I am sorry for the long update wait but I have been extremely busy with school and basketball. I am on winter break this week so I will write as much as possible so that I can post at regular intervals until my next break from school. A special thanks to everyone who is reviewing, please keep it up.

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On with chapter 11. ENJOY!

Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride. All rights to publish Maximum Ride remain with JP.

It had been a week since the day we had gone to the movies and since the day I had beat Max in a fight. Since that day we had been sure to practice our fighting skills everyday so that we were prepared. Most of the time we partnered up and sparred but sometimes I would teach them a few of the simpler moves the trainers at the School had taught me. I had still yet to be beaten by Max, Fang or Iggy. Once Angel convinced Max to let her fight me but even with her ability to read my mind I was still able to block my thoughts or send her false ones ensuring my victory.

I still avoided Iggy as much as possible. The feeling I got every time I looked at him confused me and although I never showed it I felt extremely guilty about his loss of sight. Despite the continued tension between Max and me I had surprisingly grown close with Fang. We were very similar and I was able to see past his mask even better than Max, the downside was he could see past mine just as easily.

Throughout the past week we had separated ourselves from the rest of the Flock for an hour each day where we would fly together and talk. Many of our interests were the same and after I had told him a detailed version of my encounter with our parents we held the same opinion of them.

Nudge, Angel and Ella have dressed me every day in their usually girly clothes and forced makeup onto me. I still complained but never refused them because I did not know how long their happiness would last before Erasers found us.

Today Ella had school and Dr. M had to work so the whole Flock including me because I was still technically not a member were going to the park which was only a short walk away from the house.

We were currently playing a game of tag, minus Fang, and Gazzy was it.

"I'm gonna get you," he yelled looking around the deserted park trying to locate one of our hiding places.

His eyes suddenly rested on the location where I knew Nudge was hiding and began walking towards her. Trying to escape him Nudge began running and Gazzy began the chase.

"No," she screamed as Gazzy gained on her and tackled her to the ground.

"You're it," he shouted so everyone could hear him.

Nudge was saved from being it when Max came out from behind a tree and said "It's almost noon we should eat the lunch Mom packed us."

Within seconds of Max's announcement we were all racing towards the blanket Fang had been sitting on with Total while he watched us. This was the happiest I had ever been I decided as I sat to the left of Fang. For the past three weeks I hadn't gone to bed hungry once and I finally felt like I belonged.

"This is so delicious," Angel said around a mouthful of her sandwich.

"I know Dr. M is such a good cook. I wish I could cook like her, maybe she'll teach me if I ask her. Wow, the cookies are good to, the chocolate chip are still my favorite but these sugar cookies are amazing too. Do you think," Nudge's rant was abruptly cut off by Iggy's hand covering her mouth; I will never know how he is able to do that.

Everyone started laughing when Iggy removed his hand and Nudge stuck her tongue out at him although the effect was wasted on Iggy. With everyone preoccupied with their food I took the opportunity to look at Iggy, who was sitting across from me.

I took the time to memorize every scar that I could see. He had several pale lines running up his arms from the claws of an Eraser and a light purple bruise on the side of his cheek that was beginning to fade. I couldn't help starring at the cloudiness of his eyes. The emptiness in them troubled me and I knew that his blindness bothered him more than he let anyone see.

"Let's play truth or dare," Angel exclaimed excitedly and I could have sworn I saw her smirk in my direction. Darn, I cursed myself. I need to be more careful with my thoughts.

I forced myself to tear my eyes away from Iggy's face and caught Fang starring at me with a raised eyebrow silently asking me what was wrong. I shook my head slightly so that no one would notice. Fang's mouth set in a firm line and I knew that he was not done questioning me and I would hear about this later.

"I am not playing," Fang stated sternly.

"Please, Fang" Angel pleaded using her Bambi eyes on him. Everyone knew he was a goner; no one could resist the Bambi eyes.

"Fine," he said unhappily.

Max, Iggy, Gazzy and I laughed while Angel and Nudge cheered at succeeding in convincing Fang to play.

