(Author's Note: Guess who's baaaaaaaaack? I am VERY sorry for the hiatus, a lot's been going on. I'm starting a brand new updating schedule that I'm certain I'll be able to get done. The plan is for each story to have a specific updating day every other week. So Lena Loud's assigned day will be Wednesday, meaning it'll be updated every other Wednesday.
Just a small little heads up/warning: there WILL be spoilers for the Maximum Ride series throughout this chapter. I don't know if any of you are Maximum Ride fans, but I just wanted to make sure that you were aware. Consider this your spoiler warning (literally ANYTHING in the Maximum series could be spoiled in this chapter).
Hope you enjoy:)
Chapter Fifteen: Just Another Day
"Come on everyone! Time for school!" I rubbed my eyes and let out a yawn as I pulled my blanket from over my head. With my eyes shut and my brain still a little fuzzy (I'm not usually the best first thing in the morning), I threw my blanket from over my body and sat on the edge of my bed.
I could hear my roommates (already) arguing with one another just a few feet away from me, but I didn't think anything of it or even try to prevent it. It was too early in the morning, and I was still too tired.
Patting my cheeks a bit roughly to try and wake myself up, I leapt down off of my bed, made it a bit (not very perfectly), and headed towards the door after Lana and Lola.
[+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+]
After waiting in line for a turn in the bathroom (why we haven't at least tried to make this habit easier on all of us, I have no idea), I was downstairs eating breakfast with my siblings. Nothing too special really, just a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I had my cheek resting on my palm as I just stared at the wall with a simply blank expression as I ate my food.
I was sitting in the kitchen with the twins, Lucy, and Lisa. Because of our larger family (and my parents deciding, for one reason or another, to not buy a larger dining room table), me and the our younger kids had to sit at the "Kitty Table" in the kitchen. Lincoln and Lily would also sit here with us, but the former had just taken some toast before heading off back to his room and the latter had been taken by mom.
Nothing really special going on, just one of those days…you know?
"Alright everybody," the five of us turned to see Lori walk into the kitchen, texting on her phone in one hand and eating a Fiber One Bar (lemon, just in case any of you were curious) (1) in the other, "Hurry up and finish your food, we're leaving in fifteen minutes." I didn't start eating any faster or rush myself, I was in no hurry. I always make sure to have my things ready before I eat breakfast (2).
About fifteen minutes later, I was at the back of the line of my siblings to get into Vanzilla. Well…"line" may not be the best of statements. Most of my siblings ran and try to push each other to get in the van sooner. The only ones who weren't doing that were me (obviously), Lucy, Lisa, and Lori (though, I think that she wasn't in much of a rush because…well, she's the driver).
I got into the back most seat in Vanzilla, in-between Lucy and Lana (I was NOT going to seat in-between Lana and Lola. I made that mistake once, and I had NO intention of making that mistake again).
I reached into my bookbag and pulled out a book of mine to read as we drive. It was book four of the nine book "Maximum Ride" series. My favorite book series without a shadow of a doubt. I was smitten as soon as I picked up the first book (3).
For those who (somehow) don't know, the series itself was about a group of six kids who were taken from their families and experimented on. They're 98% human and 2% avian…or bird. Despite only being 2% bird, all of the Flock had these awesome wings on their backs. They're also super strong, are amazing fighters, can survive situations that they (realistically) shouldn't, and (in later installments) they even have gills which allows them to breath underwater.
I almost immediately fell in love with the Flock (the main characters, BTW). Max was AMAZING. She pretty much became a role model of sorts for me. She was everything that I wish I was. Tough, courageous, fearless, and not afraid to fight when she needs to. Honestly though…I feel that she can have a bit of an attitude towards everyone at times (I understand why, but still). She kind of reminds me of Lori a little bit, can be a bit moody, but is a good person and is ferocious when you threaten someone they love. Her unique power was being able to fly at superhuman speeds (instantly going at up to three hundred miles per hour), even faster then the rest of the Flock.
Fang was pretty cool too. All quiet, calm, and collected, almost reminded me of Lucy in a way. Although more sarcastic then her (if only by a bit). His unique power is the ability to virtually completely disappear from anyone's view by remaining silent and motionless.
Iggy was an interesting character. He was blind from a young age after the Whitecoats (the evil scientists that created the Flock) tried to enhance his night vision. Being blind for almost a decade allowed Iggy time to adapt, giving him far better senses then even the Flock (who already had good senses). He actually had two unique powers: he could tell the color of anything by touching it (WHAT?!), and could actually "see" white objects and make out his surroundings based off of it.
Nudge may have been the most enjoyable member of the Flock for me. She was a sweet and kind girl, her talkative personality and interests remind me of a combination of Leni and Luan. Like Iggy, she also had two unique powers: she could sense the leftover emotion of objects (actually making her the Flock's hacker), and she could draw metal to her at will.
