Chapter 4
"Max?" Angels soft little voice asks, concern in her every word, "Are you OK? You look horrible."
I start to lift my head up but It hurts too bad. Laying back down, I assure her, "I'm fine, Angel." The lie tastes horrible coming out of my mouth, but I feel it is necessary. "What time is it?"
Angel looks a little bit more relieved now. "6:45. I was going to let you sleep longer, but I didn't know what time you wanted to get up for school at...and, I was scared. You look really bad Max."
I can not even began to explain how flattered I am feeling right now.
"I don't feel that bad," I feel like I just went through Hell. "And you woke me up at the perfect time. How much sleep did you get?"
Angel paused, as if to think. Holding up her fingers, she counted down the hours. "Seven whole hours."
"Not enough for a little girl like you," I say playfully, "You'll have to take a nap after school, both of us. Are you excited?" Angel nodded her head eagerly. Well that's one good thing.
"Alright," I say, trying to not look in too much pain. "Care to help me up?" Angel nods briefly and lends me a hand, helping me off my back. I hold back a million swear words and clench my jaw.
Angel eyes me suspiciously, "Are you sure you can go to school today?"
No way in hell is it possible. "Definitely." But Angel has got to go for her first day, and I'm not letting Jeb or myself wreck that. "Just help me to the shower. I got it from there."
I leaned on Angel as lightly as possible as we were walking to the bathroom. "Thanks, now go put on something cute!" I tell her and watch as she runs off. Alright, now it was time to stop sugar-coating things.
I looked in the mirror and flinched at my reflection. I had multiple bruises and cuts on my arms and legs, and I also had a black eye, and a swollen lip, as well as bruises across my face. It felt much worse than it looked.
Sighing, I stepped into the shower slowly, muttering to myself as the water meets my skin.
After I'm cleaned up I dry my hair and brush it down. Then I took the makeup and covered up the bruises and the black eye as good as I can. It still looks unnaturally dark, though. Of course, if someone sees it just one time, they shouldn't be totally suspicious, right? The only person who might be a problem was Fang, since he saw me yesterday.
Hopefully, I had scared him off.
I also covered my arms and legs with the coverup. I couldn't go out of the house wearing a long sleeved shirt and jeans in Arizona. I just hoped it would stay on through the whole day.
I grabbed a turquoise shirt and put on black shorts with knee-high black converse.
Walking downstairs, I met up with Angel, who looked incredibly adorable in a pink skirt and a white tank top with little sandals. I combed her hair for her and put it in a pony tail.
On our way out, I made sure Angel had her backpack and I had my leather bag. Once we were all good to go, we opened up the car door and started driving to Angel's new primary school. She would be in 3rd grade now.
Kissing her quick on the cheek, I watched as she ran off with the other little kids on the playground. I remembered being little like that. The good days.
When I finally found the high school, it was already 7:56. There was no way I was going to make it on time, but I didn't really care, as long as I had got Angel to school on time.
After stopping by the office and getting my schedule out, I made my way to the classroom I had first period. First time at a public school and I had no clue what I was doing.
As I head towards the classroom door, I became really self-conscious. I noticed I was walking with a slight limp, and I cursed under my breath. I was tougher than this. Suck it up and walk right, I thought to myself.
I opened the door and all the heads in the class room turned toward me, not including our friend Fang's. Maybe the world doesn't hate me after all!
I avoided everyone's gaze and watched as the teacher walked over to me.
"Class," he spoke in a loud, booming voice, "This is our new student, Maximum Ride. Maximum, tell us about yourself."
I paused, feeling a pink flush appear on my cheeks. "There's nothing much to say." Except that I hate it here, I added mentally.
The teacher frowned. "Alright then. Go sit by...Dylan. Right there, in the second row."
Fine then.
I sit down and stare straight across the room at the whiteboard, obviously not in the mood to talk.
Just then I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I flinched as the hand touched my skin, and unfortunately He noticed. Dylan frowned. "Did that hurt?"
I laughed lightly. "Of course not."
