Hey guys! So…new story. Trying it out. Yeah. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Nope. Story line, though. So I do own something!

Note: Please don't judge my court room knowledge. (hahahaha…judge..court room? Yeah never mind) Just guessing. And please forgive any grammar and spelling mistakes. THANK YOU!

Prologue

My life is interesting.

Okay, fine, so maybe "interesting" is too general of a term. Um…different. Different is a good word. Yes. My life is different. This can be taken as a good or bad thing. But…seeing as you don't know ANYTHING about me, you can't make that judgment yet. Your view on things will change depending on how you look. If you look in or out. If you dwell on past doings or the future. If you have faith or don't give a rip. Get it?

It's all in your perception of things.

Court, Lies & Doodling

"Maximum Ride would you please join us in the court room?"

I looked up from my doodling and saw Judge Ramsey eying me critically.

Shifting my weight, I looked back down at my rainbow and concentrated on making clouds. "With all due respect, Your Honor…I have a lawyer. Talk to him."

I could practically feel Jeb tense all the way from across the room.

Judge Ramsey leaned forward menacingly. "Miss Ride, considering this is your third offense;I suggest you make a few friends."

"Oh, I would, Your Honor. But see, the thing is…I'm in a court room. That makes it a little difficult, don't you think? You know, considering almost everyone present is accusing me of something or another."

Judge Ramsey rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Miss Ride, please take your place at the accused. Miss Hibeil, would you make your case?"

"Certainly, Your Honor," she replied primly after I had taken my spot.

"Your Honor, my client has made several complaints against Maximum Ride over the years, the most recent one being theft on school grounds, which, in fact, is why we are here today. This, of course, was preceded by a number of other offenses, including a previous theft and a handful of fights, one of which placed an innocent boy into home care for a month. Maximum Ride has supposedly attended anger management courses at the local rehab center but several of the counselors have recently admitted that the convict has been skipping. This, again, scores a point against her, as that was part of her punishment last year…"

I stared at Miss Hibeil as she made her case. In all honesty and in the simplest terms ever…it sucked. She was missing some very, very vital details.

"Um," I said, raising my hand, interrupting her.

She stopped and glared at me.

"Yes, Miss Ride?" The Judge asked, tiredly. "Would you like to say something?"

"Yes, actually, I would. Thank you," I replied curtly. "Sorry for interrupting, lady," I apologized. "Seriously. You sounded very smart." I assured her. "But that whole "innocent boy" thing? Yeah, no. He threatened to harm my little brother. Was I supposed to just let that happen?"

"A mature girl, Maximum, would have taken the case to the school," she answered.

I snorted. "Yeah, because they actually care," I replied harshly. "Listen, Miss Heibel," I said, leaning forward. "I may be a first class juvenile delinquent but I get how things work at that school. This guy, Sam Vernes? Yeah, son of Bob Vernes, biggest donator Green High has ever seen. Think about it, lady. If the school "took care of Sam Vernes", two million dollars would be gone."

"The school always puts students, first," she sniffed haughtily. "How dare you question it, Miss Ride."

"Trust me, Miss Hibeil, if that school put students first, I wouldn't be here right now."

"Order in the court!" Judge Ramsey exclaimed. "Miss Hibeil, you may take your seat. Mr. Batchelder, if you would."

Jeb nodded curtly and stood up. "Your Honor, considering Miss Ride's alibi states that she was in Raleigh when this theft occurred, there is no possible way she could have done what Green High is accusing her of. Three witnesses state this same fact."

"Those three witnesses, Mr. Batchelder are also teenage delinquents. What makes you think that they are reliable sources? And may you be reminded that one of Miss Ride's dearly beloved friends is the son of a school janitor? How easy would it be for him to sneak the key off his father?"

"Miss Hibeil, please let Mr. Batchelder continue his case."

"Judge Ramsey, to automatically assume that Miss Ride did this, just because she has a colorful history is presumptuous, unfair and downright wrong. And if the only evidence Miss Hebeil has is a fingerprint scan and a blurry video I believe we have ourselves a closed case."

"Perhaps, Mr. Batchelder. Perhaps," Miss Hibeil announced. "But luck has it that I finally got a hold of Miss Ride's father in Raleigh and he confirmed that he has not seen Maximum Ride in three plus years."

And that, my friends, is how this all started.