Hey sorry it took me so long to update, school got in the way. Blah! Anyway, this chapter has a bit of violence in it. So just warning you. Anyway I'm just going to thank Nadine - AGAIN - for the main idea.

Disclaimer (I hate this thing): I do not own maximum ride.

Chapter 5: My Life Sucks.

Max POV:

It's been two days since the funeral. I was doing my homework on the couch when Jeb - I refuse to call him dad - came back from 'work'. He had been drinking, I could smell it from the other side of the room. Not to mention the fact couldn't walk straight.

"Are you okay?" I asked worriedly. I had never seen him drunk. Ever. His eyes found me and his expression turned to one of disgust. He glared at me with such force I wondered what I did.

"You!" He shouted drunkenly. "It's all your fault! She'd still be here if it weren't for you!"

What the hell? That is so not true! How could that be true. It's not my fault a car crashed into another car that happened to have my mom in it.

He started walking towards me. I stepped back towards the stairs.

"Don't you dare move!" He shouted. Alcohol fumes were filling the air.

As he got closer I started to panic. What was he going to do to me? It turns out I didn't have to wait that long to find out. I wasn't expecting it. He pulled his fist back and drove it forward with as much force a drunk man can. And he punched me in the eye. Okay, shake it off Max. You're fine. I told myself. Just as I turned to run out the front door, he punched me in the side of my stomache. Okay, that hurt. I fell to the ground in pain. It takes a lot to hurt me. I was now in a very dangerous position. He threw another punch, this time hitting my shoulder. I suched in a breath. He kicked behind my leg. I curled in a ball to block my face, stomache, chest and legs. But then he started on my back. Kicking, punching, whatever would result in my pain. When He finally gave up on my back he started to punch at my arms, trying to move them so he could get at my stomache. But I was stubborn. I refused to move. I refused to let him see the silent tears spilling down my face.

I stayed like that for ten minutes after he left. I was in shock. My dad wouldn't do something like that. But I was wrong, he already had. I tried to stand and winced in pain as my back and legs screamed with the small movements. When I got to my room I collapsed on my bed. I knew I wouldn't get much sleep. But that didn't stop me from trying. Whenever I closed my eyes I saw the image of a drunken Jeb walking over to me, accusing me of causing the death of my mom.

The next day when I woke up I didn't feel very good. Actually I didn't look very good either; Bruises were scattered along my arms, I had a black eye, and I didn't even want to look at my back. I was careful when I got dressed that none of the bruises on my arms showed. But what about my black eye? Then I remember the makeup kit Nudge got me for secret santa last year. It wasn't very secret though, everyone knew by the time we finished. Mine was the easiest guess, who else would get me a make up kit? Oh well, I was sure thankful for it now. I just hoped I could remember how to use it.

I was a little bit scared to go down stairs. What if Jeb was still here? Thank god he wasn't. I grabbed my stuff, including my wallet so I could by some lunch - putting makeup on took a lot of time out of my morning okay. When I reached the bus stop - yes I take the bus, don't bug me about it! - it hit me that I couldn't really tell my friends. God knows how much worse my life would get at school if I became the girl who gets beat-up by her dad and has no mom to talk to. My home life is screwed up enough let alone adding my school life to the mix. I decided I would tell Fang, because I can trust him to keep his mouth shut not because I don't trust anyone else.

"Oh. My. God!" Nudge squealed when I walked through the doors. Did I forget to mention I NEVER wear makeup? I guess so. "See I told you guys she would girl up one day." She said turning towards the others who were all leaning against the wall talking. Well they were until they heard Nudges comment. "I'm sorry, where are my manners. I'm Iggy, and you are?" I put my hands on my hips. Bad idea. Oh well, just don't show them it hurts. I told myself mentally. You really should tell someone. Damn that stupid voice! I ignored it and turned to Iggy specifically. "I'm the girl who, oh, I don't know, hangs out with you almost every day. You know, Max." I said sarcastically. He nearly fell over in mock shock. "Max is a girl?" I whacked his arm while the others started cracking up. "Very funny." I whacked him over the head.

The rest of the day was filled with weird looks. From everyone. It was so annoying. At least it was almost time to tell Fang. I haven't told him I needed to tell him anything, but we always meet up at the park on Tuesdays. Thank god I didn't need to come up with an excuse to talk to him without the others. They'd know I was lying.

When I got to the park I walked to our seat by the ice-cream stand and froze. Fang was there, yeah, but so was Lissa, the most popular girl in school. And do you know what the worst part was. They were freaking in full on make out mode. No, not just kissing, she was freaking sitting on him for crying out loud. "Excuse me, but this is a family place. I doubt people in general want to see that let alone their kids." That made them spring apart. I raised an eyebrow. Lissa glanced from me to Fang, to me and then Fang again. She whispered something in his ear. He stood up, grabbed my arm - which damn hurt - and walked me over to the fountain.

"Listen, Max. We can't be friends anymore." What the f****! "Why not? Because you'd rather be tongue tied with Lissa. God Fang, last week you hated her. And why are you choosing to do this now? My mom just freaking died and you're ditching me! So much for not hating me!" He shrugged. That's it, I can't take it anymore. But no, I can't punch Fang - no matter how much I wanted to - so I turned and left, knocking several things over on the way. Great. Why does my life do this to me?