Max's POV

I sat on the side of Iggy's squashy bed. I felt the need to get up and sit down again, to readjust, but I didn't want to disturb Iggy. I couldn't stop looking at his neck. God, his neck. That stupid, stupid, stupid expiration date! I didn't even think we had those. I cussed under my breath, as the kids were sitting nearby wherever they could. The motel Fang got when I was out...well...lets just say it isn't the best. That's an understatement. Its really, really, shitty. Even the name, "Come 'N Stay Motel: Lay back and Relax! We'll take care of you!" Except a lot of the letters were scratched off so it looked more like, " ome ' V S ay Mot l: ay ba k a d ax! 'ell ke re f u!"

Those last two letters...For some reason, they made me picture Iggy and his eager little apprentice Gazzy scratching off some paint with quarters.

I smoothed back Iggy's silky hair with my sweat-covered hand. His eyes fluttered, but stayed closed. Immediately, I looked to Fang. He nodded briefly and I gave him a small smile of thanks. "C'mon guys. Let's go find some lunch," Fang said, swinging his hand toward the moldy, chipped door. No one seemed to suspect anything, Nudge even smiled. But then Gazzy threw me a sour look. He didn't say anything, didn't need to. I tried to look apologetic, and it must have satisfied him. He looked away, his head down. The hood of his sweatshirt covered his face, so I wasn't sure just how satisfied he was.

Once we were alone, I turned to Iggy. "Hey Igg, can you hear me?" I said softly. He groaned and moved his head to the left side. A mumble that was totally incoherent escaped his lips, which barely moved. I didn't press him to repeat himself.

Soon after, I lifted my head with a start, realizing I must have fallen asleep. Wiping the crusty stuff from my eyes and the side of my mouth, I stretched. My hand flopped to the pillow. Empty. What? My hand should have flopped right onto Iggy's face, but no, Iggy's face was absent. Iggy's whole self was absent. I jumped off the dark-green-and-pink-diamond patterned comforter. "Iggy!" I said, my voice coming out in a hoarse whisper. My mouth must have been open when I was sleeping. That also explained the trail of crust coming down the side of my chin. Then I saw him.

Now, a lady I used to know would have said, "You make a better wall than window," but all I said was, "What the hell are you doing out of bed?" Slowly, Iggy turned from the window. Again, more mumbling. His eyes were glazed over and looking beyond me, into my soul, it seemed. Like I wasn't there. I guess I made a pretty good window."Igg?" I asked softly. He mumbled a little louder, though still too slurred and quiet for me to understand. Then, he began to walk back to his bed. More like he shuffled. He was about to run, excuse me, shuffle, into me, so I sidestepped out of his way, figuring he wouldn't. As soon as he was at the bed, he just flopped over, face down, onto the stinky sheets. And of course, still mumbling. I sat down beside his overturned body. "Oh Iggy," I sighed, almost afraid to touch him, afraid to catch whatever poison his brain was infected with. " I'm so sorry" I said before crumbling into tears. It was 1/6/12 His expiration date was 1/8/12. We had 2 more days.

"Fang will you get me a damp cloth" I asked not wanting to leave Iggy on his last day. He has been in this coma like state ever since he passed out the first day. We had all come to terms with his fate. Nudge, in particular, took it the hardest. She hasn't left his side unless she is given direct orders from me. Fang came back with the cloth in hand, he sat down next to me on the bed. We were both looking away from Iggy. We were looking out the window. "Its okay," was all he said, so softly I could barely hear him. I wasn't sure if he was reassuring himself or me. I looked at him. His eyes...were full of tears. That scared me. Iggy is his best friend. I grabbed his chin and kissed him gently on the lips. When we broke apart our foreheads were still touching. I whispered to him only for him to hear. "As long as I have you," I said tears forming in my eyes. We both turned to Iggy. "Okay guys" I said "Its...time." He lay there motionless. His skin as pale as snow. Only paler. The only color was under his eyes, dark purple bags. His strawberry blonde hair was matted with sweat and sticking to his face.

