AN: Alright, so, thanks to Anne Taylor, I'm updating a little sooner than I planned. Since I really don't want to have your sleep deprivedness (I don't think that's a word) on my shoulders. So here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

This chapter is going to be kind of dark. It might seem random, but I wanted to show just how much Max has come to care about the others, even if she doesn't show it. So it's not really random. And it's going to be really long. It's kind of like two chapters in one because I didn't want to separate the whole thing and leave you with a sucky cliff, because that is always cruel and unusual punishment. Besides, I find longer chapters more fun to read.

Sorry to anyone who finds the following chapter too…I can't think of a word. Dark, I guess, even though I've already used that. But, I promise, it gets better.

Oh, and I'm back from Orlando! And, before I forget, I don't own MR because I'm neither old, nor a guy, and therefore I'm not JP.

(AN: I finally figured out how to use the line thingys! Score for me!)

(Max's POV)

You know what sucks? When you tell yourself that, no matter what, you won't get close to a certain group of people, and then what do you do? Get close to them. How do I know this? Because I'm super protective of them. How do I know that? Because I almost jumped up and went out to kill the guy when Ella told us that some dude asked her out. Isn't it supposed to be a brother's job to get all protective of their little sisters and kill their boyfriends? So, it's supposed to be Fang and Iggy's job. Instead, here I am, sulking because my sister's boyfriend is coming over for dinner and Dr. M said that I can't, under any circumstances, break his face. Damnit.

I sighed as the doorbell rang and got up. "I'll get it." I called out. I saw Ella send me a worried warning look, probably trying to tell me not to kill her new boy. I yanked open the door and my heart stopped. And not for the reasons that most girls hearts stopped.

Ella's new boy was tall, about five-elevenish, with red hair and green eyes. He was also built like a linebacker. He had an okay face, I guess. But he reminded me of the others. His eyes seemed cheerful, but I could see a cold, hard edge underneath. And his grin was wicked, just like the others had been.

I glared at the kid, my mind working at a hundred miles a minute. I stepped aside to let him in, my walls instantly coming up, erasing all trace of emotion. He looked around. "Nice place. I'm Jake." he said calmly.

I didn't answer as I walked back to the kitchen. Ella grinned when she saw him. He returned it. Was I the only one that noticed the hungry look in his eyes? Relax…maybe you're just getting paranoid, I thought, but I knew I was just lying to myself. I'd learned the hard way to trust my gut, and my gut said this guy was bad news. I'd have to keep a close eye on him.

He walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her on the cheek.

"Relax." a deep voice whispered from beside me. Smart move on Fnag's part. He knew that if he'd startled me, he would've ended up on the floor in some kind of pain. "He doesn't seem that bad."

I snorted, still glaring at the guy. I guess I can't really call him a kid, since he looked to be about my age. "He reminds me of the others." I replied, just as quietly.

"Others?"

I sighed impatiently. "The other foster homes. You know, the ones that beat the living hell out of me? Yeah, he reminds me of those. I don't trust him."

"You don't trust anyone." Fang pointed out.

I turned my death glare to him and he flinched. "Well, I don't trust him especially."

"Look, you're just over reacting. Ella really likes this guy. Please don't ruin her fun." he asked.

"Whatever." I hadn't planned on getting involved. Yet, anyways. But I swear, if I find even the smallest bruise or cut on her, and I figure out it was from him, I'll kill him. I'll rip his freaking spine out and beat him with it. I'll–

"Max, dinner's ready." Dr. M said. She noticed me glaring at Jake and gave me an exasperated look. "Max, calm down. He's just a boy. Not everyone is out there to hurt others."

I opened my mouth to tell her my suspicions about him, but then closed it again. What was the point? She'd just tell me the same thing that Fang did. That I was over reacting, and not to ruin Ella's fun. But I don't think that I was overreacting by any stretch of the imagination. I know that there's something wrong with this kid. And I'm going to figure out what.

It's been a week. One freaking week since Ella brought that idiot home with her. And I haven't found him doing anything wrong yet. But I've learned from experience that that doesn't mean there isn't. Right now, I was waiting outside of the school, waiting for the others. I was especially jumpy today. More people were crowding around the area we met up at, and my claustrophobia was practically suffocating me.

I moved over to a less crowded spot, just as I spotted the others coming out. But when they got here, I noticed one was missing. Ella. Shit. Alright, Max, don't jump to conclusions. "Where's Ella?" I asked, my tone casual.

