To the Max

by cheerleeder

I saw them laying breathless. Lifeless. Hopeless. And I could do nothing. When Max finds that what she thought is completely wrong, will all fall into place, or can things only get worse? Please Read and Review! Critisism welcome!

12. saving the worldto the max

Hey,

I updated within two days! Yay!

Someone asked about the time difference in chapter four, and I just wanted to put in here that it's been almost two years since Max had seen the flock alive. I am attempting to write more often now over the summer, as I already said, but unfortunately I end up writing less in each chapter (with the exception of this chapter, because it needed to be longer, and it has two parts…but anyway) when you review, and I'm positive that you will *meaningful glance* I would appreciate if you let me know which you would prefer; longer chapters or faster updates? "Both" is not an option, I'm just wondering which you all would prefer. Now that I've written over 100 words worth of an author's note, on with the story!

…made the right choice…

Max POV:

After only about two minutes of sitting in comfortable silence, Jade came in closely followed by Angel. I immediately sat up straight, and smiled apologetically at Fang. If Jade noticed…us…I would have to explain to her the actual situation and that would mean having another person know our secret (the wings, I mean.) She sat across from us, oblivious to what had just occurred, and after a few moments of discussing the stage setup, which Fang knew nothing about, he got up and walked off. Once we got everything sorted out, I was again overwhelmed with stress.

Not only do I have four other kids to look after again, as I perform, but I also have the evident doom looming around me to worry about. Fang had left with Angel to go get a snack or something, so I was left to pace in my room for another half hour before the show started. In the middle of my 32nd turn in pacing (yes, I do count my turns…) Jake came in wearing a look of spite. "What do you want?" I asked rudely, malice dripping from my every word. I was so not in the mood to talk to him right now. "I want to ask you a question," he replied, ignoring my dismissive tone of voice. "And what question might that be?" I asked, already more annoyed than before. "That emo kid, I think his name was Fang or something, is he like your boyfriend or something?" I looked over at Jake, still standing in the doorway, and raised my eyebrows questioningly. "It's just the way he hovers over you. He's so protective. I was just wondering." I found it quite odd that Jake would suddenly drop his 'tough guy' charade and be so weird now. Weirder than usual, that is.

Don't let him fool you, Said my voice. He's always playing at an angle. "Why do you care Jake?" I asked again, "Can't you just mind your own business for once?" And with that I left, not wanting to become more confused by his unexpected vulnerability. I was delusional enough as it is. Fifteen minutes to show time! Someone called over the loudspeaker backstage. Time to put on a show!

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Still Max POV:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome TO THE MAX!" Jake announced to the crowd, and I swear my eardrums burst from all the screaming that followed. I will never get used to the screaming fans…Despite the ringing I could now hear in my head, I set in my earpiece and ran out on stage, holding up my turquoise guitar. I went to the center mic and counted aloud "1, 2, 3!" The drums started, and I was finally able to drown out the crowd. I started playing bass guitar, and we all played the chorus twice before I began to sing:

I felt it
the wire touched my neck and,
then someone pulled it tighter.
I never saw it coming.
I started to black out and
then someone said "Good Morning."
I took it as a warning.
I should have seen it coming.
So now I take a chance on
this thing we may have started
intentional or not.
I don't think we saw it coming.
It's all adding up to something,
that asks for some involvement
that asks for a commitment.
I think I see it coming
if we step out on that ledge

The crowd went wild as I went into the second verse…

My heart beat, beats me senselessly.
Why's everything gotta be so intense with me.
I'm trying handle all this unpredictability,
in all probability.

It's a Long Shot
but I say why not.
If I say forget it.
I know that I'll regret it.
It's a long shot,
just to beat these odds.
The chance is we won't make it
but I know if I don't take it
there's no chance.
Cause you're the best I've got
to take a long shot

I realize that there is all this doubting.
Things were both scared about that
we'll never see them coming
throw caution to the wind and,
we'll see which way it's going
and it is fooling no one
we'll never see it coming,
'til it's much too close to stop.

My heart beat, beats me senselessly,
Why's everything gotta be so intense with me.
I'm trying handle all this unpredictability
it all probability.

It's a long shot
but I say why not.
If I say forget it,
[ Long Shot lyrics from .com/ ]
I know that I'll regret it.
It's a long shot,
just to beat these odds.
The chance is we won't make it,
but I know if I dont take it,
there's no chance
cause you're the best I've got
to take a long shot.

Oh I waited
for fact to become a fiction
and you fit my description
I never saw you coming
but we'll make it.

It's a long shot,
but I say why not.
If I say forget it,
I know that I'll regret it.
It's a long shot
just to beat these odds
the chance is we won't make it
but I know if I don't take it,
there's no chance,
no chance, no chance
cause you're the best I've got.

It's a long shot,
but i say why not.
If I say forget it
I know that I'll regret it.
It's a long shot,
just to beat these odds.
The chance is we won't make it,
but i know if i don't take it.

It's a long shot,
but i say why not.
If I say forget it
I know that I'll regret it.
It's a long shot,
just to beat these odds.
The chance is we won't make it,
but i know if i don't take it.

It's a long shot,
but i say why not.
If I say forget it
I know that I'll regret it

As we finished the first song, I flashed back to my inspiration for the lyrics:

It was the final fight, my flock all together, up against too many. I knew we couldn't make it out, but we had to try, and I sure as hell wasn't going to let them think I would give up. I dropped right before an m-geek stabbed me in the chest, only to be grabbed around my neck by another flyboy. Slowly, as he tightened his grip, I lost conciousness…(refer to first verse in song)

When I discovered that my flock was dead, all I wanted to do was cry. But a spark of fury rose up as I wrote the chorus, and I felt the need for revenge. Before it was too painful to think back to Itex, but now that we were together again and safe, its high time they pay the price for what they did.

Time to take saving the world-to the max.

Haha, did you like my final line? I did. I thought it was very clever of me. Oh, and notice the chapter title…

Anyway, review. I will update again ASAP, that possibility increasing when I get another five reviews at least. Thanks to all my quick reviewers! I expect the same turn out this round!

(=^ - ^=)  Kitty!