Hey! I'm back! :) And here to give you another update! Ummm...R&R ok Peace! A late holiday present!

Disclaimer: I (Sadly) Do Not Own Maximum Ride. :(

MAX POV

I wake up and am hit with waves of pain. I almost scream, but hold it back at the last second, and only give out a soft cry of agony. I slowly push myself up on all fours. I slide off the bed and gasp as I stand and slowly begin to make my way to the bathroom.

When I finally reach the bathroom, I pour some ice into the tub and then lay on it. The minute my ragged skin and wings touch the ice my back feels a little better. Tears spring to my eyes as the ice slowly melts, effectively cleaning my back while it cools. I sigh when my back is finally numb. I slowly get up and take out some bandages and gingerly wrap up my back. I have to go from my shoulders down to my hips. I grimace when I realize I wont be wearing a bra for the next few days while I heal. I wrap the bandages tight around my upper chest and think that's a good enough bra. I peek around the door to make sure there's no prying eyes COUGHfangCOUGH while I venture out to get a shirt. The coast is clear.

I grab an extremely baggy sweatshirt and slip it on. I have to get a new pair of sweats because these are full of blood and melted ice. I pull new sweats on then get some painkillers and swallow two dry. I don't think I'll be sleeping tonight. I sit at my desk and do homework for about 30 minutes when I notice something out of the corner of my eye.

Fang waving his hand back and forth. I cock an eyebrow up like WTF? He holds up a notebook that says 'Hey'. I grab my notebook, flip to an empty page and scrawl back 'What do you want?' and hold it up. His face has no emotion as he reads it then looks down writing something back. I watch as I see a lock of black hair falls into his dark, mysterious,obsidian eyes... I blink, forget I just said that. He holds up 'Why were you back so late' I roll my eyes and write back 'because when your fighting at school, you generally dont want your parents to find out, so you hide for a little...' and give him a look that says dumbass. 'who hit you' he quickly writes back. I almost facepalm, 'The person I was fighting...'. A moment later he writes back '...did you win?' I start to laugh silently and quickly say back 'What did you doubt me? Of course I won!' His lip twitches up and I think "wow did I actually get the emotionless brick wall to smile?" My hopes and dreams are crushed when he doesn't. So sad. I look up and see his reply 'No I was just making sure'.I check the time 1:00am. I feel my back already beginning to throb. I stand up and hobble over to the pills by my bed. and I can feel Fang burning a hole through my head. I grab the painkillers and take a few more. Oops. Must have taken a little to many. I'm slightly dizzy now. I walk back over to the desk and plop down.

'How bad did they hit you?' Fang writes, I make a face and shrug a tiny bit trying not to disturb my back. We talk about nonsense stuff until the morning. Such as 'Favorite color' to which I answered 'Black, gray, white, blue, green, purple,ect. But no pink. Pink needs to die' (AN: Sorry to pink lovers!) I check the time again and see it says 6:00am wow. we've been up all night. I write 'Check the clock' and show Fang. He looks down for a second then writes back 'Woah.' I nod my head as a yes. 'I'll see you at school' I say then go to the bathroom, picking up some clothes on the way.

I unwrap my back, and ice it again until the ice melts. I check the time again 6:30 ok I have time for a shower. I take a cold shower, afraid of hurting my back, and then wrap up again. Ouch. I hate Jeb. I slip on a black, loose, Paramore elbow-length shirt that has roses.(Link on profile). And some black skinny jeans with black knee-high converse.I pull my hair into a quick ponytail and grab a black hoodie and head downstairs to cook Jeb breakfast and lunch. hmm. Its quiet. Whipping me must have been hard work last night if he's still sleeping. I heat up some frozen waffles and put them on a plate for him. Then I boil a few hotdogs and set them in the refrigerator for him. I make my own lunch, 4 cookies, 1 water, 1 sprite, a packet of poptarts, a sandwich, and a hot pocket. It will be cold by lunchtime but whatever.

