Hello! I'm back! It took longer than I thought, but I got my reviews. I'm sorry I didn't update for so long, but I spent a week at my grandparent's house, and they are so old fashioned that they don't have internet connection. I was internetless for a week. I almost went insane. Anyhoo, I spent the entire time I was there writing so I could post this as soon as I got back.

This chapter is for Rain Lover 7. Thanks for the notivation!

Here you go!

Fang POV

I think the songs from the trees are affecting my life. My grades slipped a little, I'm losing sleep, and I can't seem to concentrate.

It may or may not be Max, but I really can't wrap my head around the idea that it might be.

I really don't know why she affects me so much. Is it because of her looks, or her personality?

Although I wouldn't know much about her personality, just like everybody else.

She just seems so... broken. So helpless, so hopeless. As if things getting better would be a miracle.

As I sat during lunch, listening to Lissa babble on Friday, and Max protected her little sister, she just seemed so... beautiful. But not just on the outside, it seemed to be shining from within.

I feel like if I had to choose somebody out of Brigid and Max, I wouldn't hesitate to choose Max.

Once I thought that, my first thoughts were, "Why would I choose Max?" Then another thing was, "Why don't I want to take it back?"

MAXIMUM RIDE

MAX POV

Saturday. The day when Angel and I can't escape to school. Sunday is usually used tending to wounds.

Some kids long for the weekends, so that they can go out with friends, or watch cartoons, or play outside.

On weekends, I worry about if I'll be well enough to protect my sister. I worry about if I'll be well enough to walk to school on Monday. If you hate Mondays, try to look at the world from my point of view.

Try to look at friends another way, try to take a different point of view.

When your parents don't buy you the latest phone, or won't let you go to a party, you think that they are the worst beings on this planet.

My parents beat me. They entertain themselves by pushing me down stairs and hitting ten year olds with belts. I think my parents beat yours in the worst parents contest by at least six miles. If not six, more.

Anyways, I woke up on Saturday, and decided that I felt like defying my parents today.

I was going to go to the park. All day.

That might not seem like much to you, but to my parents, that's like setting the house on fire with a cigarette that I was smoking.

Anyways, I shook Angel's shoulder, effectively waking her. She sat up, rubbing her eyes.

"We're going to the park today, Angel," I told her, walking to the closet to get some clothes.

She smiled, and that brightened up my world for a second.

I came back with her clothes in my right hand, and my clothes in my left. I handed hers to her, and quickly put on mine.

After that was done, I made the motions for 'be quiet' and 'stay' then slipped down the stairs.

I silently opened the cupboard and slid out a pack of bread. Sitting right next to it was an almost empty jar of peanut butter. I scooped that up as well then retrieved Angel.

She smiled the whole way down to the park, holding my hand, making me smile along with her.

It feels weird to smile. But it sort of feels good.

As we arrived at the park, I saw Iggy, Nudge, and Gazzy seated at a park bench. Gazzy looked like he was longing to play, Iggy looked like a nervous wreck, he kept looking around and flinching whenever somebody walked by. Nudge was staring at Iggy longingly. Wait! Aren't they related? That's creepy!

I walked over slowly, probably looking like Iggy. "Hey guys," I said quietly, asking Nudge questions with my eyes.

She looked away from my gaze but Iggy answered. "We took Gazzy to the park. Does Angel want to play with him?"

Angel nodded eagerly, running off with Gazzy to play on the swing set.

Then Nudge randomly stood up. "Hey Max, do you want to go in a walk?" She asked, and as soon as I nodded, she sighed in relief and Iggy volunteered to watch the kids.

As soon as we were out of ear-shot, Nudge started, looking around one last time. "Okay, I'm adopted, only Iggy and Gazzy are blood related. I was adopted when I was three and Iggy had just turned four. We were beaten regularly ever since we were six. As soon as Gazzy was born, my mom stopped beating us, but Seth," She spat Seth's name, "Didn't. Now he beats Gazzy, Iggy, my mom, and I."

It was a lot to take in, but before I could say anything, she continued. "Lately I've been developing feelings for Iggy. I don't know why! And he is like a brother to me! It's totally awkward!"

I patted her head, then sat on the ground. "You'll figure out the Iggy thing, Nudge. I'd be worried about Seth."

She looked at me as if I were crazy. "Why would I not be worried about you?" She asked, pulling up my sleeve, revealing the still fresh wounds and healing scars. I immediately pulled it back down, looking around to make sure nobody had noticed.

Fortunately, nobody had. Everybody walked by, some with a purpose and some just sauntered, without a care in the world.

