Disclaimer: I probably should have done one of these sooner. I don't own Maximum Ride. James Paterson does. I own this story plot and idea though.

Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Three

Before we knew it, we were finished with school and were waiting on the results for our Exams. It was on a Friday that they were posted on the Victorian Education website. We had registered to receive ours by text message though. It was just Nudge, Iggy, Fang and I all sitting crossed legged on the floor of Nudges bedroom, in a circle. (The twins and Ella were still at school)

The four of us had all looked at each other anxiously as our phones buzzed at the same time. We had them out and in our hands waiting, deciding to check them at the same time. We all got into our message banks; Nudge was to tell Iggy his score.

I counted to three and we looked down at the screens. For a few moments we were silent, but then we looked up and beamed at each other. We had all done well. Very Well.

A week later we received out reports in the mail. I was home alone and had sat at the kitchen bench with it in front of me. Dad had gone out to the shops. I had thought about waiting for him but decided against it.

"I thought you could use a friend right about now." Fang says he comes threw the front door.

I look up at him from behind the kitchen bench. "Leave me; I'm wallowing in self pity." I reply, as I put down the tea towel I was using to dry the dishes. Fang laughs.

"Why?" He asks. "I think it's amazing that you got zero on your Maths test. Zero babe? The answers were practically given to us in the revision class before the test." He looks amused. "I aplored you for getting zero."

I laugh as well. "Not helping." I say, but it did help, and he knows this, because he's grinning.

"You did amazing in everything else. Don't worry about it."

"Failed. I failed Maths."

He shrugs. "I failed chemistry."

"That's because you didn't take chem. There was a mistake on your report." I protest shaking my head.

"Come on. It's not the end of the world. Don't worry about it. You don't need Maths to get into your writing course." Fang says, as he walks around the bench and pulls me into a hug.

"Was Lana happy with your results?" I ask after a minute.

"She hasn't seen it yet." He talks into my hair.

I pull back to look up at his face. "Really? You called me before you showed your mum?" I ask smiling.

He grins. "Of course." I lean into him.

"I failed-" I start to complain again when Fang cuts me off.

"Don't say it." he warns, pulling back this time and holding me at an arms length.

"But-"

"Don't say it, or I'm going to have to kiss you. And you might not survive it."

And I almost didn't survive it.

Graduation came around fast. Nudge had been asked to make a speech which she was freaking out about- Nudge was poplar with all the kids, everyone was happy she was chosen to do the speech- She had asked me to help her write it, so we had sat up one night a couple days before the big night and written her speech. We hadn't finished it, she still had to wrap it up, but from what we already had, I knew it was going to be great.

In the weeks leading up to graduation Nudge and I had gotten together with some other girls in our classes and went shopping together. We were going to go with Ella and Angel, but something came up and the other girls invited us, so we decided to join them.

It didn't end well.

It was a group of girls we hadn't had a lot to do with. They were the giggling, gossiping, girls that sat at the back of the class and passed notes between one another, then going quiet for a moment and looking over at who ever they were talking about and laughing again.

Why Nudge and I agreed to go out with them? I am not sure.

We had gone to the shopping centre and had looked in all of the stores that had dresses. By the end of the trip each of the other girls took home five or six dresses each, spending up to nine hundred dollars on them. Nudge and I couldn't believe it. We had stopped in the food court lastly to get something to eat, and that's when- as we were sitting at a table- they started asking us the questions.

Questions directed at Nudge. So you're dating Iggy? For how long? How does that work with him being blind? Are you guys like serious?

And questions directed at me. Are you guys like going to get married? He's crazy protective of you, isn't that annoying? Isn't all the black he wears depressing? Have you guys done it? You have! Haven't you, I can tell by your face.

It was then that Nudge and I quickly stood up and started collecting our stuff making our excuses to leave. As we were walking away one of the girls called out after us. "Hey Max." I turned around. "Max, I have some advice for you. Wear some make up if you want Fang to stay with you. You're not very feminine, and guys like their girls to be. Look at your face; it looks like your not making an effort. Take my advice, chuck some lippy on."

I had starred at her in shock and embarrassment not really knowing what to say. Nudge had told her to stuff her advice.

Stupidly enough I took her advice, in my insurance girly moment, and had put red lip stick on that night when Fang and I went out.

Fang saw me and frowned, but then his expression softened and he walked over and taking my face in his hands and wiping the lip stick off my lips in a tender gesture. "What are you doing Max?" He asks softly. "You don't need that stuff, if you're only wearing it because of what those stupid girls said...You're perfect the way you are, naturally beautiful." He lent in and brushed his lips softly across mine.

Nudge had told him.

Graduation was a success.

I wore an amazing red dress and (don't tell anyone) felt a million bucks. All of our families came and sat on a table together, even dad.

And Nudge made her speech. By the end of it everyone was sobbing and laughing. Nudge's gaol was to make people cry, so she was happy. She had said a little something at the end about how Fang, Gazzy, Angel, Iggy, Ella and I are her best friends and how much she loves us. The six of us had jumped up and cheered and clapped when she finished and she ran over to us giving us all big hugs. We went late into the night parting.

It was a great night, but like all milestone occasions in my life I felt a great loss and longing for my mum. It was a feeling that ate away at my heart; I have felt it a lot over the years, that feeling of guilt. As life moves on, and I get older, she will never get older then thirty eight years old.

I longed for the life I use to have, I even thought I would give up Fang, for my mum to still be around...

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