I grab my bag, a waffle and munch on it as I leave the house early. I'll ride my skateboard today since 1. im early, 2. I don't think ill be able to push my bike with my back like it is. Omg. I just thought of something. did Fang hear me screaming last night? That would be bad. Very, very bad. I jump on my board and push-off, and for the second day in a row I hear a door close, but, for the first time I hear other wheels accompany mine. I glance over my shoulder, quickly dropping into the 'badass' cmon, cmon lose that vulnerable look I know you have, I say to myself. "Sup" I hear. I nod. I look up as I finally have my walls up. I check out his board. Niiiice, its a-you guessed it-Pink! No, I lied its black. Black stripes on darker black strips on top. Mine has different colored splatter paint all over it (AN: link on profile). We skate along in silence until Fang says, "Who was screaming last night?" I almost fall off my board, almost. I stutter back "Oh. um. M-me and my dad were watching a horror movie." Yeah. I look up and can tell that he doesn't believe me but he lets it go. A minute more in silence then "Why don't you wear your backpack?" I look down at my backpack, sitting between my legs. my shredded back. I think, but quickly reply "Why are you talking so much?" He just shrugs. Yeah. Thats what I thought.

We ride the rest of the way in silence. When we get to school were 20 minutes early. I skate into school, ignoring the looks sent my way. When I get to my locker I stop and kick up my board. I lean it against the wall and open my locker, getting what I need for class. "Ride!" someone yells. I don't answer. I close my locker and am about to turn around when the person says "Hey Ride, I'm talking to you!" and places their hand on my shoulder, as if going to turn me around. I freak out and grab their wrist, twist it and turn around. I see pain appear on Iggy's face, "Dont touch me." I say barely containing my anger. I drop his hand and he rubs it with confusion in his eyes, he's just lucky I didn't break it. I take my skateboard and ride down the hall to my first class. "Max! Max!" I hear Iggy yell. I ignore him and keep going, shooting death glares at anyone who looks at me.

When I reach my class, I finally let the pain show on my face, I take a few pills dry and walk in. The math teacher looks surprised. I walk up hand in my homework and take my seat in the back, and put my head down. The bell rings and Fang walks in. He sits down next to me and scribbles something down, then pushes it towards me, I ignore it and then he starts whispering "Max. Max whats going on" I just turn my head the other way and ignore him, I finally fall asleep for a few minutes when, of course, the bell decides to ring. I skip my next class, Art, and ride the halls.

I decide I should probably apologize to Iggy, so I roll over to his History class and look in the window. The teacher is turned away from me so I get the attention of Iggy and mouth, 'I'm sorry' He nods back and raises an eyebrow, asking if I'm okay. I nod and smirk then decide to bust in the door. "Hi." I say brightly to the teacher. he looks flabbergasted (AHAHAHA) and says "Excuse me miss? Can I help you?" 'Yes, James Walker is needed in the office." I say with as much politeness I can muster up. "Why didn't they just use the speaker?" The teacher asks. "Its broken" I reply. "Oh. well I suppose so, go ahead James." He says. When Iggy walks by he says "It's Iggy. Got it? IG-EE" Then follows me out the door. I grab my board and ride along next to Iggy as we skip our class. "Thanks." He says. "The least I can do. Sorry about that, before too" I mumble softly. "Hey, its ok I freak out sometimes too, ya know?" he replies. I just nod and sigh. "Wanna skip next period too?" I say after we hear the bell ring. "Sure". After the mob of people leave, I take out my pills again.

Iggy gives me a look. I glare at him. "The fight?" He says. "Mmhmm" I say while swallowing. "Hey so I noticed you came to school with Fang today, why?" He says, trying to make conversation. "He's my neighbor." "Really? Oh. well that makes sense..." He trails off, probably wondering what my house is like. None of my friends have ever seen my house. I don't want them to come over and see what my own personal hell is like. We chat about random things, like the time Nudge was talking and wouldn't shut up so Gazzy stuck an ice cream cone in her mouth. The bell rings again signaling lunchtime. When we get to the cafeteria we sit and wait for the Flock (our group of friends) to get there. Soon everybodys there, pushing and shoving and laughing. I just can't do it today though. I can't pretend to be happy today. I get up and say, "I'll see you guys Monday. " Then walk out.