"Nudge, I know that it's hard to not protect people, but you also have to protect yourself," I told her, pulling up her sleeve to reveal her scars.

She had the same reaction as me, except just a little but more dramatic.

Then we just talked. Talked about the weather, talked about the biggest gossip in school, we talked about who Nudge thought was cute, (long list) and who I thought was cute. (Angel and Gazzy)

For that short period of time, I felt like a normal teenage girl. One that can sleep in on the weekends, go bowling with friends, have sleepovers with her best friend.

But this is reality, so I don't get to be a normal teenage girl.

Slowly we got up and returned to Iggy and the kids.

When we got back, Gazzy and Angel were pushing each other quietly on the swings, and I noticed that Angel looked happier than she had in years.

Sure, I'll play with her, but is that really the same as having friends to play with?

Then Iggy took Gazzy home, and Nudge and I made plans to sneak out next Saturday.

I realized that it was getting dark, so I walked to my tree. I mean, our tree.

I climbed, only stopping to help Angel reach the branch I was on. I don't know why, but I didn't feel like climbing that high, so I only went about fifteen feet up.

Then I sang.

Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift

I remember tears streaming down your face when I said I'd never let you go

When all those shadows almost killed your light

I remember you said don't leave me here alone

But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight

Just close your eyes, the sun is going down

You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now

Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound

Don't you dare look out your window, darling everything's on fire

The war outside our door keeps raging on

Curled up to this lullaby

Even when music's gone, gone

Just close your eyes, the sun is going down

You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now

Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound

Oooooh, oooooh, oh

Oooooh, oooooh, oh

Just close your eyes

You'll be alright

Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound

ooooooo, oooooooo, ooooooo x3

I finished as I stroked Angel's hair, a sad smile on my face.

Our moment didn't last long. I heard, "Hey! Is anyone up there?"

"Angel! Don't move or talk!" I whispered to her, and we both turned into statues.

I was barely even breathing, because I knew exactly who this person was. Fang.

I didn't move a muscle as Fang looked farther into the foliage, straining his neck to get a better look.

"I see you," He said, and the scary part was that his onyx eyes were trained directly on me.

I still didn't move, just in case he was bluffing, then he said, "Max!"

My heart leaped to my throat, and I almost fell out of the tree. "What do you want?" I called hoarsely, trying to compose myself.

"Why are you up there?" He answered. I was proud when Angel spoke up. "Don't answer a question with a question!"

"Is that Angel?" He asked, slowly getting a grip on the tree, as if he were going to climb.

I instinctively pulled Angel up and climbed higher, trying to get away.

"Possibly." I answered, still climbing upwards. He stared to climb, but went slowly, as if he didn't trust the tree. Idiot.

"Why do you sing in the trees?" He asked, still coming closer.

"Because... because," I was more or less dead at this point. If I can't think of a convincing enough lie, he might figure out the truth. But he is a little thick-headed, so I might be alright.

Slowly but surely, he was making it to our branch. My eyes widened with fear. I looked around, then saw the only route of escape. The trees were close enough together that we could jump and make it.

So I told Angel this and she nodded, looking as scared as I probably did.

I jumped and made it, then turned, holding out my arms to Angel. She leaped into them and we were off. We continued this cycle until we were at least five trees away. Then I started to climb down stealthily.

He didn't notice and Angel sighed in relief as we started to run.

We were just leaving the grove when Fang noticed. "Hey!" He called, jumping out of the tree. I ran faster. I was pretty fast and we had a head start, so there was a good chance.

"Max! Stop! I just want to know why!" He shouted after me, but it would take a long time for him to convince me to actually tell him.

I kept running, trying not to look back. Why did I feel like I should look back?

MAXIMUM RIDE

FANG POV

It's Max. I figured it out. Why can't I stop thinking about her now? If I know that it's Max, shouldn't I be able to go on living my life instead of thinking about it every second? The answer is no. I can't. Max invades all of my thoughts. I can't even watch TV without wondering whether Max likes this show. I can't listen to music, I think of the songs she sang. If I even eat food, I'll just think about the time at lunch when we were interrupted by Angel.

You see? This is what happens when I get involved in things!

I know it's her, and I want to know why. My theories about her cutting were way off, I can just tell. What other reasons are there? Is it because she's bullied?

That has to be it. She's depressed because my friends bully her... and I don't stop them.

That means I'm just as bad as them. I have to say something next time. Actually, next time I see Max, I'll confront her.

Tonight was just another night I fell asleep thinking about Maximum Ride.