Hey y'all, extra long chapter here! This could be two chapters, but I didn't want it to be. Thanks to my reviewers, I appriciate it tons! To the story!! -Max

Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride. I'd put that in another language but I don't know how to say it in another language. Oh well.

Claimer: My story, my plot, my charecters. I'll share them if ya ask nicely. -Max

The next day Angel woke me up. She was jumping up and down on my bed, excited. I sat up, noticing Gazzy, Raz, and Nudge sitting patiently on the floor. Well, not exactly patiently, but at least they weren't jumping on my bed.

"What's up?" I asked. Angel finally jumped down off my bed.

"Can we not go to school today?" my little girl asked.

"I thought you liked school," I reminded her. She giggled.

"I do, but I don't want to go today," Angel explained. Remembering the others, she added, "We don't."

I smiled. There was no way I could say no to my babies.

"Sure," I answered. Angel ran out of the room, screaming for Fang. Happily, by the way.

Fang came into my room, a sour expression on his face. The other three kids left quickly. I put on my innocent face.

"Why did you tell them they could skip school?" he demanded. I looked at him, who me? Couldn't be.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"You told Angel that the kids didn't have to go to school today," Fang answered, annoyed. Huh, he's been like that a whole lot lately.

"You're only a kid once," I reminded him. He sighed.

"Alright, the kids can stay," he gave in. Score one for Max! "But Iggy and I are goin'. There's something tonight and we have to be at school to go."

"What's going on?" I wondered. Fang gave me a rare smile.

"There's this… dance," he answered. I snorted. A dance? How important were dances again? "And we're going." Unbelievable. "Iggy has a date. Ella's coming up for the weekend." How sweet. I always knew they'd be together. "She'll be here around noon." Better not forget that. "And… I was wondering… If you would go with me? To the dance?"

I blinked. Fang had just asked me to a dance. A dance, of all things! I don't dance! I don't even own a dress.

"A dance?" I thought he was joking. He glared at me.

"Yeah, a dance," he repeated.

"Why would I ever want to go to a dance?" I asked, stretching out the word. This had to be a joke.

"I'm being serious," Fang growled. "I could always find another date, if I had to…"

"I don't have a dress," I mumbled. Fang smiled a little more.

"Yeah you do," he said. "Nudge got it when we went shopping."

I always knew that girl was up to no good.

"I can't dance," I stated.

"You don't need to know how," Fang responded.

Now I had no way to get out of it. I could just say no, but then Fang would probably feel bad. Or he'd get another date. Either one would make me upset.

"Will you go?" Fang demanded. "You're only a kid once, remember."

"I guess…" I sighed. "If it's that important to you." Not to mention he used my own logic against me. I can't argue with my own logic.

Fang leaned over and kissed me quickly. He left in a hurry, a smug look on his perfect face, to get Iggy. The two boys left before I could say a word.

Apparently everyone but Gazzy and Raz were in on this. As soon as they found out the girls' intentions for staying home-- to dress me up like a Barbie doll-- they bailed and went to school.

The only good thing about that afternoon was Ella's arrival. Nudge had already forced me into the dress and pulled it in by the time Ella walked through the front door. I tried to go meet her, but Angel forced me still. She was brushing my knotty hair. I never had a chance to do that myself after waking up.

I folded my arms over my chest, angry and defeated. No matter how much the girls were reminding me that this was for Fang, I still wanted to run, I mean, fly away. Running would have even been fine just then. I thought shopping with Nudge was bad! Hah. That was until she, and Angel and Ella, were my personal hairdresser and make-up artists. Yes, make-up. They forced me, what can ii say?

The only good thing about that afternoon was seeing Ella again. I loved her- and Dr. Martinez- so much. I had missed them over the last year, too. My "job" kept me away. At least, that's what I told Ella. I had assumed that the Flock was keeping close tabs on the house incase I ever decided to go back. And I was right.