He didn't look convinced. "Alright. What happened?"
I just kind of looked at him for a second, trying not to seem frantic.
"What do you mean?" I asked, playing the innocent card in a fairly sweet tone.
"Oh, c'mon," he says, "You can tell me, I won't tell. I see the black eye. What did you do? Get in a fight?"
"Yes," I say in a agitated tone, "I got into a fight, OK? Enough with the questions."
Dylan quieted down for a moment before asking, "You need someone to sit with at lunch?"
I sighed, ready to turn him down, when a thought occurred to me. I wonder what people he hung out with...
"Who do you sit with?" I asked, but the moment I see the look of triumph in his conceded eyes, I regretted asking the question. This guy's ego was already way to big.
"The cool people." he said, looking arrogant. "Foot ball stars, the cheer leaders, you know. You'd be lucky to sit with us."
The bell rings and class is dismissed. Time to crush the poor son's dreams. "No thanks." I say and walk out out of class like a boss. Trying to get through the busy halls, a bunch of kids bumped into me. Pain ran up and down my body. Of course, no one noticed. No one cared.
Flash back
"Mom!" I cry, rocking back and forth. "I think I broke it." My mom gives me a comforting smile and looks at my leg.
"Your right Max, it is broken, but your fine. C'mon, let's get you in the pickup." I remember the look of concern in her warm brown eyes. That look-where someone actually cared about you. It was a great feeling, though I was sure I'd never feel it again.
I sighed, walking into my next class and sitting down where ever. The unnaturally bright florescent lights burned my eyes, the kids that talked behind my back every witch way I looked. I wanted to go home so badly. I looked out the window and wondered what I'd be doing right now if I were back at home with my mother.
Suddenly I just wanted to get out. Get out of this classroom, get away from the people, and feel free again. I could feel the bruises on my face underneath all the makeup, how much it hurt, and I just wanted to wash all of the disgusting stuff off. I bit my lip.
Get out, get out, get out. The little voice said, running through my head. Get out, get out, get out. Was this what claustrophobia felt like? I raised my hand. "My I go to the bathroom?" I asked quickly, receiving a nod.
And I was outta there.
First I looked around to see if anyone was around. Not seeing anyone, I headed right for the door. Unfortunately on my way there, I ran into Fang. Like literally, ran into them. I could only imagine the look on my face as we crashed together and he hit all the bruises.
"Excuse me," I say, trying to get past. I knew I had been a bitch to Fang. But even though he was cocky and arrogant, did that really mean he deserved it? I didn't know. All I knew at that second is how much I wanted to get out of there.
"Max?" he says. I nod.
"Hi Fang. I'm sorry I crashed into you."
He looked confused. "S' my fault. Are you okay?"
I nodded once more. "Just feeling a bit sick."
"So...your ditching?"
"No, not ditching. I just feel-argh-ya, sure, I'm ditching."
"Can I come with?"
No way. "Whatever," I say and burst through the doors. YES, SWEET AIR! I MISSED YOU!
Taking a deep breath, I quickly scattered off campus, fully aware of the fact that Fang was following me. I walk toward my car. I should have been thinking about the consequences of doing what I was doing, but instead just kept walking, my mind spinning. Where could I go? Some where that didn't have a lot of houses, like home, where-
"Max?" my thoughts were broken off my Fang's deep voice. "What are you doing, really?"
Suddenly an idea came to mind.
"I'm taking the day off Fang," Yup, on my very first day of school. I make myself so proud. "How about you come and tell me where it is I want to go."
Fang looked at me questioningly.
"C'mon," I say, gesturing to the passenger seat. He smiled and got in, continuing to look at me curiously. "Where is the nearest 250 acres of open land?"
Fang just looks at me like I'm insane. "I guess out North where the old feed lot used to b-"
"North it is!" I yell and take off. One thing was for sure: I had officially gone insane.
Alright...so here's chapter 4. Tell me what you guys think. Did it make sense to ya'll, or are you questioning my writing skills. Haha. Well, please review and tell me what you think, thanks!