Sendicard- She was just pretending that it didn't happen.

JealousMindsThinkAlike- She is a crazy girl!

Nobody- Lord's wife, sorry.

Thank you guys for sticking with me, even though I haven't been the best updater, but I hope you guys like this chapter, almost 4,000 words! And thank you for the reviews :] they make me happy!

Then

4 years ago

It was the first day of seventh grade, and Max hurried in to her class just as the final bell rang. Max quickly walked over to the teacher, and handed her the "leave five minutes early" pass.

The teacher read it over and smiled, "Alright, that's fine, Sweetie."

"Thanks," Max said, taking back the note and plopping into the nearest desk.

"Hi, everyone," the teacher said, walking to the front of the class, "I'm Mrs. Andrews and this is Algebra 1-2, take a moment to make sure you're in the right room." After a pause, no one moved. "Alright. I hope this'll be a great year and I'm looking forward to meeting you all. First, I'll take attendance," she began calling out students last names' that started with 'A'. She read them weird, Max noticed, instead saying the last name first, she said the first name then the last name. Like instead of saying Almore Haley, she said Haley Almore. Maybe it was just the teacher doing things differently, maybe it was luck, ready to bite Max in the butt again, or just the fact that the class was nervous and none of the kids were talking so the room was quiet, but when the teacher reached 'R' and called out, "Maximum Ride," there was a pause, then the class exploded in laughter.

"Think she's good?" A boy sniggered.

"I bet she lasts long."

It was then Max realized that she had a perverted name. Her parents had given her a perverted name! She had felt bad for those people with hinting names, and now, she was one of them! Glaring at no one in particular, Max raised her hand, and called out, "Here," here voice was even and calm, yet it dared anyone else to make fun of her. She felt all eyes land on her as she lowered her hand. She ignored the stares and the quiet whispers of surprise, as the teacher continued on. After a minute, the kids finally blinked the glue out of their eyes and stopped staring and Max sighed in relief. But as she began to relax, the boy in front of her turned to gawk. Max got ready to mumble something about taking a picture so it'd last longer, when he said, "I thought it was a nice name."

After School

Max marched into Fang's house. They didn't have lunch or any classes together and Max had to stay late after school to get her text books.

She banged open Fang's door and glared at him, her hands on her hips, "Out," she ordered Iggy, who rolled his eyes but left. She turned to Fang, "Did you know?" she demanded, readjusting her footing so she wouldn't stumble.

"Know what?"

"Know that I have a perverted name!"

"You what?

"My name! Maximum Ride? Did you know?"

Fang paused, realization hitting like a bomb, then fell over backwards on his bed, laughing, "Oh, shit! I never noticed that before! Maximum Ride!" His laughter grew louder.

"Shut up! It's not funny!"

"It's kinda funny," his laughter starting to die down. He sat back up.

"But you never noticed?"

"No."

"Liar!" She accused stepping forward and shoving him backwards again so he fell on to the bed.

"I am not!" he grabbed her arm and yanked her on to the bed, too.

"You should've heard all the classes, Fang! I think one kid even wet his pants he laughed so hard!"

"Well, it could be worse."

"How?"

"You could have been the guy walking all over school with a booger in his nose."

"That really happened?"

"Yeah I had like, four classes with him."

"And you didn't say anything!" she laughed.

"Nope," he said, popping the 'P'.

"You're horrible!" she said, still laughing.

"Whatever you say, Sex Ride."

Max slap his arm and stood up.

"Where you goin'?"

"To bitch at my parents. Wanna come?"

"Heck yeah," He stood up, and followed her out the door, "Maximum Ride. Ha! I don't even have to try to think of a funny name!... Ow!"

They entered Max's house. Her mom, dad, and Eden were spread out in the kitchen talking.

"How come," Max said, interrupting, "you named me Maximum Ride?" her voice held an undertone, as if she expected them to realize how it sounded when put together.

"Well," her dad said slowly, trying to think of the right way to phrase it, "your mom didn't want you to have a common name. We wanted something unique, something unheard of. Plus, we liked the way it sounded."

"So, it had nothing to do with our last name being Ride?"

"What? No." Her mom said.

"Well, that's not how the kids in my class took it!"

"What do you mean?"

"Maximum Ride? Come on! How does that sound? Maximum Ride?"

It took a second for the adults to realize, but as if someone pushed a button, all at the same times their eyes widen. Jeb tried hide his laugh and ended up snorting, while Valencia bite her lip, and Eden came right out and laughed.

