PLEASE READ AUTHORS NOTE!
Hi guys! This is the last bit of Songs From The Trees. I'm really sorry, but there isn't going to be a sequel. I still have to finish two fics before I would start that, and I feel like this story is at the perfect ending place. Also, a few reviewers who voted for epilogue really made me agree with them in their long reviews.
I GOT AN INSTAGRAM. IT IS dot_ride1404 and I'll be posting pictures about updates and plans I have for stories, so go follow me!
I'M LEGIT CRYING. THIS HAS BEEN MY FAVORITE FIC TO WRITE AND I AM SO SAD TO END IT LIKE SERIOUSLY WE HAVE 470 REVIEWS? WHAT? THAT'S AMAZING! I NEVER EXPECTED MORE THAN 100! THANK YOU GUYS SOOO MUCH 333 AND THE NUMBER OF VIEWS ON THIS STORY IS 38,954! THAT'S FRIGGIN AWESOME. I never thought this many people would come back to read my stuff, and I'm not even that good. I love every single one of you that reads my stories. 3
(Check out my other fics, I have one for Maximum Ride and one for Hunger Games. Pleaaase? thanks you amazing people you)
Please read and review on the last chapter of Songs From the Trees.
"So that is why this isn't the ending, of anything really. Just the beginning of something new and spectacular. I wish you all the best of luck," our valedictorian paused, a huge smile growing on her face. "class of 2013!"
Everybody stood up around me and cheered, but it just didn't feel right for me to. I'd endured so much pain and suffering at this place, and I think this is the end of all that. I would hope it's the end of that, because I don't know how much more I can take.
I looked around and saw Nudge and Iggy solemnly sitting next to each other, holding hands, doing the same as me. Thinking about the past. How this was the end of something truly horrible.
Fang was cheering, and I had to giggle when he turned and bumped chests with one of his football buddies.
Eventually the yelling and clapping settled down, and the principal stood on the stage, along with a few other school officials. A few held diplomas, and then the calling of names began.
I tuned out until I heard two familiar names. "Igneous Collins." I clapped loudly for my best friend. As soon as he took his diploma and left the stage, Nudge was called up. "Monigue Collins." I cheered just as loud for her.
More and more students ended their high school lives, but I didn't really do anything until Fang was called.
"Nicholas Martinez."
I didn't cheer, just smiled and waited for his eyes to land on me. I gave him a subtle thumbs up and a heart with my fingers.
His smile was shown to the entire school and I think my face turned the same shade as an apple when he returned the heart. Practically the entire school turned towards me. I think I'm officially 'the girl who got player Fang to commit'.
Then he was back in his chair and the attention was back on the stage.
I almost fell asleep until I heard a very familiar name being called.
"Maximum Ride."
I walked up to the stage with a small grin on my face. I spotted Fang and beamed at him. Iggy and Nudge both received huge smiles.
"Congratulations, Ms. Ride," the principal says, shaking my hand with a warm smile.
Then it was over. I'm done. This hell, the chapter of my life, is over.
And I was Maximum the entire time.
MAXIMUM RIDE
"UNC," Nudge says, sitting next to me in the car. "can't wait for college! I hope we're roomies!"
Laughing, I bumped her with my shoulder. "Don't ever say roomies ever again! That's the stupidest word I've heard!"
Vanessa chuckled from the front seat. "I'll miss you girls. Just like I'll miss those boys," she paused, "Gazzy and I will be waiting at home whenever you want to visit!"
I smiled. "We'll visit every time we can, Ma." Yes, we've all begun to call Vanessa Mom. It just happened. She didn't ask, I didn't think about it, one day, the word just blurted from my mouth.
"You tell Fang and Iggy they better visit, too," She says strictly, turning away from the road to look at us.
"You're driving them to the airport tomorrow!" I say, "Just tell them yourself!"
Her voice changed tone, and she gave me a 'duh' look. "I'm a mother. You think they'll actually listen to me?"
We all giggled at the joke.
Yes, Nudge and I are on our way to UNC, University of North Carolina. Both of us got scholarships, hers a partial, and mine a full ride. Apparently 'my grades would be perfect for this school,' and 'I have potential far beyond my comprehension.' I believe those were the exact words of the scout.
Iggy and Fang are both going to Arizona, to become Arizona Red Hawks.
It does mean less time with them, but Nudge and I have made them promise to at least text everyday.
"Well, here we are," Vanessa says kind of quietly, parking in the airport's lot.
Soon, we were checked in and about to go through security. "I'm going to miss you guys!" She cried, hugging us close.
"We'll miss you, too," Nudge and I say, hugging her back before we turn and walk to start the adventure of college.
And we didn't look back.
MAXIMUM RIDE
"Fang!"
"Max!"
We collided into each other, and it was then I realized how much I've missed his warm embrace.
College is over. I'm twenty two years old. And I've been discovered as a singer.
I'm not all that famous yet, but I'm thinking about signing a record deal. Fang says that's what Angel would've wanted.
Fang has decided to become a cop, who specializes in cases like mine. And... like Angel's.
