Max's POV:
You know it's really awesome to taste freedom once again. If you don't know what I'm talking about then…oh well. I would say go to the School and when you get out you'll know what I'm talking about, but I'm not the type of person who wants you to go through hell just to know what I'm talking about. That would just be stupid.
Anyway, I bet you're wondering how we got out. I'm not going to give you the complete story because I don't want you to get any ideas about stealing and hot-wiring cars and blowing up the school with a certain truck that happened to have a full tank.
Well now my 'family' and me were going back home. It was kind of packed but we were lucky to get a van so there are a lot of seats. Dr. M was driving, Fang was sitting shotgun, Ella was sitting on Ari's lap next to the window, Iggy was sitting next to me in the way back, Nudge was sitting on Kyle's lap next to Ari and Ella at the window. It wasn't totally cramped but it wasn't all cozy either.
"Will someone explain to me where we're going?" I asked for the fifth time leaning my head against the van's window. I would've fallen asleep if it wasn't for the fact that I could feel the vibrations coming off the window.
Dr. M gave a sigh. "We've only been on the road for three hours. I'm pretty sure that we would be home in thirty minutes or so, so stop fussing."
I groaned and Iggy laughed and patted me on the shoulder trying to reassure me. He looked pretty excited still. I don't know what the big deal is. We weren't even in there that long and they hadn't done anything that bad to us.
That is…if you don't count the fact that I can't remember anything from my past. I'm just glad that I know what an average teenager would know and that I'm not talking like a baby and all.
"Come on Max its not that bad." Iggy said with a laugh. I looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"You mean being stuck in a van with eight people for more than 3 hours is awesome?" I looked at him a pointed look. "If you really think that then I don't know you. Oh wait, I don't know you. I forgot all about you." I said sarcastically. "You mind telling me your name, pale boy?" I gave an innocent face and he just shook his head with a small smile.
I rolled my eyes and looked out the window wishing for some reason to jump out and fly away. I guess I gotten used to the idea of having wings. I mean, why be scared or horrified of something that's on you? It's a waste of time and now that I think of it why was I even freaked out about them in the first place? I think that it would be pretty awesome to fly away from all my fears. From everything.
Flying.
I could do what no one else could do.
Suddenly the urge was too much.
Quickly I unbuckled my seat and crawled to the closest van door. I made sure before I jumped out that Nudge and Kyle had their seatbelts on. I heard questions running out but I ignored them and unlocked the door and opened it. Taking on step forward I was falling but my instincts took over.
I snapped out my wings and flew with big powerful flaps and was up in the air away from all the human eyesight of a regular human. It was a good thing that we were on a deserted road or I think that there would be a car accident down there. I sighed as I let the feeling of being free fill me.
It was so good. I glided for a few seconds before flapping again. I could see all the way down there and that was very cool considering if I had regular eyesight it would all be a mass of green and brown. With my hawk-light sight, however, I could see everything clearly as if I was standing right next to it.
I saw Dr. M's car, which really wasn't hers since we stole it, but that's not the point here, and the door that I had opened was closed and I could see curious glances through the windows. On Nudge's face I saw awe and that made me feel…good. It made me feel like I wasn't used, or that I wasn't just a freak with wings.
I was myself. And there's nothing better then being the person you're meant to be.
Ella's POV:
I was glad that we were out, that's no doubt. I was also glad that Max wasn't scared or horrified by her wings. Actually I bet she wanted them to work so that was why she jumped out of the van and was currently flying above us right now.
It was good to have a part of your friend back.
Dr. M's POV:
I was so happy I could cry. I looked out the front windshield and saw the familiar buildings up ahead. I didn't worry that much about Max because I knew she wouldn't let anything happen to her without a fight and she really does pack a punch. I don't really know because she hasn't hit me, thank god, but just watching her fight with someone tells you, you don't want to be on the ending line of her fist.
"Dr. M?" Ella asked happily. "Are we almost there yet? I really need a shower."
"Same here." Ari replied.
"Yeah, I agree with Ari and Ella, I really need a shower. I totally reek. Hey, that's a funny word, don't you think? Reek? I mean it's even spelled weird. R-e-e-k? Half of the letters are e's! But when are we going to take a shower because I really don't want to smell like a baseball team if you know what I mean? I rather smell like …like flowers! Flowers smell so nice, maybe roses. No that's too practical, maybe cherry blossoms. Yeah that's like Chinese or something right? I really like Chinese food too. I love the mandarin chicken and white rice it fills you up. You know what else I like? The color pink! I like red too but the light red not the blood red. The blood red makes me want to puke because it looks like blood and that's one thing I don't want to do right now cause then that would ruin the van and my clothes even though they are already dirty but I don't want to throw up on Kyle too because then he'll dump me and leave and I really don't want that because I think I might love him and that's not going to be good on my emotions. I would be depressed and junk like Fang. He's too sad and upset to admit his feelings to Max and even went out with Brigid to try and forget Max. I bet he still likes her but I don't know if it's just a crush or something more. From the way he acts I'm thinking it's more of a love thing. I wonder who made up the word love. I bet it was a girl because why would a guy make it up? That would be stupid and totally messed up because us girls are all awesome and everything. Wow, Max looks like an angel flying through the sky, I wish I could do that. I bet anyone would kill for that ability and I can't believe when Max first found out she had wings she freaked out. I would totally lo-" I didn't know what happened after that it was just cut off like something was covering her mouth.
