Hey, it's Charity. I own no part of the original Maximum Ride stories, neither do I partially/fully own or advertise 'How I Met Your Mother'.

Here 'tis.

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There is a certain charm that Opal has that I don't. She has, what I call, an innocent face. Oh, yes, the same one annoying young siblings have, the same one as the adorable children or pretty ladies. And that is why she gets away with everything. And I mean everything. She knows what to say and to whom, and somehow unlike the rest of us she didn't lost that skill, when she grew up; take right now for example.

It's the end of the day and Mrs Harrison is screaming at us for not showing 'hospitality' to the 'the poor innocent girl' which was her way of describing Lissa.

"But, Miss she-" I attempted only to be cut off by Mrs Harrison

"Don't try that with me young lady. You have no right to punch Ms Roderick." her voice stern. You see, once again Lissa and I had one of our 'fights' but this time she went too far. Who did she think she was, telling me that cookies aren't 'that amazing'? Off course, all the students were gone by then, so it was fair game, but I forgot teachers are always late to class.

"Oh, I, I'm so sorry miss. I… she just, I am really sorry I don't want to get in trouble. Miss I promise that will never happen again" sobbed Opal before I could even utter a word.

See that's what I'm talking, suddenly Mrs Harrison lost all her anger and left us with just a warning. Or not so suddenly, but you get the point.

"Okay Opal, I don't know how you did that but I owe you, big time."

"You bet you do, any way I'm coming to your place on Sunday right?"

"'Course you are, how about at four?"

"Sounds like a plan, after I ask my parents off course."

"Off course" I replied sounding quite posh if you asked me.

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Suddenly it was Friday, and no I did not get teleported through time. It's just that sometimes days go past and nothing happens, such is the life of a normal teenage girl. Something happened on Friday, though, that blew my mind. It involved Iggy as many 'mind-blowing' activities do. It was during recess, when Iggy walked over to our table and sat next to be and whispered "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Yeah sure" I said getting up and one does when another wants to talk to one alone. And how did I know Iggy wanted to talk to me alone? Well why else would he ask whether he could and not just blurt it out.

"So what's up?" I asked as we reached closer to his locker. Do I need to keep saying 'he said' or 'I replied'? You're smart enough to know that I will reply after him and he will speak after me.

"It's about the dance." he all but mumbled.

"Oh?"

"You see I really want to ask this girl."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but I don't know if she'll say yes" he murmured as we reach his locker.

"Uh-huh"

"And I wanted to know how you felt about this… cause you know, us, we've been friends for a long time and I don't want to ruin this friendship but I can't help what I feel, you know?"

"Okay"

"Max, do… Max do you… Max do you." He hesitated. "Well Maximum Ride do you mind if I… go to the dance with Nudge?" he shied away almost as if he was scared I would say no. I had met Nudge a few times, I wouldn't say we were best buds, but that was just because of her fashion obsession. Other than that she seemed like a great girl. But Iggy didn't know I thought that off her. 'This could be so much fun' I laughed evilly inside.

"Off course I mind."

"You, you do?"

"Yeah, I mind that you thought I would say no"

"You know, that makes no sense right?" he chuckled

"Ah, but everything I say makes sense, 'cause I am awe-some" I replied, imitating Barney.

"Yeah, yeah sure you are. Thanks by the way." was Iggy's oh-so-cruel response.

"Aw, are we about to have a girly hug fest?" I retorted

"Yes!" Iggy exclaimed, in a fake high pitched voice, "Come her!" he added, pretending to sob. He jumped on me like a bunny jumping on… a carrot?

"Uh, Iggy if Nudge sees you right know she probably never go on a date with you." I whispered as I awkwardly patted his back.

This time Iggy jumped more like a boy after being told about girl cooties. "You're probably right" he said and started walking back towards the canteen, almost as if nothing had happened.

Oh well, I was cool with that.

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You know what is surprising, when your best friend storms past your locker at lunch and doesn't wait for you.

"Hey Max" I turned around to look at the owner of this voice.

"Kate, how are you?"

"You will never guess what"

"What?"

"The dance has been moved up to Valentine's day"

"Oh that's great? I guess."

"Sorry, I got you didn't really care. Do you mind coming to my locker with me?"

"Off course not let's go."

We continued to make small talk till we reached her locker, where an excited Elise ran up to us.

"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, ONE DIRECTION IS COMING TO AUSTRALIA"

Two things happened simultaneously at that…

I said "Wow, you don't have to shout you know" while

Kate said something like "eep"

Yeah Kate obviously has a big enough vocabulary to not have to make up words. Okay ignore that last sentence, it made no sense whatsoever did it. And ignore that to, because it sounded stupid. You know what just never mind, it's not like you would listen to me anyway.

So that was how I ended up walking to the canteen with to swooning girls. As I approached the table I realised Opal was missed. Hmm, peculiar much. As soon as we sat down Laura squealed, "Elise did you hear, One Direction, is coming. Here, in Australia. I am so excited."

Oh great another one, "Yeah, we were just talking about that…"

I looked around once more for Opal and then turned to the guys. "Oi, you guys seen Opal anywhere."

Dylan replied "No I don't think so"

Sam just said "Nope"

But Adrian, whose locker was pretty close to hers, said she was headed towards the library.

I knew Opal well enough to know that she hadn't gone to the library, but also knew where she had gone.

"Okay thanks, I'll see you guess later." I announced as I got up and walked to the drama room.

"Opal" I called out once I got there.

"Took you long enough to find me"

"Well, I thought you would come to lunch"

She sat still for a minute

"What happened?"

"It's that stupid Fang, we had English together, and God he just pisses me off. Do you know what I mean?"

"Okay so I get that I hate him 'cause he is dating Lissa and cause that he was a huge disappointment for a guy named after Hagrids' dog. But why do you hate him?"

"Well, he reminds me of someone" she said looking up at me, in what I now saw as a pain filled gaze. I didn't have to ask who, I already knew.

"Aw, sweetie, it's going to be fine." I said pulling her in for a hug. Yeah, who knew I had a motherly side right?

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Okay so I hope you liked it, and that you had a good valentine's day, people seem to forget that Valentines can be for your friends as well… I just gave all my friends a yellow rose (for friendship)… or a printed one at least. Anyway, I'm going to stop ranting about something that's passed now.

Thanks heaps to all the reviewers, the subscribers and the people who added this to Favourites. Yeah. Sorry about how late this is. It was my short term memory and my ability to just make up horrible excuses.

Calamity, Charity =P