Hello, people! Here it is: Yet another Cake cliché. What can I say? I'm nothing if not… not original? Ha-ha. :P But, yeah. I have read many Cinderella Maximum Ride Fanfics, but just thought I'd try my own. For all of you out there who have seen it, I know that this is highly based off 'A Cinderella Story' the movie (Which is AMAZING). So, trust me, I know I'm taking the idea from that movie, but that's what makes it a cliché, right?

Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride or A Cinderella Story or Cinderella in general, actually. Just so you know, I am never repeating this Disclaimer again. -_-

Ch. 1:

Max POV

CladInBlack: You just can't stop talking, huh?

I laughed at CladInBlack's message back to me. He was just so unreal. I spend an hour ranting to him about my terrible life and that's all he has to say.

CladInBlack was a friend I've had for months, but I guess the idea that I had no idea who he was cued the appeal for me. Okay, sure it's bad for me to have a crush on someone I met over the Internet, but I had a fairly good idea he wasn't a pedophile or a stalker.

I actually met him over a college chat room, as weird as it sounds. Like any other high school senior, I was obsessively chatting on the web page for my dream college. After a few conversations with already accepted students, I got to talking with Clad. He was funny, surprisingly poetic, and completely… well, perfect. We talked for hours that first chat, and with a few questions, we figured out that we both went to the same high school. Hunter Creek high school.

ILostIt…Again: Well, I had to vent to someone about my deteriorating mental stability and tendency to get stuck in crappy situations.

I smiled slightly at my response. Yes, ILostIt…Again was my screen name, but it surprisingly does not refer to my tendency to 'lose it' mentally, but to the fact I can never go anywhere without losing something. Whether it be a pencil lost in English or something more important like my Biology textbook lost at Starbucks, something will always be lost by the end of the day. Usually I can get the item back (The local Starbucks literally has a 'Max's Stuff' pile in their shop), but sometimes I can't.

CladInBlack: Wait… did you have mental stability to begin with? That doesn't sound like the Lost I know. Anyway, at least all you lost today was your pinky ring.

ILostIt…Again: It was a $200 ring!

CladInBlack: Seriously?

I rolled my eyes at his comment. It was the little things like that I found interesting about Clad. He had the worst perception of sarcasm.

ILostIt… Again: God, your gullible. It was $5 at a thrift store. Anyway, G2G. Time to get on with more beloved college applications.

CladInBlack: I thought you were going to Harvard with me?

ILostIt…Again: Always got to have a back-up plan. Have you even told your dad about Harvard yet?

CladInBlack: Not yet. But I know that somehow both of us will end up at Harvard together.

ILostIt…Again: Forever the optimist, Clad. Bye, now!

Before he could object, I logged out of my IM account and deleted the history on my computer. What can I say? I'm very guarded about my personal information. Not to mention if Anne ever found out about me applying to Harvard – well, applying to college in general – she'd go berserk. Anne, my annoying stepmother, has this delusional idea that I'll live here and work for her forever. Though I may work for her at the ice cream shop now, after this year as a senior, I'll be in college. I'll be free.

While I may be free, getting into college won't be free. Which is exactly why I have to work so hard to keep my grades up for scholarships. Maybe that gives me a little less time for socializing, but I had enough friends. I had my best friend, Iggy, and my two friends, Nudge and Angel. Plus, there was always Clad.

As I stared at my application for another back-up college, specifically UCSB, I gently sighed and proceeded to close my eyes. Just a little nap…

"MAX!" Two shrill voices woke me up from a shrouded, but happy, dreamland.

"Max!" The twin voices boomed again, but this time I was aware who they were. I stared at the intercom Anne had installed (mostly to tell me when I had chores to do) a while before responding.

"Yeah?" I pressed the button, letting my voice be heard from the other side.

"You have to make us breakfast." Lissa said, yet I was only aware which monster it was because Lissa's voice was an octave higher and squeakier than Brigid's.

Lissa and Brigid were my horrid stepsisters, just as in any fairy-tale, of course. I heaved a sigh before raking my fingers through my messy brown-blond hair. If only my life were a fairy-tale. It would definitely make everything ten times easier.

I quickly got dressed in my loose jeans and T-shirt, threw my books in my backpack, and raced to the kitchen. Using the only instrument in the kitchen I knew how to, I threw two breakfast lean-pockets into the microwave. They had to be lean-pockets, of course, because the already twig-thin duo was on a diet.

I snatched all three lean-pockets out of the microwave. In a swift movement, I was able to throw my lean-pocket into a napkin and then throw Lissa's and Brigid's on a fancy plate. From the 10 years it's been since my dad died, I've learned that in this household it's all about presentation.

I ran outside before Anne or the twins could catch me or give me anything else to do before school. I jumped into my rusty, old pick-up truck I had earned with help from Iggy, Nudge, and Angel.

Parking in front of Iggy's house, I honked loudly. Valencia (Iggy's mom), who was basically the mother figure in my life, came out, smiling at me.

"Iggy should be out in a moment." She said to me. I knew she somewhat pitied me ever since my dad died, but her kindness wasn't all pity. If it were, I wouldn't accept it.

For a moment I just looked at her. Her deep brown eyes, her tan skin, and her dark brown hair. It was so improbable that she was Iggy's mother. Iggy was tall and lanky with Edward-ly pale skin and strawberry blond hair. Apparently, Iggy looked just like his father, who left him and Valencia when he was four, so much so that you couldn't even see the Hispanic side of him that came from his mother. Not that that made Iggy feel any better.

Iggy came out of the house like any other day, a smile on his face and his tall figure looming over both Valencia and I.

"Romeo? Where for-art-thou Romeo?" He cried dramatically. Of course, him being the drama-king of our school, that wasn't unusual.

"Isn't that Juliet's part?" I asked curiously.

He shrugged. "Nudge and I dared each other to go for the opposite gender lead roles in the play."

I rolled my eyes at their antics as we got into the car and I drove to school, me on autopilot. It was just that Iggy and Nudge were always going at it with stupid dares and bets like this. Angel and I always rant about how they'd be the perfect couple. Unfortunately, Iggy won't get over his stupid first-grade crush that he's had on Ella Martinez, the school's popular girl. Nevermind the fact that Ella had a boyfriend to make Iggy give up. I mean, Ella's boyfriend was Fang freaking Walker. Fang was the football team captain, the school's golden boy, and everyone liked him. Not to mention he could beat Iggy to a pulp if he made a move on Ella (not that she'd respond).

As we pulled into a parking spot and piled out of the car, I suddenly felt a presence behind me. Expecting Angel or Nudge, I whipped around smiling. That smile fell the moment I laid eyes on Ella Martinez. Not only was Iggy hopelessly crushing on her, she had a knack for making everyone feel smaller than her.

"Hey Ride." She said, addressing me. "I love your shirt!" She said, smiling maliciously. I glanced down at my Cookie Monster T-shirt.

I looked up, "Wha-?" The feel of something surprisingly wet on my shirt cut me off. I stared down at the frappuccino splattered on my shirt. So, I could A) Deck Ella now and feel gratified for about five hours or B) Walk away calmly and not get suspended (which would ruin my college chances), plus not piss Iggy off my decking 'his girl'. Just as I was about to go with option A, a buzzing in my pocket cut me off. A text.

From CladInBlack: You at school yet? I know I am. Where else could I be surrounded by people of such low intellect?

I smiled slightly and brushed past Ella. Clad always knew how to save me, whether he realized it or not.

He made me remember the goal. Harvard, here I come.

What do you think? I think it's pretty good for a Cinderella fic, but then again I can't critique. I did write it. :D

~Cake.