Story: It just can't be…

Ch. Title: I wouldn't think about that if I were you…

disclaimer: I am here to disclaim any claims you may have thought I claimed. Ha Ha. Back to business…I do not own any part of Maximum Ride.

Hey people!

Ok so last update, I didn't have a chance to thank those who commented, so I will now:

disneydork— So do you know who the mystery person is? No? Well try reading this chapter…

the realme1123—The pace should pick up. Well, if things go as planned. Thanks for still reading.

squaremonkey—Yeah he's tortured, but that's the way I like him.

musiclover33—Here's your update!

Amethyst-Violet—Thanks! I know my chapters aren't ridiculously short but in my other story, they are sooo much longer.

CrimsonScarz—First of all, thanks for reading. I love you're story Scars so it's really awesome that you're reading one of my stories. Not to mention, we seem to have a lot in common. Anyway, I'll try to make my chapters longer as they go on, but I'm still just leading up to the main plot.

ShaeShae96—Thanks. Glad you like it!

alex-kicks-ass—Your update, madam. bows like a waitor

CovenantGirl101—I wasn't exactly going for cute with this story, but as long as you like it…

freexflyer—I actually am already a Red fan. I love that song. But, it does go well together so anyone else reading this should play the song Breathe Into Me by Red while reading this story. It's a good song.

Ok, so now to business. I'm not sure how long this story is going to be. I only have a few more chapters planned out in my head. I'll try to think of more if you guys want. Tell me what you think. Well, thanks to everyone who commented. Enjoy.

Max woke up after a few hours, questioning what happened. I told her that she fell out of the sky - from those pesky brain attacks, I said - but I deliberately left out the part about him showing up, for two reasons. First off, she had no clue who he was, and that was one conversation I wanted to avoid. Secondly, I didn't want to worry her. She would freak if she found out we had a visit from the School's top minion, and she was unconscious for it.

Once Max was satisfied with my explanation, we headed on our way again. This time I flew underneath Max so that I could catch her if she fell. I was still beating myself up because I couldn't catch her earlier today. Oh what I would have given to have Max's super-speed! Sadly, I have no such power.

I think what irked me the most though was that he caught Max. Don't get me wrong, I'm so thankful that Max is safe, but things could have been worse. He didn't have to put her down and walk away. In fact, I don't know why he did. He could've killed her on the spot, or at least given her to the School. What would drive him to do something so out of character?

I continued rattling my brain over this matter until Max nudged her shoulder against mine, asking what was up in the process. I snapped back to attention and looked around me. It was starting to get dark out and the air had cooled a few degrees yet we were still soaring threw it silently. We were right above a large city that had just begun twinkling with artificial lights.

Max was right beside me, and a little below me so that we wouldn't bump wings. Her eyes were searching my face for an answer that she would never get and that I clearly wasn't be. She sighed, giving up, and asked me what was wrong again.

"Nothing." I answered, while avoiding her gaze. Oh, how creative.

"You've been dazed for the past three hours. Something's up." She was already starting to get annoyed with me.

"Just thinking." I tried to give her some kind of answer without exceeding my one word limit. I couldn't, so I splurged, and gave her two.

Max just sighed again. She wasn't even going to try to get more out of me.

"Do you want to crash for the night? We're just over some city in New Hampshire now. If we get up early tomorrow morning, we can head to Providence, buy some tickets with Jeb's money, get on a plane, and be in Europe in no time." Max didn't even look at me as she spoke; she just stared at the city below us. I could tell that she was exhausted by the sound of her voice so I agreed.

We found a forest just outside the city to make camp in. I told Max that I'd take the first watch so that she could go to sleep. A sure sign of exhaustion in Max is when she doesn't fight you over who gets first watch,which she didn't, especially since she has already called me out on monopolizing watches. She found a tree, found a comfortable position on the branch, and was out the next second.

I decided to stay on watch all night again. You'd think I was purposely seeing how many sleepless nights I could go before giving out. Well, I wasn't. I already knew the answer – six, unless I slept the entire day before depriving myself of sleep, in which case I could go about seven and a half.

The reality was that I couldn't sleep. My mind has been so uneasy lately that I never get a break from the onslaught of thoughts and worries. My thoughts are always racing. I keep seeing painful memories from the past and even more painful visions of the future the second I close my eyes.

I knew something was wrong. I can always tell when something is off because this always happens when it is. My body senses impending doom and warns me by torturing me. What is so irritating is I never could pinpoint the problem that I could so clearly sense. I couldn't even narrow it down. And the dreams, the rapid thoughts, and that ominous feeling wouldn't go away until what was wrong either happened or was made right again.

I sat on the branch next to Max pondering these thoughts for hours. At sunrise, Max woke with a start causing her to fall out of the tree. I think she forgot that she could fly because she made no attempt to save herself. Luckily, she fell from a forty foot tree giving me enough time to swoop down, grab Max, and land us both safely on the ground.

"Thanks.", she said shyly. I gave her a quick smile.

"Did you forget how to fly?" I asked with a smirk on my face. Max rolled her eyes.

"No! I was just surprised. Wow, you're not exactly a humble hero, are you?", she asked playfully, lightly punching me in the arm.

"And you're not exactly a grateful damsel in distress, are you?" I knew that would piss her off. I could practically see her fuming.

"Did you just call me a damsel in distress? Hey, macho man, just remember that I have saved your ass on numerous occasions. Not to mention, I'm your leader so you take your orders from me! I wouldn't start getting all high and mighty, if I were you!" I loved it when she was teasingly angry. I chuckled to myself.

"I wouldn't think about that if I were you…" That voice – it wasn't mine, it wasn't hers. It was him.

Damn… he's back.

At that moment a tall, sixteen year old guy stepped out from the shadows of the trees. It was me. Well, he wasn't me, he just looked like me. He was almost a carbon copy of me.

No, he wasn't my clone. He was my brother.

Hope you guys liked it. If some of you were confused, the guy at the end of this chapter is the "he" that Fang has been talking about for the last two chapters. Well, thanks guys.

CrimzonMoon