Wooo! Chapter 3! This is a total THANK YOU chapter for all the reviews, alerts, and favorites I've gotten when I posted chapter 2, so I worked into the night, eating a left over Jimmy John's sandwhich, and Panara Bread sweet tea to keep me awake. Unfortunately, I don't own Maximum Ride. :( This is a pretty sad chapter, just to warn you. This chapter holds one of my biggest fears, being a Military Child, and my dad just went out for seven months, sooooo... digest that as you will. Be prepared for a TWIST!
Previously:
I just smirked, and as Ms. Hardesty blew her whistle for the third time, I ran backwards, and shot Lissa the bird, then quickly turned around and handed Dylan's ass to him. It wasn't even hard, and I didn't run at full speed, but when I got in, I took the giant bag of Laffy Taffys, and Pixy Stixs and jogged back over to Fang and Iggy who were sitting in the grass away from the other boys.
"Day-um girl!" Iggy teased as we were walking back inside. "Way to show everyone up!" At that, Iggy and I bust out laughing, and Fang chuckled. I flung my arms around their shoulders and we walked the rest of the way, giggling slightly.
~Miss Invisible~
I woke up in the morning with a smile on my face. "It's FRIDAY!" I yelled out in an un-Maxish way, and Ella and Angel bust into my room with worried looks on their faces.
"Maxie? Are you okay?" Angel asked me in a sleepy voice, followed by Ella.
"What's your temperature!" Ella yelled hurriedly, slapping her hand over my forehead, just like Dr. M would do, she's so much like her mother.
"Nothing, it's Friday. Tomorrow's the Simple Plan concert Iggy, Gale, Lena, Lyse, Fang, and I are going to, and it's Fang's first time meeting the twins and Gale." I said with a smile. When I won concert tickets from the local alt-rock station, we cancelled our plans to go to the movies, and attend the concert instead.
Lena and Lyse or Selena and Annalyse are twins, and Iggy's slightly younger sisters and Gale is Annalyse's steady boyfriend.
"Ohhhh! Okay!" They said together, and walked out. Wow, they are two strange girls, busting in here thinking I'm sick, then brushing me off. I quickly got out of bed, and took a shower, then put on my Kurt Cobain shirt of Kurt with his guitar and a cigarette, some jeans, my pair of black knee-high converse, my slouchy hat I wear on the back of my head, and my ever present black aviator sunglasses.
"MAX! Can you come down here?" I heard Dr. M call from downstairs, and grabbed my shoulder bag, and shoved another pack of Red's where my empty pack was, before sliding down the banister to the kitchen where Dr. M was.
"Yeah?" I asked, fixing my hat. She sighed, and I looked up. In her hand was a pair of car keys and a couple of different house keys, I grinned.
"What are those?" I asked, unable to contain my joy. "Could they be for me?" I asked teasingly.
"Yes, Max. I found them this morning in a manilla envelope addressed to you from a Military Base," She looked at the smaller white envelope from inside the bigger one in her hands. "Do you know why that is?" I jumped up, and snatched the letter out of her hands, and tore it open.
Maximum Ride,
I am sorry to inform you that Major General Ari Batchelder was killed in action at 16 hundred April 24, 2011. His body has been recovered and I am to inform you that you are his last living relative, being his daughter. He was a great man, and we are saddened to see our good friend and leader go. He talked about you so much, how you were just like him, but looked so much like your mother, Rosalie Ride. He truly did love you. In Ari's will, he left you everything he owned, including his car, a Special Edition DBS black Aston Martin, parked at his home in Chicago (503 West Wrightwood Ave) and his homes in Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and his vacation home in Chicago. The Batchelders come from old money, and you have inherited it all, Ari's lawyer will give you all you need to know. Please come to Washington D.C to receive his medals and attend his funeral Monday. As his friend, I am sincerely sorry for your loss, and wish you peace and happiness in your life.
Sincerely,
Brigadier General Joseph Becker.
I hadn't realized I was crying until, I crumpled to my knees and sobbed. I heard Ella, Angel, and Gazzy run down the stairs to see what was the matter, but I still sobbed, my hands over my face.
Ari, he was my dad. Did he know? Of course he did. I'm sure if it was anybody else, he would have given them a cigarette, but he knew I was his daughter. That's why his vacation home was here, where I live. That's why he was always there, and why he held me when I cried a week after Sam left me. He wasn't just being courteous, he was my dad. That's why I had trusted him unconditionally. That's why, in some strange way, I loved him.
That thought made me cry even more, and I felt four sets of arms hugging me. Finally I stood up, took the keys from Dr. M's hands, and grabbed my wallet. I opened it, checking to see if my drivers license was there, and put it in my back pocket, then grabbed Dr. M's keys to the truck. I ignored the protests from the four of them following me to the garage, and tucked the letter into my back pocket before I opened the door to the car, and jumped in. I slammed the car into drive, and took off out of our garage, going well above the speed limit.
He loved me, I looked like my mother, Rosalie Ride. I inherited money, and apparently a lot of it. Wow.
I drove to the home in Chicago, and pulled onto Wrightwood, and began counting house numbers.
499... 501... 503.
Bingo!