Nudge and Ella went completely crazy, twisting my hair into odd shapes, then having Angel brush it down. Roughly, might I add. I never realized how hard being a girl was. I wasn't used to all this… Normalcy. At least, to the girls it was. To me, running for my life, kicking butt, not knowing where my next meal or shelter was, that was normal. This was torture. While the girls were working on me, I was silently trying to figure out which was worse: torture from the School or torture from my family. I decided it was a tie.

"We have to cut it," Ella announced. My hands flew up to my hair.

"WHAT?" I exclaimed. "WHY?"

It wasn't that I didn't want my hair cut. I really didn't care about that. I just didn't want the girls cutting it for such a silly reason.

"Your hair has so many split ends," Nudge explained. I narrowed my eyes at her reflection in the small mirror before me. "It needs to be fixed."

Nudge cut my hair neatly. I figured she'd end up being a hairdresser-person someday. That is, if the School didn't kill everyone first…

"Snap out of it, Max!" Angel ordered. Ella was waving her hand in front of my spaced-out eyes. I blinked a few times, coming back to reality.

"What?" I wondered. What on Earth could be so important that they had to interrupt my thoughts? The color of my hair tie?

"We're done!" Ella announced happily. I stared into the mirror to see the damage.

I didn't know who or what the person looking back at me was. It couldn't be me. The person looked so much different.

My dirty-blonde hair was kept down, thinned and a bit shorter. It reached just past my shoulder. My face was covered in make-up. Light eye shadow around my eyes, completely hiding the dark circles many sleepless nights had produced. Blush giving my cheeks some color, instead of the paleness I'd acquired. My lips were painted with a reddish lipstick. I couldn't even tell what color they actually were.

The girls continuously told me how amazing I looked. They seemed so happy to turn tomboyish me into such a… Girl.

Nudge and Angel helped Ella get ready. All she ad to do was change into her dress and put her hair up. She dabbed some make-up onto her joyous face. I just continued to stare at my reflection, unbelieving.

"The boys'll be back soon!" Angel cried. "And minute!"

"Yeah!" Nudge agreed. Ella giggled at my horror-stricken face. "We need to get Max into her dress… What's wrong, Max?"

"Fang can't see me like… This!" I cried, throwing my hands up in despair. "What'll he think?"

"He'll think you're beautiful," Angel said patiently. "Like usual."

Nudge pulled me into her room, and handed me my dress. She refused to leave the room incase I made a run for it, but was decent enough to turn her back on me as I changed.

I pulled on the dark blue dress dutifully. It's for Fang, I continued to remind myself.

"I'm done," I muttered. Nudge spun around and gave a loud squeal. I sighed.

"MAX!" she yelled. "IT'S PERFECT!"

I looked at myself in the mirror in Nudge's room. The dress fit my body perfectly, not too loose but not too tight. It showed all of my body's curves, excluding my wings. I made them invisible, ghostly. No one could see or feel them. Even me.

"Wow," Ella breathed as she entered the room. I blushed a little.

Ella was wearing a light blue dress, covered in sparkles and sequins. Her hair was tied up in a bun. She was breathtaking, to me at least. Nudge and Angel thought so, too.

"It's time to go!"

Iggy.

I glared at the door. Now I'd have to let Fang see me… I didn't want that.

"Don't forget your heels," Nudge reminded me. I turned my glare on her. Heels?

"You have to wear them," Angel begged. I sighed. No use getting into a fight now. I'd do that later…

I slipped my feet into the silvery heels. The girls ooh-ed and ah-ed at me, taken away. I just sighed again.

"Can we get this over with?" I grumbled. Ella nodded and took my hand, leading me downstairs.

Fang and Iggy wore plain white shirts and jeans. Lucky them.

Fang looked over me, smiling the whole time. I felt somewhat happier, seeing him like that. Finally he spoke.

"Wow, Max," he breathed. "You're beautiful."

"Thanks," I muttered, looking at the ground. "Let's just go."

