Journal NOT a Diary!!!

Max's Journal

April 24, 2010

My wings seriously needed a stretch. It's only been a couple of days, and I'm already cramping. I've never gone this long without flying. I'll occasionally extend them if it's severally needed, but it's not the same. As for Is and Bella, well, Sam's car broke down when she was getting breakfast, and Mom insisted that they stay with us while they wait for the mechanic.

But at least I fave wonderful blackmail on Bella if she tries to mess with us. She has a honkin big pink cast around her nose. Since her nose is practically all her face, or that's how I see her, it looks even funnier. Just imagine a crab with a cast. That's Bella.

I was sitting in the kitchen, toying with Angel's toy tiara she left sitting on the table, more bored then ever. It was eight o'clock in the morning, and this was all I had to do. Curse my inability to sleep in. Done me a lot of good, hasn't it?

Max, the Voice said.

Wow, I grumbled. Look who finally decided to show up. Where were you when I was getting busted for lying to Mom?

You handled it pretty well, I thought.

Yes. Being stuck in the kitchen is exactly how I would have chosen to spend my Thursday.

What happens at four today?

I nearly jumped to the ceiling. Court! I totally forgot! All I have is a camera! How am I supposed to get ready now?

The Voice didn't answer. Why is it it only talks to get me into trouble? And when I'm getting myself in trouble, it decides to be a jerk? No matter, I had to talk to Fang. But there was one problem. Fang was gone with Gazzy to a was reenactment. Which, if you think about, is punishment for him. And Mom won't let me use the phone.

I sighed. I was on my own.

I played with my hands, avoiding the Terrible Three's eyes. Mom was driving all four of us to court. Yes, four of us. Fang was still gone. I had no help. I was pretty much tuned out all the ride, and entrance, up to where that police guy asks to ride for Honorable Judge Whats-her-name.

Ms. Judge pounded her mallet. "I call this court into session." (A/N I never thought that field trip to a court case would come in handy. =)) As for me, I couldn't get over that long black robe about three sizes to big. It totally swallowed her. Like a black pumpkin.

My heart continued to quicken as she announced the case. Mom nudged me that she called 'Maximum Ride' and I jumped up. I don't think you're supposed to run into the court. The judge and policeman rose their eyebrows, and shocked looks from the viewers. This case was going no where for me.

"And the accused, Isabella Smith."

Is gave Bella a supportive pat on the back as Bella slowly got up and walked in the court. She still avoided my gaze.

Ms. Judge nodded. "And the accuser's lawyer?"

It took me a minute to realize she was talking to me. From the audience's laughter, I must have looked pretty stupid with my eyes big and my mouth open. How did I remember everything but a lawyer, probably the most important part??? I swallowed. "Um, I, well, I don't--I don't have a lawyer."

After a side comment about losers and lawyers, Ms. Judge looked up again. "Well then. You will have to defend yourself, I guess. And the accused's lawyer?"

"Um--"

"I'm her lawyer!" someone from the crowd yelled. Sam ran in. I tried hard to contain my laughter. "I'm Isabella's lawyer!" She saluted the judge. "Lawyer Samantha Smith reporting for the case duty!" Judging from the laughter, that wasn't how a lawyer greets a judge.

The judge chuckled. "Very well. And what does the accuser have to say?"

I stood. "Ma'am," I said, trying to sound professional, "Bella--Isabella Smith has placed cameras in our home without written permission, or any permission at all."

"And do you have proof?"

I nodded. Mom gave me a big black case over the little wall between us and the audience. Out of it I pulled the little camera and attacked one end of a tiny wire, hooking the other end up to a portable DVD player. But not just any portable player, ten times bigger. I gave it to Ms. Judge.

She started nodding as she watched the makeup scene. "But do you have proof that Isabella is part of this?"

My face fell. I was losing this bad. I like, stamped bad. "Um, I--"

"Max!"

I spun around. Fang was walking in long strides down the aisle, followed by the rest of the flock who took a seat with Mom. I couldn't keep the smile from my lips. I knew Fang wouldn't let me down. He shot me a half smile as he walked up to the judge.

