With help from babiixilyx3 I realized what a crappy and boring chapter the last one was… so I'm bored and can't fall asleep so I'm going to write another one!

Max's POV:

I climbed back in through my window after listening to music for a while. It was peaceful and all, but then I started losing feeling in my toes.

It was only seven when I got back in. School, luckily, started at eight fifteen so we had so time to kill.

One thing that could occupy my time was waking up Nudge. Something I had been avoiding this whole morning. But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta go.

Buying time, I strolled into my walk-in closet and pondered on today's outfit. Usually, I didn't care what I wore as long as it was me and it was comfortable. But today, since it was Nudge's actual birthday- I picked up on this during one of her ramblings- I felt that I should think about my outfit a little bit.

It didn't really make a difference, though, I realized after I picked my outfit. It just made my fashion-challenged mind hit over-drive. So I decided on something simple.

My top was a loose-fitting, long sleeve, brown shirt. The design was elaborate and Indian… I think. Hey- don't ask me! Once again, must I remind you! FASHION-CHALLENGED! Colors ranged from dark brown to yellow to green to pale brown to black. (A/N: Very difficult to describe… all outfits on profile!) Its wide neckline made my wings necklace stand out… I don't know… beautifully.

Ew!

I sounded like one of those shopaholics on those fashion shows. You know, the ones about… fashion…? NEVER MIND!

My skinny jeans were medium-wash, even though, on the label they said 'Indigo'. Well, who do they think they are? Are they accusing me of not knowing colors now? Huh? Are they? And there I go again, talking to myself. Which, you must have found out, isn't really unusual for me.

So after I changed, I grudgingly walked up to my bed, where Nudge was spread-eagle. Attempting to pry the tangled covers away from her, I started sifting through the mess.

I grabbed a hand full and began to pull gently, only to be met with force. Frowning, I pulled harder. Nothing budged.

I walked over to the other side of the bed, grabbed a fist-full and yanking softly. Nada. Pulling a little harder, I noticed the subtle twitch in Nudge's hand. I rolled my eyes.

Leaning down, I whispered in her ear, "Nu-udge! Time to wake up! It's your birthday!" I tried. As I suspected, she didn't respond. Just lied there, looking sort of dead.

"Nudge, wake up! Come awn!" I whined.

"No." was all she said. At least it was something.

"Yes, you know you want to!"

"No."

"Yes," I reached over to try and tickle her, but she batted my hand away.

"No."

"Yes." I was losing patience. Nudge may be my friend, but no one told me, Maximum Ride, no. I tried yanking at the blankets again.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes!"

"No."

"Yes!"

"No!"

"YES!"

"No!"

"YES!"

"NOOOO!" and with that, I yanked my hardest on the blanket and Nudge came twirling off. It was like when you yank a table cloth out from under dishes or something. But Nudge happened to be rolled up in it, so she went a-flying away.

"ARGH!" she shrieked as she was tossed into the air. Swinging her arms around in a desperate attempt to grab something, she knocked all my stuff of my bedside table. Nothing valuable was on it, so I was laughing freely.

Kicking and screaming all the way down, she eventually landed on the wooden floors. I stifled a giggle and her head slowly came up, like in those horror movies. It was weird- and creepy. Everything Nudge seems to be.

"But. I. Don't. Want. To. Get. Up." she grounded out. I tsked at her.

"Well, you already are. So what's the point of going back to sleep?" I asked her and her face became a deep red. The deep red of rage.

"Here." I threw a simple white dress at her. It was short-sleeved and had a black tie at the back. "Stole it from Ella."

Nudge caught it and raised her eyebrows, smiling; rage forgotten. "Stole?"

"Shh! Don't tell her," I raised my finger to my lips and walked out of the room to see what we had in the kitchen.

Ella was already down there, puttering away. On the stove, pancakes were baking. Kudos to Ella! She looked up and saw me staring at the stove. "For Nudge's B-Day." she stated simply and went back to her things.

She was wearing a light red-purple strap-less tank-top. It was tight and elastic around the bust then flowed freely. White flowers were embroidered near the edge at the front. Her acid grey skinny jeans were actually mine, but became too short a couple of years back.

I brushed my light brown hair back into a high, messy pony tail and sat at the breakfast bar. Blowing some remains strands from my face, I hissed, "Nasty, little stragglers!"

Ella snorted into her coffee and I shot her a look. She stopped immediately, but still said, "Max. Seriously- you need to stop talking to yourself!"

"Oh, you don't know the half of it." I muttered.

"See! There you go again!" she waved her hand around looking a little deranged. I guess it runs in our blood.

"Why don't you just throw me in the funny farm then?" I snarled at her, as Nudge descended the stairs. Ella was too distracted by her to respond.

She threw her hands in the air, and yelled "Happy Birthday, Nudge!"

"Thanks," Nudge replied shyly and took a seat next to me.

"Oh my gawd! Max, you're a genius! That dress totally pops on her skin!"

