Hiya. I've been busy updating my other story. So thanks a million for all the review I get for both stories and I am amazed at how many hits they both have gotten! So this chapter is more mellow now, calming down. Also I am adding a OC, with a surprise. Enjoy. Disclaimer: I don't own Max Ride at all.

Chapter 4: Alania

MPOV

Food. Delicious, mouthwatering food. That's what woke me up, wide awake. It was the best smell I've ever smelt in this house so far. Oh god, it was more than amazing. I found myself and everyone else scrambling out of our beds racing down the stairs into the kitchen. There we found mom and Iggy.

Iggy. When I saw his face I immediately couldn't help but think of last night and our talk. Everything he told me. He had actually spoke to me.

"Wow mom, this smells amazing. What'd you cook?" I asked taking a seat, mouth watering. Fang sat next to me still in his night ware and tangled, messy hair. I snickered trying to push it down upon his head.

Mom grinned taking the food down to us hungry kids. "I didn't cook. Iggy did."

Everyone froze starring at Iggy who ignored us looking out the window he couldn't see. How could a blind person cook? I mean even I couldn't cook without burning something, so how could he? It didn't make sense.

I know you all stare at me.

Iggy's words raced through my head and I snapped out of my stare. "Um, er, let me have a plate. I want some." Mom nodded scooping eggs, bacon and sausage onto a plate. She looked happy that I had made that decision and I wasn't about to stop it either. Gulping I stuffed a mouthful into my mouth while the others watched.

Oh. My. God. I scooped another mouthful in and another. There was no stopping me now. It was better than anything I've ever tasted before. It was like . . . like . . . like heaven. The eggs were scrambled down to perfection, the bacon was light and crispy with the tad bit of grease we love, and the sausage just blew me away. Everyone realized how much I was enjoying this and shoved to make themselves a plate to dig in. Serves them right.

"Iggy this is amazing!" Ella said between bites. Iggy's lip quirked sheepishly like a smile as he took a piece of bacon for himself. Maybe Iggy did fit here, he belonged here.

"Yeah man where'd you learn to cook?" Fang asked taking his third piece of bacon. Iggy paused before speaking obviously in thought.

"Well someone had taught me a little. Then I kinda taught myself since no one ever really cooked for me." Iggy shrugged off a thought as everyone else nodded. But boy the looks on everyone's face when they heard Iggy speak more than five words. God it was priceless.

I managed to cover up my snicker with my drink as the conversations went on. Today was going to be a good day, I could feel it.

"So what should we do today?" Angel asked. Hmm, good question. It was summer break right now so what to do? We could do just about whatever.

My pocket buzzed once against my leg telling me I had a message. I pulled out my cell and read the text.

I'm back and I'm coming for you . . . now!

"Oh my god!" I shrieked suddenly to myself. Everyone snapped their heads over to me and I laughed. "Alania's back from Hawaii." Now everyone's face lit up all except poor confused Iggy. They rejoiced the thought of having Alania back with us and laughed.

"She's back? Really?" Nudge asked in total eagerness.

"Alania's back! Oh my god, yay!" Angel squealed loudly while Ella shrieked. Gazzy punched the air, and fang grinned showing me deep, deep happiness.

Who is Alania? The best dang girl in the entire world to out family. She knows all our secrets and is wicked sweet about them, and despite her condition she always knows how to cheer someone up and laugh. I'll explain more later.

Another buzz from my phone sent happiness through my brain.

I looooooooooooove your fuzzy PJ's! So cute!

I jumped a little shocked of the message and turned to the front window laughing out loud as I saw her face pressed against our window waving to us. Her blond hair swinging by her hips. That girl amazes me more than I amaze myself.

I ran to the door unlocking it and hugging a laughing Alania carefully. She hugged me back gently out of her crutched. Again, I'll explain later.

"Wow you got so tan there!" I said as we pulled apart now noticing her glowing skin.

"Thanks and you got so . . . fuzzy." Alania nodded, I grinned. Twit.

"Come inside and sit down." I said. Her arms shook only the slightest right now. We did not want another accident so soon. No freaking way.

"I don't need to sit." Alania pouted in her stubborn way. I raised my eyebrows with a heavy sigh until she caved in. She hobbled in on her arm crutches into our house as I held her back, and sat at the table receiving mixed hi's and shouts from everyone. Alania chuckled at our eagerness setting her crutches aside.

Okay, let me explain.

Alania was in an accident many years ago that she doesn't even remember, and is practically paralyzed from the waist down. She can walk slightly, but only with the crutches and for a short period of time. She uses crutches and her arms to walk because (quote) "wheelchairs are for sissies." Everyone always bugs her and ask her all the time what happened and her response now:

"I have no freaking clue. Okay!"

Alania pulled over her bag that she brought next to her, "Of course I got you guy's souvenirs. 'Cause that's the best thing to do." She chuckled but pulled out a glass dolphin that shimmered in the sunlight of beauty.

