wrong that I can actually laugh and smile and carry on a normal conversation with her, something I haven't done with my mother since the divorce?
I smirked bitterly. "They found out about the record deal. Saying they were ticked off is the understatement of the year." I replied, laughing. But there wasn't any humor in it. It sounded hollow, even to my own ears. I shook my head. "Jeb and I fought, so here I am. I'm going to the music room." I said, mumbling the last part.
Dad and Dr. M nodded. They know me well enough to know that I'd just want to be alone after a fight with Jeb, or Mom. I even came over here after I fought with Lissa and Sam sometimes. Geez, I hated my step-siblings.
I sat down at the desk in the music room and grabbed a piece of paper. The lyrics to a new song just flew out onto it, as if they were righting themselves. After I was done writing it, I grabbed my electric guitar and came up with some rhythms. I was so focused with what I was doing, I didn't even notice that the others came in, including the band. My back was turned to them anyways.
(Fang's POV)
The rest of the band and I went to John's house, looking for Max. We'd already checked all of our other hangouts, and she wasn't' there.
Dr. M opened the door. "Is Max here?" I asked her politely. She nodded and let us in.
"I wouldn't go up to see her right now. She and Jeb had a fight. She's pretty ticked." John said.
"What about?" I asked.
"Margaret and Jeb found out about the record deal. They overreacted." he replied. Am I the only one that noticed his face harden and his eyes flash dangerously? Then again, Max was his first born, and they were so close to each other. I guess I'd be pretty ticked too.
"Where is she?" Blade asked.
"In the music room." Dr. M replied. He was already moving up there before any of us could say anything. We all followed him up, opening up the door to the music room. Max was sitting there, with her back turned to us. She was playing some rhythms on her electric guitar. She didn't even notice us walk in, and that's went it hit me how upset and angry she was. She was usually so attentitive.
The others looked shocked, especially Nudge, Ella, Gazzy, and Angel. Max was always the strong one. She never showed when she was put out, or how much her Mom and step-dad really ticked her off and hurt her. But I think the song she wrote was the one that surprised them the most. I know because when she started singing it, everyone's eyes grew wider, except for mine, John's, and Dr. M's.
I'll be coming home,
Just to be alone.
'Cause I know you're not there,
And I know that you don't care.
I can hardly wait
To leave this place
No matter how hard I try,
You're never satisfied.
This is not a home.
I think I'm better off alone.
You always disappear,
Even when you're here.
This is not my home.
I think I'm better off alone.
Home, home.
This house is not a
Home, home.
This house is not a home.
By the time you come home
I'm already stoned. (AN: I just want to point out that, no, Max does not do drugs in this story. It's just part of the song. Thank you.)
You turn off the TV
And you scream at me.
I can hardly wait
'Till you get off my case.
No matter how hard I try,
You're never satisfied.
This is not a home.
I think I'm better off alone.
You always disappear,
Even when you're here.
This is not my home.
I think I'm better off alone.
Home, home.
This house is not a
Home, home.
This house is not a
Home, home.
This house is not a
Home, home.
This house is not a
Home, home.
This house is not a home.
I'm better off alone.
No matter how hard I try,
You're never satisfied.
This is not a home.
I think I'm better off alone.
You always disappear,
Even when you're here.
This is not my home.
I think I'm better off alone.
Home, home.
This house is not a
Home, home.
This house is not a
Home, home.
This house is not a
Home, home.
This house is not a home.
When she finished, I motioned for the others to go outside. They did, but they left the door cracked open. Little eavesdroppers.
"Well…" I said, and Max jumped and spun around to face me. She relaxed slightly when she saw it was me, but still glared at me for listening. I sat down next to her. "That's a lot of emotion from the infamous Maximum Ride. And here I thought you were my fellow Emotionless Wall." I said, pretending to sigh dramatically.
She rolled her eyes and playfully punched me on the arm, a small smile on her face. "Yeah. It's just…they always try to hold me back, and then they pretend that it's because they want to protect me. Like they actually care about their kids. Both of their other children are sluts and I'm never home. It just ticks me off when they try to act like they own me. Like I'm their little slave who can't do anything unless they approve of it beforehand." she said, getting angrier and angrier as she continued.
I sighed. "You know, they had to figure it out eventually." I told her.
"Yeah, but I was hoping I'd be on tour or something by then. They usually don't pay so close attention, so I wouldn't have been surprised." she said. "I know putting it off ticked them off even more, but how was I supposed to tell them? 'Oh, hey Mom, hey Jeb. Guess what I did today? I went out and signed a recording contract behind your back! Isn't that great?' Yeah, that would go off real well."
I sighed. Then a thought struck me. "Did Jeb hit you?" I asked. I remembered the one time when she came running over to my house after it had happened. Jeb had beaten her, and she made me swear not to tell anyone. Of course, I forgot about the others outside, so when I heard the almost silent gasp that came from one of the others, I knew we were in trouble.
Thankfully, my question had distracted Max. She scowled. "He slapped me, and I punched him in the face for it. I swear, you think eventually the guy would take a hint. He hurts me, and I hurt him tenfold." she said, crossing her arms.
I sighed. "You should tell your dad. Max, you can't just let Jeb do that. It's child abuse! What if he takes it too far?"
"I can take care of myself." Max said stubbornly.
"Max–"
"No, Fang. My dad has enough to worry about. I can take care of myself. Besides, I was ten when Jeb beat me. Not much I could do to defend myself. Now, I could kick his butt from one side of this town to the other and back." Max said, firmly. She wasn't really being stubborn. She looked very solemn. Like she wasn't arguing just for the sake of arguing, like she usually did when we fought about Jeb.
"Well, what are you going to do?" I asked her.
She shrugged. "I already signed the contract. It's not like they can make me quit."
"But they can make your life miserable."
She smirked bitterly. "They already do." She had an undertone in her voice that told me she was done with the conversation.
"Alright, fine, fine. I won't say anything to your dad. But, Max, can you promise me something?" I asked her.
She looked at me suspiciously. "Depends on the promise." she replied. Having me and Iggy as friends, and Gazzy as a brother, had made her slightly paranoid. I mean, Nudge, Angel, and Ella pulled pranks too, but not nearly as much as the four of us did.
"Promise me that, if you won't tell your dad, at least tell me when you need help. I mean, I have a pretty sweet life. There's not really much I can worry about." I told her.
Max seemed to think it over. I could tell she was about to say no. I scooted closer to her and looked her right in the face, to show her how serious I was. "Promise me." I said.
I don't know if it was something in my voice, or in my eyes, or what, but, finally, she said, "Alright, fine. I promise that I'll come get you if I need help, alright?"
"With anything?" I asked.
She sighed, obviously annoyed. "Yeah, yeah. I'll come to you if I need any help at all, with any problem. Are we good?" she asked.
I nodded. "And that includes family issues. I want you to be able to talk to me, understand? You shouldn't have to bottle up all this crap." I told her sternly. "You shouldn't have to deal with that. You're a sixteen year old girl."
She sighed. "You're telling me." she murmured, but I don't think I was supposed to hear that.
"Come on. The others are worried about you. Besides, I'm shocked you haven't started bugging Dr. M for cookies yet." I said in mock-shock.
She rolled her eyes. "You know, chocolate chip cookies aren't' the only thing I think about. It's just what I mostly think about."
"That's what I thought." I told her smirking. Good old Max. No matter what happens, some things never change.
AN: Hope you guys liked the chapter. Review and tell me! Please!