Chapter Six: Tears and Hurt

MAX POV

I ran away from Jeb, the lab, my Evil Stepmom and Baby Matt, and my old life five days ago and so far I have been lucky enough to not have run into trouble. I keep checking my Eraser-tracker-device every ten minutes (since I am paranoid) and it has been buzzing with activity as Jeb sends out those creeps to try and find me. And I mean he has those creeps everywhere. As in all the way to Australia everywhere. I mean, I am Jeb's most expensive and prized experiment so I can see why he would want to back so badly.

Well, poo Jeb. News flash: I ain't coming back so take that! Ha!

Wow, I am shouting at Jeb in my head. I probably have been given mental issues thanks to Jeb and his stupid pyscho scientists.

I am currently sitting in a branch two miles away from Mom, Emily, Aiden and Ella's house. Over the past five days I have debated going to see them and their new happy lives or just heading east. I decided I needed to see if Emily, Aiden and Ella even missed me. I need proof that they are just like everyone else. Happy with their perfect lives. Completely normal. Because, well, we all know that I don't have either of those things. And I never will have either of those things. Jeb took that away from me the moment he decided to inject me with that horrible serum.

I have actually been in the area for the past few days mustering up the courage to see my siblings and their perfect little lives. I can fight ten Erasers at once, easy peesy, but I can't seem to find the guts of rejection and hurt. Well, we all know by now that I don't do well with emotions and I never will.

Anyway, I think I am finally going to go before I totally chicken out. Now or never, Max.

So, I stand up from where I am sitting and unfurl my wings. As I fly the short distance, I smile and just relish in the fact that this is the only good in my life. This is why I am still living. So I can enjoy something that no one else can enjoy. God, what am I saying? Just forget I said that.

I land behind that closest tree to the house almost silently. I turn invisible and walk to the front door but I pause with my hand hovering over the doorbell. Come on, Max! Just ring it! What is the worst that can happen? Well, a lot of bad things can happen. All of which shatters my hope that I still have a family that cares about me. I close my eyes and take a slow deep breath. Before I can comprehend what I am getting myself into, my finger presses the doorbell. I open my eyes as I hear shuffling coming from instead and a few muffled voices. The door opens two seconds later to an older man. He looks around for the person who rang the bell and frowns when he doesn't see anyone. Before he closes the door, I quickly slip inside, barely avoiding brushing against the man. When you first walk inside you see the open kitchen and living room. I see Mom cooking lunch and a little boy rambling to her. The boy looks like an exact copy of the older man but Mom's and I's eyes. Oh, the older man must be her new husband and the cute boy by half-brother. God, my family never seems to stop growing.

I turn in the direction to see a whole group of people talking in a circle. I see Emily next to a boy her age with black hair, brownie colored eyes, olive skin and extremely tall for his age. He has his arm around her waist so I am guessing that this boy is Emily's boyfriend. Emily is laughing and smiling and I feel another piece of my heart start to break. (One piece already is gone when I found out that they left without me).

Two pieces of my heart: gone.

Then I see a boy with strawberry blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes, and pale skin on Emily's other side laughing and whispering to her and her boyfriend. (AN: BTW, Iggy is NOT blind in this fanfic since it is not necessary). Next to Iggy is Aiden with a girl his age and they are deep in conservation. The girl has dark brown skin, hazel eyes, and black frizzy hair. Aiden says something, kisses her cheek and the girl blushing. I'm guessing Aiden and this girl are dating. Next to the girl is Ella who is talking to two kids her own age. Both kids are definitely twins because they both have beautiful blonde curly hair, ocean blue eyes, and pale-ish skin.

As I watch them laugh and have fun my heart breaks more. Three pieces: gone. I can't take anymore of this but I can't seem to look away or even move for that matter. Great. My stupid feet don't seem to want to move. I can feel the tears starting to form in my eyes. It is so depressing seeing my best friend, twin, and little sister having the time of their lives not worrying about me and not remembering me.

Then the worst happens to make this situation worse. In my depressed state, my invisibility has started to waver. Crap. And to make matters worse, Emily's boyfriend noticed. He whispers to Emily whose eyes widen and she turns her head in my direction. I quickly recover but not before her eyes narrow and she stands up to start walking in my direction. Again, my feet don't seem to want to move. Double crap.

What do I do? While I was thinking, I didn't notice when Emily stopped right in front of me with her eyes narrowed. I think she realized that it was me. She was the only one who knew about my powers. Triple crap.

