Hey guys! Love the updates! So, enjoy? Thanks! Also, kind of a boring chapter, but a good fight scene, also, bad language-just to warn you.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. That is all.
Max the awesome Pov.
So, my morning is the same, I get up, I make breakfast, I get on my bike to go to school and avoiding Jeb and his annoying self.
And then the fun begins.
I park my bike in the usual place (the geek zone) and meet up with Nudge and Ella. We walked in the building and we all stopped, and our mouths dropped.
The whole school had posters and flyers everywhere- walls, ceilings, lockers, office desks, everywhere.
Fang did a pretty good job of going after "Cinderella" as I am called.
Nudge leaned in "You're Cinderella?" she whispered.
I shrugged. "Do I look like Cinderella?"
"But that's your picture on the flyer, is it not?" Ella asked.
I took a closer look at the picture of the flyer to my right. It was a picture of the Cinderella me, full body, singing with Fang. And they didn't know who I was? Wow, I didn't know I looked that different. I mean, sure, I hardly recognized myself, but for no one in the school to recognize me at all, that's pretty scary but cool at the same time. They didn't know who I was. Below it there in bold "Recognize Cinderella? See Nicholas Fang Walker or James Iggy Griffith."
Fang really took my advice. He sure went after me.
"Ok, not one word of any identities to anyone" I declared.
"But Maaaxxxx, you have to tell him sometime" Ella says.
"Yeah, and then you could get married, and be my sister in law, and you and Fang could live with me in my mansion and then-"
"Nudge!" I shout.
"Sorry." Nudge says sheepishly.
"That also means you're related to Jeb and the twins" I said.
"Not really. Technically, since your mom died, you don't, you just live with him. He doesn't have custody over you" Ella said.
I spin facing her. "Don't bring mom into this and I hate to agree with you, but, he does have custody over me."
"But he shouldn't, he-"
I gave Ella a look. She shrugged and looked away, knowing I hated to talk about me being related to that bastard.
We parted, and I put my things in my locker except my books for first and second period. Then, I went to my class- AP Biology.
Yes, I am smart.
I sit down, and prop my legs up on my desk before shutting my eyes.
"Hey Max" a whiny voice says.
I keep my eyes closed. "If you have something to tell me, be sure it's important before you tell me. You are interrupting my sleep" I said, using my usual bad- ass steely voice.
"Well, there's that old football player, Ari, who you beat up last November that wants to see you" the voice said.
"Tell him to go fuck himself" I said. "And if he has a problem, then he can just go cry to him momma, because he and I both know I will always kick his ass, in or out of school".
I heard the kid leave.
Five minutes later….
"MAXIMUM FUCKING MARTINEZ! GET OUT OF THAT CLASSROOM SO I CAN POUND YOUR ASS!" Ari roared.
I open my eyes, get up from the desk, and go to the door frame to see him and a crowd forming.
"First of all, it's Maximum Ride, second of all, you're a pussy" I said, boredom dripping from my mouth.
"Stop trying to be bad ass, because you're not" Ari sneered.
"You do know you're just talking about yourself, right?" I said, still bored. "I would love to talk, but you ain't worth my time." I begin to walk back into the classroom.
Only to be grabbed by the back of my neck and thrown into a locker, causing my left temple to bleed.
Now I'm angry. "You really shouldn't have done that boy" I growled.
A flash of fear whipped Ari's face. Then was back to his smug cocky era on his face.
I hate that look. I lunge at him, swiping my right fist across his nose, crunching it in the process. Ari stumbles back, clutching his shattered nose. He narrows his eyes at me, and trying to do a killer glare.
Not really his thing, we'll leave it at that.
I jumped up, planting both of my feet into his chest, and sent him spiraling into a couple lockers, knocking him face down on the floor. I see blood start to swarm the floor and Ari's hair. But I'm not finished, not by a long shot.
You see, not only am I the unwanted because I'm "not drop dead gorgeous like Lissa and Brigid are"
…Yeah you heard me. Those two bitches I happen to live with are coincidently the most popular girls in school. Don't ask me why or how, because I don't even know the answer to that.
