Living in Max's Shadow-Chapter 26
By MyNameIsCAL
Ella is the first person down to the kitchen.
"Oh, jeez," she's lost for words. I really screwed up this time.
She pulls me off of Iggy and I slump against the wall. Nudge and Angel are the next ones to crowd around my pathetic mess.
"Max is coming," Angel whispers, as if she's said something forbidden.
Reality suddenly rushes back. Ella kneels down next to Iggy. It took me a while to focus on everything. When I realize Iggy's blood is all over me, I feel sick.
"What happened?" Max appears behind Nudge and Angel. I wish she didn't have to see me like this.
I try to stand, but only manage to fall back again.
"Ella, I swear I'm fine. It's just my nose," Iggy mutters.
Max looks to me for answers, but I can't find the strength to say anything.
"C'mon let's get you to bed." Angel breaks the silence and motions Nudge to help her. I pass out on the way to the bedroom.
Max sits on the bed, waiting for me to wake up the next morning. She touches my forehead, wiping the hair away from me eyes.
"Max…" I try to sit up, but her hand moves to my shoulder and then she lies down next to me.
"Care to explain a few things to me?" she asks quietly.
I close my eyes. "I don't really have a choice."
And then it all pours out, everything. Whatever I could remember from since the day she had supposedly died up until trying to get Gazzy last night. There was Iggy's wedding and how Ella almost killed me the night they came back from their honeymoon. By the end of it all, I felt like crying again. Without Iggy and Ella, I would be dead or dying.
Yet Max still took my hand. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry?" Max confuses me.
She explains herself. "None of that would have happened if I was around."
I shake my head. Now was not the time to play the blaming game.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Max calls.
The door opens. Ella looks exhausted.
"How is Iggy?" I ask, my voice coming out softer than a whisper.
"He'll be fine," Ella assures me. "Gazzy just arrived a few minutes ago. Iggy told me to tell you."
I let out a deep breath. Well, there was no hiding from Gazzy now.
Max pulls my arm around her as we make our way down the hall. By the time we near the kitchen, I realize that she's supporting my weight.
"You gotta watch what you say to him," I hear Iggy say to Gazzy. "You really upset him. I think you're the one that needs to pull yourself together."
"He's unstable," Gazzy shoots back. "He needs help."
"We all need help," Iggy replies calmly. "Some of us more than others, but this could have all been avoided if you cooperated."
We enter the kitchen and their conversation stops. I sit next to Iggy and Max sits on my other side. I'm sure this is not what Max had in mind for seeing Gazzy for the first time.
"Max…" Gazzy opens and closes his mouth.
"I think you owe both of them an apology," Iggy says, leaning on the table.
"And apology? I think Fang owes you one!" Gazzy throws his hands up into the air. "You're all crazy."
Iggy sucks in a sharp breath. He looks awful. Gazzy was right, I did owe Iggy an apology, buy Iggy was trying to make another point. "We're not crazy, Gazzy. I've already forgiven Fang."
"How many times have you forgiven him?" Gazzy questions. "He hasn't changed!"
I'm waiting for Max to say something, but she doesn't. Now that I think about it, maybe it was not her place to say anything either.
"We're trying to help you," Iggy sighs. "We are trying to protect you, Gazzy. All we want is your cooperation. Itex is out there still."
"I can protect myself," Gazzy sneers.
"Then get out." Iggy says calmly.
"What?" Gazzy blinks.
"GET OUT!" Iggy slams his fists on the table and Gazzy jumps up, grabbing his jacket and leaving.
"Iggy, I'm sorry," I finally say after a moment.
"Whatever happened to Gazzy?" Iggy ignores my apology. "Fame and fortune finally got to his head. What an asshole."
"Let me talk to him," Max speaks up after a minute. "He hasn't left yet."
"Ok, go," Iggy shakes his head, but motions Max to leave.
Eventually Max convinces Gazzy to stay. He keeps his distance from us once Max lets him back in. Deep down inside, we know that we cannot leave Gazzy to fight for himself. It would be like getting Max back all over again if Itex captured Gazzy.
"I oughta beat some sense into that kid," Iggy remarks.
But Iggy closes his eyes and folds his arms on the table, resting his head on top of them. He looks sick now, and of course, it was only my doing.
"Why aren't you mad at me?" I ask, quietly.
"Because I knew Max would forgive. If she can forgive you, then I can too," he tells me. "And frankly, I think I'm losing Gazzy as a friend. I don't need to lose you too."
He stands and leaves.
Sorry for the late update. Thanks for reading!