AHA! So as you may know, I'm currently in the Marching band, which means I have no life. It's a huge band (for those who are in band) 5A for state and 3A for BOA... so this means... I have no time. Believe it or not, I've got a few paragraphs written in Lullabies that I haven't updated in like, a year. Blind chapter is almost done, I have a little bit of writers block. And then this story... I'm on Chapter 9 and I'm not even at the good part yet! Keep in mind that I won't always update on fridays, it's just that today is my first friday off from football games and I decided to update. But if I do update there are three days to look out for: Wed. Sat. and Sun.

In other news, my picture license came in Saturday and I got my car Wed. Which is exciting, I can drive to band practice today!

Challengers! Thank you so much for all your help. I vaugely remember seeing their code numbers in the books so especially thanks to SilverwingedShadow for the info!

To My Black Goth Faerie: So stated before, I can drive but with one passenger, that and I drive around with a stuffed animal, my parents gave him a harely jacket! So how's your life?

Create a Chain

Chapter 2:

The Lie Called Home

"I forgot to add this in your birthday gift." Said Jeb gently, attempting to catch my attention. I continued to stare out the window at the gray summer skies of Louisiana and the dark green and brown trees that lined the road. How was Fang taking it? Angel, Iggy, Nudge, and Gazzy? Would they miss me at this betrayal? Would they hate me to the ends of the earth?

Something cool touched my left wrist causing me to look away and saw Jeb fastening a silver charm bracelet. Had I enjoyed being Jeb's daughter I would be grateful and even dared to say it was beautiful in the way it gleamed but I nearly winced as each single link winked at me. One said 'why'd you leave us?' another, 'I love you', and another, 'you're killing us.' I bit my lip and looked away, had Jeb really intended to give this to me for my birthday?

"You're lying." My voice cracked as I spoke, the gray clouds lightening a bit. "That was the biggest load of bull I've heard from you yet. I'm waiting for more." For a moment I thought I saw Fang's face running through the trees and I wanted to cry out for him to go back. Would he follow me?

"How do you know I lied?" He replied calm and collected, he had known I would have figured it out.

"Because you're a masochist and you know I'm a masochist too." I replied but saw his eyes crinkle in his smile as the window reflected it. "You a kind man, Father," I winced at the name, "and you work with experiments merely for science but you care too much for them. You came home every night, with a worn face and saddened eyes that wished nothing more to cry because you can't handle the pain. But as time went on, you tried to numb it but that didn't work. Instead you began to crave the disgust, the torture, of your own heart and became excited to go to work each day. You are still a kind man but pain to you is like weed to a drug addict." I sighed, closing my eyes as sun suddenly shined through the window. "But I am no better. Because I am the selfish person you raised me as. My purest intentions for those around me always look like a selfish thing I've done only for myself and my guilt weighs heavy, hurting me so much. And I insult just to hurt feelings so I can feel bad that I insulted. I like to hurt myself, as do you…

"But this is low." I opened my eyes to gaze at the bracelet, holding it at eye level. "Lower than low. You KNEW that this would cause me pain and you gladly bought it for me. The charms have wings, hearts, and stars. It has a dog that looks like Maximum, a hawk, and a graduation hat. This isn't a birthday present Dad, this is my handcuff, my chain and ball. Now why would you do that?" I smiled bitterly at him.

"To help you grasp-" The blue eyes were crinkling in an ever-evident smile.

"The links in the chain." I finished, glaring hard out the window. That playful smile was too much for me, it made me bitter. So many links, so many chains that keep the world together. Several are severed a day and several are created.

I'd hate to admit that Jeb knows me well, it's almost like he can read my mind.

And then he laughed. "Samantha, what are you thinking?" Okay, so maybe not.

"Why should it matter to you?" I continued to glare out the window, the drivers passing us looked frightened when they saw me; they sped away, hoping my gaze wouldn't follow them.

