AN: Hello people's! I don't own Maximum Ride! Now, on with the story! Here's chapter 4, where we're going to get some Max/Jeb tension!
(Max's POV)
I got home and instantly went up to my room. I opened my wings, stretching them as far as she could go. I hated this. I wanted to be able to take off and fly around. But Jeb wouldn't let me fly. He didn't even like my wings. I think it was secretly because he felt guilty every time he saw my wings. And that was a new, foreign thing for him. He couldn't take that.
I looked out the glass balcony doors to see Fang in his bedroom. He looked up, saw me, and waved. I smiled and waved back. He walked out onto his balcony. Being smarter than the average bear, I figured he wanted to talk, so I walked out onto mine.
"Hey." he said (Well, more like yelled, but whatever.).
"Hey. What's up?" I called back.
He shrugged. "Reading." he replied, waving his book in the air. I opened my mouth to reply when I heard the screech of tires. Jeb's home, and probably drunk. Fear laced through me. He wouldn't be happy if he caught me talking to Fang.
I gave Fang an apologetic look before hurrying back inside, closing the glass door, and the curtains. I went downstairs just as Jeb opened the door. I know, you must be thinking, "Max! What are you thinking?! Avoid the drunken idiot, don't confront him!" Well, it's not that easy. If I try to avoid him, he just comes to find me and beats me even harder.
"What are you just standing around for you ungrateful (insert insulting swear word of your choice here)?! Go get me a beer from the fridge!" he yelled, getting right in my face. His breath, which reeked of alcohol, washed over my face. I wordless walked around him and into the kitchen. Maybe I'd get lucky and he'd die of an overdose. One can only hope.
"Here." I said. In his drunken state, he didn't notice the hint of menace in my voice, or that I put the can down with a little more force than necessary. I didn't have to be as careful about the little details when he was drunk.
"Where were you today?" he growled. "You didn't call me." I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I hate it when he tries to act like an actual father.
"I was at a friend's house." I replied.
He scowled. "Which friend's house?" he asked.
"Iggy's." I replied.
His scowl deepened, and I realized my mistake a second too late. He didn't like me hanging out with Iggy. He stood up. "What have I told you about that boy?! He's a bad influence on you! A trouble-maker!" he slurred. He slapped me across the face. My attitude stepped in before I could stop it. I couldn't help it. I was very protective over my friends.
"He's a good guy." I said. Jeb's eyes flashed. He punched me in my stomach. Then in my head. He punched me over and over and over again. He kicked my legs out from under me and started kicking me. I just curled up in a ball, being sure to protect my head and stomach.
"Don't." He kicked my back. "Talk." This time my shoulder. "Back." My leg. "To." My arm. "Me!" He yelled the last part, punctuating it by stomping on my side. I grunted in pain, gritting my teeth so I wouldn't cry out. I think he cracked a couple ribs. "Now get out of my sight you useless piece of s***!" he yelled. I moved to stand and he kicked me in the side of the head, hard. My head snapped to the side and I gasped in pain. He'd caught me off guard.
He sat back down on the couch, watching the TV again. I got up and stumbled to my room. I closed the door. Then I turned around and slide down it, one arm cradling my side. I hurt all over. No doubt I'd have a bunch of new bruises tomorrow. I got up, whimpering when my side protested. I looked in the mirror. I'd already had a bruise from when Jeb punched me this morning. Now, I looked even worst. I had a huge bruise already forming on the side of my head.
I went over to the bed and laid down. Pain was radiating through me. Suddenly, my phone went off. I reached over and grabbed it, despite how stiff I was already getting. I looked at my phone. It was a text message.
Hey, y did u run out on me? Iggy gave me ur # when he text me earlier.
-Fang
I opened up the reply box, or whatever you call it.
Sorry. My dad came home. I didn't think he'd like me yelling across the street. He'd be ticked if the neighbors complained to him. As I waited for his reply, I added his number to my phone, so he wouldn't have to sign his name every time.
It's cool. I wouldn't want you to get in trouble. How r u?
Fine. What a total lie that was. Why did I feel even worse lying to Fang than I did to the others? And it already killed me to lie to them! Look, I'm tired. I'm going to sleep. Ttyl. ;)
I waited for his reply. K. Night. See u in the morning. :)
I put my phone away and got under my covers. It took me awhile to find a position that didn't hurt.
