Have you ever felt like something’s missing? As in, there’s something you’re supposed to have, but another thing happened, and you didn’t get it?

If that makes any sense to you, that’s how I feel. It’s like, one thing was gonna happen, but then…then something changed, which completely changed my life...

All I know is my name is Katie. Katie Elizabeth Taylor. My mom is a vet, Dr. Amanda Taylor, and my dad is also a vet at the clinic him and Momma own together. They’re both really happy, because they’ve been working on opening it up forever, but now, they finally have. I’m only thirteen-years-old. That works out that way because I was smart enough to finish third grade in five months and forth in another five.

I have wings. As weird and crazy as that might sound, I do. They look like a raven’s mixed with a nightingale’s. My mom says they started to experiment on me, but they changed their minds after it was too late. So, I’m just not allowed to tell anyone. My mom and dad know, but that’s it. My mom’s friend, Valencia, who she used to share a clinic with, doesn’t even know, and she’s been a family friend forever.

My mom didn’t wanna give me up, but she had to. Well, she didn’t give me up, per say, but she gave them to me to experiment on. They got my brother, and they told her that if she would cooperate and give me to them, they would return me and my brother once they were done. Of course, they ended up just bringing me back, but still.

It was strange…some of the things I can do. I can make my wings disappear, I can breathe underwater, I can fly really fast, I can touch an object, if I want it to do this, and see its entire past and future, including all thoughts and emotions, I’m a lie detector, I can heal things, and I can control all fourteen elements. Well, I what I consider elements: fire, water, wind, forest, spirit, shadow, light, dark, time, minds, technology, storms, magnetism things, and objects.

Cool, huh? I’ve never constructively manipulated people before, except for that one time I got Mom to make cookies. Well, fine, two times…or four…hundred. Either way, I only use it for little stuff. I use the telekinesis more than anything. It’s cool to watch. Whenever it gets too hot, I use the water to cool down the room by turning the moisture in the air into ice. If there is none in the air, I put some.

It’s kinda hard to explain, but I use this stuff everyday, not really as a crutch, but as help. I could survive without it.

“Bye, Katie,” Mom said gently as I unbuckled my seatbelt in the passenger’s seat of her 2010 black Suburban. “Have a great first day.”

I looked at the school warily. It was huge, and the thought of my first day, me going in there, getting lost, end up late...it’s horrible, or bein’ known as the brainiac because I finished two grades in a year. “Can I just go back to being home schooled? I mean, I can—”

She chuckled softly, which cut me off, and she unlocked the door. “No, sweetheart. We don’t have the time now that we’ve opened our own clinic. We’ve got too much to do. I’m sorry. This is our fault for waiting this long to send you to school, since we knew it was coming.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat as I jumped down from the SUV. I was rather tall, about five ten, five eleven. My midnight black hair had been straightened, and I probably looked like a junior. Whenever we went to register me, that’s what they first thought.

I had been home schooled all our life. I got to start my first year of public school my freshman year. Fun, right? Actually, no, because, as stated before, I’m only thirteen.

For my first day outfit, I was in a pair of short blue jean shorts, a white camisole with a black zip-up hoodie, a pair of Aviators with shiny, mirror, dark gray rims with shiny, mirror, black lenses, and a pair of black flip-flops. My shorts were seven inches above my knee, which in Arizona, is over dress code. You’re allowed to wear camisoles, tanks, and short shorts. You can even wear Soffe shorts, if you want.

I put the left, black ear gummy to my old, black Zune back in my ear as Fingernails by Skillet continued playing. Right now, I was saving up to get a new one, because this one’s kinda old.

As I grabbed the warm handle of the big, double doors of my new school, I took a slow, deep breath before warily opening it. This day was not gonna go well at all.

Ironically enough, Fifteen by Taylor Swift started playing, which, if you haven’t heard it before, is sorta what I’m going through...sorta. Freshman year. The difference is, I was completely new here.

Weird though.

As the music continued to play and I walked through the hallways, I avoided running into anyone. Momma always told me my skin was unnaturally hot.

I smiled when the song ended and turned off my Zune before sticking it in my backpack. It was one of those shoulder bags. It was black, and it had bright cyan, light, shimmery turquoise, lime green, neon orange, neon yellow, hot pink, periwinkle, and bright lavender polka dots.

“Cute bag,” a girl said brightly as she walked up. She had a bright, warm, really welcoming smile on her lips, a familiar smile... “Hi. I’m Max. You’re new, right?”

I nodded and swallowed. “Yeah. And, thanks. I’m...Katie.”

Her eyebrows furrowed. “Katie...” But, she realized who I was at the exact same time I realized who she was. I mean, there’s only one female with blonde hair named Max, right? I sure as heck don’t know any others. “Oh my gosh! Katie!”

It was shocking how much Max had changed, in just year. She’s two years older than me, sot she’s a sophomore this year. I couldn’t help but smile back at her. “Hey, Max! Oh my tigers, you have definitely changed since last year.”

“You too!” she exclaimed before tightly hugging me. “God, I didn’t even realize who you are!”

I continued smiling at her. “Same here, which is odd, because I honestly don’t think there are any other blonde headed girls named Max.”

She just laughed. “Well, I’ll show you to the office, and around, if you want. This place is huge.”

I grimaced. “That’s what I was worried about.”

She laughed as she grabbed my arm. “Katie, you’re cool. You’re going to fit right in. Believe me. If I do, you definitely will.”

That’s perfect, I thought to myself. That’s exactly what I need to do. Fit right in.

You take a deep breath and you walk through the doors
It’s the morning of your very first day
And you say hi to your friends you ain’t seen in a while
Try and stay out of everybody’s way

It’s your freshman year and you’re gonna be here
For the next four years in this town
Hoping one of those senior boys will wink at you and say
"You know, I haven’t seen you around before"

**here's my new Maximum Ride series! it was originally based off the song Miss Independent by Ne-Yo, but i'm not really sure if that's gonna fit anymore. either way, that's the title. enjoy!**