"Of all the years you've lived under my roof I have yet to figure you out. It's like a puzzle really, just when you think a certain piece will fit it doesn't, in fact, it belongs to a completely different puzzle."

"You've put together a lot of puzzles in your time, haven't you?"

He chuckled. "I suppose I have."

"At least I know what to get you for Christmas, million piece puzzle set and put a thousand miscellaneous pieces in it." I grinned at the thought of him attempting to make those pieces fit.

There were dark eyes through the trees that pierced through me and I gazed back, checking to make sure it was a bear or something. But no bear could run fifty-five miles per hour for the past hour. Dark hair and dark clothes. My gaze saddened, hadn't I told you to stay with the flock, Fang? The dark eyes disappeared for a moment and a small figure broke through the trees, like a large hawk, the wings flapping steadily to the clouds. Tired of running, huh?

Why do you lie? Fang thought as he soared above the black van Max was in. They were in Texas now; just past Dallas and green was evident on either side of the country road.

If you had a choice it would always be me, you told me that. Though your words sting and weigh heavy in my heart I know you don't mean it… Fang blinked, his dark eyes reacting to sudden movement. He faked a smile, seeing a group of deer clump on one of the sides of green. You know I'll always come back, no matter how much you hurt me.

Are you a masochist too? Fang's ears perked up hearing Max's question in his head. He flexed his fingers unable to make sense of it. He could feel her, like a link between their body and soul, a link that Max had yet to open. She was sleeping; he could feel her calm and sadness in the back of his mind.

And then he chuckled. Yes Max, Fang thought to himself, I suppose I am. The wind rushed past his ears as he thought of when she told him those cold words. He just passed the time. That she didn't really love him. Fang's stomach tightened at the thought. He remembered the emotions running through the both of them at the time. Worry on his end, sadness, anger, bitterness and more on Max's. The words she said were of contempt and apathy but her feelings were anything but. You're a horrible liar, Maximum Ride. He smiled wanly.

I had fallen asleep at some point, a very bad thing to do with a scientist and Eraser near you, but had woken up completely fine. The black van was parked in front of a Starbucks where apartments sat above it with other stores lining the rest of the block.

"Come on Max, it's time to show you your new home." Right… home. The word hurt but I welcomed the pain anyway.

I climbed out of the van, following Jeb through an arched pathway between the Starbucks and bookstore. "Your car." Jeb pointed to the truck Fang used to drive me around in. the rust had been taken off and looked newly painted, vintage… Jeb extended a hand towards it, telling me I could inspect it. I popped the hood and whistled in amazement seeing the new engine gleaming at me, the new parts were amazing for this car. I pulled open the front door as Jeb closed the hood and looked inside, the worn steering wheel was there, the soda stained seats the same, and the star I forced Fang to hang on the rearview mirror was there, still faded and untouched. I dug beneath Fang's seat; he had a tendency of hiding stuff in a box there. I pulled it out, the little black box, covered in stickers and heavily locked. Chains and combination locks… You know these can't stop me. I smiled sadly, thinking Fang was outside waiting for me.

The metal toolbox was still back there, where I found Fang's ID and things Jeb had filled it with. I opened it and they were all still there. Tarps, tools, laptops, Mp3 players, money sealed in plastic bags…

I closed it up and locked everything in the truck with the keys Jeb gave me. It's Fang's truck, I told Jeb with my eyes and he continued to smile, you're doing this to hurt me. Jeb continued to smile, reading my eyes with ease.

"Let me show you to your new home." I winced at the word. I followed him up the stairs to a flat on the top floor with easy access to the roof. I opened the door with a key attached to the key chain with the truck and saw a black and white living room. Black leather couches with white curtains that encouraged gray light to filter into the room falling on crème floors and white coffee table. The kitchen counter was a bleached white marble with a stainless steel fridge and pure black stovetop. I moved from the kitchen to the bedroom where a Queen sized bed took up the center of the large room, black sheets with white pillows. An armoire was to the right of the bed, black with the large doors open and a black bedside table to the left of it. It was plain but at the moment, that's how I felt. I noticed a large pile of bags, recognizing it as the things Fang and I had taken with us on my whim to run away. I ignored the bathroom that was something I could look at later.

