Hello, friends. wise_yet_harmless here. Before I begin this chapter, I'd like to introduce you to my Max Ride playlist, thus far. I am totally open for suggestions on what to put for those I don't have, but tell me what you think!

MAX: Wondergirl by Hey Monday

FANG: Monster by Skillet

IGGY: (?)

NUDGE: Stronger by Kelly Clarkson

GAZZY: Original Prankster by The Offspring

ANGEL: Viva La Gloria? (Little Girl) by Green Day

DYLAN: I Want you to Want Me by Cheap Trick

Enjoy the chap! Love you!

FANG'S POINT OF VIEW

I watched Max enter the classroom and take her seat before I left. I walked silently down the halls and down the stairs to my sister's art class. She had to be there. Please, please let her be there. Not skipping or heaven knows what else.

I found her. She was in the corner, humming to herself as she worked furiously at her easel. She was excellent at painting landscapes, a talent I had never possessed. When she looked my way, she paused. Her eyes flitted over my features and even though I conveyed almost no emotion, she knew me well enough to know something was wrong. She could always tell. She masked her emotions-something she had learned from me-and asked the teacher if she could be excused to get a drink. The art teacher, who I swore was always high, smiled and nodded. Ella walked out the door and walked briskly with me to where we always met-on the bleachers in the gym.

When we arrived, she broke the silence with her calm and quiet voice.

"What's wrong, Fang?" I held out my arm. She took me by the elbow and lifted up my sleeve. She tried not to look incredibly worried at what she saw. I broke out into a light sweat, light beads forming on forehead. Holy crap this hurts.

"Okay, well we're going to need to fix this," Ella whispered, mostly to herself. She pulled out some super glue and alcohol. She carried a small purse like thing, filled with supplies. She was always prepared.

"Is there anything else?" She asked, swallowing, already knowing the answer.

"Yeah, on my stomach. It was a vase," I saw her face pale and I quickly added, "but not bad. I'll be fine."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

She worked silently, only speaking to tell me "move closer. Stop fidgeting," even though she knew I couldn't help it. When she was done, she put her head down, cleaning her stuff up and clearing things away. She sniffed, an almost silent sound, but I heard it.

"Ella," I said. She kept her eyes on her things.

"Ella, look at me."

She slowly lifted her dark eyes to mine, her face full of sadness, I couldn't stand it. Crystal tears lined her cheeks, like scars. I held out my arms, and she leaned into me, her small shoulders shaking. Ella hardly cried. She was so strong for her age, so different from the other girls around here.

"Hush, Ella hush. Shh. It's okay, it's okay. I swear," I said, trying to console her.

"We can't do this anymore, Fang. You can't do this anymore. I can't stand to see you hurt," she whispered, her voice chocked with emotion.

"Hey. We can do this. Only one more year. We can take one more year. Then we'll be gone. I'll take you far away. You'll never have to see him again."

"And what if we can't take another year, Fang?"

"We have no choice, Ella."