Hello! So this is my 2nd Fanfic, and I'll hopefully finish this one :D for those of you who were reading "Take These Broken Wings and Learn to Fly" I promise to go back to it and finish it once my writers block ends. Until then, please make do with this one!

Enjoy,

Nightwings93

PS: someone asked if Max has to pretend to be a boy and the answer is: no

PPS: Dr. M and Jeb are Fang's parents and Max has different ones who you'll find out about later.

PPPS: (too many Ps?) anywho ages…Max, Fang, Iggy & Gazzy (who are twins), Ella, Ari=18 going on 19, college freshman. Nudge= 19 going 20 college sophomore (well, she was…she dropped out…you'll find out why soon) Angel= 6 (I kept her the same age because she's just soooo cute). Sam= 25

Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride…wow, so sad to have to type that!

Max POV: Chapter 1

I could the feel the beads of sweat form under the rim of my baseball cap as I ascended the stairs. My duffle nag was thumping against my thigh and the ridiculously full boxes I was carrying were making my arms shake with exertion. I craned my neck around the boxes and peeked at how many steps I had left. Four left. Okay, I could totally make it.

I was on the last step when I stubbed my toe on the lip. My arms began trembling violently as I attempted to keep my balance. Then I felt it. I was slipping backwards. Well, this is the end. Yup, I can see the headline now: Maximum Ride Dies As She Attempts to Fulfill Her Dream of Higher Education.

Okay, so let's pause, rewind, and catch you up o speed. I'm Maximum Ride, 18 going on 19. I'm a freshman at my college of choice: University of Portland in Oregon. Why Oregon? Because it's on the other side of country. It's as far from my New York home as I can get. So, here I am climbing the steps to my dorm in the college I've always wanted to go to. Only, there's a catch. Whoever was letting in the freshman miscalculated and accepted one more girl instead of a guy. Guess who that girl was? Yup, me. I think my name threw the administrations office off. Anyway, I got accepted, but I have to stay in the ALL BOYS dorm. Smooth right?

SO, back to the original point. Just as I was about to achieve my dream and escape my past, my feet began to slip back. The next few minutes went in slow motion. I was about to fall to my death when someone grabbed my trembling arms and pulled me to safety. I puffed a sigh of relief. I was still holding the boxes, so my savior was obstructed from my view.

"Dude, are you okay?" A deep voice asked. It sent shivers down my spine. His voice was soft like velvet, floated like a feather, and had a deep, manly, and beyond sexy tone to it.

I mentally slapped myself for thinking so much about a voice. I was here to learn, get my bachelors in science, go onto vet school, and make a better life for myself. No boys. No partying. Nothing, just studying. I forced myself to not think about his voice. I squared my shoulders and put the boxes down. I stood back up and almost swooned. He had mid-length black hair with long side bangs that covered his left eye. And, Holy Lord, his eyes. They were a swirling midnight. They were dark pools I could get lost in. he was tall. At least 6'2." He was wearing black basket ball shorts and a black tight fitting wife beater. His arms were muscled and ropy. His stomach was toned and rippled from his 6 pack were visible beneath the tight fabric. I stopped myself from ogling him.

I turned my face to stone and muttered, "Fine. Thanks."

His eyes widened a fraction of an inch in surprise then a smirk played on his lips. "Wrong dorm."

"Actually, it's the right one." He looked skeptical. I sighed and fished in my pocket. "Here," I mumbled while handing him a letter that the dean had written.

He quickly read it and handed it back to me. "Cool," he said. One word, that's it. Wow, so talkative.

"Yeah. I'm Max," I replied, awkwardly sticking my hand out.

It took a moment, but he shook it. "Fang," he answered.

"Wow. You're so damn talkative."

He smirked. "Very."

I couldn't help but smirk slightly. "Do you know where room 305 is?" I asked

He nodded, picked up my boxes, and beckoned me with a tilt of his chin. "Yeah, it's next to mine."

I blushed. What the heck!? I don't blush! "I can carry those myself," I said, flustered by his chivalry.

Fang didn't answer. He just kept walking, so I was forced to follow him. Jerk. Sexist pig. I could handle the boxes by myself. I don't need help. Especially not from a guy.

I huffed and picked my pace. Fang's legs are so damn long. I followed him down the hall. He stopped at the last door. The numbers 305 were faded and chipped. Fang nudged the door open with his foot. I was so going to need a lock.

We walked in, and my face fell. There was a bed in the corner. Only, it was missing the mattress, there was only the spring box. On the far wall facing the window was a small desk. Next to my bed was a small wardrobe. I sighed. At least the room was bigger than the broom closet I used to live in. Long story. More on that later.

I put my duffle bag down on the floor and surveyed the room with, what I hoped was, an optimistic expression. Fang looked around then set my boxes on the floor next to my bag.

"Thanks," I whispered, not meeting his eyes.

He nodded. "What's that?" he asked pointing to my desk.

"A desk, Fang," I said slowly. "We use it to do homework and studying." I smirked.

Fang rolled his eyes. He walked over to my desk and picked p a piece of paper. Silently, he handed it to me.

Dear Max,

We are sorry for the poor state of the room. It has been a vacant room for the past 5 years and was the only room we could put you in. We did not think it would be appropriate for you to share a room with one of the young men in the dorm. Please feel free to paint or decorate the room anyway you want to make it more comfortable for you.

Sincerely,

The Admissions Office

"Cool," I muttered. "Good thing I came prepared."