EMILY POV

I groan when I hear my annoying alarm clock start to go off. I throw my hand down on the device but a little too hard when I hear part of it break slightly. Whoops. Sadly, it continues to beep. I turn it off and sit up slowly. 10:00 a.m. My boyfriend, Fang, and our friends will be over in an hour for lunch and hang out time. (Yeah sorry Fax people. Fang is Emily's age and yeah. And I decided that in this fanfic, there is no relationship for Max, just friendships over her world travels. Yeah, sorry people! My fanfic so I have the power! Anyways, storytime!)

I quickly put on some ripped jeans, a light yellow t-shirt, and the bracelet Max gave me. I pull my hair into a ponytail, curl the ends and place light makeup on. I have never really been one for make-up (which Max and I have in common) but now that I attend a high school where I am popular and I have an amazing boyfriend, I decided what the heck. Plus, it really isn't that bad to have slight make-up on and nicer clothes that sweatpants. I mean, yeah, I like looking nice but I haven't liked make-up. Anyways, I rush downstairs to see Ella, John, and Jake watching their morning show and Mom and Aiden in the kitchen making a quick breakfast since we will be having lunch soon.

Time Skip! Skippy is back! If you don't know who I am then read my other fanfic!

I am sitting on the couch with Aiden and Ella. John and Jake are in the kitchen helping Mom with lunch. Suddenly, I hear the doorbell and race to the door. I see my boyfriend, Fang, and Aiden's girlfriend, Nudge, who is aso Fang's adopted sister. I smile when I see them and allow them to enter my very fine home. Fang gives me a peck on the lips and Aiden gives one to Nudge. God, they are such a cute couple! If only Max was here to tease Aiden and I about our cheesy and cute relationships. My happy mood falters slightly. God, everytime I think about Max my mood changes. And changes to something sad and depressed. Fand noticed my sudden change in mood because he engulfs me in a hug. I relax into it and wrap my hands around his waist.

We let go and the four of us walk into the living room where Ella's attention is still on the tv. About thirty minutes later the doorbell rings and this time it is Ella who is at the door at lightning speed. Soon, Iggy, Gazzy and Angel are all in the living room with the rest of us. We all get into a circle on the floor and start talking about the most random things. We laugh, crack jokes and just have fun as Mom gets the rest of lunch together. Around noon, the doorbell rings and John answers the door since no one else really hears it. He closes the door and walks into the room with a weird expression on his face but I don't say anything since I am deep in conversation with Fang and Iggy about sports and how rude some of the kids are. It made me laugh.

Suddenly, something feels off like we are being watched. I quickly glance around the room without anyone noticing but I still don't see anyone. Out of the corner of my eye I see something flicker. Well, kind of more like someone but that would be crazy so I don't pay any attention. But then Fang's snaps up in the direction of the flickery thingy and he whispers in my ear.

"Someone is watching us over there," then he jerks his head in the direction of what I saw early. My head too, snaps up and I start walking towards the stop where the person is. How are they hiding? That is a very good question. My eyes narrow as the figure flickers a few more times. By now, that entire room is dead silent as everyone watches me. I stand in front of where the person was and reach out. My hand grabs a shoulder and I gasp as I hear someone gasp as well but in front of me. Invisible. But that could only mean one thing. Then, someone appears right in front of me. The same face I know but with tear-filled eyes. My eyes widen as I realize that she is really here in front of me.

"Max," I breathe. In seconds Ella and Aiden are right behind me and we are all staring at our sister who we reluctantly left months ago. But she doesn't know that. God, I feel guilty. Before I can say anything else she places something in my hand and becomes invisible. Crap.

I look down at the object in my hand. It was the bracelet I made Max and I note from here. I couldn't do anything but stare down at the two objects. I couldn't say anything as Ella and Aiden asked how Max was here and why she could turn invisible and as our friends asked who the girl was.

All I could do was stare and think: Max, you got it all wrong. We are sorry and we truly do miss you.

But I know it is too late. She is gone and hurt that she saw us having a nice life without her. I realize the pain we caused her. The pain I caused her. She will never want to see us again and she will be heartbroken. And it is all my fault. I should have gone back and saved Max if it meant getting into some serious trouble.

God, I am sorry Max.

Sorry if you guys wanted some conversation between Emily and her friends. I just didn't feel like writing out a convo at the moment. I had a hard time writing this chapter for some reason so I hope you like it. Hopefully the next chapter will come quicker but I am not sure. Next chapter will be the letter Max wrote and Max's POV from the moment Emily caught her. Please review! Oh, and at the moment, I am working on another story so I will be writing this one and the other one at the same time. I am a few chapters in for the other story and will post that soon.

-Kath