Hello my dearest lovelies. This chapter is a bit heavy and has some sensitive topics, so watch out. Please continue to read and review, and enjoy!

MAX'S POINT OF VIEW

So, apparently, if you don't want to get in trouble for sluffing classes you just need to be buddy buddies with the office ladies. I'm not even kidding. Fang told me he used to hide and patch himself up before Ella was at our school and happened to make friends with the workers.

They absolutely adored Fang. They thought he was being bullied but was too tough to show it, so they sympathized with him and helped him in almost any way they could think of, including excusing us from class. Fang didn't even need to BS an excuse. He just asked them if they could clear our absences and they obliged happily. It was the strangest thing I have ever seen.

We walked out unscathed and made our way to hall where both of our lockers were.

"Well that was interesting," I commented, trying my best to sound nonchalant. Fang shrugged modestly. He didn't seem embarrassed; I just don't think he really cared. When we got to his locker, I stopped, leaning against the wall of lockers and facing him.

"Fang." He looked up at me, his black hair covering one of his eyes.

"Thanks for doing that." To my surprise, he gave me a small half smile.

"Anytime."

TIME SKIP

I walked in the door with my siblings in tow, all of them happy it was the weekend. They bounded up the stairs to put their things away and I got started on an afternoon snack. AKA, I poured milk and got out Girl Scout Cookies I had been hiding. I'm such a good not mom. It's shocking.

Nudge was gone within the hour for a sleepover and Gaz had dragged Angel to a play date at hid friends house 'cuz he couldn't possibly go without her. I was home alone and ready for some relaxation time. I had work off today since Anne was out of town on some business-training thing. She hadn't said much, just left a note.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I smiled, expecting it to be Ella. Speak of the devil, I thought. It was Anne!

"Hello?"

"Max?" Anne's voice sounded anxious, but not exactly panicky.

"Anne? Yeah?"

"Max, you know I'm in Seattle, right?" Woah. No I did not. Seattle is where I was born, a place I had never returned to. I barely remembered it from before I was adopted, but I remembered rain and mountains.

"Okay. So what?"

"I stumbled upon some stuff from your parents."

"Wha?"

"Your biological mom. I knew the name and I recognized it-"

"You know my mother's name?"

"Yes…"

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I didn't think it mattered! Anyway, she was in this old newspaper that I was doing research on and I found something out."

"What, Anne? What?"

"Max, your mom…she was raped. As a teen. Nineteen years ago. They never found the guy responsible, and she had the baby, saying it wasn't fair to the baby, to you…"

I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move. I mumbled something in the phone and hung up. I stumbled down the hallway and out the door, taking in huge gulps of fresh air, trying to get the world to stop spinning. It didn't.

I ran. I didn't know where I was going. I didn't know how to get there. I just ran as fast as I could. My feet were cut and bleeding. I didn't notice. My lungs were burning. I didn't care. My tears were running down my face. I didn't wipe them away.

I just ran.

ELLA'S POINT OF VIEW

I put my headphone over my ears, turning the music up. I smiled as my head was filled with Josh Groban's beautiful voice. While I did enjoy the same hard rock that Fang listened to, I had a soft spot for Josh's exceptional timbre and range. It could always calm me.

As per Fang's instructions, I was on a walk while he checked to see if it was safe for me to be home. Fang did not have work tonight, so he planned to spend his evening with me. It felt like wishful thinking, that my father would not be home. He had gotten much worse recently. I was becoming more and more anxious about leaving. I wasn't sure if Fang could hold out any longer. He was tearing at the seams.

But he did seem happier, if Fang was ever truly happy. I did not see his eyes go dull with a hidden pain nearly as much as I had a few months ago. He seemed hopeful, maybe even a little bit curious.

I pondered as I walked, taking careful steps along the side of the street. Suddenly, something streaked past me, moving so quickly I barely saw it. It went down the street to my right, to where the park was.

Curious and cautious, I made my way to the park, walking through the trees as to not be seen. What I saw was not a what, but a who! Someone was sprinting through the park, moving towards the field. They kept running before tripping and collapsing on the grass, laying in fetal position.

I recognized the person's jacket and golden streaked hair. Why, it's Max! She must be hurt! I was afraid she was running from danger, so I stayed silent and hidden as I streaked through the trees, moving quickly. Once it was obvious there was no one chasing Max, I burst out of the trees and ran to her side, dropping in the grass next to where she lay and pulled my headphones off.

