CHAPTER 10

Max POV

That night, after I tucked the kids in, I made my way back downstairs. Fang had his laptop open, checking his blog and listening to his music quietly.

"Goodnight, Fang," I whispered.

He glanced up, holding a fist out in front of me, and said, "Night, Max."

I stacked fists with him, walked back upstairs, and unobtrusively slipped into Ella's room.

"Max?" Ella sighed. She looked like she was still asleep.

"Yea, Ella?" I whispered.

"I'm really gonna miss you guys when you leave tomorrow," she mumbled. "We never get to hang out. We never get to talk."

I felt terrible about it. She was my own sister, and I didn't have time to actually get to hang out with her.

"I wish you could all stay here," Ella continued with her mumbling. I'm not sure that she was aware that she was sharing all of this with me. "Angel and Nudge are so much fun. Gazzy is just funny! Fang is super cool and nice. And Iggy…" a smile spread across her face. "…Iggy is so cute. And nice. And funny. I think I'll miss him the most. Next to you, of course, Max."

Wait, did Ella just confess her love for Iggy in her sleep? Can you do that? I wonder if I talk in my sleep…

Fang POV

While Max was tucking in the younger kids, I checked the ol' blog and listened to some music that I had on my laptop. A little while later, Max quietly came downstairs and whispered, "Goodnight, Fang."

I held out my fist and replied, "Night, Max."

After she stacked her fist on mine, she went back upstairs. Once I knew she was back in Ella's room, I snuck into Iggy's room. I almost forgot to tell him about Ella.

I tapped lightly on his door and slipped in before he even answered.

"Ig?" I whispered.

"Fang?" he whispered back. His voice sounded tired, but he hadn't fallen asleep yet. Gazzy was out cold.

"I tested out my ability for you," I stated quietly. "Well, it really just kind of happened on its own, but it still worked.

"And?" he pressed anxiously.

I told him everything about what happened with the game. At least, I told him the parts that pertained to him and Ella.

"You really think she likes me, then?" he grinned.

"Pretty sure," I shrugged.

"Thanks!"

"Sure," I replied and made my way toward the window.

"Where are you going?" Iggy asked, realizing that I walked the opposite direction of the door.

I opened the window carefully and replied, "Going to think. Leave this open."

"Sure thing, man," he yawned.

When I edged out onto the roof, I was surprised to find Max sitting up there.

Max POV

I needed to stop and think. After Ella's subconscious confession, I had to take some time to think things over. I had to figure out some kind of plan to find a way to make things up to Ella and my mom for our constant drop-in-and-leave game.

With my arms hugging my knees to my chest, I stared up at the stars as I sat on the roof.

It had been about ten minutes before Fang appeared on the roof near the boys' window.

"Fang?" I asked startled.

"Hey, Max. What are you doing out here?" he asked as he took a seat next to me.

"Thinking," I sighed. "Why'd you come out here?"

"Same," he replied.

We sat quietly for a few minutes until I let out a heavy sigh. I still felt guilty for leaving my mom and Ella like this all the time.

"Wanna talk about anything?" Fang asked, not looking at me.

I shrugged.

I didn't know what to talk about. Maybe how we've been on the run for almost a year now. How I'm supposed to save the world. How I finally find out who my mom is, and I can't spend even a week with her because I'm afraid something bad might happen. How I'm afraid something might happen to the flock in all of this. How I'm afraid something would happen to Fang in all of this. How I wish Fang and I could forget the troubles of the world and just be safe together with the flock.

Whoa! That's not right. Fang and me together? I couldn't. I wouldn't. Maybe I-

Suddenly, Fang turned toward me. He gently put a hand on the back of my neck and turned my face towards his in the other. Then, he leaned in and softly pressed his lips to mine.