I don't' own Max Ride. That' s all there is to it.

MAX

"Hey, Max, sweetie?" my mom leaned in my doorway. "Can you call a family meeting for me? I have to take the cookies out."

"Sure Mom." I stood up and went to all of the kids' rooms. "Guys! Family meeting! In the living room pronto!"

My foster siblings Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel hurried to the living room, followed by my half sister Ella. We lounged on the sofas until Mom and Dad came in with a plate of chocolate chip cookies. John Abate was my step father. I still saw my real dad- Jeb Batchelder on holidays, but it was a casual thing since I lived with Mom. John had raised Ella and I- after all, Ella was his kid.

I knew what we were all hoping for, but I also knew that it wasn't the news. Complications with Ella's birth had originally been brushed off, but it later turned out that Mom had cancer. The operations left her unable to have children, so she wasn't pregnant. That's why we have so many foster kids. My mom loves to raise kids. Besides, she'd rather raise the children of dead beat parents, kids who would otherwise not have a fair chance in life, than bring another human into this world. Why make another person when so many out there need homes?

"We've decided to take on another foster child. His name is Nicholas Fang Ride. He goes by Fang. He'll be here in a few days. I want you all to be extremely kind to him, even though he'll seem different."

"Different?" Iggy, my blind pyromaniac foster brother, smirked. "We're all a little strange here Mom."

"Well…Fang has had some trouble in his past. And he doesn't like to talk. I'm sure he'll warm up to us, but give him time, okay?"

We all nodded and she set us loose. The kdis all dashed upstairs again, but I hung back. "So, what day does he get here?"

"Saturday," Mom answered casually, grabbing a cookie.

"How old is he?"

"Your age. Max," she looked at me intently. "I want you to try to talk to him. It's a lot to ask, but could you try to get close to him? If anyone can open him up, it's you. Look what you've done for Nudge, Iggy, and the kids. You helped them so much. Iggy smiles. Gazzy and Angel aren't afraid anymore. Nudge didn't talk either when she got here, if you remember."
"And now she never shuts up," I said wryly. I was nervous. Why me?

"But it was all you. Sure, John, your sister and I helped a little, but it was you that did the most. All I want is for you to try for this boy too."

I nodded. "Okay. Sure."

"Thank you. I love you."

"I love you too Mom." I kissed her cheek, snagged another cookie, and headed to my room. Another kid around? My age? Well, maybe it would be cool.

Or maybe it will be a total disaster, that little nervous voice in my head told me.

Oh shut up!

So, love it? Hate it? Should I continue?