Chapter 10

Max POV

"Up and at em'" my mom exclaimed, pulling the sheets off my head. I groaned, attempting to shade my eyes.

"But, I don't wanna," I mumbled, whining. She rolled her eyes and opened the blinds, light streaming down onto me. I sighed, squinting. "Fine, fine, I'm up." She left Ella's and my room, leaving the door cracked open. I slipped out of it, taking a change of clothes and a towel with me.

Bumping into a tall mass, I looked up, realizing it was Fang. "Sorry, Frankenstein," he joked, acknowledging my extreme bed-head. I narrowed my eyes.

"Watch it," I hissed. The flock knows I'm not a morning person, most of the time. Grinning slightly, he shuffled to his room, gait laid back.

I took a short shower, wet hair sticking messily to my neck. Drying off, I pulled on jeans and a loose, paint stained t-shirt, sluggishly making my way to the kitchen.

Iggy POV

I woke up early, because I do every morning, sauntering to the kitchen. Casually, I fried a plate of bacon, grease sizzling satisfyingly. I loved cooking; it was my time to myself. And, it was an art expressed in sight and sound, so I at least get to enjoy part of it.

"Morning, Iggy," Ella greeted, opening the fridge. I kept my focus on the bacon, trying not to say something stupid.

"Hey," I choked out, grip on the iron tightening. Chill, Iggy. "Bacon?" I asked, sounding relaxed. There you go, totally calm. I must sound like I'm insane, talking to myself.

"I'm more of a cereal person, actually. Thanks, though," she answered truthfully. I nodded, flipping the bacon in the pan with the flick of my wrist.

"I'm not denying your wicked cooking skills, though," she added, slight laugh in her voice. I smiled, I really like this girl.

Max POV

The smell of bacon lingered through the house, luring me helplessly to it. "Mmm, Iggy, I need bacon," I mumbled, rubbing my stomach. I saw Iggy flip the bacon, grease flying, as Ella watched amazed. Show off.

He poured the bacon pieces on a paper towel as the rest of the flock filed into the kitchen. I took about ten pieces, but, he made a lot to feed us all. I'd probably have to go back for more, though.

Stuffing my face, I spun around, almost hitting my mom. "Sorry," I blurted, words muffled by the bacon. She peered at me, sipping her coffee.

"I bought you some clothes yesterday," she gestured to a Hollister bag on the couch, walking past me. I groaned, swallowing my bacon, and drifted over to the bag.

Shuffling through it, I saw sweaters and ruffled shirts, all way too small and girly for my liking. I pulled a blue shirt out, held it up to me, and reluctantly slumped to our room to put it on.

Fang POV

After running into Max in the hall, (and she can totally pull off bed-head, by the way,) I slowly paced back to my room. Changing from the shirt I slept in, to one I bought yesterday, I searched my room for things to bring to school. I had no backpack; we never needed one, hence our lack of possessions.

Empty handed, I waltzed to the kitchen, spotting bacon. It just sat there, staring at me. "Go ahead," Iggy sighed, throwing his hand back towards it without turning back. Ignoring his creepy way of just knowing I was there, I casually scooped up a legit amount of bacon, enjoying each piece.

Max POV

We left for school shortly after my mom insisted we crammed into her tiny sedan, claiming we should all be together on our first day. Sometimes her motherly-ness is just annoying, but, we love her anyways.

After dropping Angel, Gazzy, and Nudge off at Bridgestone Elementary, we more comfortably spread out in the car. Ella sat in the passenger's seat and Iggy, Fang, and I waited in the back.

"Here we are," my mom breathed, coming to a slow stop. I peered out the window, staring up at the typical high school. Fang quietly pressed the door open, crawling out. He held out his hand, helping me out of the car. Iggy went out the other side and held the door open for Ella. Huh.

My mom drove away, leaving the four of us to drift into the crowd. Ella skipped forward to meet a group of her friends, Iggy stayed to my left and Fang reassuringly slipped his hand into mine. A loud bell rang and all the occupied teenagers scattered frantically into the hall. Time for school.

I glanced over my schedule, taking note of the order of my classes; English, World History, Algebra, Lunch, Science. Lunch wasn't really considered a class, but, I knew, if it was, I'd totally ace it.

My locker, number 237, was diagonal to Fang's, and Iggy was somewhere down the hall, not in our view. I slung the top half open, set my schedule in it, and slumped down to room 180, English.

Fang POV

Max wandered down the hall and I checked my schedule, realizing I had Algebra first. I've always been good at math, just one of those heightened skills I guess.

Being a few minutes late, I had to open the door, everyone's eyes flickering toward me. Dr. Martinez must've put in a good word for us, because these kids looked very smart. They all glared at me, still. I glared back, taking a seat toward the window, in case I had to escape, of course.

Iggy POV

I tried to listen for Ella's footsteps, following her to our lockers. Dr. M made sure we had lockers next to each other, saying she could help me around school. All the commotion was hard to listen in, though.

"This is my locker, and yours is right here," Ella informed me, gingerly pressing my hand to it. I blushed, feeling the bright orange surface below my sweating palm.

"Uh, thanks," she let go, and by the sound of it, she opened hers and pulled a few books out.

She quietly shut her locker door, speaking again. "We have the same class for first period, American History," she mentioned, pulling me along with her. "Then, you have English with Fang, Math with Max, Lunch, and we all have Science together," talking quickly, yet pronouncing each word perfectly.

"We have a new student today, class. His name is Jeff," the teacher, a woman, announced. We decided to use the same names that we did back when we were in school at Anne's.

I noticed a textbook lying on my desk, and flipped open the battered cover. "Please turn to page 237.". I casually set the book open to a random page, hoping the teacher wouldn't notice.

"Jeff, would you like to read?" I faced her generally direction, slumping down slightly.

"I-I'm blind," I admitted, wondering why Ms. Martinez hadn't mentioned that. A few people gasped and I could feel mostly everyone boring holes through me with their stare. Oh, this is going to be a long day.

So, so sorry that I haven't updated in a while, guys. I honestly haven't been extremely busy, since I've really done nothing all Christmas Break. I hope this chapter was okay :) Reviews are always awesomesauce :D