People are also scared of me. They know if they act like Ari here, who's lying on the floor trying to get up and get the blood out of his face, they get beat up bad. I don't take a crap of people's bad attitudes. It ruins my day.
I walk of over to Ari casually, my bored façade still on (yes people, I am enjoying beating up this kid, he cheated on Ella and tried to date me at the same time- I didn't know of course until I figured out he was trying to get in my pants and Ella kept wondering why Ari kept trying –with a lot of fail-to hang out with me. Don't worry, I never went out with him, but gave him a good lesson if I see him looking or talking about Ella ever again) and pick Ari up by the hair, dragging him to his feet.
"Who is the number one fighter at this school?" I shout to the frightened little crowd.
"You are" they answer back.
"Does anyone think they can beat me?" I shout.
"No" the crowd shouts. I turn to find Ella and Nudge making mocking faces at Ari. Everyone in the school hates this kid. I look behind them to find Fang and his buddies. Fang gives me a leveled look. He's sizing me up.
"Good, now scram" I said still holding Ari by the hair.
The crowd disperses and I slam Ari back against the lockers one more time.
"You bitch, you need a good beating every now and then" Ari rumbles gritting his teeth in pain.
My eyes harden. "I've had my whole life of that, more than you know" I snarl. My free hand punches him in the gut, and I knee him in the groin. "I have had a life of pain, more than you know. So, don't think for a second I will pass you by without a good punch in the gut, especially after you tried to hurt my best friend" I growl.
I give him another punch in the gut before dropping him carelessly on the ground, hearing a bone break. Probably his arm. I turn to my friends. Nudge and Ella know what I have been going through. Fang, Iggy, and Gazzy don't though.
"Whoa dude, you got ruthless skills. Remind me to never cross paths with you when you're in a foul mood" Iggy says.
I roll my eyes before going off to the gym, deciding to skip first block.
"Hey coach" I say to my gym teacher as I walk into the gym.
"Hey Max, rough morning?" Coach Greg said. He knew and Dr. Grew (my two to-go-to people) knew about my past. Dr. Grew knew more though.
I merely nodded as I went to set up my equipment.
"I'm off to the office. Be back in an hour and a half" Coach Greg said.
I went to my punching bag and started doing my warm-ups. After one hundred push-ups and three hundred sit ups, I did my drills on the punching bag and then did fifty wrist bends on the fast ball. Then, I started to learn how to do the spinning backfist- where the first fist strikes the head and then the second fist is delivered while spinning, bringing the second fist (which is the rear arm) on the head, and knocks the enemy out. I saw it done in a fighting match before, it was awesome. Very lethal.
The second move is the falling star crush, where you start from ten feet away and jump after sprinting five feet, jump and come down with a fist, aiming for the head. It's supposed to be a final blow and great for someone with speed and strength- and I have both of those.
(PS, do NOT I repeat, do NOT try any of this at home. I have done research, and please, don't try it on anyone, unless you are in danger.)
I get done learning my new skills, and then pause.
"Doctor! We're losing her, get the jolts ready!" The nurse through the glass said. My mother was dying in front of me, and I couldn't do anything to help her. I was on the other side of the wall. I heard the electric shocks punch my mother.
"NOOO!" I screamed. "MOMMY!" I pound the window, over and over. "MOMMY!" I scream again. People out in the hallway stare, but I don't even notice. I do notice how Jeb doesn't even look like he cares, and Lissa and Brigid have the NERVE to text while my mother is dying!
"MOMMY!" I scream as I race to the door, yanking the door open. "MOMMY! I'm coming!"
I start punching the bag. Hard. I was only twelve when she died, and now I'm eighteen, getting ready for college. If Jeb will even let me go.
Jab, uppercut, right hook, four left punches, nose jab, roundhouse kick….
I race into the room, punching and knocking over nurses in my path. I picked up her hands and I stroke her hair, like she did to me when I was hurt.
