Hey Loves! The next chapter is up wooo hoooo! I realize it's really late, but still... Here it is! I hope you enjoy!

Oh and I wanted to address my reviewer who felt the need to call me an "extremely ignorant person" multiple times. No, I am not an ignorant person. I'm a busy junior in high school, juggling social events and status, basketball, schoolwork, my music, and church all at the same time. I'm not ignorant. I'm busy. I rarely get to sleep before midnight even on school nights, so forgive me if my update was too late for your schedule. Why don't you try handling my schedule for a change, and we'll see if you still feel the same?

Anywho! To the rest of my faithful reviewers (and even my reviewer who called me ignorant) I still love you, and I truly apologize for the wait!

Reviews make me smile.

KarleeRay

Two Months Later

"Relax, she's going to want to see you."

"How do you know? We didn't exactly leave things on the best of terms," Austin mutters. I look at him, take in the nervous bouncing of his leg, the darting eyes.

"Would you stop?" I ask, exasperated. "You act like you're going into battle or something."

I look around the empty waiting room, bored. We had been here for almost an hour already. How long could it possibly take to discharge a rehab patient?

Austin mutters something about love being a battlefield, and I roll my eyes.

"I'm serious," He persists. "I get why you wanted to be here to take her home. What I don't understand is why I had to be the one to drive you? Why couldn't you get your mom? Or hey, here's a good idea. Maybe you should have gotten her parents to bring you."

"I told you her homecoming is a surprise," I explain, trying to sound like I wasn't enjoying his little freak out. It was just so dang adorable, made me want to reach out and squeeze his cheeks.

Austin goes back to muttering, but I am trained in the art of selective hearing. What can I say? When you live with the Nudge Channel itself, you learn to drown a few things out.

I look up when the door opens.

"Max!" Carter squeals, dropping her bags to the floor. I stand just in time for her to barrel into me, wrapping her arms around me and holding me tight.

I laugh. "It's good to see you too."

She pulls back to beam at me. I take in her appearance. She looks beautiful, refreshed. There are no more bags under her eyes, no more stress wrinkles on her forehead, just plain smooth ivory skin. Her black hair is pulled back into a low pony tail, and a simple blue sundress falls to her knees. "Do you approve?" She giggles.

And I nod, pulling her back into a tight hug. It was so good to see her, the old Carter, the one I made my best friend. "You look good, kid."

Austin stands behind us, and Carter immediately stiffens, realizing his presence for the first time. She steps away from me so that she can see him clearly. Her eyes drink him in. "Hi," She says softly.

Austin gives her a slight smile and a nod before walking over to us. For a second, I think he's going to hug her as well, but instead he reaches passed her. "I'll get these for you," He offers, picking her bags up off of the floor.

Carter smiles cautiously. "Thanks." Her eyes trail after him as he heads out into the parking lot. They linger on the closed doors for a moment before she turns to me. "What is he doing here?"

I shrug. "I needed a ride."

She narrows her eyes. "I thought you got your permit."

"Weeeelllll," I drawl, reluctantly. "We've hit a slight bump in the rode on that one."

I scowl as Carter busts out laughing. "You failed your permit test?" She cackles. "I can't say I'm surprised."

"Yeah, yeah whatever," I snap, stalking past her and out the front doors. It wasn't my fault I failed the permit test. Anyone would have failed that. The questions were ridiculous.


"No I just dropped her off. I didn't want to intrude on family reunion time. Besides, you know I hate the whole mushy, gushy scene. I could smell it coming from a mile away," I tell my mom, plopping down on a barstool in the kitchen and wrinkling my nose at the mere thought of all the tears and I love you's that were sure to be thrown around Carter's homecoming.

She chuckles, shaking her head. "My daughters are polar opposites. One cries over everything and the other refuses to shed a tear."

"Well… we were raised just a tad differently," I hedge, biting into an apple.

Mom stiffens slightly. She doesn't like picturing just what all us bird kids had been through before we met her and even after we met her. And I didn't blame her, not one bit. It's not exactly a peaceful stroll down memory lane.

I continue eating my apple in silence until Fang and Iggy walk into the room, deep in conversation.

"No this time I mean it," Iggy insists. "I didn't do anything. That old hag just has it out for me."

Fang shakes his head. "Yeah right."

If looks could kill, Fang would be a dead man. Iggy's sightless eyes have his location pinned exactly, and he glares in a way only Iggy can glare. "Fine," He growls. "Don't believe me."

I can see Fang struggling not to laugh, which makes me smile. It's a rare sight to see him so relaxed and open.

Fang looks up when I shake my head in exasperation. "Stop baiting him, Fang," I chastise.

His dark eyes light as they land on me. "You're back."

I smile slightly as Fang states the obvious. Our eyes meet, and the normal warm fuzzies start up in my stomach. I could stay like that all day and be content, with Fang's black eyes boring into mine, a thousand unsaid messages flowing between us in a single glance.

I break his gaze when my mom speaks. "Iggy," she starts sternly. "Is there something I should know about?"