"I get to go first cause it was my idea," demanded Angel and I was instantly worried as an evil smile formed on her face. I still wasn't positive if my thoughts of Iggy had escaped my head and been heard by her.

Don't worry Ember, She said in my head, the evil smile is for Max and Fang. I visibly relaxed knowing that I was safe from Angel. Don't feel to safe, she continued, you and Iggy are next and I swear I heard her giggling in my head.

I looked over at her and said in my head, did you tell anyone. I didn't tell anyone you like him but Nudge and Ella agree you'd make a cute couple and are helping me.

I paled at the thought of what the three of them could do but a more important thought troubled me. Did I like Iggy? It seemed like it but I was always a loner and never relied on anyone else. Then I thought about it and realized Angel was right. I liked Iggy and I wanted a connection with him like the one Max had with Fang and it scared me.

"Max truth or dare," Angel asked putting her plan into motion.

"Truth," Max answered thinking she was avoiding what Angel had planned. Little did she know she had walked right into it.

"Are you and Fang a couple," she asked sweetly with an innocent smile replacing her evil one.

Max's mouth dropped open but she quickly closed it glancing at Fang for help. Fang gave her a nod that only Max and I would be able to notice.

"Uh, well…. Yeah," Max stuttered her face turning red. Fang reached over and grabbed her hand and she smiled warmly at him.

"Yes," Angel and Nudge shrieked giggling like school girls.

"Ew, gross," Gazzy said pretending to gang since he obviously still believed girls had cooties.

"Dude," Iggy said high fiving Fang.

"About time," Total snorted quickly turning his attention back to his food.

I just sat there and when Fang turned to me for my reaction I gave him one of my rare smiles. I had none for awhile that the two of them liked each other, it was written all over their faces every time they looked at each other. Fang smiled back at me and nodded his head in thanks for being the only one not making a big spectacle about their revelation and even Max managed a nod in my direction.

The game continued until we decided it was time to pack up our stuff and head home because Dr. M would be picking Ell up from school soon. I was relieved when no revelation were made about my feelings for Iggy because I was pretty sure he did not feel the same way about me.

"Hey," I heard behind us.

We all turned around to see a group of four guys walking towards us. They weren't Erasers cause they lacked the super model beauty that they had before they transformed. Unsure of their intentions Max, Fang, Iggy and me pushed the younger kids behind us while Total started growling quietly in Angel's arms.

I watched as they approached and three of the men stood behind the forth who must be their leader. All of them wore dark clothing, heavy eye makeup and had dyed their spiked hair into different colors. The leader's eyes slowly looked up and down my body and I looked down and noticed I looked similar to them.

My three stylists, note sarcasm, had dressed me in black shorts and a black shirt that had a Silver Star design on it. My makeup had consisted of dark colors and silver eye shadow. They said it looked good with my black hair and made me look dark and mysterious. I hadn't minded it that much cause it wasn't girly like most of the things they made me wear bur as of now I was hating the outfit that caused this man to stare at me.

"What do you want," I said coldly. Max glared at me for stepping up because it was her job as the leader but I was beyond caring. It was me they were staring at like I was a piece of meat not her so she could deal.

"You," he said suggestively, "You look like you'd fit in with us perfectly."

"Thanks but no thanks," I responded glaring daggers at him and his groupies who were snickering behind him.

"Come on sweetheart no need to be rude, we just want talk," he said taking a step closer.

Fang was seething next to Max and unless it was my imagination so was Iggy but it was probably just because I was his friend's little sister. I felt the younger kids stiffen behind me as he approached.

"Leave us alone," I spat out grinding my teeth together in frustration.

The man prepared to take another step towards us so I halted his actions by breaking away from the group and standing in front of all of them with my arms crossed over my chest. "And if you take one more step towards us I will personally put you in a hospital," I continued rage bubbling up inside me.

The man backed up a few paces startled by my outburst. "Leave," I said with as much venom as I could lace into my words. His eyebrows creased together and with one last look he snapped his fingers and left with his pathetic sidekicks trailing behind.

