Living in Max's Shadow-Chapter 14
By MyNameIsCAL
It was time to leave Dr. Martinez's house and set out to find Max. We would be heading back to the apartment and then to meet Jeb at a location that was yet to be decided. He was supposed to contact Mom who would call us to relay the information.
Dr. M gives us hugs goodbye. For once, I feel like the hug I give back is genuine.
"Thank you," I tell her.
She just smiles and nods. I get into the car next to Nudge. Ella climbs into the driver's seat after helping Iggy in. We leave Dr. M alone once more. I wonder if she misses when we were little, when every day would be chaotic. Those days were long gone, but even I would miss those days. If I took a step back and time, I'm pretty sure I would find myself at Dr. M's doorstep.
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We get to the apartment after eight in the evening. Iggy checks the messages and Ella is sorting through the mail. Nudge is on the couch, flipping through the TV channels. Gazzy had to fly to California again. He was supposed to be here by tomorrow morning.
I go to my room and leave my suitcase at the edge of the bed. My head hurts a little. The bed seems to be calling me, so I get into it and fall asleep. Tonight's sleep is dreamless. For once. Thank God.
I wake up and head to the kitchen. I think it's ten, unless I read the clock wrong. There's some toast that sits on the table. We must not have any food for Iggy to make today. Nudge sits across from him. Ella is next to Iggy, reading the newspaper. I avoid looking at the paper and sit next to Nudge.
"Gazzy should be here in a few minutes," Angel says to me, taking a seat at the head of the table.
I rub my temples, feeling another headache coming. Leaning onto the table, I close my eyes.
"Are you ok?" Angel asks.
I don't answer because there's a knock on the door. Everyone but Iggy and me get up to go to the door. Gazzy comes in, dressed in a suit and tie. He undoes the tie and takes the last remaining seat at the table.
"So, did Mom call yet?" he questions.
Everyone shakes their head. Is that what we're all waiting for?
"Hungry?" Iggy pushes the plate of toast towards Gazzy and me. I shake my head, but Gazzy grabs one and starts to eat.
"You have to be hungry," Iggy insists.
I shake my head again.
He sighs and leaves the plate in the middle of the table. I'm not in the mood to eat. The anxiousness is going to kill me. I want to get up and pace the room, but that'll make my head spin and it's already killing me. Rubbing my temple, I reached for the newspaper section that Ella wasn't reading. Angel gave me a questioning look.
"This is the classified section, right? None of you want to read this?" I ask them.
Angel shakes her head.
I rip the section in half and start to fold a paper hat, out of bored and distraction. Angel looks slightly amused. When I finish, I set it next to the toast on the table. Ella smiles as Angel reaches for it and places it on her head.
"Ooh too bad our heads are too big," Angel states.
We all laugh.
The phone rings and Iggy snaps it up immediately. Sometimes I forget he's blind. My anxiousness builds so much that I get up and walk around the kitchen as Iggy talks to Dr. M. I know that this is going to hurt my head more, but that's ok. When he hangs up, we all stare at him.
"New York City," Iggy says softly.
"That's so far," Gazzy remarks.
Iggy shrugs. "Someone go buy tickets. We gotta be there in the next two days or we'll have to go to China. Jeb doesn't stay anywhere very long."
We're making our way through the terminal to find the gate for our plane. I wish we could just fly to New York City ourselves, but I was in no condition to do that and Ella was coming with us. She should have stayed home, but her charm worked its ways on Iggy and he gave in.
"Here's the gate," Ella takes Iggy by the hand and leads him to the right. I follow, Gazzy and Angel behind me.
People are already boarding the plane. I haven't been in an airplane in years. When I get in my seat, I suddenly feel nervous. Ella is to my left and Angel to my right.
"It'll be ok," Angel whispers to me.
Sometimes I wish she couldn't read my mind.
"I know what you're thinking," Angel scowls, and then grins.
I roll my eyes and try to relax.
The smell of New York is familiar. People, garbage, and food all mixed together. Maybe I notice this only because my sense of smell is better than most people. It's raining here and we stand outside waiting in line for a taxi to take us to our hotel. Our meeting with Jeb isn't scheduled until dinner for tomorrow.
"We only have two hotel rooms. That's all I could book," Ella explains as she gives me the suitcase to watch. "Would you rather stay with Iggy and me or Gazzy and Angel?"
I weight my options. Angel will probably spend the whole night reading my thoughts, so opting to share a room with Iggy and Ella sounded better.
"You," I answer.
Ella nods. "How's your head?"
I shrug. "Still hurts."
"Want some Advil?"
"Alright."
Ella digs through her purse and pulls out the canister. She hands me two and I swallow them without water. I doubt they effect they'll have will last long, but that's ok. Some relief was better than none.