Chapter 13!! Wow three chapters in one day! That's a new record for me! YAY ME!!!! (Oh, and just a warning, I might not post for a few days, since I've posted three chappies in one day. Sorry.) Anyways, I bet a lot of you are going to hate me for this, and you might not like it, but this is my story. And all my stories end with happy endings. So you don't have to worry, well, maybe you do, but only for Max's sake.

Max: I can't believe you! How could you make m-

Me: (covers Max's mouth) No, shh, you can't tell them!

Max: (licks my hand) Fine…this is so not fair…

Me: Anyone have a moist towelet?

Disclaimer: No, sadly I don't own Maximum Ride

Claimer: I own a penny! And it's a shinny penny!

Thanks!

--SarahBelle--

Chapter 13

Whenever the Flock and I were still living in Virginia with Anne, we had gone to school. You remember right? The one I saw Fang kiss the Red-Headed Wonder? The one I met that guy Sam, who might have been a possible Eraser? You know that one.

Anyways, when we went to school there, my literary teacher was reading us this book of, like, famous quotes or something. She told us this one by Michael Jackson.

He had said, "I just wish I could understand my father."

You know what, I feel the same way. I wish I could understand why my father did all of these things to me, and lied about it. Then, on top of that, he betrayed me. I just don't understand my daddy dear at all.

"Jeb," I heard mom say from the kitchen, "You finally made it." She sounded like she was smiling.

The kids on the floor got up to go see him, but Fang and I walked together into the kitchen in a slower pace. We both were tense, not really wanting to see him.

"Hello Valencia," Jeb said in a polite matter, "Oh, and hello you guys." I guess he saw the kids and Iggy.

"Hi, Jeb!" Nudge said in a bright voice.

Fang and I finally had gone around the corner, and we saw Jeb was giving Angel and Nudge a hug. Gazzy was being cautious, like I had taught him, but he too gave Jeb a little hug.

"Hello, Iggy." Jeb said with Nudge still tucked under his arm.

Iggy didn't turn from his work, but he raised his wooden spoon and waved. Ella had given Jeb a little timid smile and nod, and then she turned back to cutting a tomato. She was still shy of him a little.

Jeb had finally saw Fang and me on the edge of the room and smiled brightly at us, well, mostly me. He walked over to us and stuck out his hand. Neither of us moved to shake it.

Jeb finally caught our drift and put his hand down awkwardly. He gave a little cough and straightened his tie.

"So, how are you Maximum?" Jeb asked, not even bothering to acknowledge Fang.

I tried as hard as I could to not glare at him. I could feel Fang's tense body from where I was standing.

"I heard you have had a little problem with your wings." He continued, looking a little sly.

I tried to control my face, but I felt my eyes widen an inch, "How'd you know about that?" I asked.

Jeb smiled at me, "Oh, I have my ways."

I could barely hear the low growl Fang gave, but I heard it. Though, I doubt Jeb could, or even Iggy for that matter.

"Maximum," Jeb said again, "I've been wanting to talk to you."

I noticed that the whole room had gone quiet; no one was moving a muscle. The only sound was everyone breathing, and the sound of Ella cutting the tomato or Iggy's spoon scraping the bottom of the pan.

"Well, you're here." I said crossing my arms, "Talk."

Jeb frowned, "Well, I was kind of hoping in privet."

"Whatever you need to tell me you can say in front of my family." I said in that stubborn voice of mine.

Jeb suddenly glared at me, and I felt a sharp pain burst through my head. I gripped my forehead, trying to make the pain go away.

"Maximum Ride, I tried to be polite, but I guess that's not working." The Voice's voice rang out through my head. Well, I guess Jeb's voice.

"Ok, fine." I said, giving in against my will. But hey, I've had a long day and I'm tired.

I lifted my head and glared at Jeb.

"You okay?" I heard Fang ask me in a low voice.

"I'll be right back." I muttered to him and followed Jeb out the front door, not waiting for a reply.

We walked to the front of the yard before he finally stopped and turned to face me.

"What do you want?" I asked him between clenched teeth. I was giving him my "Death Glare".

"Do you want to know why your wings have been hurting?" Jeb asked in a bored voice. I bet he'd be cleaning his finger nails if he wasn't trying to look so stern.

"I just strained them." I growled, "They're fine now." They actually hurt a little every now and then, but hey, I wasn't about to tell him that.

"No Maximum they aren't." Jeb said, studying me.

I felt my heart skip a beat.

"What do you mean?" I asked in a careful voice.

What's going on? I can't lose my wings. They're everything to me. I wouldn't be a mutant bird kid without them. I need to keep my reputation!

"Maximum," Jeb said in a tired voice, "You're dying."