"Nope, Dr.M. Everything's all good," He says smoothly before darting out of the kitchen.

I watch as my mom rolls her eyes, knowing better, but not pressing the matter. She turns on Fang and I. "I take it the first week back has been okay?"

Fang shrugs, leaving me to do the talking. "It's fine," I say curtly, though walking those halls everyday is far from fine. Every corner I round, every classroom I enter, triggers flashbacks from that day.

My mom pins me with her chocolate brown eyes. "Are you sure?"

I can feel Fang's muscles tighten just slightly as tension blankets the air. "Yes," I say finally.

She holds my gaze for a moment longer before turning away. I watch mutely as she opens the cabinets and smile when she wisely changes the subject. "So what are we thinking for dinner tonight?"


"You'd think I'm a celebrity or something," Carter mutters as we leave the front office on her first day back at school. She pushes a strand of jet black hair behind her ear and raises her chin. "I always knew I'd be famous someday," She jokes, and I make sure my face stays frozen into place, giving nothing away. "You leave school for a few months, and then suddenly you're like the shiny new toy in kindergarten." She waves and smiles at a group of freshman boys, eyeing her like a piece of meat while they snicker under their breaths.

And that's when I know I've made a mistake. A big one. That's probably going to cost me. I should have told Carter that her, ah, "tape" had been released to the entire school. Instead, I was naïve enough to think that everyone would forget about it before she got back. I mean that happened months ago, throw in a school shooting and you'd think a stupid scandalous tape would be the last thing on these kids' minds. But no, the second Carter stepped out of my mom's van, all eyes (and jokes) were on her.

I snatch Carter's hand out of the air mid-wave. "Stop that," I say stiffly. "You're drawing even more attention to yourself."

"Whaaat? Why is that a bad thing? It's my first day back. My big debut," She whines. "Don't be such a Debbie Downer. I'm just happy to be among The Normals again."

I raise an eyebrow. Normal? Yeah, not so much, what with all these enhanced people thrown into the mix.

Carter rolls her eyes. "You know what I mean." And then she freezes, smile dropping. "Wait, they don't know, do they? You covered for me, right?"

I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding. For a moment, I thought she had figured it out, remembered her old good for nothing boyfriend and his home made video. "Yeah," I say. "I told them you transferred schools. Rehab was never even mentioned."

Carter smiles, throwing an arm around my waist. "I knew I could count on you."

My stomach churns unsteadily. When do I tell her? Do I tell her? I have to tell her, right? Or should I let someone beat me to it?... No, don't be a coward, Max.

I turn to face her, open my mouth to poor out just what all disgusting things these kids were staring at her for, when Fang and Nudge round the corner in front of us.

Nudge smiles brightly and waves, urging us to catch up to them.

"Hey guys," Carter chirps as we fall into step beside two of my flock members.

My hand instinctively moves into Fang's, absently stroking his calluses with my thumb.

"It's soooo great to have you back, Carter. I feel like it's been forever… but really it hasn't, it just seems that way. It's funny how sometimes, time flies and other times, it drags on. And then…" Nudge stops, catching looks from Fang and I. "It's just funny, you know?" She says before shutting her mouth.

But Carter just laughs at Nudge's rambling before linking arms with her. "Smile, Pretty Girl," Carter trills. "They're all watching." She gestures proudly to the cliques of kids whose attention is now focused on her.

Nudge carefully studies Carter before looking back at me over her shoulder with a question in her eyes. I quickly shake my head, signaling that Carter knows nothing.

At that, Fang pulls me to a halt, letting Nudge and Carter go ahead and out of earshot. "You haven't told her?" Fang asks.

"I was going to," I say, knowing I sound defensive but not being able to help it. "It's just… I don't know. It's her first day back. She's in such a good mood. She thinks she has this celebrity status." I gesture around at the groups of kids still snickering and carrying on. "This is going to crush her."

Fang sighs, bringing his other hand to hold my other hand, so that both of our hands hang between us, fingers entwined tightly around each other. He doesn't say anything, just gives me a long glance.

"I know," I say finally, defeated. "I have to be the one to tell her." He raises his eyebrows, his black eyes never leaving mine. "Okay fine, yes I know you were right. I should have told her before."

Fang gives me his killer half smile. "As I keep reminding you, I'm always right."

I roll my eyes. "Please," I huff.

Fang smiles again, making my heart stutter as he leans in, his lips centimeters from my own. I can feel his breath on my parted lips, so close. "You're so cute when you're anxious," He whispers into my mouth, and just as I close my eyes and lean in to close that tiny distance left between us, he turns his face away, laughing at my confused expression when my lips meet nothing but air.

My eyes snap open to see him standing a few feet away, chuckling, and chuckling even harder when confusion turns to anger.

"We're going to be late for class," He says, smugly.

"You tease," I spit, striding right past him and leaving him in my dust, even though I want him so bad it hurts.


Kace is already seated in our next class, and I plop down into my normal desk beside him.

I gather my things needed for this class before turning to find him texting away on his cell. "Um hello? It's not like we have a project due next week or anything."

