Hello. I am pissed at you guys. I'll just come out and say it. I got three reviews for the third chapter of If Only I Was Normal, and that's only after I complained! I refuse to update any other story besides this one chapter if I don't get at least two more reviews for If Only I Was Normal!
You've been warned!
"Angel," I whispered to her. "It's time."
She nodded and quickly got out of sight.
Today I am supposed to get my cast off. Angel and I have been planning a way to get Valencia to drive us there. Jeb is at work, and Valencia has today and tomorrow off. I'm excited because I'll finally be able to walk and climb again.
I slowly limped downstairs, trying to look as pitiful as possible. "V- Mom?" I asked, and she turned her head. "What?" She snarled, but she didn't hit me. Not yet.
"I'm supposed to get my cast taken off today, and you need to drive me to the hospital," I answered, then flinched, because I knew she'd hit me for sure.
I was right, her fist connected with shoulder and I spun backwards a little, wincing. "Why should I take you some place? Are you trying to waste my day?" She spat, and I just barely moved my casted foot away from her kick.
"Because if you don't, they come looking for you at your house," I informed her. I wasn't telling the truth, but she doesn't have to know that. What really happens if you don't come in is they call you incessantly, then they give up after a while.
"Okay, let's go," She said, worry clear in her eyes. Angel appeared from wherever she was hiding and joined us as we left.
"Max!" A nurse said as I entered. I remember her name is Audrey. She's the one who checked me up and did the x-rays. "Hey, Audrey," I said, and she gathered me up for a hug. I winced, but wrapped one arm around her, too.
"Okay, I'm guessing you are here to get your cast taken off?" She asked, and I nodded. "You need a parent or legal guardian here," She informed me, and I nodded my head at Valencia, who stepped forward.
"Hello, I'm Valencia, Maximum's mother," She said with a bright, fake smile and a handshake. I rolled my eyes to myself. What an actress. "Hi, I'm Audrey. I'll go get Dr. Shinta." Valencia nodded and smile brightly as she walked away. She glared at me then sat, picking up a magazine. She opened it and I sighed. Her attention is elsewhere.
"Max!" Audrey sang out after a few minutes. "We're ready to take that cast off!" I smiled as brightly as I could, but everybody could tell it was fake.
As the doctor spoke, I kind of tuned him out and waited. He mentioned something about not running or putting too much pressure on the leg, but I just waved it off. Valencia nodded at everything he said, though.
I glared at her while she wasn't looking at me. Then I smiled sweetly at Angel, who returned it with an uneasy smile of her own.
After a few minutes of this I stood up. "Can we get this over with?" I questioned Audrey. She nodded. "Alrighty, let's go."
It was a little painful when they cut the cast off, only because of all the bruises there. I didn't complain during any of it, and Valencia did a pretty good job making sure that they didn't see any scars or any other wounds. Angel stayed silent in the corner, reading some book about Winnie the Pooh silently to herself.
When it was finally done, I was amazed by how weak my leg looked. I guess that's what happens when you don't walk on it for six weeks.
As we drove home, I stayed silent. Valencia, on the other hand, ranted about how ungrateful I am, how I was lucky she even took me to the hospital, much less pay for everything. But I could still see the fear behind her guarded eyes. She was scared that she would be found out. If her and Jeb did get caught, they'd be put in jail.
You may ask why we I don't just tell the police. Well, fear is something that drives my life. Fear of Jeb and Valencia, fear of being weak, fear of being beat, fear that the world has decided to gang up on me. If I did tell the cops, Jeb and Valencia would either find a way out, or get one of their friends to finish me. I'd end up in an orphanage, far away from Angel, and I can't risk that. So, that's why I don't tell the cops.
Anyways, as we walked inside, Valencia pushed me. I hit the ground, but was smart enough to tuck my head in so it wouldn't connect with the hard wood floor. She kicked me in the stomach a few times, muttering about how I'm so ungrateful, then sat on the couch, flicking the TV on.
I scurried up and retreated to my room. Angel was already there, first-aid kit already in her hands. She quickly wrapped my torso, then stored the kit under her bed. We both climbed into bed, hoping for a few extra hours of sleep. As I fell asleep, I heard a voice. It was Angel, and she was singing. I have a feeling that she'll soon be just another voice that sings the songs from the trees.