The Gasman was...interesting to say the least. Let's just say that his name…isn't exactly a coincidence (please understand me). Anyway, he was a ruff and tumble kid that reminded me of Lana. The primary difference being his love of explosions and anything similar (at least…I hope that's a difference between them). His unique power is that he can imitate any sound and/or voice he hears. There are some who say that he has another unique power…but, I'm not going to discuss that.
And finally…there's Angel, the youngest member of the Flock. She was a really sweet and innocent girl in early installments, but she ended up becoming more like…well, Lola. Bratty and mean at times, but still having a good heart and care for her loved ones. She (quite literally) hit the jackpot when it came to unique powers: she could read and control the minds of others, survive pressures that would kill normal humans, and could shape-shift by changing her hair, eye, and skin color at will, along with changing into a sort of human/bird hybrid in her physical form. The books also try to make it a plot point that she can see into the future, but the way it was used was sloppy and didn't make any sense (if you ask me)
Those were the "main" members of the Flock, but there were also "secondary" members that I enjoyed a great deal.
The one that's stuck with them the longest is Total. He looked like a normal dog at first glance, but later books revealed that he could not only talk…but FLY! He's also so funny, easily one of the best characters in the book! And…HE'S SO ADORABLE! Don't get me wrong, I love Charles and ALL of our other pets…but Total is just incredible!
…
…
Ahem, anyway…
Another important member is named Dylan. Despite looking the same age as Max, Fang, and Iggy, he's actually less then a year old. He was said to be a clone of another boy named Dylan very recently. Apparently, he's one of the most hated characters in the fandom. Even more so many of the very villains and antagonists! If you ask me, this is stupid. The reason he's hated is because he "drove a wedge" between Max and Fang just when they were realizing their feelings for one another. Which isn't true in the slightest!
Max showed NO interest in Dylan until after Fax had left her (which he'd done THREE times!). Dylan was created to be Max's "perfect other half" (basically her soulmate), and even Max herself specifically stated that she would have loved to have Dylan for a soulmate…IF she didn't already have Fang. The only time she showed is when Fang left (without even saying why to her face I should mention!). So…technically, the fandom hates Dylan for something that Fang did!
…I'm sorry, this is just something that irritates me (4).
Anyway, Dylan is actually a very good person. He's kind, sweet, and loyal, willing to put others before himself (including when he realized that Max loved Fang, and not him). He's also possibly the most powerful member of the Flock, being faster, stronger, and more durable then the others. He could also heal minor wounds with his saliva (ew!) and has incredible eyesight, to the point where he can see across the sea, in space, and even (supposedly) across time itself.
Another one who was apart of the Flock for some time is named Ari Batchelder. He was an Eraser, human/wolf hybrids that were created by the School (the home base of the Whitecoats) to hunt down and capture the Flock. They were usually beautiful people with voices like honey in order to lure their prey into a false sense of security. Ari wasn't like that though. Whereas other Erasers were created from birth, Ari was mutated into an Eraser at a young age. He was a villain originally, but later became more of a sympathetic character as the books went on. Really showing him as still being a kid beneath all of that fur and hatred (I literally cried at his death in the third book) (5).
"Lena. Lena!" I blinked and looked to my side, seeing Lucy staring at me (from beneath her bangs). "It's time to go." I looked around and saw that all of my older siblings had already left, the rest of my other siblings already leaving the van. I looked out of the window behind my goth sister, and could see my school behind her.
"Oh, sorry," I replied to Lucy with a sheepish smile as I put my book back in my bookbag (huh…funny) and climbed out of my seat, walking out of the van with Lucy behind me.
[+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+]
RING!
"Alright everyone…remember, tonight's homework will be pages 17 through 20 in your Math Workbook. I expect them to be done when you enter class tomorrow!" Our teacher, Mrs. Smith, called out to us as everyone began making their way out of the classroom. She was probably around the same age as mom, having a similar skin tone but with auburn hair arranged in a ponytail. She wore black-rimmed glasses, a white shirt with a purple jacket, and blue pants. She was a very nice, but strict, teacher. Some call her mean, but she's actually one of the sweetest people I've ever met. Seriously, she could give Leni a run for her money!
It's just a matter of listening to and respecting her. Personally, I think all teachers are like that. Well…most of them at least. If you just respect them and do the work, you'll find that your teachers will be quite nice. Well…most of them anywhere (6).
I felt someone bump into me, "Hey there you," of course, it was Laura (my BFF).
"Hi Laura. How's your day been so far?"
"Well…it's school. So…how do you think it's been?" I rolled my eyes, always so negative this one.
