In Chapter 14, as I have already said, Iggy and Elisabeth go to band class and meet a new friend. This chapter is significant because we get to see some more interaction between Iggy and Elisabeth. Well, let's get on with the chapter.
It was third period already. Where did the time go? Elisabeth wondered. She was walking with Iggy down to the band room. She was happy she got to spend so much time with him. He hadn't been talking that much and she just figured he was just nervous about school. She was too. She was probably the most nervous of all of them. She'd almost never been around nice people, but it seemed that this school was full of them. She had seen those two girls from the playground again in their last period. Chris and Caressa were actually very nice and helped her and Iggy with finding everything. Caressa was really nice though. Chris just was so much like Max. She seemed somewhat…scary at times. The only mean person she had run into so far was Vanessa Winslow, but Vanessa hadn't bothered her that much. She did keep staring at Iggy for some unknown reason, but, of course, he hadn't noticed.
"So," Iggy said when they reached the band room door. "Do you know what we're going to do? I mean, I seriously can't play an instrument. I don't think I can even fake it." He was smiling that wonderful, bright, happy smile of his. If only he'd keep smiling at her like that.
"Well, neither can I, but if I have to, I can look up the method for playing something I suppose." she said. She sighed and Iggy sharply drew a breath. She made him feel so stupid sometimes. Like right now, she'd be okay if she could look up the method of playing an instrument in that mind of hers that was chock full of knowledge. He'd just look like an idiot. He didn't know what he was going to do, just that he'd have to make up something quick. Just don't look stupid in front of her. He told himself. Whatever you do, don't look stupid in front of her.
"It'll be fine Iggy, trust me. If you can't play anything, they'll just think there was a mistake with the schedule and we'll be out of band class, okay." she said with her sweet, reassuring voice. That voice of hers, man that voice of hers. It was like the voice of an angel singing a song just for him.
"Okay." he said. "Well, here we go, I guess." He drew in a deep breath, pretending to be dramatic. Elisabeth giggled and he thought, She even giggles beautifully. No, no, Iggy. Just open the freaking door and stop thinking about that. He turned the knob, and walked into the room, Elisabeth behind him, clutching his arm. He wished she wouldn't let go, even though she eventually would. She whispered details about the room in his ear, so he could have yet another mental picture.
The room was big and smelled like…polish? There were instruments everywhere, of course. It was a band room after all. Elisabeth lead him to what he assumed was the front of the room. He knew that there were kids looking at him. He could sense that stuff. He just wished they'd look at something else. It was silent and he had a suspicious, but ridiculous, feeling that they could see his wings. However, he knew that if they had, it wouldn't be this quiet. Quite the opposite. They'd probably be snapping pictures and calling people on their cell phones.
"Well, class it looks like we have some new students." That has to be the teacher. Iggy thought. He really wished Elisabeth would say something to him. "This is Elisabeth Mullins and Jeff Smith. Miss Mullins, what instrument do you play?" he asked. Iggy could feel Elisabeth getting more and more nervous. He hoped she'd overcome her shyness and say something, because he had no clue what he was going to do.
She took a deep breath and said, "I play the flute." Uh oh. Why'd I just lie like that? What am I going to do? What's Iggy going to do? She mentally cursed herself. Another one of those dumb things she did when she panicked. She had already made a fool of herself when they walked in here by clutching Iggy's arm. Now she had gone and told a big fat lie that was just going to embarrass him. This was just great!
"And what do you play Mr. Smith?" he asked. Oh, man! What the heck am I going to do? "I play…the drums." he said, panicking. It had been the only thing he could think of that seemed remotely easy. This was totally not going to work. He could see it now. Everyone, including Elisabeth, was going to laugh at him. This was totally not his day.
"Well, if you don't mind, I would like you both to play something together." he said getting out a flute for Elisabeth and handing it to her. "It's just so I can see how well you can play." Well, this was it. Iggy was doomed. Elisabeth pointed him in the direction of the drums. He was handed a pair of drumsticks. The moment they were in his hands, something felt right to him. He couldn't describe it. It was the same feeling he got when he had learned how to cook. He didn't know how he knew, but at that moment, he knew it would turn out okay.
He didn't know what he was playing, but it sounded good. It sounded even better when Elisabeth joined in. Iggy had a new talent. Something he didn't have to use his eyes for, something he could just feel, and something he could share with Elisabeth. The class burst into applause and some even joined in.
