As I walked down the halls, eyes followed me. I knew they would. Hell, if they didn't I would be completely and utterly shocked and also a bit mortified. I'm sure the girls - you heard me, I'm referring to my twin sisters and cousin as the girls instead of their respective names, Ella, Angel, and Nudge and why, might you ask? Well here's a question you can answer. Why the fuck not? - would have feelings about quite similar to my own possibly reaction. As Angel is our nail artist - yeah, she is so not just an average girl who does nails because she's practically a professional - and she'd glare daggers into your heart and straight through your soul if you said she wasn't any good. Ella is our hair stylist and she was the best of the best, if I do say so myself. And I swear, this is not based on our sibling relationship, but on the fact of just how truly brilliant she was. Nudge was an amazing make up artist. She would only do make up for those she liked. And if she didn't like you and she does your make up? Or if you mess her up in any way at all? Good luck is all I can say to you, as she can be a frightening girl. But me? Well. I am not anything when compared to them. I didn't even want this damn make over... at first. They had forced me into it. But now? I'm giggling like the school girl I'm supposed to be - well, according to how we're portrayed in movies and such, I am. Why? Because I, believe it or not, have turned hot. Like Ella. Like Angel. Like Nudge. Like my family members who have always seemed so gorgeous and breathtaking, I have finally become... the new Maximum Ride.

"Max," Nudge said to me, coming up to walk with me to my locker, "I've been thinking."

"About?" I prompted her.

"Your name and your look don't match," She said, getting straight to the point, "You need something more... girly. More for the new Max. And see, Max and girly just don't fit together. I say we change that. Can we change that Maxie? I think we'll give Lissa a reason to become a tomato and Fang will have a heart attack from your obvious change and your beauty and -"

"Okay!" I cut her off. Nudge could talk a million miles and never stop or run out of breath. Sometimes, no. Who am I kidding? More often than not, she gives me a major headache, that girl. I wish I could have some peace of mind often when I'm with Nudge. But maybe not, eh? She is Nudge after all.

"So you'll let us change you?" Ella beamed, coming to match our pace and walk beside me.

I rolled my eyes, "I guess. I mean, if you can change me into this," I gestured to myself, "then why the hell not?"

"Yay!" Angel squealed, appearing by her twins' side. How in the world do they do that? I mean, seriously. They can just disappear and pop up practically anywhere they wanted, causing people to die from shock for all they knew.

"So what is your guys' idea? How will I change even more than this?" I asked, stopping at my locker. They all stopped, waiting for me to get what I needed out of it.

"Well, we were thinking," Angel started, trying to hide the excitement in her voice and failing.

Ella decided to say the next words, "We thought we should change your look. I mean yeah, Maxie, the girly clothes rock, but the black? Kinda emo-ish, Max..."

"And," Nudge added, "Your name. Not Max. Or even Maxie, because it still seems a bit guy-ish. I was thinking... Maxine."

"Max-what now?!" I spun on my heel, looking at her with wide eyes, "No... No, no, no, no, no, Nudge."

"Max," She started.

"No way in freaking hell, Monique," I glared icy daggers her way. I even used her real name to show I really, really meant business.

"Max!" Nudge fumed.

"Max," Angel whined, "Come on."

"Ariel!" I snapped at Angel. Ariel was Angel's real name. I have no idea why I was the only one without a girly name and was also the only one who didn't grow up all girly... Maybe their related in some way? Oh, I dunno.

"Maximum!" Ella stomped her foot, "Just say okay!"

"Ugh! No!"

"Please!" Nudge and Angel begged with puppy-dog eyes turned my way.

People were giving us some funny looks, but I didn't care. I did not want to be called something so... girly. Maxine. It would just be too much to bear...

The bell rang and I slammed my locker door shut. I said, crisply, "Look, I'll see you guys later. I have to get to first period. Bye."

I icily walked away and as soon as I sat down in first period - history, ugh, why did we have to learn about dead people? - I felt extremely bad about how I'd acted and treated them before. I mean seriously. I had been a total bitch. Oh no. I think I'm turning into Lissa! That can't be good, no not at all.

I got through each period and the one question that bugged me all day? Where was Fang? And some other questions I'd have liked knowing the answer to? Where was that redhead Lissa? Why were they both not here? Would they be together right now? Ditching classes together like lovesick - oh boy - kids? What would they be doing if they actually did skip out on school together? And all that I could think after each and before each new question was 'oh, please no.'

I saw a tall girl with dark skin and dark hair and eyes, looking beautiful and confident as she walked easily down the corridor. It was Nudge. I knew I had to do something. I knew exactly what I had to do, too. I only wish I didn't have to or didn't know, even.

I jogged over to her, "Nudge! Wait up."

She paused briefly, a dozen emotions crossed her face - recognition, confusion, pain, hurt, heartache, longing, wistfulness, hope, belief, distrust, and pain and hurt again - and then she decided on feeling betrayed and started to keep walking, pretending to have not heard me crying for her to let me walk with her on her way back home. I needed to tell her I was sorry. I needed to apologize to her. And not only her, but to Ella and Angel as well. But man was she making this much harder than I had expected. And if Nudge was making it hard. Then the twins would make it much more challenging than this.

She quickly ducked out of the school building and I rushed to keep up, but I lost her in the end. I had just rounded the corner to see her thick curls disappearing into the woods, probably taking one of the various secret passageways or paths that I didn't know about.

I had lost my chance to ask her for forgiveness.

But I could still ask later, you know, if she let me.