Fang raised his eyebrow in question. I was about to answer when we heard a voice.

"Nick!" the voice of an older woman called out.

Fang spun around and shouted back, "In here, Mom!"

Ha! I knew his name couldn't possibly be Fang. A woman in her late 40s with graying brown hair and warm chocolate eyes popped her head in my new room.

"There you are!" she exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face. "Your father and I just wanted to say goodbye before we head home."

Fang just nodded. His mom turned to me and gave me the same warm smile she gave Fang. I like her already.

"Hi. I'm Valencia, Nick's mom."

"I'm Max," I replied politely.

"It's nice to meet you," she actually sounded like she meant it.

"It's nice to meet you, too." To my surprise, I was sincere. I wasn't just being polite. I couldn't help but smile at her.

"I didn't know this was a co-ed dorm," Fang's mom stated.

"It's not," I replied. "There was a mistake. I was supposed to be a boy. My name tripped up the admissions office."

She nodded as if it made all the sense in the world. Then we heard, "Val? Fang?"

"In here!" Fang's mom called back

A man with blue eyes shielded by glasses and hair walked in. "Hey!" he said cheerfully.

"Hi," Valencia said back, taking his hand. "Honey, this is Max. Max, this is my husband, Jeb."

"It's nice to meet you," I replied. He seemed pretty cool. Really laid-back. (AN: I wanted to show a different side of Jeb-like the cool, fun side the flock would have known before the beginning of The Angel Experiment)

"Same here," he answered, smiling, as crows feet popped up in the corner of his eyes. "Oi, Fang, we're off. Your sister and her husband called and said they just landed at the airport. We need to get going."

At the word "husband" Fang's eyes flashed angrily, but he just nodded in response. Valencia got teary eyed and walked over to Fang. She reached up on her tip-toes and gave him a hug.

"I'll miss you." She whispered.

Fang gave a small smile and kinda hugged her back. Not exactly a fuzzy teddy bear, is he? "You're like 45 minutes away, Mom. It'll be fine."

His mom sniffed and released him. Then she turned and hugged me. I was so shocked that I couldn't move. I hadn't been hugged in a long time.

"It was nice to meet you," she said in a hushed voice. I think she was holding back tears.

I finally managed to move. Slowly, I wrapped my arms around her. "You, too," I muttered.

Jeb shook my hand. "Keep and eye on Fang for me. He's quite the trouble maker."

I grinned, happy for the lighter mood Jeb brought with him. "Oh yeah, all his talking is gonna get him in serious trouble."

Jeb cracked up, and I could hear his laughter follow him down the hall.

I turned to Fang. "Your parents are really cool." I couldn't manage to keep the under lying current of bitterness and sadness out of my voice.

"What about yours?" Fang asked tentatively.

I shrugged. "They couldn't make the flight out," Nice, Max, way to lie. Fang seemed to pick up on the fact that what I said wasn't true. "You look nothing like your mom and dad." I muttered trying to change topics. Fang noticed but dropped it.

"I look like my grand-pa on my mom's side." He stated.

I nodded. "Well, I'm gonna start decorating my room."

"Want help?" Fang offered. "We've got a week before other people come."

My head snapped up. I'd forgotten that the admissions office had allowed me to come early since I'm a "special case." Plus, I couldn't wait to get out of my house. If you could even call that place a home. So why was Fang here? I brushed that thought off. He'd tell me if he'd wanted to.

I nodded again, "Sure that'd be nice."

Fang smiled at me. It wasn't a full blown smile, but for a person like him, it seemed like a big effort. I was so startled by the sudden appearance of his pearly whites that I smiled back. Fang was pretty cool. I think I could be okay with getting to know him better.

I pulled the paints I brought with me out of my box. What can I say? I came prepared. I had black and purple paint. My two favorite colors.

I started painting the desk purple with black skulls and roses. I smiled at my handiwork. I turned to see how Fang faired with my dresser. He'd painted the whole ting black. I smirked. He and the dresser matched. They made a lovely pair.

"Why don't you add some color, emo boy?" I teased. For some reason, I felt comfortable teasing Fang. In fact, I felt comfortable with Fang, period. He was easy to be with.

In my comfort, I made one of snap decisions. I dipped my brush in fresh purple paint and, just as Fang was turning around to retort, I flicked it at him. Unicorn purple (AN: best color EVA!) paint splattered across Fang's face and his black-clad chest. I giggled maniacally. Fang looked shocked. Then his face went back to impassive stone. Except his eyes. Oh shit. His eyes got flashed evilly and a ghost of a grin flitted across his face. Calmly, he dipped his brush in the black paint. He stood and quietly walked over to me.

"Fang…Fang…really…you don't need to-" I stopped short as black paint dripped from the top of my head, down my face, and onto my neck. "This is WAR!!!" I yelled as I launched myself at Fang with paint-filled hands.

Fang and I battled for over an hour. Fang dealt the final blow. I was bending over to refill my brush when Fang hip bumped me. I went flying forward and face-planted in my bucket of purple paint. I stood up wiping the paint from my eyes. Then I heard I deep rumbling noise behind me. It was Fang. He was laughing. I couldn't help it; I started laughing so hard I almost peed my pants. We were both covered in paint, clutching our sides, and laughing.

It was a great first day of college. I could definitely get used to hanging out with Fang. He's a good friend.

That's it for now…Like? Hate? Review?