Chapter twenty-five:

"You told?" I asked in disbelief. It was one thing to tell them after I basically just dumped him, according to most of my psychology books humans and animals alike, act irrationally in anger or territorialism. But he had to have told them before. I didn't understand.

He rolled his eyes. "Always jumping to conclusions." He looked at me dispassionately. "No. Your mom does this every year. When some people make a commitment they stick by it."

Ouch. I'll admit that one hurt. The way he was looking at me didn't help much either.

"What does she do?" I asked, sucking it up pretending to ignore his last comment.

"She kind of makes a shrine to you with candles and your picture. We all usually come to support her. We watch home movies of you and eat birthday cake."

"Oh."

He scoffed. "Whatever. I'm going downstairs." He looked at me before shutting the door. "Do us all a favour: Don't jump."

Right then, the door, like our relationship slammed shut.

*-*-8_8_

I contemplated jumping, I really did. But not to inflict pain on myself; I wasn't that stupid. To escape.

For the first time in about five years I felt completely trapped.

With what I'm sure was a sullen expression I opened the door quietly and went downstairs.

I expected to be ambushed. Honestly, it had happened enough times already.

"Max?" Ella said timidly. "You okay?"

I was puzzled. My eyes flashed to Fang, who remained frustratingly impassive, leaning against a wall, observing.

No, he hadn't told them about our recent break-up. In fact, I'm pretty sure we hadn't even told them about our fairly brief relationship.

It dawned on me. The books, the shrieks. Fang yelling at me. They could probably hear it all. I took a deep breath, but couldn't meet her eyes. Couldn't meet my Dad's eyes, because I knew, deep down he wouldn't want me to do this. "I'm fine." I uttered, and sat down in the furthest possible spot away from Fang.

I glanced at Nudge and Iggy, who were shifting uncomfortably from the tension in the room.

The door opened. "I'm home!" Mom called. She walked in, completely oblivious to the strained looks on everyone's faces.

Mom placed her keys on the side table and took her coat off.

She kissed Ella's head, and walked over to me, warily. Things were still tense after this morning. "How did it go Max?"

I shrugged. "It was alright. He's doing fine." I couldn't help but notice Fang's raised eyebrow in my direction. Are you going to tell her? It seemed to say. I rolled my eyes. No, of course not.

Mom simply nodded.

"Well, I don't know if Ella told you or not but every year we sort of have a little celebration for my daughter Maxine's birthday, by watching old movies and eating cake." She smiled. "It's nice to take one day a year to remember her."

"I'm sure." I said weakly.

"Well let's put those movies in shall we?"

*-*-8_8_

As we watched, I remembered. And remembering hurt. I was disgusted in myself. Never before had I ever felt like such an abomination- such a freak. Growing up, my wings were a part of me, and I didn't understand that they weren't normal. But now... seeing myself when I was young, innocent, and completely human, I realized how completely wrong my very existence was.

"She's so beautiful." My mom said, holding a two day old me. Though her face and her body looked tired her eyes still shone.

"You both are." My Dad said from behind the camera. Mom flashed him a loving smile.

"Maxie, are you gonna wave to your Gramma?" I have a Gramma? She lifted my little are up and moved it side to side. "Hi Gramma!"

The video transitioned to six months later.

Mom was feeding a slightly bigger me some green mush. It struck me how young she looked. She couldn't have been older than 22. There were no worry lines on her face, her brown eyes- my eyes- shone with a light that I had never seen before. She was stunning.

"Maxie, eat your food you silly girl."

I refused.

"Here Val, let me." My dad said and she took the camera as he came around. It took all I had not to gasp out loud. My father looked so different. His face as I knew it looked so... Haggard compared to the man in this video. He looked at both the baby and the woman behind the camera with so much adoration it was astounding.

The video transitioned to when I was about two.

Mom was behind the camera and I was wrapped up in the tire swing with my Dad pushing me.

"Maxie, do you like the swing Daddy made for you?" I giggled and nodded.

"MAXMAXMAXMAXMAX!" Was heard. Two little boys with the exact same hair cut, height and face shape came running into the picture. One of the boys had big blue eyes, almost white hair, and pale skin. The other huge black eyes, tan skin, and raven black hair.

I giggled as Dad lifted me down. "MAX! Nick bit me!" Iggy said.

The little culprit grinned proudly. "Show her your arm." He said.

Iggy held out his skinny little arm with a crescent shaped imprint on it. "Why did you bite him?" I asked, shocked.

"He ate my chocolate bar!"

I giggled. "I'm gonna start callin you Fang now."

I stood up. I couldn't take this anymore. Right now, remembering the fight with my mom this morning, and watching these videos, I knew exactly what to say to push her away. They were a low blow, but they were necessary.

"So this is the girl I'm supposed to be replacing?" I snarled. The faces around the room varied from confused to horrified. "I think I've got enough information to fill her role now, thanks." I forced out. It was all I could do not to run and give my mom a hug as tears filled her eyes.

I turned on my heel, walk towards the front entrance and slammed the door on my way out.

*-*-8_8_

I stayed out flying until the early hours of the morning, where everyone was fast asleep.

I felt... Out of place, to put it lightly. I felt like I didn't belong anywhere.

I always knew I was different. I accepted that I am a freak a long time ago. It never really bothered me until now. Because my Dad looked at me differently in those videos. I hadn't noticed that sadness in his eyes until I saw how happy he was. I truly didn't belong anywhere.