"For Angel, you'll always sparkle up any room." Angel's face lit up like a little kid on Christmas while she held the palm-sized dolphin.

"Next for Nudge." Alania pulled out a velvet strapless dress decorated in beautiful white roses and matching hand gloves. The dress was nothing too elegant but it also wasn't cheap store bought either. Nudge could wear this any day, as she probably would.

"I found this at the best clothes store in Hawaii, and thought of you." Alania smiled as Nudge squealed running to try it on.

"For Gazzy, well yours is outside. Check it out." Gazzy immediately ran out of the room as fast as he could. Oh god Alania please tell me you didn't get him a motorcycle or something dangerous like that. Please!

"Sweet! A new mountain bike, no way! I needed a new one!" Gazzy cried from outside while his girlfriend ran out to join him.

"Try not to blow this one up." Alania called back then looked at Fang and I. Uh-oh.

"Now for the adorable love birds." She chuckled to herself; Fang rolled his eyes grinning back to her. "It's not really from Hawaii, I guess you could say, I got them online. So here you go."

She placed an envelope in our hands and I slowly opened mine dramatically. Fang stared at his in shock. Fang in shock? What did she give us? I ripped mine open forgetting about drama, to find a ticket to a concert in a few weeks. But not just any concert, it was Fang's and my favorite band. We absolutely loved them.

It was the sold out concert for Nickleback. Fang and I absolutely love Nickleback more than any band in the world and tried to get concert tickets for months, but no luck.

"How did you get these? They've been sold out!" I exclaimed realizing Alania had been waiting for a response.

"I've had them since they began selling them, grandma got them. I've been waiting until close to the date to give them to you. Something you two can do together." Alania twirled her hair obviously satisfied.

Fang held my waist in a hug, "Sounds perfects." Then with that he kissed my lips. Ohh man. Excuse me for a minute, sorry.

"Aw it just touches my heart." Alania giggled putting her hands up to her chest, before getting up and leaving the room upstairs.

"I should help." I grinned following her upstairs to find her at a doorway just standing there and staring in it. I walked over to find her looking at Iggy in wonder, as he sat on his balcony facing away from us, oblivious to our presence.

"Who's that?" Alania whispered as quietly as she could.

IPOV

"Oh my god!" Max yelled suddenly sounding more excited than I've ever heard. Not that I've heard much here. "Alania's back from Hawaii!"

"She's back Really?"

"Alania's back? Oh my god yay!"

Um' excuse me who is Alania? What's she like? What did she look like? Who was she? Everyone sounded so excited so happy and excited, and I was just plain old confused. She must be important to them so I should leave.

I decided that was best. To leave them alone and I grabbed my plate, cleaned it off and headed for my room. Did I even fit in here? Why was I here, after all that he's done. At least he was gone. I tightened the zipper on my jacket that I always wore, sighing.

In my room I ran my fingers along my bed feeling the case that held my prize possession in it. The one thing I have kept no matter what. As my hand swiped over the stereo I listened for whatever song was on.

Because music soothes the heart. Most of the time.

We never were, we'll never be

Strangers kissing in the pouring rain

Chasing after your leaving train

But we know that's not how a love song goes . . .

The music faded into the background as I walked to my right feeling a different door knob. A handle on a glass door leading outside to a porch. My own balcony; only out there did I let my thoughts roam.

My fingers twirled the necklace around in my hand, the necklace I could, no would never forget. Yes it was just a ring on a chain, but it was a special ring. From an amazing person. Simple but both were unforgettable . . .

I turned the corner of the alley way that I assumed to be dark since it was late at night and all. I made my way to our meeting place and waited for her to come. I rubbed my sore head blinking from habit through my black world. I had been sneaking out to this spot for years being nine-years-old that I didn't need to see to know where I was. Only to know where the gangs were.

"You came!" She squealed and her thin arms wrapped around me in a tight hug. Instantly all my worries just melted like snow, I loved being here when I could sneak out.

"They were okay with it?" She asked pulling my arm gently down the alley way as she led the way. I laughed next to her.

"No, you should know that. They would kill me. They're both passed out drunk on the couch. I have probably a good few hours." I sighed when she hugged me again. Even she couldn't help the life I live.

"I'm sorry Iggy! What happened to your head? It's bleeding!" She cried yanking me to a halt. Her gentle fingers brushed against my head touching the warm, fresh blood. I winced immediately at the touch. She moved her fingers away, realizing my pain.

"Um, he hit me with a bottle before passing out. Said I should know better than to stare." I shrugged as we continued to walk on. Typical? Yeah just about every night. Painful? Only when I'm reminded of it. She hugged me again.

"Iggy I'm so sorry! I hate that you have to live with them." She growled only this time I laughed and hugged her. Just what I needed.

"Star, don't worry about me. Nine more years and I leave for good." I said planning it all out.