"And you are?" the judge said, watching Fang with careful eyes.

"Maximum Ride's brother. F--Nick Ride."

Return of the second Fnick.

Fang held up a cell phone. "I have proof that Isabella is in fact involved in the illegalplacing of cameras." He pressed play on the voice recording on the iPhone and gave it to the judge. He walked over and sat by me at the oak table, flashing me another grin. I heard a little bit of the recording. It was our talk with Dr. H-G about the cameras, the time he explained everything.

The judge sighed as she placed the phone on the table. "Doctor. I know him well. I always knew he would pull something like this."

Isabella gasped.

"Very well, accused, you and your lawyer may defend you," Ms. Judge said.

Sam stood. "I know my daughter, ma'am. She would never do anything like that, and--"

"That's what Hitler's followers said," the judge murmured. I almost cracked up. BURN!

Sam's eye twitched. "As I was saying, what if those kids made a plot as to frame Isabella? There's always a possibility. It's a voice recording, not a video. You can find the doctor's voice on the Internet. It wouldn't be that hard to create it and save it into that phone!"

I hissed under my breath.

Ms. Judge thought about this a moment. "Dr. H-G wouldn't have voice recordings on the Internet.

"That's what Hitler's followers said," Sam murmured. The judge flashed her a look.

"Hitler didn't have Internet voice recordings," I muttered. Sam shot me a look.

"TELL THEM!" a voice yelled. Everyone turned. The door was shot open and Dr. H-G was shoved through, his hands behind his back in silvery handcuffs. Following him was an angry, red-faced Ella. Ella looked at us. "Thought you could use some help." She turned back to the doctor. "TELL THEM!" Ella put her hands on her hips, the way she did when she was determined.

Dr. H-G flashed her a look, but his mouth remained closed.

Now Ms. Judge was getting mad. "This has been the most insane court justice I have ever seen!" She smacked her palms on the podium and stood up. "And it had to happen in MY court room? I'm almost ready to call this court off, but that's against probation laws. Now, if you would be so kind, doctor, please tell us the truth: Is Isabella Smith involved in illegal cameras?"

"I will not say!" Dr. Scary boomed.

Ella's face got redder. She jammed her two fingers in Dr. H-G's shoulder pressure point, making him cringe. She continued to hurt him until he gasped.

"Okay, okay, Isabella is my spy!" he said. Ella grinned and stood straight again, leaving two red marks on his shoulder. She looked at me and winked. I thought she was gone!

Ms. Judge pounded her mallet again. "Case closed! The accused is guilty!"

The policeman asked for backup in his radio and got Bella. She and Sam flashed me an evil look before the policeman ran them out. Two more policeman ran in and arrested Dr. H-G as everyone stood up to leave, chatting about the case and taking sides.

"Yes!" I gasped, throwing myself into Fang's open arms. I froze realizing what I'd done, and scrambled up, my cheeks red.

Fang laughed. "Way to go, Max."

"I couldn't have won without you running in with that phone. Where did you get that, anyway?"

"Oh. Iggy bought it on his shopping spree whatever. I just so happened to grab it before we ran into him."

I grinned. "Lucky!"

Mom drove me, Ella, and the flock home. Is and Sam stayed with Bella for her second court meet at the Juvenal detention center.

Fang and I were being flocked with congrats from the flock. I wanted to scream at them that it wasn't that big of a deal, that we just wouldn't be spied on anymore, but that wasn't true. It was a big deal. I knew that, but there was a little voice in the back of my head that said the best was the fact I learned I can always count on Fang, even more than I thought.

When we got home, Mom sent the younger ones to bed. Ella and Iggy went outside, and Mom went to read a book in bed.

I looked at Fang. "Thanks for today. You saved me from major embarrasment."

He shrugged. "I'm the other half of this. Me and you. We're the targets. Who would I be if I didn't help?" He slowly leaned down and gently kissed my lips. Finally, something is going my way. But I know, it probably won't last. Knowing my luck, It won't.

--Maximum