(A/N) I was so eager to write this chapter in Max's POV; I started it right after I finished the last one. So now I'm updating! Be happy! Oh, and Max wanting to change her name was an idea from Madeline Cullenso thanks for letting me use it :)

Max POV

"Max, sweetheart, time to get up!" I flinched as I was jerked out of my dreams. Then I flinched as I realized Jeb had called me sweetheart. I'm not his sweet anything.

I slowly walked to the bathroom. I got undressed and hopped in the shower. Sighing as the hot water ran down my back, I wondered absently who would be at school. I knew Iggy and Fang would be there, but I hoped there would be some nice kids there.

I refused to let myself worry about my first day of real school since I moved here. Knowing that I would be in an unfamiliar environment made me feel uncomfortable. But luckily I would have Nudge and Iggy if I needed help or anything, thought I'd rather not get any help from anyone.

Reluctantly, I turned the water off. I got dressed in my usual jeans and T-shirt before exiting the bathroom and heading downstairs. I saw Jeb sitting at the table and I resisted the urge to make a face at him. "Good morning, Maxine."

That was something that troubled me. Why wouldn't he listen to my pleas about my name? Now was one of those rare moments when I was slightly nervous. "Um, Jeb?"

"Yes, Maxine?" There it was again…it keeps coming back.

I gulped a bit before making my voice strong and confident. "I want to change my name."

Something clattered to the floor. I glanced down to see the fallen spoon. "What?"
"I want to change my name." I said with even more emotion in it than before. "I know it can be done legally and if you want me to, I'll look into it-"

I was cut off abruptly by Jeb's scolding voice. "I want you to let it go."

"No!" I said angrily. It was my own name; I should be able to choose what it is.

Jeb looked tired and old suddenly. His hair was thinning and he was starting to get wrinkles. "Max…please, not right now."

I surprised myself as well as him. I stopped and didn't say anything.

"Max!" At the sound of Nudge's voice, I pasted a smile on my face. Nudge walked down the stairs wearing designer jeans and a purple shirt. Her hair was splayed around her shoulders. The sun hit her hair from the window bringing out the almost unnoticeable natural paler brown highlights in her hair. She was beautiful, as always. "Do I look okay?"

At that moment my smile became genuine. "You look great, Nudge." I told her honestly.

She smiled warmly at me. Then her look became one of mock horror. "What are you wearing?"

I rolled my eyes. She laughed. She once tried to get me to wear more girly clothes, but eventually she figured out that I was not one to be messed with about my looks. She lowered her voice so Jeb wouldn't hear and said playfully, "Fang's never gonna notice you if you wear that."

Once Nudge found out that I liked Fang, she never let it go. "Shut up!" I said jokingly. She just grinned at me.

We both grabbed a bunch of granola bars before running out the door. Mom was already at work and Ella didn't have to get up yet since she was still in middle school. "Later," I called out to Jeb before slamming the door.

After we arrived at the school, Nudge rushed off, probably to find Iggy. I sighed. I guess I should get Nudge's locker number for her. I walked up to the office and retrieved my locker number as well as Nudge's.

When I backed out of the office, I bumped into a girl. She was a bit shorter than me, with warm brown eyes and brown hair that hit her shoulders. She looked Hispanic and was lean with muscle. She offered me a smile and said, "Oh man, I'm sorry about that!"

I smiled back. "Nah, it's okay. This is my first day, so I'm a bit confused; it was probably my fault anyway."

She laughed. "I remember my first day here, don't worry, you'll get used to stuff quickly, it's a small school."

"I noticed that! By the way, I'm Max." I stuck my hand out.

The girl took and shook my hand. "Sofia. Well, I gotta run now, but it was great talking to you." And with that she walked away.

I began making my way down the hall to where my locker was supposed to be according to the confusing map I received. On the way to my locker, I saw a couple of people whispering and I heard mine and Nudge's name in the conversation. How did people already know about me?
When I got to my locker, I saw Fang in front of me talking to a pretty blond girl. She seemed really intelligent. She blushed, faking shyness. But I could tell she was definitely checking him out. "Um, I think that's my locker." She said.

