Edited*

I was um, restricted from writing for a while, I apologize for the wait. Here is chapter eighteen!

Pearl- Dragon does not own Maximum Ride or any reference to something she doesn't own. Does that make sense?

Fang- No.

Friday last day of school

Max POV

School was a blast for once. There was no work at all and since it was just a half-day, we had one big party in the gym.

The whole Flock started laughing hysterically when others caught sight if me and Lissa talking civilly to each other and laughing. Everyone's face was so shocked and I heard whispers of, "Am I dreaming?" and, "My god it's the apocalypse!"

All the flock and I did was eat. Eat and try to dance. I'm a whiz at choreographed dance, but make me "party" dance? Yeah that's not going to end well.

Fang was just eating and watching me fail at dancing. Lissa was good at it and Ella though.

"Max!" Ella laughed. "You're in an awesome dress and have on awesome makeup on. Come on and show it off."

I was in a red knees length dress with a gold belt. My make up was nothing special, just gold and brown eye shadow and eyeliner. Sounds like a lot, but I had to fight to avoid putting on lipstick. And mascara. And that stuff on cheeks.

"Maybe I like hanging out by the wall with Fang?" I challenged. She just laughed.

Yup, I gave up on dancing. I was standing awkwardly with Fang. When I turned to look at him, the expression on his face was so familiar I-

"Max!" Iggy hollered up the stairs. "Come on out!"

It was Richard Ride's funeral. He died of a heart attack. Max felt her face. It was stained with tears and her black dress was wet. There was a red sash on it, but other than that, she was all in black.

Richard had been like another father. He had helped her with her grade one homework since her father couldn't. Jeb Martinez was in Paris after having divorced Max's mom.

Richard had built the tree fort in Fang's yard and made sure the boys let Max in. But he hadn't really needed to persuade them; they readily let her join their games.

Max sighed as her mom brushed her hair. "You look beautiful." Valencia whispered as she tucked a stray hair behind Max's ear.

"Thanks." Max mumbled.

"Let's go." Valencia took Max's hand and everyone piled into black cars. They drove to the hall where the funeral was taking place and Max kept glancing at Fang. His expression was so miserable.

I almost started to cry. His expression was so sad.

"What's wrong?" I put a hand on his shoulder.

"We're going into grade twelve. Senior year. My dad would have been proud. He would have-" he broke off. I rubbed his shoulder and hugged him, resting my head on his shoulder.

After that touching moment, he seemed to return to his normal quietness, instead of sad. We all went back to our homerooms and were handed out our yearbooks. The teachers sent us home with our report cards, hugs and said we could sign each others yearbook outside.

I just finished signing Alex's yearbook. He was in my Math class if I recall. He just thanked me and ran over to Lissa.

"Sign my yearbook Max!

I turned and saw Amber, Lissa's ex best friend. "Um, sure."

I signed it and she put out a hand for mine. I handed it over and she scribbled a little something. I scribbled the usual, Have a nice summer. Though I wished she'd get kidnapped by mutant wolves.

"Have a good summer!" she smiled at me. I hate to say it, but it looked as fake as her tan.

I read it and scowled. Hey, back off on Lissa. And what's up with your name? It's a guys name. Are you a guy Max? And good summer honey.

I rolled my eyes and scribbled over it.

We were all walking to the Ride's house. Angel and Gazzy would be there already.

"Guys!" Lissa squealed, she was coming as well, "look at this!"

On the sidewalk was a little lizard.

"Maaaaaaax! Look at this!" Fang pointed frantically at some kind of amphibian.

Max walked over. "It's a lizard... Why do you look so-"Max was cut off as Fang started shrieking.

"GET IT AWAY FROM ME! IT'S GOING TO EAT ME!"

Max swiftly cut in and, (sorry animal lovers,) kicked it away from Fang.

"Thank you thank you!" Fang sighed.

Max just started laughing. "It was so small! And cute!"

Fang shuddered. "It's slimy and it can grow its tail back after you cut it. That's unnatural."

Max couldn't answer, she was laughing too hard.

I quickly looked at Fang, he was as white as a ghost.

"Aw! It's so cute!" I ran up to it and picked it up. "Look!" I ran to Fang and shoved it close to his face. "You should pet it!"

Fang recoiled and gave a little shriek. Iggy just face palmed, he did that a lot, and chuckled. Everyone else just looked at Fang in shock.

"You don't like lizards?" Lissa asked.

"Nonononono." Fang backed away. "Get. It. Away. From. Me."

I'd like to say we did. I'd like to say we carefully put down the lizard. I'd really like to say we walked home peacefully after.

Too bad I can't say any of that.

So there is chapter eighteen. I again am sorry for the wait. But I'm kinda glad I was restricted from submitting, because I could focus a bit on school instead. But whatever. Hoping you find a box of chocolates in your room; this chapter was brought to you by Dragonpurplepearl