A/N This is definitely the last update. Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I do not own any Maximum Ride characters.

Max POV

I closed the door quietly behind me and tip toed to the staircase. So far nothing had happened and I let out a quiet sigh of relief. Then she spoke.

"You asked me the other day why I hated you." She said. I turned and saw Anne standing across from the stairway. Her eyes were blank and stared at nothing. Her words were hollow. "Can't you see it? I don't hate you. I'm jealous of what you have." At that her gaze switched up to my face and intensified. "A life." She spoke the last words and walked past me and up the stairs. I stood frozen in shock. She hadn't said anything about my being late or anything of a punishment. She was jealous because I had a life? What did that mean? My feet moved on their own accord and carried me to my room. I shook my head to clear it and changed for bed.

Maya POV

Fang walked through the front door and to his room without a word. His tense posture and stiff movements told me something was wrong but he didn't want to talk about it. I glanced over at Iggy as we heard Fang's door shut and he just shrugged. I frowned but turned my head back to the TV screen and stayed silent. If he wasn't going to talk he didn't have to. He would come around.

Max POV

I sat on the branch of the tree and swung my feet. The wind was whistling throughout the park and I watched as the kids laughed and swung from the metal contraption. My branch started to shake as someone else climbed on. I didn't bother to look and see who it was. I already knew.

"Why'd you call me here?" Dylan asked as he sat down next to me. "We haven't been to this place since we were kids. I remember it being a lot bigger." He smirked and I laughed. "Max, what's wrong?" He finally said. Damn. He knew me too well. Tears welled in my eyes but I blinked them back.

"Why can't I see any of the good in my life, Dylan?" I asked and turned to look at him. He studied my face with his eyebrows scrunched up, confused. "Every time there is something or someone that I like I push it or them away. Why?" I couldn't hold the tears back anymore. He brushed them away gently.

"Hey, stop that. You've got me, right? And Nudge and Ella." He said. I closed my eyes.

"Remember when we first met? I tried to push you away but you were persistent." I opened my eyes as he looked at the sky, remembering.

A kid from across the room was staring at me. I looked the other way in hopes that he wouldn't come over. He did.

"Hi, my name's Dylan. What's yours?" He asked and I turned my head towards him.

"Max," I said shortly and looked away.

"Max. Like short for Maxine?"

"No. Short for Maximum." I snapped then started to walk away. He grabbed my arm.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. I like Maximum better." He said. I started to walk away again and this time he didn't follow. For the next week Dylan tried to get me to open up. He would sit by me at lunch and try to get me to play with him at recess. Finally, I gave up.

"Why do you keep bothering me?" I asked one day while eating a silent lunch. "You could be making a million other friends but you choose to sit by me at lunch who won't talk to you and obviously doesn't want to hang out." He looked startled but started to explain.

"I don't like the other kids. They're mean and my mom taught me that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Since you don't talk very much, you must actually follow that rule and I like that."

Dylan laughed.

"Yeah, I remember." He said and threw an arm across my shoulders. "I also remember the day I realized what a great choice I made, sticking around you." He said and squeezed me. "You deserve good in your life Max. Why you push it away…I don't know but you should know that you deserve it." I wiped the tears from my face and wrapped Dylan in a hug which he returned.

"Thank you," I murmured quietly. He removed his arm from my shoulders.

"Any reason you're asking me this?" He said and gave me a look.

"Yes, but you'll never find out." I smirked.

"Oh, really?" His grin turned malicious and before I could move he started to tickle me.

"DYLAN! STOP! WE'RE IN A TREE! OKAY, I'LL TELL YOU. I'LL TELL YOU." I writhed away from him. His fingers froze and he waited. My expression turned serious. I explained what happened between Fang and I last night and what Anne had said when I got inside. He listened quietly and nodded.

"I see." He thought for minute. "Anne is a grown woman. She missed her chance at having a 'life' so maybe that's what she means. As for Fang…he seems like a decent guy, Max. It's obvious he's got a thing for you. You should give him a chance." I looked back at the playground.

"But what if I get hurt in the process? I don't think I could handle it." I said and looked back at Dylan.

"I don't think he'll hurt you Max. In any way. And if he does, his face will look a whole lot different when I'm done with him." He smirked and I swatted his chest.

"Thanks, Dyl. I can always count on you." I leaned my head against his shoulder and sat staring at the sun which was high in the sky.

Maya POV

"Fang?" I knocked on his door. "Fang, dinner's ready."

"I'll be out in a minute." He said from through the door and I walked away.

Iggy stood in the kitchen. He held out a plate for me and as I grabbed it he asked silently if Fang was coming. I nodded slowly but gave him a look that said he was still upset. We sat at the table and ate silently. Fang came out of his room a few minutes later and sat down beside Iggy. The air was tense and awkward. We continued to eat but uneasily.

"So…" Iggy said after a few minutes of awkward silence.

"You wanna talk about it Fang?" I asked.

"No. I don't want to talk about it. I think I'll finish this in my room." With that he got up with his plate and walked away.

"What do you think that was about?" Iggy asked when he was sure Fang couldn't hear him.

"I don't know," I shook my head. "But I think it had something to do with Max." I said and stared at Fang's closed door. We finished our dinners then went quietly to our rooms. Hopefully, Fang would be over it by the time Max and I switched in a week.

A/N So we have a little of Fang's reaction to what happened, a confused Max, a little of best friend advice from Dylan, and a worried Maya and Iggy. Tell me what you thought in a review! I only got one bad review last chapter which is good. To HAILMARY: Omega is going to do something later and it's pretty d-bagish. Thank you for the well-wishing! That means a lot to me. :) To Duskingdawn: Haha, I'm glad you enjoyed it. And that's pretty awesome about your heritage. One question, since your parents are kind of british do you have a british accent or has living in Australia made you have an Australian accent…that always confused me. :/ To That Fat Guy: Um, interesting pen name….anyway, I'm sorry I made you sick but if that kind of stuff makes you sick, why are you reading a fanfiction that has "Romance" as one of the genres? I don't mean to be rude, just wondering. And what did you mean by "Just let there be peace for once..."? Thank you all for the reviews, I appreciate each and every one of your opinions!

Don't do drugs,

TAGGWRITC (Kiara)