"Mommy!" I shout at my dead mother. "Don't leave me here on my own! Come back! Tell me you're ok!" I shout to my mother's limp form lying on the hospital bed. She just died of Cancer. I felt tears slip down my face, kissing the pale skin of my mom. The doctors dragged me away from her, and I was kicking and screaming, trying to get to my mother.
"MOTHER!" I scream for the last time before being dragged out the door.
I let out a strangled roar, and kicked the bag. I didn't realize I was crying. I am turning into a sap. I don't cry. I grabbed the bag with clenched it with tight fists and rested my head against it. I cried.
"Oh mom, if only you knew how bad I hurt" I whispered to the bag. "I can't go on living like this."
I heard someone cough and turned around to find Fang, watching me, his deep night black eyes with those specks of gold and purple not looking at me, but in me.
I narrow my eyes "What the hell do you want?" I snarl. He's probably gonna give me a lecture or make fun of me. No guy at this school has seen me cry. He'd be the first. But he surprised me.
He threw my book bag on the ground in front of my feet. I look back at him. "Thanks" I say. I turn to get a drink of water. I turn to expect him to be gone, but he's still there, standing in his black glory.
"Don't you have somewhere to be?" I asked. I set the water down and unwrapped my knuckles and start packing my stuff.
I put my gloves and tape in the bag and turn to find Fang standing behind me.
I just look at him. We stare at each other. I cross my arms and jut out my right foot, giving off my bad ass look. Fang smirked. I saw that he had a gym bag over his shoulder. I nodded my head toward that. I knew what was in it.
Fang walked past me toward the boy's locker room and came out five minutes later, strapping on his gloves. So he was a fighter too eh? We'll see about that.
"I'm leaving" I told him.
"You're not the only one who comes in here and punches leather bags" Fang said.
I raised an eyebrow. I looked him over and he did not look bad. Nicely toned muscles and….oh my God.
Fang turned around and took off his black shirt, and faced me, revealing a very, very nice set of twelve pack abs. This boy was ripped. His biceps were nicely muscled, not giant, but lean and strong. His calves looked hard-he runs every morning. His olive toned skin glimmers faintly in the sliver of sunlight that shines through the windows of early morning. Not to mention the dark, silent, tough guy attitude that is given off that makes most girls drool over him…..
I am NOT one of those girls, but I'm not afraid to admit to myself that he his handsome- I freaking KISSED THE GUY, REMEMBER!
Ok, now I'm just yelling at myself.
"I'm kinda done working out" I said.
"You mean you're done working out your stress and hurt that you deal with" Fang said.
I swung my fist at his temple. He caught my wrist. My face twisted with seething anger.
"Don't think for one second you can pry into my life" I said, deathly calm.
Fang's grip tightened on my wrist and brought me close to him, so I could feel his mint breath brush my forehead. He was a good two centimeters from me. "Who said I had to?"
I looked from my wrist to his eyes. "Let go of me" I tried to wrench my wrist away, but his grip tightened.
"You know what I think?" Fang murmured.
"What?" I said.
"I think you just don't want everyone to see through your walls, afraid you will be hurt, just like when your mom died" Fang said.
That hurt, but I'm not telling him that. "How do you know of my mom?" I asked him.
"Nudge" He said.
"Oh" I said barely audible, and I looked toward the ground. I looked up "did you find the girl 'Cinderella' yet?"
Fang shook his head. "I don't think everyone saw the posters" He said.
"I think we saw them, Fang" I said.
He shrugged. "I have something else in mind, just in case she, whoever she is, didn't see anything."
"You are past your talking limit" I told him.
Fang shrugged. He let go of my wrist and put on his gloves and began doing some uppercut jabs and roundhouse kicks.
"Hey Fang?" I called to him, as I put my hand on the door.
"Yeah?"
"I hope you find your Cinderella" I said.
"Me too" Fang called back. "I can't stop thinking about her" He said.
With that in mind, I left.