I saw that Fang was sitting stiffly, probably by the comment on how he loves Max and all. But that was for a different time, when Max was with us. I looked at the mirror hanging down from the ceiling of 'our' car and saw that Kyle was kissing Nudge in a heated make out session. So that's what cut her off.
"PDA, CHILDREN!" I yelled at them irritated. Do they really have to do that now? Of all things.
Nudge blushed deeply as they jumped apart. Kyle looked a little sheepish with his hair slightly tousled from when Nudge's fingers fan through it. Nudge looked at me and I gave my best 'do it again and we'll see what happens next' look. She blushed even deeper making her face a very deep color and buried her head in Kyle's neck and shoulder trying to hide her face. I would tell her that was PDA but I decided not to be too harsh on her. It's young love.
I turned down a street to our house that was inside. The sight made both my heart speed up and slow down at the same time.
There was our house in perfect shape, with Angel and Gazzy completely unharmed in the front yard. And standing in front of them was Lissa, I think she was Max's agent if my memory serves me. She was talking to them with a note pad and paperwork in her hand like she was some type of investigator. I knew at once that once we get there all hell is going to break loose.
This is NOT what I wanted when I come home.
Max's POV:
I landed in the back yard quickly when no one around me was looking I quickly tucked in my wings and ran to the back screen door. This house did seem familiar and all but I don't really remember what happened in this house or if it was just a house that I saw on my way here. It was all jumbled up in my mind right now. It's a miracle how I even process these things I'm telling you right now.
I hoped that the screen door was unlocked. It was thankfully, and I slid it across the brace easily. I closed it behind me and began wondering through the house.
I went a little ahead when I saw that my 'family' was getting off and heading towards the person in that suit talking to those two little children in front of this house.
As I walked through the halls I saw that everything was in it's place, never out of order, everything was fresh and clean, nothing with dust, every picture on the wall was straight and even, nothing was on the floor except an occasional rug here and there and even then there wasn't any dirt on it. Everything was so…perfect.
I smelled the air and it smelled like apple cinnamon. It smelled really nice, with a distant taste of chocolate chip cookies.
Suddenly my stomach rumbled and I groaned when I realized I hadn't eaten in a long while. I decided to head to the kitchen to see if that smell of chocolate chip cookies were really real and that they were there instead of just…just a scented candle or something.
I ran with little hope I had left to the kitchen which was as perfect as the rest of the house, nothing misplaced, nothing stained, nothing out of the ordinary except the bird kid standing in front of the oven opening it and looking inside it like it held the answer to world hunger.
There weren't any chocolate chip cookies in there. I moaned, practically in agony. Not really but you get the point, and sat down on my butt and rubbed my temples. I just wanted cookies, was that so hard to ask? Okay, I know that sounded like I was a little child but so what! I'm hungry and I want my food! Now if I added a little pout at the end then yeah, I would be a little baby, but I'm obviously not and even if I did pout at the end you wouldn't know because I didn't tell you that I did a pout at the end so, HA!
Anyway, back from my little ranting about not being the child that I certainly am not, I caught a whiff of something. Cookies. Cookies, cookies, cookies, cookies, cookies, cookies, Cookies, COOKIES, COOKIES, COOKIES!
That was the only thought running though my head. Cookies. Because cookies are just so awesome they deserve all my attention.
I snapped my head up and looked on top of the oven. There, at the end of the counter was the small outline of steel. I jumped up to my feet as fast as lightning and saw through my eyes the wonderful heaven of chocolate cookies. Immediately, without a second thought, I started to grab cookies one by one and began shoving them in my mouth with that little crunchy sound. I didn't even bother to wonder how the heck these cookies got here, or if the people who made them would mind if I eat their cookies, why? Because these were just too damn good to even think anything other than "Oh my god, these are the awesome-est cookies ever. I want to eat these all the time."
"Max?" A small voice sounded from behind me. I froze mid-bite and turned around biting into the sweet chocolate chip cookie and chewing it slowly as I saw everyone was staring at me in amusement and shock. I saw that the lady that was interrogating the little kids was in here too so I guess Dr. M told her to come in. The lady looked happy and not happy at the same time. I wonder what her problem is.
The little kids however were so elated to see me, that they ran over to me and hugged my knees. I stood stock-still and finished my cookie and looked down at them with a raised eyebrow.
"Okay, now that we're all here I'm afraid to give you some bad news." The lady said but she didn't look sorry at all.