"Probably sucking face with her boyfriend." Iggy replied. Geez, he didn't know how much that statement pissed me off.

I rolled my eyes and started walking towards the school. "Where are you going?" Fang called.

"Just going to see if I can find her real quick before we leave." I threw over my shoulder before the school doors shut. I turned right, heading to Ella's locker, where her friends were standing around gossiping. Ella was usually with them. "Hey, have any of you seen Ella?" I asked. It wasn't exactly polite, but not rude either. Just neutral.

"You're her sister…Max, right?" One of the girls asked, annoyingly ignoring my question. I nodded and she grinned at me. "I'm J.J. She talks about you all the time."

"Is that good or bad?" I said warily.

"Oh, she only says good stuff about you. She says that you try to distance yourself, but you only succeed half the time, and that you're an awesome sister. She also said you're full name was Maximum Ride. I wish I had a cool name like that. Mine's Jennifer Joy." She stopped here to roll her eyes. I bet she and Nudge got along great. "What were my parents thinking, right? Anyways, how did you get your name?" she asked.

I shrugged, not willing to answer that question. Yeah, I told Fang that I named myself. I've also known him for a couple months. "Look, I really need to find Ella. Can we pick up this conversation later?" I asked, struggling to restrain my patience. I was worried, and these idiots weren't helping.

"Sure. Jake took her out the side exit down there. He wanted some alone time with her." J.J. replied, pointing to said door.

"Thanks." was what I said out loud. Inside, I was swearing like a sailor. This was not good. I ran to out the door, not bothering to wonder what her friends would think. I got outside and looked around, cussing out loud when they were nowhere to be found. Great! They can be anywhere by now! Then my keen ears picked up something that chilled me to the bone. Muffled screaming. I ran around the corner to the back of the building, where it was coming from. Oh, I found them alright, and what I saw made my blood boil.

(Ella's POV) (AN: I've never done this before. Should be interesting.)

I was talking to J.J. and the others after school when he came up. Jake. Insert dreamy sigh here, people. He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close to him. "Hey, babe." he said, pecking my cheek. "I was wondering if you'd hang out with me after school today. I'm sure your family won't mind."

I smiled. "Alright. I'll have to call them though."

"Do it when you get to my house." he replied, taking my hand and dragging me out the side exit. I called goodbye to my friends over my shoulder. We started walking towards the back of the building, and little warning bells started going off.

"What are we doing back here?" I asked warily.

Jake looked at my expression and laughed. "You've been around your paranoid sister too much. I just want to show you something." I didn't like the comment he made about Max, but decided to let it go for now. I'd talk to him about it later.

We went around the corner to the back of the building. Suddenly, he slammed me against the wall and started kissing me hungrily. "Jake, what are you doing?" I gasped.

"Shh." was his only reply. He shoved his tongue past my lips. "No. Jake, cut it out!" I yelled, trying to squirm away from him. He held me tight. "Shut up." he growled, then kissed me again. I started screaming when I felt his hand on my stomach, and I felt hot tears stream down my face. But it was muffled by his lips. No one can hear me, I thought, panicking. Still, I screamed. He started trying to take my shirt off, and my struggling increased as what he was trying to do really hit me. He was trying to rape me!

And then, suddenly, he was ripped away. It was a one second he's there, the next he's gone kind of thing. I slid to the ground, dazed, and looked up, only to see Max and Jake scrambling to their feet. Max moved to stand right in front of me, protecting me from Jake. She looked over her shoulder and gave me a small, reassuring smile. "It's okay now. I promise, he won't touch you again." I heard her say before she turned back to Jake.

(Max's POV)

When I saw Jake, pinning Ella to the wall, and heard her screams, saw her tears and that absolutely terrified look in her eyes, I just…reacted. I threw myself at Jake, tearing him away from Ella. We both went down and then scrambled right back up. I moved to stand right in front of Ella. He wasn't laying another damn finger on her.

I looked over my shoulder to see her staring up at me. I saw fear, confusion, and relief in her eyes. I gave her a small reassuring smile, trying to calm her. "It's okay now. I promise, he won't touch you again." I said, but I knew it wasn't enough. But I'd have to deal with that later. Right now, I have to keep this (insert swear word of your choice here) from finishing what he started.