I turned around prepared to face a furious Max as my anger slowly left my body. The younger kids all rushed me at once with hugs. Iggy asked what happened and I told him they left which helped him relax. Fang, however, still looked as if he would set something on fire with his eyes if he could.

"Are you okay," he asked tightly. I knew he was trying to sound strong for the kids but his eyes betrayed his worry.

"I'm fine Fang, calm down," I told him lightly.

He took a deep breath and did something that I never expected. With one long stride he was standing in front of me and hugging me. My arms cam around him and I hugged him back grateful for his affection. Neither of us said anything as we broke apart it was clear on our faces that he had been worried and I was grateful.

When we arrived home Dr. M and Ella were both extremely worried and thought we had been kidnapped. We explained what had happened with the men and assured her that we were fine. The atmosphere lifted once Ella was informed of Max and Fang being a couple. We were not shocked to learn that Dr. M already knew.

"How about we have a fire tonight and roast marshmallows?" she suggested.

Everyone agreed and once it was dark we all sat around a glowing fire. I had long taken off my fashionable clothes for the night and was wearing black gym shorts and a dark blue tank top.

Tonight my thoughts were troubled by Iggy. I hadn't had much time to think about him once we got home and I found myself drifting away from the conversation around the fire.

"Ember are you okay," Dr. M asked concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I answered. "I think I'm going to take a walk for a little while."

"Are you sure," she questioned.

"Yeah, I'll be back soon."

Once I had gone far enough away so that they couldn't see me I flew up to the roof and sat in the same spot where I had talked to Iggy my first night here. I could hear the Flock from where I was sitting and listened closely because I thought I heard my name mentioned.

"Maybe someone should go check on her," Dr. M suggested.

"I'll go," Iggy volunteered.

"No, Iggy," Angel said "I think Fang should go."

The conversation about me ended and when I noticed a dark shape standing on the ground in front of where I sat I assumed it to be Fang. My assumption was confirmed when he flew up and landed next to me on the roof.

"Hey, you okay," he asked.

"Yeah, just thinking," I responded hoping he wouldn't ask about what.

"About Iggy," he stated plainly.

I turned my head and saw him looking at me. There was no convincing him of something else, he knew the truth.

"How did you know," I asked.

"You're my sister Ember. You can't hide things from me just like I can't hide things from you."

"It doesn't matter," I said angrily "Who could ever like me."

"Why wouldn't he?" he asked genuinely confused.

"I'm nothing special, just an ordinary bird kid."

"How come you haven't told him?"

I debated telling Fang the truth and decided that I would he would know if I was lying.

"I'm scared," I admitted. " I've never felt this way before and I don't know what to do."

"Just be yourself," he said.

I was ready to snap at him and tell him he didn't know anything but realized that he did know something because he had Max.

"It'll get easier" he said patting me on the back. "I'm going back, you coming?"

"In a minute," I told him. "Thanks."

"No problem," he said and just like that he was gone.

I was just about to fly off the roof when I heard Nudge scream. My heart started racing and I jumped off the roof and ran as fast as I could back to the fire.

When I rounded the corner I saw the Flock standing in a circle around Dr. M and Ella surrounded by Erasers. Jumping off the ground I flew over the Eraser's heads and joined their circle ready to fight.

"Now," Max screamed and all hell broke loose as we charged the Erasers.

Adrenaline was pouring through my veins and my heart was pounding as I took out Erasers left and right. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Dr. M and Ella unharmed and hiding behind a tree.

Just when I thought we were winning I heard a shriek from Max across the yard, "Fang!" I turned my head and saw something that almost stopped my heart. All the fighting ceased as we watched Fang standing tall an Eraser 10 feet away from him with a gun pointed at his heart.

The Eraser smiled a toothy grin as he placed his hairy finger on the trigger. Without thinking I started running, I was the closest one to Fang and the only one who had even the slightest chance of reaching him in time.

"No," I screamed placing myself in front of Fang shielding him but leaving myself exposed. A shot rang out and my world went black.

Yeah, cliffhanger!!!! I am writing the next chapter as you read this and will post it AFTER I get REVIEWS!!!!!!

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Till the next chapter!