HAI GUYS! It's Myri, this is THE FIRST chapter I write for this story! Of course, I have been editing the story to suit my plans, but it hasn't really changed. The only thing that really has is the whole 'said' overuse thing; it took me hours to fix that.

NOTE: MY WRITING STYLE IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM musicXisXeverything's! I tend to describe the background, and she's more of a dialogue person, so expect a bit of a change in the writing style!

Thanks for everything!

14 ~ Condemned

Max dragged Iggy by the hand into the court that Friday. He had been extremely nervous because he didn't want to be in the same room as his father, but Max had assured him that nothing would happen. He still wasn't too sure though, knowing his father, and hadn't slept in the past two days. Needless to say, he was a wreck.

(A/N: I know this next part will not be perfect, but I have never been to a court before! :P)

A few hours later, everyone was settled in and the trial had begun. Many people accused that Iggy's father borrowed large amounts of money from them, without returning it. Max and Iggy were surprised at the amounts; where did all of that go, anyways? Probably on drugs.

Finally, it was Iggy's turn to speak. He rose and Max squeezed his hand from beside him.

"Is it true that this man is your father and that he hasn't sent you to school?"

Iggy nodded at the judge. She was old and had greying hair that contrasted with her dark skin. "Yes, your honor."

"Is there anything else that you'd like to add?"

"Yes, a few things." The judge motioned for him to go on. Iggy felt all eyes on him, especially his fathers. But Max's hand in his kept him calm. "My father, he… he abused me, ever since I was little. And he kil-." Iggy swallowed hard. "He killed my mother."

The judge turned to Iggy's dad. "Is this true?"

"No," he replied gruffly. He was sure he had won; after all, there was no evidence.

"Do you have any proof your accusations?" the judge asked Iggy. He hesitated but pulled up his shirt, revealing harsh scars that he'd acquired over the years and a few unhealed bruises. Everyone gasped and Max looked away, not wanting to stare. Iggy felt uncomfortable and put his shirt down.

The judge faced Iggy's father with cold eyes. "What do you have to say to that?"

He stayed silent.

"And do you have any evidence to your mother's death?"

"No," Iggy replied.

"What was her name?"

"Rose Clara Griffiths."

The judge whispered something to a man and he left the room. He returned a few minutes later with a manila envelope. The judge looked through the file and said, "There hasn't been a report or sighting of her in ten years. Where did your wife go, Mr. Griffiths?"

He stayed silent.

"I said, where did your wife go?!" The judge demanded harshly.

"I killed her," he finally admitted, defeated, "but it was that b*tch's fault!" His voice was laced with desperation and rage.

"I hereby condemn you, Joseph Griffiths, guilty of abuse and murder, and sentenced to life in prison."

Everyone politely shuffled out of the room. Max grasped Iggy and hugged him tightly, and he hugged back just as strongly. They were both flying with joy, spinning each other in circles. Iggy gave Max a long kiss.

They both pulled away at the sound of someone clearing his throat. They smiled sheepishly at the short man, who gave them a knowing smile back.

"You are Iggy Griffiths?" The man asked. Iggy nodded. "I'm Simon Corelli, pleased to meet you." The two shook hands.

Riley lead Iggy to a table and they sat down. Max followed and stood by them politely.

"Iggy, I have some good and bad news for you," he said. "The good news is, your father is being shipped to a jail overseas so that you'll never have to see him again."

Iggy grinned wide, overjoyed.

"The bad news is," Riley paused, "that we have to send you to a foster home."

Iggy and Max's hearts dropped. They shared a look of panic.

"Where?" Max asked, her eyes wide.

"Oh, not too far, only a few blocks away on Warner Drive." Max breathed, relieved. She'd thought he'd be shipped miles, or even states, away.

"When am I going?" Iggy questioned.

"We want you there as soon as possible, preferably now. Is that okay? Do you have anything you want to pick up?" Riley said, stacking his papers up and putting them into a briefcase.

Iggy shrugged. "Now's fine. And no, I don't have anything important."

"Let's go then!"

"Wait!" Riley turned to look at Max. "Is it okay if I come?"

"Sure, no problem. Hurry, now."

Ten minutes later, Riley, Max, and Iggy pulled up to a preppy town house in the suburbs. It was much smaller than Max's, but that wasn't a big deal to Iggy.

The big deal was that it wasn't Max's house, which meant Max wouldn't be living there, which meant Iggy would have to be without Max.

The trio walked down the paved walkway to the front porch and up the steps to the door. Riley knocked on the brown wood and the door opened almost instantly. A mocha-skinned girl stood there, grinning at them.

"Hi! I'm Monique, but you can call me Nudge! I live here, if that wasn't obvious. This is my foster home, though! I don't know what happened to my real parents, I don't care, though. Would you like to come in?" She rambled, but thankfully stopped.

Iggy mentally groaned. I have to live with a stereo?!

"Yes, we're here for Anne Walker. This is her new foster child, Iggy," Riley confirmed.

"Ohhhh! So you're my new brother! Yay, we can go shopping together! I'll be right back, I think Anne's somewhere upstairs. Wait, come in, take a seat in the living room, I'll be back before you can say Bob!" Nudge squealed and hurried upstairs.

"Bob," Max whispered. Iggy snorted.

The living room was nice, with a red/beige theme to it. There was a beige carpet, red couches, beige walls, red decorations, and lots of paintings with red frames on them. Max, Iggy, and Riley sat down on the couches as they waited.

The clicking of heels was heard and a tall lady emerged down the stairs. She had her blonde hair in a bun and wore a business suit.

"Hello! I'm Anne Walker, glad to meet you!" She introduced cheerily. Riley shook her hand and she took a seat next to him as they chatted about something or other.

"Nice place, eh?" Max commented.

"Not as nice as yours," Iggy replied.

Max shook her head. "No, this place is much better. More homey."

Iggy shrugged, dismissing the thought. He wasn't in the mood for chatting.

"Come, let me show you your room," Anne smiled at Iggy and lead him upstairs to a wooden door.

Iggy slowly opened it to a small, plain room. He smiled happily; it wasn't much, but Iggy didn't need more than a bed, anyways. He'd grown accustomed to his closet in his dad's home.

"You'll get to decorate it tomorrow any way you like. Do you have any clothes with you?"

He shook his head. "No. And I'm okay with the room the way it is. Thank you."

Anne smiled. "No problem. We'll get you some clothes tomorrow then. I'll leave you two alone," she said, nodding at Max and walking away.

Max hugged Iggy tightly. He buried his face in her hair, breathing in her scent.

"Congrats," she whispered to him. She tried to be happy for him, but her voice betrayed her. Iggy held her face in his large hands, looking deeply into her chocolate eyes.

"Hey, it's gonna be alright. I'll visit you every day. I'll always be by your side, Max," he reassured her.

"Promise?" she said with a small voice.

Iggy chuckled. "I promise. I love you Max."

"I love you too, Iggy."

A/N: SO THERE IT IS! Sorry it was so late. My Word wouldn't work DX Tell me what you think?

I want three reviews before I update the next chapter 3 Thank you guys so, so much! :)