Kace huffs, annoyed. "I'm fine, thanks for asking. How are you?"

I glare at him, but it does no good since his eyes are glued to his cellphone screen. I watch him, pecking away at the keyboard. "Who could you possibly be sending that long of a message to? I mean, it's not like you have any friends because to have friends you have to socialize. And we all know you're a little awkward in those types of situations," I say, faking earnesty as I take my first dig at him.

He scoffs. "Awkward? Please." Finally, he sets his phone to the side. "You might not understand this, Max, because you're a bit delusional and stuck in your head sometimes, but the ladies love me." I lean back, take in his ash blonde hair, his piercing gray eyes, the way he holds himself with such arrogance. Even I have to admit, the boy is attractive. But God, what an attitude. And those poor girls he's seemingly texting. They must not know that Kace would be incapable of being in a relationship. He said it himself. He has a heart that he never plans to use.

I roll my eyes. "And I'm the delusional one?"

He just looks at me skeptically before saying, "Is that really a question?"

I groan out loud. "You're impossible!"

The rest of the period went on like that, Kace and I bickering back and forth and not getting any work done on our project. At one point, our bantering got so loud that the rest of the class tuned in, eager and ready to laugh as we one upped each other with witty comebacks.

"Thanks for nothing," I mutter as the bell rings, and I walk out the door, pinching the bridge of my nose. I really need to get a good grade on this project, however, that seems impossible as long as Kace is my partner.

I continue down the main hall, making my way toward the cafeteria along with the rest of the student body. I begin to feel claustrophobic, which is not out of character for me, and start making my way to a deserted hallway where I can wait for the "lunch rush" to pass. As I round the corner I'm surprised to see Alexandra standing and conversing with someone at the very far end of the otherwise deserted hallway.

But even with his back to me, It's not hard to figure out that it's Fang, clad in all black as usual, bored and nonchalant stance in place.

Alexandra catches sight of me over Fang's shoulder, and I can see the flare of hatred rise in her eyes even from this far away. She smirks, turning her hard gaze back to Fang.

I get this unexplainable sinking feeling in my stomach and quicken my pace, wondering what on earth Fang could be doing down here with her of all people. He knows I can't stand the girl.

Alexandra stares hard at Fang, saying nothing, which really was kind of weird.

I'm just about to open my mouth and call out to Fang when the most horrible, stomach churning, vomit inducing scene plays out before me.

One moment, Alexandra is staring my boyfriend down like a piece of meat and the next, my boyfriend is throwing himself at her, crashing his perfect lips onto her undeserving ones.

I freeze like a deer in headlights. I can't breathe. I can't move, can do nothing but watch as Fang backs Alexandra up against the lockers, deepens their kiss like he had so many times with me.

I swallow convulsively, literally wanting to vomit at the thought of Alexandra getting to feel what I get to feel every day.

I watch as her pale, feminine hands snake into his hair, and something about that small gesture snaps me out of my pathetic state and back into Maximum Ride.

"What the hell?!" I shout, marching forward, and they instantly break apart, Fang jumping back from her and blinking around as if he's confused.

His eyes focus on me and then swivel back to Alexandra, who's leaning up against the lockers with a knowing smirk in place on her face.

Fang's jaw drops as if he's astonished. He stares at Alexandra and then turns opening his hands as if to intercept me. He may look confused, but he knows an Angry Max when he sees one. "Max, I- Hold on-"

"What the hell, Fang?" I demand, so hurt, so confused so betrayed. My mind races at a hundred miles per hour, replaying every kiss, every intimate touch, and wondering if it was possible that those moments weren't as special to Fang as they were to me.

He grabs my arms, roots me in place. "Max, listen to me. Listen to me!" He pleads as my eyes fill with tears, and I wrench myself free from his grasp as if he's poisonous.

He reaches for me again. "Sweetie, I-" He cradles my face in his hands, his face full of anguish, dropping his normal stoic mask.

"What the hell, Fang?" I whisper, my voice choked by tears, looking into his eyes and wishing he could tell me that all of this was just a dream, that what just happened wasn't real.

But Fang looks just as confused as I do, as if he's not sure what to say, how to explain. Probably because there is no reasonable explanation for what just happened.

"I don't… I don't…" He starts, gazing into my eyes, willing me not to jerk away but I do any way.

"Baby, I-" He swallows hard.

I release a big breath I didn't know I had been holding. "Fang!" I exclaim, glaring at him incredulously. "Fang." I can't even put into words the feelings swirling around my head, so I just stare at him with the utmost expression of disbelief sketched across my face.

And when he doesn't say anything, can't seem to find words, I look him straight in the eye. "Screw you." And then I turn on my heel and begin marching away, praying that I can make it out of earshot before I break down.

"Max, wait…" Fang pleads, reaching for me, but he's too late.

I'm already gone.

*Evil smile* Don't hate me too much yall! You'll just have to stick around and see where I'm going with this! Just remember... I love FAX. That's all I'll say.

Please review. You know you want to.

KarleeRay