No. I thought, feeling the warm wind glide across my face. I belong here, in the sky. Here I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

*-*-8_8_

My heart clenched at the sight of mom asleep on the couch in the living room, most likely waiting up for me. I trudged upstairs and silently opened Ella's door a crack. She was asleep, tucked under her bright orange and purple comforter. I noticed that her eyes were slightly puffy and she had tissues crumpled around her. She had been crying.

Oh Ells...

I shut her door and scrubbed my hands over my face. Then my stomach let out a gurgle.

Stupid necessities. I thought. I suddenly really wanted my Dad's eggs. He did something to them, God knows what, that made them taste better than any other eggs I've ever had. I snorted. I was missing eggs. This was getting sad.

I made my way towards the kitchen. There was a slice of birthday cake on the counter. I grabbed a fork. Happy Birthday, Maxine. I thought as I took a bite.

*-*-8_8_

My eyes slid over to Fang, in the seat next to mine. He sat completely still eyes not turning away from the blackboard, but I knew he knew I was watching him.

In English class we would usually be having a silent conversation right now or passing notes even. I let out a sigh.

Now that I had... Well... Dumped him, I realized something very important. I missed him. Which is stupid, because how can you miss someone who is sitting right next to you?

Fang looked over at me. My eyes widened.

"Miss Ride!" The teacher exclaimed.

My head whipped around. "Hm?"

She rolled her eyes.

"I don't suppose you can tell me what we were just talking about can you?"

I glanced at the board and read the notes quickly. "The various themes about William Golding's Lord of the Flies."

She huffed and continued writing on the board. Normal people still confused me sometimes. I mean I told her what she wanted to hear and she still became angry.

I looked over at Fang. He was staring forward again.

*-*-8_8_

I burst out of the cafeteria doors in a panic. I still wasn't able to take crowds. But unlike what usually happened, no one came after me. Everyone was pissed off at me for my little show at Maxine- wait MY birthday party.

How does that song go? It's my party and I'll cry if I want to... Then again, only Fang knew it was my party, and he was mad at me for entirely different reasons.

Meh. Inconsequential inner ramblings.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. Probably another text from Mom. She acted like she was just worried, but I could tell she was more than a little angry with me.

At breakfast Ella wouldn't look at me. She was most definitely angry with me. I didn't even bother to offer her a ride this morning because she just breezed past me with an air of ice following her as she went to the Walkers'.

I walked over to one of the picnic tables and dumped my bag on it. I pulled my phone from my pocket.

Unknown number. Could it be? But I just talked to him yesterday! I drew my eyebrows together as I opened the text message.

You seem glum.

What's got you so down?

You seem like someone who's usually in high spirits.

-O

O? I didn't know anyone with the initial O.

A chill ran down my spine. I didn't like that. On the surface there didn't seem anything wrong with the message besides the fact that I didn't know who it was from. I took my slumped stature into account, and the frown on my face that had deepened.

I suddenly felt very much watched. I looked around me. Not a soul in sight.

You seem like someone who is usually in high spirits? THAT sounded too much like a reference of flight to me.

My phone buzzed.

You can look around all you want.

You can't run or hide.

I can do both.

I think my heart stopped beating for a second. Oh God.

Calm down, Max. I thought. It's probably just some stupid prank.

"Well well. If it isn't Miss Freakazoid herself." A sickly sweet voice said from behind me.

I whirled around, and rolled my eyes, dropping the fighting stance that had I automatically moved into. "Lisa. To what do I owe the pleasure?" The red haired demon spawn was flanked by two of her minions and two football players flanked them each. "Lisa, I'm touched. You brought all your little friends to meet me?" I said snarkily.

She did the classic popular girl hair flip, that made me once again feel like I was in a movie. "Did Nick dump your sorry ass once he realized what a freak you were? I can't help but notice he's in there, while you're out here."

I snorted. "Good girl! You want a cookie?"

Lisa's face screwed up into a scowl. I noticed her glance behind me, too late. Burly arms of what could only have been football players, members of the wrestling team, or whoever else Lisa was screwing, grabbed my arms and held them behind my back.

She glared at me. To anyone else, this would have been a frightening position. But I wasn't anyone else. I was Miss Freakazoid, who knew how to get out of this hold and pin my opponent down in seconds.

Lisa got up right in my face. "I am going to make you regret messing with me." I was about to pull out of the hold when she said "Nowhere to run now."

Nowhere to hide. I thought back to the text message. They said I couldn't hide, bit I could damn well try. So instead of pulling out of the hold of two teenage boys that should be stronger than me, I stayed put.

I mean, it was obvious the boys weren't comfortable with hitting me. But Lisa obviously was. And she looked like she couldn't crack an egg.

Then she pulled back her small fist and slammed it into my face.

I would like to pause the story for a minute, just to justify my next course of action.

You see, when I calculated the force of Lisa's fist on my nose I forgot to factor in that my bones are much thinner than human bones, my cartilage specifically. Usually I don't worry about it because I have my dense muscles tightly packed around my bones. What I forgot, is that there isn't a whole lot of muscle around my nose.

So, she unexpectedly broke it.

Now I have a very high pain tolerance. But broken noses hurt like a bitch. And whenever my body is subjected to immense pain, it goes into fight or flight mode. The scientists messed with, among other things, my adrenaline levels. So at this point in time I was standing there with a broken nose, blood gushing from it, my arms pinned behind my back, and adrenaline flooding through me at alarming rates, that needed to be used before I went into cardiac arrest.

So I could:

a) Fly away.

Because that would be a genius move.

b) Run away.

With my nose gushing blood? I don't think so. My blood is not a good thing to have lying around.

c) Fight.

And probably hospitalize everyone around me? No thanks.

So I chose option d).

I screamed bloody murder.