Hey guys, I'm typing this chapter on the same day I typed up chapter 9, but I probably won't post it 'till later. Sorry guys for waiting, cause then if post it straight away then I don't have anything to give you guys, if you ask to update. Also, this chapter it's Fang POV, I'm not sure if I've done his POV yet, but there's definitely his POV in future chapters. I know someone's suggested I do Fang's POV, (I can't remember who, sorry) so yeah, here.

This might be a short chapter. And I mean really short. And there's a swear. I don't think it's a swear word, but some people might be offended. So here's a warning.

I didn't get to mention:

Fanta778 - for helping me with dances and diving and I can't wait for junior years either.

babiixilyx3 - yeah stupid Kauren bimbo...grrr and I know, picture=desperate girl

XxBOOKWORM1207xX - thank you for your review/comment, yeah I'm planning to put more Gazzy and Nudge and Angel, thank you for eveything you said

Living on a Wish - thank you for saying how much you like my story

Faxgirl - I know, I need to put more cheerleading

SharpestSatire - (yes, I'm mentioning you again :D) the fax is coming and I'll work on Fang being a little OOC. It might not be coming. but it will and when it does be prepared...

Iced-Tea-XD - thank you for helping with the colleges

Flught at Midnight - thank you for always helping, no probs about mistaking me for being British.

silverstream27 - thank you for favourite authoring and favourite storying me

Gsdluver12 - for favourite authoring me

desperatelyobvious - favourite authoring me

And please if I've forgotten to mention you and thnak you for your help please, please tell me. I'll feel so bad if I did.

I'm starting school again, (bleh) so I might not have time again to update. I apologise in advanced.

Anyway, here's the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride. Need I say more?

Growing Up

Chapter 10: The Picture

FANG POV

We finally made it back to Max's house, though it took a while cause Max was so drained of any feeling. We immediately went up to Max's room, avoiding Iggy. We didn't want him to run over there and make things worse.

Max collapsed onto her bed, face down. I turned on her laptop, determined to find that image and search it and prove Iggy innocent.

I went onto the girl's profile, when I realised that I didn't know her name.

I swiveled to turn to Max. "What was that girl's name again?"

"Lauren bitchy the slut." Max replied, her voice muffled by a pillow.

"Max." I shook my head and grinned.

"Fine." She said, sitting up. "Lauren Staenly. Stain, but with an e and ly at the end."

I nodded, typing in her name. As soon as I entered the name, a profile immediately appeared, filling the screen. "That was quick."

"What?" Max asked, moving to stand over my shoulder. The smell of her hair filled my senses. Max smells really nice...I tried to block the thought out.

"One automatically popped up." I scrolled down the page.

"But, is she the one?" Max asked. She put her finger to her chin, looking at me, an eyebrow raised.

I rolled my eyes. She grinned and l turned bck into the screen.

"Okay, let's see." Max gently shoved me out of the way, moving in front the screen.

She scrolled down, scanning quickly through the girl's page, nodding her head every so often.

"Right." She concluded after scrolling back up.

"What?" I grabbed the desk, pulling myself closer to the screen to see what Max was right-ing about.

"Nothing. Just reading her comments."

I stared at Max. "The picture?"

"Picture? Oh! Right!" Max motioned for me to move over. I moved until I was only on one half of the chair. Max sat down next to me, and leaned in closer to the screen. "Let's see."

I watched her as she concentrated on finding the accusing image. She bit her bottom lip, face scrunched up in concentration. I studied her face, memorising every single line and curve, right down to the freckles on her cheeks. Max was beau- I mean attractive, there was no doubt about it. Her scent filled my nose, a mixture of shampoo (something floral) and a perfume smelling deodorant. Or was it perfume?

We looked at the girl's profile picture; she was kind of chubby, her hair the colour of a red-blonde-brown-bad-home-dye-kit, and dull blue eyes. To describe in one word: ugly.

"Wow, she's quite the..." Max trailed off, unable to take her eyes of the monstrosity in front of us. Okay, maybe that was harsh...the ugly picture in front of us. "...looker."

I snorted. "She's a keeper."

Max finally tore her eyes away from the screen. Her face turned from horror to amusement. "I would've thought Iggy would have higher standards. Anyway, back to what we were doing."

She turned back to the screen.

"Click on pictures...scroll down...okay...I think you click here..." I smiled inwardly at Max verbally saying everything she was doing. "Found it!"

We both leaned towards the screen in sync, our eyes squinting trying to make out the photo. It was dark, very dark and you could vaguely see to pale figures, though I couldn't see what was what.

"Hang on, I'll zoom in." Max clicked on the photo, and it filled the whole screen filling it with almost complete darkness. "I can't see anything but black darkness and white blobs."

I said nothing, concentrating on the image. "Still loading."

Max rolled her eyes and turned back to the photo. "Whatever. Oh come on." Max tapped her fingers impatiently on the desk. She looked ready to rip smash her laptop and hurl it across the room. I grinned inwardly at the scene.

"Finally!" Max threw her hands up. I rolled my eyes.

The picture wasn't that much better than it was smaller. In fact, it was only a fraction of a fraction much better. It was still 98% black darkness with white blobs in the middle of the image. One was tall and thin - possibly Iggy? - and the other a much shorter and chubby - definitely Lauren. But, the question was...is it Iggy?

I leaned back, finished with the photo and not quite sure what to make of it. Max didn't seem convinced though and continued to study the photo in every angle. She even rotated the photo hoping it will somehow give her the answer.

"So?" I finally asked Max after she examined the photo, very thoroughly. And I mean thoroughly.

"I'm pretty sure that is not my brother. I think." She bit her lip, unsure of herself.

I raised an eyebrow. "You think?"

Max took another look at the photo. "No I'm quite sure it's not my brother."

She took another look at the photo. "Maybe..."

"No Max, it's not. I trust Iggy."

"You're right," she sighed. "I just don't know how to fix this."

"Who says you need to fix this?" Max always wants to solve everything.

"I do. Because I believe my brother and he'd never do anything like this to something like that." She pointed to the image. "Or to anyone for that matter."

"What now?"

"I don't know...unless..." She turned to me, her eyes bright.

"What are you thinking?" I asked, cautious.

"Maybe...maybe we could find her...yeah, find Lauren and-"

"And what?" I interrupted her. "Demand that she say it was all some sick joke?"

"No, just ask for her side of the story."

"And what do you think you'll gain from that?"

"I don't know, at least we'll have something."

I took a deep breath. "Fine."

Okay, I don't exactly remember what happened at the start of that chapter as it took me forever to write - okay, maybe not forever, but long enough for you to hate me - and I'm sorry to hold you guys up. I know you guys were counting on me and were dying to know what happens next, because so do I. I have no idea where this is going.

Anyway, read and review (if you want),

Hy