Fang glanced at the paper before saying something about a seven. She laughed with false embarrassment laced in her voice. I almost rolled my eyes at the girl's pathetic flirting. Until I saw Fang's look of faint interest. My heart plummeted. "Oh, I'm so sorry! My name is Brigid Dwyer, how about you?" She asked sweetly. A little too sweetly if you ask me…

"Fang." He replied with a touch of kindness in his voice.

Brigid looked a bit triumphant. "How old are you?"

"Fifteen." Fang said shortly after she asked him.

She pretended to look surprised. "You seem older…" She said softly. When Fang shrugged, she stated, "Well, I'm sixteen. But I'm a senior." Oh, was it really so necessary that you brag about how you're so stupendous? No. It was totally unnecessary. Totally.

"Wow," My eyes widened. He wasn't into her, was he? He couldn't be. That just… that wouldn't work.

"Yeah, I skipped a couple of grades. But it looks like I gotta go, it was so nice to meet you," Brigid finally finished before smiling at him flirtatiously.

Struggling to keep the jealousy in my voice under control, I asked Fang. "Seems like you have a lot of friends here, huh Fang?"

For a second, I saw surprise become etched n his face. Then it was gone. He smirked at me. "Yeah, I do. What about you? You got any friends yet?"

I sneered slightly. "Yeah, I do actually…remember Iggy and Nudge go to school here?" I wanted so badly to say that he was my friend, but I really don't think he would ever like me as a friend or anything else.

He said in a matching sarcastic tone, "Whatever. Don't wanna be late."

Hurt coursed through me. I tried to stop it, but it crashed on me like a giant wave. Pulsing through my veins along with this hurt was a feeling of intense frustration. I was honestly a bit confused, and I honestly thought he would say he was my friend. Seems like I'm wrong a lot these days.

He wouldn't be able to see my emotion. He didn't know me well enough. I looked away and shoved everything in my locker that I wouldn't need.

When I closed my locker, I was shocked to see Fang still standing there. I asked him in an icy cold tone, "What are you waiting for? I thought you didn't want to be late." My sarcasm leaked through my voice.

Suddenly my schedule was snatched away. "Stop that! Give it back!" He ignored me as his eyes scanned the page. I tipped my head up to glare at him. He's too freaking tall. I thought to myself. But I knew that I secretly like that about him. "What the heck are you doing?"

His voice was lacking emotion as he plainly stated, "I'm walking you to homeroom."

I tried to prevent the surprise from spreading across my face. In my baffled state I said/asked, "Okay?" But then I remembered I was supposed to be cool, calm and never need anyone's help. "I really don't need any help, actually. Thanks anyway though."

"I always finish what I start." His voice sent chills down my spine. It was deep and determined. Very nice.

Once my bout of admiration was over I stared at him coldly. "I can handle it!" I said, refusing to let him get the better of me in anything.

In a tone that clearly said no-nonsense he said, "Too bad, Miss Maxine."

I began mumbling. "Stupid idiot, who does he think he is? Why should I even walk with him when he doesn't even know me? If he knew me he would know I hate being called that." I strongly doubted he could understand what I was saying.

"Fang?" When he looked at me I firmly declared, "Can you do me a favor? Never call me Maxine again or I will cheerfully knock you out."

"Why not?" He questioned, and he actually sounded like he cared.

I could feel myself getting spaced out as I thought back to this morning and my argument with Jeb. "Because my true name is Maximum Ride."

"What do you mean?" His question immediately snapped me out of my daydreams. I panicked a bit. He couldn't know about my family life. He didn't deserve to know.

"Look at that. Room 142. I'll talk to you later," I said abruptly, ignoring his confused facial expression.

I was so confused. What was wrong with me? Didn't I like Fang? Yes. There was no doubt about it. He could be a jerk sometimes, but today he seemed like he might actually want to know me better. No, the question wasn't what was wrong with me; it was what was wrong with us.

(A/N) Two updates in like 3 hours… This is so much fun to write! Sofia (I can call you that, right?) I really hope I got your personality right :) Oh, by the way: If any of you want to be in this fanfiction I can put you in here! I need to know certain things though about you.

Your name or what you want to be called

Your personality

Physical appearance

A lot of you are probably wondering why I need people. Well, Max, Fang, Iggy, and Nudge have to have a social group and I would love to involve you guys because YOU ROCK! So the first 3-4 people who leave the information, I can put you in here. If no one puts this stuff down, then there will be OCs which I would rather not do.