"I can't stop thinking about her" still rang in my ears, and I swear when he said that, my heart skipped a beat.
Fang Pov
After Max had left the bloody scene, I grabbed her stuff and followed her. She went to the gym and I watched as she took out her gloves. The coach left and I put my finger to my lips so she wouldn't know I'm there.
She kept punching. I saw her cry as she hit the bag.
With a final roar, she tore at the bag, and then broke down in sobs. ""Oh mom, if only you knew how bad I hurt" she whispered to the bag. "I can't go on living like this."
I heard every word of it. I knew Nudge had told me to never mention her mom, because she died.
I still remember the funeral.
It was a crisp afternoon, and I could smell the dying leaves on the trees. I heard every whisper the wind made, and I saw every last tear that was shed.
Max stood beside the hole in the ground, watching he mom being lowered into the earth. Nudge and Ella were right beside her, Nudge on her left and Ella on her right. They held Max's hands and Ella stroke Max's long, brownish hair with those sun streaks in it. Nudge didn't say one word that day.
I stood with my father, my mother at work. I counted every tear on Max's small, delicate face.
There were 897 tears. Her step-sisters and Jeb were off to the side, looking like they didn't even care. I hated them for it. I even hated how Jeb didn't care when Dr. Martinez died in Max's arms.
They started to put dirt on the casket, soon covering it up. While everyone left, Max, Nudge, and Ella just stood there. My father dragged me to the car, but for some reason I wanted to be with Max, comforting her.
I wanted to tell her that her mom was one of the best mothers in the world. Better than my mother. I never got the chance.
I looked at the bag, then at Max.
I coughed and she whipped her head around.
"What the hell do you want?" She snarls. Then turns to put her stuff away.
I take a couple steps closer, watching her as she put her stuff together and tucking away all her emotions.
"Don't you have somewhere to be?" She says, obviously dismissing me.
I threw her book bag on the ground in front of her.
"Thanks" she mumbles.
I go to the locker room and change into a fresh t-shirt and shorts. I come back out and put my gloves on.
I took off my t-shirt and I saw her gape at my core. I smirked to myself.
"I'm done working out" Max said.
"I think you're done getting your stress and emotions worked out" I said.
She swung her fist at me and I caught it. I pull her to me.
"Let go" she said.
"You know what I think?" I mumble to her. She smells like bacon and a little hint of strawberries. Kinda good smell I think, well, for her.
"I think you just don't want everyone to see through your walls, afraid you will be hurt, just like when your mom died" I said.
Her body went cold. "How do you know of my mom?" she asked, trying so hard to bury the pain in her voice.
"Nudge" was all I could say. Max's big chocolate eyes looked down at her feet.
"Oh" was all she said. Then she looked up, part of a glint in her eyes. "Did you find 'Cinderella' yet?"
I shook my head, chuckling to myself. "No, I don't think everyone saw my posters" I grinned at her.
Her sweet, smooth laugh filled the room. "I think we saw them Fang" she said, still showing off her pretty white teeth.
What am I talking about? I already love a girl, I shouldn't be falling for Max! But I don't know why, Max reminds me of the girl at the dance. Everyone knows I don't fall for girls easily. Especially two at one time, but maybe, Max and the girl at the dance could be connected somehow…..
Nah, Max would never wear a dress. Even I know that.
I shrugged. "I have something else in mind, just in case she, whoever she is, didn't see anything."
"You are past your talking limit" Max said playfully.
I shrugged. I let go of her wrist and put on my gloves and began doing some uppercut jabs and roundhouse kicks for warm-up.
"Hey Fang?" Max called as she put her hand on the door to leave.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"I hope you find your Cinderella" Max told me.
"Me too" I called back. "I can't stop thinking about her" I said. Who wouldn't? she was very different from the other girls at the dance and when she sang….it was like even the birds outside woke from their sleep to listen.
She left, and I continued to do my work out, deep in thought about what I should do next. Because honestly, I have no clue.
Hiya guys. Hope you liked this chapter!