(Fang's POV)
We were at my house now. It had been another boring day in school. Max looked bad. I mean, she was beautiful, but she looked bad. She had several new bruises on her arms, and a bad one on the side of her head. She wouldn't admit it, but I could tell her side was killing her.
She said that she'd gotten into a fight. The others got mad and told her she needed to be more careful. But I didn't believe that. There's something she's not telling me and I'm determined to find out.
Max sat down beside me, lowering herself a little slower than normal because of her side. "So, what's wrong with your side?" I asked her. I didn't meet her eyes. I kept mine on the others, who were playing tag. Max said she didn't want to play, but I knew that it was, again, because of her side. I'd wanted to have a serious chat with Max alone.
Max stiffened beside me before relaxing. But it was forced. "Nothing." she said.
I poked her in the side and Max hissed in a breath, her hand instantly going to her side, and she leaned forward slightly in pain. "Yeah, it sure seems like nothing." I said.
She swallowed hard. "Don't do that." she growled.
"What's wrong with your ribs?" I repeated on a growl.
Max looked into my eyes, hers telling me to drop it, mine telling her that I won't. She looked away. "They're badly bruised, maybe cracked." she mumbled.
My eyes widened. I knew it was bad, but not this bad. "How?!" I asked. She gave me an alarmed look. I'd almost yelled. I looked over at the others to make sure they hadn't heard. I knew she wouldn't want to worry them. "How?" I repeated, lower now.
"I got into a fight. I told you that." she said, looking me right in the eye. But I could see right through her.
"You're lying. Why?" I asked.
She glared at me. "I can't…its complicated." she growled. My conscious was telling me to drop it and not push so hard, but I ignored it.
"Who did this to you?" I asked.
She stood up. "It's not any of your business." she growled. Then, suddenly, all the fight was drained out of her. Like she didn't want to fight me. She looked so…broken. So un-Max-like. "I just…I can't." she replied. "I've got to go home. I'll see you later."
I looked up at her. "Alright. Be careful." I told her. She nodded and walked away.
The others came running over. "What's wrong with Max?" Iggy asked.
I looked at them, debating whether I should tell them or not. They were her best friends. If I knew, they deserved to know. Besides, maybe they might have an idea of what's going on. "Max has bruised ribs, they might even be cracked." I told them. "In a roundabout way, I got her to admit that she was lying to us about how she got them. But she didn't tell me why. She said it was complicated." I looked at her house. "Do you have any clue what might be going on?"
"No, no clue. I swear, if someone is bullying her, I'll kill them." Iggy growled.
"This is Max we're talking about. She wouldn't let anyone bully her." Nudge said.
"Unless it has something to do with us." Angel said.
Everyone but Gazzy looked at her in surprise. "What do you mean?" I asked.
Angel looked up at me with big, innocent eyes. "One time, me and Gazzy were waiting for Iggy and Mommy outside a store. These guys came up and started pushing us around. Max jumped in front of them. They were…seniors? I think that's what she called them. She let them hit her instead of us." she said.
Gazzy nodded. "They ended up breaking her nose and her arm. But she said that she didn't care as long as we were alright. It was one of the few times she's let her emotions show." he added.
"So, you're saying if it endangers us, she'd let herself get hurt?" Nudge asked.
Angel and Gazzy both nodded.
"But what could be endangering us?" I asked, getting frustrated. It was driving me crazy! I was feeling strangely protective over Max. And now I couldn't figure out what was hurting her.
"Well, we'll just go to my house tomorrow and question her about it. We won't let her leave until she tells us. Everything will be fine." Iggy said. "Meanwhile, we need to go home. We'll see you guys later." He and the kids waved goodbye as they walked away.
"I'm going to my room." I told Nudge. "Come get me when dinner's ready." I ran up to my room and grabbed my phone.
Why won't u tell me what's wrong? :( I sent Max the text and waited for her reply.
I can't.
I frowned at her reply. Why not?
It's complicated.
Now I was scowling. Haven't we already done this? Just tell me.
Fang, please just drop it. I just…can't tell you, alright?
R u afraid we'll get hurt?
It's none of ur business. Just leave me alone.
Why can't you tell me?
I was starting to get frustrated. She was so stubborn! "Fang! Dinner's ready!" Nudge called.
"Coming!" I called back. Max never answered my text.
Alright guys, review and tell me what you think! I need more reviews! I want all of your opinions.
