Chapter 26

"Crap. Crap crap crap." She muttered to herself as she fumbled for the small box cleverly concealed in the inside of the tuxedo jacket. Everyone in the Flock was focused on the stage, where the bids had already reached over ten thousand dollars. She quickly slipped the box into her hand under the table. Casually leaning back into her chair so she could look at the contents inside the box but not look suspicious, she quickly lifted the lid and dumped its the contents into her hand. She was shocked find what seemed to be an ordinary ring. It was a silver band, no fancy jewels on it, there were something etched into the silver but the words were too small for her to read. Other than that, it was quite a nice ring. She shrugged and slipped it on her index finger. Not bad. She quickly closed the now empty box and slipped it into her pocket. She would have to get rid of this box before she was caught. She pushed her chair back and stood up, drawing the attention of several people in the Flock. She pat her stomach and gave a nervous smile. "I guess I ate a little too much. I'm gonna take a walk around the area, okay? Be right back."

"Wait!" Nudge got up as well, "I'll join you."

"Um, okay?"

"Great! Let's go!"

They weaved through tables and people, just walking around. It wasn't long before Mackenzie 'accidentally' bumped into someone else and slipped the box in their pocket. As she walked away from the unlucky fellow, she let out an enormous breath of relief, which was soon cut off short, as Nudge began to speak, reminding Mackenzie of her presence.

"Listen here and listen well, Matt. I love Iggy, or Jeff, or whatever. He's like a brother to me. And he's obviously….confused with some things in his life. Now, don't get the wrong idea or anything. If you're looking for a relationship or anything like that, Jeff is NOT the guy for you, okay? He already has someone else. A girl. And they're totally gonna become girlfriend and boyfriend and marry and have a bunch of babies and they'll be together forever and I'm sorry but you guys weren't meant to be." Nudge was breathing hard from her rant, while Mackenzie was doing her best to choke down her laughter.

"I-" Mackenzie cleared her throat, "I understand. But you should know that Iggy and I didn't kiss."

Liar, her inner voice said in her mind, You two did kiss. And it was one heck of a kiss. You first one too.

Not helping! She replied to herself angrily.

Nudge sent her a skeptical look. "You didn't? A kiss is-"

"I know, I know. I'm not that stupid. We were, uh, well, I got some sauce on my shirt. And he was helping me get it off. That's why I was in the bathroom."

"So you're not gay?" Nudge asked. Mackenzie shook her head. "I really hope not."

By the time they returned to the table, the bidding for Item #374 had already passed two million. Mackenzie gulped. Thank god I got rid of the box. But if they somehow trace it back to me, I'm so screwed.

"So," a voice whispered in her ear, "What'd you two talk about on your little stroll?"

She froze, but relaxed once realizing who it was. "She was just warning Matt away from you that's all."

He groaned. "She still thinks I'm gay?"

She raised her hand to pat him on the head, but decided against it when she saw Nudge glance at them suspiciously.

She turned to Iggy. "Do you guys really have enough money to buy whatever this is? The biddings past two million and I don't think some of the others are planning on giving up so soon."

"We have the money," he whispered back, "Jeb just told us to get it at any costs."

"Why does the School want it so bad?"

He shrugged. "Dunno. But the joke's on them."

"Why?"

He winked. "You'll see."

"Bidder Number 57 has bid 3.5 million dollars. Are there any more offers?"

Max stood up, waving her bidding sign, 83. "I would like to bid 50 million dollars."

Mackenzie was sure that every jaw dropped, including hers. She looked to the rest of the Flock, who all seemed to be holding back laughter. Iggy whispered to her between gasps of breath. "Might as well make those jerks pay. Literally."

She just shook her head in amusement. "You guys…"

Once the shocked atmosphere faded, the host looked back at Max. "Uh, ma'am, would you mind repeating your offer again?"

Max crossed her arms. "I offered fifty million dollars." She annunciated the words 'fifty million dollars' slowly as if talking to a child and Mackenzie could see the host's humiliated expression. The host cleared his throat before continuing. "Bidder Number 83 has bid 50 million dollars. Are there any more offers?"

The entire room was silent. "Going once, going twice…"

"One hundred million dollars." A man at a nearby table stood up. Mackenzie didn't recognize him as one of the people who had bid on the item before, but the way he acted and what he wore screamed, 'FILTHY RICH'. He sent Max a smirk, which she returned with a glare.

"Two hundred million."

"Three hundred million."

"Four hundred million."

"Five hundred million."

Everyone watched in awe as the rich man and Max bid higher and higher. Out of the corner of her eye, Mackenzie spotted a man decked out in the tower's employee uniform hurry on stage and whisper something in the host's ear. She fidgeted in her seat, knowing what was about to happen. Stay calm, stay calm. Breathe in and out.

Max and the man's bidding was interrupted as the host announced what Mackenzie had been anticipating from the moment she stepped back in the ballroom. "Ladies and gentlemen, I have some shocking news. Auction Item #374 has been stolen."

That's when all hell broke loose.

Oh my gods I'm such a butthole! Two weeks! I haven't updated Up In Flames for two weeks! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me! m(_ _)m

I know it's no excuse but these last two weeks were my last two week in schools, and I just graduated! However, I DID update on Fanfiction (I'm not THAT much of a slacker.. Okay, maybe I am but still...). I just started a multiple oneshot Percabeth story called Romeo and Cinderella and posted it last week, so if you ship Percabeth or like PJO in general or are just looking for a cute oneshot to read every once in a while, I would definitely recommend it. I won't update on it as often as I do for Up In Flames, but I'll at least have a new chapter every month.

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed. If you did, please review, fave and follow! ^_^

Have an awesome summer and stay amazing!

Less than three,

PalmerPie