Wow! The place was huge, the door was in-between two Greek statues, and looked to be made out of marble or some other form of stone. I pulled around into the drive way, through the iron gates, and saw the back door through the garden and back porch. I got out of the truck, walked up to the door, and pulled out the key labeled '503' and unlocked the door. As soon as I entered the house, my jaw dropped.
My parents lived here? It was so elegant. I explored the place, and with every room, I was amazed. If this was his vacation home, I wonder what the others looked like? In the kitchen, on the marble countertop, I saw a letter, and picked it up.
Maxie,
I'm sorry I didn't tell you who I was when we first met, or all the other times, but the Military wouldn't let me. As soon as Rosie died of terminal cancer, the Military took it into their hands to give you up for a closed adoption because I was gone for months at a time. Meaning I couldn't have any contact with you until you were 18. I had your birthday all planned out, I would take you here to the city, and tell you who I was, and what had happened to your mother. We would watch all of your favorite movies, and I'd bring out your favorite cake, chocolate chip cookie ice cream cake. Then I'd offer for you to come live with me in Palm Springs. But instead, I was deployed a week before for more than a year, and if you're reading this, I'm dead. Every time I left I would write a letter, and if I died, Joseph Becker, my friend, would give it to you. This is your house now, and all of the others, just don't get carried away in Vegas! George Truman is my lawyer, and when you attend my funeral he's going to meet with you to discuss money. Don't be scared with all of the zeros, just take a deep breath and think before you make a decision. How it is now should be fine, but if anything happens, it's okay, I trust you. I want you to remember that I had loved you since the day we found out about you when we were 17, and didn't even consider abortion. We loved each other, and knew we would eventually get married. We had you until you were 3 and Rosie was a photographer so all of our memories are on video and pictures. I love you so much, and I'm sorry you grew up without us, but you grew into a beautiful, funny, kind, smart (you get those from your mother) witty, dangerous, thrill seeking young woman, and we couldn't have been any prouder. You are everything we wanted in a daughter, and we are so proud to have been your parents. Please live your life to fullest, and take care of yourself. Yes, please, for us and yourself, stop smoking. I know it'll be hard, but Rosie said it was worth it when she quit. She said she felt lighter, more 'one with nature.' Just know that we are watching you from above with smiles on our faces, and you should come visit us in Arlington. We love you so much, Maximum.
Love,
Ari/ your dad
Paper-clipped to the note was a picture, there was a beautiful woman who looked a lot like me, with golden curly hair, and the same heart-shaped face, but she had ocean blue eyes, and a million dollar smile, wearing a shorter flowery skirt, a white tee-shirt, and a blue-jean vest with a guitar slung on her back and a hat tipped on her head. Next to her was a younger Ari in uniform, with buzzed sandy blonde hair, and chocolate eyes, but no scar. They were both holding a little girl who was maybe two, who had her golden hair in curly pigtails, and a toothy smile on her face. She wore a floral dress with a small white sweater, and sandals. They looked so happy. I haven't looked that happy in years, my mother was gorgeous, and Ari so handsome.
I looked at my watch, and saw that it was ten, I was supposed to be in second bell; English. Oh well, I'll get there when I do. I flipped the picture and saw,
Ari Batchelder- 19
Rosalie Batchelder (nee. Ride)- 19
Maximum Ride-Batchelder- 2
For the second time that day, I cried. I cried for what could of been, for what if's, and for my dead parents. I made the decision then to go to Ari's funeral, and to see them both at Arlington.
Next to where the note was, was a set of car keys, one labeled 'Ari' and the other 'Rosie.' I picked it up, and went out to the garage and saw two cars. One was the Aston and the other brought a full blown grin to my face. From what I could tell from the picture, the car was so my mom. Parked next to the Aston was a light cream convertible Volkswagen Bug, with floral seat covers and a smilie face antenna topper.
How am I going to get both cars back? I asked myself, tapping my foot. Call Fang, call Fang, call Fang! This little voice squealed in the back of my head. Okay, okay. Oh jeeze! Now I'm talking to myself! But I got my phone out and found Fang's number, and quickly dialed it. I rung for a few seconds before a whispered voice came on at the other end.
"Hello?" He asked, whispering.
"Hey, Fang! Do you think you could get out of class for about an hour?" I asked, thinking about his ninja cutting skills.
"Yeah, give me a sec." He whispered. Then in a louder voice he said, "Mr. Lancose? Can I go to the restroom?"
I heard a muffled sigh, then a, "Yes, make it quick." Then I heard shuffling papers, and then in a normal voice, Fang was back.
"So why am I doing this?" Fang asked.
"Because you're my super-McAwesomebarbequesaucalicious* best friend! An I need you to drive my truck back to my house, I'll come pick you up."
"Okay, meet me at the ice cream parlor, I'll be waiting."
"Okay, give me, ehhh... ten minutes and I'll be there."
"MmmKay, see you soon."
"Sure, bye!" And I hung up, and got into my truck, started it, and peeled out of the open gate, then closed and locked it, before getting back into my car. Then I took off, heading toward the ice cream shop.
So, my friend dared me to put this in here. * is pronounced super Mick awesome barbeque sauce ah lish uss :)
Thanks for reading!