"You know…school might just be better and easier to deal with if you didn't complain about it…oh, every minute of every day (7)."
Laura put a hand to her chin and closed a single eye in her own degree of a thinking pose. After a few moments of silence, "Nah. Things are fine so far…if it ain't broke, don't fix it." I shook my head…Laura is my best friend in the whole world, but she can really be a pain at times.
"Come on," I pulled her arm, "Let's go get some lunch."
[+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+]
I took a bite out of my slice of pizza before taking a drink from my juice. I got two slices of pizza, a bag of carrots (with a small thing of ranch), an apple, and a can of juice. Laura got a burger, some fries, an apple, and a can of juice. Just in case you were curious.
"Hey," Laura shoved me in the shoulder, causing me to glare at her, "Isn't that your friend Ben?" I looked over to where she was pointing and saw that she was right. Sitting over by himself was Ben (or Benjamin) Benson, I recognized the orange hoodie, blue shorts, and neat black hair.
"Why he sitting by himself?"
"Maybe he doesn't know anyone. Besides you and your siblings…and even his siblings, what friends has he shown to make?" Laura made a good point.
"Come on," I told her, putting up my tray, "We're gonna go sit with him."
"Right behind you."
"Hey Ben!" I called out to him as Laura and I walked up to his table.
He looked up from his food, his eyes widening in slight surprise when he saw me, "Oh…hey Lena," he looked over to Laura, "Who's she?"
"I'm Laura, I'm this one's best friend in the WHOLE wide world!" She commented with a smirk as she threw an arm around my shoulder.
I rolled my eyes before locking back to Ben, "Just ignore she. Anyway, would it be alright if Laura and I sat with you? You looked a little lonely (8)."
"Sure…if you guys really want to." We both took a seat with Ben, me on his left and Laura on his right.
"So…Lena tells me that you and your siblings are (essentially) the opposite gender versions of her and her siblings? That you have ten brothers and one sister?"
"Yes. My older brothers Bryce, Bruce, Barry, and Brandon, along with my sister Bailey all go to this school as well. But they have different lunch periods, so I kinda came here by myself."
"My siblings have different lunch periods too," I interjected, "I'd also be by myself if it weren't for Laura."
"You're welcome," Laura commented, with a mouthful of fries. I waved her off, to which she just responded by sticking her tongue out at me. She then turned to Ben and threw an arm around his shoulder, "But, you don't gotta worry about that anymore. You got us now to deal with, and you can guarantee that things will be much better for you now."
Ben just turned to me, "Is that a true statement?"
I shrugged, "I have my doubts, to be perfectly honest."
"HEY!" The two of us shared a look before sharing a laugh.
"So Ben," I turned to him, ignoring Laura's glare, "How come I haven't seen you in class or anything?"
"Well…I was a little hesitant to say anything to be honest."
"Really?" I asked with a tilted head, that didn't make any sense to me, "But…you seen like such an outgoing person. Like most of my sisters or even most of your brothers."
"Yeah, but I guess I was just a little freaked out by starting in a brand new school. You know?"
"I can get being freaked out in school and around people and whatnot. Totally get it," I put a hand on his shoulder, "You can hang around with me and Laura."
"That's…pretty cool. Thanks Lena," he smiled brightly, showing all of his teeth. Suddenly, I felt my heart beating a bit faster then usual. "Hey," I focused back on Ben, who was now looking at (the still glaring) Laura, "Has she been glaring at us this entire time?"
I giggled a little bit, "Knowing her, I'd say yes."
"You're not funny," she commented, pointing a fry at me.
"I disagree. I can be pretty funny when I want to be." She didn't answer, only angrily biting into her fry.
[+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+]
I bit down on my eraser as I stared at the paper in front of me. Man, I hate tests! Sure, I studied…but that doesn't mean I have to like it. It was an English test, and, yes, they were easier then math tests. I hate math (9)!
It was a test on vocabulary and grammar, not an easy test I can tell you.
"Alright students!" Our teacher, Mr. Maxwell, commented from his book. He was a tall man with dark skin, cut black hair, a white shirt, and light brown shorts (to which I could also make out a tattoo of a cobra on his leg), "Two minutes remaining in the test!" Dang it. I only had two questions left (which is good)…except these questions are in the vocab matching section and I have no clue which would be which (which is bad).
Deft and jargon. One meaning specialized vocabulary of members of a group...and the other meaning skillful.
I started biting down on my entire pencil as I stared at the final two blanks on my paper. Deft and jargon. My eyes quickly darted from blank to blank, my teeth grinding harder on my pencil
Which one goes where?
"Alright! That's the test! Please have your papers at the edge of your desks so I can collect them." My eyes widened in fright. Crud! I'm still not done! My pencil hand was shaking and I was certain that I was sweating up a storm.