"Max! Max! Are you alright? Max please," I begged, leaning over her. She was shaking very hard, her arms wrapped around her, mumbling to herself. She was having a mental breakdown, I could tell. I needed to help her, but I did not know how.

Like a miracle, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Fang was calling me.

"Fang?"

"Ella, you're good to-"

"Fang, it's Max! She is hurt! You need to help me," I said, barely getting the words out.

"Ella."

"What?"

"Calm down. Where are you?" I took a deep breath. Fang was right. I told him we were at the park, and he promised to be over right away. Once I was off the phone, I turned back to Max, who was breathing sporadically and still shaking. She had stopped muttering and was staring, eyes wide with horror, silent as death.

"Max, dear, listen to me. You are going to be alright. It's going to be fine. Fang is coming. Fang will help. You are going to be fine, I promise," I said, my voice calm and quiet. Max hardly seemed to notice, her body rigid and pale. I rubbed her back, trying to calm her.

Fang arrived a minute later, out of breath from running all the way to the park. He kneeled next to me, moving Max's hair off her face.

"What happened? What's wrong?"

"I do not know Fang," I sighed. "I found her this way. She was sprinting here and she fell down. I think she is in shock."

Fang hoisted Max up onto his lap, her head resting on his shoulder while she continued to hold herself. Her eyes were now shut tight, tears starting to leak through.

"Max. Wake up, Max. We have you. You're safe now, Max. Max, can you hear me?" Fang asked, holding her tightly. Max shook her head, her eyes focusing on us. Her face fell, and she cried. I rubbed her back while Fang held her, both of us doing our best to comfort her.

After a few minutes, Max's sobs turned to hiccups and she was clinging to Fang's now wetted shirt. She spoke five hushed words, her voice thick with emotion.

"I wasn't supposed to exist." I was shocked. Why would she think that?

"That's not true," Fang chided, his voice firm. Another five words leaked out of Max's mouth.

"She was raped. My mother," she said, closing her eyes as she spoke, like she couldn't bear to see our faces. We both knew Max was adopted, but we had no idea that was why she was given up for adoption. In fact, it appeared Max had just found out herself.

Fang and I exchanged glances. I was worried for poor Max, but Fang looked angry. Angry this was happening to Max, angry she had been so hurt and angry as we both knew there was nothing we could do to change it. Not that I wouldn't try.

"Oh Max," I breathed, moving her damp hair behind her ear. "I am so sorry. I am so sorry your mother had you under such tragic circumstances. But Max, think. Even though your mother was hurt, she knew you were supposed to exist. She knew you deserved a chance. This wasn't you fault, and she knew that. You were the positive outcome of a negative situation. You were always supposed to exist, even if your upbringing wasn't perfect. I am very thankful you are here, no matter why you are here. You must believe that."

FANG'S POINT OF VIEW

I looked at my sister carefully. She had always struggled with her self worth, knowing her birth is what drove our parents apart. To see her pour out her heart for someone who she could share her pain with, it killed me. She spoke with a small sad smile, her eyes kind.

Max nodded, offering a smile to Ella. Max had never seemed so vulnerable, so small. She was still shaking in my arms, her face pale and tear stricken. I tried not feel comfortable with her cradled on my lap, knowing she only needed the comfort for now. But she stayed there for the longest time, calming down.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to us, her voice stronger and a little ashamed. "I didn't mean to freak out like that."

I smirked down at her, my cheek resting lightly in her golden hair. Ella shook her head, waving it off.

"Not at all, Max. We are your friends. We want to help you," she reasoned. Max got up, standing. Ella linked her arm with Max's and they walked together before Max stopped and held out her arm for me to join. We walked along, arm in arm together all the way back to Max's house. Once we were there Ella hugged Max tightly, telling her to call her if she needed, and Max grudgingly obliged. Ella started to walk away, discreetly giving us some space.

Max gave me a sheepish smile and I held my arms out, letting Max hug me for the second time. She held onto me, burying her face in my neck.

"You're going to be okay, Max," I promised, my arms locked securely around Max. She nodded before hesitantly dropping her arms. She looked up at me, her smile real and raw.

"Bye, Fang."

"See ya later, Max."

I meant it too; she was going to be alright. At least, if I had anything to say about it.