"Er, thanks, I guess I'll see you at work on Monday, Father." I shook hands with Jeb as I lead him past the living room, the kitchen and to the door.

"The information is on the coffee table." Jeb smiled kindly before I shut the door. I locked the door and bolted it shut; I don't want any more visitors. I flipped through the manila folder waiting for me on the coffee table. My ID, experiments I would be in charge of, my locker, office, parking permit, where to find my White Coat, my new debit and credit cards, etc. etc. I sighed closing the folder; I have to work like this for the rest of my life… When I earn enough I could move into a house, maybe get a ranch if I felt like it…but it would still be far away from the flock… I shook my head; stop living in the past Max!

Okay, down to business. I examined the rooms carefully, there! I took down a miniature camera behind the curtain and another atop the fridge. Thirty minutes later I had taken all cameras and microphones from the flat and tossed them away.

Now what?

I sat down on my bed with a sigh, my clothes looked ratty compared to this place…it felt so high classed… I unpacked my duffle bag where a few books could be found and my clothes. I began unpacking everything, stopping when I got to Fang's things. What if he had something he didn't want me to find? What if he had a skeleton in his closet? Just like his black box. I opened his backpack carefully and his scent filled my nose, I picked up a black shirt, his favorite in fact, its scent driving me crazy. Tears fell freely, sobs escaped my throat, and the ache in my heart hurt so much. I held it close, finding myself on the floor wanting nothing more than to be cradled by him.

I felt the tug for the first time in the past couple of days, it was angry but worried, sad but cold, it worsened how I felt…

I was staring at Fang's black box, the sun was setting and I had unpacked everything. I had gone down from the flat and inspected the truck further to remove any tracking device and bought a small amount of groceries from a mom and pop store down the street. I had bought books to distract me but I was back to this. I had unlocked everything, the chains were limp, the combination locks all open, the lock on the metal box itself was picked, now all I had to do was open it. Could I do this? Would Fang be mad if I did? Does it even matter anymore?

My trembling fingers opened the box, seeing a cluttered mess inside. I took everything out without really looking at it slowly before I examined the contents. Fifteen thousand dollars in hundreds bound tightly and pressed, postcards from me when he was away at 'summer camp', pictures of when I still wore dresses and when my 'mother' was still kind, she could catch pictures of us being like the picture perfect children in all the movies and cartoons. Climbing trees with Fang extending a helping hand, me about to kiss Fang's cheek, Fang blushing while holding my hand, me having a disgusted face while Fang held out a frog and so much more…. I nearly cried. Old letters to Fang, a deed to his house he hasn't lived in for months, a mixed tape that took forever to do, I remember spending hours making that, converting Mp3 into cassette format and then making the cassette, a present for his car…And a little black box.

I knew it when I grasped it, the sun was long gone now and I had to turn on a light to look at it. The velvet case was smiling at me. Tears were welling up in my eyes again. He had every intention of giving this to someone and I think – I know – it was me. I opened it seeing a silver band with a simple diamond and two smaller sapphire stones on either side of it. He knew I hated gold… I wiped a tear away and close the small box. He wouldn't give it to me now, not after what I did… I put the large black box under my bed and sat the ring box on my bedside table before slipping into the bathroom for a long hot shower.

I was lying on my side, staring at the ring box from the moonlight filtering through my room. In the back of my mind a mixed emotion filled me, my heart raced, how could I sleep? A dark figure suddenly blocked the light the illuminated the box and I heard the glass door leading to my balcony slid open. I lay still, my eyes closed, hopefully they'll just ransack the place and leave me alone, and I just hope they don't take the ring. Large warm hands grasped my shoulders and harshly tossed me so I would lie on my back. My eyes snapped open and I remembered the eyes in an instant. I trembled. No, no, no… you can't be here.

