Uy! (Hey! in Filipino)
This is chapter 7! Constructive critics would be loved. Although reviews of any sort are awesome...
Well, anyway! I used an idea PJO Rocks My Socks, which is in the letter (thanks, by the way!). It was great that so many of you got the COMPLETELY UNINTENTIONAL Percy Jackson reference.
As for those who say 'I lack plot' and 'there's no direction'. I have the plot taking off, and the last few were more character development than anything. And Fang POV's might seem a bit fillerish, but they're just developing his character.
Max POV
"School, school is for mules. Mules need fuel, fuel is umm, and fuel is...I give up! You win Angel."
Angel grinned, and added another tally to her side. I will admit, I was letting her win. It was a game from when we moved and were stuck in a car for hours.
"You suck Maxie! It's my go! Start me off."
"Slime, and... Go!" She stuck her tongue out in concentration. I began to tally.
"Slime takes the time, time can be fuelled by lime, lime is the favourite food of mimes, mimes gather dimes-"She was almost winning when Val interrupter by popping her head into the door.
"Girls, school. And remember that Jebs coming back tomorrow, so try to stay relatively clean, both of you."
"As if we could forget." I muttered as she ducked away. Ange heard me and giggled. I stood up from my seat and stretched with a big yawn. Angel did the same. I grabbed her school bag from under the table and handed it to her, while grabbing my own. I pecked her on the forehead and started off to school.
There was a nasty wind, and my hair was thrown around like a much messed up halo. Val won't be happy. Pieces of litter were blown onto my clothes, and I attempted to hold onto my navy hoodie. It was a twenty minute walk to school, and I apparently missed the bus. Referral for being late, here I come.
-Time Skip to end of school Day-
"Now class, can someone tell me what King Henry the 6th Christian name was? Anyone"
I held in a snigger as no hands went up. I'm pretty sure nobody knew. Ms Wilson zeroed in on me, and my comedic genius side was screaming for an audible gulp. Gotta love immaturity.
"Ah, Ms Ride, You've been awfully quite today, care to share your thoughts?"
Guess I didn't hold in the snigger very well. Gotta love sardonic techers. To reply sarcastically or to not reply sarcastically, fun verses detention, hmm...
"Alberta I believe." Sniggers went around, I pulled a very frustrated face, and people say I lack acting qualities, well, actually I've never been told that...
"Oh! Crap, mispronunciation, I meant Albert. Sorry Ms."
"Your language Ms Ride!" Ahhh, good to know I can still push her buttons.
"Now class, I trust you've been keeping in close contact with your pen-pals."
The end of her sentence was cut off by the still violent storm outside.
"There's a new task that we have decided would be great to monitor your project. And that would be that you must write an essay on your pen pal. You must have all the important information and some extras. Your partners will be doing the same thing and then at the end of the program, you will mail each other your project. Now-"
And with that the bell went. Yay, a project, whoop-Dee-freaking-doo. No slacking for Max now, and yes, I did just refer to myself in third person, I'm that awesome.
I strolled through the packed hallways in what I imagine a pretty damn awesome manner. Everyone parted like the red sea, people understand that I have a short fuse on Monday's, and Tuesday's, and Wednesday's, and the other two day's as well I guess.
I stopped at my locker and dialled the combination. Dylan appeared to be missing from school today.
I had a sick dread in my stomach that I couldn't place, which is weird for me. I began running through today's events as I put my history book back. Pulling out my coat I strolled back into rush hour, only for a lithe figure to slam into me.
I jumped up, seeing red, then simmered down as it was Ella, Val would kill me if I hit her.
"Oh! Max! Found you! Come on, Mum's here to pick us up with Jeb. You did remember he was coming... right?" I felt my face pale that was what I forgot.
"Ugh, stop being a whiny baby. It's getting on my nerves ! All you do is moan, and yell, and make mum mad; I don't even know why Angel prefers you. I'm a much better role model-"What is it with me and zoning people out today?
I braced myself as we walked onto into the car park. I made my face go blank, and undetectably tensed my legs for getting the hell out of there.
I don't know why, but something about Jeb always put's me on edge. And not just the fact that he may or may not be cheating on Val.
Me and Ella strolled over to the jeep. Mum was sitting in the front grinning, and I could see Ange in the backseat.
Jeb was riding shotgun. He was average height, no muscle to speak of, and with diminishing salt and pepper hair. He was grinning. But I could see right through it. He knew that I knew, and I knew that he knew that I knew. I nodded in recognition, and walked off to my own car.
I slid into my beaten up seat and blasted the heating on high, holding my outstretched in front of the heater.