"I never knew that's what it sounded like. And what's happening to kids' minds these days! Most of them are twelve and thirteen!" Valencia said.

"Don't change the subject!" Max accused.

"Oh, Max, honey," Eden tried to stop her laughter as she pulled Max into her arms, but Max tried to struggle free, "Nope, you're not going anywhere. I knew you'd figure it out one day."

Max crawled from Eden's arms, "Then why didn't you stop them!" she pointed at her parents.

"How could I? As soon as they thought of the name, their hearts were set on it. And besides, could you imagine any other name for you then Max?"

"They could've named me Maxine." She mumbled.

"Like the tampon brand? Oh, there's a knew name," Fang said, rubbing his hands together devilishly.

Max elbowed him and he muttered, "Abusive."

"But anyway that's no reason to give a kid a name like that!"

"At least it's better than Willie Stroker." Fang whispered to Max.

"Shut up," she hissed.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. So they really didn't know how it sounded?"

Eden shook her head, "No, not one syllable."

Max smirked, "Wow," she looked at her parents, "you guys must have really been sheltered." Laughing, she walked back out the door with Fang on her heels.

Valencia shook her head, smiling, "Max comes to me, madder than heck and you say the right thing and instantly she's fine."

Eden smiled leaning back in her chair, "I just understand Max."

"That's pretty hard to do."

Eden nodded, "It's a talent."

Four weeks later

Max had found the boy in her math class was named Xander. He shared the same birth day as Max, he had eleven toes, and when he smiled, his irises seemed to grow, making his whole face light up. Max and him had become friends. They were studying over math books in Max's bedroom.

"I'm so excited for Camp Surf!" Max said, giddy. Their science class was talking a field trip to California and staying there three nights. One night at Sea World; two at Camp Surf. They were going to study the aquatic life and weather. They left on the following Sunday and came home Wednesday.

"Me too. It's gonna be sweet, taking a field trip across state."

"I know and we get out class! The animals will be so cool! Hey, what'd you get for number twenty eight?'

"Uh, x is 14 and -3 and y is 6 and 0."

"Thanks." Max scribbled something in her note book, then shut it.

"Have you ever been to camp before?" Xander asked, his fingers grazing Max's lower leg as he reached for the pencil sharpener. Max knew he hadn't done it intentionally, but she felt herself smile, her cheeks heated up as she gently pulled back her leg.

"Yeah, two times before. Have you?"

"Once," he smirked, "It was boy scout camp and it was no fun."

"Well, this camp will make up for your poor camp experience."

"Definitely ."

Just then, Jeb poked his head in Max's room, "It's getting late guys, time to pack up."

"Okay," they mumbled. They put away their supplies, and Xander tried to help Max to her feet but she shook her head, "I don't need help."

They walked to the door together, "So, see ya Sunday?"

He smiled and nodded, "Sunday."

Sunday, 5:30 AM

On the downside of going to Camp Surf, Max's mom wouldn't let her go alone. On the bright side, Max had convinced her mom to let her dad take her. So Max's, Jeb's, and Fang's luggage littered the backseat of Valencia's mini van.

Valencia and Eden were huddled together under an umbrella, their thick bulky coats taking up most of the space. Jeb slammed the trunk shut. "Alright, guys. That's it." He stepped slightly under the safety of the umbrella and kissed Valencia on the lips. "I'll see you soon."

"Don't forget to write," she smirked against his lips.

"Hope you guys can man down the houses with out me," he wrapped one arm around Eden.

She rolled her eyes, "Good luck with those two," she nodded towards a giggling Max, and Fang acting out some story, his finger up his nose.

"I'll try my best. Say bye to your moms guys." Jeb ordered.

Max and Fang looked up, then they quickly linked arms, so Max wouldn't slip and walked to their moms.

"Bye, Sweetie," Valencia said, "and if you get tired, take a break, and if you get cold, I put hand warmers in your bag, all you have to do is crack them like a glo-"

"Okay, Mom. Loveyoubye."

She and Fang quickly swapped Moms, hugging them goodbye, then ducked into the car.

They drove three minutes to the school, by then, the rain had blessedly stopped. Max, Fang, and Jeb signed in at a desk under the roof ledge of the school. Max and Fang called hi to friends as they walked back to the car to unpack.