MAXIMUM RIDE
LISSA POV
Ugh. Morning. I quickly grabbed my clothes, a mini skirt and a tube top, and started to change into them. Then I stopped. I'm not part of that group anymore. I don't have to dress like this. I'm just so used to it. Instead I hung those clothes up and dressed in shorts that went to mid thigh and a purple t-shirt. I put on Converse, the only pair of sneakers I own, and went downstairs.
I was surprised when I arrived at the bottom of the huge staircase. My mom was in the kitchen. She's never home. Ever. She was cooking, and when I stood next to her, she looked at me.
"Lissa, you're dressed... differently today," She said slowly, obviously surprised. I just nodded.
"I like it," She said, then turned back to the food. I was astonished. I'd always thought she loved how I dressed how I used to. That's the main reason I did it, to get my parents attention. Now I'm realizing that it was pointless. Great.
I quickly ate as much food as I could handle, as opposed to my usual granola bar and glass of water. It feels good to actually eat.
My little, ten year old brother stared at me from across the table. "Lissa, is something wrong?" He asked. "You're dressed differently and you're actually eating!" He exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. I laughed and patted his head. "I'm fine," I assured him.
I climbed into my car, and tried to delay the the ride to school as much as I could. I purposely left my keys inside, then my bag, then I pretended to go to the bathroom. After I couldn't delay any longer, I left, driving as slow as possible. Until some jerk honked at me. I sped up, then as I passed the guy who beeped, I flipped him off.
I finally arrived, and immediately saw Fang and my frie- his friends. I looked down, then saw a pair of ratty old Converse approach me. I looked up and saw Max. She was quiet, then said, "Hey Lissa. I like your outfit." She was quiet for a moment. "Do you want to sit with my friends and I at lunch?"
I was surprised, then nodded. "Yeah. I'd like that a lot" She smiled, but it looked more like a grimace, and walked away. I stared after her, then continued what I was doing.
Classes dragged by, as I stared at the clock, willing it to go faster. Finally lunch came, and I found Max and those other two weirdos she hangs out with. I sat with them, and tried to start up a conversation.
It kind of worked. Max muttered one word responses, and I got sentences out of the other girl, Nudge. Iggy- the boy- stayed silent.
Well, I'd be uncomfortable too if the girl that had tortured me sat next to me at lunch.
For some reason, I like living like this better.
MAXIMUM RIDE
MAX POV
I am stupid. I saw Lissa standing all alone at the beginning of school today, and I invited her to sit with Iggy, Nudge, and I. What is wrong with me?
Between classes I found Nudge and Iggy kissing in a hallway. I pulled them apart and told them my mistake. They were stunned for a few moments, then exploded at me.
"Hey! If she turns out to still be mean, I'll just kick her out!" I interrupted Nudge's rant. Nudge agreed with me sullenly, but Iggy just nodded and stalked off. I groaned and went to my next class.
Lunch. It begins. Lissa came and sat in between Nudge and I, them attempted to strike up a conversation. I answered with one or two words. Nudge got a little animated, and said full sentences with expression, but Iggy stayed completely silent. The only thing he did was glare at Lissa. He even glared at me few times.
At last that awkwardness I called lunch was over. I stood and left the cafeteria, ready to brave the rest of the day.
MAXIMUM RIDE
Classes were extremely easy today. I breezed through all of them, and I wasn't really trying that hard. Finally something is easy in my life.
As I sat in front of the school waiting for Angel so we could walk home, a certain boy walked in front of me. This boy wears black clothes, has black eyes, and I am currently scared to death to talk to him.
Yes, Fang.
"So, Max," He started and sat down next to me. "You never did really give me a reason."
"A reason for what?"
He gave me a look. "For running away from me. And you never told me why you really sing in the trees. I'm not that stupid."
I looked down at my feet. "I don't want to talk about it." He took my hand. Surprisingly, I didn't want to pull away. "Max, I can help you. But you have to let me."
I couldn't help it. I exploded. "No! Nobody can help me! I am in a situation where health and happiness is unreachable! Okay? You and your stupid posse have added pain and sadness to my already awful life, so why don't you just leave me alone?" I shrieked. I had ripped my hand from his, and was losing my voice because I had been screaming.