When they stopped, the teacher said, "Bravo. That was very very good. I see that we have some new talent in this band. Well, let's see, what was I going to do? Oh, yes. Colten, could you take them into the back room and tell them how we do things in the band and anything else that you can think of."
"Yes, Mr. Johnston." said a boy with red hair. He was tall and looked sort of like Ron Weasley from Harry Potter. He walked to the back of the room and opened the door. Elisabeth, leading Iggy, followed him.
They stepped into the dimly lit, small room and Colten closed the door. "Hi." he said, smiling. "My name's Colten Henderson and I play sax. I've been living in this town since second grade so, I was pretty much the last new kid in our grade. Let's see, what do you need to know? After this block, we have lunch, and usually we have after-school band practice. No practice today though. Mr. Johnston usually makes announcements to let us know, so you should be okay there. So, what about you guys?" he asked. Iggy, didn't know what to make of him just yet, but he seemed okay. Elisabeth thought so too, apparently, because she started to speak, something she only did if she liked someone and thought that she could trust that person.
"I'm Elisabeth Mullins, and this is my adopted brother, Jeff Smith. I was adopted too, along with most of our siblings." she replied nervously. "Our mom's Valencia Martinez, she's a vet. We have six other siblings; there's mom's two daughters Max and Ella, my twin brother Nick, Alex, Greg, and Angie. We moved here from another part in Arizona about a week ago. I guess, that's it. Right Jeff?" she asked turning to Iggy. She was an excellent, believable storyteller. Colten fell for that hook-line-and sinker.
"Yeah, that's pretty much it. Well, except for Angie's dog Total and the fact that I'm blind. Other than that, you got the whole story, sis." Iggy said. Why'd I just call her sis? That was so after-school special. Besides, I like…okay I love her. Calling her sis is just, like, weird. He shook his head and said he had a headache, so they wouldn't think he'd gone completely mental.
Colten raised his eyebrows, but continued speaking. "So, what class do you have next." he asked them, trying to make some conversation.
"History, I think." Iggy said. Colten seems okay, but he probably thinks I'm a nut case. Sis? Seriously, how's she ever going to take me seriously when I say things like that? What's she thinking? I'm such a loser.
He called me sis. She thought. What does that mean? Does he like me? Well, I already figured he didn't. But, then what does he think of me? Her heart sank as she thought, Maybe he's only talking to me, because he feels like he needs too. Maybe he thinks if no one talks to me, I'll run away and then Max won't be able to save the world. Maybe…
"…yeah, history's pretty easy even though Mrs. Martin makes it kind of boring." Colten said to Iggy. They had been talking to each other all this time and Elisabeth hadn't even noticed. Suddenly, she felt really sick inside.
"Maybe, we should get back to class." Elisabeth said. She desperately wanted to get out of school. She knew it was a bad idea in the first place. She didn't belong here, with the flock or with regular people. She just wanted to go home and lay down. She felt like she was going to hurl her guts out, even though she knew it wasn't really possible to do.
"Uh yeah, we probably should." Iggy said, and Colten nodded. He opened the door and Colten walked out first. On Elisabeth's way out, Iggy whispered in her ear, "You okay Elisabeth? You look a little sick."
"Yeah, I'm fine Iggy. Just…starving." she whispered back, hurriedly. She couldn't take talking to him. She now knew she was just a burden to him. That was all, nothing more. She walked quickly to her seat, and didn't turn around the whole class period. When it was time for lunch, she walked with Iggy and Colten, but kept her eyes on the floor. She was afraid that if she looked up she would either start crying, or throw up everywhere. Either way, she thought it would be best if she didn't look up or speak at all.
What is up with her? He thought to himself, as they waited in line. Was it something I said? It was probably the "sis thing". That was a really dumb thing for me to say. I can't believe it. She probably hates me. I probably made her feel weird or embarrassed. It seems that's all I do to her. Make her feel embarrassed or weird. I'd give anything for her to just talk to me, but she won't. She might never speak to me again, because I'm too much of an idiot. He sat down next to Colten and started eating his lunch, not making a sound.
All right, that's the end of Chapter 14. In our next chapter, we'll get to see some more lunchtime drama. This is the chapter where things start to get interesting. It's going to be really exciting, or at least it shouldn't be boring. Well, keep reading and reviewing. An update will come soon. I promise.