Apparently Fang had his own car. I thought for a second. He's only fifteen. How is he allowed to drive?

"License's are given at fifteen here," he whispered to me, flashing a small ID. "Very efficient."

I just nodded and stared out the window. I was claustrophobic in the car, extremely so, even though it was a van. Fang took no note of this.

We stopped in front of a small building. Fang explained to me that we were at the school. It was so small that only about twenty or so kids were in each grade. Less in some, rarely more.

Fang took my arm and Iggy took Ella's. We were led indoors. Fang held out two plastic bags.

"You can change into those in the bathroom," he announced.

"This isn't a formal dance," Iggy explained. "But for some reason the girls thought it was. You can wash out all that goop and change into comfortable clothes."

I gave Fang a thankful look and changed quickly. I washed off the make-up. Ella did the same.

The boys led us out back after we finished. Outdoor lights were set up all around and there was a radio blaring loudly. Teens were dancing around and laughing.

This dance was different then the ones I'd seen on TV. At those dances, everyone wore elegant dresses and spent hours and even days getting ready. Here, everyone was casual. No one could have spent more then ten minutes on their appearances.

The dance was great, after we changed and all. Fang and Iggy introduced us to their friends, which was everyone there. All fifty-odd people.

Fang and I danced most of the time. Yeah, I know, Maximum Ride danced? It didn't turn out as bad as I'd thought it would. Fang was enjoying his last few hours with me, and I was enjoying my last few hours with him. It was perfect. Plus the music, of which I had never heard any of the songs before, was great. Fang explained it was country music. When I asked why they played it, he said it was because we were in the south and that's what everyone at the school listened to. It made sense. Somewhat.

I didn't want the night to end. The dance- which everyone just referred to as a party- lasted until one or two in the morning. The four teachers that were supervising we acting just like teens. It was the best time I'd had in so long.

What was better was that nothing had gone wrong. There were no Erasers, no Flyboys, no nothing except fun. I was more relaxed then I'd been ever. Everyone was so nice and friendly. I'd miss it after I left.

Ella and Iggy went right to bed when we got home. Fang followed me to my room. I quickly changed into a shirt and pants to sleep in. Fang kept his back to me.

"Did you like the party?" he finally asked.

"It was amazing," I answered. "Better then a boring dance. You can turn around now."

Fang came over and kissed my forehead gently.

"I'm glad you liked it," he whispered. "But you still want to leave?"

"Need to," I corrected him. "I just hope that I can do that again. Someday."

"Someday," Fang echoed.

He kissed my lips gently, but it was more then enough to make my heart speed up. I would miss him more then anything else after I left…

"Goodnight, then, Max," he whispered. With that, he left my room.

I decided that it would be better to leave in the morning, after everyone went to school and Ella left. No one would see me leave, or, in Angel's case, feel me leave.

I settled down in my bed for what possibly may be the last time. My eyes drifted shut and I fell asleep, sleeping deeply for the first time in a long, long time.

I'm in my las week of school. All half days, and finals. Sadly. My band final today was a joke. There was bout 20 or so questions, and my teacher told us the ones we didn't know! He rocks. Tomorrow I have my english and science finals, ugh, and my track party, followed by my brothers boy scout party. Yay boy scouts! Lol. Probly no writin tomnorrow. Wednesday I'll start the next and I think last chapter. It should be up by Saturday or Sunday. Feel free to ask questions if y'all don't get something. This chapter was mostly a filler, but it had some important things in it. I think. Oh, and I've started reading the Twilight books. Well, I started on Friday. I'm on the third book right now. LOVE IT. Ok, enough of my babling. Review and I'll stop typin words to waste your time. Unless y'all want your time wasted, which, believe me, I want... I don't want to go to sleep. I wish we didn't need to sleep. Ok, that's enought, I'm really actin like Nudge. So just press the bluepurplegray color button and review. Ok, I'm done know. I think... -Max