(A/N: I was about to leave it at that, but I decided since you are all dying to know what happens, that I'll keep writing, and plus, I already had the idea in my head.)

I couldn't cover the shock on my face. My mouth was hanging open and I bet my eyes were ten times bigger than normal. There was only one thought in my mind at that moment:

I can't die!

Then a thousand thoughts ran through my head.

What's going to happen to the Flock? I have to save the world. I need to take care of my family. Will Fang lead the Flock next? Is Jeb just kidding me? Please tell me this isn't a test. If he's joking, I swear I'm gunna kick his butt all the way to China. Then use my super speed and kick him back to here!

Suddenly, I was angrier than a mad bull, "What do you mean I'm gunna die?!" I yelled furious, "I'm only fourteen for Pete's sake!"

Thank goodness the kids were probably watching TV. (They watch it with the sound turned up really loud.) I wouldn't want them to here this.

"Yes, Maximum I know." Jeb said, like he had explained this a million times already.

"How am I going to die? I don't even have an expiration date."

"Maximum, when you were born I had the opportunity to help create your being."

Yeah, everybody's so happy they get to "create" the great Maximum Ride. It's such an honor! Yeah, right.

"They decided that you wouldn't get an expiration date because they thought that after you complete your mission, they'll let you have the chance of having a normal life."

Yeah, that plan was going to work just peachy. A kid with wings can have the perfect normal life.

"But, after they saw what a failure you were, they decided to put you under extermination. They just didn't put a date on you, so you wouldn't know."

"Well, thanks for popping in and telling me the great news!" I said sarcastically, "I feel so relieved knowing I'm going to never get to see the day I turn fifteen."

Jeb sighed, and looked at me with frustrated eyes, "Maximum, you could've done great things. Things no one is ever going to be able to do. I-I'm just…disappointed in you."

Do you know what it's like to have you own father say that they're disappointed in you? That you didn't live up to their expectation? Well, let me tell you, it hurts. It hurts really bad.
"People always expect the best out of me." I said in a low voice, trying to not let my voice crack, "But I always turn out to be a disappointment."

Jeb looked at me and took a deep breath, and for a spit second. I wished that he would hold me in his arms and tell me I've done my best and that's all that matters, like a real father. But of course, this is my life we're talking about.

"Yes, Maximum, you are a disappointment." He said with no emotion.

I let out a breath and blinked a couple times to control myself, "Well, I'm sorry I couldn't be the daughter you always wanted." I meant to say it sarcastically, but I don't think Jeb understood that part too well.

"No, you weren't. You failed me, and I'm embarrassed of you." he looked like he held no emotion for me at all. Like he didn't care that he knew his only daughter was going to die.

I put one hand on my hip, while I wiped the other one over my face. I took a deep, shaky breath, and let it out slowly.

"I-I'm going…to fly around for a little bit." I stuttered, and I never stutter. But I guess I was doing good, seeing that most girls would be on their knees crying and begging their daddy to forgive them. Though, I'm not really the crying and begging type.

I walked into the woods and unfolded my wings, ignoring the pain. Hey, I was going to die soon anyways. I flew up into the air and just flew, taking in everything.

I couldn't believe that my own father would betray me, and then say that I'm a disappointment to him. I don't even know how I could've disappointed him. Seeing, that I'm the one that was always getting captured, while he was sitting at home reading the paper, while drinking his morning coffee.

Maybe, if I had tried to escape quicker or have been stronger in some part of my life, he wouldn't be disappointed in me.

My heart ached for my father's love, to my surprise. I never knew till now that I actually care if he even cared for me until now.

I felt a drop of rain, and when I looked up I noticed the dark clouds in the sky. I flew over to a tree and landed on a branch. Rain started to pour and soon I was soaked in no time.

Finally, it was too much. I broke down into tears. Sobs burst through my throat and came out of my mouth in a loud cry. I clung to the tree and let the tears fall down my face. The rain mixed in with my tears, and the thunder drowned out my endless sobs.

No one knew that the invincible Maximum Ride was clinging on a tree for dear life, while crying her eyes out. She wouldn't let them see her in that state. No matter what.

Because she was, after all,

Maximum Ride.

Awwwwww, poor Max. I hate Jeb! How could he do that?! Oh, I made him do that…oops…

So I hope you like it, I know some of you think that Max is a little OOC, and I'm sorry, I know she is, but it's how I wanted to end the chapter! So sorry if you don't like it and I ruined the whole story just now. Sorry! Oh, and the last part was in Max's POV I just made her act like she was talking to someone or something. Hehe. Please please please review!!! I really want to reach 100 with this story! It's my goal!

Thanks!

--SarahBelle--