Chapter: 5

Fifth chapter is done! WOOT! Sorry I haven't updated lately but I was caught up in school work… But since I have some free time and it's the weekend I'm giving you guys another chapter! Hope you enjoy…

Previously (Fang's POV):

"Max, you had to go to the hospital! That isn't 'nothing'!" Nudge exclaimed.

"To me it is. Now, wasn't Iggy supposed to make us pizza for dinner?" Max asked changing the subject.

"Yeah, and you can tell us what happened back there at the same time." I said, startling Max. Ha! She forgot I was here!

"Oh, right." She sighed. "Where do I begin?"

Max POV

"After we left," Nudge recommended.

We all walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table, everybody claiming a seat, me being the center of attention. And we all know how I hate being the center of attention…

"Uh, okay. After you guys left I started to smack talk him, and since you guys know Dylan so well, he did the same back. Little did I know that he had the whole football team ready to go at any second. But to me, seventeen guys against one ticked, bada** chick, wasn't fair…" I paused and thought to myself, 'I could've taken them if it was just those three nimrods…' I started again, "For once, it was too much for me to handle. I guess I just panicked and started throwing punches around, and did very little. They cornered me in an alley and Dylan saw this as an opportunity to beat me up. Now I'm here."

During my whole sum up of the 'situation', I was focused on nothing in particular, but made sure that I didn't make eye contact with anybody. It was silent for a good, let's say, five seconds before Nudge spoke up (Shocker right? I was surprised when she didn't say anything while I was telling her what had happened after I told them to leave.)

"Max, why didn't you call us? We could've - "

"You could've what Nudge? Let you guys get hurt because of my stupid actions?" I snapped. "What if you guys ended up like me? I wouldn't be able to deal with myself the same way for letting you guys get hurt! Especially by Dylan!"

"Max, calm down," Jeb said, trying and failing to calm me down. My answer to his question: getting out of my chair and storming out of there and heading for the front door. "Max, get back here!" Jeb yelled after me. When I opened the door I could've sworn I stopped breathing for a few seconds. Why was he here? I haven't seen him since I was 8, which was seven years ago.

"May I help you?" I asked in a sickly sweet voice.

"Is there a Maximum Ride here?" He asked. Guess he doesn't recognize me… I have no problem with that. Then again it's probably from all the injuries I got earlier today...

"I'm Max, can I help you with something?" His face flooded recognition.

"Max? Is it really you? You've grown haven't you squirt?" He said ruffling my hair, grinning ear to ear.

"Yeah it's me. Now what do you want?" I asked in my not-so-sweet voice.

"I need to talk to you and your foster parents about letting me take full custody of you." I gaped at him.

I tried to rack my brain for words but couldn't find any that would make me even more furious than I already am. "Who's at the door Max?" Jeb called from the kitchen.

"Nobody!" I called back, shutting the door in Ari's face and locking it. I made my way back to the kitchen, just to have everyone staring at me again. "What?" I asked.

"We know that there was someone there, Max. We're not deaf," Iggy said in a 'duh' tone.

"Go see for yourself, I bet he's still there…" I mumble, motioning towards the door. "Jeb, he wanted to talk, to you and me…"

"About what?" He asked before he opened the door. I know that Jeb has never met Ari, (shall I say it?) my brother. "Hello, may I help you?" Jeb asked Ari.

"Are you Max's foster dad?" Ari asked.

"Yeah, Max told me that you need to talk to me about something…?"

"Oh yeah, may I come in?"

"Sure, we can go into my office since the rest of the kids are in the kitchen." Jeb stated. "Max, are you coming?" I hesitated but nodded in reply.

"Max? What does he want to talk to you about?" Angel asked while I was walking out of the kitchen.

"You'll see…" I said barely audible knowing they wouldn't hear me. I made my way to Jeb's office and sat down in one of the chairs, farthest away from Ari.

After everybody was situated, Ari said bluntly, "I'd like to take Max into my full custody." Jeb was taken completely off guard by this. "I'm her brother, Ari." Jeb looked over at me for clarification. I nodded.

"I see. Well, to do that you have to fill out some paper work, and it won't be decided if she can live with you for a little over a week." Jeb stated.

"Alright, do you have the paper work with you? So I can fill it out now and turn it in tomorrow."

"Yeah, I think so." He got up and walked over to a filing cabinet near his desk and took out a folder, grabbed a few papers and handed them over to Ari. "This is all you'll need."

"Thank you, sir. Sorry I didn't catch your name…?"

"Jeb. Jeb Batchelder. Is that all you needed?"

"Yes, I'll be going now. See you tomorrow Max," Ari said giving me another big grin.

"Whatever," I muttered. Ari left Jeb's office and Jeb led him to the front door. I stayed seated in the office, not wanting to talk to anybody right now. This has to be the worst day of my life. And just to let you know, my life sucks. Jeb and Ari said their final goodbye's to each other and Jeb motioned for me to come talk with him.

"Max, are you okay with this? I mean about him taking full custody of you?

"No, but it's not like I have a choice. Not only do I have to live with him, but I have to be reminded of what happened seven years ago! Please tell me you can help me out of this one Jeb!" I begged. I never beg, but Ari was a different story…

"I might be able to but I'm not sure. I can talk with my lawyer but I don't know if it'll do much."

"Please, at least try!" I said, tears just waiting to spill out but I manage to keep them from falling.

Flashback

It was the middle of winter, and I was at school doing whatever second graders do in school. I was fully aware that my parents were picking me and Ari up early from school because we had dentist appointments. Ari was already waiting with mom and dad when I came down. We were all in the car and driving towards our roads were really slippery, and it doesn't help if your brother is fooling around and throwing things all over the place.

"Ari, cut it out!" I yelled at my stupid brother.

"Why Maxi? It's fun!"

"Yeah, well it might be fun but it's really annoying! So, stop it."

"I'm not even throwing them at you! Now stop being a baby."

"Not after you stop being an idiot!" I yelled, already losing patience with him.

"N-" He started but dad cut him off. Did I mention he was the one driving? No? well I am now.

"Stop arguing you two! Ari, stopped throwing things in the car. And Max, ignore him till' we get to the dentist office. Alright?" My dad said this turning to face us, sitting in the back seats of the car.

We both mumbled an 'alright' before my mom yelled, "Michel, the road!" We started spinning out of control because of the slippery roads. Next thing I knew we crashed head-on with another vehicle and my mom and dad were seriously injured, the windshield had shattered and covered them in shards of glass. The ambulance came quickly and they said that they would do all they could to try and help our parents. Me and Ari were lucky because we only got slight concussions and bruises. My parents on the other hand were in the ER and getting treated for their injuries.

After and hour and a half in the ER the doctors came back and gave Ari and I the news that our parents lot too much blood and had too many injuries to survive. Ever since I've been afraid of doctors and hospitals, never trusted them.

End of Flashback

"What did that guy want to talk to you about Max?" Gazzy asked.

"That guy, was my dumb*** brother that wants to try and take full custody of me. H-he's the one that-that…" At this point I couldn't hold in my tears. I quickly brought my hands up to cover my face. Since I am the great Maximum Ride, I rarely cry. Heck, I never cry at all! But thinking of my parents and the crash and how it was basically Ari's fault for making dad crash the car in the first place. I'd never forgive him for that. But now, now I had to live with it.

"Max's it's all okay, I'll try and get him to leave you alone." Jeb said hugging me. If I hadn't already had a biological dad, it probably could've been Jeb. At that moment I realized something I've been too stubborn to see. I broke away from Jeb and took some steps backwards.

"I also caused my parents' death…" I whispered to myself.