"What is that?" Dr. M asked casually and sat at a stool at the kitchen island. She looked confused as to why the business lady was here. Not on her face but in her eyes. You know now that I think of it…her eyes look a lot like mine.
"Because you, Mrs. Martinez have mistreated these kids taking them away and leaving two underage kids by themselves. I'm afraid that I have to take them away from you since you are a unfit parent." The lady said and took out a bunch of papers and shoved them into the face of Dr. M.
And for the first time since I saw her, her face was filled with real fear. Dr. M glanced at me with almost tear full eyes except she didn't want to anyone to see her cry. She rubbed her eyes and lifted her chin in that stubborn thing that I can just tell just by looking at her that I got it from her.
That's when I saw how our hair was the similar, our posture, our eyes, our freckles, our skin tone; almost everything could be seen on both of our faces. She was my mom. And this lady wanted to tear us apart.
"Hey, Mom?" I asked her hugging the children to me. They seem happy but a little weary for some reason. Dr. M's head flashed up so fast I' pretty sure she'll have whiplash later.
"Yes?" She asked with a small sad smile.
"Why is-" A name flashed before my eyes and I immediately said it hoping it was the right name "-Lissa saying you left us? You were visiting your parent's house and everyone wanted to go but we couldn't leave the kids here, so I offered to stay. Why is she saying that Angel and Gassy were home alone?" And for once I think those were made up names. I called the little girl angel as a nickname as well as the others.
'Lissa' looked kind of shocked to hear me say mom, but it was true so I don't know what her problem was since Dr. M is my mother. I don't even know why she's even here but if she's saying that she's going to take us away I'm thinking she's some type of social services or something, I'm not sure.
"What are you talking about?" Lissa asked dumbfounded. "No one has seen any of you for a whole three days! And you're expecting me to believe that you've been here all along? It's a miracle that I was taking action and found you. I need you to fill out the paperwork so I can take Max back. I wouldn't even be asking you this if I saw that Max was in bad shape, like all the other times. But seeing as she's unharmed then you need to fill them out so I can take her back to the orphanage." She said handing my mom a pen. That's when I got mad.
"If we're not harmed in any way and we're all in one piece then why are you trying to take me back? I like it here. I don't want to go." I said and picked up Angel. She smiled at me and wrapped her arms around my neck leaning her head on my shoulder as I held her on my hip.
Lissa looked beyond shocked and tried to recollect herself, closing her mouth. "What?" She asked like she couldn't believe what I had just said. I rolled my eyes at her.
"I said I like it here. I don't want to go." I said slowly down the words like I was talking to an eight year old, which she didn't like that much. She scowled at me and I gave her an innocent smile.
"I thought you always hated to spend time and like being anywhere that wasn't in your room looking out the window admirably. You would yell and thrash out at anyone except Ella."
Sometimes you just get the feeling that this is all a movie right? With the action, drama and sometimes a tragedy or two. Well right now I had that feeling.
Lissa gave me a hard look, "And now you're saying that you like it here?" Her tone was so surprised it was like watching someone shoot a 15 inch shell at a tissue paper and then have it come back to hit the person.
"Yes, Lissa." I said kissing Angel's little forehead affectionately. I looked back at Lissa. "You know that I've never done this before so it should be obvious that these people are not abusive and you can tell I haven't been harmed in ANY way. So I really just want to eat the rest of those perfect cookies before anyone else, not go with you back to whatever abusive people that can't seem to leave me alone." I said the last part so bitterly she took a small step back.
Lissa looked at Dr. M, or mom, through the corner of her eyes and then back at me. She sighed and started collecting her papers. "Fine." She said without looking at me. "If that's the way you want it. I'll take care of the police and explain it to them. I don't know about the neighbors but…that's your deal." Her voice sounded so defeated it kind of hurt my heart, but then I quickly dismissed the feeling. Why feel bad for someone who was trying to tear me away from my family?
With a sad, defeated sigh Lissa walked out of the room with a small click as the lock of the door fell in place.
Everyone stayed silent as they looked at the door and then at Dr. M and then at me. I then realized that I was holding someone else's child without permission. I set her down and tried not to notice the little girl's sad frown.
I looked at Dr. M. "Don't think that because I knew the names of some people that I know everything." I started walking to the stairs and at the base of the stairs I turned to look at her again. "You know, if I were you I would move since the School already knows our location but I can see by the look on your face that that's not what you want."
Dr. M smiled kindly at me and nodded. "Thank you, Max." I frowned at her and started up the stairs.
"Don't thank me for a problem that's yours to deal with. I did nothing but state my opinion. Why thank someone for such a trivial thing?" I said and without waiting for a reply I walked into the most familiar room to me.
"Because everyone's opinion matters in an unfair world."
(A/N: So… I know it's been awhile but with Christmas, New Year's, and getting back into my school routine, I think I have plenty of excuses. R&R Please!)