"The seals are gonna think they found their long lost brother when they see you," Max nudged Fang

"When we see the-"

"Hey guys," Xander ran up to them, as they pulled bags into their arms. Fang resisted a sneer, he didn't really like Xander, he was one of those annoying kids who always passed everything with flying colors. Always found a bright side, always wore a grin, always nice. And he always made Max laugh. That bugged him the most. Fang had always been the that made Max laugh the hardest. Even when they were babies, Max would look at Fang and just crack up. He didn't remember that, but their moms had told them.

He was her best friend and he didn't plan on anyone changing it.

"Need help?" Xander offered.

Fang was about to say, "No." as Max swung a bag into his arms. "Here ya go."

"You got that, Xander?" Jeb asked, locking the car and shutting the trunk.

"Yep."

"Okay. Lets go." They walked over to the bus and stuffed their bags into the belly of the bus, then climbed on board. Jeb helped Max on to the bus and Fang followed along with Xander. About ten seats up front were for the adults, but Jeb helped Max to a seat where Ella was frantically waving to Max and shouting her name.

Max smiled apologetically at the boys, and sat next to Ella.

Fang's friend, Chance sat across the row from the girls. Fang sat next to him. "Hey, man." And Xander sat a few seats back, next to his friend from Spanish class.

The eight hour trip went by faster some how, it was filled with giggles and gossip and a game Ella and Max liked to play. She an Ella were whispering in each others ear as they pulled into the parking lot off Sea World. There, they spent half an hour unloading, finding the right dorm (with ten bunk beds in each) girls downstairs and the boy's rooms upstairs. They had five hours 'til the sun went down but everyone was hyped up on adrenalin and jittery.

"Oh my god, Max," Ella laughed, "you look hilarious!"

Max had found some thick socks and put them on her ears, and since no other girls besides Ella were in there, put two tampons in her nostrils. She stepped up on the bottom bunk and calmly looked at Ella. Her eyebrow raised, "What?"

Ella tried to control her laughter as she flashed a picture of Max, who smiled innocently.

"Hey Max- what the hell?" Fang stood in the doorway and stared at them. Their bunk was the closest to the door and Fang stood three feet away.

"Um... Hi?" Max waved as she quickly pulled the tampons out.

Fang's laugh was low at first, then it turned to full on gasping and snorting, near tears as Ella laughed even harder.

"If you tell anyone about this," Max said, trying not to laugh, "I'll kick your ass."

The class broke up into groups of ten and went on their way. Each group had one adult and Jeb was supervising, Max, Ella, Fang, Chance, Tray, Macy, Xander, Greg, Brooke, and Kyle. Jeb got the schedule of where he was supposed to go and at what time. They fed the dolphins and manta rays, saw the penguins and polar bears, went on Journey to Atlantis three times, saw Shamu (which the kids couldn't stop laughing at because it was so corny), took a class where they dissected a squid, learned about Beluga whales, then went to dinner. By then, everyone was so low on energy, some even fell asleep at the table. Max was grateful then, that they were being shooed to bed at 8:30.

The next morning, they had breakfast with Shamu. A buffet of breakfast food was spread on a table inside. Max piled her plate high with food- reminding her of Scooby Doo and Shaggy- and carefully walked back to the table where the others were sitting. They sat right by the net railing surrounding Shamu's giant pool. After breakfast, the kids were allowed to go anywhere they wanted, look at any exhibits, go on any rides.

"So, do you know you snore, Fang?" Chance smirked at him as he peeled an oragne.

Fang rolled his eyes, "Whatever, man. At least I don't talk in my sleep-"

"Don't. You. Dare-"

"Oh," Fang mimicked, "oh, Bro-"

Chance slapped a hand over Fang's mouth, "Shut up, dude."

But by then Max, Ella, and Macy were looking at Brooke, trying not to laugh at her shocked face.

Ella leaned close, "I think he likes you," she drawled, acting like a six year old.

"Brooke and Chance, sittin' in a box, naked naked, oh my gosh." Macy smirked.

"You guys," Max elbowed Macy. "Gross," Brooke whispered, her lip curling, her face pale,"Chance? He is one of the most annoying guys who ever walked the planet!" Her eyes flew to Chance who was glaring at Fang, Chance's cheeks were pink with frustration, oblivious to the girl's scene in front of him.

"I hope he was talking about some other girl, really, if he dreamed about me-" Just then, one of the giant killer whales leaped from the water, 10 feet away from the kids, and launched back under the surface, kicking up a water waver that jumped over the fence, and soaking the group and their food.

Screams of horror and shouts of surprise erupted from them.

