CHAPTER 4 – UH-OH…

MAX'S POV

Oh man, that was great! I knew Nudge wouldn't be able to last through the day. Part of me was feeling a teeny bit sorry for her, but the other half was laughing its ass off.

I loved being younger. I got to see a side of Angel she never showed to Max, but showed to Nudge, who was closer to her own age. Gazzy shared more of his bomb plans with Nudge than me, for fear that I'd stop them. That made my heart hurt a bit, but I accepted it. She was closer to their own age, not one of the circle of 14 year olds.

I was literally having one of the most relaxing times of my life. I didn't want it to end.

NUDGE'S POV

I was really, severely, impossibly pissed off. I couldn't take it! Max had to be nuts, to do this every day of her life. But I wasn't equipped to handle that sort of thing. I was losing my mind.

Fang and Gazzy were playing the room's free Xbox, and Max and Angel were playing with dolls. I suddenly noticed with fury that those were my dolls!

Um, not that I played with them…

Iggy was starting to cook dinner. It smelled delicious, but it was no comfort to me. I was on the verge of tears. I couldn't take the stress, the pressure. I couldn't take being Mom to 3 younger kids and Cool Collected Leader to two older ones. I just lost it.

As quietly as I could, I slunk off to the guy's room, figuring Angel and Max wouldn't come in there. Plus the fact that nothing could drag boys away from video games except food.

As soon as I got in there, I shut the door and began to bawl. I cried loud and hard into a pillow, throwing it at last violently against the wall. I wanted my life back! I didn't want to be leader anymore!

Apparently, though, I didn't sob quietly enough, because after a few minutes, I heard the door creak open softly.

"Nudge?" It was Iggy. The last person who I wanted to see me like this.

"Go away," I mumbled sadly. But, being stubborn, he didn't. Instead, he plunked himself down on the bed beside me, and sat me up. My shoulders still racked with withheld sobs.

Gently, he asked, "What's wrong?" I stared crying harder. "EVERYTHING!! I thought being leader would be fun, but I can't take it! I can't take care of the Flock. That's Max's job, not mine. But to everyone, I'm her!"

Iggy turned my face towards his. "You're never Max to me. To me, you're always my Nudge."

Did he just say "my Nudge"?

Still impossibly sad, distressed, and half out of my mind, I whispered, "I love you, Iggy."

He froze. So did I, as soon as I realized what I just said. I half expected him to run away, or laugh in my face.

But he didn't. Instead, he leaned in close, murmured, "I love you too," and then he kissed me.

My world just got tipped upside down. Iggy was kissing me. Oh. My. God. Oh my God. OH MY GOD.

Of course, we were so busy kissing, we didn't see Fang standing in the doorway, hatred, betrayal, and sadness all over his face.

FANG'S POV

I can't believe this. How could Iggy kiss Max? He knew I liked her. No – he knew I loved her! How could he?

How could she?

She kissed me. I only dated that skank Lissa to make her jealous. And I know that's why she dated that wiener, Sam. She loved me, according to Angel.

She couldn't love Iggy!

Oh, God. I lost. I lost the girl of my dreams to my best friend because I didn't act. I heard her say she loves him. So it's not Max's fault, I guess.

But Iggy! HE knew I loved her. That loser! I hate him. I'll never forgive him. EVER.

I'm never speaking to Iggy or Max again.

And if it breaks up the flock?

BITE ME.

UH-OH. What's our favorite feathered couple to do when Fang thinks Max loves Iggy?? Bad, Nudge – you shouldn't use Max's body for those things!

Will Fang forgive Max? Or will that break them apart forever? What shall go down between Nudge and Iggy? REVIEW TO FIND OUT!!!