Chapter 4: School and Skirts


Max PoV


I was woken by my personal alarm clocks far too early for my liking. To make things worse, all five of these personal alarm clocks were up, washed, dressed and had breakfast with them.

Angel climbed into my bed with me as Fang handed me a plate.

"What's everyone doing up so early?" I asked. Then I realised what they were all wearing, "Why, exactly, are you all in school uniforms? I thought I said no school 'til we had settled."

"Well, um," Iggy stuttered. He may not be able to see my expression, but my tone of voice made it more than clear how I felt about this.

"You did," Fang saved him, "But the town had other ideas. They say it is compulsory that we start today."

"Yeah, we have our uniforms. Yours is in your bathroom," Gazzy said.

I suddenly noticed they were all attempting to hide grins.

"What?" I asked. I frowned at them all. Then it clicked. Uniform. Please, no. Anything but that!

I very slowly got up and dragged my feet into the bathroom. I reluctantly looked at my uniform. It was a skirt. A skirt! I, Maximum Ride, was going to have to wear a skirt to a high school full of sexist, pigheaded boys who all thought I was sweet sixteen, turning seventeen in like a week. Not fourteen, turning fifteen in like a week.

I mentally groaned as I realised Fang was going to have a load of teenage girls swooning over him. All of them thinking he was seventeen.

I pulled on leggings under my skirt. Now I didn't have to worry.

Not that I care if Fang has girls swooning over him, of course. No, I don't care at all.

I was still trying to convince myself as I walked into the kitchen. I went over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. I turned to see the whole Flock staring at me, mouths open.

"Max you're hot!" Iggy was first to speak. I stared at him, then realised I was against a white wall so he could see me. Then what he actually said registered. I blushed then whipped him with a tea towel.

"Max, oh wow!" Nudge interrupted me before I could yell at Iggy for being a sexist pig, "You do look absolutely fabulous! That really suits you! The skirt shows off your legs amazingly! You'll have like every boy in the school asking you out! Wait for like the cutest boy you see, right, and say yes to him! This is so cool! Oh, you can go to the cinema with him, like you did with Sam and-"

"Nudge!" Fang cut her off, just like he had at the airport. He didn't take his eyes off me, "Guys, go get your stuff together."

The Flock all ran upstairs. Fang just stood looking at me.

"What!?" This was getting so annoying, "Why are you looking at me like that? I know I look stupid."

Fang smiled ever so slightly, I looked at the floor, "No, Max. You don't look stupid, you look, em. Actually, I think you look really pretty."

I looked up at him, surprised. I couldn't help smiling a little bit. I wasn't used to Fang talking so much, but I was starting to like it.

A bang from the hall made me jump.

"Come on!" Nudge screamed down the stairs. She ran down the hall and pulled the door open, running outside, Gazzy chasing her.

I grabbed my bag and pulled on my sneakers. I walked down the hall and out into the drive. We walked the short way to the school. We were really early so decided to get rid of some of our energy.