Chapter 3

(Max P.O.V)

"Morning, Mom," Ella and I said together as we entered the kitchen.

"Good morning girls," our mother replied. "Ready for your first day of school?"

'Yeah," Ella replied cheerfully as I said.

"As ready as I'll ever be."

Mom set plates of choc- chip pancakes and orange juice in front of Ella and I. after we had finished eating, Mom drove Ella and I to school.

"Enjoy your day." Mom said before Ella and I got out of the car. That's my mom for you. She doesn't do the whole 'I love you, honey!' thing when you're halfway to the school doors.

"Ok mom," Ella said.

"Are you picking us up?" I asked.

"Yes, but don't worry. You're car should be at home this afternoon."

"Ok. Bye, mom," I said leaning over to give her a peck on the cheek.

Ella and I parted ways and I struggled to find my way to my home room. Eventually, I found it and entered as soon as the bell rang. I quickly took a seat at the back of the class beside a tall, blond haired kid.

"Hi, I'm James," the blond guy said to me. "But everyone calls me Iggy cause I'm a major pyromaniac."

"Hi Iggy," I replied. "I'm Max."

"Max. Is that short for Maxine?"

"No Maximum."

"Your name is Maximum?" He asked.

"Yes. Maximum Ride," I told him, daring him to say something.

'Awesome," Iggy smiled as our teacher walked into class.

"Good Morning," our teacher said cheerily. He was a short, medium sized man, with a slightly receding hairline. "My name is Mr. Mickleson."

"Good Morning, Mr. Mickleson," the class chorused.

'Lets get down to business." He sat down and started to take the register. He stumbled a bit when he got to my name.

"Is this 'Maximum'?" he asked.

"Yes," I answered. "But everyone calls me 'Max'," I informed him.

"Ok then Max," he smiled. He continued down the register. Five minutes later, "Nick Walker?" he called for the third time. "Iggy? Where's Nick?"

"Oh yeah," Iggy said suddenly. "Fang said to tell you guys that he's gonna be a bit late today."

Mr. Mickleson nodded and then closed his register. He talked to us a bit about the difference in expectations now that we were sophmores; and how we should set good examples for the freshmen, yaada, yaada, yaada.

"What's your first class?" Iggy asked as the bell rang.

"Uh," I consulted my time table. "Calculus."

"That's supposed to be Fang's class, too. I have regular Math."

"Why do you call Nick 'Fang'? I asked.

Iggy chuckled. "That's his story to tell. So I'll see you at lunch?"

"Sure," I smiled. "Great." Iggy walked away.