Chapter 3

Fang POV

"Fang?"

I looked down at Max her face seemed vulnerable, desperate. I couldn't do this to her not now. "I won't leave."

"I know," she whispered sitting up. Her shoulders stiffened, her face relived. She lifted herself eye level. She looked between my eyes and lips. I leaned in – despite my earlier thoughts – to kiss her. She met me more than half way. She kissed back as if it was her only chance.

My hand slid up her arm, then down to her hand. I moved to her back drawing little e circles between her wings.

Her hand was on my cheek her fingers drew over the stubble forming on my chin. Her fingers went from my chin to my neck and rested her hand where my neck and shoulder met.

***

I woke to Max in my arms she seemed to be smiling in her sleep. I checked the clock it was 7:30 it was time for breakfast before Ella had school and Mrs. Martinez, had work.

"Max."

"Hmm?" she moaned, pouting.

"Wake up." her eyes opened and she stretched.

"Ow." she said simply. She looked up to me and smirked. "Hello."

"Hi." I said, she rolled over, till she laid against my side. Her arm rubbed the scars Ari left on my stomach, it felt good I lost control.

I laid on top of her. But Iggy's voice drifted into the room, "Let's get up" she suggested. I nodded and walked into the bathroom.

When I got down stairs Max already sat between Nudge and the Gasman. Ella was helping Iggy fill plates, and Nudge was silentlywatching them.

Angle was kneeling on the floor with Total and Magnolia. She and total sat chatting animatedly. I sat next to where Mrs. Martinez was getting ready for work. "By Fang." she said walking out the door. "Ella don't miss your bus! You've got twenty minutes!"

"By mom!" Ella and Max said together and began to laugh.

Nudge simply rolled her eyes jumping from her stool and Ella took her place Iggy sitting beside her. "I'm just going to throw up for the next twenty – thirty minutes don't mind me." Nudge said but no one but me paid her attention.

I doubted any one heard, but Max turned and gave me a plea for sanity. In other words check on Nudge see whats up. Funny when it came to Nudge it was Always Iggy and Max's job. But the problem today was Iggy and Max had to deal with him and her sister. Plus I was the one comforting Nudge at one point last year. When she got attacked in Arizona trying to meet her parents.

I tapped lightly on the bathroom door, no sound came from inside. I went to the second floor to see if she was in her room. Again no answer I opened the door, and saw the window open. I climbed onto the porch roof and looked up, she was on the second floor roof. I climbed so she wouldn't see me and fly away.

"Nudge." I said, I saw her arms wrapped around her legs. She was watching the sun coming up. It was cold I could see our breaths mingle together in the cold.

"I like him Fang, a lot. But I think he likes her. He's changing, hes never done half the things hes been doing since we got here. But it doesn't matter I'm not pretty she is. And at least I didn't make him change, I liked him just fine all of us running away together. But it doesn't even matter. I'm unwanted."

"First Nudge, you are wanted. Just not by people you want to be wanted by." I stopped what the fuck did I just say? I need Max here.

"Fang that makes no sense." she said giggling quietly.

"Well I meant people want you. And the flock definitely wants you. And third Iggy's blind, he doesn't care what you look like -- " I thought of the Dallas cowboy cheerleaders. " Never mind."

"I get it Fang, thanks. But I tried being her friend but when ever we talk about the flock she wants to hear about the guys mostly, like u and Iggy. And we like the same things, but I love Iggy and she just met him why can't she leave him alone?" I put my arm around Nudges shoulders to silence her rant.

"OK, I'm not good at this, but you know I won't say anything, so give it time." I said. Then Nudge and I watched the rest of the sunrise in silence. I liked it but the fact that it was Nudge I was with was shocking.

***

At around noon Mrs. Martinez came home for lunch, and to make sure her house hadn't got attacked by any mutants, and we were all safe.

"Guys," she said while Max and I cleaned up. The flock were happily stuffed on the couch watching some pre-school cartoons. "I talked to Jeb, today. He called while I was on break. Well he had an idea.' I looked at Max, her eyes were glued to her mom. "We were thinking about – sending you to boarding school.

"He'll be working there, as a Chemistry teacher. At the Academy in Texas. I think it'll be a good experience. And I hope you four enjoy it."

"Four?" asked Max. Mirroring my thoughts. The little ones sat up from the couch and listened intently.

"Yes it's only a middle and high school. Sorry Gazzy, and angel will be staying here. And will have their own rooms."

"So what about the rest of us." Iggy asked. "I don't think we should split up again."

I rolled my eyes. It would be perfect. Max and I will be there and it will be the perfect chance for Nudge to have alone time with Iggy I guess. That way every one wins. Well except Ella, Angel, an Gazzy. But they'll survive. We will only be eight hours away.

"Will we be staying in dorms, like college! And have a campus with other kids. And will we have a uniform? I sure hope not cause how else will I be able to be cute in a uniform." Nudge seemed to go on for an hour. We had Q and A until Dr. Martinez handed out the pamphlets and headed back to the clinic.

Mr. Bachelder was a chemistry and physics teacher? How fitting.