"You're lying," Said Fang firmly as he stood above me, "I never just passed your time. Why would you be looking at that ring if it had been?" I couldn't answer because his lips claimed mine, his hands grabbing mine so I couldn't push him away.

He tasted so sweet; he was a drug I couldn't give up. Tears spilled down my cheeks as I kissed back, I don't want to give you up, Fang, but I got to let go, please understand. Fang pressed harder and I felt it was getting harder to breathe.

I was dizzy when he let me breathe, my lips felt bruised but I didn't care. "Marry me, run away with me this time, I'll take you anywhere." He opened the box and slipped the ring on me, I wanted to nod and shake my head at the same time.

"You don't get it." My voice cracked as I sat up, Fang still holding my hands tightly. He sat on the bed.

"Try me." Fang's gaze was serious.

"I can't." Fang kissed me gently this time, letting go of my hands to cradle my face, he kissed my lips, kissed my tears away, and sent a trail of butterfly kisses tracing my chin and down my neck, his warm breath on my collar bone. "Please." My voice was begging, I leaned my forehead against the back of his head; the scent of his hair filled my senses. "Please understand."

"Understand what?" He asked, his head was up in an instant, his forehead pressing against mine. "What's there to understand when you won't tell me anything? What's there to understand when you won't say if you truly love me or not? What do you want me to understand, Max?" His voice rose with every question, his hands on my arms shaking me slightly. My face must have looked pained because he let go.

"Then try to understand that I can't say anything!" I cried out.

"Won't or can't?" Fang cried out just as loud. My face turned to surprise. "Isn't that what you used to always say? Won't or can't? You can't say it or you just won't?" His gaze was so piercing, it almost judging, and waiting for the answer. My head dropped and I looked at my lap, playing with the ring on my left finger.

"It's because I can't, I would if I could." I kissed him gently this time only to have the wind knocked out of me, Fang had been pushed off of me and his face was being forced down into the pillow beside me, he was baring his teeth at me. An Eraser was forcing Fang's head down and cuffing Fang's hands.

"Good job Samantha, distracting him until we could get here." Jeb smiled at me. The words shocked me but my face didn't show it.

"What?" Fang exclaimed, his gaze traveled from Jeb and then to me. I slipped from the bed, I love you so much Fang but I have to let you go… My gaze was suddenly cold as I spoke to Fang.

"Didn't you hear me the first time? You just passed the time. We noticed you were following us, what a bad choice to make." I hid my left hand behind my right. Fang cried out in anger and I felt betrayal in my heart and at the back of my mind.

"You're a liar Max! You've always been the worst liar I've ever known!" Fang shouted as the Eraser shoved Fang into a crate.

"Really?" I arched a brow with a smile on my face. I kneeled in front of the cage, my smile flashing dangerously. "Then how could you fall in love with a liar like me?" The words stung both of us once again.

So I just remembered, this chapter title reminds me of Myrah's title: A Little Place Called Home. Amazing story btw. I never got the chance to review it much...

Challenge Time! ('cause I'm curious) Who are the top 10 writers in the Max Ride Fanfiction? Extra Credit: Any suggestions for stories I should read?

Preview:

Of Humans and Hawkmen

I freed myself from Fang's grip, flipping him and pressing him firm against the wall, a small smile on my face. "How does that song go?" I asked pleasantly, ignoring the protests of my emotions and the emotions in the back of my mind. "You threw me up against the wall, who said that it's better to have loved and lost, I wish that I had never loved at all?" I sung, leaning my head on his shoulder much to Fang's protest. "Is it better, Fang?" I asked gently, throwing him across the room, letting him land on his feet, stunned by my actions. I slipped from the room with the crate in hand and shut the door tightly. A White Coat passed me by as I turned around, I nodded to them in recognition.

Reviews are greatly loved!

Adieu
Nightwing