Hey guys! This is my first MR fanfiction, so I hope you like it. Right now, the characters are in book two, when they are living with Anne.

Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride and (this should be pretty obvious) I'm not James Patterson.

Chapter One: Battling With Myself

Take a breath Max, I told myself, just relax. I walked through the entrance of ______ school (A/N: does anyone know the name of the school that the flock goes to in the second book??) with the flock behind me. Instantly, I began memorizing exits and escape routes, analyzing everyone for any trace of Eraser, and feeling more like a trapped animal every second.

I walked steadily, at a perfect pace, but my heart was pounding faster than it did during a fight. Claustrophobia was catching up with me.

Breath in, breath out, I kept telling myself as I entered my first class. Let the day begin...

***

We were so close. I could feel his warm breath against my skin. "He is saving the world coming along?" Fang lightly chuckled, whispering in my ear. He leaned in closer, and everything just went together. He leaned in to kiss me...

"Max? Maximum?"

What?" I shook my head and tried to get my eyes into focus. "Huh?" I said. Dang it, I must have been day dreamed again. It's so sad when you wish with all your heart that something was true, then your teacher comes along and pops your bubble. Then she asks you a question about the quadratic equation as if it wasn't obvious enough that I hadn't been paying any attention.

"Ding! Ding!" Phew, saved by the bell.

As I walked through the halls to my next class, I thought about my day dream. He's so perfect, I thought to myself, so hot and strong...No Max, no, you don't like him. He's Fang, you can't like Fang...oh but he's so cute. Well cute isn't the word, but you know what I mean...but you can't do this to the Flock, Max; you could mess it all up...I know, I can't take that chance.

At that moment, I made a decision that hurt my heart more than anything else ever had: Fang can only be a friend, nothing more. Not now, not ever.