"Really, 'cause I was just thinking that…" I tuned them out, and decided to gaze out the window. A flash of color flickered past the window, and my eyes widened. No, my eyes must be deceiving me. A Jeep did not just pull into my driveway. But one had. I blinked again at the unfamiliar car.

A door opened and of course, who else but Iggy stepped out. Followed by a tall, blonde-haired boy. His face was incredibly young, his eyes wide and innocent, a sparkling blue. I guess that was Jason, the guy that Iggy was talking about in Biology.

A smiling blonde girl's head popped out of the sun-roof. She was the splitting image of Jason, but looked about Ella's age. She glanced back down into the car, laughed at watched as Iggy and Jason walked up our path. Then Fang's slightly-smiling face peeked out the window and said something to Jason who laughed too.

"Uhhh… Nudge? I think Iggy's here, and same with Jason and his sister and Fang."

"Really?" she jumped up and hopped to the window, excitement brimming in her eyes. "Yay!" she clapped her hands together.

"Ella?" I called to the kitchen. Her head popped out from behind the wall.

"Yeah?"

"Can you get a ride from a friend this morning?" I asked her uncertainly. For a moment she looked a little lost, but then she snapped back to reality.

"Oh yeah! I met this really nice girl yesterday, Leslie! I could call her I guess! She even asked me if I could come with her and her brother today! Okay! So I'll call her!" and she disappeared into the kitchen again.

The doorbell rang and Nudge squealed. "Control yourself, won't you?" I snickered and walked over to the door. On the inside, I was jumping up and down in excitement too. I had friends. I know who pathetic that sounds, but it's true.

I swung open the door, and grinned. Iggy, hearing the door opening, smiled.

"Hey," I said, unsure.

"Hey- well, I was thinking since it was Nudge's birthday that we could come pick our friends up!" Iggy said.

"You drive?" I asked, a little afraid to hear the answer.

He laughed and Jason said "Ha! No, I do. My Jeep."

"Oh… good!" Nudge popped up behind me.

"Heyyy!"

"Happy birthday!" the two boys yelled together.

The girl in the Jeep jumped up again, and her and Fang called- well, Fang just sort of said- "Happy birthday, Nudge!"

I swear, her face was about to break from smiling so much. Just then, a silver car pulled up next to the Jeep. Ella came running around us.

"Guys! Have some breakfast first, okay?" she called over her shoulder.

"Sure!" even though, I wasn't hungry. I would just wrap them up and save them for an afternoon snack.

"Okay, Nudge, let's go get our bags!" I was still smiling. Something is wrong with me. Or maybe it's in the water. None of us could stop smiling.

After sprinting up the stairs to get our bags- Nudge actually pushed me into the wall, so I pushed her in the bathroom-, Nudge and I scrambled onto the driveway.

Jason ordered from the front seat, "Nudge- go sit between Angel and Iggy!" Angel, the little girl, was bouncing in her seat. "Max, why don't you sit up front with us?" he asked nicely and I decided then to not hate him.

When I got to passengers side, I realized Fang hadn't moved. I raised my eyebrows at him, and he just mimicked my expression, motioning with his hand to the seat in between them.

"Seriously?" I sighed and he nodded, smirking.

Now this is the awkward part. He made me climb over him- in a very confined space, I might add! The whole time, I wasn't breathing. Holding my breath, because just in case I fell-

And get this- my foot caught on Fang's and I tripped. Causing me to fall in his lap. Yep, I was sitting on some kid I hardly knew. Just great. Peachy. I sort of gasped as I fell, but Fang caught me so I didn't fall so heavily. In fact, he caught me around the waist. Just adding to awkwardness of this situation. You could have fried an egg on my face.

Sliding of his lap as fast as I could, I slithered into my seat, to see Jason looking at me, laughing. "What?" I snapped.

"Nothing, nothing. Call me the Gasman, by the way."

"Why?"

"Oh you'll find out." he said this to me, and then to whole car. "Are all the windows open?"

They all nodded vigorously. And then we were speeding toward the school.

Everyone was chatting away, besides me and Fang. Something about how he conducted himself told me, he didn't usually hang out with this crowd. Maybe Iggy and the Gasman, but not Angel or Nudge. This was a new development or an old when resurfacing.

The sun roof was still open and it was blowing the stragglers all over my face. But I didn't bother to move them.

The conversation sort of swallowed me- I could hear it, but not make it out. I didn't mind that feeling, actually, I loved it. The sun was smiling kindly at us and the breeze was lovely in comparison to the heat.

The wind blowing my hair, surrounded by people I liked, sunny days. I think I liked this place. I smiled. Maybe I belong.

Of course, you belong, Maximum. And for once, I didn't snap back. I just smiled contently.

And then 'That's What You Get' came on…

I HOPE THIS WAS BETTER!!!!!!! PLEEZ REVIEW!!!! NO MATTER WHAT!!!! REVIEW!!!!! IF THE SKY IS FALLING, REVIEW!!!!!!! IF YOU LOST YOUR SHOE, REVIEW!!!!! JUST REVIEW!!!!!!!

Pleez tell me if you have any ideas for songs…