"God! That's freezing!"

"Shit!"

"Why would they have him so close!"

It was then, Max noticed a tiny 5X5 blue plaque with white letters on the adjacent wall stating, SPLASH ZONE.

On the bus

On the way to Camp Surf, Max sat next Xander. Camp Surf was only a hour away.

Max had forgotten -regrettably- to put on sunscreen this morning and her face and arms were a rosy pink.

"You look like shrimp," Xander teased.

"Hope I don't smell like one."

He sniffed the air, "No your good."

Max rolled her eyes and smiled, "Wish I could say the same for you."

"What?" he lifted his arm up and sniffed.

"Kidding!" Max laughed pulling his arm down as a voice came on the intercom. "Hi, ladies and gentlemen. We'll be pulling up to Camp Surf in the next minute or two-" the bus broke into cheers, "yes, yes, but first, when we pull up, don't take any of your luggage. We'll find ours cabins, have a short meet and greet, then you guys will have an hour to unload and have fun. Go to the meal tables at six then we'll tell you what's happening from there on out." She finished talking just as they pulled into the gravel parking lot of Camp Surf. A sign read, Welcome to Camp Surf. A surf board replaced the letter 'L'. The bus exploded into cheers and giggles, high fives, and oohs and aahs.

Following instruction, everyone went to one of the three separate desks, depending on their last name, to find out which cabin they had been placed in. Max roomed with Ella in a cabin across from the rest rooms. Their cabins resembled shacks. The floor was cement, and sand decorated the lot of it. There were 9 bunk beds cramped into the little room and the thin walls had holes here and there. Somehow though, this didn't dampen their giddy mood. Smiling, they went to the campfire pit where they were supposed to meet up after finding their rooms.

The camp staff -12 people- stood on stage, introduced themselves, talked about camp, their groups, schedules, and meals. When they were done with the meet and greet, Max, Fang, and Ella went back to the bus. Jeb helped Max and Ella bring their stuff to their cabin then he went to unload his stuff.

"Which bed do you want?" Ella asked, as they looked at their bunk.

"The bottom, definitely."

"Good, 'cause I wanted the top."

"Of course you would," Max smirked.

"Hey! I never got to sleep on the top bunk!"

"Well, now you do." Once their sleeping bags were unrolled on their bunks, and their suit cases kicked under the bottom bunk, they went to explore. They followed the sandy side walk to the mess hall, which was a bunch of picnic benches outsides.

"This is so cool," Ella said, filling up her water bottle in the water fountain.

Max pointed to the chain link fence, preventing them from getting to the ocean, "I can't wait 'til we actually get to swim in the ocean tomorrow."

"They said you can see groups of dolphins sometimes," "Really?"

"Yeah, they live some where by the camp." "That's amazing. I hope we get to see them."

"I'm sure we will."

"Hey guys," Xander said, walking up with Kyle.

"Hey," They called back. "I'm gonna head back to the cabin real fast and grab my jacket." Ella said, heading towards the cabin. It was then, Max noticed the beginning of a sunset. The sky getting shaded with strokes of warm colors.

"Wanna look around?" Kyle offered.

"Sure," Max said walking with them past the mess hall.

"I heard we have to take a bunch of classes tomorrow about how the ocean effects the weather around here."

Max crinkled here nose, as they began to walk in the sand, "How boring. And besides, don't we already know that? The ocean makes it colder and the ocean makes rain. Lame."

Suddenly, Xander stopped walking and whispered something to Kyle. Kyle nodded, "I'll be right back," he said, walking back towards the mess hall.

"What'd you say?" Max wondered, as she leaned against the chain link fence.

"Nothing." Xander grinned. "Tell me," Max ordered.

He shook his head.

"You're mean."

"I'm not mean." It was quiet for a heart beat as they looked out at the sunset, "It's pretty, isn't it?"

Suddenly, Max glanced at Xander, knowing what he was going to try. She'd seen the movies and whenever a guy talked about- Xander leaned forward and his lips met hers. Oh, she thought, this is what he thought about their relationship, he wanted more. He wasn't a great kisser, Max noticed, he still pursed his lips tight together like had just tossed three WarHeads in his mouth. Max leaned back, blushing as she met Xander's eyes. His face was flushed and he had a grin planted on his face.

"Oh," she whispered.

Just then, a bell rang, signaling dinner. They headed back to the mess hall, both lost in thought. Suddenly Max smirked, boy, would Fang get a kick out of this.