There was some traffic, nothing much, but enough for my mind to wander.
6 months is either a very long time, or a very short time, depending how you look at it. Well damn.
-Time skip to dinner-
"So, Max, I hear you have a pen-pal? Fang her name was?" I glared at my chicken burger. This was his Jeb's 3rd attempt at 'conversation'.
"Yeh and it's a guy." I muttered, not making eye contact. I could feel Val's and Ella's glares. Ella was being a suck up. It's only because there a party this weekend she's desperate to go to.
"Oh, is it? I'm not sure I'm pleased with that. Why didn't you ask for a change? I might have to go to the school and ask about that. I'm going to be expecting to read all of the letters and your replies. No complaints." It was Angels pleading look that kept me from snapping. So instead I grunted.
"So, how's your relationship with that chap Dylan going? I like him. I approve of him. Have you got any friends yet? I want you to join some extra-curricular activities. Get those grades up. While I'm here, I want to do something about your clothes. I took the liberty of going through your closet, and I don't like all the black. Maybe you and Ella could go shopping this weekend? Get some lovely pink dresses-"Okay, I snapped, sue me.
"Shut up! Just shut up!"
"Don't speak to me like that young missy! I am your father! You must give me respect!"
"Father! Dad! Hell! That's just a load of bull! I don't want you here! You can't come barging into my life and take it over! Were you here when Angel got bullied? No! You weren't! I had to go into the school and sort it out! Were you around when Ella went out with a bloke twice her age? No! It was me that bet up his sorry ass! When Angel gets nightmares, I get her to sleep! And you? You're just sitting pretty over in Michigan! I'm not a kid anymore! You weren't here when I was! Leave me alone! Just get the hell out of my life!" And with that I stomped out of the room.
I could hear Jeb's yells at how 'I had gone off the rails since he was last here'. I snorted. Angel poked her head into the kitchen where I was located.
She grinned and ran over. She wrapped her tiny arms around me and hugged me pretty hard. I hugged her back.
"Quick! You got to hide! Mum's mad, and Jeb's even madder." I stroked her tiny blonde head, and nodded. I grabbed Today's mail and sieved through junk and bills, and lastly, Fang's reply which had come really fast.
And with that I flat out sprinted to the bedroom. I flung myself onto my bed and tore open the letter. Still buzzing with adrenalin from my 'outburst'.
There was a knocking on the door. I quietly crouched by the door and peered under. Gold gladiators, Ella. I opened the door, and raised a questioning eyebrow. She looked pissed.
"How could you! Now Dad will never let me go to the party! And that will positively ruin my social cred! Mum is severely pissed! Did you even think for one second what that little outburst of yours would do? No! You never think! I-"Cue slamming of door. I smirked at her outraged humph.
I then resumed what I was doing. Pretending to do homework, hiding, and pen-palling.
I opened the letter and a few pieces of paper fell out. I smiled at the normality, and then frowned at the smile.
No! I don't like Fang! I put up with him at the most. I am not starting to like him. I picked up a few sheets of paper and a pen to reply with.
Hello warden Max!
I am dreadfully sorry for not remembering to play along with your little game! But don't worry, I'll ask two questions to appease you.
Now, onto your question, 3 things? Well, that depends on who's with me, wink wink. But assuming you mean all aloney on my owney, probably a gun, purifier, and a book on What's Poisonous and What's Not on a Random Island from Max's Head, 3rd edition.
My two questions would have to be... Dogs or cats? And Dream superpower.
Spidey? Really? I really doubt that you're a senior. And I hate to agree with the 'American Youth' crap. Although, judging by your limited brain cells, probably on a deeper level.
I'm pretty sure there's a drug dealer in my neighbourhood alley... Just saying.
I am not a player, unless you count flirting and... other things.
We should send each other a picture of our selves, just so I know you're actually a female. Cause you sure don't act like one. And my mate Iggy wants to know what you look like. He's one heck of a player.
Well, I have friends, and a social life. Sadly, no makeup, although I have epic fashion sense. And an okay parental unit. But seriously, my fashions sense it pretty damn awesome.
My name is not Molar, no Maxums, it's not Molar. No matter what you wish it was.
Hot pink wouldn't compliment my skin tone, sorry Maxie. Neither would lemon yellow. And my eyes are dreamy enough without Guy-Liner. Sorry hunny.
My being a prat is completely in your imagination. Sadly, you didn't get off that easy.
Fang
Fly On
Fang, Fang, Fang, what am I going to do with you?
I started to reply.
Warden Max reporting for duty!
You have been sentenced to life sentence on account of annoying me-
Next chapter is being worked on.
Blue-Songbirds.