I skate absent-mindedly and, too lost in thought, I don't notice the football players silently following me. I look up and see I'm in the bad part of town, and turn around to go back when I see my path blocked by the football players I fought yesterday. I slap an evil smile on my face. "You boys come back for another dose?" I sneer at them. In my mind im freaking out. My back might not let me do anything. They start to advance forward and I back up with my hands outstretched behind me. They start to cackle menacingly and my hands hit wall.

Shit. Is all I think. The lead jock, Dylan says "quiet down now boys, let me play with her first." He walks up to me and tries to grab me. I pull my fist back and swing, connecting with his cheek. He cusses then comes closer again, and I lift my leg up to go into a roundhouse kick, but as I do my back erupts into pain and I cry out, falling to the ground with a *SMACK*. I lay there, fighting against the pain and tears. Dylan and his goons just laugh as he stalks forward, grabs my arm and pulls me up to him. I'm shoved roughly to the wall, Ouch, and then he sticks his tounge down my throat. What an idiot! I may not be able to go Ninja on you but I can still hurt you! So I bite down and his horrible blood fills my mouth. I release and he stumbles back."Bih!" he says, his mouth full of blood. I spit, then say "What was that? I couldn't understand you." He walks up and slaps me across the face. My lighting fast reflexes allow me to turn my head to the side fast, but he still clipped me pretty well. I growl. He kicks my legs out from under me and says "That was a bad move on your part." Then he grabs me again, trying to rip my shirt off. I struggle and then, noticing im doing nothing, I scream. "Help! He-" my cries are cut off by a foot being shoved into my gut.

All of a sudden I see something, no not something...Someone. My eyes go wide. Fang mouths "Distraction" to me and I blink once to say yes. Dylan approaches again and I wait until he's really close to...yep. Kick him where the sun don't shine. He rolls on the ground and forces out the words "Have her." And the rest of the team approaches happily. Then Fang walks out from behind a dumpster and says "Now is that any way to treat a lady?" They all whip around and glare. I quickly grab my bag, and skateboard and stand up. Running over to Dylan as he's about to yell something. I kick him once in the groin, and once in the head, to knock him out. I see the football players all crowded around Fang as he spins kicks, swings punches, and looks totally badass beating the crap out of them. I sneak up behind two of them and hit their pressure points. Causing them to drop, unconscious. I do it to two more and Fang takes out the last guy with a perfectly executed roundhouse kick.

He looks up at me,not even breathing hard, and says "are you ok?". I nod then say "Thanks, you saved me back there." We start walking back to our neighborhood. I look up at the sun, quickly reading it. Yes, we have time to get home. He says, "Why did you fall?" I freeze, "Umm...I hurt my back last night". "You know that I know that is not true." He answers back. "Yeah it is." I reply. My back is hurt, I just didn't do it. "Hey, If you need anything, just ask" he says when we reach our houses. I look up at mine and think of Jeb, if he's home, if hell hit me, or whip me again tonight. I sigh and say "Thanks." once more. He nods again and walks over to his own house. "Talk again tonight?" He calls when I grab my door handle. if I make it to my room. I think, externally I say "Uh, sure." I pull open the front door and walk in closing it with a small click I slowly turn around and place my bag on the floor. I silently walk through the house, to make sure Jeb isnt here. I find a note in the kitchen that says 'Buiness trip.I'll be gone for a week. Dont bring any boys home you whore, and make sure the house is spotless by the time I get back. Dont tell anyone about our situation, and dont even think about flying.' -Jeb. YES! hes gona for a week! A week of no beatings! maybe my back will get better fast. I smile as I jog up the stairs, careful of my back. I get into my room and yawn. Oh yeah, I forgot I was up all night talking with Fang. I kick of my shoes and sit on my bed. I tiredly pull my hair out of my ponytail and take off my hoodie. I look over and see the open curtains. I sigh again and get up to close them. Before I do I look out and see Fang roll into bed. I smile wryly and walk back to my own bed and lay on my stomach. I pull the comforter over myself and drift into an exhausted sleep.

Time Skip!

OK! So...Yes...No? Tell me in a review! :D R&R Also: Tell me all the cool stuff you got for the holidays! What did you do and what do you celebrate?Tell me what you want to see in the story, and any improvements I can make:)!

You only have once chance at life. Never waste it. ~Nikki