READ THIS AN FOR THE STORY TO MAKE SENSE!

Okay, This story is based on the song "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera. I imagined the story as a music video, so when ever the lyrics pop up you have to imagine Max singing them, okay?

Disclaimer: I, Arrabella Cinderella Disneydork do not own Maximum Ride written by James Patterson or Beautiful sang by Christina Aguilera (I did tweak the lyrics a bit though). Though I may not own the chacters or song, this plot is 100 percent mine. COPY CATS WILL BE PUNISHED!

Dedication: This, being my first ever FanFiction story is dedicated to Pheonix Fanatic who introduced me to FanFiction, who was my beta for this story and a great friend. HiddenTears159 also receives a dedication for also "betta-ing" and being and for being absolutely FABULOUS to hang out with at my Dad's. Way Cool receives a dedication for being WAY COOL and for me being at her cottage when my evil plot bunny attacked and gave me this story. YOU GUYS ROCK!

People, this is my first ever story so PLEASE R&R! CONSTUCTIVE critism is always welcome. PLEASE REVEIW!

Beautiful

“You’re dragging everyone down!” Fang yelled angrily. “We don’t need to save the world! You’re putting the flock in unnecessary danger!”

“Fang!” Max yelled back, equally angry. “Itex was just the beginning! We need to…”

“We don’t need to do anything!” Fang said furiously, growing steadily angrier. “Are you so self absorbed that you don’t care what danger you put the flock in!"

“FANG!” Max screamed, outraged. “The flock is my life! I’m doing this to save them! The innocent people…”

“We’ve already done more than our part!” he interrupted, “Stop playing the game and come back to reality! You don’t always have to be the hero!”

“This is reality! And it has nothing to do with being a hero! This is about saving the world!”

“That doesn’t need to be saved.” said Fang coldly. “You’re stupider than I thought. I can’t believe I used to like you. You have no brains and you’re uglier than the dumpster down the street.”

Max’s eyes began to burn. Those words hurt. A lot. Fang looked at her in horror as he realised what he had said. “Max, I… I didn’t mean that!” he stuttered, shocked, “I…”

“Don't look at me” she whispered, walking away.

Max walked into her room, struggling to keep in her tears as she pulled out her Diary from under the bed. No one had ever read her Diary, everyone knew that when it came Max, reading her Diary was the all time low. It was the one friend Max put full confidence in, the one friend she knew wouldn’t call her stupid. Max began to write…

Dear Diary,

Every day is so wonderful, then suddenly, it’s hard to breath. Now and then I get insecure, from all the pain. I’m so ashamed.

I am beautiful, no matter what they say. Words CAN’T bring me down. I am beautiful, in every single way. No, words CAN’T bring me down. So don't you bring me down today.

“Dinner’s ready!” called Iggy. Max put down the diary and headed to the kitchen.

All through dinner there was an awkward silence between the two leaders of the Flock, but the other four did not even notice.

Afterwards, doing the dishes, Max felt the familiar prickle of the hairs on her neck stand up. Fang was there.

“Can we talk about earlier?”

Max said nothing and continued to dry the dishes. She had to put her complete concentration on not bursting into tears. Fang’s hurtful words were still fresh.

“Max, I’m sorry. I didn’t…” Fang started.

“Later,” Max muttered, interrupting him, “I’m going to have a shower.” Fang nodded, his face impassive as he disappeared into the living room, no doubt to return to his precious laptop.

Grabbing a towel, Max walked into the washroom and stared into the mirror. You’re stupider than I thought…uglier than the dumpster down the street… The mirror was laughing at her. Taunting her. Telling her that she was alone, no one understood her and no one ever would. Reminding her that Maximum Ride was supposed to be invincible, but she, Max, was not.

“Do I have friends? You’re delirious!” She said to the mirror. “I’m so consumed in all your doom! Trying hard to fill the emptiness.” her eyes began to burn. “The piece is gone, left the puzzle undone. That's the way it is!”

“You are beautiful,” she told her reflection determinedly, “No matter what they say. Words can't bring you down.” tears began to pour steadily down her cheeks. “You are beautiful, in every single way! No, words can't bring you down. So, don't you bring me down today...”

Max stepped into the hot shower, washing away the dirt, trying to wash away the pain.

“No matter what we do, no matter what they say. When the sun is shining through, then the clouds will go away. And everywhere we go the sun won't always shine but tomorrow will find a way like all the other times. 'Cause we are beautiful, no matter what they say. No, words won't bring us down, oh no…”

Max stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around her body as she began to brush through her wet, matted hair. She stared at the reflection gazing back at her through the mirror.

“We are beautiful in every single way,” her face was now soaked with tears, “No, words CAN’T bring us down!” She cried out desperately, smashing her fist into the mirror.

There was a deafening crash as shards of glass flew through the air and fell to the ground.“MAX!” she heard Fang yell, surprised by the sudden noise, Max fell. Shards of glass dug into her body as she came crashing to the ground.

“So don't you bring me down today!” She could feel the blood flowing steadily out of her wounds, leaving her body completely numb. She heard a distant voice yelling about calling 911 and was vaguely aware that Fang had burst through the door.

“Don't you bring me down today” she whispered faintly from the loss of blood. Fang had scooped her up into his arms, the rest of the flock was gathered around her, waiting for the ambulance to arrive as they tried to nurse her wounds. Max was unaware of anything around her, she was trapped in her own depression.

“Don't you bring me down…mm hmm… today.” Everything went black leaving Max in a peaceful, dreamless sleep.