Max's POV:
Ever heard of school? You know where you sit around all day to look at the teacher writing stuff on the dry erase board and you have to figure out what the heck they're talking about? Yeah, well, even though I just got back from finally destroying the reason of my existence, (The School,) my mom still thinks that I have to go to school since I missed about what was it? Three days? A week? I don't even know because you don't really think about how long you've been in hell; you just want to get out. And that's exactly what I want to do right now.
"Why am I here?" I asked in monotone. Ever since I entered this world I realized I didn't know anything about it. I didn't know, not directly of course, that the sun was so bright, I didn't know the exact reason why they have school's like these. It was like I know how to speak but I don't understand why I'm speaking. Or how I know that the tall brick thing in front of me is called a building, but the reason why they built it was unknown to me. I realized that no matter how I look at it I see that there's no point in building these buildings, these sidewalks, the streetlights, the windows, I see know point in them. I saw the downside of the world, only the bad side.
So now I turned into Fang. I don't know if I actually want to be like Fang, I don't know why not since I know nothing about him besides the fact he can't hide his feelings in his eyes and has black hair. I see nothing good about him and nothing bad about him so I can't determine if I should want to be like him. Frankly, I want to be me. The original me where as in if the school didn't do anything then I don't want to be here. And my feelings about that boy that looks like me still gives me the creeps because it's like whenever I look at him I see me. It's creepy but I feel like he'll be my way back to normality. I want to be like I was not who I am now.
"You're here because you need to remember." Matt said. He was emotionless too but I could see in his eyes that he was worried about me. He looked at me and saw that I was looking at him. I didn't blush like I was sure that I would have if I was like I used to be but I didn't because what was so wrong at looking at someone when they're talking? Is that a crime? No. It's being polite.
"Is there a reason to remember?" I asked bluntly. "Why try to remember a past that's filled with things I don't want to remember or know about? It's better to know little about who you were but what you are." I looked away. I don't know why, but I don't want them to know that I want to remember who I was. I want to look like I don't care that I lost my memory because that shows that I'm weak for letting some jackass mess with my brain. I don't want to admit my weakness.
We stayed silent for a moment before Ella decided to speak up.
"It's about time we went in. We're already late." She said trying to smile but it was a sad smile. Ari looked at her and reached out a hand to lay on her shoulder but she shouldered it off and went up to me and grabbed my hand and with a sudden burst of determination she made a hopeful smile and said, "Come on, Max. It's time we met up with the others."
She then gripped my hand tightly and tugged me towards the door and even though I held an emotionless mask I couldn't help but realize something.
Her face seemed familiar. It looked like I actually saw her when I was walking down a street or something. She's different then the others and I don't know why.
I couldn't help it. I lost my emotionless look. She's supposed to be my best friend. That's why it hurt so much for her to realize that I didn't remember her. Mom too. It hurt her to know that her daughter didn't know who she was. I remember when Ella and I went to that place in the trees with the bird shape in the trees. I remember how we met in the orphanage and how I stole her bed and how I took her flying with me.
Oh my god…
I forgot how to walk and I stayed put starring at Ella with a new…what's the word? Perspective? Appreciation? No. Actually let me just rewrite that sentence. I looked at Ella like it was the first time I ever saw her. Actually it was the first time I ever saw her that I knew who she was, not just her name. She was my first and best friend and I forgot about her. I'm so sorry Ella.
Ella felt the tug of my hand when I stayed put and she turned her head back to look at me and that's when I truly realized that she really was Ella. But I had to make sure.
"Ella?" I asked in a soft and hopeful voice. I really wanted her to be Ella but nothing really goes right for me. I didn't say her name like I was making sure that it was her name but I said it like I was making sure that this person is whom I thought it would be.
Ella understood me like I felt she would and I saw unshed tears come to her eyes. I don't know what made me remember her but…I hope that…I…I don't know but I kind of hope that I'll remember the others and I want to see if I'll be as happy as I am now.
Ella smiled a broken smile and crushed me in a hug. "Max, I knew you would remember me!" She cried helplessly and I suddenly fell into a stiff position. I don't like crying. I put my hands on her shoulders and pushed her away, but not in an unfriendly way.
"Stop it." I said back to my emotionless phase. Ella looked hurt but I didn't show the sadness crossing my heart. "Don't cry." I started to walk away and when I passed Ella I whispered quietly. "It hurts." And I continued to walk away not bothering if the hopeful look on her face was real or the confused looks on everyone else's faces were real either. I want to get in this school to see if my memory about being in a band having the ability to play an electric guitar was real.
I'll just have to wait until that period comes up to find out for sure and if it's not just my mind running wild.
By the time everyone got inside the school and to their own classrooms we were already twenty minutes late and it's all thanks to my little scene about remembering Ella. I still remember her it's just for some reason whenever I see Ella cry it hurts and whenever I'm hurt I try and hide it from anyone else's sight and apparently I'm not a touchy person, so I guess I just go into a rigid state.
First period was as boring as ever, no one asked what happened to us, to our relief, and no one commented about how I was apparently a different person from my first self. Second period was the same, third and fourth period too. I knew everything about what we were doing and was never lost. I knew everything about how to solve equations or the history of the Roman Empire or how to break up and make chemical formulas or how to examine a poem. I knew all these things.
