Challenging Fate

Chapter Six: Picking up the Pieces

A Maximum Ride FanFic

Max's P.O.V.

"I wake up in the morning feeling like P— "

My hand slithered out from under the covers and slammed down on the alarm-clock on my bedside table. I was not in the mood for Ke$ha and her cookie-cutter pop. Sure, it was a fun song, and it was upbeat and creative… but being a musician myself, I wasn't a big fan of hers. With trashy lyrics, sex galore, and nothing but drunkenness, it wasn't my style. Maybe Lissa's or Brigid's. Hell, even Nudge and Ella listened to this crap.

But it wasn't really my forte.

I moaned quietly as a wave of sleep came over me. It was Friday, and I didn't want to get up. I rolled over under the covers, burying my self in my hair, my pillow, and my quilt. But, nothing good ever lasts.

Within a minute, Nudge and Ella were bouncing on the end of my bed, having turned the radio back up screaming the words, giggling like crazy. "Max!" Ella yelled, grinning. I looked up at them grumpily through my screen of thick hair. "Come on, Maxie! Wake up!" Nudge echoed, her hands brushing the ceiling with every bounce.

I flicked my hair off my face and glared at them. My leg struck out, knocking them both to the floor, still giggling and screaming. "I'm up, okay? Go bother Ari." And they left, thank God.

I sat up, reaching over to turn glance at my clock, and grabbed my phone. I had two text messages. The first was from Dylan.

From: Dylan

To: Max

Message:

G'morning sunshine(:

Want to walk to school with me and the little kids?

Nick ditched me for Lissa. :P

Before I responded, I read the second, from Sam.

From: Sam

To: Max

Message:

Wont b able 2 pick u up 2day.

Ditching skewl 2day to go out to the old warehouse.

I shook my head slowly. Sam and his buddies were always cutting school to got to the abandoned factory on the edge of town. It was a good place to find drug-dealers and prostitutes. Whatever. I'd just go with Dylan.

I texted Dylan back quickly and stood up. Not for the first time, I was glad to be going to an all-uniform private school. I didn't have to stress over what I wore, like other girls did sometimes. It was just easier this way.

I pulled on the green and gold plaid skirt, followed by the white collared shirt, and the green blazer. No white knee-socks were required, thank God. I pulled a pair of black boots over my cold feet.

I glanced at the mirror and winced. The bruise was a bit more prominent now. Guess it would be a makeup day, then. I quickly smeared foundation over my face, applying it heavily to the purple splatter on my cheek. Then eye shadow, eyeliner, and mascara. I ran my fingers quickly through my flyaway curly hair, adjusted the part, then pinned the front back.

With iPod ear buds shoved in my ears and my old black backpack over my shoulders, I made my way down the stairs, where the entire family was already sitting around the table, minus dad.

"'Morning," I mumbled, sliding into my place in between the twins, across from Ari. Mom smiled at me from the right of Ari. Tiffany and Ella each leaned in and kissed a cheek, Ari nodded.

"Mom." I said, smiling, as I began eating. "You make the best food. It must make up for my cooking skills." I said with a condescending sigh, licking gooey white cream cheese off my cinnamon roll.

"Or lack thereof." Ari snorted. I glowered at him pettily, struggling not to laugh with my family members around me.

"Not funny," I said, around my food. "Manners, Max," Mom said, rolling her eyes. I sighed, but got up to wash my plate quickly anyways.

"Are you guys ready?" I asked, scooping up my backpack and looking at Ella and Nudge. Ella nodded, and Nudge, of course, spoke. "Ooh, totally Max. I've been ready for the last ten minutes; because I was just gonna get breakfast at school. But I got down here, right? And mom had cinnamon rolls on the table and I totally couldn't resist those, you know? So I guess what I'm saying is that yes, I'm ready, and that I thought I was ready a few minutes ago, but I really wasn't because I decided to eat breakfast at home instead."

She drew in for a breath to continue, but a chorused "NUDGE!" shut her up. She scowled, huffed, and grabbed her backpack. "If you're finished," I said, raising one eyebrow at her. She glared again, but stomped out the door. Laughing, Ella and I followed.

"Dylan!" Ella squealed, as we rounded the corner. "Ella?" Two small blond heads snapped up at the sound of Ella's voice. "Max!" Angela screeched, literally flying towards us at the speed of light. "Angel—hi," I said, scooping her up into a hug, and was quickly followed by Andrew. "An-Gazzy," I said, knowing the nickname we'd given him years ago.

"Hey, Guys," I said weakly, as Angela, Tiffany, Ella and Andrew made their reunions. "Long time, no see." The kids were too caught up in themselves to notice anything else so I fell into step next to Dylan.

"Don't you usually ride with Nick?" I asked, adjusting the straps of my backpack. "Yeah," Dylan sighed, lifting his eyes to look at the sky. "but he ditched me for Lissa," he sighed. "Aw, sorry," I said, bumping my hip against his. "No problem. This is probably going to be more interesting anyways. He never talks anymore, and when he does, it's about how much his life sucks."

"Hm," I said, taking that piece of information and tucking it away for later. I lifted my eyes o the clear blue sky also, wishing, not for the first time, that I could fly.