I visit my little sister whenever I'm home. We have conversations about my life, whatever is happening at the moment. It always makes me feel slightly better when I'm down.
"God, I've missed you," Fang says, holding me close. I'm sure we were getting stares from the people in the airport, but then again, so were Nudge and Iggy.
"I've missed you too."
"And- And that's why I want to do this," Fang got down on one knee and pulled out the prettiest ring I've ever seen. "Maximum Ride, I love you. I know you've got scars, and a few secrets about your past that you keep to yourself, but those are part of the reason I love you so much. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"
People were awing in the background, but all I could see was Fang.
"Of course I will!" He stood and put the ring on my left ring finger before pulling me close and kissing me.
People clapped before continuing with their business. Iggy nudged me before whispering, "Maximum Ride Martinez, yea, I can see that."
I socked him in the stomach before hugging him, too.
"I've missed you, too, fart face."
My best friend hugged me tight, before blowing a raspberry right on my cheek and shouting, "Who's the fart face now?"
It wasn't until that moment I realized I was crying tears of joy.
Maybe it was being reunited with my best friends in the entire world, or the proposal, or both, but I was absolutely ecstatic. This is the happiest I've been in my entire life, I think. College has given me a chance to grow out of my shell, so of course I've shared many smiles over the course of those four years, but never like this. No, not quite like this.
"Hey, warrior, why you crying?" Fang asked, wiping the tears away from my cheeks. Warrior was a nick name I'd adopted over the years, from obvious 'battles' and the war of child abuse. He used it once to describe me to a friend, and the name just kind of stuck.
"I'm just really happy," I told him, leaning into his shoulders as we began to walk to baggage claim.
"I think we're all happy."
MAXIMUM RIDE
"Momma, why are we here? Am I finally gonna meet Aunty Angel?" My six year old son asked, poking my side repeatedly.
"Yes, Ari, we are. Now please stop bothering Mommy, this is kind of sad for her. She hasn't seen Angel in awhile," Fang said quietly to our son from his spot in the passenger seat.
I snuck a glance back at one of the few people I loved most in the world. Ari had adopted my light brown locks, but his pure onyx eyes had come from Fang. His tan skin was from the two of us, a shade somewhere between Fang's olive skin and my hispanic shade.
His personality was what made me love him. The way he was so similar to Angel. Innocent, but so brave and strong. Sure, he hasn't had to face many hard things in life, at least not compared to the hard things I went through, but he's so similar to her.
I still remember my sister perfectly, even though the last time I saw her was seventeen years ago. I'm now thirty four, married, and have one child. Obviously my family is made up of Fang and Ari.
Nudge, Iggy, Gazzy and Vanessa fit in the family complex, too. Nudge and Iggy and Gazzy as crazy siblings, and Vanessa is the mother I've never truly had.
We were going to visit Vanessa now, and expected the rest of our little flock to be there, including Angel. Vanessa's house in little old Massachusetts, in a town with so much buried history. I'm going home.
Our little SUV slowly pulled into the long driveway of my first actual home. I smile so wide when I saw the house, I thought my grin would split my face in half.
My beam grew even larger when I saw Vanessa, Iggy, Nudge, and Gazzy sitting on the porch, waiting for us. Iggy and Nudge's daughter, J.J., was running around the front yard, until she saw our car.
Her little six year old finger pointed us out and I could hear her scream, "Ari's here! I can finally play a real game of tag!"
I chuckle along with Fang, and Ari pressed his face against the window excitedly. "Yay! You didn't tell me J.J. and Uncle Iggy and Aunt Nudge would be here! Uncle Gazzy, too!" He took a deep breath after that sentence, as if this next thing were going to be hard to say. "Mommy, I know you get sad about Aunty Angel, but where is she?"
Parking the car, I turned towards my son. "I'll show you soon, baby, I promise."
"I'm not a baby!" Ari protested, and just like that, the matter was forgotten.
We all hopped out of the car, and Ari and J.J. raced towards each other, embracing tightly before a scream of, "You're it!" and giggles as they ran away.
Fang and I approached our family, hugging each of them. We gave Vanessa a few pictures of her grandchildren, while she expectantly looked at Gazzy.
"Hey, I'm twenty seven, I don't have a kid yet! I just got married for crying out loud!" he exclaimed, backing away.
We all chuckled as The Gasman's wife came out of the house and gave us all a gentle hug. She was a small, petite thing, but she and Gazzy fit together perfectly.
"Hi Ella!" I said, smiling at the girl who was like a little sister to me.
"Hey Max, how have you been?"
"Great, how has Gazzy's bomb building habit been?"
Ella shook her head at her husband, giving a playful glare. "This idiot blew up a chunk of our fence yesterday. Then tried to replace it before I got home from yoga!"
Gazzy smiled. "You're the one who wanted a new fence!"
She slapped the back of his head lightly, causing his blonde hair to shake wildly. "Not just a chunk of the fence!"
We all giggled while Gazzy stuck his tongue out.
"Grandma!" Ari flew into Vanessa's arms out of nowhere, burying his face in the crook of her shoulder. "And all of you crazies!" He hugged everybody else with a huge smile.