Gazzy, brave little man he is, went first. "You are my best friend….my brother….. my right wing man….I just want you to know how much you mean to me.." That is all he could say before he broke down. I pulled him into a hug. His head only reaching my chest. "Go ahead Angel" I said. "You are my brother…..friend…role model… You shouldn't be going. You should stay alive forever." She finished and then buried her head in Fangs stomach. He just held her close to his body and whispered something softly in her ear. "Nudge go ahead," I said. She just shook her head tears making small rivers on her face. She leaned down close to his face. Kissed his cheek and whispered something in his ear, a secret for only him. I looked at Fang, signaling him to go. He nodded and began. "Man, You have been with me my whole life. I was there when they brought you in as a baby. I still remember everything like it was yesterday" he choked "I just wish…You could...stay." My turn. You know how there is something you know you have to do, and you dread it like crazy, but you think you can avoid it by putting it off just a little longer? Yeah well, that was my plan. It didn't turn out so hot. "Iggy, you are my brother and my friend. You are funny, caring, kind, a pyromaniac, innapropriate, and a great brother, friend, and role model. I don't want you to leave." I broke down and knelt at his side. "I just wish there was something I could do. I love you as my brother and my friend. I'm going to miss you so much." Then I broke down into a fit of tears. You know how when you cry you make this weird choking sound? Well that too. I wish it was me, not Iggy. God, not Iggy. That I could die for him. All of us were silent, not able to look at him, not able to look away. No one made one sound. It was as if we were a picture, the poster children of utter grief. Iggy let out a shaky breath and then lay completely still. You could almost feel the heat leave his body. Steam, rising from a boiling pot that has long since been removed from its heat source, from the fire that fed it.

I stood up and grabbed Fang in my arms and sobbed. Gazzy screamed and curled himself up on the floor. God, that scream. He screamed loudly, then sobbed. Just over and over again. Scream after scream, sob after terrible, terrible sob. Angel just stood, looking on. Nudge held Iggys and sobbed into his matted hair. I looked to him one more time. Sleep. I know its cliche, but it was just like he was sleeping. Up, down, just barely. Whay did we all have to be fooled like this? He was dead. It was just cruel of my mind to make me think of him sleeping. Up, down, up, down. I tighened my grip on Fang's sleeve. My mouth made a perfect "O" and a soft huhhh sound came from my chest. Up and down? How? Stupid, stupid mind. I broke away forom Fang to just go confirm it, get it over-with. To tell myself with absolute certainty that he wasn't here anymore. I gently laid my hand squarely in the center of his chest. Nothing. But then, there it was again! Up and down? UP AND FREAKING DOWN? He was so silent and peaceful. "Wait," I said in an urgent tone. He took another breath, a deep, sharp one, and then his eyes fluttered open. He looked around the silent room, propping himself up slowly on his elbows. He furrowed his eye brows in confusion nd looked at us all strangely. "So...whats new with you?" he asked slowly, unsure of just what was going on. At the sound of his voice, Gazzy inhaled, and turned around, his eyes widening. "Nothing just waiting for your lazy butt to wake up! Whats new with you?" I said with a sob cause I was still crying. "What are you puffy-eyed wimps doing? Crying because of me? All of you have softened. SHAME ON YOU!" he delcared, pursing his lips to prevent a smile. "Wait-did you say? Puffy eyed..." It seemed like all the round parts of my face widened, my eyes, my mouth, probably even my nostrils. "You-you can..." I didn't want to say it, just in case it wasn't true. Iggy nodded curtly, a small smirk on his face.

"Lets leave Iggy and them alone," I said as Iggys eyes landed on Nudge. Fang and I went to tha hallway. I looked at him. We were sitting on the rough, dark green floor. I kissed him. Our kisses were loving and anxious. I started off as kissing and went up from there. I don't want to go into detail on what happened. Lets just say our clothes magically disappeared.

Iggy's POV

Its disappointing when you get what you've hoped for your entire life, and it isn't all that you thought it would be.