Maybe when I get to that period with the guitar then I'll remember how to play it since my brain can handle education and not actual feelings and stuff with other people. I think it's because the white coats didn't want me to be social but as in the most wise and smart avian American ever so I can defeat my opponent faster and more efficient and I'm tired of trying to be the one on the top. It's so boring always being the one to win. There's no challenge and it's just… totally pointless. There's no reason to it and no point in it so therefore I see no reason to win.
But I see no reason why to fail though.
"Hey." A teenaged boy that was about an inch taller then me said. He had shady brown hair and green eyes with flecks of gold and silver in it. He was pretty cute but I felt nothing for him. I raised an eyebrow at him wondering what the deal was. He was the first person besides the people I know to come up to me and just say something because of my emotionless attitude. "What happened to you? You seem like you have no clue who anyone is." His voice seemed genuinely confused and I didn't see why he would be worried or concerned about my welfare.
"That is none of your concern." I said and started to walk away but he laid a hand on my shoulder and turned me back to look at him.
"Of course it is. I'm your friend, remember?" His face held a small smile and his eyes told the truth. He dropped his hand to his side and stuck them in his pockets while waiting for my reply. I gave him a blank look not knowing if he actually was my friend from the beginning. He looked back at me and even though in my eyes there was confusion, my face held blankness. I would have never guessed that he would actually know that I didn't remember. "Oh my gosh…you don't remember do you?" His voice held no pity, probably thinking I don't want it. It held sympathy. His eyes held sympathy and I couldn't help but wonder why.
"What makes you say that?" I said looking to the side with a sort of frown. I can't believe this regular human figured out what no other has.
"Because your eye's tell me everything. And also because I know what it feels like when you don't know anything." He said.
I looked at him in the eyes again and I saw sincerity in his eyes. "How do you know?"
"Two years ago I was in a car crash with my family. There wasn't enough seatbelts and I was in the middle. A truck came out of nowhere and hit our car. I was thrown forward and I hit my head on the windshield. I don't know exactly what happened. That was just what they told me. I woke up to be surrounded by people I didn't know and so I went through the world without knowledge of anything going on around me. I didn't know how to speak. I didn't know what was going on. But over time I regained my memory. And it's a miracle that I'm here. I gained most of my memory and I made friends but never told them because I saw no reason why." He explained his story and I couldn't help but feel sympathy for him. I'm going through the same thing that he went through.
"So you're saying that my memory will get better in time?" I asked hopefully. He smiled showing his perfect white teeth at me and nodded. I made a smile back at him.
"Yeah, but let's hurry or we'll be late for gym." He said and he waved his hand in a "lead the way" gesture and bowed low like I was a queen and he was a servant. "Lead the way, your majesty." He said and tilted his head up to look at my uncertain face as I looked down at the hallway trying to search my memory of where it was.
He snickered and I slapped the back of his head with a "Shut up" to follow it and I felt his soft hair between my fingers but dismissed the thought. It's nothing important.
He stood up and held out his arm and looked down the hall. I looked at him and he smiled. "You don't know the way do you?" He asked and I shook my head slowly with a small blush on my face, not liking being at a disadvantage. He held out his arm again and said, "Then let me be your guide." I looked at his arm that was covered with his black jacket and I saw he was wearing a white t-shirt with regular jeans. I then realized that I was wearing black jeans and a black shirt and a black jacket with a skull on the back. I must look Goth but oh, well. I don't care.
I smiled and took his arm and he led the way down the hallway and taking a bunch of turns to the gym.
"You know, you're not that bad." I mused and he put a hand to his heart.
"Wow that hurt." He said jokingly and I hit his shoulder with mine.
"But I mean it…" I trailed off realizing I didn't know his name. Wow, stupid me.
He saw that I didn't know his name and came to my rescue. "How impolite of me. I forgot to give you my name since you forgot the first time. Huh, I guess my amnesia is getting the best of me too." He joked and I chuckled. "The name's Sam. Pleased to meet you, and you are?" He asked in a polite manner and I knew he knew my name but I still answered.
"Max. Maximum Martinez." I said using my mom's last name feeling it was appropriate.
"Nice to meet you Maximum." Sam said and looked forward again with a smile still on his face.
"Nice to meet you too, Sam, but please call me Max. Everyone else I'm suppose to know does." I replied to him looking ahead holding onto his arm with a more comfortable feeling. I like him. Not in the boyfriend way but as in a friend. I'm sure he feels the same too. "Hey, Sam?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you know what we're going to do in Gym?"
"Yeah."
"What is it?"
"Dodge ball."
And for some reason I felt happy.
(A/N: Hey guys it's the beta reader here! Now don't be mad at my sister for updating EXTREMELY late- it was my fault. I was swamped with homework, staying up till 10 most of the week and had a test Friday I didn't get to study for at home-not to mention a 12 freaking hour-long volleyball tournament today. I kept saying "I'll read the chapter after my homework," which was responsible but didn't work out for anyone but me, and I'm SO sorry. BUT my dear sister has managed to start writing the next chapter and should be done with it soon so that should make up for it a little tiny bit. I'll do my best to make sure this doesn't happen again but after Spring Break we both have to cram for finals. So in the two weeks following Spring Break don't expect much. Sorry again guys! Oh! And Read & Review! Later 8) lol )