I looked back and gave him my worst glare of all. I saw a spark of fear behind his eyes before he pushed it away. I'm sure I looked freaking murderous. I felt murderous, that's for sure. He grinned at me, that same, wicked grin that I'd seen on the faces of my other foster parents. The one that said, "You are so screwed. I'm about to make you wish you were never born."

Memories tried to push themselves to the surface, but I pushed them away. Now wasn't the time. I had to protect my sister from this whack job. He pulled out a knife and lunged at me. I couldn't fully dodge, because I was afraid he might end up hitting Ella. But moved so that he just gave me a small cut on my arm, not even that deep. I grabbed his arm before he could pull it back and brought my fist up. It connected with his elbow with a sickening, bone-breaking crack.

Jake screamed in agony, but I wasn't done with him yet. I punched him hard in the face and felt strangely satisfied when I felt his nose break under my fist. Then, I kicked him hard in the stomach, sending him flying back about ten feet before he hit the ground with a loud thud. I knew that the kick had broken some ribs. When I usually fought humans, I softened the blows by slowing at the last second. They were so fragile. I wasn't doing that this time. I knew I had to incapacitate him, and be quick about it.

I walked up to him slowly, deliberately. He tried to scramble away from me, pure fear in his eyes. I grabbed his chin, forcing him to look up at me. "I want you out of this town. You even come near my sister again, And I'll rip your throat out. And if I hear that you try to rape anyone else, and I mean anyone, anywhere, and I will personally come down and make you wish you were dead with every fiber in that sick, twisted body of yours. Understand?" I growled, barely containing my rage.

I wanted to kill the guy. And that scared me. Yes, I was a fighter. Yes, I'd hurt a lot of people. But I wasn't a killer. But, right then, right there…I felt like I would be. I felt like killing this idiot in the most painful way imaginable. And I couldn't stand that. I was a fighter. The whitecoats had been killers.

Jake nodded and was up and running as soon as I let him go. I walked back over to Ella. I still must've looked angry, because she shrunk away from me. I grabbed her wrist and hauled her up to me, hugging her tightly. Because I knew this is what she needed. She needed someone to be strong for her, and help her get over that close call. I'd had another friend who was raped, back at the orphanage. I helped her get through it, so I knew how these things worked.

I knew Ella was surprised, shocked even, that I'd hug her. I'd never hugged any of them before. I took a shaky breath. "Geez, Ella, you scared me so bad." I said. That seemed to snap her out of it. She wrapped her arms around me and held me tightly, sobbing into my shirt. I absently hoped she couldn't feel my wings before pushing the thought away. Now wasn't the time.

I rubbed her back. "It's alright. You're okay now, I promise. He's not coming back." I murmured, along with countless other reassurances. I kept my arm wrapped around her shoulders as I started guiding her back to the front of the school. She had both of her arms wrapped around me. She was still crying into my shoulder. My shirt was soaked, but it didn't matter. She was safe, and that's the important thing.

I stopped at the corner of the building, making sure everyone was gone before I walked out. Only the rest of our group was there, so I walked out to them. "You know you're going to have to tell them, right?" I asked her gently. She nodded, but her arms tightened around me.

"Will you help me?" she asked.

"Of course." I replied without a second's hesitation. She relaxed a little hearing that. The others were alarmed when they saw us, and they instantly surrounded us, asking if she was okay. My claustrophobia spiked and I glared at them. "Give her some room, guys." I ordered.

They obeyed, but still looked worried, and a little angry. "What happened? Who did this?" Nudge asked, looking like she was about to go bust in some heads. And this was sweet little Nudge I'm talking about.

"Later. Let's just get home." I said. I drove, with Ella in the passenger seat next to me. She was still crying, and I'd shoot worried glances at her every now and then. I sped the whole way home knowing that the sooner we got there, the better it would be for Ella.

I helped her into the house. Dr. M, Angel, and Gazzy immediately joined us when they heard Ella crying. We all sat down in the living room. I sat down next to Ella, rubbing her back comfortingly as she cried.

"Ella, what happened?" Dr. M asked her gently.

"Angel, Gazzy, go out in the back yard and play." I said, being surprisingly gentle. Everyone looked at me in surprise. They sulked, but did as they were told.

