I was lounging on my bed, headphones plugged in to my new iPod touch, turned up as loud as it could go (which is pretty loud considering I hear like at bird decibel). Even though I was completely tuned in I could still hear the conversation going on downstairs. Dylan was explaining to Ella about how he asked Max out, and with all the oohhs and awws going on I could tell that he was going to get their full acceptance into this family. But the one thing that he wasn't privy to was that we were Avian-American Hybrids. A mutant bird human cross created by Whitecoats in an evil laboratory called The School. That was only known by the Whitecoats, ourselves, and the Martinez's.

As I was laying in bed trying to keep the conversation from downstairs out of my head, which I was not succeeding at. I kept replaying in my mind all the times that Max had saved my life or vice versa. There was a lot of those times, and everyone packed with adventure and a longing for home and family. The Martinez's gave us all that and more. We were completely cared for and all medical services rendered , since Mrs. Martinez is a Vet, and has the office and all medical connections to get us what we need. It was the Martinez family that offered us their home as our permanent safe spot. Iggy who was blind, fell in love with Ella and they are complete love birds. I didn't think it was possible for a blind kid to make out but apparently it is possible. I found out the hard way that they were dating when I walked into Ig's room to talk to him about my issues at school, when BAM I looked up and there they were Ella on top of Ig and they were makin out like pros. It was ridiculous, I don't even mak on girls like that. There were severe consequences, for me as well as Ig when Max found out. Well my punishment came from Iggy when he let off a homemade motion sensor activated stink bomb in my bathroom while I was in the shower. God Damn it pissed me off. My hair was all soapy and I had water dripping down my body, when all of a sudden I was gagging on some unknown stench coming from beneath my sink. I ran quickly out of my bathroom naked not caring or thinking about whether or not this was the public bathroom of the house. Not a private one like the Master, Ella's and Max's bathrooms. So I ran buck naked down the hall way to my room, past a gawking Max standing in her doorframe, who's eyes were glued to my waistline and below it. But of course that was a complete other story. Since then we have been sorta made up permanent residence here.

Their conversation was still going on downstairs when I dragged myself down to the kitchen to eat more cookies, but I should have know that there would be none left. So I plopped down on the living room couch and turned on the TV. Bella walked in a sat on my stomach, I groaned in annoyance, especially when she started punching me in the stomach. It was ridiculous, I moaned a mock defeat and tried to tickle her when Dylan walked in. He crossed his hands on his chest and chuckled "Awww look brother and sister fighting together. How sweet." It took all my control and silence to not pound him into the ground right there. But god how I wanted to, he was just such a prick. He really thinks that he could get away with everything, but one day he was gonna get what was coming for him. Max was still straddling my waist and poking me in the stomach randomly. Dylan walked over grabbed the remote out of my hand sat down in my favorite recliner and found ESPN and was watching baseball, Oregon State was playing Arizona State, for a berth in the State Playoffs. Oregon State was up 7-4 in the 7th inning. I personally hate baseball. I am a more vicious person and love contact sports like football and hockey. But then again any boy who doesn't like volleyball is crazy, hot college girls running around in skin tight spandex and almost see through jerseys, one would be crazy to not watch. Even though Max always smacked me upside the head when I turned it on, oh well if I can't have her might as well watch something sexy.

Max had slowly wiggled herself between me and the couch, going for optimum warmth. Dylan looked over at us, and I had my arm wrapped over her shoulders in a protective gesture but also one that to me was a bit suggestive that she was mine. I wouldn't have had it any other way, I was comfortable and happy. But when Dylan stood up from the recliner, walked over to me, grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet, I knew that this wasn't going to be good.

"Listen punk, that's how I should be holding her. Not you her brother, now I am gonna show you a lesson. Whether it be humility or kicking your ass you will know it." He let go of my arm and turned to walk away.

I couldn't help myself, I retorted with a chuckle in my words "Oh so the big bad football player is gonna beat up on the nerd huh?"

I swung around fast and punched me in the face. To spite my bird kid reflexes I just stood there while he threw a round out to my jaw. It knocked me off balance, stung a little but didn't do any damage. I dropped into fight mode knowing he would come back again. When he went for the uppercut I dodged and dropped a round house to his stomach. Dylan fell over flat on his back, gasping for air while I moved in for the kill, like a cougar and their prey.

Suddenly Max jumped between us, she put her hands on my chest and shoved hard. I took three steps back, stunned look on my face. She pointed upstairs, and yelled in her commando voice "Fang upstairs now, I will deal with you later." She then turned and crouched over Dylan making sure he was ok, her hands flitting over his skin.

I trudged to my room, scowl on my face. I threw myself on the bed face down, muttering through the pillow. "Damnit I probably just screw it all up, my one chance with Max and I killed it. I might as well of shot it with a fucking bazooka that couldn't of gone worse. Not only did I screw up Max but I threatened to expose what we are. Holy shit that is majorly bad. I flung myself off my bed ran to the window and hurled myself out into the night air. I dropped a few feet before throwing out my 16 foot wingspan and propelling myself away from the house. I turned to the mountains and headed for my hide out. I did a running stop and fell to my knees, head cradled in my hands, trying to control my emotions and the tears streaming down my face.

I had my emotions in check, fire crackling when max pulled to a stop on the edge of the cave. She tucked he wings in and cautiously approached the fire. "I knew I would find you here Fang, you are too predictable."

"Go away Max, I don't wanna talk about it." I turned my back to her and stuck my head between my knees.

"Fang, I really don't give a shit about what you want or don't want to talk about. But you have gotten out of hand, you broke three of Dylan's ribs and you could have collapsed a lung. Fang how many ti"

I exploded and cut her off "Do you really think that I give a shit about what I did to Dylan. You are so thick headed Max, do you really think had I wanted to I would have let him hit me. I wanted an excuse to hit him, wanted him to feel pain. I wanted to teach that stupid asshole, womanizing little prick what it was like to be man handled. Max you are so caught up in what everyone else thinks about him that you refuse to see what he really is. God that is so unlike you Max, you used to be so smart, witty quick thinking, and you always thought for yourself."

She looked at me jaw slack for what seemed like an eternity but was probably only 30 seconds. She snapped her mouth closed, and looked at me in contempt, after a few minutes she spoke, her words soft "Fang I never knew that's how you felt, you should have spoken up. I just . . . this is hard for me Fang. I want to be normal, Dylan gave me that chance. He is the most popular boy in school, he could have any girl he wanted, any one at all." She stopped to look at me. "But he chose me Fang, he chose me. He didn't know anything about me, I wasn't a cheerleader, or student body president, but he chose me. Do you know how much it means to me, how much that I wanted to be normal?" Max turned from the fire to hide her tears.

"You have no idea, how much I want for you to be normal Max, but face it, we will never be normal, you have wings on your back, a chip in your arm, and monsters created and designed especially to kill us. We will never be normal, this is a close as we have ever came. I am sorry that I can't give you everything you ever wanted Max I truly am, but I want to be able to give you something that Dylan never could. I can't promise you normality, safety, or a cookie cutter carefree life. What I can promise you is loyalty, love, compassion, and caring. I will always be your shoulder to cry on, your hand to hold, the finger to wipe away your tears, and the lips to melt your heart. Max . . ." I dropped to one knee and held her hand in mine, "will you be my girlfriend?" I felt my heart stop , as I held my breath waiting for her answer.