Max's POV

We were heading to Itex to crush it. We had given Iggy a week to rest after all the time he spent sick, he needed rest. Turns out he doesn't remember everything. After what happened that night with Fang I was leery about killing myself. But I know it is time if I wanted the flock to survive I have to die and this is the perfect time to do it. The flock won't suspect a thing. "Max when are we going to be there?" Nudge asked tiredly. "We are almost there Nudge, just a little longer" I replied, tired myself. "Can we stop for a while Max? I'm tired." She said pushing further. "Fine" I said, totally giving in because….I am tired. "Max can I...talk to you?" Fang asked "Umm yeah. Sure," I said. What did he want to say? Was he leaving m- I mean the flock again? Did he not want to be with m- I mean us anymore? I guess I will find out.

Fangs POV

I can do this I thought to myself. I love her she loves me. I can do this. There she is. She is so beautiful especially how the moonlight is sparkling off of her perfect hair. Bad Fang! Focus, you can do this. Oh no. I can't do this, she is to beautiful and I'm good looking but she is … stunning. AH! Shut up you CAN do this. Can I? Nudge and Max had been talking I don't know what about though but apparently we were landing for a rest. "Max can I...talk to you?" I asked hoping I wouldn't sound nervous or anxious or worried or edgy or... SHUT THE HELL UP! I now see why Max got so annoyed at The Voice. One voice in my head is enough. While I was fighting with my inner demon, Max answered me. "Umm yeah sure," she replied. Umm yeah sure does that sound like a girl that likes you or is anxious to talk to you or….or….or ENOUGH WITH THE OR'S, FANG! FOCUS! I need to relax and stop talking to myself…in my head. You could never tell that these conflicting feelings were inside me. Inside, I am insane and emotional. Outside, no emotion that is how good I am! When Gazzy was little, he told me one time I reminded him of his pet rock... Mr. Rock. FREAKING FOCUS!Okay here we go. She is walking towards me. Her beautiful hair cascaded down her shoulders perfectly, a waterfall. Her beautiful chocolate eyes shown in the moonlight. Flawless. "Yeah?" she replied. "Max. Maximum Ride. You are mine. You are flawless, gorgeous, beautiful, and pure. I want to spend every moment of my life with you. You Maximum Ride are my perfect other half. I don't know if I could ever be Without you cause you complete me. And in time I know that we'll both see that we're all we need .Cause your the one for me. And I'm the one for you. You take the both of us. And we're the perfect two. Will you do me the the great honor of marrying me?" Well, that's what I wanted to say, but all that came out was the last part. As I asked, I slowly got down on one knee. Max's face went from beauty to confusion to shock with every word I spoke. I plastered an indifferent look on my face. Then I realized it wasn't the time for Mr. Rock. So, I switched it to a look of hope. She stared into my eyes for several long moments. "Fang…..I…I….Yes" she replied and I couldn't help letting a look of relief slip through. I slipped the ring I had secretly bought and then I stood up and pulled her into my arms. "I love you Max." I said into her hair. "I love you too Fang." I stood there hoping the moment would never end. She was beautiful and she was mi—"Hey I hope I'm not interrupting but I want food" Iggy said with a smirk set on his face. He knew. That I was planning to propose to her. So all I had to do is nod. So I let out a small discrete nod and he smiled. "Congrats man," he said pulling me into a bear hug. Then he turned to Max. He looked her up and down. "Max…..Congrats, Fang successfully got you to accept him. You know, you being all...and him being, you know...Well, a guy that will never leave you or hurt you…..ever. Not on purpose anyway. Its not like he can help it if a shark jumps out of the water while we a re going by and-" he stopped, realizing now was not the time. His face slowly contorted into a face that looked like a mix between a smirk and a scowl. I gave him a cold glare. Which works much better with him not being blind and all. He gave her a big hug and then walked back to the group and pretended to know nothing. He even held up his hands. Max smiled at me and I couldn't help but smiling back. We walked over to the group and smiled. Max's ring caught the moonlight perfectly as she swiped her hair out of her face and Nudge and Angel screamed. "OMG MAX YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED OMG!" Nudge screamed. "No Nudge I am just wearing this ring on my RING finger for fun," Max said smiling. Then all of the sudden Max crashed to the ground screaming and holding her head. Then, everything went black.

End Of Book 1!

Okay so that is the end of our first book PLEASE check out our second book Maximum Ride: Shattered Wings. It is about the flock's journey destroying Itex and some other unexpected surprises. Thank you for reading our stories and Please read the next book to find out what happens

Sincerely,

T & K