I rubbed Ella's back encouragingly. She moved her hands away from her face, but looked down at the floor. "Jake tried to rape me." she said, her voice so quiet, I didn't think they'd hear her. But I could tell by the looks on their faces that they did. They all looked horrified, worried, and angry. Very, very angry. "If it wasn't for Max, he would have done it. She got in the way and beat him up. Told him to never come back, and threatened him. I'm glad you were there."

That last part was directed at me, and she finally looked up, meeting my gaze. I kept my face calm, but could feel some of my emotions sliding through my mask. "I'm just mad I didn't get there sooner. I would've, but it took me a while to figure out where you were." I replied, kicking myself. If I had been more careful, she wouldn't even be going through this right now. I knew something was wrong. I knew it. I should've been more cautious.

"Are you kidding?" Dr. M asked. "You were there, and you saved her from that."

"Yeah, you're like, a hero." Nudge said. She came over and sat next to me and Ella wrapping her arms around her sister. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. But Max won't be the only one making sure that idiot never comes back." She said it with so much venom that, if the situation hadn't been so serious, I would've laughed. Again, this is our sweet chatter box. Now she's our chatterbox-gone-deadly.

We all talked for a little while longer, comforting Ella. During random periods of the day, each one of them thanked me for saving her. I didn't feel like the hero they all thought I was. I should've been there sooner. I saw the signs and I should've taken the necessary precautions. Hell, I should've told Ella what I thought in the first place!

I need to go for a fly. I was walking towards the balcony to do just that when there was a knock on the door. I opened it, only to see Ella. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying, and she looked miserable. But she gave me a small smile. The first one she'd given since the incident.

I breathed a sigh of relief and she gave me a funny look. "What?" she asked.

"It's good to see you smile again." I replied, small smirk on my face. "You and Nudge are supposed to be the cheerful hyper ones. I'm supposed to be the quiet, not-so-smiley one. What can I do for you?"

"It just wanted to thank you again. I mean, if you hadn't been there…" she shuddered. "It would've been bad. Nudge was right. You really are like a hero."

I frowned. "I don't feel like one." I murmured. "If I was, he wouldn't have even touched you in the first place."

"That doesn't matter. You saved me from one terrible experience. So, thanks." Ella said.

I nodded. "You're welcome." She gave me another small smile and turned, walking back down the hall. I made one of my famous split second decisions. These people had given me a home, food, and something that I'd never had before. A family. The least I could do to repay them is show them how much I appreciate it. What better way to do that then actually letting them in? But…I didn't think I'd tell them about the wings. That might be pushing it.

"Wait, Ella." She turned back around and gave me a confused look. I walked over to her. "If you ever need to talk about anything, I'm a good listener. Whether it's something from Jake to clothes, to what we had for dinner, I'm here." I told her. Geez, that sounded really mushy, didn't it.

She looked surprised, but then gave me that same small smile. The one that said she still wasn't over it, but she was trying to move on. "Thanks, Max."

"No problem. We're sisters, right?" I replied, grinning. It wasn't one of my sarcastic grins, but a full blown grin, and Ella seemed surprised.

"Not that I'm not glad, but why are you being so…open?" she asked.

I shrugged. "You guys gave me something I'd never had before. You gave me a family, and a loving one at that. I figured the least I could do is open up. We're family now. Which is why I want you to come to me if you ever need to talk. I'm serious." I replied, giving her a stern look. "And you don't have to try so hard to get over it. Just take everything one step at a time, okay?"

She nodded. "Thanks Max. Goodnight."

"'Night." I said, smiling. And you know what? For once, I went on a fly just for the heck of it, instead of going to clear my head. And it was awesome.

AN: Wow. I felt kind of dark writing that. And, man, is it long or what? But I felt this was an important part in the story. Also, don't worry, Ella's not going to turn emo or anything. Then next chapter is going to be set probably around two months in the future, and she'll be over it by then. That might seem short, but, remember, she wasn't actually raped. And, she had all of her family there helping her, along with Iggy and Fang. But, on a happier note, Max is opening up! I figure the big wing reveal will be in one or two chapters, and her whole story might be after that. I haven't decided yet though. Review, and tell me what you think. And don't worry, only this chapter and the chapter where Max explains her past will be dark. But after they figure out about Max's wings, things are going to get cheerier. Oh, and I'm writing this at midnight and going on about three hours of sleep, so I'm sorry if it's not well written. But review, and tell me what's good, and what isn't good. Wow…I babble a lot when I tired.

Love you guys!

Wolflover777