"Here I know someone who can help your head. Someone nice. But first here." Star stopped and placed a necklace in my hand. A necklace with a ring around a chain.

"What's it look like?" I asked fingering the ring, feeling the band and large gems on it.

"It's gold with small diamonds, and an emerald in the middle, the biggest gem. My grandma had two and gave them to me." Star explained walking up the steps. "Now if anything ever happens we'll always remember each other. I have the same one only with a sapphire, 'cause your eyes are blue and mine are green."

"It must be beautiful." I murmured placing the necklace around my neck never wanting to take it off. Star giggled and a door near us opened.

"Ah Star. Oh, who's that?"

"Who's that?" The voice broke my thoughts as I realized it was outside my memory now. I cocked my head and turned toward the voice.

"Who's there?" I asked aloud.

"Wow. How did you even hear us?" Max sighed and her footsteps came closer to me along with unknown footsteps.

"I can hear, um real well." I said turned my head back to whatever I was facing before.

"Iggy this is Alania." I felt a hand touch my arm suddenly and I shuddered at the touch but took the hand to shake.

"Hi Iggy." A beautiful voice greeted. That must be Alania. She sounded so…pretty. Er, never mind. But what did she look like? What was she like?

"I don't bite, I promise. Say something or I may just have to." She chuckled and I shook my head.

"Oh um hi." I mumbled when my hand hit something metal and hard in front of me. I frowned and brushed my hand against it in concentration.

"Alania, um . . ." Max hesitated then I felt her lean next to my ear. "Can I tell her, you know, that you're blind?"

Why not? She would figure out anyway. I nodded.

"Alania, he's blind. Iggy can't see at all." Max said to her friend. Then of course silence. Now, wait for it. Wait for it.

"Oh gosh. I'm sorry, I didn't know." Alania apologized. That's what everyone says, all the time.

"It's okay. There's no need to be sorry, I hate that." I sighed.

"Oh well me too. I hate when people apologize to me." Alania laughed. Huh? For what?

"Oh! Iggy, Alania has crutches. She's kinda paralyzed from like the waist down from an accident a while ago. She uses crutches to walk." Max explained. I brushed my hand across the metal crutches now. Paralyzed?

"Oh." Was all I could freaking say back. Couldn't I just be left alone maybe?

"Yeah well aw Iggy, I wish I had known you would be here. I would have brought you something back." Alania sighed next to me. "Jiminy cricket."

"Jiminy cricket Iggy!"

"Jiminy cricket?" I asked shaking the voice from my head.

"Yeah sorry. I tend to say weird stuff like that, but hey don't hate me for that." Alania laughed nervously slightly embarrassed.

"No I used to know someone who said stuff like that all the time. It's fine." I said carefully.

"Excellent. I'm not the only oddball." Alania snickered and my lips twitched upward slightly. There was something about Alania. Something peculiar. "Hey I know! Do you like music Iggy?"

"Huh?"

"Music! Do you like to listen to music and all?" Alania repeated.

"Um, yeah. Who doesn't?" I was confused now.

"Exactly, should have known. Do you like 30 seconds to Mars?"

"Never heard of them. But I'm open to any music." I said. Truthfully I only knew songs, not really any bands or artist ever. Sometimes I don't even know the song name, just the words. Alania giggled then footsteps left the room.

"Max went to get a CD. I got it up there, and now you can have a gift." Alania said happily. There was small taps and someone sitting on my bed.

"So you like music?" Alania asked. What was it about her? What was well, different?

"Yeah." I shrugged, hands in my pocket staying where I was. "It passes the time, it well . . . it kind of tells stories through the words of a song. It's nice to relate to some, while others are just nice to sing along too."

Whoa, did I just say that out loud? Oh no, god stupid. Stupid.

"Yeah, yeah. I get what you mean. Music is always there when I just need to cool down, or think." Alania said back. I took a seat next to her amazed.

"So how old are you?" I blurted out.

"Fifteen just like Max. You're what seventeen?" Alania asked.

"Sixteen." This time I actually grinned. There was a slight shuffle on my bed and a zipper noise.

"No way. You play the guitar?" Alania sounded astonished as I heard the sound of my prize possession strum. Oh man.

"Yeah." I nodded sheepishly.

"That's amazing! And being blind, oh my god! Are you good at it?" Alania began. I felt a smile on my lips as I turned to Alania's voice.

"What would good be to you?" I asked reaching for my guitar and turning it to play a few notes. This was the one thing I saved after all my troubles, I couldn't live without it. It brought hope when I was on the streets, and maybe here.

"Better than me." Alania laughed. "I used to be real good but now with the accident I lost some of my touch." She sighed.

I thought to myself: I like Alania. I like her a lot.

There chapter 4 done. More will happen later to boost the story. I just had to add Alania in to relate to Iggy in a nicer, mellow chapter. There will be more action in the next chapter. So please send those reviews and thank you for reviewing! Thanks.