Fang looked at me sadly. "Max, I just want to-"
"No!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. "Don't talk to me!" With that I stormed off, tears flowing down my face. I didn't even care, although I knew they were washing off the concealer, which would reveal scars. I stopped in a little secluded spot between the high school and the elementary school. I quickly reapplied and went to pick up Angel.
This is another worry. Angel is never late. She's always waiting for me outside when the bell rings. What if something bad happened to her? I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something did.
Once I walked into the elementary school courtyard, I heard a yelp, some scuffling, a shout, and some laughter.
I followed the sound. As I got closer, I recognized one of the voices as Angel. She wasn't the sound I wanted her to be. She was the yelping.
Angel was surrounded by a group of five or six boys. The leader would lash out on her, making a mean comment about her friends. Then he'd pretend to think for a second and say, "Wait, you have no friends!" And that would cause laughter from all of his friends, and then they started pushing her. They formed a circle, and she was shoved from boy to boy, and only I noticed the winces of pain every time she connected with one of them.
I swallowed the shock and stormed over.
"What are you doing?" I shouted when I arrived behind the leader. He turned obviously expecting another kid his age, not a big seventeen year old. That's probably why he yelped and jumped a foot away. I screamed after that.
Not because he was scared, that I couldn't care less about, but because he had jumped into Angel. She had fallen, and I could tell she would land head first into the pavement. I jumped forward, grasping her wrist, but she was pulled from my grasp. Her head connected with the ground with a sickening crack. Blood immediately started to flow from the side of her head, and her eyes fluttered shut. Her breathing became shallow.
The boys started jumping around, obviously scared out of their wits, but I'm someone that has witnessed blood and hurt almost all of my life. I can deal with this.
I scooped Angel up and said with an even tone, (My voice cracked anyways.) "Does anyone have a cellphone?"
A little red headed boy that looked exactly like Lissa stepped up. "Here," He whimpered, then pulled away. His eyes always stayed on his shoes, he was obviously scared and mortified with himself. "Mikey, try to get us out of trouble," Another boy whispered to who I guess is Mikey, but I'll just call him the red head.
I leaned down and scooped up Angel's head, blood immediately staining my clothes. "911, please state your emergency," Came a voice on the other end of the phone. "I have a little girl who just cracked her head open on the pavement!" I shouted, I was losing my cool. "Ma'am, calm down. Address?"
"I'm at the Jackson Elementary School!"
The woman confirmed my statement and hung up. I leaned down to Angel again, whispering comforting words in her ear. I noticed the boys trying to walk away stealthily. "I want all of you here, and I want all of your names. If you give me fake names, I will find out," I warned in my most threatening tone.
I hate being scary, there's somebody in my life that plays that role for me, but these boys just hurt my baby sister. Badly. They will get some sort of punishment, I'll make sure of it.
The ambulance came, and I was allowed to ride with Angel. I whispered comforting words in her ear, even though I knew she couldn't hear me. I smoothed her hair back, effectively getting blood all over my hands.
We arrived at the hospital, and Angel was whisked away from me, forcing me to wait for her in the place that scared me the most, alone. I hate the antiseptic smell, the needles, the people in the white lab coats, I hate how everything is bleached, I hate everything about hospitals.
But as I waited for Angel to come out, I couldn't help but wish I had been at a hospital years ago, getting my wounds treated and spilling my guts to the police.
MAXIMUM RIDE
ANGEL POV
I was leaving school to go meet Max when somebody grabbed my wrist and dragged me to the back of the school. It was Mikey and his posse. Mikey hates me because I refused to cheat and give him the test answers.
They started making fun of Gazzy, my best friend, then said some mean things about my face. They even said bad things about my mom.
Then Mikey stopped. I was relieved, they would let me go now. No, they didn't.
They formed a circle around me, and started pushing me from boy to boy. I winced every time I came into contact with one of them. They hit my scars, my bruises, my cuts, everything. I was trying to tell them to stop, but my air was getting practically cut off every time they pushed me. Then Max stepped in.
"What are you doing?" She shouted at the boys, who immediately stopped and backed away. Cowards. Mikey jumped backwards because he was so surprised. Then he bumped into me.
I fell backwards, vaguely aware of the fact that Max had leaped forward and tried to catch me. I was aware of my surroundings until my head hit the pavement. Then my eyes fluttered shut, and my world went black.