* Dodges the barrage of flying objects *

Heh heh. I'm baaaack! And now that I've started high school, I actually know how high school works.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Maximum Ride.

December 21
Friday
Ella POV

I narrowly dodge a couple kissing under the mistletoe. PDA is a no-no is my books.

Unless it's between you and Iggy…

I shake my head, gathering a few odd looks thrown my way. You all probably saw this coming a mile away, but just to refresh, I like Iggy. And the feelings keep getting stronger, no matter how much I try to squish it with a virtual dump truck.

I know I said I would tell him, but as soon I saw him after school, I froze up.

"How's it going sick boy?" I ask, climbing over the balconey.

"Terrible." Iggy coughs and looks at me with puppy dog eyes. "Can you pass me those tissues?"

"Here." I pass him the box and sit on the chair next to the bed. "I need to tell you something."

"What?" He blows his nose.

"That I-" I clear my throat. "I-I"

"Spit it out." He smirks.

"I GOT YOUR HOMEWORK!" I blurt out. Oops.

"Oh, thanks a bunch!" He smiles as I wordlessly pass him the pile of papers.

"No problem."

Grabbing my books from my locker, I make my way to fourth period. Sliding into a desk with a minute to spare, I open my binder and pull out a pencil.

"So class, you have your open book test today! Get your text books out and let's get started."

With a groan, I pull out my Science Probe nine text book. I totally forgot about this.

First Question:

What is an Iggy rock?"

I blink a few times.

-an igneous rock?

I sigh quietly. This is going to be a long test.

"Ella, want to go clear out the percussion section? Johansson wants it clean for when we get back." Isla taps me on the shoulder at our lockers. Schools over for a two week Christmas break.

"Yeah sure, Iggy and I were going to anyways." I grab my backpack and the Arizona ice tea I bought at lunch.

"Oh, well…Cathy invited me to her house, so I don't have to go. Have fun with him!" She grins as walks away, then bumps into Jaden.

I wince. It looked like a hard collision, seeing as they both went sprawling down.

"Oh shit, sorry!" He stands and holds out a hand.

"It was my fault, sorry." She stands up, ignoring the offered hand and quickly walks away.

Okay, so I might have told her about his refusal to talk to her about his feelings. At first she was ecstatic he liked her back, then it quickly turned to frustration as she found out why he wasn't going to do anything. I am terrible at keeping secrets, I know.

"Ella! You walking home with me?" Nudge comes barreling down the hallway as I start walking towards the band room.

"Sorry, I'll be walking home with Iggy. We're leaving school later." I say apologetically.

"Ella," she puts a hand on my arm, I stop walking. "I'm really happy you're spending time with him, but I feel like we haven't been hanging out as much. Do you not want to be friends anymore? I totally understand if you want to get rid of me." She takes a breath, then continues. "You're really the only friend I have and if it's because I talk too much I can try and tone it down. Or is it the new perfume I bought? I heard it's strong. It's my hair isn't it, you're embarrassed to be around me because it's always frizzy!" She bites her lip.

"Nudge! No, don't ever think like that!" I look at her sternly. "I am so sorry I haven't been acting like a friend to you. Does going shopping make up?"

"Only if you let me give you a makeover." She takes her hand off my arm and gives me her bright smile.

"Of course!" I'm not my sister, I love makeovers.

"Great, see you later." And off she goes.

"Iggy?" I open the door to the band room.

"Oh, hey. Over here." He doesn't look up from the percussion cabinet.

"Wow, this looks terrible." I gape at the drawers of mallets and other things haphazardly stuffed and crammed into any free space.

"I know, so let's start." He rubs his hands together and pushes the sleeves of his shirt up.

I don't stare at the muscles. I really didn-stop I-what-shut up! Fine I did!

After half an hour of sorting, I sit on a chair with a huff. "We done yet?"

"Yup," he shuts the cabinet with a bang. I'm inspecting my fingernails and idly wondering if Nudge would paint them, when I hear a soft chuckle.

"What?"

"The world's supposed to end today." He leans against the wall and snorts. "We have about nine hours to live."

"I don't believe that crap." I shrug.

"Really? If you did, how do you think the world would end?" He leans closer to me.

With a gulp, I say, "uh, tsunami?"

"Hm, think outside the box!" He taps a finger to his mouth.

Don't look, don't look. I chastise myself as I tear my eyes from his lips.

"I'm thinking of some kind of Pacific Rim kind of event." He says.

"Oh please, a bunch of Japanese styled monsters? I think a zombie apocalypse."

"Nah, a chitauri attack."

We go on for another minute, until I realize how close he is.

"Maybe it ends with a kiss?" He smirks.

"What?" I repeat. A kiss?

"Look." He points up and I see the infamous berries. I'm suddenly reminded of when Fang kissed Max under it for the first time and she slapped him. Then I remember where I am.

"Wait-" His lips land on mine and I obviously stop talking. It's a short and sweet kiss, but I can't help but want more as he pulls away.

"Nope, we're still safe." He says breathlessly.

"Maybe it has to be more than one kiss?" I suggest.

"Maybe." He agrees and brushes my lips again with his own.

I am really sorry for the wait, will this Eggy moment help?