Mr. Maxwell had already taken up half of the tests, and was getting closer and closer to me. Come on Lena, just pick an answer! It's not that difficult, just write the words! He was down only five desks from me.
Four desks.
Three desks. My entire body was shaking so badly that I looked like speedsters in the CW when they were vibrating their entire bodies (I started watching those shows with Lincoln after I became interested in superheroes).
Two desks.
One desk.
"Ms. Loud?" I flinched when I realized that Mr. Maxwell was standing right next to my desk. He held out his hand, "Your test…please." Barely thinking, I quickly wrote down the last two words in the last two blanks and handed my test to Mr. Maxwell. I tried to smile to appear like I was fine, but I'm pretty sure it just came out as weird and unusual.
Key factor to take away from this? I do NOT like taking tests.
[+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+][+]
(Five Minutes Later)
My eyes were barely opened as I walked through the halls. I found that test to be more mentally draining then I thought.
"Laura," I heard Ben's voice, "Are you alright?"
"You look like you were just raised from the dead," I heard Laura's voice next and then felt both of her arms wrap around my neck.
"I'm okay," I waved off, "It was just the English test."
"Oh yeah!" Ben called out, "I remember that."
"I HATED that!" Laura exclaimed
"Pretty sure that we're not supposed to take the tests to enjoy them," Ben commented.
"Oh, so you're a smart aleck too?" Laura stepped up to Ben with her fists on her hips and stared at him with narrowed eyes, before her entire expression turned into a large smile. She stepped to Ben's side and slapped him in the back, "I knew I liked you kid!"
Ben's eyebrow raised, "Kid? You're NOT that much older then I am."
Laura waved her hand off, "Oh…details, details, details. What's the fun of getting too focused in on all of the details?" Ben gave me a "Is she serious?" look, and I just nodded.
I heard a honk, "Lena!" I turned around and saw Lori sitting in Vanzilla, with my eldest siblings already in the van as the siblings of mine that went to the same school were climbing into said van.
I turned to my friends, "Sorry guys, I've gotta go." There was another honk, but not one from Lori or any of my siblings.
"Yeah, me too," Ben said, pointing backwards to the familiar dark green van of the Benson family.
"Up…looks like me too," Laura pointed to the front of us, seeing Mrs. Ferrara standing at the edge of school grounds. I waved over to her, and she waved back with the same warm smile that she always has. Laura turned back to us, "Guess I'll be seeing you guys later," Laura waved back to us as she ran off to her mother.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" Ben asked as he started walking backwards towards the Benson van.
I smiled, "Definitely," the two of us waved to each other as we both ran off to our respective families and vans.
(Author's Note: Annnnnnnnnd scene!
(1): I like Fiber One bars. Sue me.
(2):That's my strategy for school days.
(3): This is how I got into the series. I read the first book ("The Angel Experiment") with my class in elementary school, and just fell in love with the Flock.
(4):This is me to a TEE! One of the stupidest aspects of the series…if Fang hadn't left, then Max would have NEVER shown romantic interest in Dylan. And all of the Dylan hatred is unnecessary and just plain stupid:/ Yeah, I'm a Maximum Ride who DOESN'T hate Dylan. So what?
(5):That's me. I didn't actually cry at his (second) death, but I was very upset that he was killed off so early. And I didn't like that an evil Ari clone appeared in later books, as I feel that it almost…soiled the memory of Ari. One of my favorite characters in the series, and I wished that he could have continued alongside the Flock's adventures.
(6): Another viewpoint of mine. While I'm aware that there are jackass teachers, I personally have never had a teacher that wasn't nice as long as you were respectful and did the work.
(7):Me again. I know that school will be easier to deal with if I just stop constantly complaining and thinking negatively…and yet I still do:/
(8):For me, this moment is hilarious. I'm having the main (and POV) character talk about helping someone at school who sits by themselves and seems like a loner…when I'm the loner of the situation. Ironic, isn't it?;)
(9): Okay, now I'm (admittedly) trying to fit my own thoughts and viewpoints into Lena's mind. I hate math with a PASSION!
(10): Yep, fan of the Arrowverse and all of its accompanying shows too. No one comment on it though please, I'm not all caught up yet.
I'm sorry for the short chapter. I truly thought as hard as I could…but there was only so much that I was able to come up with.
The next chapter will be better. In fact…the next chapter will be the Season One finale of Lena Loud. So…hopefully that's something to be excited about.
Sorry for all of the random Maximum Ride talk in the beginning. Honestly…my plans were limited from the beginning, and I was trying to…fill up for story a bit (for lack of a better term).
Review, favorite, follow, and I'll see you guys next time:)