"We're not crazies!" Nudge complained, crossing her arms.
"That's what Momma called you when you guys tried to move our couch that one time because Uncle Iggy-"
"That's enough of that story!" Iggy shouts, pushing my little boy away towards J.J.
We all laughed.
"Daddy!" J.J. came running next, Ari not far behind. "Will you tell us when we're going to meet Aunty Angel?"
Suddenly all of our faces were blanketed in sadness. Even Ella's, even though she's never met Angel. She's heard the story.
Iggy opened his mouth to answer, but I got to it first. "Right now."
Nobody protested, and I think we all felt awful when the kids smiled happily, unaware that they were going to learn about one of the saddest things ever to happen to mankind; child abuse.
We made our way back to the garden, most of us dreading the thought of having to explain to two children why a ten year old girl died in her older sister's arms.
I could hear Nudge and Vanessa already beginning to cry, and I remembered it wasn't just Angel back here, Dawn made a home here, too.
"Guys, Aunty Dawn will be there. She was Fang's sister," I say, kneeling down to kiss both of the six year olds' cheeks. I can't imagine losing these kids. They make up most of my life. Because of the lack of family I had when I was younger, I treasure it now.
"Really?" They both exclaimed, not questioning the 'was'.
"Yes," Fang answered, ruffling Ari's hair and patting J.J.'s shoulder.
Now Iggy and Gazzy were crying, along with Ella. Fang's eyes were watering, but I wasn't going to cry yet. I'm still Maximum. I promised Angel. I won't cry, not yet.
We arrived at the small willow tree, and I saw that it's branches were now completely draped over the tombstones, hiding them from view.
Fang was crying now, and Ari tapped my leg as he tried to suck up the tears. "Why is everyone crying? Daddy doesn't cry! He barely even smiles!" I smiled a broken smile, and Fang managed a bleak chuckle through tears.
"Guys," I managed through my now watering eyes. "Meet your two Aunts."
The two stones were revealed, and it was then the tears fell down my cheeks.
Confusion immediately covered the two kids' faces. "What?"
I tried swallowed the gigantic lump in my throat without success. "They're-They're dead," I managed. "Dawn died in front of a truck when she was three."
Vanessa sobbed loudly. "She ran into the street to chase a toy, God, she was young!" she weeped, and I cried harder when I saw Fang wrap his arms around his mother to comfort her.
The two children just looked completely confused.
"So... so Aunty Dawn and Angel are dead?" Ari asked, murmuring the last word.
"Yes."
"O-Oh. What happened to Angel?"
At this point Vanessa wailed, and had to be comforted by Nudge. She calmed down after a moment, and Iggy wrapped his arms around her. I saw the same happen to Ella and soon enough, Fang's strong arms enveloped me.
"I don't think I need to be here," Vanessa says, trying to wipe away her tears with little success. "it'll just break my heart again."
"I think I'll go too, it's not my story," Ella said. She turned away, following Vanessa into the house.
Seven of us remained; five of us ready to tell; two of us ready to listen.
"Angel was my sister," I began. "She was seven years younger than me. She got her name because she looked like an Angel, with blonde curls and blue eyes." I pulled a small, wing shaped locket out of my shirt and opened it to reveal a picture of Angel and I at Vanessa's house smiling wide smiles as we lounged by the pool.
"Well, why did she die?" J.J. asked from her spot on the ground, leaning forward on her elbows.
"Because my mother and father," I spat the words 'mother' and 'father', my hatred towards my parents still rooted in my heart. "abused us."
Ari tapped my leg. "What's abuse?"
"It's when a certain person hurts somebody else, a lot. They would beat us almost everyday, because they didn't like us that much." I reply, horrible memories flashing through my mind, making me want to sit on the ground and scream. Fang seemed to sense this and held me tighter.
"Why?"
"Because Angel and I weren't what they wanted."
"What did they want?"
"Perfection."
With Ari's questioning finished for now, I continued the story.
"One day, when I was in high school, I found Fang," I decided to skip the huge amount of details, and explain them when they were older. "Iggy, Nudge, and Gazzy, too. Sadly, Iggy and Nudge and Gazzy were abused, too, by their step-dad."
J.J. looked at her parents. "Why did you guys get abused?" her mouth stumbled over the new word.
"Seth was a drunk," Iggy answered, cutting straight to the point, keeping it short.
"Oh," J.J. mumbled, looking down sadly.
"After a while of Fang and I being friends, I told him about the abuse. He let Angel and I move into his house, so for awhile we were happy and safe. But I guess that had to stop. Our parents took us back. And," my voice broke. "Jeb, my 'father', dropped Angel, and her head hit the coffee table. It broke her neck."
I had to stop talking here, and just stopped and buried my face in Fang's neck so nobody could see me cry.
I felt Ari wiggle his way into our hug, and heard him crying too. J.J.'s sobs could be heard, too.
"Why is this story so sad, Mommy?" I heard Ari ask quietly.
"It's not over yet," I said, "and as long as I'm with you guys, my story ends happily."